Knights were everywhere in the Flats, and Maela knew it was only a matter of time before the alarm would be raised that Ralan's attempt to free his friends hadn't failed and the knight's attention turned to them. They worked their way down one street and then over to another one. Each turn revealed more knights, looking here and there.

Maela was shocked that none of the knights even gave them a second glance, despite the fact that the knights were looking around and peering at everyone. They are looking for Ralan, she thought.

"Follow me," Alard whispered, as he ushered them into a nondescript house with a large hedge in the back, which provided the house with more privacy than most. They were met by a rotund man who wore the green of the Harvest Guild.

Alard grabbed his forearm. "Deely, you are a sight for sore eyes. What word?"

"Strange times, Alard." Deely replied as he walked them into his drawing room, which had wingback chairs and a large couch. Raef sat down on the couch next to Maela, while Deely and Alard took the chairs, facing each other. "I was sitting in this very chair reading when there was a pounding on my front door. I was confronted by knights looking for the Guildmaster." Deely leaned forward. "He was seen in these parts on horseback. Any word on him?"

"Ah, that is good news, my friend. We have no word on the Guildmaster. As you may be aware, I have been framed for the deaths in the Merchant Guild. Maela and Guildmaster Ralan freed me, and he escaped on horseback, which I hope means he is safe."

"We can only hope." Deely looked at Raef. "And who is this?"

"I'm a new member of the Thieves Guild," Raef replied, sitting up straight.

Deely peered at Raef, and then replied, "There is no such thing as the Thieves Guild. It is purely ceremonial."

Raef smiled widely. "Sure. And I was captured and beaten at the Founders Banquet helping the Guildmaster Thief for ceremonial reasons."

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

A broad smile filled Deely's face. "You did that? Good show, boy. Jolly good show." He turned to Alard. "I had a delivery today and will be returning to the Warehouse District tomorrow. I can carry you in the back of my wagon. You can cross the Wall and make your way back to the Tower through the Plains"

"That is very kind of you, my friend, but we need to get to the Old Quarter and the Guild Tower immediately. We should be there to help the Guildmaster."

Maela spoke up. "I agree. We need to get to Ralan as quickly as possible. He has no idea who will help him. We don't even know if he'll get across the Great Bridge. My fear is that he'll be overwhelmed as he attempts to cross."

Raef snorted. "I would like to see anyone try to get their hands on Ralan in the open with him prepared. Why do you think I'm the one who always ends up getting beaten? Ralan escapes, and I get caught!"

Maela raised an eyebrow. "One possibility is that our new Guildmaster has a talent for blaming others for his misdeeds."

Raef eyes went wide. "I am not saying that! He is just resourceful."

"Enough, you two," Alard's deep voice filled the room. "Being able to redirect attention is a critical part of the duties of the Guildmaster Thief, so your description of Ralan is hardly an insult, Raef."

Maela nodded and then replied, "Even if he is the most talented escape artist in history, we should assist him. Assuming he makes it to the Old Quarter, how many will even know who he is? I have spread the word, but I don't know how widely it has traveled. Without knowing him, they may mislead him. Or worse." Maela stood up and started pacing. "We could make Deely's wagon appear to be fully loaded, and then we could sit in the back as he heads up River Road. He could tell the Knight Protectors that he has a delivery."

"That is a good plan," Alard replied, "and I agree with you about Ralan. Even if he gets across the bridge, there is much that could cause us problems on the other side since the citizens there are unprepared." Alard cleared his throat. "Things have moved too fast."

"Fair enough, Deputy. I'll get my wagon ready."

Maela wasn't sure when or even if they would ever see Ralan again, but the more she heard and saw of him the more she thought he may actually turn out to be an important asset to the guild.

As she climbed into Deely's wagon and under the tarp, she thought of her sadness over Pietro's passing. He was the closest she had ever had to a father, and his death hit her hard, so when she met the new Guildmaster she instinctively hated him since he was filling Pietro's position and yet he wasn't Pietro. But not being Pietro was an unfair criticism to lay at Ralan's feet.

Even if he was an idiot.

[https://i.imgur.com/Xqgb2MS.jpeg]