Orion was positively giddy when Vesper walked into his office. He pushed his chair back, stood up, and walked around to meet Vesper, something he rarely did. “Vesper! You don’t look worse for wear, especially having made it through the Wretched Quarter.”

Vesper took Orion’s outstretched hand and shook it. He was nervous at Orion’s mood. Orion was always well-liked and friendly in his dim-witted, happy-go-lucky role in public, but his private persona was cruel and mercenary. If there wasn’t an immediate goal achieved that helped his interests, Orion wasn’t the type to shake a hand.

“You are kind to overlook my bruises and weariness, Guildmaster.”

“Nonsense. You have done your job, and such is the price you paid. You are better for it.” Orion waved to the couch for Vesper to sit, an honor he rarely bestowed on his Blade, even though he was Orion’s most valuable guild member. “You did do your job, didn’t you?”

And there was the rub. Orion must have assumed from Vesper’s presence that he had succeeded in assassinating Ralan. Vesper sat, wondering if his news would be perceived better or worse than having succeeded in his mission.

“Alas, sir, I did not succeed in killing Ralan, but I have even more valuable information.” Orion frowned but didn’t say anything. “This is going to sound unbelievable, but I assure you that it is true. I traveled along the banks of the Great River and through the Ash Fields to find this information, which I witnessed with my own eyes.”

Orion nodded. “No need to exaggerate, Vesper. Larsen is digging his own grave, so there is little that you can say regarding Ralan that will be worth more than my passing notice.” Leaning back, Orion waved a hand. “Go on.”

“My first discovery is that the Wretched Quarter is inhabited by guild members of all our guilds. People doing menial jobs and who can’t afford to live in the Flats, let alone the Lower Triangle.”

“Yes. Yes. Yes. I know this. This is why it’s the Wretched Quarter. Our wretched guild members live in the streets there. It is sad, but it is the way it is.”

“But I discovered they are not living in the streets, and the Wretched Quarter is simply a facade. Behind the areas near the Great Bridge are taverns, town homes, and people living normally.” Orion stared at Vesper, as he continued. “I daresay the lodgings are similar to the Lower Triangle.” Better than the Flats, Vesper thought.

“But it is lawless,” Orion said, a tinge of uncertainty in his voice. “It is overrun by thieves.”

“It is not lawless, and it is not overrun by thieves, it is run by thieves—the Thieves Guild.” With Orion’s face frozen in shock, Vesper outlined nearly everything he had seen, from the Black Knights manning the walls to the clean streets and taverns in the Old Quarter to the organization of the guild members in all the other guilds, including Craftsmen.

At that Orion exploded in anger. “These vile thieves have infiltrated my own guild!?”

“Sir, I’m afraid you don’t grasp the gravity of the situation. They have not infiltrated the guild; they are part of the guild. They care for, feed, and shelter our guild members.”

Orion sat silently, clenching his fists so tight his knuckles had turned white. “You are telling me that Saxe’s men do not patrol the Wall south of the Great gate?”

“They do not.”

“That idiot. Has everyone lost their senses in this city?” Orion looked at Vesper. “Saxe’s incompetence is bad enough, but do you realize what Larsen has done?”

“I’m afraid not, sir.”

“He has just sent the entire Harvest Guild into the arms of those Thieves. They will assist them, feed them, give them homes. This vile guild of those that steal from my own warehouses will be seen as saviors!” Orion’s voice rose, and his anger was such that spittle flew from his mouth as he shouted. “This is Alard’s doing!” Orion took a breath and was suddenly the calm guildmaster that people saw outside in Founder’s Park. “Do you know where Alard hides himself?”

Vesper immediately thought of the majestic tower of the Thieves. “I do not, sir.” He also excluded Ralan from the conversation. If he was going to look out for himself, he would have to share information selectively, and exposing Ralan and Alard did not seem wise.

Orion scratched his head. Vesper had never seen him so thoughtful. Orion was different things to different people, but Vesper had never seen him anything but decisive and commanding in leadership. He tended to make smart decisions, but he always seemed to make them by instinct. That Orion was thinking took Vesper aback.

“This is now a three-pronged challenge for me,” Orion said, almost to himself. “I’ll need to manage Polo and his rage at Larsen. I can’t be lumped in with him. Similarly, I need to stop this madness of Larsen’s. I thought I could let him tie his own noose, but with the thieves welcoming hundreds of new recruits, he is risking all of Ness.” Peering at Vesper, Orion continued, “The final challenge is to confront these thieves. You have a new mission, Vesper. You are to return to the Wretched Quarter, find where Alard is hiding, and then you are to assassinate him.”

“Sir, that may take me weeks. I will have to find out the information and then achieve the formidable task of killing Alard. Do you think this is wise or worth the effort?”

Closing his eyes, Orion took a deep breath. “Do not disappoint me, Vesper. You can disguise yourself as a Harvest guild member. Larsen’s guild members will gladly escort you to the Wretched Quarter, and from what you say they will gladly take you in. All you need to do is find out where Alard is and kill him.”

“As you wish, Guildmaster. Your words are wise.”

“Very good.” Orion stood up. “I was wrong. You look awful. Get some rest tonight and head out tomorrow. I want Alard dead as soon as possible.”

“Yes, sir.”

Vesper made his way out of Orion’s office. Things were getting interesting, and he didn’t want interesting. He wanted clarity. Orion, who appeared to have things under control when he first left for the Old Quarter, was now admitting that he had a problem with both Harvest House and Larsen thanks to the Thieves unpredictable entrance into his plans. The Thieves, on the other hand, were bolstering their ranks, earning goodwill with the refugees, and probably earning thanks from Polo for helping his guild members.

I need to head to the Thieves Tower, Vesper thought. I’ll provide information to Ralan and Alard and see what they say. Depending on what I hear, I may have a new mission or a bloody dagger.