After speaking with the village magistrate, Eliwood and company set their sights on Laus. The road from Pherae to Laus passes through Santaruz. Eliwood suspects his missing father must have visited Santaruz en route to Ostia. Eliwood arranges a meeting with the local ruling lord to see what he can learn.

At Santaruz Castle...

The marquess anxiously looked at the odd man in the dark robes ahead of him and spoke.

"What? Eliwood is here?"

The man, nodded with shimmering golden eyes. "Yes, his colleagues and he have set up camp on a hill south of us. He seeks permission to enter Santaruz. He wishes an audience of you."

The marquess spoke in a sympathetic tone, remembering moments he and young Eliwood have had in the past. "Do you think he's come to ask of his father? If that's the reason... I wouldn't know what to say."

The man simply replied. "Say nothing, and send him on his way."

The marquess replied, "Yes... I know Eliwood well. His father and I are old friends. I have no children of my own; I've always adored Eliwood... I don't think I could look him in the eye and lie. I could not."

"Then if that will happen, we must chase him away. If you don't speak, you can't lie, can you?"

"Wait!" The marquess felt worry sinking into his heart. "Do you mean to harm Eliwood?"

"Not harm. A scratch or two will leave no scars. He will run home and end his adventure. He knows he's all Pherae has left…"

With that the mysterious man left the marquess. The marquess sighed as his guilt began to eat away at his insides.

To our travelers...

Went looked on aimlessly as several trees passed him by as he continued to ride with Marcus and Lowen. He had sorely missed riding on a horse and now, that was exactly what he was doing. His drifting began to take him to thoughts and memories of Lyn. He had had a vision not so very long ago, that had warned him of a grave danger that rapidly approached. And he was beginning to wonder if Lord Elbert's disappearance had anything to do with it. And as they had been riding towards Santaruz, Went had become aware of a feeling of dread. And he could not ignore it, despite his more rational judgment.

Marcus, spoke to Eliwood then.

"Instead of entering Laus with such little people, I suggest we ask Marquess Santaruz for his assistance. It is a good plan."

Eliwood thought for a moment. "True. I'm pleased to have you with us. Lord Helman... I've known him since I was a child. I'm sure he will help."

Went whirled around as soon as heard a twig snapping, knowing that by the sound of the twig, someone was there he shouted. "Someone is following us!"

Marcus jumped in front of Eliwood. "Lord Eliwood! Beware!"

With this, a fat man jumped out at the travelers and laughed. Rebecca, frightened at the sight of another bandit, hid behind Lowen.

He sneered. "Excuse me, noble sirs, alms for a poor villager?"

Marcus scoffed. "Poor villager? You look nothing like an honest man."

Lowen barked shortly, "Clear the road, quickly!"

"Step quickly? Hah. Good advice, maybe you're the ones who should heed it!"

"What?" Lowen gasped, wondering what this ruffian could mean.

The man continued. "Someone wants the boy dead. A shame if you ask me, but he will die here. Today." He then turned to the bordering woods and mountains.

"C'mon boys! Earn your keep and fight!"

Bartre gazed on in wonder as the numbers seemed to rise exponentially. Dorcas sighed as he put his hand on Went's shoulder.

"Here we go again, eh, Went? Just like old times... Seems out fates are bound."

Went nodded thinking for a moment, and remembering Natalie back at the fortress. "Aye, just like old times. Oh, how your wife Natalie?"

"Natalie? Oh, she's still in Pherae. I'm working for you again, so she isn't worried. She was actually quite pleased and sends greetings."

Went nodded. "Nice, now I want to you take out that bandit with the lance."

Dorcas nodded and rushed out, taking Bartre into battle.

Dorcas threw his hand axe into the skull of an unsuspecting bandit while Bartre hacked into his side. They all began to clear out the bandits one by one.

On the other side of the battle...

"Hmm. Looks like a fight... You! Soldier! Are you just going to stand there and watch?" A well-built tall, dark blue-haired man yelled to a soldier. The soldier turned around and glared. "What occurs here is no affair of a meddling foreign lordling like you!"

"I believe I'm going to have to disagree with you. You are trying to kill my friend!" The man screamed in anger.

"Wha-?" The soldier began, but was silenced by the anger of the man and his Wolf Beil.

All of a sudden, Serra stepped from behind the man as she looked at the soldier's carcass on the grass. She squealed.

"Ewww! That's terrible! I loathe violence!" Then Matthew turned up and congratulated the lord for his kill.

"Nicely done milord!"

Matthew was interrupted by a knight who went up to the axe-wielding lord.

He spoke in a deep voice, "I wish you wouldn't condone to violence as a first reaction…"

The man growled, his anger and worry rose. "Chastise me later, Oswin! First, we deal with the bandits! We NEED to help Eliwood!"

"Help Eliwood? That sounds a lot like a convenient excuse for more violence…" Oswin muttered.

"Oswin!" He growled. Oswin sighed. "Yes, yes I'm coming…" and he joined the fight.

The lord then turned to Matthew and Serra. He spoke to Matthew.

"Matthew, go and hide with Serra."

If Matthew's mouth had dropped even an inch lower, he would have been eating dirt. "What! With Serra…?"

Serra screamed. "No! I'm going with you!" she said to the lord.

He screamed back at her, losing his already shortened temper. "You are not! You'll slow me down!"

"How rude!" Serra pouted.

He growled. "Oswin, we take our leave now."

"Yes, Lord Hector." Oswin answered as he followed Hector into battle.

Hector, still angered from before rushed into the fray with a bellow so loud, it made many of the soldiers avert their gaze. Hector cut off the first person's head, then cut into another person's chest and fought his way through, leaving whoever he left behind to Oswin. As soon as he saw a familiar red-headed noble, he ran desperately to save his friend.

"Eliwood!" Hector threw is arms around his friend, squeezing him in a bear hug. "Are you all right?"

Eliwood laughed. "I won't be if you keep squeezing me like that! But what are you-"

Hector interrupted. "Later! We need to take care of these louts!" He then let go of Eliwood and ran off.

Eliwood shook his head laughing, knowing that his friend was always impatient and crude at times. As he watched Hector get involved in the fight, he noticed Zagan, the man who had led the attack on him, waiting atop a hill. Went also saw the opportunity, and charged up the hill and cleaved at the bandit, the fat man dodged his attack and struck out at the Cimarron Swordfighter. Went dodged the blow and this time managed to drive his swords through the fat bandit. Zagan gurgled and died.

Eliwood, followed Rebecca and finally finished off the remaining bandits hiding behind the hills and mountains.

Hector grinned. "That's all of them." Exhausted, he sat down on a rock as everyone gathered around Eliwood and Hector. Went came last, wiping his swords on the grass.

Eliwood grinned as he crossed his arms. "What I want to know is where did you come from?"

Hector scoffed, and sarcastically spoke. "Well met, Eliwood."

Eliwood disregarded him. "What are you doing here?" He asked again.

Hector, opening his mouth, placed his fingertips on his breastplate as he spoke. "You wound me!"

Eliwood, asked. "How do I wound you, Hector?"

"If your father went missing, why didn't you send me word?" Hector asked.

Eliwood sighed and sat next to him, trying to explain to his proud friend. "Your brother was just recently named Marquess Ostia. He will be busy setting up his court castle. Won't he need your support?"

Hector replied. "He isn't weak. He can handle it on his own. He knew exactly what I was up to and let me go without a fight."

Eliwood put his arm across his shoulder. "Well then, it would be rude to refuse such company! I'm so happy to see you."

Eliwood beamed as soon as he saw Oswin arrive. "Oswin, it is nice to see you again, my friend."

"Eliwood, well met." Oswin smiled.

"It's been far too long, Oswin!" Marcus sternly spoke as Oswin laughed.

"Lord Hector! Why didn't you tell me the fighting was done?" Serra screamed.

Went stifled a laugh, he was glad to see she was still alive and well.

Matthew came in, out of breath. "I apologize for the interruption milord. I couldn't restrain her any longer!" He rested his hands on his knees as he panted.

Hector sighed. "These are my companions, Eliwood. One may have hoped for better, but…"

"Hey!" Serra shrieked, offended.

Hector rolled his eyes and hung his head.

"That was uncalled for! I can't believe you said that!" Serra continued. Then turned to Matthew. "Matthew, did you hear what he said about you?"

Went was having difficulty keeping his laughter contained. "Man, she is sooo funny. She hasn't changed at all." He thought.

"Me? He was talking about you!" Matthew screamed in frustration as he pointed at Serra.

At this Went rolled his eyes. "He was referring to you both, I'd say." He thought, though he still thought it was funny.

Hector stood up. "The noisy one is Serra. She's actually a cleric, although she could be quite a chatterbox."

"Pleased to meet you." Serra curtsied.

Hector pointed.

"That's Matthew. He does a lot of... sneaking around."

This made Eliwood look suspicious.

Matthew tried to compensate Eliwood's suspicions.

"Um... I can open things quite easily. I've got nimble hands"

Went crossed his arms, a thoughtful look in his face. "Hmm what's this? Matthew is employed by House Ostia like Serra is? How interesting….." Then he smiled, "Hah, it seems that Matthew's got himself in trouble...again." He thought with amusement.

Eliwood spoke apprehensively. "A thief's work….."

"Eliwood doesn't seem to like thieves much…hmm, understandable." Went thought.

Hector grinned. "Don't let it bother you. I feel this trip will be harder that you think. If you want to live, just accept help the way it comes, alright?"

Eliwood looked into Hector's face, pondering. "Do you know something I don't?"

Hector shook his head. "Only rumors. They say a league of assassins have been lurking around in Lycia. Experienced bounty hunters... and mercenaries are disappearing day by day."

Went's eyes narrowed and he felt a sinking feeling in his heart. So things were going down hill as he had feared.

Eliwood, deep in thought now, put his hand to his chin and began to think. "You just reminded me. One of the bandits said that someone was watching me, and wants me dead."

Hector frowned. "That's disturbing news. When I came here, a captain of the guard just was just watching the fight when we came here. A Santaruz knight would just watch a lord in trouble? I think he expected your demise."

Eliwood nodded, then turned to Went and asked. "What do you think?"

Went frowned as he looked down at the floor.

"I think we have some serious problems on our hands. I think something may have happened to Marquess Santaruz… Though by the spirit of Hanon I hope not…."

Eliwood sighed, hoping that the case wasn't true. "You're right Went…. Something may have happened to Lord Helman. I don't understand. I don't think he would want to hurt any of us though…" He looked in the direction of Castle Santaruz.

"We must go to the castle!" Eliwood declared.

Hector, noticing him for the first time after he had spoken, poked Went in the chest. "Eliwood, who is this?" He asked.

"Oh, that's Went. I needed his tactical aid to help me find my father."

Hector smiled. "Oh, I see. So this is the genius who directed that battle?"

"Yes, Lord Hector." Went nodded.

Hector raised his hand. "Just call me Hector. You know... You're awfully young. I've never seen a tactician so young. We have tacticians in Ostia, of course but almost all of them are old geezers hardened by war. And absolutely none of them are of Sacaen descent, what a novelty."

"Hector!" Eliwood scolded. "Be more respectful of our elders."

Eliwood then tried to defend Went. "Yes I know Went is very young, especially for his current stage in his tactical career, but we have only received sound advice, he has my trust."

Hector ruffled Went's hair. "What a privilege. I'll get to see your skills firsthand. Well met, Went."

"Same to you, Hector." Went beamed as he shook hands with Hector. All of a sudden, Matthew leaped onto Went's shoulders.

"Yaaghh! Get off of me!" He cried as he began to wobble around. He then looked up at Matthew as he looked down at him.

"Hello!" He smiled as he jumped off of Went's shoulders. Matthew then slapped Went on the back. "How have you been, Went?"

"Eh. Nothing new I'm afraid. I've just been wandering around fighting and training to be a better tactician the past year. Then I met up with one of the Pheraen Knights and ended up helping Eliwood. And I guess we'll be traveling again. Good to see a friend of mine."

Went smiled at Matthew. "But what have you been up to the past year? And what's this I hear of you serving House Ostia? Are you some kind of spy?"

"Ah yeah, my secret's revealed. Yes, it's true. I'm a spy and Eliwood knows. My being a thief was just a disguise. I have been serving House Ostia. Well, Went, here's to our mutual survival."

"Aye, here, here." Went agreed.

Matthew shook hands with Went, laughing, then walked off. Went smiled as he watched, but then jumped as he heard a loud, recognizable squeal.

"Eeeeeeee!"

"Well, well, it seems that she has finally noticed me." Went thought to himself as Serra ran his way.

"Went! Is it really you? It's been far, far too long!"

Went smiled as he waved to Serra.

"Hi Serra…" He said. Serra ran up and gave him an aggressive bear hug.

Serra began to speak nonstop. "You missed me, didn't you? Of course you did."

Went rolled his eyes laughing. "Yeah I guess I did…." He admitted.

"Ooooohh! I knew it! And guess what? I'll be helping you just like before! Aren't you lucky?" She squealed. Went turned a bit red, and then gently disentangled himself from Serra's grasp. "Aye I guess I am."

Hector blinked. "You don't seem to mind Serra that much…. How can you stand her?" He asked.

Went shrugged. "I don't know. I just like her, she's funny." He chuckled.

Hector frowned. He obviously didn't agree with Went. But then he turned and he and Eliwood walked away then started to set up camp. Went and the others followed their example.

Eliwood's company is now joined by Hector, his knight companion Oswin, and two familiar faces, Matthew and Serra. As they journey to meet Lord Helman, it seems that a mysterious group has decided that Eliwood has to die. Can Went help Eliwood survive these coming trials. Find out in the next chapter. In Search of Truth.