Kaethe fluttered her eyes open and yawned. A blue woolen blanket was draped over her shoulders. She smiled and glanced around the hallways. A mischievous glint sparkled in her eye. Kaethe spotted someone rounding the corner and reached for her magic tome. When she looked up again, nobody was there. Instead she felt a presence sneak behind her.

"Well what do you know, you're here as well. You had quite a reputation before joining that mercenary group. Isn't that right, Kaethe? I hope you've given up your old job." Kaethe turned around and saw a man cloaked in red, his mouth hidden and his eyes revealed no emotion besides amusement. He wore a red bandana on his forehead, and Kaethe saw the sheath for a knife by his waist.

Kaethe laughed and replied, "You could say I gave it all up for him. When I found out about him, things simply fell apart. I didn't have to avenge them anymore. I merely had to protect him. Besides, necromancy takes too much energy. Yet that doesn't stop you from assassinating people does it?" Volke shook his head and smirked.

The two users of disguise stared at one another. Volke reached for his knife as Kaethe touched her tome lightly. She would burn him into ash if he tried anything funny. Likewise, Volke was prepared to kill any threat to his current employer, Ike. Bastian still hadn't said anything more about that job after the war.

"Raised the dead lately?"

"Killed a figurehead lately?"

They asked their questions at the same time. Kaethe swerved around and saw a shadow of a passerby dance against the wall. Her ears caught the sound of light footsteps as Volke easily snuck away.

Soren ran his finger through the stack of paperwork he held in his hands. There were shopping lists, complaints, and job offers that required the Greil Mercenaries to be in more than one place at a time. They simply couldn't handle so much. Perhaps it would've been better to become the Royal Guard. Of course, Ike never did like the fame and fortune.

On another note, Ike would have earned some points with Shinon. Not that anyone needed to earn points with that arrogant jerk. Yet, Soren always did commend Shinon on his excellent marksmanship. If only that man were a bit more obedient. Then again, Soren would work him down as a slave. Retribution at its finest.

"Necromancy… assassinating people…?" Soren stopped once he heard those awkward tidbits of a conversation. He glanced at the wall and backed away slowly to avoid casting a shadow. Shame, he could barely hear it anyways.

Soren waited a while and heard more. "Raised the… killed a…?" Two separate voices spoke at the same time. His expression didn't go through drastic changes except for a cocked eyebrow.

The conversation stopped and Soren saw his shadow against the wall. He had been careless. He shook his head and pretended that he had just walked by. Slowly he eased into a normal pace but not before hearing, "Blast that man! At least he can keep his lips sealed."

Soren stared at Kaethe and waved slightly. She smiled at him and waved back. Soren fidgeted with his robes and finally pulled a piece of paper from the bottom of his stack. He thrust it in Kaethe's face and mumbled, "I wrote down some willing to help out. Don't expect me to be all sunshine and roses about this."

Name: Stefan

Class: Swordmaster

Name: Mist

Class: Cleric

Name: Ranulf

Class: Beast Tribe

Name: Volke

Class: Assassin

Name: Jill

Class: Wyvern Knight

Name: Soren

Class: Sage

A calm smile appeared on Kaethe's face. Soren watched her expressions, trying to read what she was thinking. A sudden glare of disdain crossed her eyes as she made her way down to approximately Ranulf's slot. Soren was curious as to why she wouldn't have wanted a laguz along.

Soren decided to take his chances and asked straightforwardly, "What's wrong with Ranulf?" Kaethe blinked and looked up from the assignment chart. She covered her mouth and bent forward giggling.

Soren stared at her oddly and subtly smirked. Kaethe had given away whom in the group she disliked. Soren had been skeptical as to why their enigmatic assassin wanted to come as well. Volke, in all his weird habits and ways, always asked for money. Whether it was picking locks or eating with others: money. And yet this time he asked for nothing.

Soren's former teacher was hiding something from him and he knew it. He didn't bother to ask. Soren opened the door to his office, grabbed the blanket Kaethe left on the floor, and slammed the door resulting in the jangling of a nearby chandelier. Soren huffed and dumped his papers in a stack beside the daily mail. It was shredding time.

Kaethe saw a flash of green light emit from under the door of Soren's office. She gulped and stared at the paper again. It wouldn't have hurt to look for them.

Several minutes later, Kaethe found herself in some wing on another floor. A sigh escaped her lips. She leaned against the wall and looked at the paper. If she could control a mischievous imp… No, I gave that up a long time ago. Summoning is considered necromancy and you know it, Kaethe! Ah, where could that nice priest be?

"Tsk, come on. That isn't how you make a bow." Kaethe watched a little boy run towards her with an oddly shaped stick in hand. He was wailing his head off. As he came by, Kaethe whisked him under her shawl and dabbed at his tears with her thumb. She saw a red-haired man pursuing the young boy. He scowled and glared at the boy. "Rolf, don't hide behind strangers."

Kaethe ruffled up the little boy's hair and bent down to his height. He rubbed his tearful eyes, but they just wouldn't stop flowing. "Rolf? That's a nice name. It sounds like the name of a warrior. You know? Like Rolf the Silver Light. What's wrong, little one?"

Rolf sniffed and held out the stick. "Sh-Shinon says it looks nothing like a bow! Wahhhh! Unkie Shinon, you're mean!" Tears splurged from his reddened eyes. Kaethe couldn't help but panic when she realized Rolf's name was on her companion list.

Kaethe looked up at the man and asked, "I take it you're Shinon?" Shinon scoffed and kneeled beside Rolf. He took the stick from Rolf and pulled a knife from his pocket. He started chipping away at the bent stick till it curved. He gave it to Rolf, and Rolf let out a whimper or two.

"…thank you. Yay! I wuv you, Unkie Shinon!" Rolf took the stick and immediately attached himself onto Shinon's leg. Kaethe gave a look that said 'need some help'? And Shinon reluctantly nodded. "Hmm?"

"My name's Kaethe. You'll be joining me on my quest. Will you help me find the others on this list?" Rolf took the paper and stared at it. He pouted and shook his head. Kaethe asked in a softer tone, "Why not?"

Rolf looked up at Shinon and jabbed the paper at him. "Shinon, you're coming, too!"

"Huh? Since when?" Rolf looked at Kaethe and winked. Kaethe laughed and nodded. Rolf kept on of his hands behind his back and counted from three. At three, both Rolf and Kaethe gave Shinon the puppy-dog look. Shinon stepped back startled and grimaced. He clenched his teeth trying to ignore us, but to no avail. He shouted, "Pah! Fine, have it your way."

Rolf grinned childishly and glued himself to Shinon's other leg. "Thank yoooo!" Shinon closed his eyes and shook his head. Rolf let go and snapped his fingers. "I can help you find everyone except for Volke. He's scary and weird." Kaethe chuckled at that comment. "Oh… Soren should know better than to add Ranulf. I think he's still helping out in Gallia."

Kaethe stared at the ground slightly dejectedly. It would have shown the Branded that they meant no harm if both parties came to help. Kaethe put on her best motherly smile and took the paper from Rolf's hand. She was about to thank him when an eager voice shouted, "Olly olly oxen free! I'm back, everyone!"

The three spun around and Kaethe noticed a blue-haired laguz walking towards them. She stared at him and immediately bowed down. Kaethe whispered to herself, "Don't remember, don't remember, oh please don't remember." Beast tribe means laguz, you dolt! Ah, to be so calm and then flustered. Why do I remember this now? Damned idiot of a… It's all his fault! I have no right to speak or talk of laguz, oh…

Kaethe looked up and found Rolf, Shinon, and the laguz staring at her. She flushed and began dusting herself off. "Do you know of 'The Ebon Arrow'?"

The laguz looked at Kaethe puzzled and replied, "Uh, name's Ranulf. What's yours?" Kaethe bowed her head thoroughly embarrassed.

Kaethe held out her hand and stuttered, "Ka-Kaethe. My f-father…" Kaethe shook her head and trailed off. She stared at her paper and gave it to Rolf. "I'm sorry. I need time to compose myself. Uh, p-please get everyone else to meet at um… is there a courtyard around here?"

A sly yet suave voice murmured, "I can take you there if you like."

Shinon pivoted on his foot and scowled. "Don't sneak up on us like that, murderer. Assassin, pah…" Volke chuckled and held out his hand for Kaethe. Kaethe cautiously took it and began following the mysterious rogue down the castle floors.

Kaethe looked back and waved at Rolf hopefully. She spun around to face what was in front of her. She glanced at Volke and mumbled, "Have you heard from my father at all?"

"Ever since he murdered your mother when you were four? No. He's still out there. You're lucky that couple took you in. They were killed as well though…" Volke stopped after seeing Kaethe's crestfallen expression.

Kaethe frowned that Volke had noticed, and brought a hand to her forehead, "Codenames from now on. Got it, Vandal?"

"Of course, Scorcher. Of course."