Hey everyone, I'm so sorry about the absence. I guess you could say everything has been too stressful to really write. I'd find myself rushing through and not being proud of what I wrote. So I think I ready to get back to a regular writing schedule.

Read, review, enjoy, and wash your hands!

Chapter 15: Avoiding Conflict

The next day Raiden and that others visited some of the local guilds to learn anything they could about Gillian. Paul accompanied them and so did Tamara who was all too eager to go along with them. Paul brought them to some guilds that might know anything.

After visiting about four different guilds, they came back with nothing.

"Gillian who? Never heard of him."

"Wasn't he part of the White Sentinels? I thought he died years ago?"

"You're better off asking anyone from the Guild he was actually from."

The only problem was that they couldn't meet with anyone from the White Sentinels Guild. Their base was hidden and the one member Uncle Karol knew was way too busy to talk with a bunch of kids.

Raiden gave a defeated sigh as he and Rune sat down on a bench. "Come on you guys, there's not time to just be sitting around," Tamara exclaimed. She seemed to have enough energy and will power to meet with every single guild in the city.

"I think it's pretty clear that no one even knew who Gillian was when he was with the guilds," Rune pointed out.

"Yeah, if Uncle Karol and even Raven can't tell anything about him," Raiden commented. How were they supposed to get any more information?

"You're not going to with that attitude," Tamara said with a pout.

"What's the saying," Paul started to say. "It's like getting blood from a rock."

"What in the world are you talking about?" Rune asked.

"And why would you want to get blood from a rock?" Tamara asked.

"I'm just saying you can't get information where there is none," Paul explained.

"And you couldn't have just said that?" Raiden asked.

"Don't say anything lame like how you wanted to sound cool or something," Elena suddenly said as she and Matthias walked toward them and he was carrying an armload of books. One looked especially heavy.

While they were visiting guilds, Elena spotted a bookstore and dragged a startled Matthias with her. She didn't say anything, but Raiden understood. She probably brought Matthias with her to verify that he hadn't read the book she was interested in. Ever since he spoiled a book for her, she had been reading especially boring looking books. It was actually the first time Raiden had ever seen Elena not finish a book. Now his only question was if Matthias volunteered to carry the heaviest looking books out of knightly duty or if Elena made him.

"I hope you're not expecting anyone to carry all of that," Paul said instead of making any remarks about her comment.

"I'll have most of them done by the time we leave," Elena answered coolly.

Raiden didn't doubt that for a moment.

"Matthias, are you okay carrying all of those?" Rune asked. It did look like his arm was shaking under the weight a bit.

"O-of course," Matthias tired his best to sound strong. "I couldn't let Elena carry all of these on her own."

Raiden looked at his sister who only had one book and she was already opening it. He wasn't sure if Elena was that manipulative or if Matthias was chivalrous idiot.

"Going back to our original objective," Tamara interrupted. "Are we really just giving up?"

"Unless we can meet with the White Sentinel guild, there isn't much more we can learn," Elena said.

"And there is no chance in that," Paul told them. "It's rare for even the Five Master Guilds to meet with any of them."

"If we're calling it a day then I might take the time to explore the city more," Raiden told them. He didn't want to sit around the base. He had way too much anxious energy for that. It wouldn't drive him as crazy if he was moving.

"I'll come with you," Rune offered.

"I have reading to do," Elena said as she put her book on Matthias' pile and pick a different one. Then began reading it.

Matthias had a defeated look. He would carry Elena's books back for her. Not that she would have really given him a choice.

"Well I'm not giving up," Tamara declared and even puffed her chest out. Raiden did wonder if Tamara fully understood why they were looking for information about Gillian. "Tamara Capel is on the job."

"Do whatever you want," Paul said with a tired sigh. He then put his hand on top of Tamara's head and told her, "Just stay with Raiden and Rune. I don't want to tell your dad that your missing again." Then he pointed at Raiden. "And you, stay out of trouble."

"Come on, I don't get in that much trouble," Raiden complained. At that, everyone just gave him an annoyed look. Even his sister looked up from her book. "Well it's not like I go looking for trouble," he said more to himself.

"Onward," Tamara cried out and even started running ahead.

"Tamara," Rune shouted after her and started to chase her. Raiden was quickly behind him. They could hear Paul shouting about staying together.

And I'm the one they're worried about, Raiden thought.

Tamara was surprisingly fast even carrying a large bag. But they were able to keep up with her until she finally stopped on a corner of street. She was standing beside a street light and looking like she was on some stake out.

"Okay Tammy, what are we doing?" Raiden asked. He really wasn't sure what she was doing.

"We're going to find the White Sentinel's boss and talk to him directly," Tamara announced, but she was still on lookout.

"Didn't you hear that we couldn't meet with any members of that guild," Rune pointed out.

"I know that," Tamara admitted. "But hear me out. This is my trump card. I know for a fact that whenever the guild leader goes to this bar every odd day at three o'clock. So the guild leader should be coming any minute now."

Raiden and Rune looked to each other and both had a worried expression. Raiden was a bit worried to find out how she knew that. But he went ahead and asked anyway. "And how do you know this?"

"Well, during my daily patrol around the city, I've started noticing that adults, especially ones with a lot of responsibilities, have patterns to their days," Tamara explained and pulled a book from her bag. She held it open to a page that had the White Sentinels boss' name on top with large graph. "I calculate that there is about a 76.857% chance that he'll stop at this bar. Give or take, math isn't my best subject."

Raiden truly got a glimpse at what his parents had to deal with when he unintendedly caused trouble. There was so much that he wasn't even sure where to start.

Thankfully Rune knew where to start. "Tamara, that's called stalking," the mage stressed in his panicked voiced. He was trying so hard to not raise his voice so bystanders couldn't overhear them. "People don't take kindly to that. And I'm sure guild leaders really wouldn't like that."

"Duh, but adults don't pay attention to kids when they're doing weird things," Tamara explained.

"And if you got caught?" Raiden asked.

"I'd probably pretend to fangirl and say I just wanted their autograph," Tamara said with a shrug.

"How many people are you following?" Raiden asked in alarm. He didn't wait for her response. He swiped her notebook and quickly glanced through it. There were a lot of names and some even Raiden recognized as being big names in the Union.

"Just a few that I've noticed that have patterns," Tamara said.

"That's still pretty risky," Rune said. "Why are you doing this?"

"Because great guild members need a variety of skills like my pops," Tamara said proudly.

All of them had heard about the multiple guilds Uncle Karol had been kicked out of. No doubt that Tamara heard more about that. But it never really seemed like something that should aspire for.

"I don't think that's a skill you need," Raiden said knowing that she wouldn't listen. And she did completely ignore them by going back into stake out mode. Raiden and Rune let out a tired breath.

Raiden was debating if they should go and drag Tamara along or if they should stick around to see if she was right. If they could run into Hayden, the leader of the White Sentinels, then they had a chance to learn anything about Gillian.

But he didn't have long to consider because a familiar voice called out to him. "Raiden, is that you?" When he turned around, he saw that it was Shea. It must have been luck that they happened to run into each other.

"When did you get into the city?" Rune was the one to ask first.

"Barely even a day after we parted ways," Shea answered.

"That's a relief," Raiden told her. "I was worried something could happen with you on your own. Not that you can't take care of yourself." He was quick to add that. He knew that she could manage well in a fight.

"Every time we meet, you seem to have new companions," Shea commented.

"It does seem like it," Rune admitted.

Although she was referring to Tamara, the young girl wasn't paying any attention and was still looking out for the guild leader. "That's Tamara, her dad's the guild leader we were telling you about."

"I see," Shea said. "Well were you able to learn what you were wanting to?"

Raiden paused before he gave an answer. He wasn't sure if he'd consider this a success. If anything he had more questions. But he found something at least. "I know where I need to go next," Raiden said with confidence.

He hadn't had the chance to talk with Rune and Elena about this, but he wanted to visit the Sylvarant Kingdom and find the person Oanez told him could tell him about Halure. "Really?" Rune questioned and understood exactly what he was planning.

Raiden nodded. "Sorry, I hadn't brought that up yet," he said to his friend. "There is still plenty of room for dissuasion."

"That's actually a bit of a relief to hear," Rune told him.

"Well it sounds like you've gained something," Shea added. "So I think that counts as win."

"So where are we going?" Tamara asked, suddenly interested in the conversation. They explained to her about the conversation with Oanez. Just that they were wanting to find Gillian who had been a guild member years ago.

"You won't need to worry about that," Raiden told her which made the young girl pout. There was no point in Tamara getting any more involved with this.

"I will say though Raiden, your name has been brought up a lot in city," Shea told him.

"W-what about?" Rune said sounding worried. He must have thought Raiden did something when he wasn't looking.

"That he was able to get meeting with the woman from Sylvarant when no one else could," Shea answered. "That's all the members of Fortunes Market talked about. Their president couldn't get a meeting with her and she's been nonstop trying."

"Word has really spread," Raiden commented. It sounded like most people knew about Oanez and the Sylvarant thing. If Oanez met with the Empress, the Empire is likely keeping a tight lid on it. Being a noble for the Empire, what did Shea think of all of this. "So Shea-"

Just then their attention drawn to a sudden commotion. It sounded like it was coming from the city's central square that was only a street over. They saw some people running in that direction.

"Let's go see what's going on," Raiden suggested. He felt a bit worried about what could get these people to run and start a commotion. He tried to tell himself that it was likely just a brawl or something. Yet Raiden had a sinking feeling that it wasn't something so simple.

Rune seemed to agree and was willing to follow and Shea seemed interested to know herself. Raiden did have to practically drag Tamara with him. She was protesting that she was still on a stake out.

They arrived at the square shortly and Raiden could see the source of the commotion. There addressing the crowd was Harry Whitehouse, the Unions' leader. Raiden had to tiptoe and peer around some heads to see him. He also couldn't really tell who else was with him because of all the people. It had been a long time since he had seen the leader in passing, but there was no mistaking the scar on his face.

They couldn't hear what Whitehouse was saying to the crowd because of all the shouting. They could barely make out what anyone was saying. "Hey, what's going on?" Raiden quickly asked the person nearest to them.

It was an older man who answered looking very annoyed at the situation. "Some knights are right outside our gates. They're saying we kidnapped some noble's kid. So they're demanding that we return him or they'll take it as an act of aggression."

"What?" Rune exclaimed. Raiden couldn't believe it either. But then it hit him. A noble's son… Matthias? Knowing his mother, she would try and send an army to retrieve him if she thought he'd been taken. And she had sent knights back at Heilord. So it was possible that she'd send them all the way here.

"We need to get back with the others," Raiden said. If this did involve him, they needed to figure something to do. The guilds may want to avoid war, but they very well couldn't ignore something like this.

Rune seemed to come to the same conclusion and agreed. "Could they be looking for Matthias Scifo?" Shea asked in a low tone.

Raiden just nodded as not to attract any more attention. "Come on," Raiden motioned for them to leave.

/~/~/

They hurried back to Brave Vesperia's base to find them with Raven in a serious discussion. Once they saw them enter, Elena stood up from the table and said, "I guess you heard about what's happening."

"Yeah, are they really talking about Matthias?" Raiden quickly asked.

"Seems like it," Raven answered. "Karol and Paul are talking with Harry about it. Apparently they appeared this morning. And now they're making noise." There were so many people there, so it would have been easy to miss seeing them.

"And since the rest of the city is now hearing about, they want something done about," Rune commented.

"I can't believe my mother, she's willing to risk starting a war over this?" Matthias said bitterly as he clenched fists.

"I'll admit, it's a bit extreme," Raven started to say. "But isn't that what mothers do when they believe their children are in danger? Don't fault her too much boy."

Matthias didn't say anything. He seemed to be holding back saying something.

"Do you think we should go talk with them?" Raiden asked. "Maybe if Matthias explain to them they'll back off."

"Just hold your horses kids," Raven told them. "We've been at this for a while. You could say we've gotten pretty good at avoiding fights with knights."

Raiden just felt frustrated. They were just supposed to do nothing when they played a role into this happening. Maybe instead of running away from the knights at Heilord.

"It's not like those knights would listen to us," Elena pointed out bluntly. "They would probably just take Matthias without hearing a word from us. Then they could still claim the guilds were at fault."

"I know it's crazy," Raven started to say, "but sometimes the long way around can help."

"Politics are never straight forward," Shea added. "If the right people are doing the talking then this should all work out."

He supposed to it would work out. His mother had been doing this for years. But why was it like this? Why couldn't it just be simple. Instead it just seems like people want to argue about every little detail. And it was those little details that were the biggest issues and prevented peace happen.

"By the way, who's your new friend you have?" Raven asked.

"I'm Shea," Shea was quick to say. Almost like she was signaling to the rest of them to know that she didn't want her real name known. It probably would be bad if word traveled back to the knights that two noble's children were in the guild city.

"She traveled with us to Dahngrest," Rune explain.

"I'm a traveling merchant and had some business to take care of in the city," Shea went on. Which made Raiden realize how practiced she was at this. The way she said it made her sound like she was a fast-talking saleswoman. Of course when Raiden first met her he wouldn't have guessed she was a noble.

"I see," Raven said. "Must be passionate if your starting young."

"I guess you could say it's more of a family business," Shea added.

Just then the door opened again and it was Karol and Paul that entered. "Oh good, you're all here. That will save us some time," Karol said when he saw them. "I've been talking with the Don, and we've decided to best solution is for you kids to head back with the knights. They're only asking for Matthias, but we figured it would seem a lot more casual to everyone if you all just go in a group."

Matthias quickly stood up and lowered his head to Karol. "I'm so sorry about all of this. I will of course leave to make this situation go away. Would you care to tell the Don I came here of my own free will and that you were nothing but hospitable to me?"

Karol chuckled and ruffed Matthias' hair in a fatherly way that seemed to startle Matthias. "I'll pass it on for you. And Brave Vesperia's doors will always be open to you." Then Karol looked to the rest of them. "Sorry that you all will have to leave early."

"We'll do whatever you need us to do," Raiden told him.

"And I'll be going with you to make sure that you go home," Paul then said to Raiden and Rune.

"What do you mean?" Raiden asked. "Isn't this supposed to be preventing conflict?"

"First, I'm still on a guild job to deliver you kids home," Paul said. "Second, Karol suggested that least one guild member should go along with the knights back to Aurnion to show good faith."

"I'd go with you, but I need to be here for the aftermath of the Soul Craft's leader's passing," Karol told them.

"So that's how you ended up with me," Paul told them.

"Shouldn't it be a guild member from one of the Master Guilds?" Elena asked without looking up from her book.

"The sudden death of Renaud Tasse has them all busy looking for the assassin?" Raven answered. "Do you know how long they had this old man looking in the sewers for this morning?"

"Plus this is tied in with my current guild job," Paul said plainly. "I wouldn't let anyone else take this job."

"You know you could just say that your worried about us," Raiden pointed out.

"I can just picture our little Pauly snapping at anyone to even suggest they would take the job," Raven played along.

"Whatever, you all need to get your stuff," Paul snapped. "The sooner we get this done the better."

"Don't worry it won't take me long to get packed and ready to go," Tamara said and started running into her room.

But Karol was able to catch her arm. "Tamara, you're not going," he told her firmly.

"Come on, please.," Tamara pleaded. "You told me I'm an in-training member of Brave Vesperia and I'm old enough to join a guild now and I practically recite the laws before bed every night."

"Tamara this would be too much for your first guild job," Karol tried to reason. "We're talking about weeks of travel and fighting all kinds of monsters."

"That's the kind of job I want," Tamara said with excited eyes. Then she hung her head low. "If I can't do a job like that then I don't deserve to be yours or mom's daughter anymore."

"Tamara, who told you this?" Karol quickly asked and sounded very worried. Even Raiden was wondering the same thing. The kid sounded like she was on the verge of tears.

"Your both great guild members when you were my age," Tamara told him. "I'm ready for this."

"Tamara…" Karol said as he began to contemplation the decision. He seem to nod to just himself and before standing tall with his hands on his hips. "Very well, this will be your trail mission. You'll shadow Paul and if you complete it then I make you a full member when you get back."

Tamara's head shot up. "Really? I'll get to be a guild member?"

"When you complete the job," Karol told her.

The kid looked like she was vibrating with excitement. "You won't be sorry. I'll be the greatest guild member." She took off fast than before to begin packing.

Raiden smiled seeing that she got her dad's blessing to go…unlike the rest of them. Then his mood soured just a bit realizing that a twelve-year-old was allowed to go but the older ones were getting escorted home.

"You know she played you, right?" Elena commented as she started walking up the stairs to pack her books.

"Huh?" Karol didn't seem to comprehend what Elena said. Raiden was mirroring Uncle Karol in that regard.

"The little lady really knows how to play you," Raven said with a chuckle.

"You…you've got to be kidding me," Karol hung his head in defeat.

"Boss, I know you have a hard time telling your daughters no, but maybe you could have at least asked me if I wanted her shadowing me," Paul told him looking a bit frustrated.

"I can't believe this," Karol complained to himself. There was no way he could go to his daughter and tell her she couldn't go now.

There wasn't really anything Raiden could do for Karol. As he was making his way to get his oven bag, Shea spoke up. "You wouldn't mind if I come with you all, would you?"

"Of course not," Raiden was quick to answer. "But have you finished all of your business here?"

Shea nodded. "Yes. Plus it's always better to travel in groups," Raiden wondered if she was thinking about when they had that fight with the strange kritya. Raiden wouldn't want to run into him on his own.

"We'll be leave in twenty minutes," Paul added. "Meet us at the gate. Don't be late. We can't afford to wait any more."

"I won't. Thank you," Shea said and quickly left to gather her stuff. She must be staying at an inn.

"Go on Raiden," Paul said with a small hit on the back of his head. Raiden hadn't realized he as one of the last ones to leave. "No time to lose."

"Right," Raiden said and hurried upstairs to gather his things.

/~/~/

Skit: Persuasion

Rune: Tamara, when did become so devious?

Tamara proudly: I told you, I'm going to be the greatest guild member there ever was.

Raiden: Doesn't answer our question Tammy.

Tamara: I learn from the best. I've been watching how members of Fortune's Market haggle and make deals. They use all kinds of tricks. Especial the women. Never catch everything. But they guys always seem to get flustered. But they always seem to get what they want.

Rune: Tamara!

Raiden: Seriously, you need to stop spying on people.

/~/~/

Karol packed them all extra lunches and gels for their trip. Both Karol and Raven waited with them by the gates until it was time. Harry was currently on the other side discussing something with the knights. And so far there was no sign of Shea. Raiden craned his neck to see between the busy streets for Shea.

There were still some time left, but Raiden getting a bit anxious. He told himself that if she didn't make it, she would easily be able to catch up. It was clear where they were going. However it didn't stop Raiden's anxiety.

"If you're that worried, then why don't you go look for her," Elena said without looking up from her book. Somehow she convinced Matthias to carry a lot of her books.

Although his sister wasn't looking, Raiden shook his head. "It'd be bad if you all had to look for me too," Raiden told her.

"Then stop worrying," Elena told him sternly.

So Raiden looked to Mathias who had been mostly quiet since they packed their bags. "How are you doing Matthias?"

"I suppose I won't feel better until I'm back home to tell my mother I'm fine and relations are normal," Matthias answered.

"I guess that's true," Raiden commented. The thought that you were the cause of the conflict between the Empire and the Guilds. It would be devastating to be the lynch pin.

"Don't worry about," Tamara said, "Brave Vesperia is on the case. No problems at all."

Paul gently hit Tamara on top of the head. "Calm down, don't get cocky."

"Finally have someone your above," Elena remarked. "What a glorified babysitter."

Paul seemed to finally catch on to how to respond to Elena's snide remarks after all these years, not respond if you don't have a better response. He let out a tired sigh as if to just realize he was going to be traveling with a bunch of kids.

Just then Karol turned to them and said, "It's time guys." Tamara ran to Karol and gave him one last hug.

Raiden quickly looked back into the city. There was still no sign of Shea. They couldn't afford to wait. But where was she? He just hoped she was okay.

As they started walking out the gate, he heard her voice. "Sorry, I'm late," Shea called.

Raiden quickly looked back and saw her running toward them. She was able to weave through the crowd without knocking into anyone. "You got here in time at least. That's all that matters," Raiden said with big grin.

Shea returned the smile when she finally reached them. Raiden stood there for too long because he felt Elena kick him in back of his leg. "Come on," she said sounding annoyed and Sable even seemed to bark in agreement.

They started walking across the bridge to meet four knights waiting for them.