“Don’t fidget, Dorian,” I whispered under my breath, keeping my gaze bnk as I stared at the line ahead. “We are almost at the front.”

  “Easy for you to say, Eline,” Damian murmured from behind me. “You have a way to make this easier.”

  “I’m not using it right now.”

  That made him pause. Then, he grumbled something under his breath.

  We were standing near the front of a massive line, right in front of the brooding Information Guild. The color of the rge building was almost as dark as that Hero’s sword had been. Looking at it made me a little uncomfortable. Perhaps that was the point.

  Buildings surrounded us, though none of them were particurly busy compared to this pce. Our line had just passed by the statue of the First Veyne. I could see an echo of my own father in the rge statue. It was an odd sight to walk right in front of the judgmental eyes of my ancestor, but we were past it now.

  The line slowly moved. We had already been here for an hour. The wait alone was making me regret coming here in the way I had. Maybe I should have just risked a leak.

  Patience, Esra.

  It took ten more minutes before we reached the front of the line. Two guards dressed in bck guarded a set of doors leading inside.

  “Purpose?” His voice was low, gruff. I got the impression it’d have been the same even if I weren’t a child.

  “I wish to speak to the Guildmaster.”

  The two guards exchanged a gnce. The first was already moving forward. “The Guildmaster doesn’t ju-”

  “The snake can only eat itself once.”

  He paused. Looked at me, at the line behind me. He nodded, and his friend moved to open the doors. We were inside, the doors leading the way to a rge lobby. There were more people here, all of them, by and rge, better dressed than the people outside. Damian and I probably stood out. I was wearing a blue woolen gown, my hair dyed brown. Damian was wearing a matching woolen tunic.

  There was nothing I could do about my eyes. Oh well.

  We didn’t have to wait at all before a woman approached us. She was wearing a fancy brown suit. Suits were apparently preferred by all of the Guilds and rarely seen outside of them.

  “The Guildmaster wishes to see you.” She said politely, already walking away.

  “This pce is different from what I imagined,” Damian commented.

  I nodded. I’d only exchanged letters, and so this was my first time being here too. Everywhere I looked, there was some kind of Magical Implement, whether it be for powering the lights on, or for keeping the floors clean. Was that man…using a vacuum?

  “Yeah…it is odd,” I murmured.

  The woman led us through a back entrance, down a series of hallways. We finally stopped in front of a door that looked no different from the many other doors we had passed.

  “He will see you now.” She bowed a little, and then she walked away.

  “I really would have preferred to have Anias here.” Damian sighed, moved forward, and opened the door.

  "Not much of a stealth mission with her." I reminded.

  The inside was just as ordinary as the outside was. A single desk, two bookshelves on either side, and an overworked-looking man in the middle. I had expected many things. This was definitely not one of them.

  He looked up at us, nodded. “Please, do have a seat.”

  Damian and I took ours. The man wasn’t exactly what I’d expected from the head of a rge Guild. He seemed painfully ordinary.

  “Now, why have you two come here today? I believe you are Lady Veyne, and this is….the Everstand child, yes? What business do either of you have with the Guildmaster of the Information Guild?”

  Lies.

  “This is the Information Guild. There would be only one reason for me to come here.”

  “Just so.”

  He nodded slowly, leaned forward. “Now, what can I do for you? Apologies, but a pce like this certainly isn’t the pce for a child.”

  I raised a hand to stay off Damian, but he was already moving.

  “You? You can do nothing for me.” I said evenly. Something about this had felt wrong.

  Click. Click.

  “What?”

  I enhanced my eyesight and dulled the pain that came with it. Then, I concentrated mana into my eyes. People called this ‘Mana Sight’, it provided a small enhancement to one’s sight, but its real purpose was to see the flow of mana.

  It was a little disorienting to combine my Gift with this, but Anias had been forcing me to practice.

  I saw everything. The mana in the air, the mana flowing through the man in front of me. He was channeling, though his mana was weak, which is why I hadn’t noticed before. There was a faint glow around his entire body.

  Something blurred behind the man.

  I turned my sight back down, and the world returned to normal. “I wish to speak to the Guildmaster. I have no time for their peon.” I folded my arms in front of me and leaned back in my seat. “I would py this game or test or whatever this is with you, but I’m afraid I am quite busy these days.”

  There was silence for a moment. The man continued to stare. Then, he sighed. His serious expression crumbled.

  “Man, she made me memorize an entire script. Hah…whatever.” He clicked his fingers. A door materialized behind him, carved into the wall itself. “She’ll see you now. Do tell her I tried if she asks. Please?” The poor man looked very hopeful.

  “I certainly will,” I said while rising. “Come, Damian.”

  Damian just looked befuddled.

  The next room also wasn’t what I’d expected, though this was for entirely different reasons.

  There was a high ceiling with a painted panel depicting a rising sun. The floor was covered by what looked like a rug. A fire burned in a small hearth to the side, casting a light glow over the room.

  The Guildmaster sat zily on one of the two couches in the room, sipping tea. The woman was wearing very, very little. Truthfully, she was wearing little more than a bck shift that looked to be struggling to contain her chest. Sharp brown eyes stared at me, framed by a heart shaped face, long flowing bck hair.

  She was a rather beautiful woman, in the objective sense of the word.Damian let out a small gasp. Did I have to reach out and cover his eyes?

  “Oh? Thomas usually does a much more thorough job.” Her voice had an odd accent to it that I hadn’t heard before. It made every word she said sound oddly husky.

  “He did try.” I supplied helpfully. “I assume that was his Gift back there? His mana was a little obvious.”

  The woman raised one brow. “Oh? Most people certainly wouldn’t notice. Well, come here and let me look upon you two properly.”

  We stepped forward. The woman took a searching gnce at us before nodding. “You did well enough. It’s unlikely anyone will be able to tell who you two are.”

  The woman hadn’t offered yet, but I went and sat down in the other seat. “That’s, of course, assuming that nobody here has a loose tongue.”

  The woman smirked. “They don't. I had wondered if I had been previously conversing with the Lady herself, or with one of her attendants.”

  “Likewise.” The woman had been quite different in our letters, to the point where I had genuinely assumed the man outside had been her for a few seconds.

  Damian sat next to me.

  “I am curious why a son of House Everstand is here.” The woman drawled. “I was under the impression that your Noble House thought itself above making use of our meager services. Though, I suppose my surprise pales in comparison to when a Veyne reached out to me.”

  “I go where Lady Esra wishes.” He said formally. “It’s not my pce to question.”

  That was rich, coming from someone who seemed to question me quite a bit. Oh well.

  The woman snorted and leaned back in her seat. “Very well then. You both may call me Evelynn. Now….” She csped her hands in front of her. “Tell me why two noble children would come visit me like this.”

  “I would assume you would know that already,” I said dryly. “Just as you knew we were waiting in line outside.”

  Her smirk widened. “Nothing like the old rumors then, are you child? Very well.”

  Evelynn clicked her fingers. Light coalesced in the table in front of her, in the form of…a building. Not just any building, this was a replica of the Auction House. It wasn’t like I had been paying much attention to the yout of the pce, but the outside looked eerily accurate. What an interesting Gift.

  “You wish to know more about the attack. Well, if you need information for your vengeance, then-”

  “I do not.” I cut her off.

  “What?” The Guildmaster paused and stared at me.

  “The City Guard is already investigating that. If they do not turn up anything, then I will be happy to use other methods.” I folded my hands. “I wish to know more about what they’re presently struggling with.”

  “Hmm.” She tilted her head curiously, snapped her fingers again. The Auction Hall disappeared entirely, repced by a replica of the city.

  The Auction Hall was one thing, but this was much more impressive. Was this accurate? To scale? There were so many questions, and now wasn’t the time for any of them.

  “The City Guard deals with quite a few pressing problems at every turn. I do admit, even I’m not sure what you’re referring to this time.”

  “More and more children go missing from the streets every day. Lord Wardell informed the Council that the City Watch had made no progress in investigating this matter. The Council did not offer any additional support.” I leaned forward. “Hence, I am here to ask what the Information Guild might know. Who is responsible?”

  The woman stared at me. Something in the air shifted.

  “And pray tell, just what does the daughter of a Duke care for what happens to penniless children?”

  “I was unaware you were interested in the motives of your clients.”

  I kept eye contact with the Guildmaster. She sighed. “As, that is information I am not willing to part with.”

  Click. Click.

  My gaze sharpened. I stared at her face. “Not willing, or not able to?”

  She froze for just a moment, her smile strained ever so slightly. The tter I couldn't have seen without my Gift, the former I wouldn't have noticed if I hadn't been looking for it.

  “Ah, so that’s how it is,” I said with a small nod. “I do suppose that expins a great many things.”

  “Esra, what are you talking about?” Poor Damian sounded like a man completely lost at sea. He had been quiet for remarkably long.

  “The Information Guild is in a rather tenuous position.” I kept eye contact with the woman. “It had been an underground organization until retively recently. I suppose they were closer to a Thieves Guild at the time. They were given legitimacy, a chance to work in the light without having to worry about the w. It was a rather beneficial arrangement, one that was very controversial at the time.”

  I raised one finger. “There was just one condition. Not one stated explicitly, but one implied often enough. The Information Guild could not interfere in matters between the Five Great Houses. They may aid them, but never aid them against each other.”

  “So…she can’t tell us because….” He paused, slowly nodding his head.

  The Guildmaster’s expression hadn’t shifted to annoyance as I’d expected. Rather, she looked intrigued. “I dare say there might be more interesting rumors about you soon, Lady Veyne. You did keep up this ‘Ghost’ nonsense for remarkably long.”

  Is that what she thought? That Esra’s entire life leading up to the st few months had been one big act? People really could tie themselves in knots overthinking. Though I suppose something like transmigration didn’t immediately come to mind.

  “Though….” The Guildmaster's mused. “You are only partly correct, Lady Veyne.”

  “Oh?”

  “It’s not that we can’t answer. It’s that we can’t answer that question.”

  The silence settled.

  Ah.

  “Of course, there is also the matter of payment.” The woman smiled.

  “You should know that money wouldn’t be an issue-”

  “No, no.” Evelynn shook her head. “Money is rather useful, and I am rather fond of it. However, it’s not every day that one of the Golden Five comes for help. Money might have worked st time. Now, I want something more…interesting.”

  I didn’t say anything. Damian fidgeted uncomfortably.

  “What do you want?”

  “Tsk. Tsk.” The woman shook her head. “You’re a sharp girl. You tell me.”

  I tried not to sigh. The woman wasn't interested in money. Perhaps she was interested in an Artifact from the family vault? No, that was rather unlikely too. She presumably wanted something only House Veyne could give her.

  “You wish for access outside the city,” I said finally. “Undocumented access.”

  There were only two ways out of Aelheim. One was to use either of the two great Farstep Circles. One was in the Indri District, the other in the Thalos District. They could take a person to any other city connected by a Farstep Circle of their own, nowhere else. Of course, actual movement had to be well documented. Access to those was not within my power.

  Then, one could venture outside the walls themselves. It had been a monster-infested nd for decades, save for a few 'sanctuaries' for miles and miles. Adventurers ventured out frequently enough, as did the men of House Veyne. Our House kept a record of everyone who moved in or out, and then we moved that record over to the Great Council. It was entirely within my power to alter that record, if need be.

  Her smile widened, reaching her eyes. “You are a rather bright girl, aren’t you?”

  “Why? What do you want out there?”

  Her expression didn’t change. "What would an Information Guild want but information. As, I can't disclose the nature of said information. All I can say is that it has nothing to do with House Veyne.”

  I didn’t quite believe her, not that it really mattered. If this was the price, then so be it.

  “Esra, this really isn’t a good idea,” Damian murmured. “The walls are manned for a good reason. You can’t tell me you trust this woman. Who knows what they're after? Our father's wouldn't-”

  “Your father isn't here. Neither is mine. And you are my retainer, remember that." I lightened my tone just slightly. That had come out sounding too harsh, judging from the way he looked at me.

  "I don’t trust her.” I stared at him, trying to convey all the honesty I could. "But only a fool would think they don't smuggle their way out anyway sometimes. If they want easier access for what they do already, I consider it a rather cheap price for what I need."

  He reluctantly nodded. Though, I got the impression this would come up again ter. Now, if only Estovan and Anias were so easily convinced.

  “Two times a month,” I said. “A party no rger than four people. For a stretch of time no longer than four days.” I didn’t know why the woman wanted to explore nds infested by monsters and who knew what else, but that was her problem. "Your men come and go on their own. If they die...." I shrugged.

  “And if your men are caught, naturally, House Veyne will assume they slipped outside on their own.”

  It was rather restrictive. Intentionally.

  “Five times a month.” Evelynn countered.

  I blinked. That's it? Just what in the hell did they want out there? Not now, Esra.

  “Three.” I made to rise. “There are more unsavory elements I can approach to get what I want. I simply wished to try things the proper way first.”

  Evelynn sighed. “Alright. Three it is. Unfortunately, that will only buy you two questions. I hope My Lady asks the right ones.”

  What a stingy woman. “Contact Anias for the finer details. I’m not as familiar with our House’s structure as I would like to be yet.” I straightened. “Now, two questions. Hmm.”

  I had a good deal more than just two questions. Something told me this woman was going to answer exactly two and no more, not unless I was willing to give away something actually important.

  “Where did these kidnappings first begin? What District?”

  “The Indri District. It started roughly thirteen months ago.” Evelynn said, no change in expression at all.

  “Are there any criminal organizations that either rose to prominence or greatly increased in prominence around that time? Specifically based in that District.”

  Evelynn nodded approvingly. “The underworld is never stable. Gangs rise and fall every month. The Gangs that stay at the top usually stay there. Except….” She tilted her head. “The Blue Vipers have been rather energetic as of te. The other Gangs are wary of them. They used to be little more than petty thieves. One wonders just what emboldens them so.”

  The Blue Vipers, huh? Now that would take some looking into.

  "I'm also going to need us to find a safe way to communicate. I do appreciate the decor, but I would rather not have to come see it every time I have need of you."

  She shrugged. "That's a simple matter. If House Veyne hadn't been so proud and stuffy, we would have had such a channel already."

  That made sense, I suppose. It was probably a good thing my father wasn't awake to see this.

  “Now, I want to ask you a question, the same question I asked before.” Evelynn leaned forward. “Why do you care?”

  Kill. Kill.

  Mine and the Godbde’s swords were aligned in the same direction, at least.

  “Do you need to care to protect children?” I whispered. “You should ask why others don’t instead.”

  Evelynn sighed and turned to Damian. “She is a strange one, isn’t she?”

  “You don’t have the faintest idea,” Damian muttered.

  I looked over at him and spped his arm. “Hey, be nice.”

  Still, that was all I’d needed. I rose. Damian rose with me. “Thank you, this has been rather productive.” I tipped my head, made for the door. I was clearly being pyed in some way. Thankfully, Evelynn hadn't yet realized I was going to py her, too. The barely hidden need behind her request had sparked my own curiosity.

  “Lady Esra?”

  “Hmm?” I turned to look at her.

  “I would have answered you for two exceptions a month.” She smiled.

  “What a coincidence.” I smiled back. “I would have for five.”