Under New Management
Under New Management
Juturna sat down on the settee next to her brother, her arms folded as she watched their guest walk into the dining hall. Shining Light Thrax, one of the twin middle daughters of the Steward of Mistral, was a lithe and lovely young woman with flowing grey-green hair that curled about her shoulders like ocean waves about to break upon the shore and grey eyes accentuated by the smoky eyeshadow that she wore above them. She wore a white dress of an old-fashioned style, with a loose, low, swooping neckline and a high waist marked by a belt of gold; a ruby brooch worn at her right shoulder kept the whole thing from falling apart, and spindly sandals of spun gold climbed up the long legs that intermittently emerged from underneath her dress as she strutted forwards into their dining hall.
There was a smirk upon her face. Juturna didn’t like it, the face or the smirk. When she had asked Salem for the power to sweep away everyone who stood in the path of her brother’s ascent to power, she had had smirking people like Shining Light particularly in mind.
A quick glance at Turnus told her that her brother did not appreciate the look on Shining Light’s face any more than Juturna did.
Nevertheless, he attempted to keep his tone courteous as he said, “Lady Shining Light, you honour me with your presence.”
Shining Light chuckled. “Thank you for welcoming me, Lord Turnus.” She glanced at Camilla, standing behind the two Rutulians as if she were their bodyguard and not their friend. “Is there any need for the animal to remain? Or are you too afraid to be in the same room as me without protection?”
Oh, no, Juturna thought. Not because she had any objection to Shining Light’s death, but because it might not be exactly the right time to start a civil war; she still hadn’t gotten any practical assistance from Salem, yet.
Turnus didn’t know to expect any, of course, because she hadn’t told him. He just knew that Camilla had been insulted, and so, he got to his feet and activated his semblance.
Juturna went back and forth on her brother’s semblance, because there were times when the ability to alter people’s perceptions of you – to make them see you as much weaker or stronger than you actually were and to inspire either pity or fear in them as a consequence – seemed pretty ineffectual compared to some semblances. On the other hand, there were also times, like now, when watching an already pretty big and strong guy appear to grow several feet taller and bulk out to a truly ridiculous degree in order to terrify someone else was pretty cool.
Turnus grew – appeared to grow – to absurd proportions, his shoulders broadening and his muscles swelling, his height increasing until it looked as though he was going to touch the ceiling with the top of his head. He was himself but he was more of himself, expanded without seeming to change or become someone different from who or what he was before. Shining Light retreated before him as he advanced upon her, the smirk on her face faltering to be replaced by a look of alarm.
“Camilla,” Turnus growled, “is my dear friend and comrade. If you insult her again, I will consider you to have forfeited a guest’s protections under my roof through your misconduct and will defend my friend’s honour appropriately. Do I make myself clear?”
Shining Light let out a kind of mewling sound as she nodded in agreement.
Turnus stared down at her, or seemed to. “An apology would be in order, from a good guest.”
Shining Light inhaled through her nostrils. “I…I apologise…Camilla. Please forgive me.”
“Apology accepted, Lady Shining Light,” Camilla said, softly but managing a quiet dignity in spite of the flush that was currently colouring her cheeks. She didn’t look at the Steward’s daughter. She always seemed so embarrassed whenever Turnus stood up for her.
What are you so ashamed of? This is how he lets you know he cares.
I bet he wouldn’t stand up for Pyrrha Nikos like this; you should remember that and take heart.
Turnus appeared to shrink, returning to his normal – and quite powerful enough for most purposes – size. “Thank you, lady, for your courtesy,” he said, turning around and returning to his seat, crossing the dining hall in quick strides to seat himself once more beside Juturna. “Now,” he continued, “to what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?”
Shining Light took a moment to collect herself. She cleared her throat. “My father, the Steward of Mistral,” she added, as if to remind everyone – perhaps even herself – who her father was, “has decided to honour you with an opportunity to be a part of the new Mistralian defence force that is being set up.”
Now it was the turn of Turnus to smirk. “You mean your father wants my help?”
“He does not need it,” Shining Light insisted. “Pyrrha Nikos and Lady Ming have both agreed to place their forces at the disposal of the Council and my father. Your contribution is desired, but not necessary.”
Turnus was still and silent for a moment. “I don’t know what surprises me more,” he confessed. “That Lady Ming has forces to place at the disposal of the Council or that Pyrrha has agreed to do so.”
The smugness returned to Shining Light’s expression. “Lady Ming thought that her civic duty lay in assembling men to fight our enemies and then realised it lay in placing those men under the authority of the rightful…authority.” She rallied quickly after that. “And as for Pyrrha Nikos, she lost a town today-“
“'Lost a town'?” Turnus interrupted. “You mean she was defeated? By what power?”
“You may well ask; it is the question consuming the city,” Shining Light replied. “She was not defeated, though I understand she takes it as a loss, and if the people were to take it so as well, I would not take it amiss. But as I understand, the damage was already done. By the time she arrived, all the able-bodied folk in Manjushage had been spirited away.”
“'Spirited away'?” Camilla repeated. “You mean they had been abducted?”
Shining Light shrugged. “So it seems, but we know not. There is no trace of those who took the people or of the people themselves.”
Juturna frowned. That…if that was Salem’s doing, she had said nothing about it to Juturna, which was just as worrying as the idea that she maybe could do such a thing. The alternative – that there was another beast in the forest – was equally concerning. “Brother, with your leave, I will take some of our technical experts and have them go over Manjushage for any information.” One of the advantages of her brother’s fondness for all things Atlesian was that he was a patron of the sciences, moreso than most Mistralian families, and even employed a few. Mostly, they spent their time tinkering with weapons and engines, but they had skills that could be put to other uses.
Turnus looked at her. “This concerns you so much?”
Yes, I’m the only one who should be having secret plans in this country. “The mystery intrigues me,” Juturna replied.
Turnus nodded. “Very well.”
“I’ll go with you,” Camilla added.
“That’s sweet, but not necessary,” Juturna told her quickly.
“Yes,” Turnus declared, in a voice that brooked no argument. “It is. Faced with this power of which we know so little, I would have you well-protected.” He paused, looking at Camilla. “I would have you both well-protected. I will accompany the pair of you.”
Juturna began. “There really is no need for-”
“As I am master of this house and head of this family, so need takes second place to my desires. If there is some force abroad that can whisk away whole towns of able-bodied men and women, then I will not have you face it without me.”
Juturna smirked. “Because you’re so confident you can resist it?”
“Because I would rather share your fate than live apart from you,” Turnus said, quietly but no less firmly for it.
Juturna stared at him wordlessly. You know, it’s the way you come out with things like that that makes me want to burn down the whole world for you if I had to.
A quick glance at Camilla told her that the other girl was about ready to melt. See, I told you he cared.
Turnus looked a little embarrassed by the sudden silence and turned his attention back to Shining Light with a clearing of his throat. “Forgive us, Lady Shining Light, you were saying?”
“Thank you,” Shining Light said, through slightly gritted teeth. “Pyrrha Nikos lost a town,” she repeated smugly, “and felt guilty that she hadn’t done all she could to help the poor people of this kingdom. Soon, the folk of Mistral will know who it is that defends them against their enemies.”
Juturna laughed. “The same person who was defending them before, just with your father trying to take a share of the credit. If he, or you, think that people are going to be fooled by that, you’re kidding yourselves.” Just because she was – theoretically, at least – taking orders from the Council and the Steward didn’t mean that people were suddenly going to stop worshipping at the feet of Pyrrha Nikos, the Princess Without a Crown. She’d been famous and beloved before this crisis, and she would remain so after it; it was impossible for Juturna to conceive of a situation in which she didn’t come out of all this with her reputation enhanced.
That was what made it so awkward that Pyrrha seemed to be determined to oppose her. Juturna didn’t agree with Turnus that he needed a "royal" marriage in order to legitimise his desired takeover of power in Mistral, but he did need Pyrrha’s consent, or at the very least her silence. If she raised her voice against him, then it would be a total non-starter.
In which case, she would have to be got rid of like all the rest. Juturna would rather that it didn’t come to that – she had no personal cause to dislike Pyrrha; in fact, she wished her all the best – but the attitude that she’d displayed towards Salem seemed to be making it likely. Juturna couldn’t let Pyrrha stand in her way.
Shining Light snorted. “People will no longer be able to say that the Council isn’t doing anything once it starts sending out huntsmen to defend the villages, and that’s all that matters!” she snapped defensively. “The question is whether you want to be the only lord in this city who isn’t contributing to the defence of the kingdom?”
“What are your terms?” Turnus asked.
“You will have to follow the commands of my sister Terri-Belle, to stay or to go as she bids you,” Shining Light said. “Other than that…once she has committed you to battle, you may lead your forces as you see fit.”
“Then they would remain my forces?”
“Of course,” Shining Light said. “Under the new Captain-General.”
“Of course,” Turnus repeated. He was silent for a moment. “Thank you for bringing me this message, Lady Shining Light; you may be assured I will consider it carefully, if you will so kindly wait outside.”
Shining Light hesitated a moment, but then nodded and retreated out of the dining hall. Only once the great oak doors had closed behind her did Turnus let the scowl show on his face.
“I have been out-manouvred,” he confessed.
“How so?” Camilla asked.
“Because I’ve been left with no choice,” Turnus declared. “That woman is correct; if I do not join the league now, I will be the odd one out, the only one who is not stepping forward to fight for Mistral when she is in need. When Pyrrha fought and the Council did not, that was one thing, but this…it will be the death of all my ambitions. Besides which, if I do not join, then there will be the votes in Council to remove Lionheart from his position and his seat, and we shall be blind and without influence. Yes, the Steward has got me where he wants me for now. I should have given the old man more credit.”
“So…what?” Juturna asked. “You’re going to agree to all this?”
“I haven’t much choice at the moment, have I?” Turnus growled.
“For my part, I am glad,” Camilla murmured tremulously. “I know that this isn’t what you wanted, but all the same…I’m glad. It…it has troubled me to sit here in this house, knowing that evil stalked abroad in the land of Mistral while we raised neither sword nor bow nor gun in opposition to it.”
“You never said anything,” Juturna pointed out.
Camilla bowed her head. “It…it was not my place.”
“Camilla,” Turnus said reproachfully, “you are…you’re like my other sister, for crying out loud, you can tell me anything, you know that!”
Great job, bro; I get what you mean, but did you really have to say it just like that?
Camilla’s face reddened. “I…I will try to keep that in mind.”
“Good,” Turnus said. “Because in this case…you chide me well. Instead of waiting for the Council to discredit itself, I should have sought to enhance my own credit by joining with Pyrrha. She might have looked more favourably upon me if I had. Too late now.”
“So that’s it?” Juturna demanded. “You’re just going to roll over now and become the Council’s loyal little dog?”
“I did not say that,” Turnus said calmly, “but I must seem to be, for now, until a new opportunity arises.”
Juturna thought for a moment. “What if…what if it’s already here?”
Turnus’ eyes narrowed. “Meaning?”
“I…” Juturna trailed off momentarily as she gathered up her thoughts. “I’ve got an idea,” she said, “for another way in which the Kingdom of Mistral can put its bandit problems behind it. And raise a new army. An experienced army, a powerful army if this stuff about Manjushage means anything, one large enough and seasoned enough to go to war in future, even against Vale.”
“Go on,” Turnus urged. “I’m listening.”
“I remember when we were here last,” Jaune murmured, as he and Pyrrha were led down the corridors of the palace of Mistral, the former home of the Nikos family and now the seat of Steward and Council, and also, from today, the headquarters of the new Common Army and its Captain-General. Mid-morning light poured in through the windows set high up in the tall walls of the corridor to fall upon the crimson walls and the porphyry statues of the ancient emperors that lined the way. “That party, during spring break. The first time we met Cinder.”
“Yes, I remember,” Pyrrha said softly as their footfalls echoed down the corridors lavishly decorated with ancient tapestries, and paintings whose value equalled their antiquity. “You didn’t have a very good time.”
“I prefer to focus on the positive,” Jaune replied. “Like the fact that was the night when…”
Pyrrha looked at him curiously. “That was then night when...?”
Jaune smiled at her, a smile every bit as radiant as the sun. “That was the night when I think I first started falling for you.”
Pyrrha…what was she supposed to say to that? What was she supposed to do but hold out her hand to him and, when he took it, draw him in for a kiss in spite of whoever might be watching them or waiting for them? Let the Captain-General wait for just a moment more. “If I ever forget how fortunate I am-“ she began.
“Never gonna happen,” Jaune said, before she could even finish.
The smile remained on Pyrrha’s face, even as she took a step back away from him. She kept a hold onto his hand, squeezing it as though he might disappear the moment she let go. He was wearing his armour today, for the way it looked, to meet with their new commander, and Pyrrha had to say that he still looked very dashing in it, her gallant knight. It was a pity that his skills didn’t give him occasion to wear it more often.
“Am I doing the right thing?” she asked.
Jaune didn’t reply right away, which was an answer in and of itself. “You’re doing what you think is best,” he said diplomatically.
“But you don’t agree with me,” Pyrrha whispered.
“I think…” Jaune trailed off, hesitating. “I think we’ll see how this goes,” he finished, which wasn’t much of an answer at all but at the same time was probably the best answer, considering that only the future would really tell whether Pyrrha had done well or ill with her decision to submit to the Council. Beyond that, they were both just speculating on what might happen next.
“Yes,” Pyrrha murmured. “We will.” She paused a moment. “We should probably get going,” she added, with a glance towards the servant who had been patiently waiting for them up ahead for some little time now.
Jaune chuckled. “Yeah,” he agreed. “That’s probably a good idea.”
The footman said nothing as they indicated that they were ready to follow him again, but he didn’t have to say anything for them to guess what he was thinking, and so she apologised to him for the delay as he resumed leading them through the corridors, beneath the paintings and past the antique vases and sculptures, until they were brought into a large rectangular chamber dominated by an equally large table upon which had been spread a detailed map of Anima, with all the settlements great and small marked out upon it, from Mistral and Argus to little villages like Leuctris, all of them populating the chart just as they populated the world outside the chamber.
Besides the table and the map that lay upon it, there was little to be said of this room; the gilded walls were bare on three sides, but upon the western wall hung a painting depicting General Lagune refusing a horse to escape the defeat at Fort Castle. Though Porcius Vasilias had bidden the general take his mount and escape, Lagune had resolved to remain on the field and share in the fate of his infantry and had ordered the young man to ride to Mistral and warn the city that the army was lost. As a story of a certain kind of courage and nobility, it was not without value, she supposed, but nevertheless, as Pyrrha looked upon the image, complete with a great army being massacred all around the noble general, Pyrrha hoped that it wasn’t any kind of omen for the results of their enterprise.
They were alone in here, the first to arrive. Not even their Captain-General was here yet, which made Pyrrha feel a little less guilty about the kiss.
“So,” Jaune said, “who else is supposed to be coming?”
“Everyone, I think,” Pyrrha said. “The invitation said it was to be a briefing on the approach going forward.” That was one of the reasons she had brought Jaune; it would have been silly not to have brought her strategist to a discussion of strategy. “I can’t believe that we’re the only ones who accepted.”
“Perhaps the new commander wants to meet us one at a time,” Jaune suggested. “Keep us off balance, easier to deal with, that kind of thing. Or they’re just late.”
“Or we’re early,” Pyrrha replied. “Too early even for Terri-Belle.”
“Do you know her?”
“Mostly by reputation,” Pyrrha said. “We’ve met, after a fashion, but she is a few years older than I am, and she was never a tournament fighter, so our paths rarely crossed. It is quite a reputation, though. She was top of her class at Haven, and she almost won the Vytal Festival in her third year.”
“Thank you for that almost, Pyrrha Nikos,” growled Terri-Belle as she strode into the chamber by the opposite entrance to that which had admitted Pyrrha and Jaune. She was armoured for battle, even as Pyrrha and Jaune were, but just like them, she wore no visible weapons. She was accompanied by one of her sisters, Pyrrha wasn’t able to tell them apart, armoured similarly to Terri-Belle and Swift Foot in a linothorax cuirass and pteruges.
“I’m sorry,” Pyrrha said. “I meant no offence, I simply-“
“Pointed out the fact that I lost,” Terri-Belle said, cutting her off. “I know. In my defence, that Atlesian was quite the fighter; I am continually amazed that I haven’t heard more of her since.”
Her sister snorted. “Would it have soothed your pride if she had gone on to achieve great fame?”
“Of course it would,” Terri-Belle replied, as though that was a ridiculous question. “When one is defeated, it is always less shameful for the defeat to be at the hands of one who is or who becomes renowned for their skill, rather than one who sinks into anonymity like a stone tossed into the water.”
“It may be so in Mistral,” Pyrrha pointed out, “but in Atlas, they do things differently. I have not heard the name Robyn Hill since she…since her tournament triumph, but I am sure that she is a diligent and well-respected servant of her own kingdom.”
“Hmm, it may be as you say,” Terri-Belle conceded. “The northerners, as you remind me, do things differently.” She glanced at her sister. “This is my sister, Shining Light; from now on, she will succeed me as captain of the Imperial Guard and leader of the Council’s huntsmen.”
“I see,” Pyrrha said. She inclined her head. “It is a pleasure to meet you. This is Jaune Arc, our strategist.”
“And your fiancé, as I understand it,” Shining Light said, a smile playing across her lips.
Pyrrha felt a slight blush rise to her cheeks. “Well, yes, that too.”
“I don’t need a strategist,” Terri-Belle declared brusquely, as she walked across the other side of the table from that on which Pyrrha and Jaune stood. “Unlike either of you, I completed my four years of study, and I have not been idle since. I know how to defeat the grimm well enough without your counsel. But I hear that you do have a good set-up for receiving word of an attack in progress; I might like to borrow it.”
“Of course,” Pyrrha said. “We are at the disposal of Mistral, after all.”
Terri-Belle stared into Pyrrha’s eyes. “Yes, you are, aren’t you?” she said softly. “You’ll have to show me what you’ve got. And don’t worry about defences and the like; from now on, Mistral will pay for everything. The highest duty of the kingdom is to defend the people living in it, no?”
I’m glad the Council finally agrees, Pyrrha thought. It would have been too vulgar to have broached the question of money herself, but now that Terri-Belle had brought it up, she found herself relieved by the answer that she had gotten.
Terri-Belle leaned forward, resting her hands upon the map of Mistral, her eyes still fixed on Pyrrha. “So,” she murmured, “you are the one that Swift Foot ran off to.”
“Swift Foot came to me to help serve Mistral,” Pyrrha replied calmly. “If you want her back, you should probably ask her yourself.”
Terri-Belle’s mouth twitched. “I’d like my horn back,” she said. “As for Swift Foot…she’s my little sister, but she’s big enough to do as she likes. Although…there is a certain irony in the fact that if she’d waited a couple of days longer, she wouldn’t have had to run away from home to protect this kingdom.”
“I…suppose so,” Pyrrha said. “But nobody could have predicted at the time that the Council would so swiftly begin to do its duty.”
Terri-Belle continued to stare up into Pyrrha’s eyes, her hair like the crest of a helmet rising above her head. “You must think me incredibly callous, mustn’t you?”
Pyrrha was quiet for a moment, considering her response. From the way that Terri-Belle was looking at her, she judged that the latter would appreciate honesty more than a kindly lie. “I cannot help but be disappointed that so many did nothing when Mistral cried out for aid.”
“You’re impertinent,“ Shining Light snapped.
“No, she is not,” Terri-Belle said calmly. The Captain-General of Mistral straightened up. “She is proud, and she has reason to be proud. Even before Vale erupted into flames and the world began to change, your defeat of the karkadann alone was worthy of praise. My sisters and I were away, dealing with a grimm sighting near Higanbana; thank you, for protecting Mistral then in my absence.”
“I did what any daughter of Mistral would have done,” Pyrrha said.
“But any daughter of Mistral did not do it; you did,” Terri-Belle replied. “What you have done and what you are alike both make you first citizen.”
“I would not go so far,” Pyrrha murmured.
“Modesty may be a virtue in Vale or Atlas, but here in Mistral, there is no need to hide your light,” Terri-Belle rebuked. “I was Haven’s hope once, but I’ve seen you fight: I was never that fast, and I never had your invaluable semblance.” Her expression hardened. “But do not make the mistake of thinking that you are the only one who cares for Mistral. This is my kingdom as much as it is yours. You may be the Princess Without a Crown, but I am the heir to the Stewardship of Mistral. And I will defend it. I have always been willing to defend it.”
“You simply feared me more than you feared the grimm or bandits outside the walls,” Pyrrha said softly.
Terri-Belle did not seem ashamed to admit the fact. “Did your Beacon history classes teach you what General Lagune said to Councillor Lividus as his army marched out on the long road to Fort Castle?”
“No,” Pyrrha conceded. “But I have read Virgil just as you have, and I know that, when Lividus advised him against meeting the faunus in pitched battle, Lagune replied that he was more afraid of the votes of the citizens than the weapons of the enemy.” She paused. “He paid the price for his misplaced priorities, and so did his soldiers.”
Terri-Belle chuckled. “But the fact remains: we always fear the enemies within the walls so much more than those without them.”
“I have never been your enemy,” Pyrrha said.
Terri-Belle did not reply, although whether that was because she had no reply to make or because she had words she was not given time to say, Pyrrha could not make out, because at that moment, Turnus arrived. He came in the same way that Pyrrha and Jaune had used a little while before, accompanied by his battle-companion Camilla. Turnus was dressed in the body armour of an Atlesian soldier, save that it was painted in a bronze colour rather than the white that actual soldiers of Atlas were wont to wear. Camilla was more traditionally attired, in a cuirass of brown leather with studded pteruges worn over a red blouse and combat skirt, with vambraces of dark leather on her wrists and forearms.
“Everyone is bringing an entourage today,” Terri-Belle muttered.
“If we are late, then I-” Turnus began, coming to a stop at the sight of Jaune standing at Pyrrha’s side. A growl escaped his throat. “You,” he snarled.
Pyrrha sucked in her breath. “Greetings, Turnus,” she said mildly. “Allow me to present my betrothed, Jaune Arc. Jaune, this is Turnus Rutulus, whom I have mentioned to you.”
Jaune tensed noticeably. He bowed, but only very slightly. “It is an honour to meet you,” he said, without much conviction.
“Likewise,” Turnus replied, without bowing and without making his statement sound any more convincing than Jaune had managed. It was with a sense of aggrieved obligation that he added, “This is Camilla Volsci, my dear friend and right hand in battle.”
And how much do you know about what Juturna has been doing? Pyrrha couldn’t help but wonder. Does the name Salem mean anything to you? Camilla did not strike her as the type to betray Mistral, but then…but then, Pyrrha might have said the same about Juturna too.
I suppose I can understand what Terri-Belle meant about the enemies within the walls.
Camilla offered a fuller bow to Pyrrha. “Pyrrha Nikos,” she said in a voice as mild as morning dew. “Congratulations upon your forthcoming nuptials.”
“Thank you, Camilla,” Pyrrha said softly.
“Have you decided-?“
“Have you come to offer congratulations to the happy couple or to help plan the defence of Mistral?” demanded Terri-Belle impatiently.
Turnus laid his fists upon the map of Mistral, or more accurately of the ocean that surrounded it. “I have come because my presence was requested.”
“You have placed Rutulian Security at the service of the Council too?” Pyrrha asked.
“I have,” Turnus said. “You convinced me, Pyrrha, that it was my duty to do whatever was in my power to protect our kingdom from its enemies.”
“And Lionheart will keep his seat upon the Council,” Pyrrha said sharply.
Turnus shrugged, as though the matter was of no concern to him whatsoever.
So much for that benefit.
“For now,” Terri-Belle said.
Turnus looked at her, a slight frown appearing on his face. “I beg your pardon, my lady?”
“Lionheart will retain his seat upon the council for now,” Terri-Belle repeated.
Turnus inhaled angrily through his nostrils. “I was given to understand-”
“Then let me give you something else to understand,” Terri-Belle cut him off sharply. “I do not like that Lionheart retains his seat on the Council. I don’t like the fact that someone who was involved with the White Fang, someone who was involved in severing the thread of a family as old as any in Mistral, someone who had a hand in all our present troubles still has a say in the affairs of this Kingdom, and if I could prove it, then I would be banging on your gate demanding that you hand him over to my father’s justice. Be assured, my lord, that the question of Lionheart’s status is settled only until we have more information on the status of Cinder Fall and her insurrectionist associates.”
“Cinder Fall,” Turnus repeated. “I know nothing of this.”
“Something else Juturna didn’t mention to you?” Pyrrha couldn’t resist saying.
He looked at her, and the glare in his eyes was diminished by the degree of confusion. “No,” he said. “She did not. But neither did you.”
“No, and I am sorry for that,” Pyrrha replied. “Everything in your house happened so quickly.”
Turnus huffed. “Something else to speak to her about,” he muttered.
“In any event, once our last- ah, there you are,” Terri-Belle said, as Kurt the White Wolf came in, looking a little shame-faced at her tardiness as she sidled into a position between Pyrrha and Turnus.
“I had a little trouble convincing the guards at the door to let me in,” Kurt complained.
“I will speak to them about it,” Terri-Belle assured her. “In any event: thank you all for coming. Together, we represent all the significant armed forces in Mistral aside from the Iron Grenadiers, and with our combined strength, I believe that we should be a match for them if they seek to cause us any difficulties.
“This is not the first attempt in recent memory to forge a new defence force for Mistral,” Terri-Belle continued, “but our previous attempt focussed on quantity over quality, forgetting that six thousand grains of sand are still just grains of sand to be blown away when the wind picks up. The forces at our disposal are fewer in number, and fewer still thanks to the recent losses of huntsmen that have been sustained in this kingdom, but we are far more skilled than our forces were at the Battle of Vale, and what we lack in numbers, we make up for in valour, in the quality of our weapons, and the skill with which we wield them.
“Pyrrha has already shown that it is possible for a small company of elites to achieve great results in protecting the outlying towns and villages in our kingdom, and by joining the Imperial Guard, the Council’s huntsmen, Rutulian Security and…do you want to choose a name for your band?”
Kurt considered for a moment. “How about the Company of the Wolf? That sounds cool.”
“Hmm,” Terri-Belle said. “As I said, by joining all our forces together, we will be able to throw our arms around Mistral’s settlements and keep them safe from the grimm.”
“What are we going to do about range?” Jaune asked.
“'Range'?” Terri-Belle repeated.
“The big limitation on our operations was flying range from Mistral,” Jaune explained. “We could only cover places within range of Mistral itself.”
Turnus smiled, though what he was smiling at, Pyrrha couldn’t say.
“That has been considered,” Terri-Belle said. “The reason I was later than you was that I was waiting for the result of three votes in the Council. The first, to authorise the deployment of the Imperial Guard beyond the city limits to protect the territories, was passed unanimously. The second, to create a unified defence force under my command, was also passed unanimously. The third vote…” Terri-Belle’s jaw clenched just a little before she said, “The third vote authorised the granting of full pardons to bandit chieftains and their followers who request them, and furthermore, the issuing to said chieftains the rights to administer certain territories and to enjoy a proportion of the tax revenue from those territories in return for assuming responsibility for their protection against the grimm.”
Pyrrha was stunned into silence for a moment. “You…the Council has voted to recruit bandits to administer our territory?”
“It solves the problem that you just raised,” Terri-Belle said. “We will protect the inner territories closest to the city, while delegating the defence of the harder to reach areas to armed and experienced fighters. Plus, as I believe you found out yesterday, some of these bandits are…worryingly powerful.” She paused. “That is, if it really was bandits who attacked Manjushage.”
Jaune frowned. “Who else could it have been except bandits?”
Terri-Belle shrugged. “Some fools, a great many of your supporters seemingly among them, are labouring under the delusion that I led the attack in order to force your hand in this alliance.”
If you had that sort of power at your disposal all along, you would not have feared me, Pyrrha thought. “I will...make a statement rebuking such irresponsible speculation.”
“Thank you,” Terri-Belle grunted. “And then there are some who suggest Atlesian involvement.”
“Oh, come on!” Jaune snapped. “Even for people who are looking for reasons to start trouble with Atlas, that's a reach. Atlas doesn’t do that kind of thing.”
“Those blasts could easily have come from Atlesian energy weapons,” Shining Light declared.
“Or MARS weapons,” Jaune countered. “Not to mention all the Atlesian hardware abandoned when they withdrew.”
“Atlas does not behave in such a fashion,” Pyrrha insisted, her outrage at this bandit decision momentarily derailed by her sense of obligation to her Atlesian friends. “Though their notion of honour is not as ours, nevertheless, they are an honourable people, after their own fashion.”
Shining Light smirked. “You sound like almost as much of a fan as Turnus.”
“And you sound like a fool if you believe that Atlas is responsible for our new troubles,” Turnus declared. “Certainly, no one of sense would do so. Pyrrha speaks true; this is not Atlesian work.”
“Probably not,” Terri-Belle agreed. “But it is a notion being bruited about, and we cannot ignore that fact. However, if you are correct, and that was the work of bandits, then it only goes to show how powerful some of these groups can be. These are no mere raiders to be chased off with a show of force. Rather than stand against them, it may be for the best to bring them into the fold as loyal friends and allies of Mistral.”
“What about Argus?” Jaune demanded. “Is that included in this deal as well?”
“Of course not,” Turnus said scornfully. “I have had no word of any attacks on Argus from grimm or brigands. In addition, as I understand it, Atlas has reinforced the defences with the Fifteenth Battalion and the cruisers Dauntless and Daring; it is the only significant deployment remaining outside of Solitas.”
“You’re very well informed about what’s going on in Argus and Atlas,” Jaune observed.
Turnus smirked. “I am not without friends in the north, and things that pass there are not unknown to me, though the eyes of Haven Tower be blind.”
“Anything else that you’d like to share?” Terri-Belle demanded.
Turnus was silent for a moment. “No, I don’t believe so,” he said. “Nothing relevant.” His smirk broadened. “Especially as I think Pyrrha might have a few more objections to make.”
“I…I cannot believe that I am the only one who finds this objectionable” Pyrrha exclaimed. “Bandits? Scum and criminals?”
“Who wish to reform themselves and live more law-abiding lives,” Turnus said. “Plus, by enlisting them, we will not only have the core of elites that Lady Terri-Belle speaks of but also numbers of somewhat skilled fighting men and women whom Mistral…may have need of in the future.”
“If Mistral has need of brigands, then woe to Mistral,” Pyrrha declared.
“This is not a debate,” Terri-Belle said sharply. “Nor am I here asking your permission, though you be Pyrrha Nikos. This is not a democracy.”
In spite of the circumstances, Pyrrha couldn’t help but smile. “This is an autocracy, and the tyrant is you.” Sadly, Sunset was easier to trust than you are, for the moment at least.
“If you wish to see it so,” Terri-Belle replied. “Though I would say that I am a servant of the Council, and the Council has voted four votes to one in favour of this measure which Lord Turnus proposed.”
“This was your idea?” Pyrrha demanded. “You thought that we should throw our kingdom to the mercy of literal robber barons?”
“Large parts of the kingdom are already at their mercy, those vast swathes of our territory which you and your shining spears do not defend,” Turnus replied. “This legitimises it and, in so doing, may temper their offences. And besides, and as I said, we may have need of such men and women in the days ahead.”
“To what end?” Pyrrha asked.
Turnus did not reply; instead, it was Kurt who growled, “Has anybody asked the people who live out in the sticks whether they want to be handed over to some stinking bandit to be their lord, or did you just decide to screw them over because it was easier?”
“The bandit tribes are as well placed to protect the territory-“ Terri-Belle began.
“With all due respect, my lady, if I had a lien for every time whatever crook or gangster was shaking down the neighbourhood for ‘protection money’ this week actually protected the neighbourhood, I’d still have needed to become a tournament fighter, because it never happened,” Kurt spat. “The only thing they might protect these villages from is their own worst instincts, and that’s a maybe.” She glanced at Pyrrha and Jaune. “Ask Arslan what I’m talking about; she’ll back me up.”
“I’ve no doubt,” Pyrrha murmured. She didn’t have any personal experiences of growing up ruled by the whims of the criminals who wielded so much power in Mistral’s lower levels, but she didn’t think she needed it to understand that asking the wolves to guard the flock was a spectacularly bad idea.
And yet it seemed that there was nothing to be done about it now. The votes were in, the decision had been made, and this was not a democracy. They could complain until they ran out of breath, but they had no power to compel Terri-Belle to change her mind, let alone her father and the council.
“It is too late,” Terri-Belle declared. “The Council has decided to eliminate its bandit problem in one fell stroke, and in the process eliminate our difficulties with the vast scope of our territory. If there are any other ideas for how we could have protected our more far-flung settlements, I would love to hear them.”
“You just said it was a bit late,” Jaune reminded her.
Terri-Belle glared at him. “I am aware…” she sighed and scratched her forehead just above her brow-guard. “I do not like this any more than many of you. Yes, these people are scum and worse and to recruit them as auxiliaries is such a stain upon the honour of a great kingdom that I was astonished that Lord Rutulus suggested the idea.” Turnus shifted uncomfortably, but said nothing. Terri-Belle continued, “But when he did propose it, I had no other answer for how we could defend the territory. It is too large, and our huntsmen are too few. It is this or leave them to the mercy of bandits and grimm alike.”
“And if they prove to be…” Pyrrha hesitated, choosing her words with care, “...less than lordly in their rule?”
“Then once the threat of the grimm to the heartlands has passed, we will clean house,” Terri-Belle said bluntly, “and those who have abused our trust will feel the wrath of Mistral fall upon them. There is no need for a man to deal honourably with a beast. In any case, I am not minded to discuss this further. The matter is concluded, in as much as I called you here to discuss it at all, which I did not. I repeat: you are not here to debate policy with me, but to receive your instructions for the defence of our kingdom.”
For those parts of it that remain ours, Pyrrha thought.
“Lord Rutulus,” Terri-Belle said. “You have the largest force, but most of it is untrained in aura and equipped only in a rather basic fashion, is that not so?”
Turnus looked a little put out at hearing his force described that way, but he was forced to concede the point. “Leaving aside those men already engaged by my pre-existing clients, I command three hundred men organised in the fashion of an Atlesian infantry battalion: three seventy-man line companies, a military huntsman company of fifty men with aura unlocked, a ten-strong mechanised platoon – also with their auras unlocked – and thirty true huntsmen.”
Shining Light sniffed. “You’re such an Atlas fanboy, aren’t you?”
Turnus drew in a sharp intake of breath. “I admire a kingdom that has shown that it has much to be admired.”
Yet without understanding what it is that makes it truly admirable, Pyrrha thought, and a quick glance at Jaune showed that he was thinking the same thing.
“We’ve attempted to model our forces on the power of Atlas once before; it did not work so well,” Terri-Belle said. “That is why we are not repeating the mistake now. However, the size of your forces does make them an asset: what is the smallest unit size in which your line companies are trained to operate?”
“A seven-man squad,” Turnus said.
Terri-Belle nodded. “Then I will provide you with a list of towns and large villages and have you deploy a squad to each of them, to provide a bump in the road in case of attack until our main forces can be mobilised. I will also provide a second, smaller, list of the most substantial settlements, and I expect a military huntsman deployment to each of them. You may keep your huntsmen and your mechanised unit as a flying column alongside the Myrmidons, the Guard, and the…Company of the Wolf.”
Pyrrha’s brow furrowed. Terri-Belle’s decision made sense, but at the same time, she could not avoid the sense that it was a decision made in part to reduce the power of Turnus by forcing him to disperse the greater part of his strength across the breadth of the territory, even if he did retain his most skilled fighters close at hand.
Judging by his expression, Turnus felt the same way; it was Camilla who bowed her head and said, “It will be done.”
“Of course it will,” Terri-Belle said. “I’m going to inspect the Myrmidons’ setup with an eye to duplicating it, but however a distress call comes in, whichever of you receives it, you will pass it on to me or to one of my sisters deputised to act in my absence, and I will decide who will respond.”
“And once the battle is joined?” Camilla asked. “What then? Will we be directed by you?”
“Once the battle is joined, you may do whatever it takes to win it however you please, remembering that our goal is to protect the settlements as intact as possible.” Terri-Belle said.
“And until then, we are on permanent stand-by, waiting for your orders,” Camilla said softly.
“Not quite permanent,” Terri-Belle replied. “For the next couple of days, barring a sudden rash of simultaneous attacks, the Imperial Guard will take care of any incidents that come in. We will…make up for our earlier inaction now.” She looked at Jaune and Pyrrha. “So take the night off. Celebrate your engagement. Rest easy, knowing that Mistral is safe under my protection.”
The parts of it that haven’t been given over to bandits.
“But first,” Terri-Belle continued, “come with me.” She turned away, trusting them to follow, and in fairness, the five of them did follow, with Shining Light trailing at the rear as they were brought through corridors that alternated between being dark and brightly lit, until at last they passed beneath two enormous statues of a pair of equine grimm screaming out in rage and a desire for suffering, to stand before the Steward of Mistral, Lord Diomedes, where he sat upon the Steward’s chair with spears hedged all about him.
He stared at them, or it might be more accurate to say he glared at them from out beneath his bushy brows.
“I will not make you huntsmen,” he declared. “Those of you who wish the honour…when this present crisis ends, it seems to me that you could do with a few more years in school to season you and teach you more about the ways of the world. But, at present, Mistral has need of your courage and your skill. Kneel then and say after me.”
As one, the five of them – the Steward’s own daughters did not join them – knelt on the floor before the Steward of Mistral, and Pyrrha repeated after him. “I, Pyrrha of the House of Nikos, pledge my fealty and service to the Lord and Steward of Mistral, to speak and to be silent, to do and to let be, to come and to go, in need or in plenty, in peace or war, in living or dying, from this day hence until my lord release me or death take me or the world end. My strength is yours, and thine honour be mine.”
As your ancestors once knelt to mine, so do I kneel to you, and thus, the world turns, Pyrrha thought, as she felt the weight of her oath settle upon her shoulders like a heavy cloak. There was no turning back now. She had pledged her honour into the service of the Steward. From this day on, she was committed, however much or little she might like the fact or, indeed, what it led to. She had pledged her faith and fealty, to whatever end.
“Humbly I accept thy strength and vow to spend it wisely. Graciously, I cloak you in mine honour and vow to burnish it with the deeds that I shall do and shall demand of thee. I, Diomedes of the House Thrax, Lord of Mistral, Steward of the Emperor, hear thy words and shall not forget, nor fail to reward that which is given: valour with honour, loyalty with loyalty, obedience with love, oath-breaking with vengeance.” He paused for a moment, his eyes sweeping across them. “I accept you all into my service.”
Pyrrha had been gratified by the way in which her comrades – upon being informed of her decision to subordinate them to the authority of the Council – had accepted her decision with equanimity.
Upon returning home to inform the Myrmidons of what the new order would involve, she discovered that that equanimity had its limitations.
"Bandits," Arslan repeated as she stood in the great hall with her arms folded across her chest, spitting the word as if she was expelling phlegm up from her throat. "The Council…they're going to hand over the outer territories to bandits? What next, are we going to abolish the police and invite the crooks to become cops?"
Pyrrha sighed. "I understand that this-"
"No," Arslan said sharply, "you don't. You might think that you do, but you don't."
"I know that I don't agree with this any more than you do," Pyrrha insisted.
Arslan's expression, which had been stony-faced until a moment ago, softened. "Yeah, I know," she said, "but that doesn't mean that you get why it's so bad."
"Is it?" Cicero asked. "We don't have the range to protect the outlying regions; we haven't even tried to do so. It seems as though the Council is finally pulling together to act in the best interests of the kingdom-"
"Best interests of which part of the kingdom?" Arslan demanded. "It gets the Council off the hook for protecting the length and breadth of the country, sure, but if you expect these people to actually hold up their end of the bargain, then it's only because you've always lived too high up on the hillside to live under a racket."
"Then what's the alternative?" Cicero questioned. "What should the Council be doing instead to defend those places too far out from Mistral for us to reach?"
Arslan scowled. "I don't know," she admitted. "But I know this isn't it."
The Myrmidons were gathered in the great hall of the Nikos house, clumped together in a mass, some of them sitting on the chairs or tables, others standing.
Oceana rose heavily to her feet, looming slightly in her armour. "Speaking as someone who grew up in one of these villages that the Council is going to hand over to these scum, I don't like it either. Sure, we can't protect them easily - they're too far out - but folks there live with the threats of grimm and bandits hovering over them every single day, and they've either learned a little about how to deal with both by now, or they haven't survived. Only now, the Council is telling them that they cannot fight back because the outlaws are the law now. Is that just? Does that sound right to everybody else?"
"Nah," Sun said, with a shake of his head. "If Vacuo teaches you anything, it’s that folks can survive a lot if you just leave them to it, even the grimm, but letting crooks shake them down for protection, it just feels wrong, you know."
"It doesn't sound right," Metella murmured from where she sat in Oceana's shadow, "but it sounds as though it might be sensible."
Oceana looked at her in disbelief. "'Sensible'?"
"I was born in one of those villages that didn't survive long enough to learn how to deal with bandits," Metella declared. "Valorising frontier spirit or talking about right and wrong isn't going to save anybody. We all saw what happened at Manjushage: a well-defended town, and yet, they somehow managed to carry away the population before we could get there. How many Manjushages have there been further away from Mistral that we don't know about? If this can tame the wolves, even a little, then it will be worth it. That said," she turned her gaze towards Terri-Belle, who stood at the back of the hall close to the door, not drawing attention to herself, "if those responsible for yesterday's attack come forward, they will be required to release their captives, won't they?"
"Of course," Terri-Belle replied. "This is a pardon, not a license."
"We all want to trust the Council," Violet said. "We all want to trust the system. But certain…recent behaviour by the Council has made that a little difficult for some of us."
"This is not a question of trust," Pyrrha said. "This is a question of need. The truth is that we were defeated at Manjushage."
"We moved as quickly as we could," Neptune said.
"And General Lagune did the best he could with an inexperienced army and a public that wanted swift victory, but it doesn't change the fact that Fort Castle was a disaster," Pyrrha replied, anguish lending her tone a touch of sharpness. "Our good intentions will not return the people of that town to their families, will not reunite them with their children or their aged parents." She closed her eyes. "Your valour and resolve fighting alongside me has been extraordinary. I am so proud to fight with you, and I hope that we will continue to fight together for as long as there is a need to fight this way, but yesterday's failure made clear to me that we cannot protect Mistral alone. It was…arrogant of me to think that we could. We need support that only the Council can provide…and we need allies. I don't care for these particular allies," she added, "but I accept that…our councillors are doing what they think is best for Mistral." That was not entirely true – she did not believe it of Lionheart for a moment – but it was true of the rest, or at least, she hoped it was.
"And if the bandits fail to live up to their end of the bargain?" Ren asked. "If they abuse our trust?"
"Then we will fall upon them," Pyrrha declared, "and give them cause to regret it."
Ren looked her in the eye and nodded.
Her mother cleared her throat before she spoke, and when she spoke – though she spoke from the rear of the hall – her voice filled up the space. "There was a time when our family gave commands, sending out warriors to do battle for the Kingdom of Mistral; it was a time not so very long ago, within the memory of my grandfather. Now, the House of Thrax gives commands to us, and so the world turns on. But always, there is one who gives command, as there are others who obey. You who are gathered here beneath my roof are not worthless, you do not count for nothing in battle or debate, but one must command, and others must obey in time of war.
"All of you answered the call of Mistral when those who claim to be the leaders of this land would not; that does you credit that cannot be taken away by any man. But now, the leaders of the land have answered, and as much as we might say they are a little late, I do not see that we can either in honour or good conscience stand aside from the greater effort. As for some of the policies of the Council and the dislike that some of you have for them, well…that, I understand, is what the elections are for."
Pyrrha nodded. "Indeed. Thank you, Mother. I will not stand by and allow the innocent to suffer," she said, "but nor will I defy the Council when it is finally doing what we all hoped that it would do from the moment this crisis began."
"We trust you, Pyrrha," Nora said.
"You are our captain and our lady," Hector said. "My fiancée and our child are alive because of what you have done and built. You have given us no cause to doubt you."
"Thank you, that is…very kind of you to say," Pyrrha murmured. "Autumn Blaze, what do you think?"
Autumn was sat a little way apart from the fighters, apparently making notes on her scroll. She looked up, surprise written on her face. "Me? You want to know what I think?"
"And what the people think," Pyrrha added. "Which you might be best placed to tell us."
"They're scared," Autumn replied. "In the villages and the towns, at least, judging by the comment section. They want to know how this happened and how they can be sure that it won't happen again."
"One of the many terrible things about this is that I don't think we can be sure," Pyrrha said unhappily. "We can only hope that the defensive measures put in place by Lady Terri-Belle are sufficient to buy us time to respond that we did not have at Manjushage and that the greater forces available to Mistral will let the territory be covered better than we have been able to do."
Autumn nodded. "I think that people will think that you've done the right thing in siding with the Council," she said.
At least, those who don't think the Council was behind it, Pyrrha thought.
"I think you've done the right thing," Autumn continued. "Don't get me wrong; I like you guys, and I think what you've done is amazing, and I'm planning to stick around to see what happens next if you'll let me, but if you didn't pitch in with everyone else, I might have started to wonder why not, and whether there wasn't something else going on. And I might not have been the only one to think that way."
"And what about the bandits?" Arslan demanded. "What are people going to say about that?"
"Depends on if the bandits let them vote," Autumn said. She paused, to be met with a stony silence. "No? Too soon? Right, too soon, gotcha. Yeah, so, um…yeah, like you said, I might not count on the composition of the Council staying the same after next year's election, but I guess some might people might appreciate the fact that they've got the guts to do something really unpopular like this because they think it's right."
"I see," Pyrrha said softly. "Thank you. Thank you all. I am told that any immediate emergencies will be dealt with by the Imperial Guard, so we can all take the day – and the night – off to rest and enjoy ourselves in ways that we haven't had the chance to recently. Avail yourselves of the opportunity, please; you deserve it." She turned away as the meeting broke up, headed towards Terri-Belle where the latter stood by the door. "I hope you didn't feel too stung by any of that."
"In different circumstances, I might agree with the stings," Terri-Belle replied. "Your followers respect you."
"I know, and I try to be worthy of it," Pyrrha said.
Terri-Belle smirked. "I think the desire to be worthy of you might be what drives them," she said.
"I…am not sure what you mean," Pyrrha replied. "Would you like to speak to your sister or see our command set-up?"
"The latter," Terri-Belle said immediately. "Swift Foot and I have nothing left to say to one another."
"I see," Pyrrha said, although she could not help but think it was a great pity. "Jaune, will you take Lady Terri-Belle out to the stable? I'd like a word with my mother."
"Sure," Jaune said. He grinned at her. "Maybe when we get back, we can talk about what to do with our night off."
A smile crossed Pyrrha's lips even as a soft chuckle escaped them. "You have some ideas, I take it?"
"I've got a couple, seeing as how we have an engagement to celebrate," Jaune said.
"Ugh, can you show me your set-up and then be sweet after I'm gone?" Terri-Belle demanded. "I feel as though my teeth are about to rot."
"Uh, right," Jaune muttered. "Follow me."
As he led her out of the hall, Pyrrha sought out her mother, passing through the dispersing crowd – offering a few words in response to anything said to her – until she reached her. "You spoke very well, Mother," she murmured.
"I said what needed to be said," Lady Nikos replied. "It seemed to help in some way."
"Did you mean it?" Pyrrha asked. "Or do you think I have done ill?"
"I think…I believe that you had a thorny choice set before you and have attempted honestly to find the best course through it," Lady Nikos said. "There is little more that can be asked of one who is not blessed with the gift of foresight. But did you seek me out to ask my judgement on your deeds?"
"No," Pyrrha admitted. "I…I would like you to teach me how to speak, publicly. It…it is not a skill that I desire, but it seems it may be one that I have need of."
Lady Nikos nodded approvingly. "I am glad to see that you finally think so, seeing as I have believed that for some time. Very well. Not today – now, you should do as Jaune suggested and celebrate your engagement-"
"'Jaune'?" Pyrrha said. "He is 'Jaune,' now?"
"I will not be able to call him Mister Arc for much longer, will I?" Lady Nikos answered. "Best I get used to the change now. In any case, go out and have your fun. Tomorrow, or whenever the opportunity allows, I will begin to teach you what you wish – and need – to know."
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Apparently unrelated events... But the outcome has hampered Pyrrha's ability to act. I am fairly sure now that all of this has been orchestrated by Salem.
But her end game is still unclear. Where is the maiden and who controls her?
Applicable Ways out.
“or the world end”
Assasination
Death in battle
Arslan is absolutely correct, and I will gladly explain what she didn't have the chance to. Trivia Question: What happens when you give legitimacy and immunity to bandit lords? Ding ding ding! You get legalized dictators!
Only a bunch of nobles and politicians sitting on a mountain could think that was a good idea.
10313207
Not only that. By offering this they pretty much told the bandits "we do not have the power to actually fight you right now".
What do you think will happen when you tell a group of people who have no issues with risk taking that the top dog is too ragged down to deal with you now? The smarter and most daring of the bandits will take this as an opportunity to amass their forces and attempt to take power, or at least become completely independent once the council comes around with any kind of demand.
10313255
Precisely! And the new legitimacy gives them the legal authority and flexibility to do so! Worse, they will now get to smugly rub that piece of paper in the faces of any citizens that give them trouble. Acknowledging and legitimizes them will only make them stronger, bolder, and crueler. Not to mention that the negativity this will generate will only make Grimm attacks even worse! Faith in the Mistral government is only going to plummet now. (Autumn is going to have a field day reporting what she finds in those districts)
On another note, Pyrrha should at least make use of the newfound resources to direct Mistral's efforts to finding Raven. That was why she agreed to join in the first place!
10313092
Well, I won't spoil it but the author is still sticking to RWBY canon for many things. So the answer to your question regarding the maiden is that it is the same as the original RWBY canon.
10313272
I do wonder what does this deal means for Raven, after all she doesn't give a crap about politics, she only wants to be left alone.
Coming out and becoming the lord of a block of land would make her rackets and day-to day survival a lot simpler, but she also has some BIG incentives to stay in the shadows.
I also can see this completely stonewalling Pyrrha search for Raven. The council sees this as a perfect solution towards the bandit problem, they will not use their resources to look for an specific bandit tribe unless they become mayor issues, something that Raven has always tried not to become.
She could try to link Raven to the disappearances, but she has no real proof (hell outside of teleportation, which they are not even sure happened, everything else points towards it NOT being her), and even if she had I don't see the Steward taking into consideration any word that comes from Pyrrha's mouth.
10313289
... BUCK.
1) love the historical reference. I think the Spartacus revolt would have been a more fitting analogy, but your choice of Canne was handled beautifully.
2) Nice fourth wall wink, Terri. I see you
3) An overall good chapter with the maneuvering of pieces. Now, it is just a matter of time before Mistral goes all three kingdoms, oh boy should that be fun
I knew that bending the knee to the Council would bite Pyrrha in the ass but I didn't think it would literally be the first choice they make lmao.
"Hey guys I've decided to trust the Council to do what's bes- oh they've allied with bandits."
Edit: also nice Roman Empire reference with Terri literally calling Pyrrha emperor.
Was this put in because of comments like mine? Anyway we don't think YOU did it, just your father. Also I'm not apologizing.
And this coming from the man who sat on 'his' throne while the rest of Mistral was burning. The steward is just absolutely insufferable. I agree that they should go back to school because being able to fight very well now doesn't mean that they can't learn more. All I can hope is that Swift Foot fulfills her destiny as being heavily based off of Boromir.
I honesty feel like the non Sunset arks have been way way way too long..
10313278
Well, I am familiar with the RWBY canon here. But a few things have changed which leaves me curious how it will play out...
The people are always moved further by betrayal than misery.
Unite the defense forces, let bandits have enough rope to hang themselves, crush the worst as an example and you might well end up ahead.
Nah, of course not. What kind of clown world would that ever happen?
10316079
I swear that was not a topical reference; this chapter was written...over a month ago, I think.
10316130
Then fate smiled upon it
10317404
The thing is, Grogar doesn't really need civilians too. He is the father of monsters and he works with corpses with no issues, he has far better units already and if he was going in a recruitment spree then this was far from the most efficient way of doing so. He probably gets better results with living beings, but by his words and those of the forge he would just go trough the effort for the truly exceptional specimens, and a bunch of civilians are definitely not exceptional.
My current theory is that this is Chrysalis and doctor Watts. They have the means, they have the motivation (cause distrust in Mistral, specially if she uses her powers to blame it on someone else) and while this kind of plan is not something that Salem personally would do, she does give her followers quite a free range of action.
10316130
Personally, I was being reminded of this when I read that plan.
10322109
10322262
I agree with you on this:
Which is why a subtle alteration has edited that out: Sunset has thought about writing in the diary, but has not actually written in it.
I don't agree with you on this:
The whole 'mystery' surrounding Ozpin's motivations is the result of...not necessarily bad writing, but not good writing either. When I started writing this fic I had half an eye on the idea that Ozpin would turn out to be evil, which is why in the original version of this fic he's written like Fanon Dumbledore. I eventually came to a point where I was more sympathetic towards him, and eventually Sunset turns more sympathetic as well. So, yes, it all does come down to Sunset's paranoia...but in a way that's all it ever was, her paranoia and distrust of a good man trying to do his best by her and her friends.