Chapter 7: The Lady

Charles the Lord of Fort Castle

"Buy all of the dust we can; we will have no use for Lien. Soon no one will take it." Charles announced the first real issue of this meeting. Fort Castle had opened its gates; inside the place seemed not so unshakable as Charles had thought. The place was packed full of tired militia, fighters he intended to send home. Wealth somehow remained, same with some amount of food stores and dust, though not as much as anyone had hoped. Taking the keep for himself it now fell on the black cat to lead a castle. He had spent a year breaking Fort Castle, now he had to unbreak it. First time he ever lamented doing a good job.

"Then what will we pay the army with?" The yellow knight Armillia, ever the dutiful antagonist replied questioning Charles' edict. She was clearly loyal, had kept to her word on listening to Charles whenever possible, but never did so without the slightest bit of criticism. Charles preferred it however, sitting at this fine oak table in the high seat of honor, one he never earned, being stared at by a plethora of chiefs and commanders awaiting his orders. It was daunting and if Charles wasn't careful, somewhat intoxicating. Good to have someone question him.

"Human soldiers will not fight for us, save the few knights we have, and the Faunus will fight regardless of their pay 'cus facts are facts we have no other options. Send every one of them home, keep the guns though; we will be needing them for what comes next." Charles offered, something that even Armillia couldn't seem to exactly stand against. Truth was no one was going to argue against letting people return to their farms, hunting and crafts. The whole place was low in everything. At least that's what Charles garnered from the discussion at this very meeting table. Not like the records made any sense. "What language is this in?" Charles added flipping through the varied technical booklet of all the spending and earnings of the keep. A fountain of information, had it been in anything, but gibberish.

"Valen my lord…" Pan replied nervously. She had continued to act as Charles' assistant. Though her old living quarters had been restored to her she came up the next day to take care of anything Charles might have needed. Good kid, and now much sweeter smelling since that she was not a prisoner. At this table it was good to have her stand to his left a boon whenever he needed one.

"I can read Valen, this is not Valen." Charles replied as politely as he could, though the response seemed not nearly as positive as one could aspire to. Uncomfortable eyes stared at him from across the wooden table, Murray giving a shallow awkward smile, the Taurus silent in her seat. The Simian chief laughed, and the few remaining knights of Fort Castle shook their heads in disgust.

"Charles it's Valen, just cursive. Nobles love the stuff, makes them feel fancy I think." Azura spoke with a joke, an attempt at pity. The sweet wolf standing with shrugged shoulders to Charles' right. Now that he looked at it again, the squiggles looked somewhat like the numbers he had learned in his village school. Charles had been made to look a fool before, would be again, but this was a special kind of embarrassing, one that colored him a fine mild pink.

"My lord...can you not read cursive?" Pan asked, the young girl standing nervously by the high seat Charles so uncomfortably sat, the damn thing too large and obtrusive to even enjoy.

"Apparently not, Pan read the record for me." Charles replied with a bit of a sarcastic twinge, sliding the record book over to the young girl, the atmosphere feeling even more uncomfortable. The black cat had decided he didn't much like this place, a keep made of old iron and marble. To think how much time he spent trying to get it.

"Are you saying our bloody lord is illiterate? Public schooling has been around for near half a century and we have an illiterate giving the orders!" One of the younger knights, born with a constant gormless look on his face announced this with stunning subtly. Charles didn't much care for him, though the Faunus tried to blame it on boyish youth.

"Not for Faunus it isn't, but I can read fine when it's not whimsical scribbling. Pan if you could please." Charles did not allow himself to sound the fool, though he must look like one fumbling in his seat having a little girl read for him. This reminder of prejudice was enough to refocus the chiefs and hush the more polite humans.

"He's illiterate." The young boy pressed on, this time earning the look of ire from more than just Charles. Even Armillia glared at him to shut his mouth. This was kind of amusing, who would have believed the knights of fort Castle glaring at each other all over him. Well it was enough to make something pleasant out of a rather miserable event.

"Shut yer mouth boy, Charlie is plenty literate; I'll hear none of that damn complainin'." Murray the big Leo, ever the talker was the first to call out the boy. This was what Charles found incredibly endearing about Murray. The big Faunus was first through the gates when they opened, making demands of the guards turning everyone and everything firmly in Charles' hands. He and Azura quickly made work of distributing his orders and taking on the brunt of the actual work enforcing the transition. Not to mention Charles found him charming in a brutish sort of way.

"I'll listen to Charles, but if you think I will take insults from a fat red headed monster you don't-" The boy started, but never finished. A small knife flung into the wood of the table to shut them all up. It was better than shouting; Charles never liked being loud.

"You will listen, and if not we will strip you of all your possessions and send you on your merry way. I promise it is a very long, cold, and wet walk to Castle White from here. It can be a very beautiful walk in a miserable horrible sort of way." Charles kept his voice level, best to always speak calmly, no need to add rude along with stern. His warning was enough to silence the boy for a short bit. At least enough that after a moment the room was still soundless. "Don't be too surprised, everyone seems to forget I was bandit a week ago, now Pan sweetie please read the record. Also all future records will be typed, what use are typewriters if not for records" Charles said with smile hoping to lighten the mood and humble himself a little.

"We have, uhh five hundred thousand lien worth of debt it seems. Our income is taxes on hunting and dust mining, some farming, but the farms are mostly damaged and ahhh, we owe the farmers the insurance for damages...it's a lot." Pan spoke softly, with many pauses herself, not the most confident reader though with this much bad news, having it said slowly made it easier to stomach.

"To whom do we owe the debt?" Charles requested. He had found Fort Castle more impoverished than he had hoped. Though running a province without an economy for half a year surely would take the lien out of any pocket.

"Mostly to...uhh Schnee financing, the banking branch of Castle White. Some to our local bank, ummm the rest to the crown." Pan read off in order of importance, though none of them seem all that important. Charles found himself mostly just shrugging it. Owing money to your enemies was one of the most ironically simple matters.

"Doesn't matter, I don't respect tyrant Geordie and he doesn't like me much neither from what I hear. So we keep their money, same with the Schnee. Why write a check to a group of people that are more inclined to skin us than have a drink with us? As for our own bankers." Charles started scratching his own chin, fairly smoothed skinned despite getting older every day. "For our own bankers, let the Schnee merchants come in, thinking we're free of occupation and the Taurus I'm sure would be happy to lead raids as they come back. We can pay off the debt and only piss off people that already hate us." Charles stated as much as he asked, leaving this one slightly open to ridicule. The knights just sat there awkwardly, not used to the idea of this sort of work, too bad they had just joined the losing side.

"It will be easy; my people will have plenty of lien for your wedding gift." The Taurus replied hidden behind her bone white grimm mask. She was not something Charles enjoyed having on a leash; sometimes it was better to have the wild bull loose on the enemy than try to keep it home. Charles did not choose her for no reason that much was certain, likely to her as well.

"The merchants and businessmen and woman are not at war with us, attacking them is deplorable." Amarilla was the only one with the courage to mention it at all. To some credit she was right, innocent people would end up poorer along with the enemy, but that was how things were won. Charles gave a frown as a reply, not having much to say back, the order just stood daunting in front of them all.

"Deplorable, aye, so is forcing us from our hearth and home. Putting us to work in the mines. You whole lot are deplorable!" Chief Murray filled the void with his own anger, the booming boisterous man as he was left a heavy vocal impression. "Well now yer deplorable for the right sort of deplorable eh?" He ended with a laugh and a friendlier expression, the big white massive grin he always had. Charles wanted to thank him for at least trying to rectify his bouts of anger with something a little more...friendly.

"This is how we survive, how we win, how I beat you. Can't win clean, not against an enemy bigger than you." Charles added in a somber tone. He looked around his marble dome, the fine intersecting ribbed arches that held up their meeting room, the glass windows illuminating a dim light from outside, sun going down on a rainy day. Mostly he just didn't feel like looking people in the eye. When did thievery become so natural to him, such a quick solution? It was the right choice, gods it had to be the right choice, but it was not supposed to be easy.

"And like or not, my betrothed is right. Fort Castle stands alone with just a handful of Faunus and a lot of dirty tricks to save it." The voice that defended him was one that he knew, but always felt so foreign to him. Charles did not want to look at her, though he meant her no offense. She was something he was never comfortable with, had no gauge for what to do or say. It was the Lady of Fort Castle, Maledetta Cid, his future wife.

"Ahh, umm Good morning. Sit with us, we are discussing edicts." Charles pulled his courage and looked towards her. He was not repulsed by her appearance whatsoever; she was quite the beautiful young woman. Looking back on her now that was reinforced. She stood, guarded by one of her own knights and one of the Leo as was agreed on, the light of a colored glass pane dim on her. She seemed small, frail even, cursed from birth with chronic illness unlike her relative Armillia, though clever and more aware of the situation than anyone else seemed to be. She had pale skin, as was common of people from northern Vale; her hair was of loose threads, heavy and wavy. It split into small almost curls that looked like waves of ribbons, all black as a nevermore's feathers. Her bangs fell to her eyes, some even crossing that threshold. Her countenance was marred by something though, whether giving a light smile or heavy glare, she always looked sad. For some reason, that sad look made Charles feel guilty and hateful. He had no love for Fort Castle, and little love for the sad looking woman that ran it. "Taurus, you have your orders, good luck."

"Yes Lord Charles." The wild bull of a woman Charles had unleashed announced, taking herself and her guards out of the room. That damn mask made it impossible to tell if she had been offended or pleased by the assignment in truth. Reading expressions was so important to leadership Charles had found, despite his own lack of talent for it.

"Sounds awful, Lord Charles, mustn't let yourself be called that. If you do everyone will think you're important or somethin' silly." Azura joked patting him on the shoulder. She, that hulking loveable wolf that she was, had the opposite effect on him than the lady of fort Castle. Where Maledetta made him feel alien and wrong, Azura reminded him of his home, made him remember where he came from. In many ways he regretted this decision, however necessary for closing the door on other fates. Either way he chose Maledetta, he chose this fate.

"We still have the matter of ending the separation laws. From here on out the division between Faunus and humans is made void here in Fort Castle. That includes the Fair-Wage edict and all other claims to our people." Charles had no desire to invite question into this. Serfdom had cost him a dear friend, along with whatever had existed of his meager dignity and much of his decency. For the first time in his life he wanted to do something meaningful in this world. Ending suffering for someone.

"Lord Charles, isn't the Fair-Wage edict supposed to be the end of Faunus slavery?" Armilia argued with blatant ignorance of their people and what actual counted for something along the line of Fair Wages. End Faunus slavery it did not. Pay a Faunus in chains and they are still in chains.

"The Fair wage edict as written says that all Faunus may be charged with labor so long as they are paid a human's wage. It's not lack of pay that makes a slave, but not being able to refuse. Things some of us were forced to do for 'fair wages' would disgust you Armillia, I assure you that." Charles had a steadiness to him in his words not previously seen by her. For how little assured he was of much, Lucia, what happened to her, watching the noose be her only way out for the dear woman, there was no doubt to him on this. A lot of people failed her that day and the months that followed, Charles included, but that law is what let people like the knight Guido turn from troubling to evil. "End of story. Fair-Wages, the Menagerie Exile, the Separation Order, all of it gone. From now till the end of time Fort Castle law has no special favors for anyone. Understood?"

"I think you've made your position clear, Charles." One of the older knights finished, standing to dismiss himself with a scowl and a bow. This was stepping on toes and as such Charles was again reassured that no one in Fort Castle's army was worth trusting. He had bought a Castle and a worthless army with this marriage, at least the Castle was nice.

"Everyone is dismissed." The Black Cat announced to save both the knight and him face. The moment meetings begin to have walk-outs is the moment it stops being worth it. At least some steps had been taken and things put in motion. More could be addressed tomorrow, for now he wanted to hide from his future wife like the child he seemed to still be.

Stepping away from them all, Charles stepped outside. The rain was pouring, as it always was, but this time he was safe and protected. Above the council dome balcony was a rain shield, now only thin stone felt wet and cold. The light that had come from today's sunset drifted off from the world, the autumn grey replacing it. It had been so long since Charles had a moment to actually enjoy rain, the smell and sound of it. None had followed him past the stained glass windows, but Azura of course who was now his official protector.

"Murray is asking for you. The man has a crush on you I swear, won't stop talking about old bonnie Lord Charlie as he likes to call you." Azura joked, the warrior gossiping to help Charles feel at home again. It wasn't home, but she was a start. "I have more unpleasant news." The great wolf continued when Charles said nothing.

"You can tell me." Charles had grown use to bad news, almost enjoyed them as surprises in store for them. Like boxes of fine chocolate he could look forward to it. At least that's what he told himself sarcastically to deny the anxiety he felt every day.

"Wernher Schnee, the old man is dead." Wernher, now he was a hero to anyone. His industrial technology helped build a bridge for anyone to cross into a new age. In a number of ways his technological advancements were why feudalism was a walking corpse. When no one feared starving or freezing to death people thought of new ideas, self-made people. He saved more lives with his affordable heaters, modern miners masks, and automated systems than anyone else Charles could think of. For all the evils of the Schnee family, for as cruel as Otto was known to be to his people, Wernher's death was dreadful news. "Bigger problem than an old man dead. He died of an arrow, Faunus arrow. That's what they say, and they predict when the Schnees hear of this they will name you as the one who ordered it."

"What? Why?" Charles stood in shock, he'd been used to being blamed for things, legends of his deeds he had never even dared to try came to him often. This was the first time he had ever been blamed for killing a personal hero. "Who told you this?"

"A Taurus spy." Charles didn't even know he had spies at his disposal, well he supposed they weren't his truly, but the Taurus woman's. She had decided to let this information only be slipped to him after he ordered her departure, a crafty bull, one he did not feel comfortable with.

"Send a letter of denial to Castle White, and of our best wishes, Wernher was a Faunus hero!" Charles began to feel the beginnings of fear in him. Castle White and the Schnees were no more good or just than any of the other provincial lords, but at least they had stayed out of the war. Sure there had been skirmishes on the border and they had always been a target for raids, but never in their own territory, nor anything against a Schnee specifically. Schnees

had the richest company, the most powerful army, and the most advanced city in the north. They were the most powerful family baring the royal family. Where the dying light of feudalism had turned lords in debt to rich folk, the Schnee's managed to make the rich folk in debt to them. Long story short, Schnee were foes Charles did not want to fight.

"Sending a letter apologizing before they even know he is dead, what's a better way to look guilty?" Azura argued, the growl that followed her words a grim reminder of how completely screwed this was. That is it then, stuck in the rain waiting for the king's army, hoping the most powerful person in Vale aside from that same king doesn't decide to take revenge for the murder of his brother. "Wait a week and hope they think you're innocent, it's our only choice."

"Call an investigation; have one of your kin look into it, someone loyal to us. Maybe if we can be the ones to catch the murderer, old Otto might think us a better friend for it. Plus it would be nice serving justice for once. Miss being the good guys Azura." Charles would have gone on, but sound behind him made his ear twitch. Stepping out into the balcony was his Lady of Fort Castle, killing his dream of being alone.

"Charles, may we speak for a moment." It was a pleasant sort of dream, but reality demands and so Charles turned to the Lady, the same sad smile on her lips as always there to greet him. At least she didn't wear an obnoxious amount of yellow like Armilla, instead she dressed in white, accented with black and purple wherever was fitting. Why this woman repelled him so much Charles could not answer, but Azura was kind enough to stand partially in her way, enough to give the boy some air to breath.

"Sure, milady uhh is here okay?" Charles replied, though she just chuckled at this sensing his discomfort. That only made the black cat more nervousness. This was a right awful start to what hopefully for his mortality's sake was going to be a rather long, if dreadful marriage.

"Don't you laugh too hard milady; you'll hurt his feelings if you keep it up." Azura joked, something unusual for her to do with a stranger. She always had a fondness for fragile things with inner strength. That was why she helped Charles and Lucia growing up. Azura had mentioned once, both fragile people with a different sort of strength. Maledetta Cid seemed certainly fragile for a person, though that inner strength Azura talked about was not there.

"Both of you are just charming, I do not mean to laugh." Maledetta spoke gently, reaching out to pat Azura on the shoulder, small touches being an easy way to soften a relationship, or maybe Charles was just paranoid.

"Nah, only me is charming, I'm the ugliest girl in the world and he couldn't charm me after ten years of trying." Charles would argue against that. Well he would have tried. Azura wasn't classically beautiful. She had a scarred face, but even before than she was bulky, stalky, had strange sharp teeth and fairly cruel eyes. Still it just didn't sit right with Charles to hear her say she wasn't beautiful. It was an age old fight they had stop having for years.

"Don't say that about yourself, you're a woman of qualities anyone would envy." To Maledetta's credit she was unafraid of Azura, spoke softly to her like Charles did. For that Charles found her sweet. The big wolf needed more friends after all. She was respected and feared by everyone, but even her Canis kin didn't seem to love her.

"Yes, but looks aren't one of them. Wear what you are and no one can hurt you with it, and I'm thinking Azura Thrym is the biggest wolf in a forest of sheep. Not so bad, eh?" That was beyond question. Azura deserved to be in a famous school like Beacon, she was a full huntress at the age of thirteen, when Charles was still learning how to fish and hunt deer, she was skinning Ursi for clients.

"The best huntress in the north too." Charles added, turning from the rain to his friend and betrothed. "You um, wanted to talk milady." He added, honestly wanting to get whatever matter this was about over with. His deep amber eyes for the first time actually locking with Maledetta's sad brown ones.

"Call me Mala Charles, after all we are going to be married, better start acting like it." She replied with a laugh, though contained and never really draining whatever melancholy curse clung to her. "Yes I wanted to say, be a bit more careful with the other knights. You've bested all of them, a lot of hurt pride is there. Make them feel bigger, not smaller, that's how you will earn their love."

"I won't ever get their love, figure it doesn't really matter how they feel so long as I don't let them undermine me." Charles had no softer way of saying it. The knights of Fort Castle could be trusted to protect the Castle, but that's it. Once they left the province they would be useless to him on the field, perhaps even a detriment. Or, just maybe, was that his own prejudice talking. The sword of hate cut both ways, which was something Charles always had to remember.

"People love winners, so far you've never lost. Keep winning and keep bringing them up and soon they will love you. Hatred for Faunus is just an excuse for slavery, it has no real basis, we all know it, we've always known it and so do you." Maledetta advocated with some fire, it was almost convincing. Maybe Charles would try it, or maybe he would talk some sense into himself and realize this was nothing, but a naive hopeful attitude. He would have to decide that later.

"Thank you, uhh Mala, I will think on that. Is there anything else?" Charles started, but Azura finished.

"Actually there is something I wanted to ask you Maledetta, if you don't mind me calling you that." There was a bit of emotion behind Azura as she spoke, Charles could hear it in the growl, something only he would sense from years of listening to her. Instantly he knew where this was going and it made him want to beg Azura to stop. "Did you order the Wages Edict?" There it was. Of course he had wanted to ask, but the truth was he didn't want to know. The Lady of Fort Castle seemed affable, even sweet despite Charles' misgivings, but the knights were oppressors. That oppression had a source. The source had only one logical beginning. He just didn't want to hear it. "A good friend of mine, sweet girl killed herself. I'm thinking it was that little piece of paper is what made that happen, so did you make it so?"

"I did." Maledetta did not argue against it. She admitted it, with no fear, but no pride. Those sad eyes were unchanged, as if this was expected even if unwanted.

"Why?" Azura growled, a deep hateful sort of growl, yet marked with a desperate confusion. Charles didn't know what to do, so he just watched the conversation unfold, more of the guilt beginning to fall on his shoulders for Lucia's death. He could feel the weight of it.

"One of the larger local companies vied for my favor wishing to open up the mines here before Schnee would, they just needed the labor. I needed the mine, so I provided the labor." She explained clearly, again with no change in emotion, stoic sincerity. Lien was the reason and it did not surprise Charles, though it was almost sad that the answer was so simple.

"For money?" Azura growled, while Charles stood in silence with only the rain to make a noise.

"Where did you learn honor Azura?" The lady asked sweetly, almost as if to ask a child where they had learned a bad word. A sort of sad question.

"Stories we Canis pass down every generation, I know my code." Azura's people were like that. Canis were born with code and laws everyone follows, a strict hierarchy of old traditions meant to strengthen community. All of these told in stories, ones she would tell Charles and Lucia when they were little, they were important to her.

"Ahh, unfortunately, the real world isn't the same as a fairy tale." The worlds were cruel even if the voice seemed sad. "I was born sickly. My mother told me I was cursed, but I was her only child. Unlike her, my cousins or every generation of women in my family, I was not a warrior with masterful aura. I was born feeble, sickly and powerless. I have to scheme to survive. Without the mine the Cid Family would be a puppet of the Schnee. I did what I must, even if it is wrong. I swore an oath to our king, but I sided with Charles didn't I? I did it to survive. Being on the side of right is just a benefit, one I will enjoy, but I make no excuse. The world is cruel, and I am along with it as much as it will demand from me." She ended with a sigh, knowing her words were wind to Azura, though Charles thought maybe they were more meant for him. "Good day you two, sleep well and perhaps we can be friends again tomorrow." She announced taking her leave, stepping into the light of the dome again. It was now just Charles, Azura, and the rainy mess of autumn.

"Bitch." Azura said to no one, her own anger began to subside. She meant it to break the tension, but it didn't really help.

"Yeah." Charles could only mutter. It wasn't so much anger he felt toward Maledetta, just a heavy feeling of defeat. He wanted to be Lucia's avenger, her hero, but he was just going to fail her again, marry the one responsible to all the horrible things in their lives for a handful of conveniences.

"She had fire in her that one. I think she likes me Charles." Azura joked, her own expression a little sad behind the scarring and the long black hair. She was trying to cheer up Charles and he knew it. He tried his best to smile and play along. The black cat could feel guilty later.

"Do you like her? You can marry her for me." He replied with that same weak pretend smile.

"Charles?" Azura replied, elongating his name for emphasis. "The only person I ever liked was Lucia and look where that got me." That broke it, as morbid the joke was it cracked Charles and he laughed. Azura loved her dark humor and it never seemed to stop shocking Charles into laughter.

"What about me?" Charles replied preferring the comically selfish to the tragic humors.

"Ehh, I'd say I tolerate you." Azura replied with a smile. In the entire world, grey bleak horrible mess it seemed to be, there was no better friend to call his best, and to think she just 'tolerated' him. He almost considered letting his feelings be hurt. Instead Charles returned her smile, if only for a moment. He wished someone else was here too, though that person would have hated it. If only he could ask her.

"What would Lucia tell me to do you think?" Instead he asked the only other person that seemed to remember her.

"She would have you run someplace safe and keep your head in the dirt. She is dead, not a saint, she would know less than us what to do." Azura said cruel things from time to time, but no one loved Lucia more than she did. Killing Guido was supposed to make everything feel better, but it didn't. The guilt was still there, and the war was added to it. "But I think you do what you need to. I kill your enemies, you be the leader you're not, but need to be." That was simple terms, though not very optimistic. Azura was always a pessimist.

"So lead?"

"Be the Lord for your Lady, win the war, then we all get justice."

**Welp here is another release. The day before the last finals too. Crazy time for me, but thankfully summer starts and I'll only have one class :D But it's physics, so hard with lots of homework D:

'cus I forgot to do it last chapter, Wernher Schnee is a reference to Wernher von Braun, a German scientist who pioneered rocket technology. His work made space travel possible.

Hope everyone likes the chapter. Sorry if it's a bit heavy, with its vague references to two of the most haunting things I've had to deal with in my lifetime :/ In some ways I hope to do literary justice to both those things and in no way want to under play them.

I want to say again thanks to everyone who reads and reviews, this is a small story so that support is massive to me. It helps so much and without it this story could not keep being made. Also thank you again to TCR whom has been a wonderful help and wonderful friend.