Thanks to TehGramerPolise and MasterofBones for their help with this chapter.

"So explain to me again why you can't just get a drink at the house." Winter demanded as she looked uncertainly at the extremely noisy tavern we were standing outside.

"Told you already, it won't work, it needs to be the right environment." I replied.

"And I have to go with you, why?"

"Because to do this safely I need more than one person and Kali is out gathering more information." I replied, "Now come on, you're supposed to be charmed, if people see you arguing with me they'll get suspicious. Think good little soldier thoughts if you need to."

I walked into the tavern and paused at the threshold, taking a moment to take it all in.

The sounds of raucous shouting and drinking that were nearly deafening. The smell of strong alcohol and vomit in almost equal measure. This was truly a place of absolute degeneracy, a true pig-sty.

It was beautiful.

Beside me I heard Winter gag a little and swiftly cover her face with her hand, "Oh Maidens," She gasped.

"Yeah, this is perfect." I said.

"You must be joking, this place is revolting."

"Like I said, it's perfect, now come on." I squeezed my way through the crowd until I found a wooden table and sat down.

Winter reluctantly sat across from me, "Alright, what now?"

"Now," I said, "We get very drunk." I waved down a waitress, a harpy with a serious underbite, "A bottle of your most expensive whiskey please."

She lifted an eyebrow and looked me over, "That'll be the 232 Rikkerson."

"Great just put it on my tab." I told her.

"Right…" She gave me a suspicious look, "Name and rank?"

"Qr'Krowl, Tribune." I replied.

The harpy's eyes widened, "Oh shit, I thought you looked familiar. I'll get that for you right away."

"Oh real quick, before you do, tell the bartender to leave the cork in the bottle, okay?"

The harpy nodded and walked away quickly.

"Look, if your only intention was to get drunk, why did you tell me to come along?" Winter demanded, "You said that this was important."

"The act of getting drunk is highly important; it's very sacred to me." I replied.

The harpy waitress came back with a hobgoblin behind her dressed in a ragged tweed suit and a patched up bowler hat.

"Here you are sir, one 232 Rikkerson." The hobgoblin gestured towards the bottle while the harpy held it up, "And I must say, it is quite the honor to serve someone like yourself in this, my most humble establishment."

"You run a fine place Mister…"

"Okarr." The Hobgoblin bowed his head slightly.

"Right, Mister Okarr, now if you wouldn't mind I've been sober for way too long and I intend to remedy that pronto."

"Right you are sir," He planted two whiskey glasses on the table and the harpy put the bottle down. The two of them bowed and then disappeared off into the crowd.

"Alright," I grabbed the bottle and popped off the cork, I took a deep whiff and sighed appreciatively as the heavenly aromas flooded into my nostrils.

"Oh yeah, that's the good stuff." I murmured as I poured a shot into the glass in front of me. I knocked it back and sighed as it burned smoothly in my throat.

I quickly poured a shot for both of us and gestured to Winter, "C'mon drink up."

Winter arched an imperious eyebrow, "Not until you explain what this is about."

"And I won't explain a thing until you take a shot." I replied.

She glared at me for a moment and then sighed, "Fine." She grabbed the glass and drank it before erupting into a coughing fit.

"How-in the world- can you drink this stuff?" She gasped.

"Oh stop being such a wuss." I told her as I took the second shot, "Okay, so here's the thing, you probably don't have a way to channel anima, right?"

"I usually use special cartridges." She told me, "But those were all taken."

"And it's probably gonna be pretty suspicious if I demand their return." I poured another shot into both glasses, "But the thing is that when everything goes down, Kali has her magic to hurt monsters and I have the Flames of Sarongar; you don't have anything. So I'm going to get some Mistralian Gold for you."

"That stuff that you gave me at the base when we were running through that zoo?" She asked.

I nodded, "That would be the stuff."

"And us drinking here at this bar has what to do with that exactly?"

"Mistralian Gold is rare and hard to come by, so only a few places even have it. The other problem is that if we were to leave and come back with it, it would be hard to smuggle in without raising some serious questions. Not only that, but it's gonna take a bit to do that… so I'm going to be outsourcing it."

Winter frowned, "How's that?"

"Yrrl'ten." I replied.

"What?"

"A type of sprite," I explained, "Tiny things, have a kind of empathetic link they can form with objects. Specifically they tend to hang around bars and taverns."

She lifted an eyebrow as she looked around, "And you think they've been able to slip into the city?"

I waved a hand dismissively, "They're probably beneath anyone's notice, that and it's tough to see them… not so much magic as requires a certain state of mind."

"I'm guessing that you mean drunk?"

"Eyup." I replied as I refilled our glasses, "Takes a little bit more than that, but getting drunk is a large part of it."

"So we get drunk enough to see them, then what?"

I laid a finger on the cork to the whiskey bottle and rolled it around a bit, "Getting drunk gets them interested, particularly with good alcohol. This cork is right now going to be filling up with all of the enjoyment I get from drinking this very, very fine whiskey. It's going to be irresistible to them." I pulled out a package of salt that I had taken from the house and poured it out in a semi-circle around it, "So we're going to use it to negotiate with them."

"And they can get Mistralian Gold?" Winter asked.

"They should, it won't be a lot, but they'll have contacts and portals between tons of different taverns and bars that only they can use to get some for us fast."

"What do you mean, should?"

I shrugged, "I've never tried to get specifically Mistralian Gold from them before, but if you've got a better idea, then let's hear it."

She grimaced, "Alright then, bottom's up I suppose."

We both drained our glasses and I refilled them, but when Winter began to pick hers up again I held up a finger as I saw a flicker of movement out of the corner of my eye, "Wait a second," I put the finger on the bridge of my nose and then stared at it, going cross-eyed, "Oh yeah, they're here alright."

"You can see them?" Winter asked me, her words slurring slightly.

"Sure thing, just do what I'm doing."

She hesitated, "You're not just messing with me, are you?"

I shrugged, "Find out for yourself, you've got one standing right near your hand."

She frowned, but complied, going cross-eyed as she stared at the finger at the end of her nose, "I don't see any-"

She recoiled sharply, pulling back from the table, "What in the world?" She breathed.

I grinned as the Yrrl'ten, a squat man-shaped blobby thing in a pair of overalls about the size of a fist walked away from her, its droopy eyes fixated on the whiskey cork.

I scanned around, making sure to keep my eyes crossed and out of focus, to see that there were perhaps a couple dozen of the sprites already gathered.

I slowly took another shot and watched an appreciative sigh go up from amongst the creatures

I refilled my glass and kept watching as more and more of them showed up, no doubt word getting around of the prize that was right in front of them.

One of the Yrrl'ten began making their move, making its way to the cork, a hunger in its eyes. That got the rest of them moving, and soon there were at least three dozen of the sprites all advancing on the whiskey cork.

I watched them and right as one of them reached it, I deftly slide a finger across the salt, closing the circle.

A collective wail went up from amongst the gathered sprites; several of them tried in vain to grab the cork, but they were stopped short as though by an invisible wall right where the salt was.

Finally, one of them began asserting some semblance of order, going around and making all of the others stand still. It walked around the seemingly impenetrable barrier of salt, then it looked up at me; its eyes wary.

Slowly, an image formed in my mind, a great of white bone blocking a great glowing object of pure gold and then a question mark.

I immediately focussed on an image of the bone barrier parting, but a toll booth being in the way.

A moment later an image of the toll booth burning down with a man trapped inside appeared in my head.

Yikes… I looked down at the Yrrl'ten in charge and lifted an eyebrow, it folded its arms and glared at me.

I sighed and shot back a mental image of the great golden object disappearing and being gone forever.

The Yrrl'ten seemed to ponder this for a moment, then an image almost reluctantly seeped into my mind of the Yrrl'ten putting a question mark into the toll booth's slot.

This was going to be the tricky part, I thought of a bottle with the words 'Mistralian Gold' on the side, but a moment later, was met with a feeling of general confusion.

I tried sending an image of a clear bottle filled with liquid gold, but a moment later was sent back a picture of the whiskey bottle in front of me refilled.

I shook my head and then in a flash of inspiration, sent an image of myself drinking a flask of Mistralian Gold and channeling anima.

The Yrrl'ten's eyes widened in understanding and I received a picture of a giant beehive with honey slowly flowing down its sides to form great drops that fell to a massive pool below.

I frowned, I wasn't quite sure what it was showing me, but on some instinctive level, I understood that it knew what I was asking for. So I sent a thumb's up and then an image of three of my flasks.

The Yrrl'ten scratched its chin and then sent me back an image of one of my flasks, to which I immediately responded with two.

The Yrrl'ten however, shook its head, quickly sending me images of trying to fit an elephant into the eye of a needle.

"Qrow? What's going on?" Winter asked me.

"Sorry, they communicate mentally." I replied, "I-"

One moment I was fine, the next it felt like something was grabbing my brain and squeezing, causing spots to flash before my eyes, "Hit it." I managed.

"Hit what?"

"The Yrrl'ten in front of me, the one looking at me, hit it." I grit my teeth as I went blind from the lights flashing in my eyes, damnit, I was starting to lose consciousness.

Then abruptly everything cleared and I let out a wheezing gasp. Slowly I lifted my head from where it had fallen on the table and blinked the remaining spots of light from my vision.

Winter had smacked the Yrrl'ten so hard it looked like someone had spread a gob of red and purple jelly all over the table.

I winced a little at the carnage, I mean, I had told her to hit it and odds are the little bastard had been trying to kill me, so I couldn't feel too bad. Still though, I made a mental note to inform her of the difference between 'hit it' and 'kill it'.

Still though, that would go a great deal towards cowing them. Sure enough, one of the Yrrl'ten looked at the remains of its compatriot, and then between the two of us. Almost sheepishly a mental image of two flasks entered my mind.

I sent a thumb's up and an open palm, and was almost immediately answered with two hands shaking. I then reached out and wiped away the salt, within moments, both the cork and the Yrrl'ten were gone, and two silver flasks were on the table.

"Are you okay? What the hell was that?" Winter asked.

"That was why I need someone else to do this safely." I replied, "When enough Yrrl'ten are together, they can use a kind of light magic to really do a number on people, basically roasts their brain from the inside out."

"Light magic? Can't you just close your eyes or something to prevent it?"

I shook my head, "Doesn't work like that, it has something to do with their empathetic connection. If you let them in, then they can nail you."

"That's why you needed me to get drunk. So I could see them."

I nodded, "Yeah, they have to really concentrate, which leaves them vulnerable; they usually just depend on people not being able to see them. Thanks for the assist by the way."

Winter nodded, "Of course."

I picked up one of the flasks and popped the cap. "Now time to inspect the goods, they're one of the Fey, so contracts are usually pretty binding, but... they're Fey, so they're also pretty good at slipping out of them."

I gave the flask a careful sniff and then recoiled violently, as the smell seared the inside of my nose.

It smelled of evergreen pines, of a clear spring lake, of life itself, buzzing between long blades of grass. I could tell it was anima, I also could tell that if I were to drink the contents of the flask in my current state that it would mean very bad things for me.

"Okay." I wheezed, "You check the second one, but this one is definitely Mistralian Gold… or at least it's infused with anima."

Winter nodded as she took them, "Thanks, I'll do that when we get back to the mansion."

"Sounds good," I stood up, "We should probably get going then."

Winter nodded as she stood up as well, "Right."

I picked up the bottle and began making my way to the door, and then frowned.

Standing in the middle of the room was a giant-beetle creature… a kabuto and a satyr that stood several heads taller than me.

The two of them seemed to be in some kind of argument and I slowed as I listened in.

"If Qrow Branwen comes then we're all doomed," The kabuto declared, "We should make ready to evacuate the city."

I grinned slightly, I've heard of wanting to be a fly on the wall, but this was almost too good.

The satyr tssked sharply, "You're a fool, Ashuna has protected us through thick and thin, we should trust in his power."

Oh man, if only that poor sap knew. I kept making my way towards the entrance, but then what the satyr next rooted me to the spot.

"After all, when Qrow's much vaunted companion, Summer Rose came, it was he that struck her down."

There was a murmur in the crowd, "Qrow." Winter whispered, "Come on, let's go."

"She came into our city, taunting us, daring us to face her." The satyr proclaimed, "And some did so, and they died to her blade; but when Ashuna came, she was as powerless as any other mortal. It took her hours to die, screaming in agony."

I slowly turned around, all other sounds fading away as I focussed in on the satyr and I was vaguely aware of Winter tugging on my arm in vain as I began walking towards the two monsters.

"She died a sniveling little bitch." The satyr said, "And if Qrow Branwen comes then Ashuna will strike him down the same exact way."

Even if that was true, this little shit wasn't going to live to see the day. The fu-

Something slammed against the top of my head and I blinked as golden liquid flowed off in streams in front of my face.

I turned to Winter to see the shattered whiskey bottle in her hands, her eyes hard, "Don't do it." She whispered, "Look around."

I forced myself to calm down and do so, most of the monsters in the tavern were currently surrounding the two, shouting and arguing.

But then years of experience began to catch on to what Winter was saying. There were a handful of monsters that were currently sitting back, simply watching. A cloaked figure there, a goblin there… all of them were currently looking around, watching the crowd.

"If you were concerned that Qrow Branwen were in the city." Winter said, "How would you flush him out?"

My magical sense caught a whiff of something and I frowned, it smelled like… a compulsion spell?

I looked at the satyr and took another sniff.

Sure enough, the satyr was under somebody's control. I sniffed a few more times and my eyes landed on the cloaked figure.

The figure's mouth was just barely visible underneath the shadow of the hood and I watched as he mouthed something and the satyr spoke along with him. Damn, complete puppet-type control, that was some serious shit.

I paled slightly, damnit, Winter was right, and this was a setup, a trap… and I had nearly just taken the bait like a freakin' Yrrl'ten.

I turned around and pushed past Winter, "Come on, let's go." I said gruffly and walked out of the tavern and back out onto the street...

Winter and I were quiet for most of the walk back, but when we were a couple blocks away from the house, Winter finally spoke.

"Do you want to talk?" She asked me.

I merely gave a terse grunt in reply.

Winter was silent and then spoke again, "Ruby is quite the kid." She told me, "I admit that it took me a while to warm to her. Kali and her seemed to get along immediately, but I admit that I found her immature and reckless."

Despite myself I felt my expression soften slightly at that. Winter continued, "But over time, I realized that the immaturity was because she could find joy in just about anything or anyone. That the recklessness was because she could never sit by idly when someone was in need."

She smiled slightly, "It made things… bearable… when everything else had grown so dark, she was the light." She shook her head, "If Summer was anything like her, she must have been quite the woman."

"She was." I muttered softly, "She was also a teammate, and a close friend."

I shook my head, "It tore something out of me… the day that…" I choked up a bit and then shook my head again.

Winter seemed to consider that for a moment, and then nodded, "Well then, allow me to explain something very clearly." She abruptly stepped in front of me, forcing me to stop before I ran into her.

"Ashuna killed her, and so whether he gives us the Scepter of his own free will or not, he is going to die." She said simply, "And I demand as a Schnee that you do everything in your power to make sure that I am there when it happens. Is that understood?"

I blinked, and before I could even stop myself I replied, "Yeah, I'll see what I can do."

Winter nodded, "Excellent." Then she turned and kept walking.

I stood there for a while, my befuddled and still fairly drunken brain trying to comprehend what had just happened. I remembered how Kali had spoken of Ruby and seemingly how close they had grown in the years I had been away. It looked like Winter was the same way.

Finally I let out a snort, "Well damn." I murmured, "I guess that's a promise then." And then I followed after her.

The next day, we convened a council of war in the living room, plates full of omelete goodness in front of us.

"So in short, the city is pretty tense." Kali told us, "There seems to be a pretty sharp divide on what they should do. One side says it's time to march on the Jade Empress, but then there's another side that's saying that maybe they should try and find out whether you've joined up with her or not."

She shrugged, "The consensus seems to be that if you join up with the Jade Empress that they should find somewhere else to invade."

I frowned, "Like where?"

"There have been some suggestions to Solitas." She replied, "Some others point to Sanus or Vacuo. Just basically anywhere where they think you aren't."

I scratched my chin, "Huh, well then, we might want to start trying to spread rumors that I showed up in Sanus."

"You're thinking of Yang and the others?" Winter asked me.

I nodded, "Yeah, if I can help it, I'd prefer to keep an army of monsters stomping their way. In addition, this Jade Empress seems to be someone that potentially doesn't play very nicely with others; if the monsters invade someplace before Seydin and Arnau launch their coup, I'd prefer it if she were the target."

Kali shrugged, "Not a bad idea if we can manage it. I can try to start spreading something to that effect."

"Anything else?" Winter asked her.

"Just that there's one last faction in the city, and that seems to be that some would prefer to evacuate rather than sticking around." Kali replied, "That one seems to be growing by the day; and not just among the rank and file. Apparently some centurions have decided to leave as well and a couple Tribunes."

"Do we know whether they left or whether Ashuna just decided to feed some more monsters to the Filth?" I asked her.

Kali bit her lip, "Not really, and that's what is bothering me. If he's gung ho on this whole 'invade Mistral' thing then it feels like he's gotta do it soon or else he's gonna lose control."

"And if he's feeding more monsters to the Filth, with the only viable explanation for many being that they up and left. Then he's got to know that's going to accelerate that loss of control." Winter surmised.

I frowned, "So he's got to be planning something soon." I murmured, I finished off my omelete then stood up, "Okay, I think I'll try and approach the Etiora about being invited back to the Palace, I need to see what they're-"

It hit me without warning, it felt like my intestines leapt all at once, scrambling to escape my stomach out my throat; the very air seemed to drop to freezing, making goose bumps erupt all over my skin. For what seemed like an eternity I stood there, shivering and shaking.

It stopped as suddenly as it began, and when it finally did, I found myself bent over on the floor, gasping for air, a cold sweat covering my entire body.

"What the hell was that?" Winter demanded.

Kali slowly rose to her feet from where she had fallen, "I don't know." She replied, "But it can't be good."

Then, there was a familiar chiming sound and we all looked towards the door. A few moments later there was a polite knock.

Then it erupted into thousands of wooden shards and a horribly familiar voice echoed around the room.

"I am the Mind Plague, Knock, Knock. I am the Hollow Screamer, Knock, Knock."

A black, claw-like limb slammed down through the floor. A moment later, a narrow, beaked head with one singular red eye snaked into the room, "Let me in."