The rumble of engines stirred Ruby out of her nap. That first month had finally passed and Ruby was allowed to both leave Mistral and pick up things heavier than Euclase. So at long last she returned to her Huntress gear and picked up Crescent Rose. The familiar weight of her beloved weapon gave her both a sense of safety but also apprehension. She had been thinking about redesigning it at long last but if they were doing to Atlas in a few months better to wait till she had access to the legendy forges of the Academy. She gave a fleeting thought to Flower, the one handed sword she had been gifted back in Beacon when she first began training with Oz from Qrow. Ruby had wanted to bring it with her but had left it behind as she felt she wasn't proficient enough with it yet. Now she wished she had brought it along, if only so she could practice and train with another form of weapon.

A cool breeze lifted her hair from where it sat free over her shoulders. It was nice this time going north, it was actually nice and fast. The bullhead that Ozpin had arranged for them was making this trip delightfully short. Euclase was sleeping on Qrow's chest, as he held her with one arm and an overhead bar with the other. Ruby sighed at the frown set onto his features. His new cape was broader at the shoulders much better for keeping the rain off but it did little to offset the faint look of concern in his eyes.

Ozpin on the other hand wasn't in old gear. Instead he was wearing a long green trench coat but he had his green cowled shirt and vest on underneath. He had gone back to his armour from Beacon but the new coat buttoned up tight at the collar made him feel more closed off. Like he was retreating.

The bullhead banked and Ruby felt them start to decelerate and moved to stand beside Qrow. Trapping Euclase between them. "Ma ma." Euclase woke and reached out grabbing a handful of Ruby's long hair. It had grown well down past her breasts. She loved it and with summer on the way out cutting now would be stupid anyway. Nothing worse than a chilly breeze going down her collar.

The ship came to a stop and Ruby took Euclase from Qrow and he pulled the bay door open. The bullhead powered down as the three stepped off the ship. As they walked away from the landing zone Xaio Roi himself approached them. A rapier on his hip, today he was in a doublet of dark blue accented in gold. His black curly hair was pulled back into a rouge knot. He extended his arms wide in greeting. "Greetings friends! At long last, you have come to visit your new ally."

Ozpin raised his good arm to rest over his chest and bowed. "I apologize for the wait. Many factors have prevented us from leaving Mistral."

"Ah yes, I understand. Introduce me?" Xaio stepped towards them to speak at a comfortable distance.

Qrow gestured to Ozpin. "This is my husband Ozpin Branwen. You know Ruby and the new addition is our daughter Euclase."

"Oh Euclase, what a lovely name it suits her." Xaio admired the blue in her hair.

Euclase looked away from her moms chest and looked at the stranger. "Ba!" She reached out.

Xaio offered her a manicured finger. "What lovely eyes. My wife Mithral just gave birth a couple weeks ago and Topaz's son seems to be only a few months older than this one."

Euclase grabbed it and pulled it into her mouth and gummed on it. Ruby blushed. "Sorry she likes to chew on fingers."

"It is quite alright. Every child seems to go through the phase." Xaio withdrew his finger. "Please come, I've had a private dinner arranged. My wives are eager to meet you all in a less formal arrangement. The servants will collect your bags."

"Thank you." Ozpin dipped his head and they followed Xaio into his castle. The warm halls were welcoming as the three followed the King bandit into the royal wing. Ruby noticed it was much nicer then the area she and Qrow had been taken to last time. Though she guessed that was to be expected.

A huge oaken door was opened for them and sure enough a large room was ready for them. The lights were candle sconces on the walls less than a meter apart each. With three candles on each. On the table were three candelabra of three candles, Ruby could smell the heavy beeswax as it glowed brightly and there were three in all. It was a very bright room considering it had no windows. Huge tapestries with the family house sign of Rio kept the room warm. The sign itself was two crossed rapiers over a mountain of dark blue.

As Ozpin took in the room a side door opened and five women walked in. The oldest was a woman with braided red-orange hair that went down to the middle of her thighs. Her complexion was pale as snow with emerald eyes. She was the tallest, even taller than Xaio who was only a few inches shorter than Ozpin. She was on the thinner side and without hesitation she walked straight up to Qrow and looked him in the eye. "You have killed all my sons."

The red eyed man pursed his lips, then closed his eyes. A moment later he opened them, black with just the ring of red was clear to everyone in the room when he opened them. Meeting her eyes, he placed a hand on his chest and bowed to her. "We have long been on opposing sides. I apologize for any lives of those you treasure that I have taken."

Phox smiled very slightly a barely noticeable shift in her thin lips. "I accept your apology son of the Branwen tribe. May we progress through life as allies." She returned his bow, though not to his extent. They both straightened and Qrow let his magic fade. As it did she spoke again. "You are politer than your mother said you were. You have not forgotten all of our ways it seems."

"Well my mother has never looked at me favorably. I have always been her bad luck charm." Qrow shrugged and forced a smile.

"That was cruel of her. But you were named well." Phox said and turned to the other four women.

"Thank you. May I introduce my husband Ozpin Branwen and Ruby Branwen." Qrow motioned to each in turn. "And my daughter Euclase."

"A pleasure to meet you all. In descending order, Mithril is the second wife." Phox gestured to the first woman.

Mithril was much shorter with straight black hair who was slightly overweight. She wore green and silver dress, like Ruby however her breasts were full with that ripe appearance that suggested they were full of milk. She curtised to the three and bowed her head. "Many greetings family of Branwen." The richness of her skin suggested that she was only in her early mid twenties.

Ozpin and Qrow returned the bow. Qrow was the one to speak though. "And to you second wife."

Mithril smiled and stepped away with a swish of blue gown and the woman behind her pulled out a seat for her. She sat with obvious relief.

"This is Topaz the third wife." Phox waved the next woman over.

She was again a couple years younger then Mithril but still older than Ruby. She was tall as well but not as much as Phox with soft curly blonde hair. She was built rather like Yang but had many of the same features of Ruby. Breasts that suggested milk, just enough fat on her muscular body to suggest a recent pregnancy and eyes a soft shade of brown. Topaz bowed the same as her sister wife. "Many greetings family of Branwen."

"And to you third wife." Qrow dipped his head. "You can talk if you want you two."

Ruby smiled looking up to her. "It is nice to meet you Topaz."

"And you. Your child is beautiful, mine is only four months old, maybe we could introduce them." Topaz said and bowed her head once more. Neither of the ones behind her pulled out her chair though instead she pulled out theirs before taking her place beside Mithril.

"Onyx the fourth wife."

Onyx suited her name, her midnight black hair was straight and to her hips. She was the most slender of the five and her dark chocolate skin gave her an exotic look. She was also a Faunus, assented by her large golden eyes that were too round to be human, possibly a bird of some sort. As Ruby looked closer it appeared that Onyx too was pregnant, her belly showing the tiniest of mounds. "Many greetings family of Branwen." Her words were clipped and short, much like Phox's.

"And to you Onyx." Ozpin said speaking in the same manner.

Onyx bowed her head and took her seat.

"Lastly Opal."

Opal was Ruby's age but unlike Ruby was heavily pregnant and wearing an ivory dress with a green sash tied under her breasts. Her hair was nearly the same shade as the dress while her eyes stunning brilliant blue. The excited female rushed to Ruby, making grabby hands for Euclase. "She's so precious! Can I hold her?"

"Opal!" Phox snapped sharply.

Opal's cheeks flushed and she dipped her head, she curtsied. "I apologize. Many greetings family of Branwen."

"Think nothing of it." Qrow said then Opal took her seat.

"My apologies Missus Branwen. She's very hormonal at the moment and doesn't always grasp the term 'personal space'." Phox said and motioned to the table. "Please have a seat, let us talk before the meal."

Qrow nodded. "Far end of the table at the head Ozpin. I'll be next to him and you beside me."

Ruby and Ozpin took their places, removing their cloaks or coats. While Phox and Xaio took their seats. In the end it was the four wives on one side of the table. Phox with a free space beside her then Ruby and Qrow with Ozpin and Xaio at opposite heads of the table.

Two butlers entered the room and Xaio spoke up to one of them. "Get a baby seat for Euclase please."

The one closest to Xaio nodded his head, he was a deer faunus with a short rack of horns. He vanished out the nearest door. Xaio looked to Ruby as she settled Euclase on her lap, the child had been very quiet this whole time. "Your girl is very quiet, yet her eyes are especially bright."

"You should talk Ozpin, keep on topic."

Ozpin smiled and spoke with an old air of nobility. "She understands us to a level outside what would be considered normal. She knows when to speak and when to be silent."

"Something about this Vessel Soul business? I have not forgotten your little demonstration Ruby." Xaio flicked his fingers and the second butler departed from the room.

"Yes. She is bonded to us and while words aren't always understood the meaning of them is and she does understand through us." Ozpin said.

"Amazing. It is to bad none of my wives has such a gift. Quiet children would be a blessing." Xaio said glancing down at one of his rings. It was a heavy gold thing with inset diamonds and rubies.

"Have many do you?" Ozpin asked.

"Eleven. Currently. Used to be fifteen but well, that has already been touched upon today and I see no reason to revisit it."

Ozpin wasn't sure where to take the conversation. He could practically feel the glares pointed at Qrow, spoken words of forgiveness and true forgiveness were two very different things. "Well, what is passed is passed. I look forward to the future to be forged."

"Well said." Xaio's smile was a bit more genuine.

Both butlers returned one with a high chair for Euclase and helped put the baby into it. The other set down wine glasses and poured the exact same amount into each. Ruby spoke up as he reached her side of the table. "None for me please."

"Maintaining the taste of your milk?" Phox asked sipping her red wine.

"Yes and I do not drink alcohol." Ruby shivered. "I also don't have good experiences with it."

"None for me as well please." Qrow said stopping the butler. "Could we have something non-alcoholic please?"

"Yes yes of course." Xaio waved his hand again.

Oz picked up the wine elegantly and had a small sip. The red wine was very full in body, he guessed that it was at least fifty years old or more. It wasn't something he really enjoyed but two of them turning down such an expensive drink was two too many. After five months dry the alcohol despite it not being to his taste was very nice. "This is very good. May I guess it is at least fifty years old?"

"You have good taste, fifty one years. From my own private winery, my father enjoyed his wine." Xaio held his cup up to the light enjoying the refraction.

The butler returned with a new green bottle. He poured too the same middle level as the others. Qrow sipped it and was pleasantly surprised to find the taste of pears on a lovely light bubbly. "Pear bubbly, you'll like it."

Ruby picked up her glass and had a small sip. It was a very nice light flavour with just that right balance of sweet fruity flavour.

Opal took a deep breath, before speaking. "Miss Branwen, how do you find Mistral? I was born among the tribes and have never been to the city."

"It is a nice place, though I never wander into the lower levels. I miss Vale and Patch, they will always be home." Ruby put her glass down centering it on the coaster.

"I lament the loss of your home. I hope that either Vale is restored or you find a new home. I hear that you will be leaving Anima soon, to head north? To Atlas?" Opal asked, trying to manage a thick accent.

"Yes, once Euclase is old enough to eat solid food." At her words, Euclase looked up to her mom and her bottom lip started to wobble. Ruby felt the distress and tried to sooth her child over the bond. She reached out and pet over the soft fluffy hair till Euclase calmed down. "Not yet baby, not yet."

"Oh I do not envy you that." Opal's hands went to her heavy stomach. "This is my first and I could not imagine being parted from her."

"You're having a girl?" Ruby asked.

Opal nodded. "Yes, I'm due next month."

"Good luck with the birth, mine was oddly easy." Ruby said then had another sip of her drink.

Opal smiled and dipped her head as she saw Phox purse her lips. Phox turned her attention to Qrow. "We've heard many stories about you. I've heard yet more reports, however you are not like the reports."

"I'll take that as a compliment." The red eyed man said. "I know what is written about me."

The tall woman narrowed her eyes slightly. "And much is written. Still it will be nice to get to know you three while you are here. How long will you be staying?"

Ozpin spoke up. "Only a week, because of the upset to the students education with the fall of Beacon. We've reduced summer break by a month and we want to have some family time before classes pick up again."

"Understandable. A week is plenty of time." Xaio said. "I have had a meal prepared or do you have something that you'd prefer."

"Whatever you have planned will be fine." Ozpin motioned to his left arm. "If a note could be made my left arm doesn't function."

That got Xaio's attention. "Do you need implants? I have some of the best available."

"No, thank you. It is healing, it is just a long process. The arm is intact, it just needs more time." Oz hated talking about it but it sure beat making a fool of himself unable to cut something.

"It is an injury sustained from the Revenant. Wasn't it?" Xaio asked having another drink of wine.

"Yes. It burned me." Oz had a longer drink of wine trying to push it from his mind.

"I'm amazed it heals at all then. Your Aura must be quite impressive." Xaio said setting his wine down and gestured with a flick of fingers for the butlers to bring the first course.

"Something like that." Ozpin said setting his own wine down. Just because he could drink everyone save maybe Qrow under the table didn't mean that he should indulge, as tempting as it was.

"Perhaps you could entertain us with a spar? I've heard a great deal about you, to see you fight in person would be a privilege." Xaio said.

"I would not get your hopes up. As I said I can not use my left arm so my fighting abilities are not what they once were. However I would not be adverse to sparing privately."

"Good enough. Perhaps Qrow will help as well. One on one is never as interesting as multiplies. We have our own group of Huntsmen in training, my hope is the next time the Vytal festival is held I will have combatants for it."

"That will be interesting to see." Ozpin said.

Phox turned her attention to Qrow again. "Have you heard from your parents? Our reports say that they gave the tribe to Raven and have gone out on their own into retirement."

Qrow couldn't mask his surprise. "No I did not know that. I assumed Raven killed them."

"You don't give Hawk and Falcon enough credit. They have held the Branwen tribe by their own might, I assume they wanted to do something new after all these years." Phox sipped her wine and glanced at Euclase. Despite her neutral expression and although she didn't show it, she hated Qrow like a fiery storm. Qrow Branwen, murderer of her sons. She was thirty nine now and did not expect another child, not for lack of trying. Yet here sat Qrow and Ozpin, both of whom looked half their age and had a lovely young wife. Many children would be in their future. She forced her gaze away from the innocent child.

"Perhaps." The red eyed man said watching the bubbles float up in his drink. Qrow couldn't help but find it odd that Hawk and Falcon hadn't shown themselves. He found it unlikely that they didn't want to meet Euclase but then he had never agreed with their way. Understood them yes but didn't agree with them.

The butlers returned with two additional servants. A thick clam soup was served with light loaves of bread, baked a beautiful shade of gold. Ruby had to remember not to bite her lip as she looked at the collection of silverware. Already set up on the table as well as a small plate and knife to the upper left of were her meal dish would go. The soup itself was served on another plate and Ruby had no idea what she was supposed to do.

"The small plate to your left is for the bread. For the soup you want the first spoon after the third knife. Qrow can serve you the bread." Ruby smiled at Ozpin's voice in her head. Having him explain it eased her mind. Still Ruby watched Phox serve herself and have a sip of her soup before she moved to start on her own. The soup spoon was wider at the head then normal and Ruby knew she was supposed to sip it from the side. Meanwhile Qrow prepared her bread for her, Oz thankfully could serve himself with one hand.

Ruby was mindful not to lick her lips. The soup was creamy with little piece of perfectly cooked clam. Everyone ate for a minute before Phox spoke up directing her words at Ruby. "I trust the soup is to your liking?"

"Yes, thank you. It's very good." Ruby had a small bite of garlic bread courtesy of Qrow.

"And you Ozpin? You strike me as a man of refined tastes." Phox turned her attention to Ozpin who was eating much more slowly then he would normally.

"I have not had clam in a couple years. Your chef does it justice." Ozpin said looking up from his soup, his left arm was twinging painfully. It was killing his appetite. Silently he set his spoon down on the serving plate. Taking his bad arm by the wrist he moved it to rest in his lap, turning it so his wrist was on it's side and the rest of the arm fell into a natural position. He could feel the over tight skin crack and start to bleed. Thankfully he had wrapped it in bandages that morning in preparation for something like this happening.

"Do you need something for your arm?" Xaio asked, he could see the pain in the movement.

"No thank you. It is just stiff." Oz said, a half lie. He forced himself to have some bread and soup.

"Hmmm." Xaio did not believe him. The bandit had been researching into Ozpin for the better part of a year now and he had found some very interesting things. Painted portraits hundred of years old of a man with the same face as the one who sat across the table from him. Further whispers about such a man being the Keeper. The one who held the magic of Remnant, of the Gods in his left hand. What was even more interesting were the stories of the man who came before. The earliest one to find went by the name of Iselmyr. A Valeite warrior from over six hundred years ago. Iselmyr had traveled the land with a large group of warriors. What made him interesting was after his death, not even a year later. A new man joined the party, one wearing Ozpin's face. The journals of the rest of the party members said how it was as if the wheel had reversed and gave Iselmyr back to them a generation early. The consistency of the stories made Xaio wonder. As did the pictures or paintings of Ozpin through the centuries. "Does the name Iselmyr, mean anything to you Ozpin?"

Ozpin felt like had been punched in the gut. There was no surge of memories but he did feel Garrett twist and knew that Iselmyr was someone what Garrett had taken from him. "It does not. Why?"

"I was just curious, he was a famous Valite highland warrior. You remind me a bit of him." Xaio sipped his wine watching Ozpin closely.

Oz swallowed thickly. "Study Vale history do you?"

"Extensively." Xaio purred the word.

Ozpin had a sip of wine to help his suddenly parched throat. "I do not know of him. The name is new to me."

The king set his wine down and leaned back into his seat. A lie. He mused. "That is a shame, you are welcome to my library if you wish to study him. I think it would be beneficial to you."

"I do enjoy libraries, if we have time I would like to take you up on that." Oz forced himself to eat. The pain in his arm was distracting him from the dread boiling in his stomach. With the thought of a new person within him that he had forgotten was also the worry of how Xaio had found the name.

Qrow and Ruby could both feel it. Qrow licked his lips and tried to find something to talk about, to direct the conversation away from Ozpin. "How has trade been Xaio? It's been a less then popular decision in Mistral."

"It has been surprisingly steady." Xaio returned his attention to his soup.

Ruby was trying to keep her shoulders from raising with how nervous she was. Butterflies turning over in her belly. Euclase was being very quiet and even appeared to be nodding off. She worried her lip, could she trust Euclase around these people? She had proven able to reach out to them if something was wrong… Ruby set her spoon down. "Excuse me, but is there someplace I can put Euclase down for a nap? She looks like she is about to nod off."

"Of course, we have had a room prepared for you." Phox said and gestured to Onyx. "Onyx if you would please take Ruby to their room."

"Of course my Queen." Onyx had finished her soup and bread. She rose with elegant ease.

Ruby did the same though with considerably less confidence in her actions. Blush tinted her cheeks as she collected Euclase from her high chair, the baby immediately snuggling deeper into her chest as the gentle heartbeat lulled her to sleep. Ruby followed the chocolate skinned woman from the room. Onyx didn't seem inclined to speak as they walked down the long hall and didn't acknowledge any of the servants they passed. Surprisingly, it didn't take long before they came to a heavy door.

Onyx opened it and led Ruby in to an extremely fine room. Ruby had never seen it's equal. From the heavy rugs on the floor to the tapestries on the walls. It had two hearths one on each long wall. A sitting area as well as a massive four poster bed with curtains. As well as a small space clearly set up for Euclase only a few steps away. Complete with table, and crib for her. There were also several wardrobes for clothes and a connecting bathroom.

Ruby took Euclase to the table and undressed the girl. By the time her mother set Euclase down in the crib she was drifting off. Ruby turned to attention to Onyx as the woman put her Scroll away. "I've summoned one of the wet nurses to look after her while we dine, she will be here momentarily."

"Thank you. She is pretty good about sleeping but having someone around will ease my mind." Ruby lingered by her baby. She didn't really want to go back to the stiff dinner. Yet she didn't feel it would be fair to leave her husbands alone with the king and queen.

Sure enough less than a minute later a portly woman with large breasts and bright brown hair came into the room. She wore full commoners gowns with an apron. She curtsied to Onyx. "My lady."

"Marigold. This is Ruby Branwen, Qrow Branwen's wife and the baby is Euclase. She is…"

"A month old." Ruby said. "She will probably sleep for at least an hour, if someone could come and get me when she wakes? She'll probably be hungry and I like to breastfeed her."

Marigold huffed putting her hands on her wide hips. "I will have you know lady Branwen I am a professional wet nurse. We also have plenty of fine bodied women equipped to feed your daughter whilst you enjoy a break."

A sudden silence filled the room as Ruby fought to keep her jaw from dropping. Did she just insinuate that Ruby couldn't care for her child?! "It's not that, I just produce more milk then I know what to do with and I'd rather feed her then have to milk myself."

"That is enough!" Onyx snapped, her dark eyes resting on the wet nurse. "Marigold, you will do well to remember that Missus Branwen is a guest here and should she choose to feed her child herself that is to be respected. Every woman understands that breastfeeding is part of the bonding experience between mother and child. I expect Ruby to be called for when her daughter wakes. Promptly. Am I understood?"

The wet nurse seemed to shrink back from Onyx and offered a tiny bow. "Yes Ma'am."

Ruby was a little in awe of the older woman. She couldn't imagine dressing someone down like that. She pulled herself away from Euclase, as much as Marigold looked like a kindly lady. The suggestion that Ruby wouldn't be a good mother irked her. "We should get back before we are missed." The silver eyed warrior forced herself to follow Onyx out of the room. She closed the door behind her, everything in her body screamed to go back to Euclase.

As Ruby's hand lingered on the door Onyx turned to her, her expression a little softer and said. "She'll be fine. Marigold is just proud. She was Phox's first wet nurse and is the head wet nurse for all of us. You'd be amazed how much she has taught me and the others."

"Have you had any children yet?" Ruby asked pulling her hand away from the door.

"Just the one. I was so terrified but Marigold help me. Mithril has let Marigold feed two of her children now. She's a bit silly and thinks that breastfeeding will make her breasts smaller." Onyx hid her lips with a few fingers as she giggled. "Something about not wanting her breasts to be reduced to teets."

Ruby giggled. "I gained two cup sizes!" She shivered. "I don't even want to think about how much it is going to hurt when my milk starts to go dry."

They walked together this time as Onyx said. "Mirthil whined for two months straight."

Ruby reached for the door as they came to the dining room but Onyx stopped her. "Oh don't! I have to."

"Why?" Ruby asked looking up at the tall woman confused.

"Because you're a Branwen till Raven formally disowns Qrow. You're kinda a princess. I guess would be the easiest way to describe it. Furthermore you're Qrow's first wife and I am my Kings fourth wife. You outrank me. The only one of us you don't outrank is Phox herself."

"But that doesn't make sense, Isn't Phox a Queen? And why would I be considered a princess? We don't even belong to the tribe."

Onyx shrugged and rolled her eyes, it was the most casual gesture Ruby had seen her make and it made her look younger. "It's silly really but when Raven took over her tribe she became the 'leader' and Qrow is her twin so it makes him important. It's just the way things are here, blood is everything. Best get used to it."

"Did you?" Ruby asked quietly and the hand the other woman had rose to open the heavy door faltered. She glanced back at the redhead and for the briefest of moments, gone so fast Ruby wasn't sure it had ever been. There was a look in Onyx's dark eyes, one so sad and broken she was in awe that it alone didn't call the Grimm in that instant.

Then it was no more and the taller woman gently pushed the door open and gestured for Ruby to reenter the stressed dining room.

Later in the evening, after finishing dinner Ruby found herself sat on a chaise holding a squirming baby. Euclase seemed to be fussing a lot and had wiggled enough to dislodge the blanket wrapped around her and freeing her hand. With a loud giggle she started waving it happily.

Oz and Qrow had been called to join Xaoi in one of the many parlors and Ruby had taken the opportunity to be excused and rest in their room. Unfortunately it seemed Euclase was wanting her daddies as she craned her neck around the unfamiliar room and letting out tiny inquisitive coos.

Ruby was just debating taking her daughter to find her husbands when a knock sounded at the door. Ruby looked over and called out, the door creaking open to reveal several women entering the room. She recognized the three. "Hello, can I help you with something?"

The blonde woman thrust her hand out to Ruby and gave her a beaming smile. "Hello, sorry if we disturbed you. We just wanted to ask if you'd like some company. My name is Topaz."

Smiling back Ruby took her hand "Yes I remember. I'm Ruby, of course you already knew that and this is Euclase." She turned her daughter to them.

When the baby waved her outstretched arm to the woman, Topaz gave her tiny hand gently shake. "She is absolutely adorable and looks so much like her mama."

Hearing the words seemed to set off the energetic baby as she babbled "MA MA MA!" loudly between giggles. The three other women all cooed, their hearts melting at the sight.

The redhead laughed, giving Euclase a kiss. "Yeah, well there's plenty of her dad in there too. So was there anything in particular you wanted? It's just you all seem…"

"A little different?" Topaz grinned then seated herself by Ruby on the chaise while the other two sat on nearby chairs. "We were playing the duty of wife at dinner."

"But its soooo stuffy!" The youngest one Ruby called her name being Opal groaned. She hand one hand running through her long white hair while the other rested on her very pregnant belly. "Phox insists that whilst in company or public we must act accordingly to our positions."

The mocking tone sent Topaz into giggles while Onyx just let a tiny grin slip over her lips. "Didn't stop you from nearly bowling over the poor girl when you saw Euclase." Onyx teased.

Opal gave a mock gasp of outrage. "How very dare you! I'll have you know I was on my best behavior tonight and besides between the hormones and that cutsey itty bitty face I simply couldn't resist."

"If that was her good behavior I'd hate to see her on a bad day." Ruby whispered to herself but being as close to Topaz as she was the other woman leaned over and whispered back.

"Trust me its no better then full on snuggling genocide."

That caused both women to burst into laughter. Euclase, not quite understanding why everyone was laughing decided to join in and her happy squealing only made Ruby's heart feel lighter.

Another knock came from the door and after calling out an older woman with a trolley entered the room. The other women calmed quickly and thanked the maid who bowed and left. Opal swiftly went for the pot and poured a flora scented drink into four dainty white and blue cups. "This is orange blossom tea, it was a gift sent from my sister in Mistral and since I fell pregnant it's like the only thing I'll drink now."

Ruby was passed one cup and as she sat Euclase between topaz and herself she lifted it to her face. It smelt lovely and seeing the others drink the tea Ruby was quick to follow. It tasted as ripened oranges and some sort of flower she couldn't identify but was delicious anyway. To Ruby's surprise and delight, there was also a plate of chocolate chip cookies as well as a small bowl of fresh berries.

"There was another reason why we decided to come see you Ruby. Is it alright if I call you that?" Topaz asked, her cup sat in her lap.

Taking one of the napkins from the trolley Ruby wiped her lips of stray crumbs, wishing she could just lick her lips instead. "Sure, I mean I'm still getting use to the whole 'Branwen name' so Ruby is fine."

"Great. Well one of the things I- 'WE' wanted to discuss was if you would like any advice." At Ruby's confused look the older woman chuckled. "One of the best things about the positions we're all in is that we get a lot of very good advice."

"Yeah. All the sister wives and wet nurses, we sort of all band together to look after our hoard of children." Opal gleefully clapped.

Onyx was a bit more neutral. "It actually a very good system and because we have all had children, if one of us needs help or doesn't know what to do we pool what knowledge we have and make sure each of us are well cared for."

"Not to say Roi wouldn't summon a doctor in an instant the moment one of us so much as coughs but there's just something comforting to know that we each have one another to look to. Despite how many there are of us there is no competition."

Ruby thought about those words for a while and it seemed to be true. These women shared a bond, a platonic kind of bond and they did seem to care about each others well being. Ruby didn't want to be ungrateful to Lydia or anyone else but she didn't really know anyone close by who had children. It wasn't something that was brought up too often and Ruby didn't want to overstep any boundaries by asking painful questions.

She knew she could always turn to her dad. He and Yang had all but raised her but there were just some things she didn't think he would be able to help her with. Qrow was still a little awkward with some aspects of raising a baby compared to Oz who seemed like a natural. It certainly wouldn't do any harm to listen to the experience of others. Anything to ensure her baby grows happy and healthy was welcome in her book and replacing the cup on the trolley she let a still wiggling Euclase back into her lap and sat back and ready to listen.

Qrow and Ozpin walked side by side. Before them Xaio Roi strode with his hands tucked into the small of his back. After the meal right on time, Ruby had been summoned to tend to Euclase. So they had split up, Qrow and Ozpin leaving with Xaio while Phox had duties to attend to. The rest of the wives had decided what they wanted to do on their own and left. Unlike usual Qrow was lingering on Ozpin's left side, trying to discreetly shield it from any unwary passerby. He could feel the pain from it over the bond, slight but enough to make Oz tense.

Xaio tossed two heavy doors open and they revealed a library. It was a densely packed room with bookshelves reaching the domed ceiling. A chandelier with two dozen candles lit the majority of the round room. "Here we are."

Ozpin strode away from Xaio as they walked into the room. He reached out with his good hand and brushed over the spines of the books. They were old, the vast majority were so old that Ozpin only had vague memories of the more popular titles. At random he pulled one off the shelf and opened it carefully to the middle balancing it in his palm. The scent of old book, musty and dusty with that old scent of well worn leather and paper. Oz smiled closing his eyes without thought. He missed this, old books. "I think I will enjoy spending time here. Old books, I didn't realize how much I missed them till now."

"This is a gift. All the kings have been adding to this room. New books go into the side rooms, this room however is my pride and joy. Many of these volumes are first editions, many more are centuries old. I imagine it gives the Academies a run for their money." Xaio walked over to a worn leather reading chair, removed his sword and relaxed into the chair.

"It does." Ozpin closed the book and returned it to its place resuming his walk. His hand remained, gliding lightly over the spines, feeling all the textures and nicks. The smell set his mind at ease. Tension drained out of his body, he wished he had more time here. To crack open each book and read with the reverence the written word deserved.

Qrow walked over to the desk in the room. Upon it were journals, he picked one up and the name that stood out on the pages was Iselmyr. He had felt Ozpin's unease at the mention of the name. Was this one of Ozpin's past lives? The ones unaffected by the changing of the curse? He sat down and started to read. This journal was written by one of Iselmyr's friends and he had to admit that this Iselmyr did sound a great deal like Ozpin. Only he spoke with a thick old Vale accent and was considerably ruder.

Xaio picked up his own book as Ozpin continued to wander. His hand slowed as he felt a leather bound book, but what caught his attention was the indentations on the side. He turned his head inquisitively to the side and opened his eyes. Under his fingertips were glyphs, not Schnee glyphs. No these were Keeper glyphs. Ozpin frowned, he wasn't sure where the knowledge came from but there shouldn't be any written glyphs in the world. They had been wiped out when the Sentients chose one true Keeper.

Ozpin pulled the book from the shelf and flipped it open. The pages were blank. He flipped from one side of the book to the other. All blank. That seemed right. Still this was odd, why did Xaio have a blank book? "Xaio? Why do you have this?" Oz held it up, showing the blank pages.

The king looked up from his book. "My father found that one, he said it was a Keeper book. One of the few left. I've never figured out how to get any words to show on it."

Pain stabbed at the side of Oz's head, had the brand from O'Dimm not faded from sight as was promised. He would have blamed it but no, this was from within. Garrett was pressing in on his mind. Despite his bondage, courtesy of Lydia he had been silent these past months. Ozpin walked over to the table and set the book down open this time. He reached up and rubbed his temples, trying to get the pain to abate. He closed his eyes and the memory that came to him was not an old one, but one of Beckett and his book. Pursing his lips he reached back and cut his thumb on the edge of his sword then pressed it to the page.

At first the pages remained the same. As if the glyphs themselves were musing over the idea of appearing. Then slowly they did. The glyphs were not squiggles nor did they appear like written words of english. No they appear as large as two centimeters squared or less, while the shapes were diverse the clean lines always seemed to occupy the space perfectly equally to the ones around it. As if they knew better than to crowd each other.

Ozpin reached out and touched one with his index finger it was a diamond shape with the lines of each side extending beyond the upper and lower point of the diamond with a dot in the middle and two much smaller lines horizontal on the sides of the diamond. The black ink glowed under his touch. Yet he didn't understand anything, no new knowledge came to him. Yet he felt a drain on his Aura. Oz removed his finger and closed the book. Something inside him said that returning glyphs to it's pages had been unwise.

"Find something?" Xaio asked, he found Oz's expression curious.

"No nothing." The tall silver haired man picked up the book and returned it to its place. Ozpin tried not to think about how warm the leather was as he left the tomb behind.