Short chapter today as I need to go in for my booster jab and it's going to be a long wait. Last time I had to wait a full hour before I got the jab. All the while listening to people arguing with the volunteers about how unprofessional it is as if they're not a) volunteers using their free time to help you and b) obviously dealing with a very stressful rush to get as many people vaccinated as possible.

I swear people have no empathy nowadays. You're there for maybe one hour. They're spending the whole day of a weekend dealing with people for no other reason than that they want to make a difference while you go sit on a couch and watch I'm a Celebrity or something. Or in my case as I go home to work on writing.

But yeah, have to go for jab and then have to sort out a workplan for my new starter so when she starts working from home next week, she has a clear set of instructions on what articles need writing, etc. The chapter is only a little shorter anyway.

Cover Art: Z-ComiX

Chapter 113

Yang had seen the fires. Everyone had. People crowded the streets of the Merchant's quarter to point, stare and chatter. The guards on the walls had all turned their backs as well, looking back to the tornado of fire spiralling high over the enigmatic walls. The Collegium and the Arcanists within it had lived peacefully in the middle of the city for as long as anyone could remember, and yet now people were beginning to wonder if that was such a good idea. It only took a flaming cyclone to convince them it might be dangerous.

"This has Ruby written all over it." Yang told Blake.

"It could be a coincidence…" Blake wilted under Yang's disbelieving stare. "Alright, I don't believe that either. I'll get us closer."

No one paid any attention to the two women pushing through the crowded streets. They just let them jostle by, assuming they were looking for a better view. The fires burned so hot everyone's faces reflected a dull orange. Bells tolled all across the city, including the abandoned bell towers constructed around the slums to catch Ruby.

There were none of the masked Wildmage-hunters this time. In fact, she couldn't see any Arcanists at all. They were all stuck in the Collegium reacting to whatever this was. Meanwhile outside, the guards could only watch, forbidden from entering the Collegium except by direct order of an Arcanist. She could hear a few of them asking what they were supposed to do if the fires started spreading – if they would even be allowed to try and put them out.

With them so distracted, it shouldn't have been such a surprise that Blake got them through the gates into the Upper District so easily. Not even illusionary magic – just some quick excuse about having to get back to the Collegium and a flash of fire in her hand to convince them. They didn't think to ask for her Arcanum.

In the Upper District among the manors and mansions, they could feel the flames on their skin. The air was thick and hot, and they could just make out the spiralling trails of other spells flying into the tornado. "They're fighting something," Blake whispered. "Someone."

"Is it Ruby!?"

"I can't tell. Do you really think Ruby would be that indiscriminate, though?"

If she were cornered and had no choice then there was no telling what she'd do. Yang tugged Blake's arm and pulled her closer. The Rogue Arcanist struggled a little, but just like the town guards the Arcanists themselves were far too busy to pay attention to a pair of random women. Those outside the Collegium were rushing toward it, while the walls were barren and empty. Yang and Blake followed the Arcanists rushing back, only to come skidding to a stop.

The road ahead was barricaded. Not by fallen debris of turned-over stalls. It was barricaded by armed and armoured men and women stood shoulder to shoulder, weapons drawn and shields raised. Almost universally, they wore heavy plate armour that covered them head to toe and gave them an intimidating appearance far beyond the average town guard.

The variance came in the colours of the cloth tabards, capes and tunics they wore beneath, which varied from bright blue to shining yellow, vibrant green to dark umber. Stags, ravens, boars, wolves and other animalistic emblems coated their breastplates, along with more mundane iconography like swords, goblets, towers and wheels.

It was her own city and yet it still took Yang a long time to recognise that they were House Emblems. The coats of arms of various noble houses. It wasn't like their honoured selves would ever step foot in the slums, but she'd spied with Ruby on the parades that occasionally passed through the Merchant's Quarter. She'd seen the streaming banners and pennants, the fanciful folk on their pure white horses. There was little of that now. The few people who were mounted rode powerful destriers barded with armour, and they strutted back and forth behind the wall of infantry blocking the streets.

"What is the meaning of this!?" an Arcanist who had been stopped shouted out. "Clear the roads!"

The line of infantry didn't move. If anything, they squared themselves all the harder, pressing arm to arm, shoulder to shoulder, ready to stop anything short of a cavalry charge. There was no way they'd be able to get through on foot. Yang looked to Blake for help, but the Shadow Arcanist looked as confused as she.

"Didn't you hear me?" the Arcanist demanded. "Clear the roads. We must make our way to the Collegium!"

A man in fanciful armour – or Yang assumed it was a man until she spoke – strode ahead of the blockade and said, "By order of Lady Juniper Arc and the Coalition of Concerned Houses, access to the Collegium is hereby blocked. The Collegium of Magic is officially under investigation for crimes against the city, the noble houses and the crown."

What the hell? Yang stared in awe. Since when did the nobles care what the Collegium did? Had they found out about the slums? Probably not. Even if they didn't care about avenging her friends however, Yang was still eager to see them punished.

"What!?" the assembled Arcanists were far less pleased about it. "What madness is this?" one of them asked, laughing. "Clear the roads, you fools." He raised his arms and let bright lights flicker between them. "Before I clear you myself."

"That is ill-advised," the Knight said. "I am Knight-Captain Winter Schnee, and I speak with authority from the Crown. The Collegium of Magic and every Arcanist within is under the authority of the crown."

"You can't just-"

Winter Schnee raised her hand. A line of people stood behind the infantry, bringing arbalests to bear on the Arcanists cluttering the road. They didn't fire, no doubt waiting for her to drop her hand, but the message was clear. They might have been powerful, but a hundred or more arbalests pointed right at them was too much for any Arcanist to handle. If Yang remembered her stories from Ruby correctly, none of these wore the red of the Collegium's combat-specialised Arcana.

Hands were raised in surrender. Arcanists backed away slowly, while those at the back took the chance to just turn and leave, hopefully before they would be noticed. Blake was already tugging on Yang's arm to do the same, desperately wanting them out of sight.

"Yang, please. We can't be caught here."

"They're not going to catch us. They're just blocking the road."

Now that the Arcanists had backed off, the crossbowmen had brought their weapons down again. They weren't making any threatening motions either, just holding the line. Yang imagined all the roads leading to and from the Collegium would be blocked the same way.

"Anything like this ever happen in Menagerie?"

"Never. You got the odd group who would speak out against magic, call it unnatural and the like, but we never had an armed rebellion. Let alone one led by the nobility. If even the new King is involved then this is serious."

Yang could have told her that when the crossbows came out. Those weren't known for leaving small wounds. The Arcanists trapped outside the city were still milling around, now a safe distance away from the blockade. They didn't appear to know what to do without clear instruction.

"This'll all be cleared up soon," one of them said. "The Collegium won't stand for this."

"Politics. It's all politics."

"The White will demand reparations for this. Our sovereignty is being impinged."

Sovereignty? They didn't have that. But maybe they believed they did. She'd heard stories enough about how arrogant the Arcanists could be. Did they really think they were above the law? That they were their own little Kingdom in the middle of the Kingdom of Vale? How many believed it? Yang edged away from the Arcanists striding dangerously close to treason.

A heavy hand fell on her shoulder. "What the hell are you two doing here?"

Blake gasped, twisted and then breathed out sharply. "L-Lord Branwen."

Yang fought to calm her own racing heart. "Fuck, Qrow. You scared the shit out of me."

"You two did much the same to me," the tall Arcanist dressed in a leather coat and pants said. He looked so unlike the others that the soldiers nearby didn't even question him. "Do you have any idea how worried Ruby would be if you two were caught out here?"

"Forget that. I'm more worried about Ruby. What's going on in there?"

"I don't know." Qrow let go of her and scowled at the fires still raging inside the Collegium walls. "I was out speaking with Maria when this happened. I've only just gotten here, so I'm as in the dark as you are."

"Do you think that fire is Ruby?"

"No."

The relief was crushing, but she had to be sure. "No? You're sure?"

"Ruby has been picking up spells similar to people she spends time with. One of her first was invisibility to sneak out and visit you." He eyed Blake as he said it. Had Ruby really been unconsciously copying spells used around her? Maybe. They didn't really know much of how her Wild Magic worked. "If Ruby were in danger, she wouldn't need to lash out like this. She could just turn invisible and sneak away. I'm also not sure she hates the Collegium enough for this."

"Ruby does get angry." Yang said. "She doesn't have a temper and it takes a while, but if someone really upsets her, she won't just let them go."

"I believe that, but could she hate every single person in the Collegium enough to do this?" He gestured to the fires. "Make no mistake. People are dying in there. Those flames are too out of control for it not to happen. Would Ruby be that indiscriminate?"

No. That, more than anything, was the proof Yang needed to let her fears go. Ruby would totally go after the people who got on her wrong side, but if there was one lesson they'd both learned in the slums it was not to make more enemies than you needed. Ruby wouldn't waste her life like this. Not when she knew Yang was out here waiting for her to come back.

"What about this?" Blake asked with a nod to the blockade. "Do you know anything about this?"

"I know the houses haven't been happy lately." Qrow said. "Glynda was pushing too hard to be elected Grand Arcanist. There's been… not hostilities, but a lot of pushing in the last ten years. The White has been getting greedy in expanding the Collegium's rights. She knew there would be push back eventually, but her thoughts were that she'd be able to handle that."

"Obviously, she can't." Yang said.

"Not when there's a disaster going on in the Collegium at the same time. These lot chose their moment well. I wonder if they knew in advance, or if it was just opportunistic."

"They said a `Lady Arc` was in charge." Blake said.

"Matriarch Juniper Arc of the Arc House," Qrow recited. "One of the High Noble Houses. Not the highest, but respected, if not outright adored, by almost everyone else. They're powerful politically and have a reputation for always keeping their word. It makes them popular allies, so I'm not surprised so many Houses would rise up alongside them. The question is more of what set them off in the first place and why Glynda isn't here trying to talk them down. The longer she delays, the more support this is going to get..."

It's also whether Ruby is involved, Yang thought. Knowing her sister, it was a foregone conclusion. You better be safe in there, sis. Otherwise I'm coming in to find you. Blockade or not.

/-/

Adam helped her support Jaune, and the two of them used the topless and badly bleeding huntsman as an excuse to ignore everyone else. Arcanists and guards running back and forth assumed they were helping an injured man away from the disaster. No one questioned why they were making for the gates and not the Emerald Gardens. Perhaps they were just taking a roundabout route. Whatever the excuse, it worked to keep people from recognising Adam Taurus, the known Wildmage. He kept his head down and one of Jaune's arms around his neck and over one shoulder.

"How are we going to get out the gate?" Jaune asked tiredly. "They'll never let us leave."

"I won't give them a choice." Adam said. "I'm not staying here."

If it came to it, two Wildmages would probably be enough to break through. That was Ruby's hope anyway. So far, they hadn't been challenged, but as they approached the sone gates, they quickly found themselves facing down over twenty guards.

Why are there so many Collegium Guards here? Ruby and Adam hovered nearby, not approaching but also not being challenged. And why are most of them facing outside…?

The Collegium Guards were keeping the gate sealed but were doing so with their backs to the people inside. That was more than a little odd given the inferno behind them. Ruby looked to Adam, who shrugged back. He started moving forward and it was all she could do to follow or drop Jaune. They staggered toward the guards, one of whom finally noticed and approached hurriedly.

"The gates are sealed. No one leaves."

"Sir," Ruby said, not having to feign her panicky voice. "We must leave. This is an order from an Arcanist of the White." A quick flash of her Arcanum and its single white diamond confirmed it. "I command you open the gates so we might leave."

"I apologise, Lady Arcanist." He removed his helmet and bowed his head to her. "The decision is not mine. It's not any of ours. There is an armed force outside armed to the teeth and demanding entry. If we open the gates, they'll storm us. We're awaiting orders from Lady Goodwitch."

An armed force? Who? Unless this was Huntsmen posted in the city returning to take care of the Sanctum, but then they would recognise and let those people in. Jaune groaned pitifully, drawing a concerned expression from the guardsman. Ruby leapt on it.

"This man here requires immediate treatment that can only be found outside the walls. We must leave."

"My lady, we cannot. Not without instruction from Lady Goodwitch."

"Let me speak with them." The man stood, confused, and Ruby continued. "I can represent Grand Arcanist Goodwitch and ask why they are here and their terms. I will then bring information back which can be taken to Lady Goodwitch so she might better decide a course of action."

The guardsman bit his lip. "I will have to speak with my Captain."

"Then go. Get him."

The man saluted and hurried away, quickly interrupting a conversation taking place under the shelter of the gate and gesturing to her. The man he spoke to was tall and imposing, with a purple cape to differentiate his rank.

"I hope you know what you're doing." Adam said.

"I've no idea!"

The Captain ordered the first guardsman to a new position and then approached them with confident steps. He looked worn and annoyed, as he must have been with the current situation. "Lady Arcanist." He managed the smallest amount of respect. "One of my men tells me you want to go out and parlay with our besiegers. Is that the case?"

"Yes. Grand Arcanist Goodwitch cannot be expected to go out and place herself in danger unduly. As an Arcanist of the White, I can speak on her behalf. Who are they?" she asked quickly. It was one thing to offer this to escape, but if they were dangerous then she'd be running into worse danger. "You say we're under siege?"

"More of a blockade really," he admitted. "House troops. A coalition of noble houses. They are demanding to speak with Lady Goodwitch and won't tell us why they're here. They're throwing around the crown's authority, but we've no way to validate that. It would be my head to break the law and let them in, and the White are busy dealing with that!" he pointed to where Cinder was enacting her vengeance. "If you want to go out and make some sense of this, I won't stop you, Lady Arcanist, but please understand that I cannot sally out to rescue you either."

"That's fine." Adam interrupted.

The Captain frowned.

"My bodyguard speaks for me here," Ruby said quickly. "Should the worst come to it, we shall make our own retreat. Can you open the doors just enough for us to slip out?"

"I can. And him? Do you want to leave him here for treatment?"

Jaune tensed in their arms.

"No. I… I have orders to bring him to the city already. It is a personal request from Grand Arcanist Goodwitch, and I cannot leave him with anyone else. Please see to your men opening the gate for us."

The Captain looked between them, considered arguing and then shrugged his shoulders like it was all beyond his paygrade. "It's your funeral, my lady," he said. "Prepare the gates!" he shouted. "We're letting a diplomatic party out. Close them immediately after!"

The guards hurried to obey, and Ruby and Adam dragged Jaune closer. Adam was visibly shaking, either with excitement or nerves. This was it. Even if there were a lot of people outside, they wouldn't be expecting two Wildmages. They could escape from any captivity that wasn't anti-magic in nature, and with the Sanctum gone there was nothing left for that in the Kingdom.

I just wish Cinder could be escaping with us...

Outside the gates, the entire road ahead was blockaded by armoured soldiers, while more on horseback paced behind. Men and women in fancy suits and outfits with long cloaks were in discussion higher up on a raised wooden platform. No one was moving to attack. Ruby wasn't even sure if you could call it a siege at all. At the same time, however, there was no escape for anyone without being noticed, and sure enough they were seen by over a hundred people even trying.

"Halt!" someone shouted to them. "By order of Lady Juniper Arc and the Coalition of Concerned Houses, you are hereby under arr-"

"S-Saphron…?" Jaune croaked.

The woman on horseback froze. "Jaune…?" She tugged on the reins, bringing her sable horse around and toward him. Digging her heels in, she urged it on and cantered away from the line. Soldiers cursed and broke ranks to follow, while those in charge turned to see what the commotion was.

The horsewoman brought her mount to a halt beside them and vaulted off, landing with a grunt and flapping her dark blue cloak over one shoulder. She rushed forward and stooped, ducking to touch Jaune's bare chest and bring his head up so she could look into his eyes.

"Jaune. Is it…? Is it really you…?"

"H…Hey Saph." Jaune tried to smile but his face was pale, and he was so weak from loss of blood. "C…Can you let them through? Ruby… saved me… I…" He groaned and went limp in her and Adam's hands.

"Jaune!" Saphron cried, then rounded on them. "What happened? Answer me!"

"Daughter!" Lady Juniper Arc interrupted before Ruby could, arriving on a pristine white horse with two armed soldiers at her side. She took one look at Juniper, a second at Jaune and then finally at Ruby. "Rose!" she said, surprised. "You live. I had been told- No matter. Is that my son? What have they done to you?"

"We didn't-"

"Not you. Saphron, get Jaune to the healers. Quickly. The two of you with me." Loudly, she turned and called to the other nobles following behind. "These are allies. I told you all of the loyal Arcanist I have inside the walls. This is she. Lady Ruby Rose of House Rose. She has enacted a daring rescue of my son and heir."

The assorted nobles nodded and several of the approaching soldiers slowed and sheathed their weapons, content with the unspoken instruction. Ruby let Jaune's sister take him from her. Two more soldiers dismounted to help her lift the unconscious man onto her horse with her, then she cracked the reins and hastily carried him away.

"Rose, I had to ask now of all times but… my husband…?"

Ruby's face said it all. "He… He died to get Jaune out…"

Lady Arc closed her eyes and shuddered. Her hands tightened on the reins of her horse, but she did not let herself falter. "I… I see. Thank you for bringing this news to me. The Collegium never would have. And for returning my son. You and your… friend will join me tonight as guests. We have much to speak of. Preferably before acting Grand Arcanist Goodwitch comes to demand answers for our obstruction."

"That… might not happen for a while."

Juniper frowned. "How say you?"

"I think I'd best explain. I was… caught." Ruby looked at the other nobles and shrugged awkwardly. "Lady Goodwitch wasn't happy and tried to… force the memory alteration potion on me. I… we…"

"You defended yourself." Juniper said diplomatically. "You took reasonable action to defend your life against the abuse of a senior official. Is that what you are trying to say?"

"Yeah. That."

"I see. And Lady Goodwitch? Does she live…?"

"I didn't kill her." Ruby said. "But… well… she might not remember being Lady Goodwitch anymore. If you know what I mean."

The eyes of several of the nobles within earshot widened. One or two, those who must have hated her, laughed cruelly. Ruby had the feeling she was among people who weren't unhappy with the news at all. Lady Juniper Arc was one of them, her lips quirking up at the edges.

"Regrettable," she said, "But one should not draw a weapon on another if you don't accept the possibility they might strike back. Escort these two to the command tent," she told the knights. "We will meet with them and discuss the situation momentarily. My fellows," she addressed the nobility. "Would you grant me a chance to check on my son?"

"We would expect no less, Lady Arc," one of them, a wizened looking old man, said. "We are all here for family stolen away from us. Go be with him. I doubt the Collegium will have their affairs under control any time soon."

"Thank you, Lord Port. I leave matters here to you. Lady Rose. Sir…?"

"Taurus." Adam said.

"Sir Taurus." A grateful nod from one of the most powerful women in the city. "I will speak with you both soon. For now, please tell everything you know to Knight-Captain Winter Schnee. She represents his highness in this conflict."

Ruby's eyes widened. "You mean-!?"

"Yes. The White Arcana, and specifically those in command, is being held responsible for treason. They have been charged with regicide."

Ah well, only 500-1000 below average. Not too short a chapter after all. Mostly because I've come back from my jab and kept going. Man, my arm hurts though. This one was the biggest in terms of leaving me feeling pain after. The first one I honestly didn't feel. Second was fine. This one is like being punched.

Next Chapter: 19th December

P a treon . com (slash) Coeur