Chapter 4

Our Move

The stone table felt frigid against his bare skin, it took everything in him to try and mask his shaking, and even then he still shook. He could feel every dried cut as it pulled against his skin threatening to tear anew with every shiver, while fresh ones spilled more of his life giving blood. He could feel his blood flow down his chest, arms, stomach, and legs dripping to the floor below. He could feel the weight of his arms like never before as the hung over his head, how he would love to lower them even just for a minute, but no matter how much he hoped, and prayed respite never came. His chest moved up and down raggedly with every strained breath, each pull of air tugging at the dried cuts, as if his own chest wanted to tear the scabbed skin once more. He could feel the area his toe nails were supposed to be, before he felt them ripped from him, the same being done to his fingers as well.

"How long was he here?" the question had plagued his mind countless times, though he knew it pointless to think on such matters, he was here, and the only thing that mattered was getting out, or the release that death would bring, but they would not kill him. In fact they went to lengths to make sure he stayed alive, only tormenting him enough to leave him on the verge, but never tipping over. There were times when he was alone that he would simply pray for his suffering to end. He never begged for it though, not to his captures anyway, he also never voiced his prayers, a part of him felt that, that was exactly what his captures wanted of him. They wanted to hear him scream and beg for death, for if he did he would lose everything that made him who he was, and he would be lost forever. The words of his father ringing in his ears.

"Never give more of yourself to someone than you are willing to lose, for everything you give may very well be the fuel that ignites your funeral pyre."

He never understood those words till now. Thinking on his past he didn't hear someone had entered the room, until they spoke up right beside him.

"My, my not even a hello, honestly Tyrian I would think you would teach our guest better manners than this." Spoke a female voice.

Jaune looked up to see white hair, and eyes as red as that of any Grimm, with skin as pale as the moon. Her voice was like silk, and for some reason it seemed to calm him. He knew who she was, and what she had done, but he could not bring himself to truly despise her. He wanted to, he just simply couldn't, so much to the fact he found himself speaking in return.

"My apologizes my lady, if I had known you would be coming I would have tidied up a little bit." He moved his head as best he could as if to look over the room, and he frowned giving the illusion of his dissatisfaction of the state that the area was in. She always seemed to light a fire inside him, one he wished he could extinguish as it seemed to cause more pain later.

Salem moved to stand in front of him, she raised he hands and started to lightly brush his chest, lightly drawing circles with her fingers. A smile played across her lips, "I'm truly surprised you've lasted so long," her fingers stopped moving, and she place her palm on top of his chest, a frown now marred her face where the smile once laid, "and I am not very fond of surprises."

Hot pain seeped into his chest where he palmed laid, feeling as if she was about to burn a hole right through him. His body stiffened, and his eyes grew wide, his breath caught in his throat. He wanted to scream, and writhe in agony, but he would not give her the satisfaction. He might not be able to feel any hate towards her, but since when did one need to hate to want another to fail.

Getting tired of dealing with the boy she lifted her hand from his chest, and moved to the opposite end of the room, and sat down on the only chair. She crossed her legs and looked up at the boy, her fingers tapping a top of her thigh. "As much as I would like to see you fall into despair, we've simply do not have the luxury of time, so we will simply have to move along with our plans for you my child." The smile once again played across her lips.

As if on cue Tyrian moved further into the room laying a tray on top of the only wooden table in the room. A wicked grin danced across his face.

Jaune stared heated daggers at the man, if there was anyone he wanted to kill more in the world it was him, but like always he just laid still, and waited for whatever was to come.

Tyrian lifted a syringe off the tray and started to make his way towards Jaune, only to be stopped mid step.

"Tyrian, I believe I would like to be the one to do the honors this time" the smile still played on Salem's lips as she lifted herself off the chair, and moved to Tyrian, and removing the syringe from his outstretched hand.

Tyrian grandiosely bowed, and moved away from his queen, allowing her the fun.

Salem studied the syringe for a moment before turning to Jaune, and made her way to him.

Once she was in front of him she leaned in to whisper into his ear. "Now don't be afraid, it will hurt at first, but once it's over and you give in you'll be reborn anew, and far better then you are now." She grabbed his hair and pulled his head back, then stuck the needle in delivering the liquid that laid inside.

Jaune for the moment just laid there wondering what was happening. Only for a moment before a wave of pain unlike anything he had felt before washed over him. His whole body shook violently, and he screamed in agony, tears streamed from his face, his back arched against the stone table, he could feel every dried wound reopen. He wanted to calm his mind to think on something, anything else, but all he could think about all he could feel was fire.

Jaune awoke with a start, throwing his coverings to the floor in the process of raising his body from the bed. His hand clutching at his chest, as he pulled in ragged breaths. Sweat drenched his body, as he moved his legs to allow his feet to come into contact with the cool floor. Sitting on the bed he bent down placing his hands to his face, and continued to breathe in raggedly, a chocked sob playing at his throat. Steeling himself he stood up, and made his was to his wash basin, and started to vigorously splash the cool water across his face, and head. He could feel the cool water starting to run down his exposed back. Shaking he grabbed the towel that laid not far off, dried himself off. Pausing only to realize at how much noise he must be making. He quickly turned to look at the other bed that laid in the room, only to see that it was empty.

"Of course," Jaune muttered to himself. "I had let her stay with her father for the night," Turning once more he made his way towards the center table in the tent.

Maps played across the table, along with various documents at which he had already looked over most, and on top of those documents acting as a paper weight sat the rusted hinge he had come across inside the Kurokame Village. Removing his gaze from the hinge he laid it on the object at which he came for in the first place. Grabbing his scroll he turned on the devices backlight checking for the time.

The time read five thirty in the morning, sighing Jaune moved towards the various light fixtures in the tent turning on each one by one so he could better see everything in the room. He didn't have to, but the lighting wasn't for him anyways. Moving again he made his way towards his clothes hanger and started to get dressed. Doing so he heard knock on the tents knocking post right outside the tents entrance. Craning his neck from putting on his boots he looked towards the flap.

"Tents open come on it," He called out towards whoever stood outside.

The tents entrance flapped open to let in Amira Kaine, a young woman in her mid-twenties. She had short brown hair that came just to her neckline. She wore what looked to be a standard Menagerie serving uniform. With her brown dog like tail poking out from the back.

Moving into the room Amira carried with her a small silver try which seemed to hold various plates, a pitcher, and cup. "I had seen your light turn on my liege, and was wondering if you would like some breakfast, you had missed the last one." Her voice carried a slight weight of disapproval.

It was like that with most of Jaune's serving men, and women whenever he neglected a meal or they felt he wasn't attending to himself properly, they took upon themselves to jump down his throat. He very much believed Amira may just tie him down, and force feed him if given the chance.

Looking at the tray Jaune just smiled, and gestured towards the table.

Looking towards the table, Amira quickly moved to lay her burden onto the table only to frown at the disheveled mess that was the state of her Kings affairs. Moving one of the maps to give some ounce of room so the tray wouldn't sit on paper. Moving the chair back she gestured for her king to come and sit at the table.

Having slipped on his final boot Jaune stood and made his way towards the table. Once he was seated he looked at his plate eyeing what he was to eat. The plate held a generous supply of cooked ham, eggs, and fruit. Nodding in satisfaction he made his move at eating the bounty that was graciously laid out before him.

Seeing that Jaune was eating Amira gave a satisfied smile before pouring the Juice from the pitcher into the resting cup.

Raising the filled cup to his lips Jaune took a generous gulp of the liquid. "Orange Juice huh," taking a few more drags from the cup he laid it down, and continued on with his meal. Only pausing to ask a question. "Amira?"

Amira gave a quiet start at the mention of her name, "Yes my liege, what can I help you with?"

"How do you feel about all of this?" Jaune asked fork paused above his remaining bite of eggs.

"Feel about what sir?" Amira asked puzzlingly.

"How do you feel about someone like me ruling over your people, the people of Menagerie?" Jaune asked, the question had danced in his mind several times, but he couldn't ask one of the Fang, He knew how they felt about the situation, what he didn't know was how the everyday citizen felt about the matter, and that bothered him. He may be able to read a person's aura to gauge their current emotion, but he couldn't read people's minds.

"Honestly my lord?" Amira asked hesitantly.

Jaune simply nodded at the question. He needed to be able to take all forms of truth whether they were hard or not.

"Honestly sir at first I didn't like it very much at all," she stated bluntly. "I mean I had spent most of if not all of my life serving various chiefs, in fact my family has a legacy of serving the chiefs, and" she paused trying to figure out how to best procced without offending, unable to think of anything she continued on, "and well we never really liked any human leader, whether it be the council, or some company head like the one from the SDC."

Jaune nodded taking the last bite of his eggs, he knew that the people of Menagerie didn't care too much of the council, and he had a pretty good idea of the why, but. "So you don't care for the council, is there any reason as to the why."

Amira just shrugged, "My father always talked about how the council was playing us, giving us land to just die on, that they wanted our people extinct." She raised her hands in a quick defense adding, "but I always thought he was over exaggerating, I mean it's true Menagerie is small, and it gets hard at times, but I doubt the council is as cruel as to kill of an entire race."

Jaune smiled at that, "your right about that, I would also doubt a whole race going extinct would bode well for any of them, the people would riot."

"Exactly, no one could be that heartless." Amira added with a cheerful smile, "but anyway once you fully took control, and I was able to see how you acted towards everyone, I started to see that you're here to help, and so here I am today."

Jaune nodded, then started to frown, "Your father might have been wrong on the whole killing you off scenario, but the council playing you," Jaune took a sip from his cup before continuing on "now that part is true."

"How so?" She asked while going about refilling Jaune's cup.

"It's about population control, Menagerie isn't a big island, and they stuck a whole race of people on it telling them that it was theirs, and they could govern themselves." Jaune scoffed, "It wouldn't take long before the island is over crowded with people, and some would simply want to move out to find a place to work, and live." Jaune looked up towards Amira before continuing. "Menagerie gets most of their food through fishing, and anything else through importation, not very easy to farm on an island where most of the population has to live on the water, and you can only fish for so long before you run the risk of over fishing."

Amira nodded, "Of course my mother was a fisherwoman before she married my father, and she would always talk about how she felt like there was less fish that season."

Jaune nodding turning his head, and patting his mouth with his napkin before going on, "So they have a way to control your food supply, sure you're allowed to fish, but you can't fish too much. So you pay for imported food at a premium, you can't argue because that's all you have."

Amira just stared at Jaune, this of course was not the first time she heard this, but it was the first time it started to register with her. She knew the chiefs would gather to discuss such matters, but nothing was ever done about, what could be done about it?

"Now because Menagerie is so small, the island becomes overpopulated, and work on the island for the next generation becomes more scarce, so the younger men, and women leave the Island to look for work elsewhere, and where do they go to work?" Jaune asked in a voice that said he already knew the answer.

Amira stood there thinking for a moment before she gasped, "they go to work for the SDC."

Jaune tapped his index finger to his nose, "Exactly they go to work for these companies because it's pretty much a guaranteed job, well besides the Fang, and that didn't really pay well."

Amira just shook he head, "but why would they work for, for someone so terrible I mean it's well known that the SDC treat their Faunus work force poorly."

Jaune shook his head, "It's not that they treat their workers poorly, in fact they get paid the same amount as their human counterpart. It's the jobs they get that is the difference."

Amira looked down at Jaune questioningly, "Their job?"

"Most Faunus work in the mining division in dust companies, not just the SDC, they get paid they legal amount but what comes into play is their contract." Jaune took another sip of his drink to moisten his throat the carried on, "The SDC and many other dust companies have what's called a mining village or town, where the miners can lived at a cheaper rent then most other places, the catch is they have to sign a contract stating they will live there for X amount of years, now these young workers see this as a good deal, they get cheaper accommodations, and can save the rest of their money for when they decide to get their own place, or leave for bigger and better things."

Amira nodded, "that doesn't sound too bad."

Jaune raised his hand in a motion that stated that he wasn't quiet done, "It doesn't until you account for the fact that they receive the lowest legal amount of pay, on top of that a majority of that pay automatically goes to paying that rent, as well as company medical, and if they opted in for the company life insurance…well they would find themselves completely stuck where they are, even worse if you start to have a family."

"That's terrible," Amira stated incuriously, "how is that even legal, and why."

"The legal reason is simple, it stays legal because who sits on the council, when you have a major company like the SDC sitting on the council, as well as being the major supplier of dust one tends to roll over when they say, and as to the why, the companies that employ this tactic get money back from their workers, the towns are built and owned by the company so minus the spending on upkeep they make some of their money back from these workers."

Amira started to shake with anger, "how can someone be so terrible, as to employ such disgusting tactics."

"People who want power, and once obtained will do anything to keep it if not expand upon it." Jaune stated matter of factly. "Now I'm not saying it's like that everywhere, many Faunus find work in Villages outside the kingdoms, due to the fact that without a wall everyone is need to survive, and someone with Faunus traits, and abilities are always welcome there."

"So people just appreciate us for our traits?" she asked crossing her arms.

"Survival, War, anything where one's life depends on the person next to you will always be the greatest of equalizers." Jaune stated with his eyes cast down at his empty plate. Closing his eyes he gave a great sigh before standing up. "I believe I'm finished with breakfast Amira, thank you for the food."

Amira gave a small jump before quickly regaining her composure and bowed. She turned to pick up the tray, and make her way out. Only to pause "Oh before I forget, I ran into Joseph on my way over, he had parcel to give to you, and asked me if I would deliver it for him." She reached into her dress pocket producing a white envelope with a red wax seal.

Jaune walked over taking the envelope from Amira, and studied the seal. Looking up from the envelope he nodded, "Thank you for the delivery, you're dismissed."

Giving a small one handed curtsy Amira turned and walked out of the tent.

With Amira gone Jaune looked at the envelope in his hand eyeing the seal. "how long has it been since I had Kari send out that first letter, three months wasn't it?" shrugging Jaune cracked the seal, and removed the letter that it held. Unfolding the paper Jaune ran his eyes over the letter, reading. A smile played across his face, folding the letter back he made his way to his coat hanger and threw his coat over his shirt, and buttoned the silver buttons, reaching into the coats pocket he produced his steel Arc pins and went about pinning his collar. Having finished he pocketed the letter, and made his way out of his tent into the cool morning air. "Finally it's time to start moving."

The sun had started to rise giving a nice orange glow to the snow white terrain. The trees that dotted the surrounding land had been covered with fresh snow from the prior night. The ground having faired no better than the trees, for with every step Jaune's feet suck through the ground with snow coming the top of his shins. He felt sorry for anyone short enough that snow would come their knees, he knew of a few who would be trudging along in such a manner. Still without pause Jaune trudged along scanning the milling groups of people, most wearing his Fangs black, others wearing Mistralean bronze walked freely not needing to be watched, but all the same Fang eyes looked towards them warily.

It took a few minutes before Jaune came across the person he had been looking for, standing in front of the now landed battlecruiser Mother of Intrigue.

Kaz stood looking about the milling Mistralean soldiers whose eyes seem to look at him with a deep anger. He didn't understand it no one had been seriously hurt, that was supposed to be a good thing, yet these men looked as if they just swallowed sour horse shit. Pondering he failed to notice his King until he coughed right next to him. Startled he turned to see who made the noise only to see his King standing next to him starring at the same thing he was.

"My king," Kaz spoke with slight alarm in his voice. He quickly gave a formal salute, "My apologizes I failed to notice you there."

Jaune paid no mind to Kaz, he only looked about the Mistralean's. "Any trouble from our guests?" he asked doubtful that there had been any.

"No sir, no trouble at all except for their dagger like stares, I just don't get it sir they seem to be angry at the fact that no one was hurt." Kaz scratched his head in confusion, "but that's crazy."

"To you, and too many people it is, but that is how Mistraleans are Kaz. You would probably find them more satisfied in the defeat if we had to kill some of them to achieve our goals, but the fact that we didn't have to is like slap in their face." Jaune stated with a hint of distaste in his voice, "Their pride won't allow for such a thing."

Kaz looked at the men with a new feeling that seemed to play along the lines of, huh? "That's ridiculous, shouldn't they be happy they get to go home to their family, and friends?"

Jaune looked out towards the entrance of the ship, "You would think that, wouldn't you" he could make out a hooded figure stepping out of the ship, with a tall man in officer garments walking beside her. "You would think they would be happy to live, and be able to fight another day, but Mistralean pride is like that, it's stupid, and gets you killed, and the only thing you leave behind is pain." Jaune looked away from Cinder, and Adama and looked down at Kaz. "I want you to go gather everyone to my tent as quickly as you can, you may employ help, but only someone who know how to be quiet."

Kaz simply nodded at his Kings words. "As you wish sire," Giving a quick salute he turned and made his way about his given task.

Having watched Kaz go Jaune turned and made his way to the two figures walking about the ship talking in a hushed tone, well Adama was talking Cinder just listened, she rarely spoke in public, and when she did it was in a harsh scratchy voice to give the illusion of a damaged throat.

Once he made his way over to them the two stopped, with Cinder walking over to stand by his side. Jaune looked towards Adama and began to gauge his aura, he could see his aura swirl in a way that said he didn't care too much at how his daughter so eagerly went to stand by his side.

Sighing Jaune spoke up "General Nikos if you would be so kind as to accompany me back to my tent, I have called a meeting, and would like you to be a part of it."

Adama crossed his arms, and gave a slight tilt of his head, "I presume this is about the other term of my surrender you wanted to talk about."

Jaune simply nodded, "that, and other things, but for the moment." Jaune turned, and started to make his way back to his tent. "If you would be so kind as to come with me" he made his way back to his tent with Cinder slightly behind him to his left, and Adama taking the rear.

Adam sat awkwardly at the table, it wasn't the way he was sitting per say, but simply who he was sitting with. Kari Belladonna sat across from him, her eyes seemingly boring holes into his head, and it took everything Adam had to not turn his head away from her gaze. He did try to hurt her daughter, and in fact achieved in hurting her in more ways than one, so there was no way he could look away from Blake's mother, not after all the things he had put her through. So he just sat there in Jaune's tent with Kari waiting for whatever Jaune had to tell them. "Dear Gods Jaune how long are you going to be?" Kari staring at him was on thing, but the looming silence just made things even worse.

Kari Belladonna was many things, but a woman who held a grudge she was not, she knows what Adam had done to her daughter, and the strife he put on her, but he was hear trying to help find her, wanting to redeem himself, and that was a hard thing to find in someone. For it is one thing to make a mistake, that's easy. It was owning up to one's mistake, and trying to right that wrong that was difficult. So no she wasn't staring at Adam out of anger, or resentment, no she gazed at the man who caused her daughter so much trouble. The man who at this moment had yellow mustard on the corner of his mouth, and she simply didn't know how to tell him without embarrassing the young boy, young hormones was a strange thing. "Maybe he'll notice on his own, but what if he doesn't and we go through the whole meeting, and he just sits there with mustard on his mouth." She started to say something when the tent opened up to introduce three more.

Jaune was the first one in the tent quickly being followed in by Cinder, and Adama Nikos. Moving his gaze towards the table he saw both Adam, and Kari sitting at the table. He noticed the two making as if to stand up. Quickly he motioned for the two to stay seated.

Jaune made his way to his seat, "the faster we get started on the matter at hand, the better." He spoke with authority in his voice that motioned for everyone in the room to take or stay in their respective seat.

Jaune sat at the head of the table, with Adama taking a seat beside Kari's left, Kari herself stayed seated closest to Jaune's left, while Adam was seated to his right. Cinder stayed standing by Jaune's right shoulder.

Jaune cleared his throat before looking up at Cinder, "could you go poke your head out, and have Kaz come in, and sit down he has very much earned his right to sit here."

Cinder nodded and moved to the tents entrance poking her head out to see Kaz standing to the entrances left. She quickly waved him over, and motioned him inside.

Confused Kaz walked over, and stepped inside the tent only to see his King, and his council sitting at the table along with the Mistralean General. "Ah, is there anything I can help with?" he asked while giving a quick salute.

Jaune simply motioned for him to take a seat next to Adam, "yes you can, come over here and have a seat, from this moment on you will be a part of this council until further notice, am I understood." Jaune looked up towards Kaz with no emotion to be seen.

Kaz nodded, "he wants me to be a part of his council, this is…" Kaz cleared his throat "It will be an honor to be a part of your council my King." Kaz spoke before he went to take his seat next to Adam who simply looked at him and nodded with what he assumed was approval.

Jaune tapping the table with his finger to get everyone's attention began to speak, "Well now that everyone is here we can get started." Jaune reached into his coats pocket and pulled out the folded letter, and placed it upon the tabletop. "Now as some of you already know I had asked Mrs. Belladonna to send out a letter to an old friend of hers, in hopes that we would receive a welcoming reply." Jaune looked towards Kari, who nodded in return stating that she remembered, he turned his gaze towards Adam who nodded also. "Well it's been about three months since then, and we finally got a reply back." Jaune motioned at the folded paper on the table.

Kari looked at the folded paper, and gave a quiet start, "I was starting to worry she had forgotten about me, or worse." Kari made to reach for the paper only to stop midway, and look towards Jaune. Jaune simply nodded at which Kari reached and picked up the letter. Unfolding it she began to read its contents.

"We would have received word faster, but with the CCT still down we have to rely on snail mail for the moment." Jaune paused to scratch his nose, "makes you wonder what those engineers are doing." He looked towards Adama questioningly.

Adama looked back towards Jaune and shrugged, "All I know is that they are working, it's Atlas that designed the CCT, and they never really shared their secret as to how it works, We have our inner kingdom communications up, but those only work if your inside it's respective kingdoms wall, and other than shortwave everyone is pretty much dead in the water when it comes to communication outside the Kingdoms."

Jaune nodded at the statement, "It seems Atlas wants to make sure they hold the most cards, but looks like it just came back to bite them, and everyone else on the ass."

Adama nodded at the affirmation, "indeed, we had worried this would happen, and asked for the technology to be given an open patent, to allow the other kingdoms to be able to learn, and build towers, but nothing ever came of it."

Adam cleared his throat to gather attention to himself, "Well it's not like we can deal with that now anyway, we got the letter even if it did take a while to get here so what does it have to do with us now?" Adam asked resting his chin on the knuckles of his clasped hands eyes gazing at his childhood friend.

"What it has to do with us now is simple, it affirms what action we will take from now on," Jaune stated returning Adams gaze.

Kaz bringing his voice to the conversation, "how so?" his gaze moving from Jaune, and Adam

Kari having finished reading, and re-reading the letter placed it down in front of her. "I had sent the letter to a very prominent friend in Atlas, and she would like to meet our good King here." Kari said motioning towards Jaune.

Jaune clasped his hands together and laid them on top of the table, "and that is a request I plan to accept as soon as possible." Jaune stated matter of fact.

Kaz looked between the three of them before speaking, "So you want us to go to Atlas, I'm sorry sir but that doesn't sound like a good idea."

"You would be right, and that is why we will not be going to Atlas." Jaune spoke looking towards Kaz his eyes still void of emotion. "I'll be going to Mantel to meet up with our contact, the rest of you will be given a different assignment."

Adam snapped his head to look at Jaune, "you're going to Mantel by yourself, are you crazy?"

Jaune motioned his hands for Adam to calm down, "No I will not be going by myself, and I'll be taking most of the men here with me, along with Cinder if she decides to come." Jaune looked up towards Cinder, who looked down at him a puzzled played across her face.

"Why wouldn't she go with you?" Kari asked, her own eyes giving of puzzlement as well. "I swear I would mistake the girl as you shadow if it wasn't for the fact she has breasts."

At the mention of her breasts Cinder made to fold her arms over them tinges of red streaking her cheeks.

Jaune just waved his hands to move the subject along, "Do you want to hear your assignments or not?" Jaune asked with a tinge of impatience in his voice.

Kari shrugged, with Adam, and Kaz leaning forwards, Adam curiously, and Kaz seemingly out of excitement. All the while Adama sat with his arms folded over his chest a look of curiosity danced on his face.

"Well first off Kaz," Jaune looked toward Kaz as he spoke.

"Yes sir," Kaz said failing to keep the excitement from his voice, this was his first mission he would receive directly from his majesty.

"I need you to take two to three squads back to Menagerie, and see to any of the Fang that may have arrived back there. I'm placing you in charge of the situation with the Fang there." Jaune gazed at Kaz gaging his aura. His aura gave of a sense of purpose, but not entirely satisfied"the man must think I'm just making him go back home for an easy assignment."

Jaune raised a finger to give emphasis to his next few words, "I also need you to see if Neo was able to get a hold of my family, and if so I need you to make sure they're safe, am I understood."

At the mention of protecting his Kings family Kaz sat up straight giving off a disciplined look. "You can count on me, I'll make sure they're very much cared for."

Jaune nodded, "As for Mrs. Belladonna, I need you and Adam to go to Mistral and find team RWBY, and the remainder of my old team if they're there if not so be it, but I need team RWBY on our side, Ruby specifically."

Kari just starred at Jaune confused, "You don't need me a Mantle? Wouldn't it be easier if I went along with you to give the greeting?"

"It may very well be, but I need you to go to Mistral with Adam because I need you there to make sure they don't try to kill Adam." Jaune stated turning his head to stare at Adam.

Kari turned her head to stare as well, "Oh yea that would probably be for the best."

Adam looked between Jaune, and Kari before speaking. "Okay if they're going to try and kill me why not send Kaz, and have me go back to Menagerie?" he asked leaning back in his chair arms folded across his chest.

"I just thought you would like to be a part of the main group that will continually be looking for a way to get to Blake." Jaune said leaning his chin against his own knuckles, "but I mean if you want to go to Menagerie I'm sure my mother would love to see you, she's been waiting for years you see you again I mean you just ran out of the house one night, never to return, I would imagine she would be thrilled."

At the mention of Jaune's mother Adam seemed to pale three shades lighter. "Ah, so Mistral huh, I hear it's beautiful this time of year." Adam spoke with a clear tinge of nervousness.

Jaune smiled and nodded, "I'm sure it is." Now onto you Mr. Nikos, "and I thank you for being patient with us."

Adama simply nodded, and waited.

"I would like you to take you, and your men back to Mistral," Jaune stated leaning back into his chair.

Adama raised an eyebrow questioningly, "Just go back to Mistral?"

"I would also like you to look into Haven Academy, and anyone on the council from Mistral." Jaune said his eyes narrowing.

Adama leaned back into his chair before speaking, "Is there a certain reason you would like me to look into this?"

"Yes, when I was last in Mistral with my team, me and my friend Ruby were attacked on Haven ground, Ruby got away, but I wasn't so lucky." Jaune rolled up his coat sleeve to reveal several scars running across his arms, in fact most of his body was covered in various scars, it was the main reason he stayed so covered. The only thing not visibly scarred was his neck, and face Salem seemed to not want his face messed with for whatever odd reason.

Adama looked at the scars, his own eyes starting to narrow, "you believe someone at Haven is working for the enemy." Adama stated removing his eyes from the scars, and looking at Jaune's eyes, eyes that held nothing, no answers, no emotion, there was nothing he could read about the man, and that will always trouble him. He hated not being able to read someone, it made him feel vulnerable.

"Yes, I believe someone in Haven is working for Salem." Jaune stated pulling his sleeves back down to cover his scars. Jaune slightly looked up towards Cinder, whose amber eye played a look of regret, and sorrow. She always got like that when she saw his scars, no doubt troubled by the fact she couldn't help him.

Brining his gaze back to Adama, Jaune continued. "I also believe it is someone, or someone's of a high position within the Academy."

Adama nodded, "That would make sense, why go for a small fry professor, when you can have a vice principle, or dean on your side." Adama spoke his hand coming up to stroke his chin in thought, "I never really liked Lionheart, he was always sort of cocky ever since he received his swords, but still I don't see him being a traitor, the man practically built Haven."

Jaune leaned forward in his chair, "I don't care who it is, we need to find out what they're up to though, it's been over a year since I was taken, and they still haven't made a visible move. I want to know what they're planning." Jaune raised a hand to scratch the back of his head before sighing. "Taking this long it must be something big, I would imagine even bigger than Vale."

At the mention of Vale Adama sat up straight, "bigger than Vale you say." Vale was a catastrophe, thousands had lost their homes to the Grimm, and worse many had been lost to the A.T.S (Atlas Tech Soldiers), and he was not about to let that happen to Mistral. "Very well Mr. Arc I'll help you with this task."

Jaune nodded thanks, "also I would like to ask you to make sure Adam doesn't get arrested on sight."

Adama looked at Jaune, then towards Adam. "Of course you would mention that last," sighing he simply nodded his head. "Very well I'll see that he is not bothered, I'll just make it seem that Adam was not a part of the Fang that attacked Vale that should be sufficient enough."

"That should do just fine," Jaune said satisfied with the Generals answer, looking over the group he spoke one final time. "One final thing," he turned towards Kari. "I need you to take Sun to Mistral as well, and have him take his team to Vale to find prof. Oobleck."

Kari just stared at Jaune, "wait why do you need professor Oobleck, if memory serves me right, he is kind of eccentric isn't he?"

Sighing Jaune put his head into his hands, "Yes he is, but he is the only man I know with extensive knowledge of both Remnant history, and folklore, he maybe our best bet at figuring out this Ael thing." To be honest he didn't want to deal with Ooobleck, the man was weird, and honestly the only reason he was having Sun do it was because he annoyed him.

Kari just shrugged, "very well if he can help with my daughter, I'll see that Sun does just that. I'm sure he would be more than happy to help in the matter."

"Fantastic," Jaune muttered from inside his hands.

Removing his face from his palms he spoke up, "well now that we have all of that settled." He turned towards Kaz. "I want the rest of the men prepped to leave by this afternoon, the faster we're gone from here the better."

"This afternoon sire?" Kaz spoke nervously.

"Yes, this afternoon, so I would get to it if I were you." Jaune said with a deep authority to his voice giving no room for questions.

Kaz swallowed, and nodded. It would be rough, but it will be done.

"Now," Jaune spoke while standing up, reaching into his coats inside pocket, and pulled out then laid the white King piece onto the table, "I believe it's our move."

A/N: I want to thank everyone who was patient with this chapter taking so long. I've had a rough couple of weeks here at my College, as they wanted me to move all my stuff to on campus housing, and I also had to deal with midterms, also I'm lazy so yea.

This chapter was also difficult to right as I was trying to find a way to make it as long as the past chapters, so I had to do a lot of thinking on this one, but the next chapter should be easier.

Also want to thank everyone who has liked, and favorited the story, as well as anyone who left a review. Finally I plan to right in an OC in the next chapter or the chapter after that so if you want to be the one to name the character, and give a back story for said character go ahead, and right one in the comments. My favorite one will be implemented, and you will be acknowledged for it. Again thank you all for your patience.