It was now Friday evening and Professor Pink was due to arrive at Ansel airport. Jaune had been sent to meet him there and then to bring him back to LGDF HQ for a meeting before having him join a family dinner at home. Dad had got back from Awkney County at lunchtime, but Lavender had done the prep for the special dinner last night mostly according to his instructions. Lavender was comfortable that her deviations would be seen as improvements.
The fact dad had been out there so long had indicated to Jaune that the position was even more problematic than he had realised. He had gathered that there had nearly been a row between mother and dad about him taking bribes. Dad took the view that being paid to do what you were going to do anyway was not a problem and should be seen as an expression of esteem. Mother did not look at things the same way especially when as here she knew that there were real risks of the call being perceived as the wrong one. Dad had eventually accepted this concern although there had been some large (fully documented) donations to the LGDF to reflect the extra manpower and resources which everyone accepted needed to be devoted to the county.
Evelyn had been placed with Reynard's sister. A lawyer representing the Black Rock Lumber Mill had already made it clear that funding her rent and granting her an almost generous allowance for the next three months at least would not be an issue. No mention was made of the fact that her father had been the manager of the lumber mill and a member of the owning family. The payment was expressed to be made in recognition of her bravery on the walls and having helped ensure that there was a lumber mill left to sell.
Evelyn's enrolment as a student at ACS had gone through quickly. Indeed, she was joining the current first year's today for the last couple of weeks of term so that they could get used to each other. Evelyn had been polite and deferential with Headmaster Braun and the class teacher and the likelihood that she would be a star pupil who would go to Haven as a likely Vytal Festival competitor had made it an easy call for him. At least that was what mother had told him.
Evelyn would be spending time with Lavender this weekend while he, mother, and Reynard were in Kulsa with Pink. She'd also spent time with her last night which he'd gathered from Lavender involved letting Evelyn know the realities of life at ACS while emphasising the good bits. The problem was that a school which started the process of teaching teenagers how to fight monsters risked having a significant number of students for whom competitiveness blurred into a desire to control and humiliate others, especially Faunus and those who otherwise did not fit in.
Jaune promised himself that if he was accepted into ACS he would do his best to stop any bullying. He knew Amber had done so in her year, that Debo had followed her in her footsteps, and that the twins had had a reputation for keeping it under control.
Professor Pink's flight arrived on time, and he recognised Jaune immediately. Admittedly, the dress uniform for the LGDF was distinctive. Pink was dressed in a way which made him seem just like a businessman coming home for the weekend. The twins had told him and mother that Pink had a distinctive huntsman costume which meant that it was easy for him to go incognito despite being a Vytal Festival semi-finalist in his day. He dressed up like a country gentlemen from Vale who was about to go fox hunting and the red jacket, white trousers, black reinforced hat, black boots, and riding crop had been a popular look in Mistral twenty years ago because of him.
The man had two large cases with him which suggested that he had brought along equipment with him. Anyway, Jaune saluted him and then drove him off to LGDF headquarters. While people must have noticed the meet and greet, Jaune was confident that they would have assume that the man was a bureaucrat in the national LGDF. Important enough to be greeted by the chief's son, not important enough to be greeted by the chief herself.
When they arrived at HQ, Jaune took him along to mother's office where he was introduced to Reynard. After the exchange of polite introductions and expressions of respect, Pink was taken into the briefing room.
Mother said, "Professor Pink, we had an incident in a sparsely populated county this week. I'm afraid that we need your advice on how we take forward our investigations."
"Of course, Chief Arc."
Mother then played the tape showing the collapse of part of the walls at the Bad Rock lumber mine. On a large screen the flash of black and white at the bottom of the walls was clearly there, but still indecisive. Pink sucked in his breath which at least suggested that he shared mother's concerns. There was further footage from the incident investigation team which showed a large dent in the bottom of the collapsed wall. Mother said, "So far we have not turned up anything which suggests gross negligence or the egregious breaking of building guideline in the construction of the barrier."
The next clip showed dad and Charlie from the Awkney County LGDF attaching a head camera to a ferret and then placing it in a hole in the ground. The camera footage showed the ferret investigating the hole cautiously, coming to a halt, and then suddenly reversing at high speed out of it.
Mother said, "According to Nicholas the hole went back at least a quarter of a mile before the ferret panicked and did a reverse ferret."
Pink looked at her quizzically. Mother blushed, "It's an Ansel phrase used when politicians change their stance on something totally without acknowledging it."
"Fine. Having watched that footage I can see it is a vivid one."
Reynard contributed, "In some country areas there is a sport which involves two drunk men putting a ferret down their trousers and seeing who can last longest before taking off their trousers to get rid of the pest."
Mother said, "Nicholas has seen this being done but there is a chicken and the egg debate as to whether the story or the event came first. The MSPCA could never decide whether they should campaign to ban it or whether the locals were simply winding them up. After all injuries were most likely to be suffered by the drunks rather than the animals."
Pink said, "Fascinating. Going back to the main question. I can ask Port at Beacon and Rumpole at Shade about their expertise in the area of underground Grimm. I sincerely hope that you are worrying about nothing. History is one of my secondary skills and there are many books about siege warfare which can be consulted."
"I don't want to start a Kingdom wide panic, but I think that I need to investigate whether we have a new species of burrowing Grimm in Mistral."
"I can trust Port and Rumpole not to gossip too widely about it and there will be no need to identify the district the footage came from. You do know that you can't stop the rumours spreading."
"Of course, but people won't want to believe them."
"Yes, that does not help on the fear factor."
"It's one of the reasons I didn't shut down more than two of the businesses out in Awkney. I'd prefer to try and identify any new species in an area of low population and try and contain it there rather than risk it spreading throughout Ansel and developing into Alphas."
"Understood and agreed. I can help direct Nancy and Jessica's research in the few weeks remaining of term. It's not as though they have any meaningful exams left and they are qualifying with first class honours based on their field work."
Pink paused, "Could you let me have four copies of the footage and anonymised transcripts of the commentary and information to take back to Mistral with me?"
Mother agreed to do this, and they then got down to discussing the arrangements for the site visit to Kulsa tomorrow and Sunday. This included a civic dinner. As a Haven professor and a Vytal festival semi-finalist he still counted as a celebrity and apparently he had brought his uniform with him.
Pink did have a word with Reynard. "Nancy and Jessica told me that you wouldn't take it the wrong way, but I do want to make it clear that I chose the uniform because it looked good on me when I was young, and I used to love the books about country house life in pre-war Vale. I now know that there are other connotations, but they are not ones which I was aware of."
Reynard said, "No problem, professor. It's not like you've wearing a minstrel costume."
He then laughed so as to reassure the professor that he had not made a faux pas. "Look there are some symbols which cannot be rehabilitated and there are others which can. Certainly, I have no objection to your hunting costume being reclaimed and for most people of my generation you wearing it and the Vale historical TC shows are the main associations."
At that point mother received a scroll message from dad and she sent Jaune home to help prepare dinner. When jaune got back he found that dad had decided that as it was a warm evening and the forecast was good, they would eat outside tonight overlooking the lake. He helped Lavender set up the table and lay out the cutlery and glasses. They also set out the East Mistralian lanterns between the trees so they could be lit when the sun finally started to set.
As they were setting up for an al fresco dinner Lavender told him about Evelyn's first day. With Evelyn's consent Braun had picked her to fight one of the strongest people in her class. Lavender said that Braun had gained her respect because he had known or guessed who the right opponent for Evelyn would be. Braun had chosen a bully who was unpopular amongst both the human and the few Faunus students but was tough enough not to be challenged by his classmates. The boy had challenged Evelyn to a non-aura fight. Evelyn to her credit had insisted on using aura. She had been a lumberjack for two years and had kangaroo legs. She was both tough and had an unconventional fighting style. The fight had been a short one. It had taken two kicks to shatter his aura and knock him on the ground with bruised but not broken ribs. It had rather broken the ice with the rest of the class especially the Faunus members and those who had suffered at his hands.
A few minutes later Lavender started crying gently. Jaune gave her a big hug and waited for her to tell him what the problem was. Lavender eventually said, "Me and my friends knew that Calvin was a problem from early on this year but did nothing about it."
Jaune said nothing but just squeeze her harder. She continued, "I know that Amber or the twins would have sorted it out. I did nothing."
Jaune tried to find the right words of comfort. In the end he said, "Lavender, there is no point on comparing ourselves with Amber. The twins told me that it was easier for them because Debo had benefitted from being Amber's sister and had kept her rule going for two more years. She had only left ACS the year before they started. They had each other. They had been gone for two years before you started at ACS."
"I suppose you're right. Still, I do worry about being the weakest and smallest in the family."
She and Jaune both blushed. They both excluded Lily from these comparisons and felt bad about it.
"It sounds like you gave Evelyn good advice."
"I hope so."
When mother and Pink arrived back Jaune served everyone some Pimms and lemonade. Pink admired the view of the lake and chatted with mother and Jaune. Jaune had not realised that Pink was still only in his early forties. He looked older although not in a way which suggested decrepitude. He somehow looked wise and serious. It did not hurt that his hair was what his sister Lily described as salt and pepper.
Dinner started with poached eggs in a rich red wine sauce with plenty of bacons and mushrooms. This was one of dad's favourites, although the sauce had been made yesterday by Lavender to give it time to mature. Somehow being left overnight in the fridge plus a couple of hours out before being reheated made the taste deeper. Certainly, Pink's enjoyment of it seemed sincere as was his appreciation of the red wine.
Next they had what dad described as palette cleansing sorbet served with some sparkling wine. In the meantime, the trout in white wine, cream and thyme sauce had been placed in the oven.
Dad explained what he had been doing in Awkney over the last few days. Clearly he had been working on his story to better justify the taking of money from the local businesses. "They don't appreciate what they get for free, and it at least showed that they were serious about trying to make things work."
He paused, "A lot of them are owned by the descendants of people who fled the area after the Great War or the Faunus wars when the Grimm overrun the area. They remember the stories of their grandparents about the beauty and tranquillity of the forests and also how profitable the businesses were there back then."
Pink said, "I suppose that the improvements in technology and geology mean that they think that they can set up an efficient business and not have to argue with an established workforce about demarcation or custom and practice."
Dad nodded, "Yes, but emotionally a lot of them are committed to rebuilding the family pride."
Mother said, "It's hard getting the balance right. I know for safety it's essential that we have open space around the largest towns so that we have a chance of catching the attacking Grimm out in the open before they hit the city walls. However, it is a pity that we can't let the woods and forests just grow naturally."
The third course was the trout served with a green salad and some brown rice. It was a subtle taste but an enjoyable one. Dad had got out a bottle of Argus white wine premier cru to go with it.
Jaune and Lavender collected the plates and then Jaune spent ten minutes loading the dishwasher, placing the leftovers in the fridge or freezer, and rinsing the casseroles, serving bowls and pans to make certain that nothing was going to cause too much of a problem tomorrow when they were washed up.
There would now be a gap before the cheese course. When he came back to the table, the discussion had moved on to Kurohari province. This brought up the Branwen Tribe and its notorious leader.
Lavender said, "Is it true that Raven Branwen was a Vytal festival champion?"
Dad laughed "Oh yes. The professor here had the honour of fighting her team twice."
Pink grimaced. "Luckily the fact that they were first year students, and we were second years meant that we did not have to face them before the quarter finals. Even we had been in the same year the seeding system meant that we did not have to face them before then."
He looked around, "Are you certain that you all don't mind me telling the tales of my youth?"
Mother said, "That was no doubt what Nicholas wanted he asked you the question."
Dad chuckled and mimicked toasting mother.
Pink said, "I was a losing semi-finalist in both my tournaments. In the first one we met Team STRQ in the quarter finals group round. We had both won our first two matches in that round and so were going through to the semi-finals. No one knew quite how good they were. The Haven team they had humiliated in the first team round was the fourth seeded team and while pretty good had not being expected to progress. Still, it was quite clear that Team STRQ were the business."
He paused, "My team were seen as real contenders that year. The fact that the Branwen twins came from a bandit tribe was seen a scandal and there was a lot of anger directed at Beacon for allowing them in as students and then entering them for the festival. When the pairings were announced the fact that the Branwen twins had been chosen to face me and my partner meant that it was seen as a grudge match. Everyone was looking forward to the battle and we were expected by everyone in the kingdom to teach the criminal delinquents a lesson Oddly it was the brother who enjoyed the trash talking before and during the fight."
"Trash talking?" That was Lavender.
"Professional wrestling was popular at the time."
Nicholas laughed. "I'm beginning to remember. The man knew how to get up everybody's noses."
"In retrospect, it was lucky for me that my partner came from a more politically important family than mine. He did not react well to not being treated with the respect he believed he was due. He should have ignored Qrow Branwen when he got his name wrong instead of correcting him and telling him that William would make him grovel. Qrow just put his hand up towards William and said, "It doesn't matter what your name is" and gave him a look which suggested my teammate had farted."
Jaune could not help laughing, mainly because it was clear that Pink still remembered the voice well and had tried to communicate it.
"He then announced that William was oven ready and would be trussed and stuffed in the fight. He finished off by saying "Do you smell what the Qrow is cooking."
Dad laughed out loud, "I remember that. Still that fight was the most watched one of the Vytal Festival that year in Mistral. We all wanted to see the bandit duo forced to eat Crow pie."
"Didn't work out that way. I was lucky as I faced Raven. I quickly knew that I was going to lose. My technique was as good as hers, but she was stronger and faster than me. She did not humiliate me, although she could have. There was no initial sparring, she was straight in my face and never allowed me to use my ranged option. It was clearly her brother's show. When she eliminated me after about seven minutes, she shook my hand and instead of playing the numbers game took out a letter from her pocket and ostentatiously began reading it. She did tell me not to interfere with Qrow and William's battle."
Mother nodded, "Amber rather admired Raven's mix of being business during the fighting. She was only eight at the time, so the undertones passed her by, but she liked the confident strut."
Pink said, "That did not go unnoticed at Haven. Anyway, that day Qrow Branwen strode a fine line between risking disqualification and behaving like a gentleman. He disarmed William four times and each time gestured to William that he should pick up his weapon. While William was doing so the man took a swig from his hip flask. He even moved that horrifying weapon to his left hand after the second time he disarmed William, and one time caught William just before he fell out of the arena. Each time he would step back and then would make a gesture with his hands suggesting that William should attack."
Lavender asked, "Why was he doing that?"
"My guess is that he wanted William to concede rather than simply be beaten. In the end Raven just shouted out "I've finished my letter brother," and Qrow just disarmed William again and threw his weapon out of bounds and called upon him to yield."
Dad said, "I don't think William Blood was ever the same afterwards."
Pink shrugged, "Certainly he insisted on me fighting in the semi-final round against the Atlas champion. I must admit I was half relieved when I lost that after thirty minutes by having 2% less aura left than my opponent. I did not want any part of fighting Raven Branwen again."
He smiled ruefully, "Instead of course they brought out Summer to fight in the final."
He paused, "I still can't decide who was the most dangerous fighter between Raven, Summer and Qrow. Summer had finesse, style, and speed. Because they were on the same team we never got to see who the best of that year was. Their fourth member was top ten as well."
Mother said, "You fought Summer in your second tournament."
"That was a more enjoyable experience. Not that the result was any closer, but no one minded losing to her."
He then laughed, "Nicholas, Claire, I'm getting old. I nearly said that the students nowadays don't have the fun we used to do back then. They are all so serious and talk about metrics and diets - well apart from Nancy and Jessica. I think that's why people like them so much."
Mother said, "They do take the work seriously."
"Not saying they don't. It's just that they know how to enjoy themselves as well."
Another chortle from the professor. "Sorry but that reminds me of the fourth member of Team STRQ. Basically, he finished his campaign after the first quarter final group match and spent the rest of the tournament successfully flirting."
Lavender asked, "So how come Raven is the bandit queen?"
"Unintended consequences. The special forces unit took out the Branwen Tribe's leadership in a raid. Stories vary. Some say that a parlay was arranged, and that the government arranged for someone to insult the tribe leader. When he took offence, the unit got their retaliation in first."
Mother said, "Didn't help that the Blood family took their chance to trash talk about the caged birds."
Pink grimaced, "They paid the price for it as did the special forces unit."
At that moment a loud "hello" was heard. They turned round and saw Jasper and Debo with their eldest child being carried by Debo approaching. A few greetings were exchanged, and Jasper and Lavender left to go indoors and play with the eldest child.
Debo said, "Sorry to barge in, but I wanted to say hello to Professor Pink. I have heard may good things about you from my sisters."
Pink looked carefully at her and worked out which of the Arc sisters she must be. "I can leave you to it."
"No need, Professor. My husband and your allies are not enemies. He thought that it would do no harm and might help you with your recommendations this weekend if I passed on my observations."
"Indeed. How?"
"Don't count on there being more than six months before the excreta hits the fan. While the hawks are talking a good game, their actions are equivocal."
Mother looked at Debo. "In what way?"
"They've sent out a new governor who is able but without political clout. They are sending the evacuees from northern Kurohari out of Mistral city to the provinces where they are out of sight, out of mind. Someone who Jasper was expecting to become a fixture in Mistral City has been sent here to be an aide to the governor and has taken a demotion."
"That could just be the people in position resisting perceived failures becoming rivals."
"There is some truth in that, but more than normal have been demoted. Besides which they aren't going in as hard on the Doves map as they should be doing."
This clearly meant something to Pink. "So, what you are telling me is that they are hoping for the best, but preparing for the worse and half expecting it?"
"That is the impression I am getting. I am of course just the wife of a minor politician, but I don't think anyone should risk having a major rebuild of the walls."
Mother said, "Deborah, why don't you and Jasper join us for the cheese course? Jaune could you bring it out here and light the lanterns."
"I'll help him mother."
As he and Debo left mother dad and Pink to their discussions, he looked at her and said, "A map?"
"Someone is preparing to present the fall of Kurohari as a good thing. The mountains between Ansel and Kurohari north of us have only two functional passes and the river between Kurohari and the rest of Mistral is also a natural barrier. Destroying the mountain passes, demolishing the bridges, and mining the river makes a very convincing line of defence on the map."
"And so?"
"Only a very few people in Mistral City are prepared to fund the defence of southern Kurohari adequately and they are all preparing a position whereby they say that it is for the best that it falls. Understandably people in Kulsa may not feel that they can trust central government to protect them."
Apparently kangaroo kicks really are exceptionally strong, so they seemed a good type of Faunus to be good at unarmed combat.
Monster King – thanks for the encouragement. This is a rather self-indulgent work with only one series character so the fact that people are reading it and seem to be enjoying it is gratifying.
At the moment I think that there are between three to five chapters before Jaune goes on holiday with Amber to Vale. I don't want to stretch it out too much and most of the world building on Ansel province I wanted to set out has been established. On the other hand, I keep finding things I want to explore more deeply. Certainly, the viewpoint of someone who fought Team STRQ at the Vytal Festival seemed worth going into.
I am planning out a sequel to The Branwen Republic which will be an experiment. It will be set ten years afterwards so the main cast will be in their late twenties.
