Jaune drove up to Kulsa with Reynard and the LGDF procurement chief. He was driving while the two more senior members talked tactics for the initial meetings that they would be having with the construction contractors usually used by the Ansel LGDF for work in Faunus areas of Kulsa. Mother, Pink, and another three LGDF staff members had taken the bullhead to Kulsa to meet with Jesse Earl and the mayor at LGDF headquarters in Ansel.
He had not stayed up late last night. He had unpacked the first dish washer and loaded up the second one with the final plates and cutlery. He was aware that work being so busy meant that he had not much time for weapons practice and the fact that she did the cooking, and he did the washing up had meant that during the week he had not had chance to practice as much with Lavender as he had hoped. Breakfast had been early, and dad had remarked that mother had not had much sleep last night due to calls from VIPs.
It suited Jaune to drive to reduce the risk of motion sickness. It also was interesting listening to his two superiors prepping for the meetings over the next two days. There had been a scandal shortly before mother first became acting head of the Ansel LGDF about sub-standard work being carried out on the Faunus quarter walls by the then main contractor. It had broken the most important unwritten rules which were don't extract the urine and don't sack the man who knows where the bodies are buried before the inspectors have signed off on the work. Marion, who was now mother's other deputy, had refused to be bought off by the contractor and her then boss when the whistleblower approached her and demonstrated that sub-par materials had been used. As an upshot a new unwritten rule was that Faunus firms now did the construction work in the Faunus quarter of Kulsa.
In this particular case Reynard and mother had agreed that it was important that the contractors had family who lived in Kulsa itself. This reduced any incentive to obtain the quote by underbidding so much that the only way of turning a profit was to use sub-standard materials and employ the cheapest labour available. He was vaguely aware that the conversation was rather guarded.
He had heard father joke that it was best that the less anyone knew about the details of making sausages, agreeing peace treaties, and negotiating defence contracts, the better. Anyway, he decided to work out his two superiors were almost saying to each other, and the crux was that the official supply lines required substantial amounts of bribes for prompt delivery and that due to White Fang attacks there were some genuine shortages. The procurement chief had also said that the audit people virtually never investigated projects which came in on time and within 5% of budget. He said, "Well, even if they do they send in the least experienced individuals to do so and they don't look behind the invoices." Jaune looked in the back mirror and saw Reynard nod and then wink at Jaune.
Mother had taught him to think before asking questions. First, she said that it meant that he would understand the answers better that way. Second, he couldn't count on someone always been around to give an honest answer. Third, the more often he did this, the greater chance he would think of something she hadn't. Fourth, someday he would be the one being asked the questions and the more practice he had in thinking about the answers the better.
So, what did he know? Mother was worried that she did not have much time before there was a refugee problem in Kulsa caused by the fall of Kurohari province. It was clear that Pink would recommend improvements to the walls around Kulsa. She had a limited budget and would need to get materials from somewhere. The Branwen tribe and the Faunus smugglers (possibly White Fang) sold things more cheaply to the Faunus villages and shops and from the conversation he had heard might be able to supply the LGDF more quickly than the official suppliers. The LGDF had been told years ago not to ask awkward questions and that they were not a police force. This had in the past been intended to prevent them getting involved in exposing crimes committed against Faunus by humans (with some leeway if they caused Grimm incursions), but mother had extended it to crimes committed by Faunus. Nothing was in writing, but if the LGDF needed supplies quickly and at a reasonable price the smugglers were probably the best bet.
The thing which puzzled him was why he had been sent with Reynard and the procurement officer. He would need to think about that. There must be a tactical or strategic advantage.
Reynard asked Jaune to stop about half a mile from the gate to the Faunus quarter. He got out and took out his binoculars and scoured the horizon and checked it against a map he had with him. Jaune was not certain what this was all about. Reynard saw that Jaune was puzzled. "Just seeing if anything looked like interrupting the line of sight from the walls. A few small mounds we may prefer to flatten, but nothing important."
Jaune understood that mother's main strategy to avoid a disastrous Grimm attack was the ten-mile forest free zone which allowed Grimm to be spotted early and warnings given to workers to evacuate into the city or the airport. The idea was that the bullheads could strafe the attacking Grimm and that early warnings would give her time to bring all her forces to bear before they even got to the gates. Luckily, the faster Grimm generally followed the animals which they resembled in only being able to manage the speeds for short distances.
In a perfect world, mother would prefer two lines of city walls. The idea would be that if they broke through the first line the Grimm would be place in a killing zone before they could breach the second set of walls. This was too expensive an option to implement apart from military bases and the airports. He'd gathered that one of the reasons mother had called Professor Pink in was to get a second opinion on her options for establishing fall back killing zones if the walls were breached as well as how to strengthen the defences generally.
His musings were interrupted when the head of procurement mentioned Evelyn to Reynard. "Deputy Chief Reynard, my son Jim tells me his new classmate is staying with your sister."
"Evelyn, yes. I hope she enjoys it at ACS."
"He tells me that his classmates are already trying to plot as how they can get her to be on their team when they go to Haven, including those with little chance of getting there."
"I wouldn't know about that, William."
"Suffice it to say that she made an impression on him and them."
Willian Gunmetal seemed to be hesitating, "Look, Deputy Chief, if she asks your sister about Jim, let her know that I've done my best to bring him up to be respectful. He's a good lad. I know that at their age telling them to be friends with each other is counterproductive, but .."
"I know what you mean. I'll be bringing my sister and Evelyn to the next family day."
"Appreciate that, Deputy-Chief. I won't be bringing Margaret this year. She will be spending time with her sister in Mistral."
Jaune decided to engage brain again. William was well liked in the LGDF, but he recalled at the last family event William had only spoken to his Faunus colleagues while his wife was busy talking to other humans. Maybe it was a little like Lily with her in-laws. He did his best to keep the peace with everyone, but risked satisfying no one.
Just then they heard the sound of bullheads above. William looked out and said, "Looks like we're not the only visitors today. The governor's coming to town as well."
Reynard signalled to jaune to stop the car and all three got out to see a small flotilla landing at the airport. Mistral might not make the fastest aircraft in the world, but they did make the most beautiful. William Gunmetal said, "Look's like the full media circus is coming with him."
They drove through the road gate to the Faunus sector and headed to the LGDF building in the Faunus sector. The reality was that it was a local headquarters building in all but name. At least the local deputy LGDF chief worked together with local chief Earl in the human sector unlike the two police forces.
Waiting for them was an old donkey Faunus, Benjamin Gray, who had some maps with him. Reynard introduced Jaune to the old Faunus and they all shook hands. It turned out that he had worked on the walls around the Faunus sector when they were first constructed, and his father had been the assistant supervisor. The way this was said suggested that the reality was that the father had actually done the real overseeing of the project.
It turned out that the walls were 80% anchored in hard stone. Gray explained that labour had been cheap, so they had actually cut into the rock with pickaxes. Gray's father had actually arranged for it to be anchored more than the plans called for.
Jaune say Reynard relax as he was told this and the old Faunus was paid a few hundred lien for copies of the maps. Just before he left, Gray turned and said, "Do you want copies of the maps for the rest of the walls?"
"If you have them or know where we can find them, that would be helpful. There would be an additional payment if they are of the same quality."
It turned out they were, and further payment of six hundred lien was authorised. He and Reynard had lunch at a West Mistralian diner. They used chopsticks to eat a lunch of mixed starters. Halfway through Reynard asked the waiter, "The spicing is really good today. Do you have someone new in the kitchen?"
The waiter said, "Yes. A husband and wife from Northern Kurohari."
"They're keepers."
The waiter smiled, "We know. I'll let them know you enjoyed the food."
Reynard wrote something in his notebook and turned to Jaune. "I'll try and speak to them later. I want to understand better what's happening up north. I know it's just anecdotal, but research is often simply hundreds of anecdotes."
Jaune nodded. Mother did her best to get senior staff doing site visits to the county outposts regularly. In particular, she encouraged them never to hurry away too quickly. Frequently the thing she most needed to know about would be the throwaway comment on the way out about something which was bothering the locals, but they feared would make them look stupid.
Shortly after lunch a scroll message came through from mother telling them that they had been added to the guest list for the dinner honouring Pink at 8.00 tonight. Disconcertingly Jaune and William were required to wear a tuxedo and Reynard full dress uniform. Luckily, father and her other Deputy Marion was on the way out with Jaune's DJ as well as mother's and Reynard's dress uniforms.
Reynard looked at him. "I wasn't expecting this. The chief and I long ago agreed that it was not a clever idea for me to spend much time in the human part of Kulsa. I can understand the dress uniform for me and her and not for you and William."
Jaune said, "Come again?"
"Means no one can pretend to mistake me for a waiter or her for a housewife."
At 3.30 they were waiting on the Faunus side of the wall. Jaune knew that many people felt it symbolic that there were two Grimm proof walls separating the Faunus sector from the rest of the city. There was a ten-yard gap between the two walls and the gates did not face each other. This meant that no tank or lorry could get up a head of steam to ram the gates on the other wall. It was foot traffic only. The other quirk was that there were no windows on the side of the blocks of flats facing the wall in either part of the city.
Jesse Earl, mother, and Pink walked through the turnstiles on the human side. Jesse Earl was in his normal uniform and Pink was in a suit. The Faunus on the gates initially looked surprised to see two obviously well-off humans crossing by foot, but the uniform gave them a potential explanation. It was when the dignitaries from the Faunus quarter shook hands with mother and Pink that curiosity grew. There were some photo-ops at this point and Pink made a short speech explaining that he had been invited by the Ansel LGDF, the mayor of Kulsa and the governor of Ansel Province to advice on strengthening in the short term and updating for the long term the walls of Kulsa.
Jaune had not been aware that the mayor and governor had been involved in the inviting, but judging by mother's smiles and her joining in the praise of the mayor and the governor she had no problem in going along with the story.
She did take Jaune, William and Reynard aside and say, "Best behaviour tonight, please. Ignore any provocations before the dinner. All is for the best in this best of all possible worlds and turning the other cheek will win brownie points. Let's just pretend that it is Kingdom Brotherhood Week. Reynard, you know as much as I do about this sector and so could you show Professor Pink around. I'm needed back at the town hall."
After she had returned through the gates, William Gunmetal turned to Reynard and Jaune. "Did either of you know anything about this?"
Jaune could honestly say "No" and Reynard seemed to be telling the truth when saying, "Anything I say would only be speculative guesswork although I reserve the right to say that I thought that was a possibility when she actually tells us."
The details of the foundations of the walls were handed over to Pink, who played with his lap scroll and seemed to superimpose the details on existing maps of Kulsa and its defences already on the system. The next visit was to the main road gate to the Faunus sector where the engineers had been asked to attend. It was interesting watching him in action. The genial man he had dealt with previously was still present, but there was a sense of intelligence which gained the respect of the specialists to whom he was talking. He heard phrases about availability of spare mechanisms, speed of replacement, and security concerns.
The engineers looked shocked at security concerns being mentioned but one younger man said, "We're not worried about the White Fang in this part of Kulsa." Pink nodded at that, but said, "I've learnt the hard way that the unthinkable should not be confused with the impossible."
The chief engineer replied, "Most things which we could do to increase security make it more difficult to repair and replace. Besides which prevention of access makes infiltration more of a theoretical concern."
Pink nodded at that, but still looked thoughtful. He then strode along the top of the walls where Jaune heard him discussing machine gun vectors with the local LGDF reservists.
By six Pink had finished his inspection and questioning. It was now time to head back to the human part of Kulsa and it was quicker to travel back by going out of the main road gate, driving round the ring road, and then taking the dual carriageway into central Kulsa.
When they returned to LGDF headquarters, Pink went off to join mother who was in a meeting with the governor and the mayor at the town hall. Dad was waiting for him with his DJ and the change of clothes for Reynard and Gunmetal. Dad said to Reynard, "Medals as well tonight, old son. Claire says we are flying the flag and no false modesty. Even worse I am wearing the old formal hunter costume tonight, so you won't be alone in feeling like a pillock, Reynard."
"Nicholas, do you know why the dinner had been upgraded tonight?"
"I'm only married to your boss, Reynard. She only tells me what she thinks I need to know which is normally frack all. Still the governor and his staff are in town and the caterers seemed OK about the increased numbers, so I think she had a plan which came together. I'm looking forward to Pink doing his old act again for the greater good."
Reynard and William grabbed their bags and went to get changed. Dad kept him back, "Jaune, I don't tell you all often enough how proud I am of you. I'm so sorry that I did not unlock your aura three and a half years ago."
Jaune felt embarrassed, "Well, it's not like that was your fault." He gave dad a hug. He had learnt long ago that a hug solved most things with dad and dad hugged him back tightly.
"Jasper and Debo are also her tonight. The great and the good will be here. I won't disagree with Amber when she uses other adjectives. It's not the cream which rises to the top of the cesspool."
Jaune giggled. It was one of Amber's favourite themes.
Just then he saw his brother-in-law Jasper approaching them. Jasper was already in his DJ and had a distinctive waistcoat on. Dad winked at Jaune, and said, "Here's some double cream. Actually, as he's married to Debo whipped double cream."
Jasper shook his hand. "Debo's around, but she has been commandeered to ensure that the only offence given by the seating plan is intentional and unavoidable. Nicholas, can I have a word with Jaune alone."
Dad said, "No problem. Just have to see if I need to take out the old outfit a bit."
After dad had gone, Jasper also gave him a hug and used it an as excuse to whisper in his ear, "Amber says that you should join her in Vale for the last two weeks of August. I know you have three weeks untaken holiday, and she has promised to train you while you are there. Being blunt, things are so busy here at the moment that you hardly ever get Crocea Mors out."
"That's good of her."
"Book the holiday before telling them where you are going. Amber and Nicholas are still not speaking and there is no point in rubbing Nick's nose in it or forcing Claire to take sides. This is advice from Debo so don't ignore it."
Jaune said, "It'll be good to see her again. I'll book the time off on Monday. Normally Amber and Dad would have buried the hatchet by now."
"You and your sisters are more expert than I am on that. I know better than to speculate."
They broke the hug. Jasper said, "Do you know what Chief Arc has been up to?"
"Why does everyone keep asking me that?"
"Because we are curious, and she spends more time with you than almost anyone else. The governor has rearranged the political soiree which was planned for Ansel tonight so that we all here instead. Besides which even Debo is puzzled."
"If Debo is puzzled…"
"Fair enough. Seriously excellent work by you and Mr Reynard in Awkney County this week. All of my contacts were apologetic for not letting me know what had been happening and were impressed that the LGDF guessed anyway that something was up."
Jaune blushed, "Our people out there realised that people were avoiding them, and mother sent the Deputy-chief and me in to investigate."
"She made her own luck and sent the right combination in. Seriously, until she'd got engaged to me, Debo tried to avoid me meeting your mother too often. You know the phrase, look at the mother and you'll know what your wife will look like and behave at the same age. I saw just enough to reassure me that Debo would still be beautiful in her late forties, but not enough to realise how good a people player she could be."
"Amber jokes that mother learnt that from Debo."
"May be some truth in that. Anyway, I will see you later."
Jaune showered and got changed in the small room he had in the LGDF headquarters. Mother sent a scroll message asking them all to join her in the conference room at 7.30. He turned up at 7.20 and found that there was contingent of twelve from the LGDF including him, mother, Reynard, Marion, Jesse Earl, and William. Dad was there as a plus one. He was intrigued to see the woman who had escaped from northern Kurohari, Chestnut, was there in dress uniform as was Jesse Earl.
Mother said, "Reynard, Jaune, you've met Daphne Chestnut before. She's joined the Kulsa LGDF team yesterday as Local Chief Earl's deputy." She then introduced Daphne to the other members of the Ansel team.
Mother said, "Nicholas and I will be sitting at the top table tonight. Reynard and Marion will sit at each end of the LGDF table. I'm not going to pre-empt the news tonight but be ready to applaud enthusiastically at anything which is good news for the LGDF and Kulsa. Professor Pink is doing a souped up after dinner speech tonight. Anyway, go and have some cocktails in the town hall while me and Nicholas meet with the nobs in the mayor's office."
Mother and dad departed and Jaune noticed Daphne staring at Reynard's chest. He looked himself and saw that he was wearing a whole load of medals. He did not know the significance of them himself but decided that he may as well be friendly to Daphne Chestnut.
She recognised him and said, "Jaune, isn't it? At the risk of being embarrassing, you've grown in the last few months since we first met." She blushed and said, "The fox Faunus. Did he….. Sorry, of course he did. How old is he?"
"Mid-forties."
She nodded, "He looks younger. Still, that explains it."
"Sorry?"
"Never mind. Your mother is the Nicholas Schnee of the Ansel LGDF. She promotes first rate people who others refused to recognise because of their sex or species. She earns loyalty and has excellent subordinates who are not a threat."
"Is that a bad thing?"
The woman thought. "No. Actually, it is a good thing. It's just surprising after having worked for the Kurohari LGDF. It's going to take some getting used to the idea of promoting people on merit."
Jaune was not entirely certain what to make of that but nodded along. "Welcome to the Ansel LGDF."
The woman smiled back, but before she could say more Marion came over and whisked Daphne away.
Shortly Reynard led them to the town hall. For obvious reasons, the police and journalists had got there first, and Reynard had not wanted to be the next along. The mayor's office contingent had signalled him that they were due to arrive, and he timed the LGDF's arrival to be two minutes after theirs shortly before the military and the Kingdom guard. The politicos, including Jasper and Debo, arrived five minutes afterwards together with the local dignitaries, businessmen, and then the governor's team joined them. In all cases, they had their equivalents of Reynard leading them. The real bosses were with the governor and the guest of honour.
He heard Daphne swear under her breath. He looked at her and the woman blushed. "Sorry. I saw two people I never expected to see again. He was one of the better people in the administration. She only turned up a few times a year and spent all her time in Mistral city with the children."
Jaune had been taught to only drink sparkling water and one each of the canapes before a formal dinner. Now he had an unlocked aura he was allowed two of each of the canapes and spritzers.
He also noticed that the military and the kingdom guards had a similar reaction to Reynard's medals as Daphne did. A double take and then a look of respect.
Eventually a gong was banged, and they were called in for dinner. There was a seating plan, but mostly this involved people from the same backgrounds being placed on the same table.
Once the early arrivals had been seated, a man with a loud voice, a large stomach, and an absurd costume announced the arrivals at top table. Jaune understood why Debo had been hijacked as he could guess that the order of introduction let alone the seating plan gave rise to problems. There were clearly a couple of situations where she had decided to trade off a spouse being announced as accompanying a guest of a higher status in exchange for the husband falling behind someone else. It perhaps said something that mother was the fourth last person to be announced (just after Chief of Police Scarlet) followed by the mayor, the governor, and then finally the stout gentleman said, "Let's give a warm Kulsa welcome to the two time Vytal Festival semi-finalist, a professor at the best huntsman academy in Remnant, a man who is "Almost a gentleman," the one the only, "Tally Ho" Professor Pink."
The feet of the audience stamped on the floor and applauded wildly as Pink entered wearing a riding hat, a red jacket, black boots, and white trousers. He also had a riding horn with him which he blew with gusto.
Jaune notice that dad had been handed a microphone and suddenly he heard the words being sung.
"Do ye ken Prof Pink with his coat so gay? Do ye ken Prof Pink at the break of day? Do ye ken Prof Pink when he's far, far away. With his hounds and his horn in the morning."
Pink blew on his horn and started on a jog down one side of the room smacking hands with the audience.
"Twas the sound of his horn brought me from my bed. And the cry of his hounds has me ofttimes led. For Pink's view holloa would wake the dead, or a Grimm from his lair in the morning."
Another blow on the horn and another run.
"Do ye ken that hound whose voice is death? Do ye ken her sons of peerless faith? Do ye ken that a Grimm with his last breath cursed them all as he died in the morning?"
On this run Pink made certain to smack hands with Reynard who did so with enthusiasm.
"Yes, I ken Prof Pink and auld Ruby, too, Ranter, and Royal and Bellman so true, from the drag to the chase, from the chase to the view, from the view to the death in the morning."
Pink got back to the top table after taking the microphone from dad, "Oggy, oggy, oggy."
He pointed the microphone back at the audience who called out, "Oy, oy, oy."
"Oggy."
"Oy."
"Oggy."
"Oy."
"Oggy, oggy, oggy."
"Oy, oy, oy."
"It's going to be a great night tonight." There was a stomping of feet on the ground as Pink whacked his riding crop on the table.
Perhaps everyone had thirty minutes of drinking without much food, but somehow this introduction had got everyone in the right mood to enjoy themselves. The governor had stood up and shook Pink's hand and then raised it aloft to loud cheers.
The meal was fine considering the numbers and short notice and the wine was superb. Pink was sat between the governor and the mayor. Mother was on the other side of the governor and Chief Scarlet was next to the mayor. A politician of some description was next to mother in between her and Judge Blanche.
The governor stood up after the main course and said, "You did of course all know that there ain't no such thing as a free lunch, TANSTAAFL. Still before you have the pleasure of an address from the Prof, I have a few words to say to the citizens of Kulsa. Actually, more than words. The promise of action. Look I know the old joke about the three great lies, I will respect you in the morning, the cheque is in the post and Mistral Central cares for the provinces."
Laughter and bemused applause. This was a little more honest than anyone was expecting.
"I hope to prove the that the third is not a lie. I have been your governor for a year. Fair enough, you all thought I might be an easy touch. I spent my first month listening to people pleading their special case or saying that their budgets were inadequate."
Laughter from the politicians table which spread as people realised that sulking would do no good.
"The only person I did not have demanding my attention was the head of the LGDF who simply said that she would be happy to talk to me when I had time. Of course, this should have made me suspicious from the start."
Loud applause and laughter.
"I've been in the game long enough to know the seductiveness of the person who pretends to bring you solutions rather than problems. Especially those with practice at moving jobs before the Nevermore come home to roost."
Huge laughter although Jaune could detect that on his table that there was a sense of relief. Mother had effectively been in charge for a decade now and had acknowledged that now she owned the things which went wrong other than due to bad luck.
"I want to make it clear to all that as far as the capital is concerned, Ansel province is part of the core of Mistral as a kingdom. My objective is to help Make Ansel Great Again. Ansel includes Kulsa."
Loud cheers from everyone in the room, although Jaune could tell that Reynard had some reservations.
The governor held up his hand and said, "A few days ago, a Grimm attack on Awkney Province was defeated because the Ansel LGDF had worked out on minimal information that problems existed and were prepared to react."
"I was expecting to be recommended to order an evacuation from the county. Instead, I was told to give business a second chance by the LGDF. They got why the businesses out there had panicked and today I am happy to announce that provided that the LGDF is provided with real time information, the provincial government is prepared to act as an insurer of last resort in Awkney County."
Loud applause resulted.
"The message is that Ansel is a place which will help businesses do well without putting lives at risk unnecessarily. I know that the current leadership of the LGDF understands the impact of saying that the risk is unacceptably high when it is not, and I understand that the fact that they may occasionally be wrong or that a low-risk event occurs is an occupational hazard. I trust them not to shut businesses down unnecessarily but accept that an educated evaluation of the risks is not a guaranteed promise. Equally, to make judgement calls of that kind they need to be confident that they are being provided with good information."
He paused, "Mistral Central thinks that Ansel province including Kulsa are a core part of the kingdom. In that regard, I am happy to announce that the central government has agreed to provide fifty million lien in special funding to improve security and employment prospects in Kulsa county."
Tumultuous applause from the audience including the stamping of feet and slapping of tables. After the initial applause had died down, the governor continued. "Two months ago, Mayor Braun, Kulsa LGDF Chief Earl and provincial LGDF Chief Arc came to me with an ambitious project for the refurbishment and updating of the city walls. I am happy to announce after having discussed the provisional recommendations of Professor Pink with him, the mayor, and the two chiefs I will be using much of that funding for this project. The project will be overseen by the LGDF. As an incentive to provide the best quality and to support local employees and employers Kulsa based contractors will be used."
There were announcements of several new appointments to the governor's office from Mistral to ensure that projects for development were evaluated carefully and quickly. After the dessert the governor introduced Professor Pink. Clearly the man was a practised after dinner speaker with a mixture of jokes, stories and praise given to the locals he had been working with. Apparently the phrase "almost a gentleman" came from a rather snooty comment in the Mistral press at the time of his first Vytal Festival and he had decided to own the insult. He also praised ACS for the high quality of the students which it provided to Haven each year. Anyway, the audience was in a relaxed mood by the end.
He mostly stayed with the other LGDF members after dinner and watched the rest of the guests interacting. Professor Pink made a point of coming over to him and Reynard accompanies by the governor and some pressmen and congratulating them on their good work in Awkney County. The governor added his appreciation.
After they left, one of the pressmen asked Reynard about the medals. The pressman said, "You never thought about applying to Haven?"
Reynard smiled, "I needed to earn my living. I had a younger sister and a brother to support."
Debo then approached them from behind, "Deputy Chief Reynard, how tactful of you."
"Well, perhaps it is a sign of change that he even asked the question."
"Perhaps. Equally, he could have been set up to get an unguarded response."
"If you say so. I prefer to believe not."
"Can I steal Jaune away from you? I have something to say to him."
Debo took Jaune aside. "Let's go to your room at the LGDF building."
Jaune did not mind an excuse to exit the dinner at a reasonable time and followed her. Debo did commandeer a bottle of wine and two glasses on the way out.
They got to his room. She sat him down and said, "This is no one's fault, but I wanted you to hear it from family and have time to prepare yourself before anyone else tells you. Judge Blanche learnt at the same time as me."
Jaune mut have looked confused.
Debo said, "The new appointees to the governor's office have had in return for being promoted, had to agree to move their families to Ansel. One of them is connected to the Lark family who are part of what passes for the liberals in Mistral. They have twin children aged fifteen and before they accepted the transfer and promotion, the wife insisted that they live in Ansel and go to the same type of specialist school."
Jaune thought he knew where this was going, "Combat school?"
"Yes. To be fair to the headmaster, there was no way he could turn down a request from the governor and they were genuinely qualified."
"It just means that having recruited Evelyn there is now no longer a vacant space in next year's second year at ACS."
Jaune took a deep breath. "Thanks sis. I'm glad I heard it from you. If you could tell Lavender as well that I bear no ill will to Evelyn and the two from Mistral."
Debo gave him a hug, "I thought you would understand. I'll tell mother and dad that I have told you."
Jaune felt like crying, but then had an outbreak of curiosity. "Did you have any idea about the announcement tonight in advance?"
"Irritatingly, no. I should have spotted that it was a situation which suited mother's modus operandi. The governor had to be seen to be doing something and she gave him something to do which was uncontroversial. Not even Scarlet and Blanche can attack him for spending money on the defences of Kulsa, even though he sent a pretty strong hint that the mayor, Jesse Earl, and mother opened the purse strings."
"Sorry?"
"Elections next year. The mayor's shtick that he can get resources out of Ansel and Mistral Central that other candidates couldn't just got a whole load more credible."
I decided early on to drop the bits of Jaune's backstory in the original series which were really only there as an excuse for exposition about aura, hunters, and semblances in Volume 1. I did keep him having a good tactical sense and working in the Local Grimm Defence Force with his mother seemed a justification for him having this ability.
I can forgive anyone for not remembering who Daphne Chestnut was. I knew that I had previously introduced the character but had forgotten her name.
YMMV but I originally had a whole load more politicking going on and then decided that it was bit self-indulgent and deflected from the core story.
