So, I got the email this morning that my car will have to be written off as it's not economically viable to repair it – this despite the damage seeming so minor. Also, my rental car will be taken away tomorrow. Fun. I'm going to need to spend today cleaning said car out, filling it on fuel, and then looking around local car garages (while I still can) for a new vehicle.

Realistically speaking I should be doing that instead of writing this, but I'm annoyed at missing so many Sundays lately, so I'm going to try and blast out a quick chapter in and around that.

Update: Went out and bought a new car today. Still have loads of calls to make tomorrow to discuss how my insurance will work, etc. Luckily I had my no claims discount protected (mwahaha!) so that should be fine. Still, shelling out for a new car full payment and not on finance is painful.

Cover Art: GWBrex

Chapter 53

How?

The question repeated in his head, and it must have been the same in the heads of everyone else. Menagerie was an island lost to everyone thanks to the barriers around it, and the Church of Salem had claimed they didn't know of a way to it, hence why the faunus could never return. How, then, had they found their way here so quickly? Even assuming the Schnee siblings had told on them, it should have been that they didn't know the way in. Jinn had to tell them the route to take, and these people hadn't had access to that.

They'd lied, then.

Or they'd found a way. That was almost too convenient to believe, and Jaune hurried to an opening that Sienna often used to address people. The faunus was there, and she saw him and waved him hurriedly over.

"Have you heard? Yes? Good. You need to hide. I can only hope no one will speak of you but I have no way to know. I'll have to meet with them – I don't have a choice otherwise." Sienna pushed him toward a pile of armour and helmets. "Disguise yourself. Blake, Adam, help him. Give him fake ears, a tail, anything you can!"

"You want him there?" asked Adam. "Isn't that too much of a risk?"

"Things aren't adding up and I'd rather he be there close enough to help if the church gets violent."

Jaune could put two and two together. "You intend to reject them."

"Aye. I do." Sienna had a wild look to her. "They must have known how to reach Menagerie and they never told us. Worse, they lied and said it was impossible. Beyond that, what use have we for them? They'll take our children talented in aura and send them away while you would teach them – men included – to have the strength to defend our home. We can't afford to lose that."

The two faunus dragged him aside and got to work. Any fake tail would look tacky, but Adam managed to find a helmet that had been shaped to account for ears, and Blake quickly worked coal and soot into his hair until it was a dirty black. It was a messy job at best, but a lot of the faunus here were grimy from having worked all day digging trenches in fields for irrigation, or building new homes and barns to house more residents.

"I can keep your aura from being detected," whispered Ozma. "But it will not last if one of them touches you. They will sense it if skin contact is made." Jaune relayed the information on, and Blake nodded.

"It'll have to do. I think half the reason Sienna wants you there is so you can hear for yourself that she isn't handing you over. I expect she's worried you'll get paranoid and do something we'll all regret."

Not unreasonable. He was feeling pretty damn jumpy right now. Menagerie was meant to be his freedom from them, his escape. It was meant to be somewhere the church couldn't follow, and where he could settle down and not worry about this conflict between Ozma and Salem. Jaune stared woodenly ahead as Adam forced a spear into his right hand, then set the helmet upon his black hair. They then donned similar uniforms, brown leather with red cloaks, and pushed their way back to Sienna, who was shouting at people to bring drinks and some food.

A table had already been set up with chairs around it for a meeting place, and faunus were milling around, curious to hear what would happen. That was bad. Sienna, Adam and Blake might have respected all he'd done for them, but a lot of normal faunus living here would probably prefer it if he wasn't around. They'd rather have the backing of the church than not.

"Get them all away," shouted Sienna. "Away with you all! You have jobs to do, homes to build. Get to it. Menagerie won't rebuild itself, and I tell you now they haven't come with supplies to help us. That much is for sure!"

It wasn't possible to fully shoo everyone away – they kept coming back – but Sienna's guards created something of a perimeter within which she could talk with the church's representatives without interruption. Jaune stood at the back end of that, watching over from behind Sienna but a good three metres away. Close enough to listen in. Blake was on his left and Adam on his right, and they could see the church's galleon in the waters, and a smaller boat being rowed to shore. It reminded him of the one he'd scuttled chasing them from Vale, but it probably wasn't.

I hope Neptune and his crew are safe. If the Schnee betrayed him…

Jaune took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He had to be calm. He gripped the spear tighter and leaned bodily on it, trusting Ozma to keep his aura down – provided Ozma didn't betray him and flare it just to kick the conflict off.

"I would not do that here. We're not ready to fight a war even if I wanted it. Salem is not here regardless. I would be able to feel her if she was."

No excuse of sudden madness then. Jaune took a breath and let it go.

The procession from the ship numbered some thirty strong, most of them soldiers by the looks of things. There was one person in heavy robes and moving with the assistance of a larger man, and there were two Chosen that he could count. He wouldn't put it past them to have several more waiting on the ship. He recognised one of them. Red hair, green eyes, a curious expression. Shit.

"What's wrong?" whispered Blake.

"That redhead has met me before. At Vale. We even went and visited a tavern together."

"Don't make eye contact. Keep your eyes on Sienna."

He did as he was told, leaving to their rushed disguise to protect him. Keeping his eyes on Sienna meant not risking a moment of recognition showing on his face. There was no helping if Pyrrha recognised him anyway, but at least this way he could make it less likely. Someone staring at you tended to catch your attention.

The soldiers didn't look overly tense or worried. That was a good sign. He'd expected them to be gripping weapons tight and glaring suspiciously at everyone, but they acted like their arrival was no big deal. Those ones certainly don't know I'm here. They'd be far more alert if they did. Jaune brought his eyes back to Sienna as the large and elderly priest approached the table.

"A good day to you, child. I am Roderik, a humble servant of our goddess."

"Sienna Khan. Leader of the peoples of Menagerie. Take a seat." When he did, Sienna clicked her fingers and a pair of faunus brought forth a jar of wine and some snacks. Others brought fruit-scented water for the guards and Chosen, and they accepted the hospitality with impeccable politeness.

"Thank you, child. The way was long and our mouths are dry."

"The way was long," said Sienna. "And it makes me wonder how you managed it seeing as we were told – quite specifically – that the church knew of no safe path to Menagerie." Her voice was tight. Tense. They'd had to use a question from the Relic of Knowledge for this, and yet these people came here without that. "How did you navigate the barriers?"

"We were guided by our goddess – as we are in all things."

"Did that divine guidance come in the form of a map perchance?"

"You doubt me?" The man's lips drew downward. "I find myself concerned by your lack of faith, child. The goddess guides and protects us all, as she has for millennia. We set sail without a map. We set sail with only the assurance that we would reach these shores. And, through divine providence, we did. Whenever our ship sailed close to danger its course was corrected – and through no action on our part. It was as if the seas themselves pushed us away from danger, and back onto the correct path."

The seas themselves? Magic?

"No. Even Salem could not use her magic at such a distance. They are saying something beneath the ship navigated for them. They may not know what that was, but I have my suspicions. Leave it for now. You are missing the conversation."

"-displeased that after decades of begging and pleading and being told that Menagerie is impossible to reach, the goddess could have apparently guided us here at any time. Tell me how I'm supposed to feel about that, Roderik. Tell me why I shouldn't be angry at such deceit."

There were gasps among the soldiers. The sound of metal cut through the air and suddenly every faunus had drawn arms as well. For a second, it looked like blood might be shed, and then the priest raised his hand and gently lowered it, telling them to put swords away. The soldiers did so reluctantly. The Chosen had not even flinched.

"Calm," said the priest. "All of you. Is not the child's concern warranted? We do not punish those who genuinely ask questions. You feel cheated, child, I see that, and yet let me ask you – are you not here? Have you not achieved all that you dreamed of?"

"Through our own actions," said Sienna.

"The ways of the goddess are not always obvious to us at first. In hindsight, her intervention is more keenly felt. If you ask the Goddess for a bountiful harvest, she does not come down in person and grow crops for you. The man running from wolves who asks for her aid should not expect those wolves to be struck by lightning. A good season, a hunter coming to your aid, or in your case finding the strength to venture out on your own. The Goddess' involvement is subtle, but by denying you as she did she gave you the opportunity to grow on your own – to band together, work together, and reach out to reclaim your homeland. That you are all here safe and sound tells me she has been watching over you."

It sounded so nice. Sienna scoffed.

"Sounds to me like you're letting her claim the credit for all our hard work. We gathered supplies, we made deals, we acted as mercenaries and worked ourselves to death to get this far – and now when we find our ways home, you come and tell us it was her work all along." Sienna shook her head. "You've got balls, holy man. I'll give you that."

"Your mind is clouded by doubt, child. You should not be. Your people have been delivered safe and sound, and now we are here. If you will not accept her hand in aiding you thus far, then how do you explain our timely arrival?"

"I explain that by virtue of us having something you want," snapped Sienna. Jaune tensed, but she was wise enough not to mention him. "We have the Relic of Knowledge – which you well know we used to find our way here. It's still ours. It will be for another ninety years."

"It was stolen by the Dark Lord," said Pyrrha.

"Stolen? You mean won." Sienna shrugged. "It doesn't matter to us either way. The Dark Lord handed it off to some bandits for coin, and we bought it from them for far more. Don't waste our time any further. What do you want here? Why were you sent?"

Roderik smiled and shook his head. Her lack of faith didn't seem to trouble him as much as Jaune thought it would. Maybe he just saw it as her being wilful. "The Church of Salem sent me to reach out to you and open branches here. Your people are faithful children of the goddess whatever your personal beliefs, and we take our responsibilities seriously. We have brought Chosen with us so that they might protect you from Grimm, and I will be here to help lead the congregation. In religious matters, of course. I am not here to usurp your authority."

No mention of him. Intentional, or did they not know? Jaune couldn't help but think it wouldn't matter much in the long run because they'd surely hear about him if they set up here. This was a disaster. Salem must have sent them knowing this, but not told them. Now if he did anything to get rid of them, Menagerie's people would see it as him being the violent one. They'd turn on him. Maybe not Sienna, Blake, and Adam, but everyone else would despise him.

"You want to build churches!?" asked Sienna. "Are you serious?"

"Yes. Is that so unbelievable? I trust you are not refusing your people access to their faith."

"My people can believe in whatever they want to believe in. That's not the point. The point is that we've only been here a week or so. We barely have supplies enough to support ourselves, and now you come and tell us you want to build churches." Sienna waved her hand about them. "Look at us. We don't even have a quarry. Do you have the stone for this on your ship?"

Roderik hummed. "Hmm. We do not."

"That's the problem. I'm not turning you away, but we also can't accept you – not yet." Sienna leaned forward and tapped the table, sounding for all intents and purposes like she was negotiating the sale of a horse. "If you'd come in a few months then we might be able to grant you access to a quarry to take stone from, or provide some, but we can't right now. We need to ensure our own survival first or churches will be of no use. But I do have another idea."

"Go on."

"Return to Vale and tell the church that we graciously accept and welcome you – but tell them of our inability to provide you what you need. I'm sure you can charter two or more ships to return along with building material, and hopefully some architects of your own. At that point I'll be more than happy to give you a big plot in the centre of what we plan to be our home. But right now? We've just settled. And we're still scouting. There's a good chance we'll move the settlement up river to more fertile land, and until we know for sure where we're staying it would be folly to build any permanent structures. Give us a few weeks – maybe a month – and we'll be in a much better position to set this up."

It wasn't a rejection. Sienna couldn't afford to say no to these people – not when it would mean siding against every other kingdom on Remnant for his sake. The fact she tried to delay them at all was more than he could have asked for. Jaune struggled to control his breathing, especially when he felt Pyrrha's eyes roam his way. He looked down and the huntress didn't react to him. People with their heads bowed in respect wouldn't be unusual to her.

"I see your proposal," said Roderik. "It has merit. The last thing we wish is to burden you at such a trying time. Of course, we can also help in ways beyond spiritual. I am a knowledgeable herbalist, and any soldiers we bring would naturally help to support you against wildlife. We would also station Chosen here to ward away the Grimm. It is a miracle you have not yet faced them."

"We have, actually." Sienna chuckled. "Our brave militia saw to their deaths."

"Truly? Remarkable. The goddess' strength is with you."

Sienna snorted. "Yeah, sure. Let's go with that."

"Even so, we would leave these two with you." He gestured to Pyrrha and the other girl. Both were young. Jaune wouldn't have put them older than twenty. The other girl had brown hair and brown eyes and wore tight leather armour. "Huntresses Nikos and Adel are, currently, initiates, but they are close to graduation and more than capable. They can carry their own weight. They will not be a burden, and they can also help search among your womenfolk for those with the goddess' gift."

No. Bad. It was a bad idea. Jaune tried to send some signal to Sienna but he really couldn't from behind her. There was no way she'd agree, though. Right? Having two Chosen here, alongside him, was a recipe for disaster. Their battle could level the settlement.

"We'd be happy to have them." Sienna, of course, could not refuse. "Though, if I might make a request, bringing some additional food supplies when you return would go a long way to ingratiating yourselves with our people. Opening trade with the kingdoms once more would be an idea later step."

"My child, I will be happy to bring a ship of fine food – medicine, too. The goddess and the church rejoice at the return of Menagerie, and we will do our all to see it flourish." He offered his hand, and Sienna took it and shook. "I am pleased we could speak like this. Many were those among the crew who worried you would turn us away."

"We're goddess-fearing folk here; just a little upset that we've been lied to all this time. As for refusal, well…" Sienna eyed the soldiers. "We simply can't host you all. Our stocks won't stretch far enough to support your crew."

"I understand, Lady Sienna. Survival must come before comfort – and even before faith. I'm sure Nikos and Adel will be more than willing to lead any in prayer who wish, though the goddess listens regardless. Never feel that you are forgotten. You do not need a church to pray."

"Wise words, father. May I ask if it will be you returning to lead the church?"

"Another or I; it will be the goddess who decides. I would not mind it, though. Your weather here is rather soothing." He stood, as did Sienna, and the two of them made their way back toward the ships, flanked by soldiers and watched on by many curious faunus. He supposed they would be thrilled to here of good relations with the kingdoms. Good for them. Jaune watched Pyrrha and her friend follow them, and waited until they were gone before turning to Blake and Adam.

"What now?" he asked.

"Trust that Sienna has a plan," said Blake. "I highly doubt she'd be willing to let any of us be stolen by the church – and she asked you to teach men to use aura. That's not something she'd do if she was preparing to sell you out."

"If those Chosen so much as hear about me…"

"They almost certainly will given how many people there are here," said Adam. "All the more reason to think Sienna has something planned. It won't be to get rid of them, though. That will blow up in our faces." He shook his head and moved away, motioning for Jaune to follow. "Come. We should at least be out of sight if she returns with them. Gather your allies as well. Whatever Sienna has to say, we should hear it as a group."

Okay, slightly shorter, but I really needed to get a lot of car related stuff done today. Ah man, I'm so sad it's been written off. I put the picture online and it looked fine. Like, totally okay. The windows didn't so much as crack. Very sad to hear.

I guess the new one is a bit of an upgrade so that's nice - used, of course. I'd never buy a "new" car because they lose value so quickly. been a busy day getting all that sorted out.

Next Chapter: 5th March

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