What a week. Friday was rough with letting the foreign call centre go. Then company owner wanted a private dinner with me, which turned out to be him pitching a new company idea he wants me to head. All legal, of course. Just taking me on as the MD of the new company.

I had to turn him down, though. I want out. I want to focus on writing. I want my free time back lol. Still very rough, as it was obvious he thought I'd be in and he looked so hurt about it all. I've given 15 years of loyalty, though. Eventually there has to be a limit.

Cover Art: Aristeo Storm

Chapter 65

The Black Horse Inn was bustling with guests when they arrived, travellers from villages and frontier outposts calling in to rest on one of the busier routes to the city. Qrow opened the door with his good arm and held it for Maria as she swung herself through on her crutches. Several people turned to watch the odd duo enter, intrigued by their injuries, but they soon grew bored once the two of them made their way to the bar. The smell of smoke, pipes and even blatant narcotics permeated the air, mixing with steam from a bubbling pot to form a layer of smoke in the rafters. Places like this, outside the city, had looser laws when it came to substances. Not to say that such places were lawless, but they had bigger problems to worry about than long-term health issues and substance abuse. It wasn't like there were a lot of dealers out this far, either. Everything consumed would be grown locally, perhaps even by those smoking it.

"We'll need two rooms," Maria told the innkeeper. The man looked tired but happy, no doubt at how busy his little place was. He wiped a greasy hand over his brow, leaving streaks of sweat and flour.

"Best I can do is one with two beds. We're packed, if you didn't notice."

"I had. Is this common?"

"Has been since Mountain Glenn opened up. A lot of people are smelling a chance to make it big in the city. Coming from far and wide, they are." He beat his chest proudly. "And staying here along the way. So, the room? It's five hundred for the night."

"We'll take it."

The cost was exorbitant but understandable given the press of people. The man could name his price at this point. For a pair of huntsmen, it wasn't much. They'd only be staying one night and sometimes good shelter and rest was worth the price – especially if you might see combat the next day. Knowing how to survive and sleep in the wild didn't mean always doing it. A better bed meant better sleep, which meant better energy reserves the next day. Huntsmen knew better than to be stingy and, to be fair, innkeepers knew better than to gouge huntsmen. It was considered bad form.

"Meal is included," he said, offering them two tickets. "Help yourselves to carved meat, vegetables and stew. Water is free but you pay for beer. Here's your room key. Doors are all marked. You huntsmen?" He nodded to their weapons. "Should we be concerned?"

"Yes and no." Maria lied easily. "We are, but we're not on active duty right now. Injuries, you see." He very much could. "So, there's no need for you to worry about Grimm nearby."

The man nodded, smiling once more. "Good news, that. You'll keep your weapons sheathed, yes?"

"As long as no one gives us reason to draw them."

"Good enough for me. Enjoy your stay."

It took them time to find a table, waiting for another group to head off to rest. Maria set her crutches against it and sat, while Qrow collected some food one-handed for her, and then went back for a second plate. The food looked good. Simple. Qrow had always preferred it that way. Restaurants in the city overcomplicated food, which typically meant smaller portion sizes and more aesthetics than taste. Out here, meat was abundant. A rare benefit of the Grimm keeping everyone locked in cities was that nature ran wild.

The gravy was made of meat juices and fat, too. Qrow hummed happily.

"Food outside the walls is always the best," Maria said, echoing his thoughts to the letter. "Healthier too, I reckon. No preservatives, no chemicals, no nonsense. Just soft, tender meat and vegetables grown in a garden outside."

"You can't beat it," Qrow agreed. "I've missed this."

"I suppose you lot would have lived off the land."

"Not as much as you'd think. Our group stole food as much as anything, and we had to spend our stolen money on things. Food and medicine were common. We did have fresh meat by hunting, but the tribe numbered over two hundred at the best of times. That's people enough to drive any animals away. Fish was more common, but even then the best fish would be taken by the strongest – often taken straight from the hands or rods of the weaker members."

"Doesn't sound very fair, does it?"

"People are never fair. The cities aren't any better – they're just different. The tribe called it the rule of strength. Vale calls it the rule of law – taxes. They're both just strong people taking from the weak to line their own pockets."

Maria chuckled at his cynicism. "True enough. You don't dislike it, though."

"Oh, I prefer the civilised world to the tribe. That's a fact. It's just for reasons other than fairness and justice. Both are as corrupt as one another, but in the tribe everyone is a scumbag. Here, it's just those with the power to get away with it. And some racist idiots. Still a lot of assholes," he admitted, "but less. A lot less. Also, plumbing."

"Plumbing...?"

"Tribe had none."

"Are you saying your primary reason for running away with your sister and giving up a life of crime was so that you could shit in comfort?"

"Course." Qrow returned her grin. "What better reason is there?"

"None at all. None at all, brat."

They shared a laugh and finished off their meals, wiping a last cut of meat around the plates to collect the last bits of potato and gravy. Qrow leaned back with a hand on his stomach, fuller than he needed to be. Consumption was supposed to be until you stopped being hungry, not until fullness. Combat after overeating could be dangerous. But they weren't here to fight, only to hide away from Atlas for a day, so a little indulgence was acceptable. Maria was joining in and she was the professional.

"Is it really okay to not tell them?" he asked, voice quiet. Maria knew he was talking about the Grimm at Baxterville. This village was close enough to be a target.

"Baxterville fell days ago. If this place were going to be hit, it'd have been hit already. Further proof the Grimm are being steered somewhere by someone. There's no danger here." She took a sip of her drink. "Which is odd given this is a primary route for migrants coming to Mountain Glenn. You'd think someone looking to cause Vale issues would want to target them."

"Maybe that'd be too obvious."

"Hm. Maybe."

"Or maybe they want to fill Mountain Glenn up first. Make the issues the city is already facing twice as bad."

"Hm. Maybe." Maria repeated, with a grunt. "Plenty of reasons, I suppose. We'll find out once we get back to Beacon. Ozpin is looking into it, in between dealing with Atlas and all the drama there."

"Why Ozpin?" Qrow didn't just mean it to play dumb. "Why isn't the headmaster dealing with the Atlas part?"

Maria huffed. "He's old and losing his edge is why. Buckled and buckled fast. If not for Ozpin, I wouldn't be surprised if he'd have caved in and expelled you and your friends. Anything to keep the peace."

Qrow sneered. He couldn't remember the headmaster much since he'd gone after Mountain Glenn and hadn't interacted much with the first years anyway. He'd given a speech and been there for events, but he'd always felt like a distant figure. Qrow couldn't even remember his name and didn't think he'd ever talked to him the first time around. Not face to face, anyway. It had always been the other teachers, increasingly Ozpin as the years went on.

"He wasn't always like that," she said. "He used to be a fiery man with a temper to match. Age breaks people, or so Ozpin says." Maria took another drink. "Damn shame. I respected him once. Keep telling myself I should keep doing so to respect how he used to be, not what he's become. Feels like this old version of him is spitting on the legacy of his younger self."

"Damn shame," Qrow echoed. He'd seen it before. Be it old age, greed or corruption, there'd been so many people who started out admirable and then dropped the ball later. At least Ozpin hadn't been one of them. "You think Ozpin will take over once he retires? That's the rumour around Beacon anyway."

"I'd say it's quite possible." Maria smiled, amused at an inner joke that Qrow absolutely knew the punchline to. "It wouldn't surprise me if he did take over at some point. Though Atlas might cause a fuss if he does take control after all this."

For a moment Qrow worried that his actions might have changed things too much, but he soon shook his head. Ozpin wouldn't let Atlas dictate terms when the fate of humanity was in question. Even if he did for some reason not become headmaster, he'd make sure the person elected to the position was a close ally of his. Ozpin was no fool.

"Atlas can bark all it wants," he said. "Since when does that mean Vale listens?"

"Ha. Nice words. Problem is Vale has to at least give off the image of listening, though whether or not they do is up to them. Atlesians are a proud people, often think they're the only ones on Remnant who know best. You can butt heads with them but it's close to impossible to convince them to even consider the idea they might be wrong. Easier to smile, play along, and let them think you're taking their advice even as you do different. As long as they get to nod and feel important, they're usually happy."

Looks like I inherited more than just the position from Maria, he thought, with an amused smile. Maria's feelings on Atlas practically mirrored his own towards Ironwood. He and the general had butted heads more times than Qrow cared to count.

/-/

Raven Branwen, not for the first time, missed her brother. She'd be dead before admitting that, of course, but she missed their morning spars and she missed his dumb, depressed expressions at breakfast. And maybe, just maybe, she missed having him around in general. He'd been a presence in her life since birth, always there, and now he wasn't. It pissed her off something fierce. Luckily, those pricks from Atlas had given her a perfect target for her mounting temper. Them and their stupid questions.

Her team – Summer's, technically, but Raven still saw it as her own – were no happier about it. Summer and Willow were grumpy not having Qrow to swoon over, and Taiyang missed his wingman. Raven's barbs were sticking a little more without Qrow there to pluck them out and massage his bruised ego. That almost made it worth Qrow's absence.

Almost.

"I almost punched the solider who had me today," Taiyang said.

"Saying that isn't going to make me like you," Raven sniped. He ignored her.

"The asshole kept trying to trick me into saying Qrow was unstable or something. Kept bringing up the fact that he was apparently a loner in Signal, that he's always been a little different to other kids. Like, how would I even know? I didn't go to Signal."

"Qrow was different," said Summer. "But he wasn't a loner. He and Raven were attached at the hip. He didn't have many friends of his own, but he was always nice to us. I don't know what their angle is meant to be. Are they saying he has the makings of a terrorist because he didn't have many friends?"

"They're trying to minimise the Apathy damage," Willow interrupted. All eyes turned to her. If anyone would know Atlas' game, it would be the girl who grew up there under a powerful businessman. "Legally, Atlas has two issues. The first is the whole Grimm in Vale thing, and the second is the damage caused to a citizen of Vale. I think they're trying to portray Qrow as always having been a little damaged, so that they can argue the Apathy didn't change anything. They're trying to escape liability that way."

"Seriously? That's rotten."

"It is what it is." Willow shrugged. "And it's not like any of us want Qrow to be damaged anyway, is it?" There were shakes of the head all around. "Atlas is just trying to turn two problems into one problem, then they can focus on making excuses for why Grimm were there in the first place."

Raven snorted. "Not sure what excuses they can have for that. It was a shipment from Atlas with Grimm in it. That's like a signed parcel telling the world they sent Grimm to Vale. How do you get out of that?"

Willow looked at her firmly. "You blame it on other people?"

"What?" Summer joked. "Say the postal departments got it wrong? Mixed up humanitarian aid with Grimm? No one should be shipping Grimm anywhere. They can't say this was a case of wrong parcel delivered to wrong place." Summer's voice changed to a mocking tone. "Sorry, we couldn't deliver your parcel because you weren't in. We've left your Grimm in the letterbox." She laughed, "As if anyone will believe that!"

"They blame the White Fang."

"Yeah, sure." Summer laughed. "As if."

"No," Willow said, her voice rising in pitch. "They're blaming the White Fang. Right now!" Raven suddenly noticed the scroll in her hand. "They're saying the White Fang infiltrated the shipping crew and switched out the package, to cause chaos in Vale that would be blamed on Atlas."

"Bullshit!" Raven snapped. "They didn't have shit to do with this!"

"I'm not the one accusing anyone. I'm just reading this repor— hey!" Willow yelped as the scroll was yanked out her hand. Raven scanned it, snarled and made to throw it to the floor. Willow caught her wrist and wrestled it free in time.

"Bastards!" she roared. No one disagreed. Summer was fuming. "As if Kali and her lot have even had the time. Why would they even bother?"

"Atlas is the worst kingdom for mistreating faunus," Taiyang said, then glanced to Willow. "No offence."

"Why would I be offended? My father has said the same many times. And it doesn't matter how believable this is. Or what the truth is. Atlas isn't saying it to convince everyone in Vale. They're saying it to convince the people back home. And to have something to cling to. If Vale can't definitively prove the White Fang didn't have a hand in this, then Atlas can forever claim it was the White Fang's doing. It's like one of those scientific arguments. If you can't disprove it, there's no proof it isn't real."

Bastards. Raven was about ready to throw down, and she had a feeling Qrow would be livid once he found out. She was tempted to go to Kali and suggest they storm Atlas' embassy in the city, but that'd probably be used against them. Say what you will about the tribe but things were simpler there. If someone lied, they'd be called out on it. Here, the citizens back in Atlas were just going to believe what they wanted to. Better to accuse some troublesome protest group of terrorism than admit your own country is on the wrong side of history. It was starting to feel like that was the go-to answer to any problem in this so-called civilised society. Blame, blame, blame. Something bad happened – blame it on someone else. Caught doing something illegal? Blame it on another group.

So long as you didn't run out of people to blame for your mistakes, you were golden.

/-/

Kali snarled and tore the newspaper in two. The faunus around her, who had all been celebrating an uneventful protest, were in no better mood. Angry comments and threatening ideas filled the small, quiet dive bar in a part of Vale too poor to turn away faunus customers. Arguments rose, with their owners hurling out insults aimed at Atlas.

Sienna Khan was too young to understand many of them, only ten years old, but she got the gist of it. Atlas was lying.

Somehow, it didn't surprise her.

Orphaned young, she'd been picked up by the White Fang and adopted into their group – suddenly surrounded by many aunts and uncles even if she didn't have a mom or dad. They'd become her family and she loved them, which meant she hated the people who threw rocks at them by default. Families argued, that much she knew, and her new family argued about a lot of things. Sometimes they argued about whether they should fight back against the people hurting them.

Sienna felt that they should.

Her current caretakers thought that as well. They were a group of faunus who argued the protests should take a more aggressive approach to picket businesses and close down racist corporations. Not necessarily to attack people, but to protest in a more obstructive way. To force the world to take notice of them since they were so obviously turning a blind eye. The debates were often held in the open, family having no secrets from one another, but this time there was an air of suspicion.

"We didn't do this, did we?" hissed one of the more peaceful faunus. "You didn't – tell me you didn't!"

"Of course we didn't!" snapped an adherent for the more forceful protests. He looked offended at the very idea. "We're calling for aggressive protesting, not Grimm in Mountain Glenn! Why would we do that? How would we do that!?"

"It'd cause a lot of panic. Isn't that what you want?"

"We want panic, asshole! Not a slaughter!"

The accusations came thick and fast. People wanted someone to blame, something, and now the White Fang was falling in on itself as the world paid them attention for once. This was what they wanted, to be noticed, but never like this. Sienna felt afraid.

"Oi!" Kali yelled. "Shut up!" The woman leapt onto a table, spilling drinks onto the floor. Their owners complained but she silenced them with a fierce glare. "Let's calm the hell down already. This isn't us; we know it isn't us. This is Atlas being their usual selves. Blaming us. But we've been here in Vale for the past few weeks. The world knows that!"

"Will they care?" someone asked. "Vale wants rid of us as well. Maybe they'll agree with Atlas to have an excuse to throw even more of us in jail like they have Ghira!"

"I'm not going to prison! I'll fight! Let them try and take me!"

"Fight!" The chorus rose, voices joining it. "Fight! Fight! Figh—"

"NO!" Kali's yell pierced through it. "No, you idiots! That's what they want! They want us to get angry and fight back. Then that'll be proof we are violent. They'll use that to blame us." It sounded plausible enough that people stopped yelling, though they didn't stop being angry. "We need to be seen being peaceful. That's the way to stick it to Atlas. Let them try and paint us as violent when we're photographed protesting peacefully here!"

"We should take it to Atlas," someone said. "Protest there, so their people can see we're not the ones behind this."

Murmurs rose once more, many of them in agreement. Kali pointed. "Good. That's a good idea. I'm sure Ghira will be up for it once he pulls his ass out a cell. They're releasing him soon."

"Assuming they don't blame him for this and keep him!"

Angry cries.

Kali waved them down. "They wouldn't dare. He's been locked up longer than this could have happened. Atlas is just buying time, they're blowing smoke. No one is going to believe we were behind this if we don't give them reason to. And we won't! We won't give them reason!"

The crowd cheered.

Most of them, anyway. Sienna noticed a few making quiet eye contact. All families argued. It was normal. Sienna turned a blind eye to it.

/-/

"Terrible news, friend. Kind and beautiful Tock has been laid low – slain, Lappy says, by Ozpin's pawn and what looks to be some student. Awful news, don't you agree?"

There was a heavy sigh on the line. "Yes, Lappy. Terrible news. A student, you say…?"

"Lappy does say, yes. Calavera fled in the direction of a Beacon training exercise from what Lappy has found out. Tock cornered her there, but the fight was interrupted. Records are sketchy after that. All Lappy knows is that poor Tock came out deceased and the two were badly injured in return."

"Information on the student? Is there a relation to Ozpin?"

"Orphans from Mistral sponsored into Beacon by Ozpin directly, but that's about all Lappy can find out right now. Does our lovely lady of the Grimm want Lappy to look into it?"

"I expect she will. Salem is always interested in his next pawns. Don't waste time on it now. The current goal remains as it is. Mountain Glenn cannot succeed. It would send a message to the kingdoms that they can expand freely."

"Hmm. And what of the maiden of the seasons?"

"The Fall Maiden is in her eighties. Her death will come soon enough of natural causes. Unfortunately, the winter maiden has already been inherited. Tock was meant to kill her in the coming months. That will have to wait now."

"Lappy knows. Lappy hears." A musical laugh slipped from him. "Of course, Lappy thinks Calavera's eyes could be an issue in Mountain Glenn. What do you think, friend? Do you share Lappy's concerns?"

"Her injury should keep her from active duty for long enough. This little hiccup by Atlas works in our favour as well."

"Lappy doesn't think that will enough to have people blaming that protest group."

"Don't worry about that. We have plans in motion. Stick to yours."

"As you say. Lappy will wait and watch in anticipation!"

The call ended. Lappy sighed, then laughed, shrugging off the rude lack of a goodbye. Various Grimm were lounging in a wooded area, unnaturally still for the monsters they were. They'd normally be more active, but these ones had crawled from the pools under her gaze and had been given to Lappy with express instructions from Salem herself. They followed Lappy's every command.

Lappy's scroll buzzed again.

"Ah, Mr Merlot. Friend! Is this about the offer Lappy made you before?"

"Yes…" The man on the line sounded frazzled. Worried. Desperate. "You said your Semblance allowed you to temporarily overwhelm a Grimm's mind. Make them… docile…"

"Lappy did say that, yes. And Lappy sent a video as proof. If Lappy wishes it, the Grimm will be as calm and obedient as sheep."

"I need Grimm. I need… ten, no twelve. At least twelve. It's imperative they get to me quickly and in one piece. You'll be compensated. Can you do this? Can you make it happen?"

"Without a doubt, friend. Ah, but getting them to you… well… it's illegal to bring them into the city, no? Lappy is many things but a naughty person is not one of them. Lappy is good, yes? Always good. Are you wanting them delivered outside Mountain Glenn? Lappy is sure you can conduct your experiments on them there."

There was a hesitation. Long and pointed. Merlot would obviously see that he could take the Grimm and sneak them inside. It was an inevitable conclusion. "Yes. Yes, I can. I will have people collect them. Bring them to the location I'll provide. They'll give you money. A hundred thousand for each Grimm brought in good condition. Assuming they're docile."

"They will be, Merlot. Lappy guarantees it – or your money back!"

They would be perfectly docile.

Until the right time.

"Then we have a deal. How soon can you make it happen?"

"Why wait, friend? Why delay? Lappy will meet you tonight. Ah, but can you be ready?"

"I can be. Yes. The sooner the better. My research won't wait for anyone. I need this. Atlas needs this. No. The world needs it, all of Remnant. This will… This will change the world forever."

It most certainly would. The man chuckled. "Then Lappy will hand them to you tonight. Lappy feels pleasure doing business with you, friend!"

Ending the call, the man stretched. It was a shame about Tock, especially since Lappy felt she'd been close to returning Lapp's affections. Lappy and Tock could have had many shark-toothed little children running about. Ah well. Plenty more fish in the sea. Salem had promised Lappy an interesting life and she'd more than delivered. It was time Lappy deliver on his side and help nudge things along.

With a whistle, the Grimm stood, approaching obediently.

"Come, friends," he sang. "Lappy will lead you on a merry adventure. Here, far, to Mountain Glenn – and then into the history books. Shall they call Lappy the Grimm Piper of Vale? Ha. Lappy shall see. Onwards and upwards. To adventure, to glory, to fable and story. With Lappy! Follow Lappy. Good little Grimmlings."

The hooded figure whistled a jaunty tune, frolicking left and right as a legion of Grimm followed silently behind.

Next Chapter: 8th February

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