Destiny No More

Chapter 62

"I'm grateful that you found time to speak with me." Colonel Aurelian smiled as he shook Ozpin's hand, sparing a momentary glance for the others standing in the room. "Though I had hoped for a more private meeting."

"Qrow and Amber are trusted agents of mine." Ozpin withdrew his hand, gesturing for the Colonel to sit as he took his place back behind his desk. "And Glynda, as Deputy Headmistress, attends all meetings with me."

"It's not your staff that concerns me." His smile fell away, replaced with a neutral expression that Pyrrha couldn't read. "This is a Mistralian matter, I don't see why a Representative from Atlas would be in attendance."

"Atlas and Vale are close allies, if one were to offer aid to another country, it is expected the other do the same." Winter responded curtly. She didn't sound offended, though she clearly felt the need to defend her place in the meeting.

"General Ironwood will be joining us as well, though his duties call him away for the time being." Ozpin explained. "If there are any matters too sensitive to discuss, we can reconvene at a later date."

"That won't be necessary." The Colonel shook his head. "If there is help they can offer, I will take it, within reason."

"Of course." Ozpin nodded and, after waiting for Winter to do the same, asked the question she had been wanting an answer to for days now. "I'm told you are having troubles with the Branwen tribe?"

The Colonel's eyes shifted to Qrow for a moment, before returning to the Headmaster. "Yes, right now the tribe is the largest threat to Mistral's continued prosperity." Winter shifted in her seat beside Pyrrha, as good an indication that she wished to disagree. Were it not for the sensitive nature of her being in the meeting in the first place, Pyrrha expected she would have voiced her thoughts; as it was, she remained silent. "I've been tasked with eliminating that threat." Aurelian finished, looking to Ozpin.

"We've been looking into the Branwen tribe ourselves for some time." Ozpin nodded towards Qrow. "I'm sure you've noticed the relation."

"It is a fairly rare name." Colonel Aurelian eyed Qrow warily for a moment, but seemed pleased with whatever it was he saw. "I've done my research however, I know he has been a faithful Huntsman for years. Whatever his relation, it's of no concern; so long as we are in agreement on what must be done, I see no reason to open up old wounds. Whatever they may be."

"Well said." Ozpin smiled enigmatically, though Pyrrha was confident enough in her knowledge of his expressions to see that he hadn't been surprised by the man's words. "Our own efforts have revealed little information on their whereabouts however, so if it is information you seek, I am afraid we are of little use."

"My own sources have managed to track them down." The Colonel said, driving all in attendance to silence; Pyrrha sat on the edge of her seat and she couldn't help but notice how Winter and Qrow did the same. "The Tribe has moved south, well outside their usual hunting grounds, and they did so rather quietly. My men only found them due to an increase in reported disturbances."

"Attacks?" Winter tried to clarify.

"Public indecency, loitering, threats, bar fights," The Colonel explained. "Despite how they acted in the north, they've yet to attack a single village. The number of setllements being outright attacked has dropped considerably over the last few years."

"She's trying to not draw any attention." Qrow muttered loud enough for them to hear. "That's unlike her. It's also why I couldn't find anything, the Tribe never goes south of Mistral proper. It's too poor down there for them to care."

"We thought it was strange as well." The Colonel clearly wanted to ask more, but refrained on the premise of what he had said earlier. "When we widened our net to local crime however, we were able to trace their journey with relative ease."