Well. Some mysteries solved, others declared but probably not important.

Wanted to make some snarky comment about how many people seem to be able to pierce the veil, but realised it was facts not in evidence. After all, eventually they have SCHEDULED RAIL SERVICE through it. So it is not HARD to do, save maybe to know where the veil is in the first place. It seems like both Azula and Meiling just have that kind of weird luck that way in that they find it without realizing it.

I did not find the thought that Count Victor coming off as slightly mercenary in his journals surprising for two reasons. 1) Houses COST, especially great houses like his. 2) People value what they pay for. Not charging might leave them thinking they should call on Victor and his compatriots at a moment's notice; leaving them possibly out of position investigating minor threats when a major one erupts elsewhere. It does raise the spectre of a town being wiped out because they fear they can not afford to bring them in, but I somehow expect that Victor used a 'sliding scale'. On the gripping hand though... I'm probably investigating this too closely. :)