Chapter 5 The Huntress' Plan

• Security around the Veritas House had never been so tight. Guards were everywhere and no one came in or out without extended questioning. Workers and deliverers had their life screened and because of that, all activities were delayed and what once was a smooth household day to day became a bureaucratic hell. Lord Veritas was bent on finding out how that werewolf had invaded their party. At the same time, he had to keep his eyes and ears open to an eventual leaked gossip, even though he had already bribed his kitchen staff. That obviously didn't work and in a few days a messenger brought Lord Veritas the invitation to a meeting with the city's council.
• Lord Veritas left the meeting furious.
• During a couple of very tense hours, he worked to convince the wise elders of the city that the incident of the invader was indeed caused by a very skilled robber and probably under the influence of some kind of alchemical magic, one that allowed him to drop two stories and still have enough energy to escape his brave daughter, who suffered scrapes and bruises, nothing more.
• “Of course he was a skilled thief and a powerful warrior. He wouldn't have managed to breach our tight defenses otherwise.” Lord Veritas explained to the council. “But he was no werewolf. The rumors you heard tell of a big man. Strong. Fierce. But not of any mythical creature. If he were a werewolf, he would have dismembered my daughter limb from limb. If by any remote chance he were such a creature, then we would have the best of news: werewolves are weak, cowards and compassionate. All the more easy to kill. Remember, my daughter, who fought so valiantly, has no experience. She was ordained that very morning! She couldn't possibly take on a full-grown wolf.”
• Lord Veritas made a compelling case, but the council had not reached their positions by being gullible. The Veritas House was in a fragile situation, as his daughters noticed over dinner that night. Their meal was eerily silent and none dared to speak up. The girls looked at each other, anxious to live their lives freely in town, but also afraid to disrespect their father.
• “Father, we'd like to help.” Nicholette broke the silence, timid.
• “I thank you, my daughter, but you are to remain indoors.” Lord William knew where she was going with her offer.
• “I am a Huntress now. I trained for this and this is my path. I cannot stay inside and play with dolls.”
• “Hey, who plays with dolls??” Amaranta raised her eyes from her plate.
• “That's enough, Nicholette.” Lord Veritas didn't raise his eyes from his plate to meet his daughter's demands.
• “No, Father, staying indoors is not enough.”
• The man finally set his fork down and looked intensely at Nicholette. But he didn't say a word.
• “I am a Huntress and I have a job to do. That job is to hunt down werewolves and that's what I'll do. They are lurking in every corner of this reign and I can draw them out and hang their heads on our walls.” Nicholette exploded.
• “Nyx, that’s dark”, Amaranta observed.
• “You yourself have given me a sword, an instrument to do just that. What am I to do? Keep it in its box? Collect dust? Is that gift a token of your trust in me or what?”
• “Nicholette, you will respect your father!” Lady Veritas raised her voice.
• William stood up slowly, laying his napkin on the table.
• “Nicholette, in my office.”
• “No.” She responded after a brief pause.
• “No?”
• “No, Father. I will not go into your office. This is a family matter. We should talk as a family.”
• William looked at his wife, his breath deep and guttural.
• “William, we should…” Lady Veritas gestured towards his chair.
• “Very well, we'll discuss it.” His voice dragged like a plow through rocks.
• He sat, crossed his arms and looked at Nicholette, defiant.
• “Father, I can do this. I will hunt down the beast that trespassed our home. And I'll bring his head on a stick.” Nicholette began.
• “Have you ever fought a werewolf? Not just chase it in our halls. An actual full-grown battle-ready bloodthirsty werewolf? One hell-bent on eating you? These are vicious creatures with one purpose in mind and that is to give in to their horrendous instincts. You are nineteen years old, Nicholette!”
• “I know! I heard the stories. I've seen my sisters’ scars. And I'll never be alone! You supervise the Huntresses! You know how the training goes!”
• “Yes, I know! And I'm also the one who writes letters to the families of the dead Huntresses!” Lord Veritas finally exploded.
• The table fell silent.
• “You don't trust me.”
• “I love you, Nicholette.” Words coldly stated.
• “And what am I to do when I come to work with the Huntresses? Sharpen the swords? Oil the armors? Clean the stables?”
• “You will… obey your father, that's what you will do!” His tone grew stern.
• “William, please, listen to the girl. She has trained hard. She is responsible.” Lady Veritas tried to calm her husband down.
• “I agree, Father.” Raquel talked for the first time on behalf of her sister. “We saw Nicholette train with her sisters. She was fast, focused and deadly. If you ask me, she's more than ready to defend herself and others in battle. I trust her.”
• “It's not that I don't trust her. I trust you, Nicholette. I just… I don’t… You… You will obey your father!”
• Even fumbling for words, Lord Veritas was immovable in his opinion, even if the women didn't know what that opinion was, short that he didn't want any one of them out of the house.
• The girls gathered in their common room after dinner to talk.
• “What are you going to do now, Nyx?” Amaranta asked.
• “I don't know. I swore an oath to defend the city and defend my sisters and to hunt and kill all werewolves I could find. But if Father won't let us out of the house, how am I going to do that?”
• “Well, there are ways out of the house. Many, actually. As many as there are ways in.” Noted Raquel, raising her eyes from her book.
• “Well, yes, I could just leave. But then I will be the one hunted down. By Father himself!”
• “What if the Huntresses come and call you on a mission?”
• “That could work… If they make it past the door.” Nicholette thought to herself.
• “That's the next mission, then… Asking Beatrice to ask you on a mission. Maybe something small, like scouting or guard duty.” Amaranta pondered.
• “I guess I'll have to ask her to come and be persuasive.”