Chapter 8 The Huntresses Meet For Tea

• Nicholette did not shy away from her new discipline. At the crack of dawn she was already profusely sweating and panting from having ran laps around their house. She woke up and tried to nudge her sisters awake, asking them if they were interested in joining the morning exercises. All she got in response were predictable expletives.
• Over a simple comfortable white shirt, shorts and socks, Nicholette put on her Huntress under armor, a thick leather vest that adjusted well to her figure with the cords in the front and pants that provided a little comfort against the metal plates and latches of the anti-werewolf armor. The extra weight made the exercise that much more difficult, which would have made Beatrice proud. Under the cloak of the night, Nicholette ran the cobblestones of the front yard, the grassy field of the gardens, the muddy stables and the loose gravel along the walls and behind the kitchen. Then she ran again and again and once more until the sun peered above the mountains and the soldiers started leaving the barracks for instructions from Theobald, the captain of the guard.
• At first the soldiers thought Nicholette was having fun at their expense, when the troops filed neatly in the courtyard that morning and she was there, shoulder to shoulder with them. She didn't say a word, just waited. When Theobald showed up to inspect his troops, he was as surprised as they were.
• “Lady Nicholette, to what do we owe the honor of your presence today?”
• “I am here to volunteer for your guard, Captain.”
• Teobald had worked for the House of Veritas since he was only a teenager, and he'd seen all three girls being born and grow into the fine women they'd become. He had become close to the family, but he'd never thought he would one day be ordering one of them around. He didn't know how to respond to that, so he just decided that he should continue with the House's routine and let Nicholette do whatever she pleased.
• “My daughter is doing marching exercises up and down the courtyard??” Lord William was appalled when he noticed Nicholette hadn't shown up for breakfast and had her fetched.
• “She was. Now she is in spear instruction with a dozen soldiers, sir.” Explained the maid that had served him.
• Lord Veritas threw his napkin on the table and marched to the courtyard where indeed, a dozen soldiers divided in three rows of four held spears above their shoulders and thrusted them forward and back, at an invisible enemy. Next to them, Nicholette, armed with her own spear, repeated the exercises, occasionally stopping to give the soldiers advice.
• “Watch the footwork, gentlemen! If you lose your balance the werewolves are sure to go for your neck!” Then she laid down her spear and crouched next to one of them. “Here, turn your leg this way. Heel off the ground, knee bent or you'll dislocate it. Yes, that's right!”
• Lord William watched his daughter then retrieve her own spear and continue the exercise.
• “What in…” He began to exclaim, but was interrupted by his wife's hand on his shoulder.
• “Let her be, William. She is in her element.”
• “What is she trying to prove to me? That she can lead our soldiers and chase that werewolf spy?”
• “No, she is just keeping herself busy. That's better than idly thinking of ways to confront you. They are homebound after all.” Lady Veritas caressed her husband.
• Lord William thought of responding, but just turned around and grumpily went back to the breakfast table. Raquel and Amaranta did all they could to not burst laughing at their father's childish anger.
• “Don't worry, tomorrow she'll be her defiant self again.” Lady Veritas tried for a joke, but Lord William didn't acknowledge it. He just ate. Raquel and Amaranta giggled.
• Nicholette, of course, was not planning on giving up making herself useful around the guards and also, learning all the movement of merchant carts. She appointed herself for gate duty and personally questioned every one coming or leaving the house, that way she managed to very quickly find which merchants moved at least close to Rafe's territory. There weren't many, but apparently, traveling to that region was safe, if you were disguised. Merchants came and went all the time, so this was the new plan: travelling incognito and trying to pinpoint the treacherous evil wolf. From there, she'd have more information to plan an attack and avenge the dishonor her family had suffered.
• She now needed Huntresses, weapons, a merchant cart and some merchant clothes. Nothing really hard to come by. So she finished her duty at the gate and called for a messenger to run around town.
• Nicholette kept to her word that she would work as soldiers did. She woke up while it was still dark to exercise. The first rays of sunlight met her by the well, washing the sweat from her face and neck to make for a presentable soldier during roll call. Captain Theobald was genuinely impressed with the discipline and by how the soldiers respected her. Also, the training she had received from the Academy greatly improved the soldier's discipline and technique. When she was relieved of the day's duty, Nicholette ran to the bath, calling on a chambermaid to help her. She had little time before the guests arrived.
• When Nicholette showed up at the top of the stairs wearing fine shoes, long socks and an embroidered summer dress, with her hair pulled in a tight bun and a shiny tiara, Lord Veritas decided that women were definitely beyond his comprehension.
• “What am I missing here?” Raquel asked, as her sister walked to the kitchen to make sure tea and cake were ready to be served in the garden.
• “Was that Nicholette in a dress? And she went into the kitchen?” Amaranta was in equal disbelief.
• “She's having tea served in the garden… Has the world gone crazy?” Raquel tried to make something out of it.
• “Let it go, you two, I just missed having my sisters in arms around and invited them for tea.” Nicholette retorted, putting on an earring.
• “Tea? And not bow and arrow practice?”
• “This I will have to see!”
• “The two of you are of course very welcome to join us.” Nicholette balanced politeness with cynicism.
• And indeed, Amaranta saw. Three Huntresses were announced by name by the major domus and the three elite warriors came into the house wearing their best dresses for an end of the afternoon tea with Lady Nicholette. If not for the ill-fitting dresses and strange choice of shoes and accessories and the general lack of table manners, they could pass as daughters of dignitaries. Nicholette was the only one that came from a well-to-do family. Huntresses were usually simpler people. And being more accustomed to armor and weapons, it was clear that the fancy indumentary was improvised. Nicholette shone above them, having attended so many dinners, receptions and balls in her life.
• Even if trained to be a Huntress, Nicholette was a gracious host and, smiling, introduced her family sisters to Luna Theparian, Lillie Valerina and Marie Richelieu, graduated with honors from the Academy at the same time as she was. Her friends and sisters in arms.
• A Huntress is never alone, the three guests repeated smiling.
• Nicholette was sure to direct the conversation to hunt strategy, choice of weapons and old tales from their time together at the Academy, referencing people Raquel and Amaranta didn't know, until the young women from the Veritas House, not really participating in the conversation, excused themselves and left the garden.
• When Raquel and Amaranta turned a corner, Nicholette produced a map from under the table and pushed the tea cups to the side.
• “Ok, ladies, here's the plan…”