Chapter 9 Into Werewolf Country

• Nicholette had no plan to speak of. Not one on hunting a werewolf at least. Her not so thought-out plan was very detailed on how to slip out of her house and out of the city without having to go through the proper channels and alerting her father, but once they were in werewolf country… “They would see.” It didn't feel like there was much to it at all. It felt like a reconnaissance mission, even if they'd take enough weapons to raid a werewolf clan.
• Also, the young Huntresses were so eager to make use of their brand-new skills that they would jump on any mission that would bring them closer to the feral dogs that plagued their home.
• In the day after tea, Nicholette, as usual, got up before sunlight broke and took a few laps around her keep, keeping a mild pace as she would need more energy later in the day. She cleaned up at the well, as usual and when Captain Theobald called on the troops for inspection, there was Nicholette, ready to strike at a word's notice, but standing shoulder to shoulder with the soldiers of their guard. The Captain ordered the inventory and maintenance of weapons and then organized the shifts around the many posts the building required. As usual, Nicholette ended up at the front gate, tallying up merchants and delivery carts, as well as the many politicians and elders from the council that came to meetings with her father.
• In the first few days of Nicholette's new functions, the important people found it strange that a Huntress was on guard duty and even more strange that said Huntress was the Lord's of the House daughter, one they had watched grow from a child into a formidable woman in the most luxurious dresses, coy makeup and finely put up hairstyles. In time, people grew accustomed to Nicholette in a tight ponytail, without any makeup and wearing leather under armor.
• Nicholette was unsure as to why Theobald kept on allocating her to the front gate after she had manipulated him into letting her do that in the first place. Perhaps it was because she was the heir to the House and could fire him on a whim, perhaps it was because she was more intelligent than any of the guards and kept a very organized and understandable log of the house's movements or perhaps it was because he just wanted her out of way, as he bossed the others around.
• Anyway, that position played nicely into her plans as the merchant wagon she expected rolled by, much lighter in produce and goods, heavier in gold.
• “How was your business today, master Flennigan?” Nicholette inquired, still in her soldier pose.
• “Very well, thank you, Lady Nicholette!” The adolescent conducting his family delivery cart responded as his sorry skinny horse passed her by.
• “Just a minute there, Flennigan!”
• Surprised and apprehensive, the teenager reined the animal to a full stop. A cold feeling flashed down his spine, as he was sure he'd done something wrong.
• “I take it you are going up the White Rock trail and around Thornston Hills next, right?” She asked, as if she didn't know that it was his usual route every week.
• “Ah… yes, sir –madam! Yes, Lady Madam… Madam! Yes, Madam. That's my next stop, outside the city.”
• “Very well, that's a very dangerous route, close to werewolf lands. When you told me all of that last week I arranged for you an escort, as to protect your life and your cargo.”
• “Oh, but that's… That's very generous, but we don't need–”
• “Nonsense, of course you could do with extra protection.” Nicholette explained quickly, dropping a big rolled up parcel in the back of his wagon, that clanked with the high notes of steel and silver. “You are to meet them at the northeastern gate, the same you always take. They'll be wearing armor much like this one. Off you go, then.”
• “Thank you, Lady Nicholette, that's awfully generous and I…” But the teen stopped talking when he noticed he was talking to himself. Nicholette had swiftly ducked into his covered cart next to the weapons parcel with none the wiser.
• The pubescent merchant rode across town and sure enough just before the north-east gate, three young women in under armor stood among equipment tightly wrapped in parcels. From the parcels, sword hilts could be seen. Propped against the wall there was a bundle of spears with glimmering tips reflecting the sun.
• One of them gestured for the merchant to stop.
• “Are you Nicholette's escort?”
• “That's right, kid. We'll be riding with you up the White Rock trail.” Luna responded as the other two loaded his cart with their baggage.
• Obedient, the young man whipped the harnesses and the poor horse restarted its slow march through the gate and out of the city's gigantic walls, straining under the weight of a four-Huntress detail. The open countryside uncurtained itself around the lonely humble cart.
• Behind him, the boy heard the four young women lively chatting and the notes of metal indicated that they were putting on their armor. The Huntress armor is a complex-layered garment, created to protect the vital organs at the same time as it allowed the Huntresses to run, duck, dive and roll around, away from the claws of the werewolves. It worked as a second skin to them. The first layer is a loose bodysuit made out of moon-spider silk. Its flow and material helped claws and fangs slide away from the body, without piercing flesh. That layer was very comfortable against skin, so that meant that it should be put under the leather under armor. To do that, the young women had to take the leather out.
• The young boy leading the cart quickly noticed that there were four perfectly fit women undressing in the back of his wagon, but soon realized that stealing glances from those toned muscular bodies could mean his head.
• “Marie, cover yourself!” Lillie whispered to her friend.
• Marie held her clothes and looked at the boy. He quickly turned away from the statuesque beauty.
• “Let him look. Might be the best pair he'll ever see.” Marie shrugged and continued to dress.
• Luna and Nicholette laughed.
• Over the silk bodysuit came the adjusting leather under armor, the rigid plaques of thick material bearing all the straps and buckles the metal would be strapped to: overlapping plates of tempered steel with silver crests cover the chest, shoulders, and upper thighs. This required Luna, Marie, Gertude and Nicholette to help each other fasten the plates in place, which also played at the merchant's imagination as he stole shy glances from the front of the cart.
• The breastplate of the armor was molded to the curves of the torso, tapering into a corseted waist that emphasizes lethal grace. Around the arms, knees and high boots came the fitted steel with silver blades, small fins protruding outwards like knives that hang around the body to be used defensively anytime a weapon was not around.
• Finally, around the waist came a short skirt, several blades of metal that split in the front and back, revealing the leather legging when they moved.
• Battle ready, the women jumped from the moving cart taking their impressive weapons and provisions.
• “Are you… wait, we're not at the White Rock Trail yet.” The boy called, when they stepped off.
• “You're good, kid.” Explained Luna, as they turned around. “It's safe from here. Go home.” And she picked up the pace after her companions.
• A long day of march through the plains and hills the surrounding regions of the city of Erbe took them near what Beatrice's map indicated could be the beginning of Rafe's clan's territories. A few miles down the path they followed and there could be werewolves everywhere.
• As the night fell, they set up camp, cooked and organized the guard shifts, so as not to be surprised by a sneak attack. They were not at home anymore.
• As they sat around the fire, a comfortable silence fell among them. They had been together all day and the plan to sneak out of town had worked perfectly. All they had to do now was find that werewolf and discover what it was doing inside of House Veritas. Should be easy, as from their camp east there was nothing but the eerie darkness that the creatures of the night cherished. Werewolves snouts would be in the air, tracking prey and violently chasing after them, shredding defenseless animals to feed their clan.
• As proof, the girls heard a howl in the night. A long, strong evil howl that sent shivers through their bodies. The young women looked up from their plates.
• “They are close.” Lillie broke the discomfort.
• “Sleep with your swords in hand, ladies. From here on, anything could happen.”
• Tomorrow they would face the big bad wolves that prowled those lands. Time to take the fight to them.