Standard Disclaimers apply. This chapter was one I'd had laying around for a while. I swear there was a more updated version though at this moment I can't find it. In an effort to get anything up to update this story I'll throw this up for now and finish the chapter hopefully later this week. Though I have been busy with life, my son and my fiance I do plan to try and update soon. Enjoy this as a new little tidbit for "Night of the Wolf".
Chapter 2
The town seemed quiet as they entered, though they knew better than to expect it to stay that way. Slowly they noticed people coming out of their houses to inspect these new travellers. All were male and upon furthur inspection they noted the women watched from the windows.
"Seems either the women aren't allowed out or don't want to come out,"Katrina mumbled quietly as she voiced the thought.
"Probably due to the women being eaten,"D responded quietly to which she nodded.
As they rode the sign for the inn came into view and furthur beyond it a large manor loomed on the hill behind the town.
"Probably where the mayor lives," Katrina thought as they continued their approach to the inn,"We should go ask him what's going on here at some point."
Upon reaching the inn they dismounted and tethered their horses to the post outside. D grabbed his saddlebags and turned to go into the inn as Katrina helped Sarah off of Mycroft.
"I'll get us two rooms,"he stated as he disappeared through the door.
Katrina nodded as she grabbed a small pouch from her saddlebag and handed it to Sarah before taking the whole bag off the cyborg horse.
"Hold on to that for me and after we get settled in we'll have a look around town. OK?"
"Ok Mommy," Sarah said as she smiled and ran up onto the porch of the inn.
When the two entered the building they saw several round tables set up around the room. Most had four chairs to them a few larger ones had six around them. The smaller tables each seemed to hold a motley assortment of patrons all of the male persuasion. Some of them looked up in surprise at Katrina and Sarah as no other women seemed to venture out these days. D still stood near the counter finishing up the deal for the two rooms. As they came up beside him the innkeeper handed him the keys and directed him upstairs and to the left.
After they had gone upstairs and located the rooms by the numbers on the keys D turned to Katrina and handed her one of the keys.
"You'll share a room with Sarah," D explained. When Katrina gave him a questioning look he continued.
"That way Therentis will be in a room with me where I can keep an eye on him."
"All right," Katrina replied,"That makes sense. Do you want to come look around town a bit before the shops close and everyone retires for the night?"
D merely nodded his head once and then walked into his room to drop off his saddlebags. Sarah and Katrina followed suit with Katrina taking the small pouch of coins back before they left the room and locking it. D was already waiting at the stairs for them when they came out and together the three of them went downstairs and left the inn.
When they emerged onto the street the three noticed that it was much the same as before only a few less people. The shops still had customers coming and going about doing their business but no women were still to be found walking around the town. Next to the inn was a tailor shop and on the other side a general store. Across the street found a few other miscellaneous shops and a vegetable and fruit vendor.
"Look Mommy!" Sarah exclaimed as she made a beeline for the one store across the street which seemed to specialize in children's clothing and toys. As she was starting to cross the road a rider on a horse came galloping towards her. When Katrina spotted the rider she began to run towards to Sarah to push her out of the way of danger. Just as he would have hit her though he came to an almost dead stop and the horse reared back dangerously and Katrina used that moment to grab Sarah and pull her back and away.
"Forgive me," The man stuttered as the horse calmed down and he turned to them. D by this point had made his way over to the group and was now a few steps back from where Katrina stood, still holding Sarah.
"I'm ok," Sarah said quietly as she clung to Katrina,"Sorry mister. I shouldn't have run out infront of you like that."
"It's quite all right my dear. Forgive me again for almost crushing you. My lord would be most displeased if I were to bring any harm to any of you."
"Your lord?" D asked as he took in the man's apprearance. He was dressed well in rich colors and fabrics that none of the other people in town seemed to own. D's first guess was he was a servant for the mayor but if this was true and there was a lord in this town that might have explained the women's murders.
"Yes, Lord Atenis," the man replied,"He sent me down to cordially invite you two to his next social gathering. You caught his eye when he saw you entering the town and he wishes to speak with you."
At this point Sarah turned around and looked at the man and then back at Katrina before she asked,"Can I go too?"
As Katrina was about to answer the errand boy cut in.
"My apologies dear child but this is an event for the grown ups."
"Aww all right," Sarah said with a defeated sigh.
The man reached into a pouch at his side and withdrew a gilded envelope and handed it down to D. The pure white envelope had gold ivy trimming it's sides and bore no name or address.
"The ball isn't for a week yet so you should have more than enough time to prepare,"he explained,"Of course my Lord hopes to see you there. Please send word to the manor as soon as you are sure if you will be able to attend."
Without waiting for a reply the man turned and rode off again, leaving a dusty trail in his wake.
Chapter 2
The town seemed quiet as they entered, though they knew better than to expect it to stay that way. Slowly they noticed people coming out of their houses to inspect these new travellers. All were male and upon furthur inspection they noted the women watched from the windows.
"Seems either the women aren't allowed out or don't want to come out,"Katrina mumbled quietly as she voiced the thought.
"Probably due to the women being eaten,"D responded quietly to which she nodded.
As they rode the sign for the inn came into view and furthur beyond it a large manor loomed on the hill behind the town.
"Probably where the mayor lives," Katrina thought as they continued their approach to the inn,"We should go ask him what's going on here at some point."
Upon reaching the inn they dismounted and tethered their horses to the post outside. D grabbed his saddlebags and turned to go into the inn as Katrina helped Sarah off of Mycroft.
"I'll get us two rooms,"he stated as he disappeared through the door.
Katrina nodded as she grabbed a small pouch from her saddlebag and handed it to Sarah before taking the whole bag off the cyborg horse.
"Hold on to that for me and after we get settled in we'll have a look around town. OK?"
"Ok Mommy," Sarah said as she smiled and ran up onto the porch of the inn.
When the two entered the building they saw several round tables set up around the room. Most had four chairs to them a few larger ones had six around them. The smaller tables each seemed to hold a motley assortment of patrons all of the male persuasion. Some of them looked up in surprise at Katrina and Sarah as no other women seemed to venture out these days. D still stood near the counter finishing up the deal for the two rooms. As they came up beside him the innkeeper handed him the keys and directed him upstairs and to the left.
After they had gone upstairs and located the rooms by the numbers on the keys D turned to Katrina and handed her one of the keys.
"You'll share a room with Sarah," D explained. When Katrina gave him a questioning look he continued.
"That way Therentis will be in a room with me where I can keep an eye on him."
"All right," Katrina replied,"That makes sense. Do you want to come look around town a bit before the shops close and everyone retires for the night?"
D merely nodded his head once and then walked into his room to drop off his saddlebags. Sarah and Katrina followed suit with Katrina taking the small pouch of coins back before they left the room and locking it. D was already waiting at the stairs for them when they came out and together the three of them went downstairs and left the inn.
When they emerged onto the street the three noticed that it was much the same as before only a few less people. The shops still had customers coming and going about doing their business but no women were still to be found walking around the town. Next to the inn was a tailor shop and on the other side a general store. Across the street found a few other miscellaneous shops and a vegetable and fruit vendor.
"Look Mommy!" Sarah exclaimed as she made a beeline for the one store across the street which seemed to specialize in children's clothing and toys. As she was starting to cross the road a rider on a horse came galloping towards her. When Katrina spotted the rider she began to run towards to Sarah to push her out of the way of danger. Just as he would have hit her though he came to an almost dead stop and the horse reared back dangerously and Katrina used that moment to grab Sarah and pull her back and away.
"Forgive me," The man stuttered as the horse calmed down and he turned to them. D by this point had made his way over to the group and was now a few steps back from where Katrina stood, still holding Sarah.
"I'm ok," Sarah said quietly as she clung to Katrina,"Sorry mister. I shouldn't have run out infront of you like that."
"It's quite all right my dear. Forgive me again for almost crushing you. My lord would be most displeased if I were to bring any harm to any of you."
"Your lord?" D asked as he took in the man's apprearance. He was dressed well in rich colors and fabrics that none of the other people in town seemed to own. D's first guess was he was a servant for the mayor but if this was true and there was a lord in this town that might have explained the women's murders.
"Yes, Lord Atenis," the man replied,"He sent me down to cordially invite you two to his next social gathering. You caught his eye when he saw you entering the town and he wishes to speak with you."
At this point Sarah turned around and looked at the man and then back at Katrina before she asked,"Can I go too?"
As Katrina was about to answer the errand boy cut in.
"My apologies dear child but this is an event for the grown ups."
"Aww all right," Sarah said with a defeated sigh.
The man reached into a pouch at his side and withdrew a gilded envelope and handed it down to D. The pure white envelope had gold ivy trimming it's sides and bore no name or address.
"The ball isn't for a week yet so you should have more than enough time to prepare,"he explained,"Of course my Lord hopes to see you there. Please send word to the manor as soon as you are sure if you will be able to attend."
Without waiting for a reply the man turned and rode off again, leaving a dusty trail in his wake.