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Horace, Peter, Aurora and Bethany rushed into the room. " Who is this?" asked Peter, helping the nearly frozen man up. " It is David Merlmet, he is a farm, five miles to the east" said Horace, " what happened David?" Bethany grabbed a bottle of brandy off the shelf and let the man take a long liberal drink straight from the bottle. " We were attacked" he wheezed, " my wife heard the sheep braying, my son… my son and I went out to see what was happening. We couldn't see two feet in front of our faces. It came at us from the side of the barn, it was a werewolf, it came at us on two feet, its fangs were shining on the light. It's claws, its claws!" David took another long drink from the bottle, " My son was hurt, we heard you had a doctor here" David wheezed. " I am a doctor" said Peter, " can you take us to your farm?" " I know where it is" said Amelia, " he shouldn't travel in his condition." " We'll come with" said Aurora, " we can probably lend a hand." " We must hurry" said Amelia pulling on her fur lined cloak, " there is little time." " Let me get my bag" said Peter. The trio rushed up to their rooms to grab more winter clothing. Aurora made sure to pack all her silver needles, she had the feeling she would need them. Aurora looked over at Bethany who was slipping his short sword and hand crossbow into her cloak. " Ready?" she asked. Aurora nodded, " Let's go" she said. The four met by the door, " You know the way, right?" asked Bethany. " Of course" said Amelia, " I've been to their farm dozens of times, it is across the road, over the fence, and straight until you come to a barn, around the barn and you're there." " Everyone take a lantern" said Horace, " we'll keep a look out for them." Each took one of the study metal lanterns and Amelia opened the door. A bitter blast of cold air froze each of them even before they exited the inn. The snow was coming down hard and the wind was howling making the journey look more fierce than first imagined. " Shall we?" asked Aurora. Amelia started off, and took two steps from the front porch and sunk up to her thighs in the snow. Bethany went next, then Peter with Aurora in the rear. In single file they slowly made their way towards the farm, or at least what they hoped was the direction to the farm. The little lanterns did little to cut through vicious snow, at times they had trouble seeing each other let alone five feet in front of them. They all knew at any moment the creature could strike from any side. They felt very exposed stumbling over the fence and through the barren field. Aurora felt blind, her senses that she relied on the most where useless now. She could barely see the grey back of Peter's cloak, she could only hear the relentless howl of the wind, and all she could smell was the inside of her scarf which she wrapped over her face to keep them from freezing. Now she sympathized with sheep with a wolf close by. Amelia knew she was on the right course, she kept her arm stretched out, the lantern barely lighting the ground which was all white anyways so it became featureless. For several moments she was overcome with the fear that she was lost. Fields she'd known all 19 years of life where now totally alien to her. She feared they'd strayed and were now heading towards either the forest to the west of the Merlmet farm, or worse into more fields to the east of the farm. Either case they would probably freeze to death before getting their bearings. Amelia took a deep breath, feeling the bitter cold air sting her lungs, she would just have to trust her instincts now. They stumbled and trudged over almost two hours until the welcome sight of a red barn wall came in sight. Their fears of freezing to death were disappearing as they rounded the barn as saw the well lit farm house. But just as those fears were checked the sight of the red blood splattered in the snow by the farm house reminded them of what they were really fearful of, the werewolf. They struggled to the door which was streaked with blood that was melting all the snow that touched it. Amelia reached out to knock upon the door when it suddenly swung open and the sharp tines of a pitchfork appeared. " Who are you?" asked a young girl, holding the large pitchfork in her shaking hands. " Its Amelia from the Snow Dove, I bought the doctor" said Amelia, eager to get the pitchfork away from her face. A pain scream from within the farm house echoed out. " Excuse me" said Peter, bravely pushing the pitchfork away. The four rushed into the farm house and Peter and Bethany rushed into the back bedroom. Laying on a blood soaked bed a young man thrashed about in agony. He was laying on his chest, his back a mess of blood. " I can't stop the bleeding" his mother said holding a blood soaked cloth over his back. " Bethany, please give me a hand" said Peter, removing his cloak, " Amelia, please take this lady into the next room and get her something to drink." " You're amazingly calm" said Bethany, removing her cloak. " I was an army surgeon for ten years" said Peter, " I've seen much worse and more of them." Peter and Bethany knelt by the bed as Peter took out a bottle with orange liquid in it. He up ended the bottle into a rag, " Now hold him" said Peter. Bethany took a firm hold of his shoulder as Peter clamped the rag over the man's nose and mouth. He thrashed for a few moments but became still. " Now the work begins" he said rolling his sleeves up. Peter cut the shirt off the man's back, there were four long cuts running from his shoulder across his back nearly to his hip. Each was a deep cut that through the pooling blood white bones could be seen. Peter pressed on his shoulder and blood shot up. " This isn't good" he said, " his artery is cut, I'm going to need you to put two fingers into the top of the cut and find something that feels like a reed, that is the artery, I want you to grab both sides of it so I can sew it closed." Bethany nodded and quickly rolled her sleeves up. She put two hands into the hot wet hole at the top of his shoulder. The man whimpered in his drug induced sleep, this probably hurt like hell. Bethany fished about until she found both ends of the artery and gently squeezed both ends. A shot of blood shot from one side directly into Bethany's face and red hair making her flinch. " Careful" said Peter, " not too hard we don't want the artery to be crushed." Peter gently slit the skin open just enough to give him room to start his work. The long needle gently slipped in and out and in and out. Peter's hands were steady and the needle sharp and within two minutes the artery was sewn together. " Now let's hope it holds" said Peter as the gently released the artery. The artery slipped back into place and the blood stopped spurting from it. " Now let's start cleaning these wounds" said Peter. Peter handed Bethany a sea sponge and together they started cleaning the wounds. The man's mother was beside herself, Amelia almost had to hold her in the chair to keep her from running back into the bedroom. Amelia administered several healthy glasses of whiskey to the woman to finally calm her down. Aurora stood by the window looking into the stormy night. She was piecing together the map she'd seen on Baron Maher's table and trying to place this farm on it. The other attacks were further out if this farm were she guessed it was. Most were at least three to four hours on horse back on a good night. Aurora's thoughts were broken when the door to the back bedroom opened and Peter and Bethany, both splattered in blood emerged. " My son?" the woman asked. " He'll live" said Peter, " the wounds were deep and an artery was cut but we managed to patch the wounds. Now don't move him for a few days to make sure he doesn't break any of those stitches. Keep the wounds clean and apply freshly boiled bandages everyday. If the wounds become puss filled I want you to put red fern paste over them to combat the infection. I can leave some with you if you don't have any." " We have red fern paste" said the woman. " Did any of you see the thing that attacked him?" asked Aurora. " I did" said the girl, who has spent the entire time huddled in the corner, " it was a werewolf just like the other farmers have said. It was taller than father, covered in light brown fur, it had these long white fangs and big black claws it came at them from around the bar, my father and brother ran but it struck my brother. Father tried to attack it with the pitchfork but it ran into the woods on two legs." " Light brown fur?" asked Bethany walking over to comfort the girl. The girl nodded and pulled further into the corner. Bethany stopped and looked puzzled at Aurora. " She is scared of your face" said Aurora, taking out her handkerchief. Aurora gently wiped the blood off her face, " She probably thinks you're a ghoul come to get her" she said. " The fur was light brown" said the girl, " lighter than my hair." " Interesting" said Aurora, " thank you." " We should stay here until dawn" said Amelia, " I don't want to chance going back out in this storm." " I agree" said Peter, " I want to watch over the boy until dawn to make sure he makes it." " All right" said Aurora, " no sense of getting lost tonight." Peter and Amelia helped the woman and her daughter to bed with a healthy dose of blue tea, a power sedative and join Bethany and Aurora in the main room. Amelia quickly fell asleep balled up in a chair by the fire. " So any thoughts?" asked Peter sitting down across from the pair. " It didn't howl" said Aurora, " that is strange normally when hunting werewolves howl. I assume he was eating a sheep when the farmer and his son came. It sought refuge in the wood next to the farm but by dawn he will have moved on." " I remember when I was on campaign with the army and we were stalked by a pack of werewolves in the Ironwood Forest" said Peter, " they aren't easy to deal with." " At least it is just one" said Bethany. " Do you remember seeing any of the other guests after dinner?" asked Aurora. " I saw Serafina and Violet going up to Violet's room to try on new costumes but that was twenty minutes before the farmer came in" said Peter, " you think it is one of them?" " It is a place to start" said Aurora, " it can't stay in werewolf form for long, and I think the locals would notice a stranger camping in the woods." Dawn broke as the snow began to trail off. After politely refusing payment for the service the four bundled up and started off for the Snow Dove. In the barn like Aurora expected was a half eaten sheep at one end of the barn, the other sheep bunched up at the opposite end. There were no tracks, not even theirs the night's snow had added another foot of snow completely filling in the tracks. The trek back across the field was more difficult now with the snow up to their waists, twice Amelia slipped and disappeared under the snow only to be hauled out by Bethany and Peter. They crossed the road and climbed up the hill to the Snow Dove. Luckily they hadn't missed breakfast. All the guests were in the main room gathered around the table talking about the excitement of last night. Both Aurora and Bethany scanned everybody in the room, Aldus, Joseph, Janet, and Sarah all had brown hair, Albert may have brown hair but being a priest shaved his head. " So what happened?" asked Violet. " Something attacked a farmer across the road" said Peter, " we had to patch him up but he is okay." " It was the werewolf, wasn't it" said Aldus, a gleam in his eye. " Probably just a black wolf" said Bethany, " this is a nasty winter." " Bullshit" said Aldus, " I've never seen a wolf attack anything bigger than a sheep." " I hate to agree with him, but wolves attacking everybody but nobody has killed one?" asked William, " we're all big kids here, we won't panic if we know the truth." " Possibly" said Peter, " I've never actually seen a confirmed attack by one, but the claw marks are much larger than a wolf." " I knew it" said Aldus, " I could feel his presence." Before anyone could object to Aldus' strange comments breakfast was placed in front of them which quickly stopped the werewolf conversation and started to eat. Aurora played with her food, spending much more time watching the others. She knew down to her wet boots one of them was the werewolf, but she couldn't just start smacking them around, if the werewolf feels that she is too close he can just run and start attacking somewhere else again and it would take more time and there would be more lives at stake. Then William's voice cracked through her heavy veil of thought when he started up again about the mysterious beauty on the other side of the inn. " We've been here all week and I have yet to see this Cynthia" he said, " I think it is rather unfriendly of her." " She is being hidden to keep your hands off her" said Seamus, " I doubt you would behave around her." " Remember that merchant's daughter when we did that show in Lynsander?" asked Bruce, balancing a spoon on his finger, " or the farmer's daughter last summer?" " Shut up" said William, " just because women like my company doesn't mean I'm a seducer." The entire table laughed, even Albert managed to crack a smile. Breakfast was finished, the table was cleared and they interrogated Aurora, Bethany, Peter and Amelia over their coffee. " Did you see it?" asked Seamus. " No, it was long gone when we got there" said Bethany, " all we saw was the farmer." " Was there much blood?" asked Violet. Bethany opened her cloak to show her blood splattered clothing, " Just a bit" she replied. " Oh my" said Serafina, " you are so much braver than I, the sight of blood makes me so ill." " It doesn't look that bad" said Violet. " What do you have to say?" asked Aldus, leaning over to smile at Aurora, " I bet you have seen much worse, tell me what did you think about this werewolf." " He is certainly ferocious" said Aurora, gently stroking one of her needles in her cloak, " I would not want to meet him face to face." " Don't scare her, Aldus" said Violet, " don't worry miss, he doesn't bite." " I hope not" said Aurora, leaning close to Aldus, " because I do." Everyone at the table laughed, except for Aldus, who got up and left. Everybody finished their coffee, Amelia walked over, " I have drawn you two a bath" she said, " I know you would like to scrub all of that blood off. If you wish I can wash your clothes while you bath." " That would be lovely" said Bethany. " I made sure the water was extra hot to get the chill out" said Amelia. The pair got up and followed Amelia through the guest rooms to a small building built on the back of the inn with two large porcelain tubs filled with steaming hot water. The pair eagerly took their wet and bloody clothes off, making sure to conceal their weapons before Amelia could spot them. The pair slowly sank into the tubs and groaned loudly. " Beth" said Aurora, leaning back in the tub, " I need your particular talents this afternoon." " Name it" said Bethany. " I'm going to talk to the guests, see where they were last night" said Aurora, " I want to see if there really is this mysterious Cynthia, and...." " If she had long light brown hair" said Bethany, " maybe they're hiding her for a reason." " Exactly" said Aurora. " My money is on Aldus, he has a serious stiff one for werewolves, and you" said Bethany, " I'm surprised he didn't lift the table up when he leaned close to you." Aurora threw a wet wash cloth at Bethany, who slipped under the water to dodge the wet projectile. Aurora finished her bath and found her clothes freshly washed. She considered taking Amelia with her, neither of them could wash this well. Amelia poked her head in, " Everything satisfactory?" she asked. " Perfect" said Aurora, producing four gold Tyras, " for the excellent job." Amelia's eyes got huge, 4 gold coins was quiet a reward, " Thank you" she said, " thank you so very much, this there anything else I can do for you?" " What room is Serafina staying in?" " Room 1" said Amelia, " she wanted a view of the sunset." " Thank you" said Aurora. Aurora walked down the hall to Room 1 at the opposite end of the hall and knocked. " Enter" came the melodic voice of Serafina. Aurora walked in and saw Serafina sitting by the window looking at the snowy fields beyond. " You aren't from Apriche" she said, a sly grin on her face, " I know who you are, I lived in Vellis too long not to hear tales of your exploits." " I hope you keep it under your skirt" said Aurora, " I also think you know why I am here." " The werewolf" said Serafina, " I hope you don't think I am that awful beast." " Not sure yet" said Aurora, " where were you last night?" " I was in here" said Serafina, " Violet came to see me shortly after you three left, she may not show it, she is very afraid of all of this." " Can I ask you about Aldus?" asked Aurora. " He joined our troupe about four months ago" said Serafina, " he is a gifted musician, he plays the most beautiful violin. He is a rare catch that is why we put up with his rather unusual personality." " Why is he with you, if you don't mind my asking?" she asked. " He came to us" said Serafina, " asked to join up. The rumors I've heard he is running from somebody powerful. My money is he got some Baron's daughter or wife pregnant and had to make himself scarce." " He seems to like women more than William" said Aurora. Serafina smirked, " They are a handful" she replied, " but they are good at what they do." " Did you see any of the others last night?" asked Aurora. " I heard Bruce and one of those silly maids" said Serafina, " the others I don't know." " Thank you" said Aurora. " Don't worry I will keep my lips shut and my eyes open" said Serafina, " maybe after all of this is over we can get to know each other better?" Serafina had the sly grin back, guess the rumors were true thought Aurora, " Maybe" she replied. Aurora left the room and heard Bethany's footsteps entering their room. Bethany slipped her boots off and flexed her toes. She opened her saddle bags and took out her black slippers with the extra grip on the soles. She slipped them on and tied them tight on her feet. She tied her hair back into a tight pony tail and emptied her pockets of all her coins, keys, trinkets, and anything else that would make even the slightest sound. She would have to keep her several layers of clothing on, no way would she be able to accomplish the task without them. Bethany went to the window and looked down. It would be an easy trek down the ice and snow covered steep roof to the roof of the owner's quarters, then locate Cynthia's bedroom and figure out if she is as beautiful as said, or a raging werewolf covered in hair. Bethany carefully opened the window and felt the icy blast of winter hit her in the face. She looked around, this rotten weather was keeping everybody inside. Bethany put her hands on the window frame and gently placed her foot in the snow on the roof. It immediately soaked through her slippers and the cold began to sting her feet. Bethany carefully put her other foot into the snow and felt the snow start to creep up her legs. Bethany carefully picked her foot up and gently took the first step. As she put her weight on the other foot she felt her entire body start to slip. She grabbed the overhang of the roof and steadied herself before taking the next step. Carefully step by step Bethany made it down the roof of the guest wing and onto the roof of the employee's wing. Bethany slowly inched her way to the first window and peeked in. It looked like Amelia's room, she was quiet the messy girl, clothes were everywhere. Bethany crept to the next window, she saw Thomas coming out of the room across the hall. Bethany carefully cracked the window and heard a female voice, " Hurry back." " I will Cynthia" said Thomas, " you just stay put." He closed the door and started down the hall. Bethany closed the window and started to climb up the roof. Down the opposite side she crawled, coated in snow and starting to freeze. Bethany carefully leaned over and looked into the window. Laying bed was a very beautiful woman, at least she could be. She was ashen white looking like death. She started to cough and grabbed the chamber pot off the floor. Bethany winched as she listened to Cynthia vomit into the pot. She got up and headed straight for the window. Bethany started to climb out of the way but couldn't get any traction. She heard the window open and pressed herself close at the side. Cynthia dumped the pot out the window and closed the window. Bethany sighed and decided to take a different way back. Aurora was waiting in their room when the door to their bedroom opened and Bethany walked in. " Well?" asked Aurora. " No way she is the werewolf" said Bethany, rubbing her cold feet. " How do you know?" asked Aurora. " She has the flu" she said, " vomiting and everything. She is in no condition to leave her room, let alone terrorize the countryside." " One less suspect for us to worry about" said Aurora. The pair heard the lunch bell, " Lunch time" said Bethany. Lunch was good as usual, and consumed with the usual speed. The Chetum family and the Milton sister were rushing about with more intensity that usual. " Something wrong?" asked Bethany, stopping Amelia. " There is a big storm coming" said Amelia, " I hope you didn't have any travel plans, it looks like we'll be snowed in for some time." " Hm" said Aurora. Aurora got up and walked into the trophy room with Bethany on her heels. " This is excellent" said Aurora, " our werewolf will be stuck here with us, he will have to feed soon." " Did you see Aldus' meat?" asked Bethany, " it was so red it looked raw." " I also noted how he doesn't each much else" said Aurora, " I want you to keep an eye on him for the next few days." " No problem" said Bethany. Aurora drew out one of her silver needles and gave it to Bethany, " Just in case" she said. Bethany nodded, this was indeed a grim omen, Aurora never parted with her needles, and giving one to her meant Bethany would probably have to tangle with the werewolf first, by herself. " Don't worry, I'll take it back soon enough" said Aurora. Bethany nodded and slipped the needle into her sleeve. The snow started to fall, thick and heavy. By mid afternoon you could barely see out the windows. Everybody stayed in the main room, clustered around the roaring fire. " How much more of this do we have to take?" yelled Tobin, " I knew this was a horrible idea." " Will you shut up" said William, " I never once heard you say one thing about touring Belak?" " Probably because he never pulled his head out of beer stein long enough to hear where we were going" said Violet. Tobin glared at Violet, " You got something to say dress maker?" he growled. " Yah, you are a drunk" said Violet, " the only reason why you're still with us is Serafina doesn't have the heart to toss you out." " That bitch thinks I'm a charity case?" asked Tobin, " I don't need this washed up troupe, especially you Serafina, you prim and proper slut. You think I don't know what you're upto? Guess again, I know your little secret, maybe I'll tell the world. Then let's see you find work ever again." " Fuck you" said Violet, standing up, " why don't you sober up and see if you have the balls." " Violet" said Serafina, " this isn't helping." " What you'll let this drunk fat pig spread lies about you?" asked Violet. Suddenly Tobin leapt to his feet, and grabbed Violet by the throat. Everyone was in shock by the speed which the fat man moved. He slammed the girl into the table. " Shut up whore" he screamed. Suddenly a cool sensation made Tobin shiver. " You so much as touch her again I will bleed you like the pig you are" said Serafina, holding a long blade under Tobin's chin, " try me you pig." Tobin quickly released Violet, " When this storm is over you are to leave and never return" said Serafina. Serafina helped the coughing Violet off the table, " I'll be in my room" said Serafina, " don't bother expecting me for dinner. I've lost my appetite." Joseph got up, and followed Serafina and Violet out. " Not now" she said, " we'll discuss your fat, dullard, drunken clown friend later." Serafina slammed the door in Joseph's face, leaving him very flustered. Dinner was a silent affair, the incident had spoiled everyone's spirits and the ever mounting snow was only making it worse. One by one they left the table, the food only half eaten. Everyone retired early. " That was a lovely evening" said Bethany. " This storm is straining everybody" said Aurora, " we should take turns tonight, all this stress will probably draw the werewolf out." Bethany nodded, " I'll go first" she replied. Bethany stepped out into the hall and slowly started walking about. The inn was a very different place at night, what were once familiar rooms and halls took on a strange look lit only by the candle in Bethany's hand. The shadows became snarling werewolves ready to leap out and devour her. Bethany walked into the trophy room and saw the window in the back was slightly open. Bethany's heart skipped a beat as she drew out Aurora's long needle. She walked over, and nudged it. There was nothing outside, no evidence to show that a werewolf had slipped in. Bethany closed and locked the window and flopped down on the sofa in the trophy room. Bethany looked at the six inch needle in the candle light, needle, the thing was more of a spike. But the Silver Spike was not a fitting nickname for Aurora. Seamus took a long breath, a thick white cloud cutting through the snowy night. That red headed woman almost spotted him. There would be a lot of tough questions for him to answer, like why in the world was he outside on a night like this. It was simple, Serafina. Seamus concealed himself in the wood shack, a tiny building next to the inn too keep the wood dry. There was a section of plank missing from the wall which looked directly at Serafina's window. Seamus crotched down and looked out. Serafina was pacing about her room, very upset from the incident. She stopped pacing and emptied her glass. She shook her head and began to unlace her dress. Seamus smiled watching as the heavy dress slowly dropped off her shoulders, down her waist and finally out of sight as it fell off her hips. She was a pure beauty, her flawless skin milky white, her breasts so big and perfect. Serafina unlaced her bodice, Seamus held his breath, would tonight be the night? But to his disappointment she simply took her necklace off and laced it back up. She pulled her nightgown on and climbed into bed. Seamus frowned, he would probably have to wait until spring to see her naked. Seamus got up and started for the trophy room window again. He pushed on the window and to his horror it was locked. Seamus pushed harder, but it wouldn't give. He would have to go around and hope the front door wasn't locked. Seamus was about to turn away from the window and heard heavy breathing. He froze, somebody must have spotted him. He looked over his shoulder and he felt a hot rushing sensation run down both legs. He tried to scream but only a hoarse gurgle came out. He bolted for the side of the inn. He rounded the corner, the deep snow not slowing his progress. He ran hard, not daring to look back. He stopped as he came around the inn and saw the lantern was still hung by the door. He was relieved to know they hadn't locked it yet, and he would be safe. Seamus looked back, it was gone. He must have scared it off when he ran. Seamus started for the door when it leapt from the roof. It struck the teenage hard, his leg snapping as they both hit the ground. Seamus looked into the glowing yellow eyes of the werewolf and screamed as loud as he could before the hot fangs clamped over his throat and bit down. There was a loud wet snap and then silence. Bethany pushed open their bedroom door, Aurora was sleeping soundly. Bethany set the candle down and reached over to shake her when a loud pained screamed echoed through the entire inn. Aurora bolted up in bed and leapt into her boots. The pair rushed into the hall, almost colliding with Peter. The trio raced to the main room where Serafina was standing with the door wide open. She looked at them with a look of horror. Tears were racing down her cheeks. They looked out of the door and saw bits and pieces of a body in the snow, steam was rising from them. " Lord" said Peter. Within moments the entire inn had gathered in the main room, except for Seamus, and Tobin. " What happened?" asked Joseph, " where is Seamus?" " Outside" said Aurora, " don't look." " Was it the werewolf?" asked Violet. " It was" said Bethany. " That means one of us is the werewolf" said Sarah, " oh god one of you is the werewolf!" " Calm down" said Peter, " just take it easy." " Where is Tobin?" asked Bethany. " I haven't seen him all night" said Joseph. " That drunk pig is the werewolf?" asked Violet. " Let's find him and ask" said Aurora. *************************
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