anybody out there?
i feel like i'm filling up your
poor inbox with
this story of mine... ^.- o well,
here's chapter
3!!!
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( Chapter 3 )
.: Training :.
"Hurry up,
Relena!" Hilde cried, exasperated, to her
best friend.
"Just
another minute! I’ll find it!" Relena called
down. The other
women shook their heads with tiny
smiles on their
faces.
"Got
it!" Relena announced triumphantly.
"What
exactly was ‘it’ again?" Hilde asked. Relena
held up a
silver chain necklace. Hilde’s eyes widened.
"We waited
for that?" she cried.
"It’s
lucky!" Relena protested, putting it on. "Never
mind,
let’s just get going."
"About
time," Hilde said under her breath.
*~*
"Ah,
welcome ladies," the doorman said. "His lordship
is waiting in
the main court for you. We are to take
care of your
baggage and your rooms, I believe that
Count Dekim
will show you to your wing at the end of
the day."
He ended with a bow, and gestured for the
ladies to
proceed inside. They strode down the main
hall boldly,
ignoring lustful looks from guards, until
they reached
the main court. Lord Dermail was seated
as always, the
count standing at his side.
"My
hunters," the lord purred as they approached.
"Welcome
to your new home. Today is more introductory,
tomorrow the
real work begins. I shall get directly to
the point. If
you would be so kind as to have a seat,"
he gestured to
the chairs provided, " and listen to
Count Dekim, he
will begin by introducing you to your
enemies."
The count stepped to the side, where painted
canvases lay.
Snapping his fingers, Dekim motioned for
a guard picked
up a canvas and hold it. The count
began.
"Your
first opponent, Dwarves. Short in stature.
Heavily
equipped, making them one of your slower
opponents. Do
not underestimate their strength,
however."
He snapped his fingers, and the next canvas
was shown.
"Gremlins.
Sly, treacherous. These creatures will play
mind games with
you, confuse you, then kill you. Be
wary and
prepare to use any sort of defense mechanism
possible when
fighting them." Snap again. Next canvas.
"Unicorns.
While they are not capable of extraordinary
offensive
abilities, these magic-using creatures will
heal their
allies and can provide incomparable
defensive
means. Aim for the horn." Next.
"Elves.
Quick-witted, crafty, excellent fighters. They
are capable of
using almost any means of hunting and
fighting, any
weaponry. Lightning-fast. By far the
most agile,
intelligent, and dangerous opponents you
will face, with
one exception." Another snap, another
canvas.
"Dragons.
Most often appearing with unicorns,
sometimes with
elves. Dragons have the most offensive
abilities you
will ever face. Bulk, power, and
maneuverability
are on their side. Keep in mind that
they can fly,
so don’t omit the possibility of an
aerial attack
while in a forest or glen," Dekim
finished. He
motioned to the guard, who took the
canvases and
left.
"Now then,
your weaponry," Lord Dermail said. He
motioned to
another guard, who brought in a large bag.
The count
pulled numerous cases from it. For Dorothy
and Sally,
beautiful, long rapiers. They were tested
at once. Hilde,
Noin, and Relena received exquisitely
crafted bows
and arrows, and for Catherine, an
absolutely
gorgeous set of jeweled throwing daggers.
"Of
course, you will all be armed with primary means
of
defense," the count said, as they all found short
swords hidden
away in their cases, "and here are your
new outfits.
Report to the court in the west wing once
you are
finished."
"Change
then, and be quick about it," the lord said as
the ladies
gathered their things. He smiled darkly.
"You are
now my hunters."
*~*
"I do LOVE
these!!" Dorothy exclaimed as she tested
her sword
thrusts against her new outfit. "No more
pesky
petticoats!"
"Oh,
Dory," Catherine said. "They weren’t that bad…
But I do admit
I like these better," she added with a
giggle. The
girls waited in the west court for their
first
instructor to arrive. They all wore the same
outfit with
slight color variation. Long, skin-tight
suede pants. A
tight, thin, long-sleeved shirt, then a
fitted suede
overshirt with short sleeves.
‘Incredibly
light, I wonder what it’s made from,’
Lucretia
wondered.
"Ladies!"
a loud, deep, feminine voice and a hand-clap
brought their
eyes to a doorway. A tall woman with
long brown hair
and deep chestnut eyes stood there.
"Pardon,
but are you our instructor?" Lucretia
ventured.
"Yes. I am
Lady Une," the newcomer said. "And first
things are
first. You will never wear your hair down
when hunting.
You have the option of wearing your hair
tightly up or
having it cut."
"Oh, but I
can’t wear my hair up!" Hilde cried without
thinking, then
gasped and covered her mouth.
"Then
yours shall be cut," Une said abruptly. A guard
led Hilde from
the courtyard by the wrist. Lucretia
thought fast.
The least she could do was make her
sister feel
better…
"I shall
have mine cut as well," she said quickly. The
other girls
gasped.
"Not your
beautiful long hair!" Dorothy said, in
shock. Lucretia
simply smiled sadly and walked after
the guard.
*~*
"Oh my, oh
my…" Catherine said. The sisters entered
the courtyard.
"Oh,
girls," Sally said sympathetically. Hilde brought
her hands to
her neck sub-consciously. She felt almost
naked with such
short hair. Noin felt the same way,
but refused to
show it, save the small blush that
graced her
cheeks. Relena was the first to make the
best of the
situation.
"You both
still look absolutely stunning," she said
with a small
smile. Hilde grinned in gratitude.
"I suppose
so…" she said. "After all, it is hard to
take away our
beauty, right sister?" Lucretia smiled.
"Right, Hilde."
"Ahem, if
we could get on with our lessons now?" Une
said
impatiently. "I don’t have all day." So they
began.
*~*
"Ladies,
this is Sir Treize Khushrenada. He will be
your
swordfighting teacher, partner, and mentor. Sir,
I leave them to
you.," Une said. "Ladies, adieu until
tomorrow."
"Thank
you, Lady," the tall aristocrat said quietly.
His
golden-brown hair glinted in the slowly setting
sun. "Now
then, ladies. I wish to have each of you
fight me with
either short or long swords, so that I
might have a
better idea of where each of you stand."
Relena,
Catherine, and Noin chose short swords and
learned a great
deal. Dorothy did exceptionally well
with her long
sword. Hilde caught on very quickly.
Then Sally
fought.
"I see you
have had previous instruction," Treize said
as they fought.
"You would
be correct," Sally answered nonchalantly.
"And how
much talent do you have hidden away, then?"
Treize asked
with a diplomatic smile. Sally all at
once flipped
the sword from his hands and caught him
under the chin
with her blade.
"For me to
know, and my opponents to realize," she
said mockingly.
"Ah…"
Treize said. "Very good. Like the Black Widow."
Sally looked
confused, so he continued. "A legend of a
swordswoman.
She was so talented, no one could match
her skill with
the sword. Any opposition she met was
destroyed at
her hand. The name suits you, if you will
pardon me. Our
time is over for today, ladies," he
continued to
the group. "If you will proceed to the
main hall,
Count Dekim will show you to your rooms.
Until
tomorrow." He bowed and they parted ways.
*~*
"I believe
the time has come, my lord," Count Dekim
said.
"Yes
indeed, Count Dekim. They are ready." It was
true. After
nearly two weeks of training, the ladies
had truly
become hunters. The archers could hit any
target, moving
or not, within half a mile radius.
Catherine could
throw nearly the same distance.
Dorothy and
Sally had perfected their training, under
the watchful
eye of Treize, so that, if need be, they
could kill a
buzzing fly in mid-flight. The count
smirked.
"Shall we
send them out tomorrow, my liege?" he asked.
"Yes,"
came the reply. "Now the hunt is on."
:. *~*~* .:
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TELL ME WHAT
YOU THINK!!! plz!! ^.^
luv ya,
Sora
read on, little
one!! (sorry, i'm weird ^.-) this is a
long chapter,
so u might wanna start it when u gots
time to
spare... hope you like it, send me what ya
think real
soon! ^.^