back into a tight bun and her deep grey eyes gave the impression that she took no nonsense from anyone.


    The door creaked open to reveal a woman in herte sixties, she was a motherly type dressed in a pale blue wrap around dress covered in a white apron that had scorch marks on from where she used it to take tes from the oven. Her grey hair was pulled neatly Surveying the group carefully, her eyes rested on Xano and she curtly addressed him in their nativenguage. The young boy replied rapidly, gesticting down the road, then to the group of men before finally at Nanny Anna''s house.


    She huffed loudly, shouting something down the street before beckoning to Lucian and his warriors to follow her into the house.


    They passed through an impressively sized living room that had 3 squishy sofa''s ced round a coffee table, there was no tv or other modern electronics except a small radio that rested on a sideboard at the back of the room. Moving down a long corridor, Nanny Anna stopped just shy of the end in front of 3 doors that when opened revealed three identical bedrooms each with two single beds and a small dresser. Pointing to Lucian''s men she indicated that they share the rooms between them. Checking with their Beta first, the six men paired off, each choosing a room for the night.


    Nanny Anna ced her hand on Lucian''s arm and guided him back down the corridor before opening a door on the left that revealed a pretty room with a double bed and a door that showed a small walk in washroom.


    ''You are the boss?'' Nanny Anna asked, though it was more of a statement than a question.


    Surprised that she could speak English, Lucian replied ''Yes, I am the leader, we apologise for the intrusion ma-am, we will be perfect guests whilst we are here, I promise''


    ''No call me Ma-am'' said Nanny Anna sternly ''I am Nanny Anna to all''


    Nodding his acknowledgement Lucian corrected himself ''Nanny Anna, we thank you for your hospitality'' with a slight bow toward her.


    Trying to suppress a smile at the smooth werewolf Nanny Anna turned to walk back toward the kitchen, calling over her shoulder ''Dinner is 6pm, do not bete to my table'' before rounding the end of the corridor and out of view.


    Lucian shut the door quietly before sinking down onto the bed and taking in the room, the double bed had a bright white beadspread covered with a deep maroon nket, looking at the single zed window he could tell that the house got chilly in the night here in the shade of the mountains. Arge chest of drawers stood between two oak doors, one of which led to the washroom, walking to the other, he opened the door to be greeted with shelving that held extra bedding, towels and wash cloths, whilst on the floor was a mop and bucket.


    Grabbing one of the towels, Lucian stripped of his clothing before stepping into the small wooden tub in the washroom and pulling the curtain that hung from the ceiling around him. Turning the tap, he gasped as freezing cold water soaked his skin. Shivering he cursed himself for not checking the temperature before stepping into the jet. Slowly the water started to warm though the heating was obviously of an older generation as it never reached above luke warm to the touch. Worried that warm water was limited, he quickly scrubbed himself clean before rinsing off and stepping onto the polished wooden floor, wrapping a towel around himself and stepping back into the bedroom.


    Checking his watch and seeing that it was already 5:45pm, he dried himself quickly before pulling on some clean clothes from his small pack and exiting the room to round up his warriors.


    At 6;15pm the group of seven men presented themselves in the kitchen to Nanny Anna, who viewed them appraisingly before nodding her approval and waving her hand at therge kitchen table that could easily seat ten, inviting them to sit. A small girl of roughly eight years old was stood by the sink, washing up the pots and pans as Nanny Anna finished with them, she turned to look at the neers before blushing and turning quickly back to her task hiding her face.


    cing a te of stew and mashed potato in front of each of the visitors before calling out to the young girl, who immediately ced the saucepan she was washing onto the draining board and taking her seat to the right of Nanny Anna who sat at the head of the table.


    Turning to the warriors Nanny Anna frowned ''We do not stand on ceremony here, eat your food, you need strength where you are going''


    Lucian thanked Nanny Anna as his men dug into the meals in front of them, the room soon filling with moans and sighs of contentment from the seven warriors as they devoured their food.


    Grabbing one of the towels, Lucian stripped of his clothing before stepping into the small wooden tub in the washroom and pulling the curtain that hung from the ceiling around him. Turning the tap, he gasped as freezing cold water soaked his skin. Shivering he cursed himself for not checking the temperature before stepping into the jet. Slowly the water started to warm though the heating was obviously of an older generation as it never reached above luke warm to the touch. Worried that warm water was limited, he quickly scrubbed himself clean before rinsing off and stepping onto the polished wooden floor, wrapping a towel around himself and stepping back into the bedroom.


    Nanny Anna smiled at them, obviously happy that her cooking was appreciated, soon the ces were clear and the men sat back in their chairs each with a satisfied grin on their face.


    ''How is it that you speak English?'' asked Lucian, ''It seems the Elder cannot as he had to ask Xano to interpret''


    Nanny Anna folded her hands in herp ''Three years ago a young woman came to our vige, she had been how you say? walking? through the wilderness, she said she was ''finding herself'' we did not understand what she meant'' she said, her eyes bing unfocused as she remembered. ''Her name was Sara and she was a doctor, her husband, he had died, she could not save him and she had felt a failure, one day she stumbled across our vige, one of the children was sick so she helped him, she had medicine. The elder managed to get her to understand that she was invited to stay, she lived here in my house as this is where any visitors stay. We struggled to talk as I spoke mynguage and she spoke hers, so we started to teach each other, to begin with we were pointing to things and saying what they were. Some of the children woulde to learn from Sara, she was much loved by them. After a full rotation of the sun she said she had to leave and set off into the woods, she didn''te back'' she said sadly. ''Do you know where Sara went?'' asked Merrick intrigued


    ''I do not'' replied Nanny Anna somberly ''I hope she found her peace though as her husbands death was not her fault, I hope she returned home to help others with her healing gift''


    The seven men took that as their cue to leave, each thanking the woman for their dinner before retiring to their rooms.


    Just as he was about to turn off the light, Lucian heard a tentative knock on his door, pulling it slightly open he saw the young girl from the kitchen. Shyly she said ''Sir, you are to meet with the Elder at 10:00am at his home, Xano wille to collect you after breakfast. before quickly scurrying away.


    Shutting to door, Lucian mbered under the sheets, finding the bed surprisingly warm andfortable, it was only moments before he sank into a deep sleep.