Taming of a Werewolf

A resounding knock on the heavy wooden door and a moment later the peephole opened then closed and the door opened. In the hallway outside stood a tall bulky figure of a man and with the bright light behind him, he made a dark ominous outline, even then is was clear the man wore a long cloak and hood covering his face. The doorman gestured for him to enter and awaited the strangers name to pass on to the other guests, instead the stranger spoke in a deep gravelly tone, “I am expected.” The doorman gave a slight nod of the head stepped aside just in time avoid being brushed aside by the stranger. In a voice of questionable authority the doorman offered to take the strangers wrap. Once inside the stranger undid a clasp under his chin and pulled the hood from his head and in one swoop pulled it from his shoulders and placed it across the doorman’s extended arm. Another nod of accepting the wrap and the doorman faded into the shadows of the corner.

The stranger face revealed cold gray eyes with gray eyebrows and matching long hair pulled back into a smart ponytail, the sharp edge of his chin and cheekbones suggested a hard demeanor. The stranger’s choice of clothing supported the adventurous look of the face. Dressed all in black with a couple of pouches tied to his wide black belt and a double layer of leather over one shoulder going to the belt but not attached. On his right hip a revolver all in black, on his left a dagger of length enough to bring down any man. His black boots with lacing down the front reached almost to his knees.

The stranger’s entrance had not gone unnoticed by the other guests. Men in bright colored jackets and white-ruffed shirts stared at him; some raised an eyebrow wondering who he was. Several women smiled at the stranger, the air of mystery that his presents suggested brought fear to some and wild fantasies to others. The ladies were dressed in their finest the stranger assumed. Bright gowns of every color, every conceivable design but all included the cinched waists and plunging neckline to show their heaving breasts.

  

The stranger looked about the large ballroom, tables and chairs had been set up along the three walls two rows deep, low lighting from lamps on the walls cast long shadows across the walkway path around the center area. The fourth wall was given to a small troupe playing music softly. In front of the player a area set aside for dancing, only three couples were drawn to music to move and show off their steps, the other part of the center area was a curious collection of small booths with mostly old ladies selling small bottles and a variety of things placed in leather bags or wrapped in hides. These ladies were not so well dressed, as those at the tables, their dress compared to rags to the finer ladies and their male companions. The stranger glanced up the row of tables to his right, looking at the curious stares and raised eyebrows. Had someone been close enough one might had though the strange gave a slight smile before returning to his cold stare. To his left the stranger studied the men and women that sat or stood near the tables many were watching him.

With one hand on his dagger and the other held close to a leather pouch attached to his belt the stranger began to stroll down the walkway. He glanced at the old ladies and tables of bottles and piles of powders. One caught his eye and for a moment he let himself be drawn away from the study of the tables and the men and women. The old women smiled at the stranger through stringy hair and a mouth missing more then one or two teeth. In stranded voice of age the woman murmured, “Good evening sir, may I help? I have some fine potions and the very best powdered medicine you can find anywhere.” The stranger studied the table for a moment, “Do you have any Wolf Bane?” The old woman loose her smile and stepped back from her table, “No sir no Wolf Bane, how about some Kone flower or Widow’s Breath, picked this morning while the dew was still on the grass?”

The stranger did not answer he simply turned away and went back to studying the people at the tables as he walked by. As he passed each table and stared into the faces of the people there the people stared back but also they shuffled their feet in a nervous manner. Over the soft sound of the music the stranger heard the people asking each other who he was. At one table the stranger stopped and studied one man that remained seated with his back to the stranger, he stared at the man’s back for several minutes, the man was lean and tall with blonde locks of hair circling his face. One of the blonde man’s companions nudged him on his arm and nodded in the direction of the stranger. The blonde haired man stood up and turned to face the stranger. The stranger stared into the eyes of the young man then without as much as an apologize or acknowledgement the stranger continued on to the next table the next guest. The whispers grew louder but the stranger ignored them and continued with his search.

            Working his way around to the troupe he studied them too. A couple times he was seen glancing at the tables of wears but not until he got to the far corner from the door did he speak to another old woman working the tables. The stranger studied the contents of the woman’s table but when the woman began to speak the stranger raised his hand to silence her. “My good woman do you have any Wolf Bane?” In a voice trying to hide the fear that gripped her throat the old woman answered, “No, my lord.” The stranger nodded, “Fine do you have an holy water?” “No. My lord”, the woman answered her voice quivering now with fear. “My lord perhaps there is something else you need that I may carry?” The stranger glanced over the table again, “No, I think not.” The stranger stepped away from the table and continued his study of the other guests.

            Out of the corner of his the stranger saw a strapping young man in a dark green jacket with matching tails taking several strides towards him. The stranger turned to face the young man, in a gravelly voice loud enough to be heard across the room the stranger asked, “Something I can do for you, young man?” The man was set back by the volume and harshness of the stranger’s voice. Shuddering slightly the young man managed to ask, “Sir is there something or someone that you are looking for?” “Why do you ask?” After swallowing hard the young man continued, “Sir surely you can tell that your manner of searching and staring at the guests have made them uncomfortable. Perhaps if you told us what you were looking for we could help you?” The man’s voice drifted off to a whisper. The stranger narrowed his eyes, “Sir, I will know what I am looking for when I see it, you do not have the years to find it or help me find it.” The stranger moved pass the young man and continued his search, the young man stood there looking both lost and confused. Again the whispering increased form both male and female. 

            The stranger stopped at a table with a young blonde lady dressed in a beautiful blue gown and a matching pill box hat, her features were sharp but gentle her eyes green and full of life. At that moment her eyes were fixed on the stranger and the look of fear that all the other wore was most pronounced on her face, her eyes widened as she realized the stranger had stopped at her table. To the pretty lady’s right sat a man of medium build and height blonde curls circled his face which showed no emotion as he stared at the glass of wine standing between his hands on the table. When the lady nudged the man’s arm the emotionless face to turned to a sneer as he slowly raised his eyes to meet the strangers stare.

            As if suddenly set on fire the young blonde man slipped his hands under the table shoved the table upwards and towards the stranger, and in the same motion got to his feet and headed for the nearby balcony doors. People shattered and tripped over each other to get out of the way. The stranger moved quickly and was only a few feet behind the young man when he burst through the balcony doors onto the large patio outside. The doors slammed shut behind the two men. From the ballroom the guests could hear the two men fighting. Just as a few people neared the balcony doors to look outside the door flew open again as the two men rolled on to the ballroom floor the young man now seemed different he was large and he looked raggedy both in clothing and in features. The young man growled in anger and tore at the stranger with both hands. Suddenly the young man pushed the stranger aside and headed for the balcony doors again. The stranger recovered his footing and at the same time pulled the two leather straps that hung from his one shoulder to his belt and he raced back through balcony doors after the young man.

            This time the guests thought for several minutes before approaching the balcony doors. They could all hear the cries and shuffling on the patio of the two combatants. As sudden as the confrontation started it ended. The guests looked at each for a moment. One guest reached for the door expecting to see the two men laying on the patio floor, what he saw and what the others saw shocked them. Women squealed and men gasped as the stranger strolled through the balcony doors with a large white wolf on the leather straps. The guests quickly parted a path for the two, man and wolf as they headed for the door. The stranger smiled as he heard more whispering and words of surprise from the guests. The stranger suddenly stopped and turned to the crowd, he search the people until he spotted the blonde lady with the blue gown and the green eyes. He lifted his free arm and the woman stepped from the crowd and laced her arm in his. The two turned and headed for the door.

            The doorman stood with the door open and the strangers cloak at the ready. The stranger, the lady and wolf stopped for just a moment as the stranger took his cloak and handed the doorman a small card. With a nod of his head the stranger lead the lady and the wolf out of the room. Once the door was closed the doorman read the card the stranger had given him. “Thank sir for your invitation to your Ball, I hope your guests enjoyed the performance.” Signed the Sir William Foxworth Traveling Troupe.