No going back PART2

The next day was the day Rue dreaded. It was the day of departure and they had to suit up before they leave.

Lady Lilith had sent a gift for her. It was a Werewolf tooth fashioned into a necklace to help her with telekinesis. Touching something from those mutts could make their image more real, strengthening her telekinetic link. The note wished her 'good luck Red the Werewolf slayer.'

Rue smiled and put it around her neck.

The Fronteras was the only other order to have its members wear cloaks. However, the Zunbera-xefis' cloaks were special and designed for those going on Quests. It was also a major influence behind the name silent red devils.

It was a dark-red hooded mantle with a back split for their tail and easy movement. The material was light enough and waterproof for rain, and hid the weapons they carried close on their bodies. Each was designed specifically for their unique heights and build so they all ended at the ankle.

They were also suited with gloves with holes above the fingertips for their claws and armored with silver spikes over the knuckles. They all wore similar thick leather boots.

Rue was somewhat glad about not having her guards around anymore. However, she missed her maids as she struggled to put her back-length hair into a bun. It looked weird and made a large bulge giving the impression she was hiding a massive brain tumor at the back of her hood.

Dayrue, being the only other female, saw her difficulty and suggested shaving her head for her. She stopped flickering around the dagger she usually had in one hand and held it close to Rue's head.

"No!" panicked Rue before moving far away from her.

Her hair wasn't only her last attractive feature but it also offered protection for the scar on her back. Rue was determined to get it right.

She didn't ask her father for help as he never unplaited his which was proof enough that he didn't know how to plait.

"I'm going to be without my maids for the entire journey so I may as well learn to do it now," she thought to herself.

She managed to plait her hair into one long bulgy braid down her back. Hidden by her hooded mantle no one could mock her, and the material was good for keeping in the moisture to keep it from drying out. For extra precaution, she sneaked in a container of hair grease to recondition her hair when needed.

Underneath their mantles they were each armed with daggers secured by several belts around their waist and abdomen, and along their legs. They were fastened tips facing up to prevent the poisons from dripping out.

They also hid two swords on both sides, and pouches with several shurikens, one silver chain whip, and refillable poison tubes for daggers and swords. Light armor plates covered their chests, arms, and legs on top of their skin hardening ability.

Since vampires' skin burns in contact with silver they had the Metalcrafters make all their metal weapons solely out of silver for that mission. A single touch from one of those weapons could light up their skin with explosive fiery boils. They also had red and black poisons for other dangerous species.

Both Cronan and Dayrue could control the movement of their swords using telekinesis as they pulled one from its sheath without lifting a hand to observe the blade. Their sharp edges shimmered in the light.

Rue tried pulling out her sword while touching the tooth at her neck, but her sword started to fall once it left the support of the sheath and she grabbed the handle before it reached the ground.

Though she was embarrassed her father was impressed and gave her a gentle pat on the shoulder. He reassured her that he would make time to help her practice as they would have lots together on the Quest. She looked forward to it and remembered she had nothing to fear with her father at her side.

Roshar had special silver-tipped arrows but since they were limited he saved those for Vampire threats. He stacked the regular ones in his quiver secured on his back outside of his mantle along with a silver bow.

Skinner had a hard time understanding how Roshar could choose a bow over a sword as his main weapon. He chuckled and added, "That level of stupidity makes me want to quiver."

As usual, he laughed to himself as no one joined in.

Aside from the weapons and mantle, they each got a companion reptilic animal called a rattler. They crawled on all fours, reached below the waist, and had a thick tail that extended from the spine. Their diet was mostly vegetarian with bugs and small crawling insects. Their special legs enabled them to crawl on vertical objects like trees and rocks and could also move them super fast to swim.

However, their main purpose was bearing load to enable their assassins to move freely and faster. The load was secured in a sack designed for the shape of their backs and from a hard material that was stained to mimic their green skin to mask it as a gentle humph. This was needed since unlike the Meras they could not create a stealth energy field. It had flaps that extended over their heads and legs to serve as armor and helped to shield them from the rain, thorns, and the sun.

The load was carefully picked to be light and had only essentials. It consisted of a thicker spare mantle for when they reached the cold territories as the Blood Elf Domain was under an endless snowy bliss. It never snowed in the Mera Domain and it was one of the wanders Rue looked forward to experiencing.

Other items they carried were water bags, spare shurikens and daggers, refills for poison tubes, monoculars for seeing far distances, compass for direction, rope, abrasives for sharpening weapons, and limited medical supplies like bandages, painkillers made from special plants, and drawn manuals for limb amputation if that was ever needed. None carried too much of any item as the load was spread out evenly among them.

The six along with their rattlers journeyed down the paths that led outside the Zunbera-xefi plains, through the town, and towards the West-wing gate of the Kingdom. From there they would continue outside the mainlands passing wildlife common to the Mera Domain until they reached the mark that signified their border.

The alternating movements of the rattlers' right and left limbs created a wiggle motion as they walked. Rue thought it was cute on top of their large beady black eyes. She had difficulty coming up with a name for her new friend.

Skinner suggested she didn't and said, "That would only cause you to become attached and make their deaths even sadder than needs be."

"How are you so sure it will die?" she asked with irritation. "I'll keep mine safe." She patted its head that was covered in light armor.

"Trust me, I doubt half of us will make it back alive, much less these load bearers," he replied with a laugh.

Like most of the words that came out of his mouth, it annoyed her. He was the constant reminder that this was a dangerous Quest, and not to be taken lightly.

Thousands of Meras gathered along their departure route towards the West-wing gate in groups of their orders. Some on rooftops sprinkled flowers down on their heads while some laid palm leaves for them to walk on. All the loud cheers and yells of good luck were on all sides. They sang songs with the message, while they are gone they will be alert and have them always in their hearts waiting eagerly for their return home.

Rue could not hear herself think. An uncontrollable tremble overtook her body when she realized it was not a dream. It was happening. She was on a dangerous Quest acting as a peacemaker of the Frontera System and soon she will be out of the Mera Domain.

She gulped at the thought that she was disobeying Sir Lucius's order, but the conception of seeing her mother alive through a magical mirror or even seeing her future, and experiencing marvelous worldly sights beyond the wildest dreams, cheered her up.

"No more guards and hell no more Lucius!" she thought. "Screw you. You're lucky I never told my dad about that slap or your body would have been hanging from a stalk pitched outside your palace. Hahaha..." She began to laugh to herself.