Hooves thundered up the streets towards the walls.  The Maidens of Battle were drilling in city combat--23 unmarried young women on reindeer--hard bodies and tight waists peaking between the scales of their lamelar, hair streaming behind them like a banner of hope for the people, javelins swiftly coming off their backs and replaced just as smoothly, reigndeer wheeling at a corner in tight formation as axes came off their belts, then rearing up too kick at the air, axe descending as the reigndeer dropped their hooves to the tile.<br/><br/>After a while, the drills broke up and the girls dispersed, staying armed, equipped, and ready to rally at the sounding of the horns.<br/><br/>The three lead girls cantered up to the walls on magnificent deer, a platinum blond beauty in orichalcum armor with two hatchets, a tiny fox girl with bright green eyes and a beautiful, golden skinned young woman with long black hair spilling out behind her.<br/><br/>They passed the Gothic girl--as they did every morning, offering her a smile that implied they were equally ready to befriend or destroy her.