“I will leave you to your thoughts,” the elder said and exited her cottage to attend to her own business.

Charis withdrew into herself, thinking about her condition. Not a true woman and certainly not a man. She realised since she now knew her condition a sense of loss grew within. Whether this became the reason, or this awareness became the trigger emotions flooded her senses, dragging her down into a vortex of doubt, not knowing her place, neither man nor woman.

Charis sobbed herself to sleep leaning on Otonia, drained by the ordeal. Otonia fussed over the bedding to lay Charis down. Once free of Charis’ needs Otonia paced in a circle within the small cottage and studied it. She eventually found the two knives and began practicing her throwing skills to kill time. They weren’t ideally balanced although balanced enough she could adapt to them to ensure they hit true often enough.

---

“Nice.”

The speaker was behind her, the hoarse whisper belonging to Charis. Otonia swivelled about, shaking out her hands and bouncing from one foot to the other. Charis lent her head to one side and smiled as she opened her arms. Otonia didn’t need any other invitation and quickly stepped into the offered embrace.

Their heads resting upon each other, side by side, Otonia fought between sobs to speak. “I don’t remember everything, I remembered enough to know you risked your life to save mine and kill him so I will never need to worry about him again.”

She slowly drew her head back until face to face with her rescuer. Closing her eyes, she gently lent forward with lips open and inviting, and hoped Charis would accept her invitation.

Charis pressed forward and Otonia felt a gentle and earnest reply as their lips touched softly and lightly. Their first shared kiss.

Withdrawing gently from the kiss Charis scrutinised Otonia’s face; her hands now cupped Otonia’s face in warm embrace.

“Are you sure, you wish to accompany me? Death follows any friend who is with me …” Charis started to announce.

“We are only friends then?” she asked her head tilted slightly, pale green eyes locking onto clear blue eyes.

“We are more than friends. Did you hear what I said, about Death?” Charis removed her hands.

“I should be dead already, you saved me, so I know your curse is broken and you are the wiser for it now.”

“I truly hope so as a third loss would probably shatter me. I’ve lost one friend. I am not going to lose another, ever, if I can prevent it,” said Charis.

Otonia held Charis ignoring everything else, her new true friend and companion.

“I am certain of it. Look what you have done to me, made me all serious suddenly. Know I am truly grateful to you. I can remember now how he was my best friend, how he treated me, and I was disposable. Other lives didn’t matter to him. So yes, Charis my true best friend, I owe you a life debt.”

While still embraced Charis wriggled an arm free and showed off one of the bronze loops. “This doesn’t mean we are married by the way,” Charis’ eyes glistened, “please accept this bronze loop, it is one half of the magic he used to lure his victims to their deaths, and I don’t think it would be wise for one of us to wear both.”

Charis took the other bronze loop and placed it around her big toe on her left foot. Otonia followed her lead needing to take off her right boot first.

Charis kissed Otonia on her forehead, weakly now as she closed her eyes and fell asleep again in her friend’s arms, trusting she would keep her safe. Otonia found Charis’ bedroll, placed it under Charis’ head, and then recovered the bedding she kicked off and placed it back over her, tucking her in, finishing by kissing her lightly on her forehead. Waiting for Charis to wake and the elder to return Otonia continued practicing with the two knives she found.

-----

The knife went off mark as the pain in Otonia’s right toe screamed at her for attention. Otonia hit the floor of the cottage bruising her buttocks for sure, a small distraction from the real pain. Otonia crawled to Charis, needing understanding and comfort. Charis mentioned the pain, but this was beyond pain. Otonia started crying while removing her boot; she needed to get to her toe. Did she still have a toe?

“I am sorry Otonia.” Charis squeezed the words out between gritted teeth. Sweat rolled down her forehead.

Charis knew taking off the boot made no difference, so she crawled to Otonia, slowly but surely.

Otonia stared at her toe, the bronze loop wrapped around it burying itself into her flesh, hurting. The screaming pain occurred when the bronze loop scrapped her bone. Charis embraced her then, the warmth, and sweat of their bodies as one, sharing their mutual comfort.

As a thought, Charis faced Otonia sitting up, cross-legged. She then reached for Otonia’s right foot against her protests and placed it near her left foot. Joined close, the two bronze loops seemed to reach an accord. Charis and Otonia leant toward each other embracing their upper bodies in relief. The pain continued.

---

The elder returned to find them embraced still. She gawked for a moment, placing her purchases on the floor of the cottage and then her hands on her hips considering what to do next. Uncertain if they slept or were both exhausted.

“We are recovering elder, water would help us please,” Charis whispered.

Charis tilted Otonia’s head back slightly and tipped the cup of water, a sip at a time into her mouth. She spluttered a little and then started gulping and drinking down the water on offer. Charis gave her the cup the elder brought over for her, while the elder refilled Otonia’s cup.

Charis drank from Otonia’s refilled cup as Otonia relaxed and laid back. Charis lay down beside her; she didn’t have the energy to move.

---

They both woke to brewed tea, a cup handed to each of them and the elder smiling at them.

“I require you both to undress, so you can try these on. And Otonia I think your hair would be better if it was Black to match Charis.”

They tried on the new with the old with the elder fussing to achieve the look required. They listened to the news, such as it was.

“A farmer’s wagon caravan leaves tomorrow, so it would be ideal if you join it. It will meet up with another in the next village called Oxrest and then both will continue to the major town in this area called Hillperch. At the Town locate a scribe.”

Charis was dressed in male long underpants and soon covered them with the leather pants she already knew well. The leg bottoms pushed into the knee-high boots she then put on.

Otonia was similarly dressed, although delayed, distracted by her new hair colour as she confirmed it changed everywhere.

“I found out the travelling troupe have moved on, heading back to the city, so you may yet meet them again if they make any stops Otonia,” stressing her name to get Otonia back on track, “the shirts you wear are made from the top halves of lace up dresses. Being female, most males will underestimate you or help you to be gallant. The wide brim hats serve two purposes, keep the sun off, as well as disguise if required and I added the black feathers to match your hair colour, so people will remember it well and not your face.”

The elder inspected them and nodded to confirm they passed inspection.

“There is a spare set each. There are some salves and herbal preparations, one will aid in healing and the other will cause deep sleep. Moreover, Charis, I purchased some iron tipped arrows for you and if any in the village ask, you are my distant relatives, who are travelling to the city for the Birth Season summoning and I have been getting supplies for you both, which is close enough to the truth. Otonia you will need to search through the Letters of Introduction to find a position in the City.”

“Am I not too old now?” Otonia asked.

“No, you could pass for seventeen fairly easily, use the paints and powders you have. Men are no judge of a woman’s age so you can easily convince the oafs. You will need to be busy while Charis studies magic as it takes years to become skilled.”

“So, we will be separated when we reach the city?”

“We will figure it out once we settle in. We don’t know anything about the summoning so until we do, we are guessing. Although the elder is right, pick a Letter of Introduction now so you are prepared when we get there,” Charis answered.

As Otonia started sorting through the Letters, Charis turned to the elder.

“Our pain was from melding his bronze loops, one with Otonia, and one with me. Ensuring people are friendly would be helpful, although I thought two for the one person would seem to go too far given the power over people he showed, so one should be enough?”

“Yes, one should be enough as strangers aren’t trusted much, so any influence would be useful. You wear the other for similar reasons.” The elder scratched her cheek. “I wonder, if you both stood side by side will the two bronze loops being close, enhance any friendship magic on them, as they do seem bonded in some way, given how effective they were for the traveller. I also wonder about the bronze loop you already have. I guess time will tell.”

Charis nodded. “When the loops were melding, bringing our feet closer together eased the pain, so they’re paired, and I expect they will work as you say.”

They ate then, followed by another cup of tea. The rest of the afternoon was spent checking their packs and their provisions for the journey tomorrow.

The elder then turned to them both and told them to visit the Inn as the Farmer’s Caravan Master was entering at that moment and was the man they needed to talk to, to catch the caravan.

---

Charis could offer to hunt for food along the way while Otonia could provide some protection with her throwing knives. Certain no one in the village would recognise the knives as the traveller wouldn’t need to use them openly as they would be a final kill weapon.

“Are yes, so you are the herb crone’s distant relatives I am expecting. Heading to the city, well we are going part way there of course and more in a caravan is always better than less. You will need to supply your own food, otherwise, you are welcome to the protection of the wagons at night.”

A clean-shaven, robust, barrel-chested man, only slightly going to gut around the waist as trustworthy as anyone else, Charis thought.

“Thank you, Caravan Master, I can help with some hunting and my cousin can throw a mean knife if needed. We will be ready at daybreak and join you then if agreeable?”

“Yes, girls.” He smiled.

Once they were clear of the Inn and crossing the dirt road, they glanced at each other, the way he spoke those last two words was odd.

“Yes, he was too friendly, and I was wondering if it was just me, should we be concerned do you think Charis?”

“It could be the magic of the bronze loops, although I didn’t call on them or will for any … favour.”

“I don’t think so, I didn’t realise you needed to will it for anything to happen,” Otonia said as they approached the cottage door and opened it to enter.

The cottage sat in darkness. They opened the door as much as possible to coax in some fading sunlight despite dusk, there was enough to see a candle and tinder. They cautiously entered, Otonia with knife out while Charis grabbed the tinder and started flicking it to light a candle.

With another candle lit, all the dark corners of the cottage retreated, confirming the elder’s absence.

They both swivelled about to confront someone knocking on the door. A small boy child greeted them.

“My master says you need to follow me.”

He was in some sort of livery, well dressed, wearing sturdy shoes, and very politely spoken.

They blew out the candles and followed; what else could they do?

They left the village by the east road and on the outskirts of the village discovered a large tent pavilion. The cloth was emblazoned with a coat of arms, so they knew they were about to enter a Lord’s camp, they both confirmed with a glance, they didn’t know of this Lord, although Otonia was still considering, thought Charis. Why would a Lord be in this backwater village, it wasn’t anywhere near the main trail?

“Welcome cousins,” the Lord bellowed in a confident voice. His full mane of bright red hair animated, distracting them from noting any of his other features, his beard bright red to match.

The elder tended the Lord’s feet, no obvious harm, or signs of violence upon her. She turned to greet them with a smile, and they marginally relaxed.

“I always send a boy page as people seem more inclined to comply when a non-threatening child asks them. Glad to see it was acceptable to you young ladies as well.”

They both curtsied as custom required.

“Some explanation is required I know. Sit and be comfortable as I would like to share a meal with you as I explain.”

They found a cushion each and sat near a low table in the centre of the pavilion. The boy herald then set some round flat pieces of wood in front of them, offered them some chicken to place upon it, and left the rest on the low table. He soon returned with cheese and cups of liquid.

Charis sipped cautiously.

“That is a nice wine from the south my dear, drink it slowly though, it has a kick if drunk too fast and you are small and slight in build, and I know burly knights who were felled low by a single cup.”

His large bushy eyebrows dominated his face, although his large nose and large front teeth gave them considerable competition, now they looked past his royal hair.

“Lord I was wondering if my cousin could approach to assist an old lady to her feet.”

“Certainly, your tonic and salve always relieve the pain although I am in no condition to stand.”

Charis took the hint and hastened to the elder. She held on to one of the elder’s hands while she laboured to rise to her feet. Charis felt a small tug of magic being drawn from her and then they both stood and Charis aided the hobbling elder back to a cushion before the low table.

“I always take a diversion to see your cousin. She is an excellent herbalist and the only one who can provide me with some relief from the pains in my feet. I am on my way to reaffirm my loyalty to the Duke of this land, and I would at least like to walk into his Hall when I swear fealty,” he bellowed.

“Lord, I will leave you the rest of the salve. You need to apply it once per day for the next five days to improve your condition,” said the elder with a nod.

“I will follow your instructions, as always venerable lady and thank you for answering my request so late in the day. Although I must say I didn’t know your family line included noble blood.”

Charis heard a brief snort, covered by a cough from the elder.

“I beg your leave to retire. My cousins can escort me back to my cottage,” the elder suggested.

“Yes, most certainly, I will need to retire myself for an early start in the morning. I will trace your family tree another time, most interesting.”

They cleared the pavilion and were at the edge of the village when the elder paused.

“The Lord of the Northern Watch is a long-time acquaintance. His family line suffers from a condition I can treat to grant temporary relief. The magic I drew from you though will allow this current treatment to cure him for many seasons. It is the least I could do given my not so certain future.”

The reality of the elder’s acceptance she could die hit both girls hard, Charis most of all, given her recent loss and being homesick. She would like to sit with her father and talk over the hearth fire as they did most nights. When they weren’t talking over their hearth, they were guests in other homes, and she was always welcome at the same table as the adults. In all the talk, there was never a story of someone who realised they could die and was prepared for and accepted their death. Most deluded themselves they would live forever until they didn’t.

They were soon at the cottage and a candle lit.

“I apologise, I made your hair colour black, which is peasant hair well enough then he asked about his red hair and if I could make it permanent with potion or cream. He asked after I mentioned for some addled reason, I needed to change my cousin’s hair from light brown to black as she felt cursed to be mistaken as a noble when only a peasant. I am sorry as no one needs the attention of the Lord of the Northern Watch as he is charged with securing the Dukedom from evil and is sometimes misguided by his own view of what is evil.”

“How will he research our family line?” Otonia asked while shifting closer to Charis.

“He will probably ask one of his lackeys to search in the Grand Library of Parium when he is there. Hopefully nothing comes of it,” said the elder.

“The red hair of a Lord is not their real hair colour?” Charis asked her voice full of wonder.

“No, those who are Lords or Ladies use a colouring, which turns their usually light or very light brown to a shade of royal red. It is their claim to authority. Sometimes the heir will also colour his hair although some deem it unlucky. The colouring lotion they use doesn’t work on black hair of course.”

“Will our colour fade or grow out?” Otonia asked taking advantage of a talkative elder while finding a healthy dose of bravery as Charis held her hand.

“It will grow out. Your new hair will grow behind the black hair with your natural colour.”

Otonia nodded biting her lower lip.

“Don’t be too concerned Otonia the elder has taught me the spell so I will touch it up as I need the practice and then perhaps, I can teach the spell to you,” Charis said while bumping shoulders with Otonia.

“It will be interesting if you can and if we had more time, I would try to teach you myself Otonia,” said the elder, her words beginning to slur.

The elder shook her head and shortly after climbed into her bedding on the upper floor. The “cousins”, taking the hint, laid out their camp bedding on the cottage floor in front of the iron stove. With the iron stove cold, they resorted to shared body heat to stay warm throughout the night. Before dawn, Charis knew, as did Otonia they were now two halves needing to be together, it was comforting and at the same time an imprisoning realisation. The paired bronze loops seemed to be the source of this need to bond, what it meant she did not know.

+++

“It is dawn so you both need to save some energy for the day ahead,” the elder stated, from her upper floor perch.

The squirming and passionate noises stopped immediately like two caught in a taboo. Charis was the first to look from under the bedroll to face the elder.

“You don’t need to explain to me girl, the bronze loops, the trauma, the relief, the adventure and thinking about your womanhood would create a swirl of emotions in both of you, which few young folk could cope with, let alone two very young women now alone and away from parental guidance discovering their way in the world.”

Hearing the elder’s voice Otonia peaked from under the bedroll as well lying close beside Charis, tentatively reaching out for Charis’ hand. Their hands connected and they interlaced their fingers offering each other reassurance.

“If you manage to find love in this world, I don’t think the form of the other really matters. Look at me I am alone, it is not by choice, so rejoice in your love and be stronger for it as I am sure your father’s didn’t impart any words of wisdom on this subject to guide you.” She ended her words of wisdom with a smirk.

Both were relieved. The elder noticed and started climbing down from her upper floor.

“I also think it is slightly beyond your control due to the influence of the paired bronze loops, they want to be close to each other and you wear one each, so no mystery there.”

Charis looked over her shoulder at Otonia who surprised her with a passionate kiss, which ended when they both laughed in celebration.

They stirred from their bedrolls and quickly dressed, broke their fast on cheese and bread and prepared for their journey. Otonia began by readying their backpacks.

“Remember dear, although I can teach spells, the magic in the items you possess bend to your will, so you need to be careful as the items may share in your dreams, wants, and desires as well and try to make them real.”

“What are you saying elder?”

“You are young, alone and have suffered loss. You may not always know when you are using the magic to influence what happens to you and those around you.”

The elder glanced over to Otonia.

“Otonia is my best friend, a friendship that has grown to a mutual love. I don’t see what is wrong with that, you yourself said as much.”

“Just remember the loss of your childhood friend and the separation from your father, you may not sense it, your magic will. Your future friendships will be more binding, so you won’t ever be lonely again, they will be there to comfort you, watch over you and perhaps as you grow older, become a new family to you since your father is, for now at least out of reach.”

“I, I don’t know. What has happened has seemed most natural to me, as if some pieces are finally falling into place at last to give me some purpose instead of running blind. I needed to rescue Otonia and in so doing, with your support we slew a cruel evil. That must be a noble thing?”

“Yes, yes, it is my dear. It is natural for the rescued to be grateful. I am not sure where grateful ends and your will, backed by your magic, starts? There are also the paired bronze loops and what they mean, I am certain beyond doubt they have driven your relationship with Otonia to a higher commitment, is all. Remember all magic comes at a cost.”

Otonia spoke then as she gave a backpack to Charis. “I am sure of my love elder, and I am grateful for my rescue. I know nothing lasts forever magic or no magic, so while we are one, I hope to enjoy our blissful state! Plus, I will keep an eye on her.”

Otonia winked at and gave Charis a peck on her cheek.

“Beyond that I do sense the two bronze loops wish to be together. When they were created by whomever, they bound them, I sensed that last night.” Otonia moved closer to Charis as some sort of confirmation. The elder wondered if that was Otonia’s idea or the bronze loop motivated her. “So, we are in its thrall as well as any natural inclinations we feel for each other,” Charis finished.

“For my part I am still trying to discover the source of this magic, it cannot come out of thin air, otherwise all would try to harness it, which would mean magic has returned. To harness magic requires an affinity for it and follows family lines from what I can understand from my family and what written words they left me,” the elder said.

The elder touched them both, one hand on each of their shoulders and concentrated for a moment.

“I can sense the bronze loop within you Otonia and I cannot draw any magic from it. It is the same for Charis, although the silver circle and the gem are different as their magic is available to me. This magic though reminds me of the warmth of a bright Birth Season day, it invigorates and smells of nature. The apple seeds I threw on the body of the traveller, I expected them to grow rapidly, my spellbook describes such a boost, what occurred was invigoration, the magic and the seeds were matched, the trees were as tall as me when we left.”

“Is this magic harmful?” Otonia asked.

“It is magic and like all magic it costs, I am just not sure what it is. The evil practise of blood magic for example consumes blood initially. The worst of the high blood magic requires sacrifice, and virginal blood is particularly prized, virgin sacrifice, so taking life while taking the blood is revered and essential. What would be the reward for sacrificing your virgin daughter while harvesting her blood?”

Both Charis and Otonia blanched, their faces draining of blood at the thought after being shocked upon hearing the elder’s words.

“With magic being gone these many years I am not sure if the rewards of blood magic would be as rewarding now as they once were as you need to gather the magic to you and concentrate it by whatever means you are skilled at. Your magic just seems to be present, so I wonder. Each morning I sense the renewal of your magic and each time so far, the level is different. What renews it? What or who is paying the cost and why not to the same level?”

The elder received their hugs with good grace, not really the hugging kind. She hoped speaking of her concerns didn’t sour things with Charis, she thought not. Charis seemed wise for her few years and more confident within herself after rescuing Otonia.

Charis and Otonia strolled to the southern road and the village common, the wagon caravan assembling before them. Four wagons were prepared with an ox pulling each one. Each wagon commanded by two waggoneers. There were two farmers escorting on foot with the Wagon Master riding a very poor specimen of a plain brown gelded horse.

“Welcome cousins and as you can see the wagons are near ready. The weather is clear so we should make good time and be in the next village within two days.”

“Thank you, Wagon Master,” Charis replied.

“We are waiting for several others who decided to answer the summoning and join us, although we shall not wait for long as we will lose the light, so we will be leaving shortly no matter. Please be prepared to leave on short notice.”

This morning the Wagon Master seemed more normal, more businesslike and duty bound, yesterday perhaps an exception then, satisfied, Charis and Otonia felt more relaxed travelling with the caravan.

A mounted knight or would be knight the next to arrive; it was difficult to tell as Charis knew Lord’s Guards; Knights were new to her. His armour was mainly hardened leather although fine and expensive chain mail covered his chest according to her blacksmithing eye. He also wore a sword belted to his hip. His horse was healthy, fit, and ungelded, although only he would know if it was battle trained, being whole, perhaps it was.

He escorted a covered two-wheel carriage, pulled by a close twin of the knight’s horse. There was no way of peering into the carriage, so the occupant or occupants within remained a mystery.

The Wagon Master started to move forward and whistled. He then waved all to start to move forward.