It took until dusk and then required a couple of lanterns to help with light to unload the goods and haul them into the Store Room. Dione, Astera and Thyia worked as quickly as they could, closed the loading bay and thanked the waggoneers. Astera and Thyia rushed to Alcmene who was waiting in the training room, they needed to know what was happening. They were disappointed as Alcmene was seated, cross legged, her hands on her knees, eyes closed. So they waited.

Dione went the other way and joined Rhea in the elder’s room and ensured the triplets were safe. They then took them all to the bathroom, barred the doors to the outside and once they erected some privacy curtains instructed all the Seers to bathe and change into their Seer’s Robes.

---

Charis and Clymene were taken to a large pitched tent on the common at the foot of the perch. Their pack horses were tethered to a pole and they were led willingly, although slowly, inside. Seated on a raised dais, on a number of comfortable cushions was the Lord. Charis remembered the Coat of Arms; it seemed such a long time ago now. This was the Lord that required an ointment from the elder, this was the Lord of the Northern Watch, the Lord the elder advised not to be under his gaze. Surely he wouldn’t remember her from that time, she hoped.

He was surrounded by the usual number of supporters and advisors all living by his grace, all seated on his pillows, on either side of him but not with him on his dais. He was alone there, she remembered him, especially his ruling red hair and full red beard. The colour faked but adopted by the ruling nobles of the Duchy and especially fiery looking when the true colour underneath was the lightest of brown, sandy or honey in colour, which could only be found in the purest of noble blood lines.

It was then that Clymene and Alcmene felt Helice return to join with them. Helice felt their calm and welcomed it upon her

“I am sorry sisters, I tried to go beyond my capabilities, I am calm now.” sent Helice.

“You have been a busy little bee haven’t you Charis of no name!” he started.

“How have I been busy Lord?” she asked. She recognised his voice, of course. It didn’t seem like he recognised her, perhaps her armour and cloak was a disguise as the last time they met, her clothes were make shift to say the least.

“There are reports of you in Bearwatch, then Farstay, Maplethorn, then some large procession of horses approaching Bircharbor and then nothing for a while; unless you count crazed farmers and then you appear here taking in all sorts of goods and chattels it seems!”

“Well it seems there is very little for me to add, you have covered it all very nicely. Can we leave now?”

“Don’t get smart with your betters, you are up to something and I want to know what it is! Now!” he demanded raising his voice. Charis smiled demurely in return.

“Well,” pausing, taking her time, pretending to think, “We go from village to village or village to town or town to town or town to village, I think that is all of them and solve problems for people, sometimes they pay us in coin, sometimes goods and sometimes chattels or any combination of all of those.”

“Stop playing the fool! Where and how does a young one like you manage to acquire quality armour and enough coin to spread around the Duchy like it is endless? Yes I have heard tell the tales of your generosity. I have also heard about the pyres you burn your defeated opponents on! Why do you follow that old custom?”

Oh good questions Lord, well asked, the randomness is appreciated, this could take some time explaining thankfully, Charis thought.

“You may have to repeat some of those questions as my young head may not be able to remember them all but here goes.” she smiled at him and continued, “I acquire my coin by doing things for people and I spend my coin by paying for good services people do for me. I place the good defeated high on a pyre to honour them as I was taught to. The bad defeated low on the ground to burn. I didn’t know it was an old custom.”

“Who taught you the old custom?”

“A Lord did, Lord. He thought if it was done in years past, then they probably felt it was necessary for some reason that we don’t know about today and really the dead don’t care. I thought recent years, not generations though. I like the idea of your soul rising with the smoke to reach the sun, allowing you to sit beside Judge. Better than your body wasting away in dirt and I know not only Lords but Priests also still hold to the old custom as you call it.” The White Lady and her pyre, she remembered, the memory almost overtaking her before she regained her composure.

“Well at least in that you listen to your betters!” remarked the Lord.

“Well I know how people prefer to bury their loved ones, so they can visit them by returning to their grave, but isn’t it everyone’s hope that their soul is seated next to Judge or their chosen God, not still in a hole in the ground? A grave is for those still living, a pyre is for the soul of the dead. I have thought a lot who has the greater claim, but have decided, as you well know that the pyre is better because instead of a grave the evil go straight to Jury so she can torture their soul.” She didn’t pause, she needed to keep talking, “Oh to answer your other question, I listen to all kinds of people, they all have their view of the world and I find it helpful to pick and choose the best of what I hear.”

“So what good advice have you heard lately young one?”

“Well if I was to choose a good one, then I would say ‘if something has changed then do something differently’, how about that one?” Charis was well into her task now. Clymene was in awe, how Mistress could keep calm talking to a Lord, talking, well babbling really convincingly it seemed to her and why was the Lord letting her?

The Lord sat and thought about that for a while, longer than Charis could have hoped for really, was it that difficult to think about or was he dim witted? He still needed to look to his advisors and councillors for advice or maybe a verdict? Charis didn’t know and she was reaching the point she didn’t care. It would probably be best if she let him convince her to work for him if she could instead of being killed. Maybe she should also find out where this Lord’s land actually was! All Charis knew; while they talked, Clymene and she lived.

“So where do you see that applying to me?” he asked eventually.

“Well you have your army lined up and the night before the battle it rains heavily. Would you follow through with the same battle plan you decided upon before the rain or would you change your battle plan? You may have decided to start the battle with a cavalry charge and on good solid dry ground that would probably work as much as anything. But after the rain the ground wouldn’t be firm and solid, probably slippery if not bog like and the horses would definitely turn the ground into a bog after they charged across it. So a lot to think about there I would say, although I defer to your Noble Lord in matters military.” advised Charis and she threw in a bow for affect.

He let out a huge roar of laughter and his advisors and councillors followed his lead. Charis thought this was a good sign. Clymene wasn’t sure, she was just pleased to have Alcmene and Helice with her and observing everything she was and wondering when the Gate Captain and the Town Guard would arrive and if they did, could they help.

“I do like you, in spite of what I was going to do to you because regardless of what you are doing when you die it will end. It always does. Some believe in causes bigger than the person but I am yet to see one. What to do with you my young upstart?”

Charis was a little confused by his words to be truthful and answered as best she could.

“Well given the choice and it seems I may not have one, I would rather just walk out and continue to do what I want to do.” Charis encouraged.

“Well given the choice and since I am a Lord my choices count, I would rather have someone who brings so much change dead, it is not good for the common folk. They may think they are our equals and move from their place. We are all part of a design and each must fit within that design, so it works properly.”

“Lord, your Coat of Arms, I know it is remiss of me, but what is the name of your Land and where are your holdings?” Charis’ only thought was to keep talking!

“Good question, but that hardly matters to you given you are about to die and it seems your interest in my lands is to keep me talking! Perhaps until I fall asleep!” he laughed.

“Well it seems dishonourable of a Lord to not announce himself to his guest, let alone to a guest he is about to murder.”

“Murder? It will not be murder; a Lord does not murder my young rascal,” his teeth glowed at her in a devouring smile, “A Lord presides over noble executions, in this case for crimes against the natural order my young girl! As for where I come from, my lands are to the far north east, we defend against the ancient enemy, ever watchful, ever vigilant. I am the Lord of the Northern Watch. My lands have been in my family line for more than two hundred years. I am responsible for keeping the Duchy safe from the ancient enemy. You my girl smell like the ancient enemy.”

“How can you say that? I don’t even believe I smell; of anything!”

“I am a Lord, my word is Law! Someone so young doing so many things, changing so many things, disturbing the natural order, smarter than her age suggests she could be! What do you say to that my girl!” asked the Lord.

“I am someone who sees the world differently, thinks for myself and rewards her friends. I do not know about any ancient enemy.” Charis was trying with difficulty to keep the fear from her voice, this Lord was truly dangerous and for the first time in a long time Charis felt an ending.

“Guilt from the lips of the guilty, my dear, you think differently! You may not know you work for the enemy, but as one who can see it, plain as day, I know you do. Guards!” he yelled.

Clymene was trampled out of the way in the rush to apprehend Charis. Falling to the ground Clymene crawled and edged her way to her Mistress, Alcmene and Helice with her urging her on fighting through armoured legs and being kicked for her efforts, ignoring the pain, ignoring the taunts; “she is gone, your bitch will be dead soon, very soon!” or very similar. Clymene needed to touch Charis for their plan to have any chance of working.

“I was going to hang you in front of a crowd, but I think it best you just disappear, fade away, so your change dies with you.”

“The Town of Hillperch claims rights over its citizen before the rights of any other!” Went the shout!

“What is this interruption? I am a Lord and I am in the middle of executing an agent of the ancient enemy as is my right as the Lord of the Northern Watch!”

“You are on Town Land, Chartered from the Duke when the Duchy was created, able to make its own laws and hold its own citizens to account as needs be. You are a Lord outside of your realm.” countered the Gate Captain. A voice so sweat Charis thought never to hear it again!

“I am the defence of the Duchy against the ancient enemy! I am a protector of the Duchy wherever I choose to be!” He bellowed and raised his arm, his guard willing to action his command, they gripped the girl in preparation, looking for an ideal place to avoid her armour and stab her fatally.

“Release the citizen of Hillperch. If it makes a difference to your honour, your guard is outnumbered five to one; all of your guards outside of this tent are already under watch.” stated the Gate Captain.

“My soldiers are loyal and will die if needed to defend the Duchy. Have your town men even seen battle! Five to one or ten to one, it makes no difference. I am a Lord executing an enemy of the Duchy and I will carry out this duty!” His arm lowered, no one moved.

Charis looked at the Lord’s soldiers as she was sure the Gate Captain had and this Lord was not really aware of his soldier’s true loyalty. The Lord was surrounded by men who took his coin but returned no loyalty, they enjoyed his games but not at the cost of their own lives, even his advisors seemed to be cut from that same cloth as they subtlety backed away, while still holding their arses to their pillows!

The Gate Captain’s men pushed back the Lord’s men as they sensed the same reservation. Clymene wasn’t taking any chances and reached out a hand to grab Charis’ ankle. Charis quickly glanced to look and then turned her attention back to this crazy Lord trying to execute her.

“I would not wish to spill any blood here tonight! I will petition the Town’s Council for its citizen as is right and proper, she cannot escape her guilt. I demand until my petition is granted, she is confined!”

The Gate Captain was witness to a few stand-offs in his time and the back down was too reasonable for a Lord that thought it his right to command the commoners. So he took a big gamble. He stepped to the Lord. His men were around Charis, so the Lord was only surrounded by his advisers and councillors. The Lord realised his position.

The Town Guard escorted Charis and Clymene out of the Lord’s pavilion and with the Gate Captain’s men either side of them they were protected all the way to the Gatehouse. By chance a late arrival to Town took this opportunity to pass through the open gate as well, largely unnoticed given the activity around Charis and Clymene.

“What convinced you that a Lord could be reasoned with?” asked the Gate Captain.

“I didn’t. I assumed he wanted me to resist his arrest so he could kill me immediately. So I needed to play for time and call in my friends to help me, in particular one friend.” The Gate Captain received a hug and a kiss. His men cheered and jeered him on!

“Thank-you Clymene, your hand of support was most welcome while the result was still in the balance.”

“You are welcome Mistress.” she whispered while hiding her face using her cloak.

“He will be hunting you now outside of the Town Walls. You are fortunate that you purchased a building in this fair Town; otherwise you would have not been a citizen. I suspect the Town’s Council will hear his case, but I think you rate a certain Magistrate of Judge as at least a favourable acquaintance? If that is the case keep him your friend for at least a few weeks more!”

“Thank you again Captain, you know if I can ever return the favour, please ask and I will do all that I can. I must tell my company that I am still breathing and much relieved to be so.”

“Go with haste and good fortune and keep a watch for assassins as I think this Lord a fanatic.”

“Thank you and farewell!”

Although dark, enough torches and lanterns were out to guide them quickly to the Leatherworker’s Shop. Helice walked in step with Charis and Clymene. She whispered to Clymene who shook her head in the negative. Her company already knew she was well due to Clymene, but it was still a relief to see everyone.

It was too late to take the Seers to the Temple and it would be difficult to break her rule to allow non-warrior-sisters access to the second floor. The triplets were settled into the loft in the elder’s room. A bed was taken down from the second floor so she could sleep in comfort.

During this commotion Alcmene talked to Charis.

“Mistress you need to talk to Clymene, she is in pain and was badly beaten trying to reach you and would not stop trying. Helice and I encouraged her to begin with but we felt her pain and told her to stop but she wouldn’t.” Tears fell then. “I can tell you that there are very few parts of her that would be bruise free, especially her face. She has been hiding this because she didn’t want to dampen the celebrations.”

“Where is she now Alcmene?” asked Charis her voice wavering.

“In our room, alone, I couldn’t send Helice to her and I couldn’t send Helice to talk to you Mistress.”

Charis left for the twin’s room in haste. Most of the sisters were reclaiming their armour in the training room as they wore casual clothes when bringing the pack horse’s in so they didn’t notice her. Others were in the elder’s room trying to entertain the triplets or make Rhea and Helice comfortable with the makeshift bed.

Charis opened the door, but Clymene was watching as Alcmene told her to expect a visitor, she sat up immediately, wiping her face gently, which also covered the pain in her face from moving to sit up.

“Why didn’t you tell me Clymene? I will accept only truth as I need to protect you to honour my oath to you.” Clymene thought and her shoulders dropped and she felt pain.

“I am sorry Charis,” then she dropped her hood, “but I didn’t want to spoil your return, it should be a celebration and cherished.” Charis looked in shock at her face and fumbled her next words.

“I, I need to see, take your clothes off please,” Charis approached to help and at first Clymene put up her arms to fend her away and then relented,” as my half of the oath is just as important as your half of the oath.” With Charis’ help the pain wasn’t as bad. Naked and her body showed more bruised flesh than heathy flesh. Charis questioning face prompted her to speak.

“They kicked my face and then stopped on my back, when the pain became unbearable I rolled over and took some beatings on my chest. But only after I held your ankle Mistress and no amount of beating could make me release it.” Her left arm was puffed up and its entire length one complete bruise. It was a wonder she could walk back to the House with any dignity.

Twice before she healed a sister, these were suggestions to their bodies, she needed more this time. She started taking off her clothes.

“Mistress?” questioned Clymene, her voice slightly high, uncertain.

Some more clothes and her boots removed and she was as naked as Clymene. She approached Clymene who was standing also by this time at Charis’ urging, her face wondering.

“I am about to share a secret with you that needs to die with you, I do not need your oath on this, your bruises are proof enough of your loyalty.” stated Charis.

“My sister, Helice and I are yours forever, I give you my oath freely, I trust you completely Mistress.”

“Embrace me Clymene even if your bruises hurt and I must ask you for your forgiveness when I embrace you.”

Clymene’s left arm was too weak to rise so Charis placed it across their breasts.

“Kiss me Clymene, I am not sure what is required here I just know it may take much effort on my part to ...” Clymene’s lips were upon hers then.

Charis willed with her entire being to heal Clymene’s bruised and broken body. Charis felt the silver circle warm within her and then grow hot. Even Clymene felt the heat on her naked breast and bruised arm she thought it was part of whatever Charis was doing so ignored it and clung on. Then Charis’ gem grew warm and grew hot and Clymene felt that heat as well, their bodies were skin on skin as much as possible. Clymene held onto Charis more tightly, she realised she could do so because the pain was receding somehow. The more the pain receded the tighter Clymene held onto Charis. Clymene could feel her left arm again, she cried in relief.

“Mistress I need to tell you I have broken my oath to you,” she cried more, ”being in great pain I could not prevent Alcmene contacting me, she pushed into my mind as she was worried and has been with me until I felt well enough to push her out, well explain my oath to you. Alcmene is waiting on the other side of the room’s door Mistress; she doesn’t know what to do.”

“Ask her to enter Clymene.” whispered Charis as they were so close anything else would be too loud.

Charis heard the door open and then close as she was facing the wrong way to see. She didn’t hear Alcmene approach, old habits of a Seer Charis thought. Alcmene was on one knee her back bent and head down. Charis was able to turn her head to see her.

“Stand please Alcmene.” As she stood, her face lost its colour because at the same time Charis and Clymene finally separated. Clymene looked at herself and then to her sister and they instinctively hugged. Charis thought they may have been in contact but probably not.

“Do I treat twins as one person or do I treat you separately?”

“We are one Mistress, but I am to blame, how could I think Clymene was in any danger when she was with you! I cannot explain it. I am the cause I am to blame. The oath breaking is mine, punish me Mistress.” She dropped to one knee again, but didn’t get any further.

“Stand, Alcmene!” ordered Charis, her voice raised, slightly annoyed. Alcmene and Clymene were trembling. Charis felt they were in contact now and she wondered if Helice would be running up to the room soon making this more complicated, so she acted first.

“Tell Helice to stay downstairs!” Charis placed some venom behind the order. Alcmene and Clymene opened their mouths at the same time stunned. Charis promised herself never to ask either of them how far Helice made it to their room’s door.

“As twins I consider you one, I blame you both.” she held a hand up to forestall any talk from them.

“So, when one gives their oath to me I consider it to bind both of you.” Again she needed to hold up her hand.

“I understand that to keep secrets from each other is difficult due to your shared link so I must believe that when one gives me their oath I assume the other knows and agrees. Is my assumption correct?”

“Yes Mistress!” they both responded together.

“How much does Helice know?” She could see that they were once again nervous.

“She doesn’t know anything except she felt our concern and wanted to help. We cannot promise that she won’t find out in time though. Any moment of weakness, from wounds, tiredness and we would have difficulty keeping some secrets from a Seer in our circle of contact Mistress.” It was unsettling how they both spoke as one, but it was also a demonstration and confirmation that they should be treated as one.

“Well first we must see if she wishes to swear an oath to us, that would help me believe the secret could remain so even if she found out.”

“She is bereft of station and purpose, she will accept this path willingly.” they assured her.

Charis agreed and told them to fetch her and meet in the bath house next bell. Charis left first, she knew Helice would already know by now. The sisters were gathered in the Traing Room for the most part, now dressed in their armour and making use of the room. Charis went there first and requested them to present themselves in the Bath Room next bell.

Others were caring for the triplets or helping Rhea in the elder’s room so Charis called to them and asked them to present themselves in the Bath Room next bell. Charis waited in the Bath Room, which was quiet to start, thinking about the recent events and wondering if the Lady in White knew any of the details or just broadly what future path Charis would be walking. Rhea invited herself and arrived first, which Charis noticed but didn’t say anything and she didn’t approach Charis. All of the company eventually gathered except for the elder.

“Helice come forward, shed your clothes and swear your oath.” asked Charis.

She hesitated and then embraced her nakedness and let her Seer’s robes drop.

“I swear to serve Charis as my Mistress and bind my life to hers. I swear to serve your company loyally and faithfully to the best of my ability, I swear this oath before the Goddess Saph who I do still worship and hold faith with.”

“I accept your fealty to me and I promise in return to value your life and protect it as much as possible to the limits of my power and ability. Further I will never ask you to do anything that would dishonour you or me.” Charis then reached out and hugged her and enclosed her nakedness with Alcmene and also Clymene’s Cloaks. She cried with joy and turned to be hugged by all the warrior-sisters.

When all the celebrations died down another voice spoke.

“I wish to swear an oath to this company, would my oath be accepted?” asked Rhea.

Charis looked at her and thought. A number of things were to be considered here and not all of them good. Rhea was a practicing Seer of Saph. The company looked on with interest as they didn’t know any loyalty existed between her and them.

“Rhea, you would be required to come forth and bare your nakedness and swear your oath. You must also consider your position within the Temple of Saph. Are you willing to do so?” asked Charis who wondered if she would or could, given the scars she bore.

Rhea stepped forth and dropped her Seer of Saph robes. All the company gasped at the scars she displayed, Dione and Thyia in particular shed a tear and felt great pity as they knew lost hope.

“I swear to serve Charis as my Mistress and bind my life to hers. I swear to serve your company loyally and faithfully to the best of my ability, I swear this oath before the Goddess Saph who I do still worship, hold faith with and serve.” stated Rhea.

That took the company by surprise as well.

“How can you hold your oath to your Goddess and me at the same time?” asked Charis.

“I will serve the Goddess in all things, but the moment I step into this building my oath to this company rules my actions and if there is no conflict with my Goddess, also outside this building. On this I also swear.”

“I accept your fealty to me and I promise in return to value your life and protect it as much as possible to the limits of my power and ability. Further I will never ask you to do anything that would dishonour you or me.” Charis then reached out and hugged her and enclosed her nakedness with her own Cloak. She cried with joy and cautiously turned, not really knowing what to expect. She was welcomed with open arms and was hugged by all the warrior-sisters.

Rhea approached Charis and let it be known that her sister demanded Charis attend to business. Charis picked up Rhea’s Seer’s Robes and ushered her up the round stairs. They did not go unnoticed. The Twins took that as a que to lead Helice away for similar attention. The remaining warrior-sisters partnered up as familiarity, need and desire arose or not at all. Soon the bath room was empty and quiet.

Very late there was a knock on Charis’ door. Being naked in your own house, amongst loved warrior-sisters meant that you didn’t really need to be concerned about clothes, so she opened the door as she was. At the door were the twins and Helice. They noticed that Rhea was still in the room so indicated they needed to go elsewhere. Quietly they entered the spare room at the far end of the hallway.

“When Clymene grasped your ankle tonight, um, last night she was going to try something that we have only been experimenting with. It is actually better to show you then explain.” said Alcmene.

They separated from each other moving to different corners of the room. Then Alcmene held a folded and sealed note in her hand. After some time and with great concentration it was gone. Clymene held the note! Before Charis tried to speak, Clymene held her hand up to stop her. Charis felt a certain irony then! Clymene concentrated for much longer than Alcmene and then the sealed note disappeared. Helice held the note!

“We have been able to circle the note between us three times before we become exhausted. Between Alcmene and me, up to seven times. Although it still takes a great deal of time. We have to be perfectly calm, feel safe and in Seer contact with our loved one.” stated Clymene.

Again when Charis tried to talk they caused her to pause.

Helice pulled out a dagger. The experiment wasn’t as successful, the dagger seemed like it was trembling but it remained where it was.

“This must remain a secret, for your safety as well as mine. The Lord of the North Watch would see this as proof that I am an agent of the ancient enemy, whoever or whatever that was or is.”

“They were going to try it as a last desperate chance if it looked like your death was certain.” explained Helice.

“Fully clothed, armoured even, both of you clothed perhaps, what could have been the result?” asked Charis.

“We were willing to take the chance, we swore an oath and we intended to live up to it. We thought perhaps our love of you and desperation to save you may have made the difference, the dagger proves we can touch an object with our minds. We have also managed to add Helice to our twins bond. It took a lot of strenuous effort and time of course, but it was a pleasurable labour. We would like to request a small favour from you as reward.”

“Asking for favours now, well, the least I can do, is possibly grant a small one.”

“We have proven that a trained Seer can reconnect with a trained pair. We would like to see if such a three could connect with an untrained single and the single we thought would be of most benefit would be you. Unfortunately for you we would need to pleasure each other almost every night for a very long time, as we will not give up on the experiment easily and we thought tonight would be a good time to start.” they laughed. It was good for Charis to hear after recent events and for that reason alone she agreed. She thought their plan held no possible chance of success, Seers needed to be a twin or a triplet; it was a requirement without exception. They needed to be chaste and not have had relations with a man. Both were certainties like the night sky, the glorious sun was denied and could only twinkle through its dark.

When they finished Charis was told that the triplets were also introduced into the benefits of love making, although only in theory. They proved how easy it was to transfer messages once you embraced your femininity fully. Helice was not mentioned in anyway, just twins talking to triplets. Then a question that needed to be asked was asked.

“Charis are we able to tell Helice?” asked Alcmene.

Charis knew what she was asking and perhaps it would be difficult to keep such a secret given they were Seers and Helice would definitely know that Clymene was beaten badly in the Lord’s tent.

“Yes, on an oath of secrecy, which you will all pay for if broken as I consider you one.” Charis then left their room.

When Charis returned to her room, Rhea was waiting for her.

“And where did you go?” she slowly yawned as she spoke.

“Warrior-sister business although you may be able to help; would the Seers be concerned if it was made known that one of their Seers has sworn an oath to me and joined this company?”

“I don’t think so; you have a letter that clearly releases her from the last Temple she served at. Singles have only a few options within the Temple, usually none outside the Temple, so Helice will be a lucky exception. I am a little more concerned about my situation, which I will face tomorrow when I present myself and the triplets at the Temple of Saph. Oh, I almost forgot, I am afraid my sister is insistent that the next time you are near Bircharbor you must go see her. So you see even Seer Twins need to share. Only do make sure you return.” she purred.

“I will and I will, but only if your sister does something for me, which is to send us Single Seers as long as they have a Letter of Release from the Temple they are assigned to. We will need a number of companions that can read, write and ride a horse I think. Not everyone mind you, only those who are looking beyond the Temple for options and well, not repulsed in our different look at life!”

“Why not singles from Hillperch? They would be closer and more familiar with your reputation.”

“It could also lead to difficulties if they proved unsuitable, they would be like a ghost we would awkwardly meet, where those from out of town could be sent back. Callous, I know, but best for all I think.”

“No exceptions?”

“There are always exceptions; I am looking at a most marvellous one!”

“I am going to ask you something and you don’t have to reply if I make you feel uncomfortable. Is that alright?” asked Rhea.

“Possibly.” replied Charis.

“I have wondered why you could see beauty in my disfiguration and I thought it could be related to the disfiguration of your ears. I mean it is slight compared to mine, but perhaps the hurt and betrayal is just as bad?”

Charis paused as she recalled what she knew and what she always tried to forget but couldn’t. Perhaps her story would help Rhea, perhaps it would help herself.

“I was young, perhaps five or six years old. My mother was cutting my hair and when my father found me the tops of both of my ears were cut off. Blood was everywhere, mixed in with my already cut hair. I was in pain and my mother apparently wasn’t aware what happened. She left that same day and I have never seen her since. My father raised me and took me everywhere with him as he didn’t have another choice. Perhaps I am an old soul because I was raised around adults and a wise father instead of children. As an old soul I try to look into people’s heart and their true self. That is what I find when I look into you. I am hoping I don’t have all the Seers of all the Temples of Saph after me for loving one of their Seers as one misguided Lord is enough for now.”

Rhea didn’t reply in words only actions.