Charis, Otonia and Dione were in the Store Room. The three chests were well hidden under a lot of other stuff, but they eventually dragged them into the open.

With some menace they used a hammer and chisel to break off the hinges in case the chest was trapped or the lock too difficult to bust. As they lifted from the hinge side they found all the chests held needle traps over the locks, which sprang when the lid was raised, but they found no victim when sprung. It made the very plain looking chests useless but clearly avoided possible injury or death.

The first was filled with coin, more than any they thought existed in the world.

The second was filled with gems, more than any they thought existed in the world.

The third was filled with jewellery, more than any they thought existed in the world.

They all just sat back and stared at the wealth before them.

“What was a brigand leader doing with so much wealth?” questioned Otonia before anyone else could ask.

“Well he didn’t spend any on his men that is for sure!” added Charis.

“He was sure he could start again somewhere and then come back to kill us, so he thought he could use this wealth.” finished Dione.

“Did he own it though, because if he didn’t the true owner will come looking for it. Considering more than half the town knew we acquired goods and chattels from somewhere the owner may hear a rumour relating to our good fortune. No one would accept the loss of this much wealth, this represents much danger to us.” considered Charis.

They realised the small treasure from the brigand’s house was enough to support them and with some care start the building of the stables, so they didn’t need to use these coins, at least not for the short term so they roped the lid back on and shoved it back under the pile of stored goods until they could find somewhere better to hide it or protect it.

As they were leaving the room Charis wondered about the gems as she touched her gem through the thin skin of her belly button. Her gem, definitely being magical, led her to thinking maybe some of the gems in the chest could be also. Having to test them all would take a very long time and once melded there wasn’t a way to un-meld them it seemed.

What about the jewellery, hers held magic, could some of those in the jewellery chest be magical also? Charis stopped her sisters leaving the Store Room. They looked at her and smiled, Dione touched the ring at her breast without much thought, while Otonia took both of her breasts in her hands and put on a playful sad face. They all wondered as they all thought the same thing. The chests held obvious wealth but the better reward would be more magical gems and jewellery, surely in this vast treasure, there would be some!

They dragged the chests back from their hiding place and unroped them, wondering.

Charis started with the chest of gems and ran her fingers through it turning them over looking for gems of similar size and quality of her own. She wondered and started searching for something that was only a memory now and wonders of wonders eventually found it. A leather pouch, it was identical to the one she stole from the stranger in the forest. Then another turned up. Whoever they were, they used the same ways, if you found how they worked then it worked that way for all like it.

“Otonia look for these in the jewellery chest. I have a thought, Dione drag out the coin chest and look for these in that chest as well.”

There were four leather pouches from the gem chest, seven leather pouches from the jewellery chest and one leather pouch from the coin chest, the most difficult to find as it turned out. Dione persisted searching because she was convinced it must be like the others, so surely one was in amongst the coins!

Each contained several of each type, so one Gem Pouch contained three gems, while another contained one gem. The surprise was the coin pouch; it contained seventeen coins, all different sizes, shape, metal and colour.

“We are in a get deal of trouble. Whoever owns these WILL come looking for them. The Lord will be the least of our troubles I am afraid, I am so sorry, I have doomed you all.” A sadness and fatality rode upon Charis’ words as she held back tears, the treasure was too vast now for the owner to ignore its loss. The owner wasn’t someone rich, the owner was someone rich and magically powerful, otherwise how could he spare these to send them away?

Otonia and Dione were happy, especially Dione, a moment before. After Charis spoke they also realised that their world was about to come crushing down although the most daunting thought was they didn’t know when.

Charis wiped her face to reset, to brush past her moment of weakness. She looked her warrior-sisters in the eye and she made a decision as she remembered her weakness on the road with the Apprentice Magician and her strength in saving Otonia.

“We need to find out what these do and learn to use them, make ourselves the ones who should be feared, make ourselves the hunters and not the hunted, waiting for our doom. I apologise for my moment of weakness, but this wealth overawed me in a way I have never been before but I am recovered now, we have a mission, we need to know who and what these were intended to be used for and stop it.”

“We will need the elder, there are a couple of silver circles and we will present them to her so she can cast some of the spells she knows and hopefully teach one or more of us as a start.” offered Otonia.

“Agreed, she will be our best chance to quickly help us.” said Charis

“Charis, I would like to suggest that the twins be granted some items. I know they can share messages, but they have been working hard on exploring their potential and we all know that, since they have been closeted away with Helice doing only they know what.” suggested Dione.

“They have been able to join with Helice in a triple and more, which is only potential at the moment, so yes they should also be granted some items. It may also slow down the number of sisters they entertain in the name of learning and practice!” confirmed Charis.

Dione and Otonia giggled lightly at the remark.

“We know you are a superb archer, do you think the items have helped?” asked Otonia.

“Yes, I sometimes really will to hit, especially in the eye and it happens, so if the silver circle is magic, perhaps the gems assist with martial skills? It is a possibility and since Otonia is excellent at throwing knives it makes sense to experiment.” agreed Charis.

“Don’t look at me, I have been blessed ever since being linked to my horse, I am satisfied as I am and we need more with these, not a few with many. We are a company and all share the risks and all share the rewards.” stated Dione.

“Then why are we three considering how they are given?” asked Otonia.

“Because this is too much at once and we will end up with many items with one person if we don’t accept responsibility for them, although I don’t imagine how any of these chests won’t be accidently found in due course anyway.” answered Charis.

“Yes we are warrior-sisters and we have a trust. I admit that this wealth will truly test this trust but I don’t want to be caught withholding these treasures, when knowledge of them eventually escapes.” said Otonia

“So we are agreed all should know.”

“Yes Charis.” Otonia and Dione said simultaneously.

“Call all the warrior-sisters to the Training Room please Dione. Otonia fetch the elder and make sure all the doors are barred!”

As they left Charis sat on one of the chests and wondered if her company would survive the announcement. Would there be a mad scramble for the riches both real and magical? This will be a true test of the oaths between her and her sisters. Well if it all turns bad she will be back on her own again and trying to survive, it could be worse, she could be killed by a Lord because he suspects her of being unusual, what sort of reason was that, really?

She heard a quiet whisper start to build in the Training Room next door so thought they must all be there by now and this was confirmed when Otonia poked her head through the doorway and nodded. Charis checked that her armour and dagger were in place and stepped forward.

“Otonia and Dione bring forth the chests please.”

The audience silenced and then started talking again as the chests came into view. They were plain and arrived one at a time. Most had seen them before and only now realised they were curious about them. Charis held up a hand and silence was restored.

“What I am about to show you is both a blessing and a curse, do not doubt the words I say. It puts us in great danger and could provide us with great power. It also means we have an enemy out there and we don’t know who they are. We won’t know if or when they realise we have their treasure or when they will strike us to get it back. Do not under estimate the danger we are in.”

Otonia and Dione opened the chests. There was a great intake of breath followed by a stunned silence. Nothing, no chatter, just rapid looks; from each of the chests and then to Charis in wonder as the wealth before them could probably purchase the Duchy. Astera and Thyia eventually looked to Charis. Alcmene, Clymene and Helice as one paused, reached an unspoken consensus and looked to Charis as well.

“You should have kept this a secret, this is too much wealth to be displayed at once.” said the elder shaking her head.

“I have no choice, we are warrior-sisters we share everything.”

“You have condemned us all, the owner of that treasure will not rest as you say until they have reclaimed it, I do not underestimate the danger, it is real and it is not going to be forgiving and now there are many more that know it is here. Many more that can accidently tell others. I am the lucky one, I have lived my life. I pity the rest of you. I really do.” proclaimed the elder.

“The elder speaks the truth, this treasure will be missed by someone and all our lives will be forfeit if we don’t take action to help ourselves. This treasure is actually greater than it seems because it contains magic. Yes magic, long thought lost and only a legend. It is the greatest secret of this huge treasure.” said Charis.

No one voiced an opinion or a concern they were still trying to absorb the wealth and the sure death that seemed to be associated with it. Then there was mention of magic and they further wondered what would become of them.

Charis wasn’t sure what to make of the various reactions.

Maybe because they were a three they could share and think faster, it didn’t matter why, as Alcmene, Clymene and Helice spoke first, together as one.

“We would have been better served by not being told about this treasure and we are sure you would have considered that as an option. I know we are warrior-sisters and we share an oath, but this is a true and mighty test of that oath and I am not sure we will be able to uphold and honour it. And we were happy as we were; now we are endangered more than ever, from the unknown.”

“I know and it was a difficult decision, although it didn’t take long, we are a sisterhood and trust is our one true bond. I couldn’t hide this treasure forever and then my betrayal would have been the greater. This would have led to our certain destruction I fear as a sisterhood and we may not have been united when the owner came to reclaim what was theirs?” said Charis.

“So it is death for us all then?” asked Thyia.

“No, it is a chance to use this treasure and protect ourselves from whoever wants it back. Plus they were intending to do something with this treasure and we need to find out what and while we have it they can’t use it. It is our duty. We can also keep a secret, especially if it means our deaths if others know. Even if only I knew, you would still face danger in any case as the chests are here with us.”

“So we are trapped then?” asked Astera.

“In some ways yes, as I need to hold you to your oaths, but then there is a freedom and opportunity in the power offered also which we must grab a hold of.”

“We all know that we cannot show or spend even one part of this treasure, yet we are exposed to the danger of having it with us.” said the elder.

“I am sorry warrior-sisters I have committed us all, there is no middle ground here, either we are a company and we maintain our trust or there was a secret between us that would have eventually been revealed and be thought betrayal and me the betrayer.”

“We all understand now Mistress and we respect your choice as the better choice, but you must accept for all our show of bravery, we are young, still finding our way and we are scared.” said the three.

“I am scared when I am alone also, I am most certain and most brave when I am in your company and that is where we all are strong. When I was alone facing the Lord, I wasn’t alone because Clymene was with me and we weren’t alone because Alcmene was with Otonia and Thyia and they weren’t alone because they were able to call in our friends and that is what makes us strong.” replied Charis.

There was a relieving sigh across the room and Charis didn’t know what that meant until they all approached her, knelt on one knee and bowed before her. They all then repeated their individual oaths to her. It took all her bravery to not cry again. She glanced at the elder and she caught a wink from her, it was approval, they all managed to survive the initial test. The real test would be each and every day after today.

“I have given much thought and asked some trusted warrior-sisters for advice and I have decided that some special items will be issued for the good of us all now. These items hold magic and they need to be attuned to you and when they are you will experience pain, so it is best to be in the arms of someone who loves you!”

There was some hushed laughter in the room.

“I would like to gift until her death a gold circle and a silver circle to the elder. She is required to develop her magic and work to provide us all with as many advantages as possible.”

“Thank you Charis, I know I am not a sworn warrior-sister, but we do have a bond and my loyalty and admiration of you never ceases. I will warn all of you the gift delivers some overnight pain but is a marvellous boon and I will work tirelessly!”

“I would like to gift until their deaths a silver circle to each of the three, Alcmene, Clymene and Helice. May they use this gift to enhance their abilities to benefit us all and always.”

“Thank you Charis, you know we have dedicated ourselves to a particular outcome and we hope these will help us greatly!”

“Otonia come forward, I would like to gift you this gem until your death, if you will it, it may help in your knife throwing, and unfortunately I cannot be more specific. The gems seem to deliver magic differently to the circles.”

“Thank you Mistress.”

“Astera come forward, I would like to gift you this gem until your death. I have chosen a different colour because you use different weapons, see if this helps enhance your skill.”

“Thank you Mistress.”

“Thyia come forward, I would like to gift you this gem until your death. I have chosen the same colour as Astera because you use the same weapons, see if this helps enhance your skill.”

“Thank you Mistress, I didn’t think I would be worthy, I know I have been difficult. I will learn this gift and use it to prove my loyalty.”

“Dione and I are happy with our present items and we need to ensure many of us have a few instead of one person having many, so don’t feel sad for us! Also please don’t all try to attune them tonight, otherwise there will only be Dione and myself to care for you. So I will care for the elder tonight and Dione will care for Thyia tonight. Tomorrow night we will care for the three. The night after that we will care for Astera and Otonia and we should be done.”