Helice and Dione accompanied Charis and were honoured to do so. The three warrior-sisters collected their horses from the Gate Stable and their weapons from the Gate House and reluctantly rode their horses through the Gate. They rode down the winding, wide stone paved road gradually descending the front slope of the Hillperch Spur passing through the few buildings at the bottom to the Lord’s camp. Someone thought to name them collectively as Littleperch and the name grew to be commonly accepted. Everything eventually acquires a name mused Charis.

No meeting committee waited for them as they approached the now assembling caravan. The caravan master indicated where in the line they were to ride and they waited until the Lord and his retinue made themselves ready to leave. She did wonder if they would place her in some sort of prison wagon, then it became increasingly obvious they didn’t care. Charis didn’t like waiting and the tension she generated from it was being transferred to her horse, which became skittish and took her effort to rein in distracting her.

“I am glad you have made your appointed day and time, Charis the Young. I am sure with ample opportunity you will prove yourself or not and we grant you the freedom to do so.” sneered the Lord. Charis didn’t notice him approach; she was distracted; she wouldn’t allow that to happen again! His visit confirmed he wanted her to run, she knew that would make her guilt automatic and no one would be able to save her from the fate of being hunted. This made sense and as she relaxed so did her horse, although she acknowledged Dione’s Stallion was assisting somehow.

“My Stallion is yelling at your mare, Mistress, he suggests you need to relax. As Boss Mare your herd senses your mood.” Charis’ head snapped around to look at Dione, who was now laughing with her hand over her mouth.

Calm Charis told herself, be calm after all she wouldn’t want to influence her herd!

“Tell your Stallion I appreciate his advice, like any, regardless of the source. On this occasion though, I will rely on my own Council.” The caravan was starting to move out so Charis spurred her horse to a trot to escape.

“It was still funny, Mistress! Or should we call you by your new title of Boss Mare now?” sent Helice.

Charis could sense Helice’s amusement, Saph preserve me from Seers! Even riding away I can’t escape them it seems!

“Mistress, I ‘sensed’ you! It seemed emotionally, somewhat harsh, so I can only imagine the words, all the same, progress!”

Charis waited for her sisters, watching the caravan wheel by. They all then drew up their hoods and began the journey together, Charis appreciating the humour now. By way of greeting, rain broke through and they were glad of their hoods and cloaks. The journey would be three days at best, four days at worst; it all depended upon how leisurely the Lord and his caravan decided to travel. She suspected the Lord would try to draw out the journey to provide Charis ample opportunity to attempt escape given his words.

---

Dione rode back to Charis and Helice around mid-afternoon. She was doing her usual scouting, much to the amusement of the Lord’s Guards in particular and everyone else, including the Lord himself when told.

Dione reported they were being followed, so Charis immediately checked with Helice and no it was not any of the warrior-sisters, they were all accounted for. The person or persons following always kept pace with the Lord’s caravan. Charis asked Dione to mention this to the Caravan Master who scoffed; whoever they are will keep their distance or be captured and interrogated so he didn’t expect any trouble. Dione continued to range out from the caravan to ensure they wouldn’t be surprised by those following or anyone else.

They camped early, well before the next village, so they were going slower than a loaded wagon train, this journey could take five days at this rate thought Charis, what is he up to! They weren’t invited to the Lord’s tent or asked to share the Lord’s supplies, so they ate alone from the trail supplies they thought to pack. Charis was thankful the elder suggested seven days of supplies; you never know dear want will happen on the road and better to have too much than too little was her wise advice. Charis also considered and dismissed any thought of leaving the camp to trap live game; it would be viewed as an escape attempt and nothing else. So they all stayed put, losing valuable daylight and travel time as a consequence of a Lord clinging onto a false perception.

The camp was centred on a large fire, to be tended all night given the kindling stockpiled for it. It provided considerable light as dusk gave way to night. There were three sentries in place at all times and they repositioned themselves and changed their paths randomly so they would be difficult to predict if someone wanted to slip by them. At least they were alert thought Charis and perhaps well trained if not entirely loyal unto death. While they didn’t need to they kept their own watch. The warrior-sisters always took ownership of their safety.

---

Charis heard the familiar feathered death early as she knew it well. Arrow flights found three silent deaths in quick time. Casting her dark sight and then waking Dione and Helice who also cast dark sight they were prepared with weapons readied. Charis released an arrow at the guard tent to hopefully cause enough disturbance to warn them and then another at the Lord’s tent to achieve the same result. Both of these actions resulted in the raiders identifying the warrior-sisters as a threat and targeting them as well.

She didn’t need to view these in daylight to recognise them as the family who could see in the dark, they were obvious from their actions and responses. Dione realised it as well and was eager to charge them. Charis held her back. They approached Charis directly and sent another couple wide. They were confident while out of firelight, they alone ruled the dark and by using that advantage could overcome any in their way using the element of surprise.

As they approached, Charis released suddenly, one moment she was lined up as if guessing and the next she whipped around to catch one of them in the chest. When they stopped, surprised, she drew again and released. Dione gave up all pretence and released multiple sling stones. They realised their foe was not only aware of them; they could target them also. Surprised and shocked they faded away, leaving their dead and wounded behind.

Charis headed for one of the guard tents and the four within were all slain in their sleep, most efficiently, a single red blood line across their throats, all still in their bedrolls. She approached the Lord’s tent next and thankfully her arrow caused enough commotion to wake them to prevent too much loss of life. Charis was careful and meandered across the camp unarmed, no need to provide any of the now nervous guards with an excuse. The Lord of the Northern Watch was surveying those in his generous tent with a lantern in hand. Then he saw Charis and glared, jaw set before raising his voice.

“Get back to your camp, now! This is to be left to the professionals not the likes of you girl!”

Well thought Charis, there are significantly fewer professionals alive now then at dusk the previous day as she marched back to where she was told to go.

+++

It was dawn when she saw him again, stomping as he approached the warrior-sisters camp. Charis asked Dione and Helice to salvage some sleep, which meant she was on watch to receive the noble visitor.

He shook his hand grasping two arrow shafts, at her.

“Do you realise where we found these?”

“They were blind releases in the dark. None hit a mark, so no harm done I would imagine.”

“Well right there my girl you are mistaken!” as a vein throbbed in his forehead, “Two more were found, in the bodies of dead men. How do you explain those?”

“They hit and killed men who were attacking us?” Charis opened her hands and shrugged.

“How did you see them, they both took an arrow in the chest, near the same place for both!”

“When the lanterns were lit, the light hit them enough for Dione and me to aim at them.”

At that moment they heard a man screaming as he was being dragged away, one of his legs dangling, possibly broken and certain to be the cause of his screams. The Lord glanced in the direction of the sound and then glared back at Charis.

“I am watching you, be ready to leave soon. I am needed elsewhere for now.” waving his finger at Charis as he spoke.

Charis didn’t need to wake Dione and Helice; the visit by the Lord woke them. So they started to pack up their camp while listening to the screaming escaping from the tent the injured man was taken to. Then the screaming stopped and a dead body was thrown out of the tent. The Lord was next to exit followed by a couple of his guards trying to wipe blood from their hands.

“Gather a couple of horses, rope and some blankets, we have some work to do.” said Charis, her words slow and quiet.

Charis, Dione and Helice with the aid of horses, gathered the dead and started to build a pyre for them using kindling stored near the camp fire. The raiders on the ground and the guards off the ground resting upon a makeshift wooden platform, eventually some of the Lord’s soldiers assisted, once they realised what they were doing. The Lord peered out and Charis could perceive he was considering intervening and then he closed the tent flap.

“May our enemy’s souls stay to ground and explain themselves to Jury and may our friend’s souls reach for the sky and sit beside Judge.” She stated plainly and then lit the pyre, under a clear sky, sun shining, the rain an inconvenience of yesterday.

Charis would have eagerly taken the raider’s eyes except doing so in front of a paranoid Lord was probably not the best action. While the soldiers didn’t say anything there were a few discrete nods in recognition of the pyre and the fact mere girls managed to hit their targets and probably turned the attackers away.

+++

The caravan travelled much quicker the next day and they made excellent time as slower wagons were abandoned and any useful goods were transferred to spare horses. It seemed the attack changed the Lord’s level of urgency. Charis guessed he knew them and possibly feared them. She knew she wouldn’t treat them lightly, they can see in the dark for one thing!

The caravan quickly passed through the village they should have stayed at the previous night. A few villagers poked their heads out until they realised the caravan wasn’t stopping, much to their disgust. It was dusk when they arrived at the next village on the road to Parium; for it was truly a road, with stone under foot, hoof and wheel. The Lord claimed the village green and setup his camp on it. Charis asked and received permission to spend the night at the Inn. She wanted to determine if attacked again; they were the targets or the Lord was the target plus she wanted a hot meal since the Lord was reluctant to share.

+++

They were underway as soon as morning light allowed, this would be a full day of travel it seemed as the urgency continued. Charis figured tonight would be the raider’s final opportunity; they wouldn’t attack during the day as they would lose their greatest advantage. Towards late afternoon they were in another village. The Caravan Master and the Lord were in a heated discussion. Charis was reluctant to intervene until she decided she couldn’t stop herself!

“We will proceed.” insisted the Lord.

“My Lord, the village will be safer overnight. We will be well short of the city if we travel on and will need to camp beside the road.” the caravan master replied.

“That close to the city they will not dare to attack again, we will be safe enough I am sure.”

Charis thought whatever she said the Lord would probably do the opposite so she decided to test her theory!

“I agree Lord, onwards, with some expert riding and Lordly leadership we will make the City Gates in excellent time! I am keen to face my betters!” stated Charis.

“If I needed advice from a girl child I would ask for it. As it is, my command is final, we proceed Caravan Master.” and he stomped away, mounted his horse and kicked away for all to follow his Lordly lead.

“I am sorry Caravan Master; I thought if I said it he would do the opposite. If my support is of any worth to you I believe we should have stayed overnight in the village.”

“Well it isn’t. Men do not need advice from girls!” and he also left to mount his horse and catch up to his Lord.

By this time Dione and Helice approached Charis, leading her horse, so it was there to mount. They were now alone and behind everyone else so needed to gallop to make up the distance before they were accused of escaping. Most of the Lord’s men though were looking forward not back.

Mid-morning and the caravan slowed as they caught up to a gaggle of traffic blocking the road. Charis eventually found out from people slogging towards them from the opposite direction the bridge was blocked by a broken down wagon, over loaded with stone for the city. It would take time to unload it and carry the stone off the bridge and then drag the wagon clear. The stream the bridge crossed was not particularly fast or deep many thought; still no one took the option. If they could pass single file on foot or mounted they did so, if not they were trapped on the wrong side of the bridge. In the end Charis was amused to observe the Lord’s men assisting with the clearance. It didn’t make a difference; they would be camped one more night beside the road. The Lord and the Caravan Master didn’t come anywhere near Charis.

“I suspect this delay is deliberate Charis.” suggested Dione.

“Why do you believe that? How could it break down at exactly the right moment?” asked Helice.

“Easy, they could have weaken the wagon axles at night and then made some sort of show on the bridge so it was stopped and then crack, the axle gives way, right where they want it. We bypassed another broken down wagon back up the road, so that one was their first attempt I presume.” added Dione.

“Well in any case, this is their last opportunity by luck or plan, so they will make it count. Let’s be prepared.” commanded Charis.

“I wonder if the Lord would consider turning around and spending the night at the village we just passed?” grinned Dione; no one answered her as they all knew the answer.

At dusk the caravan continued on, over the newly cleared bridge and then setup camp on the other side, while some light remained. The travellers in both directions edged past their camp, the imposing guards didn’t encourage anyone to ask to stay with them. Charis meanwhile began preparations. She asked Dione to scout one direction up the stream and Helice the other direction; Charis was searching for any sort of paths, which could possibly be navigated in the dark. It needed to seem likely anyone could take either path without being able to see in the dark and therefore offer possible escape routes to others escaping with them, if they possess any sense, she thought.

Charis set up their roster same as last night, she considered setting some alerts, only for a moment though, as waving her arms around and mumbling may not be looked upon favourably by her current escort. They would be tripped by the sentries who would be considered hostile to her as any other intruders in any case. After a cold evening meal the warrior-sisters settled in for a long cautious night with weapons close and prepared. The camp persisted with everyone circled around a large fire, with sentries this time more under cover than standing as available targets. While the remaining guards in the tents were sleeping in most of their armour regardless of the discomfort.

As Charis observed, alert, they arrived and they were extremely cautious this time. She woke Dione and Helice and they crept along, keeping low making ready for fight or flight. The warm red glows shifted before them, keeping maximum distance from Charis and the warrior-sisters and circling towards the Lords Tent. She counted four of them, while another three hovered near the guard’s tent. Charis started moving to a better position followed by Dione and Helice. They kept near cover, trees and wagons, anything as they knew they could be seen as well.

The plan was to circle to the Lord’s tent as soon as they suspected he was the target. This meant they couldn’t witness what was going on with the sentries and the guard’s tent. They heard struggles inside the tent and could detect multiple warm red glows, most where prone though. Charis cut the tent and entered, not able to tell the difference between raider and the Lord’s men.

Dione entered behind Charis and unshuttered the lantern she was carrying. All in the tent were illuminated, raiders and Lord’s men alike who stopped fighting for a heartbeat. The raiders left into the night momentarily startled by the light. The Lord stood dazed, a number of dead lay on the floor of the tent.

“So your true colours are revealed, you murderous bitches!” spat the Lord.

Charis was shocked and for a heartbeat frozen in place. She expected to be questioned not abused for the attempted rescue.

“Lord, it wasn’t them there were others here. Blood is everywhere and none on them; they shed the light and scared the attackers away. We were saved by them!”

Charis didn’t recognise who spoke and she didn’t care now. She was already turning to leave.

“Follow us Lord if you want to escape, I doubt they have given up.”

“They are working with you, once we’re alone you will have us!” replied the Lord.

“It was always in my best interest to arrive at the City with you alive, any other outcome would label me an outlaw, which I am not and never have been! You have two choices, stay here and die or follow me and maybe live. This concerns our lives now, so we’re leaving.”

Arrows started targeting the tent and when one struck a servant everyone dived for the ground regardless of the bleeding bodies and pools of blood. Charis left through the split in the tent with Dione and Helice. The Lord led and others of his retinue able to followed him by crawling along the tent floor. Dione shuttered the lantern, the beam of light enough to aid those leaving the Lord’s tent without silhouetting anyone she hoped. Charis started leading them to the stream when she heard some sobbing back in the tent.

“Who is crying?” she asked no one in particular.

“Never mind, keep going.” answered the Lord.

“Don’t worry Charis I have found two children and I am leading them out.”

It was a thought of course, not spoken words from Helice. Charis was a little surprised at the contact, not that it happened, it was expected, what was surprising was the distance and the situation. Was contacting so natural to Helice and the Seers regardless of the circumstances, such as being in danger, they could send? The Silver Rings and their company in the days before seemed to improve many things! Charis needed to improve; she needed to be able to contact her Seers directly as effortlessly as they contacted her. Something for the future if she survived this mad Lord.