The House settled into a routine over the next week until the special day arrived.

At first light, Charis invited Zoe and Niobe hunting, to test Zoe’s hunting talents, which she thought would be excellent, and to observe how well Niobe would adapt. An entire life of walking without making a sound would surely translate well to carefully approaching prey in a hunt. Charis visited the Wanderer’s Arms Inn and broke her fast with Zoe and Niobe. The conversation between the three reserved with no friendly banter and to the point.

She led them east away from the mountain and the main trails to the city. Too far west, they would find Northreach and the coast, before reaching either destination the land still wild and untamed. Trees and brushes scattered about, enough to allow the game to scurry and hide, a forest though it wasn’t. Charis instructed Zoe to establish a trap line with Niobe practising, mainly for rabbits and smaller animals. The three then scouted for larger prey, such as deer or boar before going back to check the trap line later in the day.

---

Auxanodotus, son of Auxanohippos, Baron of Waterwatch pushed his eggs and ham around on his trencher half eaten. The coins he required dropped off today or possibly tomorrow, difficult to keep track of the days when waiting. Seven days is a long time when bored he decided.

Four of his warrior cousins seated a table over, continued playing their game of dice, long ago leaving their armour in their room, although their daggers still hung from their belts. The cousin seated next to him, his favourite cousin due to his smarts as well as his brawn, excused himself to attend to his ablutions.

Her grinning face greeted him and he raised his eyebrows in response. Skinny girl, white complexion, her clear green eyes keen within a face framed by black hair.

“Hello my Lord,” she bowed her head a fraction, “Charis believes it is time to relocate to the Wanderer’s Arms Inn.”

She didn’t wait for a response; his returning cousin watched her leave the Inn and then switched his gaze to his Liege Lord.

“We leave for another Inn, perhaps stay overnight, and then head home.”

His cousin raised a fist in celebration, immediately broke up the dice game and hastened to the Innkeeper to settle the coin debt on behalf of his Lord.

---

Once Charis, Zoe, and Niobe left the House, Dione escorted the Initiates to the farm, broke their fast in the company of the farmer’s family, and then commenced the riding training. She carried the next payment right out the front door of the House, although she kept it for the day to promote the illusion the coin arrived from outside the town and then brought in.

Middle of the morning, after riding towards the city and returning Astera, Thyia, and Helice met with a pregnant skinny girl child covered in dirt and filth begging near the Inn’s stables. Astera then delivered the first payment to the Lord Count in the Wanderer’s Arm Inn. It was a risk to place so much coin with someone so young, although being utterly unexpected no one could possibly predict it, Charis hoped. Jocasta amazed and honoured the Mistress would entrust such a responsibility to her, the thought of stealing the coin didn’t enter her mind, which surprised her the most, given her recent poverty and near death existence.

Astera, Thyia, and Helice then visited a certain farm, met Dione, collected another payment and delivered it to the Lord Count at the Wanderer’s Arm Inn. They then rested beside a certain tree waiting for a particular passer-by.

On the way back to the House early afternoon, Charis handed off a third payment, while Zoe handled the game with Niobe’s assistance.

Helice strolled back to the House with Charis, freeing Helice’s horse to haul Zoe’s catch, several twin tied rabbits slung across the saddle. Astera and Thyia rode ahead, while Zoe and Niobe accompanied Charis and Helice. Seeing the returning procession the Gate Captain stared, confused. The skinny girl also passed back through the gate, although this time, not pregnant, clean, and wearing a neat dress. Witnessing the subterfuge, a widening grin erupted; he would remember to ask Charis in a quiet moment to explain the interesting procession.

Alcmene met Charis outside the House and gave Charis that look.

“Zoe and Niobe please return to the House and continue with training as I need to confer with Alcmene.”

“Yes Mistress,” they both answered.

“Charis, we have a challenge of sorts. Rhea is in the House with her, ahem students.”

“What do you mean Alcmene? Students?”

“They’re the triplets and they seem to fawn upon her. I am not sure but I think their relationship is very personal and I don’t know what to do, if anything, after all, she is a Seer and I am not. Clymene is entertaining them with polite conversation.”

“Let me see for myself. Let’s go,” Charis replied. “How long have you been waiting for me?”

“Not too long Mistress,” she replied. “Probably too long for Clymene I would guess.”

“Why hasn’t Clymene informed me with her Seer ability?”

“Clymene and I aren’t sure if we would be ‘overheard’ Mistress.” Alcmene lowered her eyes, embarrassed by the confession.

Charis caressed Alcmene’s chin capturing her green eyes in her own when she raised them in response.

“Find out, experiment, for next time,” whispered Charis.

Charis realised with the initiates and some personal business she didn’t attend to Rhea as often as she did in the past, could this now be a concern. They hurried to the House and fortunately Zoe and Niobe where already busy in the Training Room.

Alcmene opened the Meeting Room door and Charis entered and observed an uncomfortable Clymene as the room was quiet, conversation clearly exhausted. Rhea’s students were somewhat draped over her while she lounged on a chair at the table, one at each of her shoulders leaning in cheek to cheek, as face close as possible, Rhea’s left arm wrapped around the last triplet’s thin waist.

Clymene and Alcmene left the room as soon as possible after some polite excuses and goodbyes.

“I see you are intimate with your students, is this needed? I thought even at this late stage the lessons where still theoretical?”

“Well Alcmene and Clymene introduced them to some advanced techniques and their interest has progressed beyond theory and observation. Since my sister and I are now the most advanced Seers of our respective Temples, the Mother Superiors at both thought it best, I personally train the triplets and my sister personally trains the twins at her Temple. This was a command, not our idea. So being dedicated Seers of Saph we accepted this honoured burden and responsibility.”

“I spoke to Alcmene and Clymene and they gave me assurances, so I suspect you have strayed significantly from the gentle teachings of theirs to land where you are now. I would ask though if you visit this House you do so by yourself as I don’t want your teaching methods reflected upon this House.”

“Direct and to the point as always and I must say I am a little disappointed. I wanted to prove to you the honour the Temple has bestowed upon me and this is due to you and your teachings. I thought we would meet in celebration. So I will make this short, Raisa visits today or tomorrow, as her pair are being sent to this Temple and Lonely Keep and she wants to see them settled in.”

“Thank you for the news, I would ask she respect our wishes and she visits alone if she wishes to attend to me here. Is that understood, sister?”

“Yes Mistress and given you’re uncomfortable I think it is time my students and I leave.”

“Be safe, Rhea.”

“You also Mistress,” said Rhea.

Rhea left the Meeting Room with three adoring ducklings behind her. Charis surmising this would end in tears. The other disappointment, Rhea could have made a fourth drop.

---

Late afternoon Charis asked Kyra and Nysa to escort Agape to the tree opposite the Inn at the foot of the spur. She was to find a cook and two assistants to prepare meals as the Master Carpenter neared completion of the Kitchen. Plenty of traffic passed them by this late in the afternoon, to the city, to the mountains, either north or west. Agape managed to converse with the Lord Count resident at the Inn. She passed the final two thousand coins inside a saddle and saddlebags gift from the Daughters of the Duchess.

They returned to Charis with good news, there were a number who were interested and they would present themselves in the next few days if they found reasonable accommodation. Agape delivered the final payment, a double payment to the Lord Count, he and his guards left immediately, satisfied. The coin delivery a test of loyalty, if any ran with the coin a cheap price to pay to find out now if wealth would seduce any of the Initiates. The dukedom was too small to hide forever; therefore, Charis content they would eventually catch up to them, although possibly not if twins could remain hidden for ten years, a chance Charis decided to accept.

Dione returned to the House and immediately found Charis.

“Mistress, Raisa disguised as a mother strolled through the New Gate with a son and a daughter, I am certain it was her, I walked behind them. They attached themselves to a Merchant Caravan.”

“Yes, she is expected. It is heartening to witness the Seers can learn and they have given up on the dignified caravans, with pomp and ceremony to transfer their Seers,” said Charis.

“You alright Mistress?” asked Dione.

“Yes, I am concerned about Rhea and Raisa, they are Daughters yet they are also Seers of Saph and it seems our teachings have been practiced by both of them on children and I am not sure how I reconcile the situation.” Charis hugged Dione and decided she needed a walk to consider what, if anything needed to be said or done and while out she could finalise details with the Master Carpenter. She also hoped Raisa wouldn’t visit Charis immediately, needing to report to the Temple first, which would provide her with an opportunity to chat with her sister and inadvertently learn the conditions of visiting.

---

Raisa arrived in time for the evening meal. Due to the limited table space, as most of the potential kitchen was still the Training Room, the warrior-sisters ate in shifts. Jocasta was setting bowls out, dodging around those still training. Eventually they got the message and wandered off to the baths. Jocasta served Raisa, while she waited for Charis, eventually joined by Niobe, Zoe, Ismene, and Agape. Alcmene and Clymene were about to join for the evening meal and noticed Raisa and turned around and climbed back up the circular stairs as they quickly remembered something they needed to do, elsewhere.

Charis entered the Training Room with Helice, Thais, and Alexa after negotiating with the Master Carpenter on costs for the Kitchen and finalising the last payment on the Stable and the Master Leatherworkers Workshop.

Raisa stood to attention, playing with her long black hair, admiring her prize, Charis, with more than a little anticipation, green eyes shining and licking her moist lips. She then convulsed and folded her body over, falling to the floor in absolute pain, twisting in the foetal position screaming.

“Everyone stop doing what you are doing, not another step, not another movement,” commanded Charis.

It was too late as everyone at the table grabbed their stomachs in pain while Jocasta dropped the bowl she was carrying. Charis sprinted to Raisa’s side as she shouted her commands.

“Jocasta, fetch the elder, explain to her it is an emergency and don’t return here without her and Helice send to Alcmene and Clymene, they’re needed here!”

Charis held Raisa’s hand, searching her body with the other.

“Sister,” through clenched teeth, “my body is dying.”

Charis opened Raisa’ Seer Robe, revealing a blackness growing across her stomach and radiating out. She placed both of her hands on Raisa’s stomach starting to draw her healing magic. After a moment, everything stopped, punctuated by the desperate yelling of others. Charis knew Raisa died in that moment, the light left her eyes, her body refusing the healing. The yelling crescendo broke her shock. Charis ran to them, pushing down her emotions, how should she react? She needed to leave Raisa’s side to heal others.

The elder joined her, pleading with Charis.

“Poison in the food, my dear, around the dropped bowl.” Small black lumps began to clump in the spilt stew as it cooled.

Charis stared not comprehending, who and why were her first thoughts. She heard the elder’s voice.

“Clymene, buckets now girl. Alcmene jugs of water and mugs, go. Helice gather the bowls of food and throw them into the pot.”

The elder shuffled as quickly as she could to her room.

“Jocasta, round up the rest of the house we need some urgent help,” said the elder.

When the elder returned Charis was trying to apply her magic.

“Stop Charis I need you here,” the elder said, placing some bottles near her.

Charis slowly looked up; hope fading from her.

“Use your magic and your will on the white potion in these two bottles, imagine them, and strengthen them to cause those who drink it to throw up. Do it now.”

Charis grasped two bottles, one in each hand and willed her magic into them and handed them back to the elder.

“Alcmene please ask your Sisters to assist. You need to make sure each sister poisoned drinks a cup each and vomits using the bucket for the mess and make sure they don’t choke.”

“Yes, elder.”

“Charis, I need you to will your magic into these as well, you need to connect to the herbs within it, these herbs will harvest any of the poison remaining in their bodies, and your magic will make them more effective.”

Charis nodded and placed her hands around both bottles and found each of the herbs, invigorating them with her magic, sensing them bloom to their purpose. The distraction prevented her from dwelling on Raisa’s death, her attention, and efforts devoted to saving the Initiates.

“It is done.” She handed the bottles back to the elder, hearing and smelling the vomiting initiates as she did.

“Alcmene, the moment the vomiting has settled ensure each drinks a cup of this.”

“Yes, elder.”

The elder reached for and embraced Charis.

“With your magic they will be well I am sure. With poison, we need to remove the agent and your magic has made my cures vastly more effective. Look at the stew; it is cold now so you can pick up the scent of the black rot herb in it as it solidifies. The amount used a risk in itself. If too much, it changes the taste of the food. To mix this much into the food would require significant time, stirred in evenly and smoothly to ensure it carried as much as possible. Whoever did this, wanted to make sure someone died.”

The elder stood and hinted Charis do the same. Charis gazed into the elder’s eye and agreed.

They both visited each of those affected and when satisfied the elder asked their carers to make them drink the white potion again. Then as before wait for the vomiting and once clear make sure they drink as much water as they vomited up, if not more. Then carry them to a bunk and care for them.

“Thank you elder, I owe you a great debt,” Charis said, relieved and recovered from her initial shock.

“They will require a few days’ rest, otherwise they should be well.”

With the elder’s assurance, Charis recovered from her daze and returned to the other issue. A Seer died in their House, one she formed an intimate relationship with, and one who taught children the true way of the Seer.

“Helice, I expect Rhea will arrive shortly as she will sense the loss of her Twin, is that correct?”

“Yes Mistress, I expect a very distraught Seer, she has lost a half of herself. Each Seer handles the loss in her own way and the Temple will always provide comfort at this time of loss as best they can.”

Charis reached over to Helice, placed her locked hands around her neck, and touched foreheads.

“You found your peace sister, be glad,” Charis whispered.

“Thank you Mistress.”

They broke their unusual embrace. Helice unaware the contact assisted her Mistress cope with Raisa’s death.

Charis asked, “She will appear at the elder’s entrance, can you wait there for her, your understanding of this loss may comfort her. What needs to be done with Raisa’s body?”

“Leave it where it is Mistress. The Temple will retrieve their Seer and probably arrive with Rhea.”

“Will it seem odd to them she died and no one else has?”

“It will depend upon Rhea. They were Seer Twins hence they will believe whatever she says as a perfect witness to events.”

Charis felt trapped. A body, which belonged to a Seer, which couldn’t vanish or her death covered up. The important mystery, how did she and only she die in a room laid out to feed more than one? Any investigation would ask some difficult questions.

Distracted as she was Charis attended to each of her sisters next, nodding to each of their carers. With some guilt, she gently placed her hand on their stomachs and applied some healing. To make sure she convinced herself. Those poisoned were resting and unaware of her visit, which suited Charis. Charis also ensured she thanked the carers as she left each bunk.

Returning to the Training Room, she studied the scene before her for a number of heartbeats. The elder directed Jocasta as she carefully cleaned up the mess. Jocasta assisted the elder to inspect the evidence, in the buckets and on the floor. Both immune it seemed to the smell and the disgusting liquids and bodily fluids.

“Hello Mistress the elder is teaching me about black rot,” said Jocasta cheerily.

“The smell?” asked Charis.

Jocasta smiled, giggled, and waved a hand at her returning her attention to the elder, oblivious to the possible tragedy.

“Seer Rhea and Temples Guards are asking to enter,” said Alcmene.

“Tell Helice to allow them in and lead them here,” Charis answered.

Rhea ran to her sister’s body and kissed its forehead. She didn’t linger over it and under her direction, the Temple Guards utilised the carry stretcher they brought with them to gently place Raisa’s body upon it. They then left the House after Rhea kissed her once more on the forehead as a farewell. Charis became confused, as there were no questions and specifically no Mother Superior. Worse, Rhea showed no sympathy or sense of loss. Charis carefully observed waiting for a doom of some sort and not really knowing what to expect next, although equally surprised Rhea remained behind.

“Can we talk in your room,” Rhea asked, remarkably calm after suffering Seer loss.

Charis led her up the circular stairs to her room, opened the door, and ushered Rhea in first, following her. Lost for words, Rhea’s behaviour and the situation, Charis was speechless and searching for answers.

“My sister’s death has changed much Charis the Young!”

Charis sensed strength, perhaps happiness in her voice not dismay or sadness.

“My Sister’s Twins will be assigned to another Seer. Another Seer will tutor my triplets, my wonderful triplets. We now lose our honoured place in the Temple of Saph.” The words spilled out lacking any emotion, statements of fact.

“Know I and the Daughters are here for you, always. Helice tells me…”

Rhea placed her finger across her lips, slowly dropped her head to suggest Charis to silence, and then hugged her, followed by kisses. When Rhea started to remove Charis’ armour, Charis took a step back, confused.

Rhea explained, “Raisa hasn’t died, her body has, she is with me, we are united. She claims she needs to experience you, fully and utterly as one. Further explanations can wait!”

Charis was too dumbstruck to protest or try to reason with her or was it them? It was one bell later before Rhea and Raisa where sated. Charis knew both where there as they each pleasured her in their own way, she recognised the ‘moves’ of each twin and remembered them, when they were linked and Raisa far away in her temple, although sharing.

“This was an ancient power of the Seers. They never suffered loss as they transferred themselves to their sister’s body. This lasted because of the intimate link between the sisters. They were one in life in two separate bodies, and then when they shared a body it didn’t seem strange or unfamiliar.”

“So you will always be the two in the one body?” Charis asked cautiously, tenderly.

“We don’t know. We are going to undertake some research and determine what powers were possible.”

“Are you interested in finding out who tried to poison your sister?” Charis asked.

“Who would what to poison Raisa? She was a once off visitor here therefore most likely it was an attack on the Daughters of the Duchess.”

“That is a nice theory, except poison is a woman’s weapon. I should know I use it or at least ointments to try to even up the odds. Men would attempt something different, they tend to want to face whom they kill and gloat over it. Since we don’t annoy many women and very few men and Helice has told us her Seer Sister was sent to Lonely Keep to expose her to danger I am wondering if this wasn’t truly directed at your sister, from another within your Temple or her Temple?” Charis realised Rhea/Raisa weren’t comprehending this possibility. She placed a hand on either side of her face and forced her to stare into Charis’ clear blue eyes.

Charis continued, “You did mention both of you were given an important responsibility, your Seer powers were growing, and your sister was being sent to Lonely Keep to assist another Seer to settle in. I suspect she was sent on a long journey full of risk.”

“I cannot believe that is the truth of it, there must be someone after the Daughters!”

“Yes, a few men, although no women. This does mean in some strange way you are now considered a Single Seer and therefore able to decide your future.”

“Yes even so, I and my sister’s students will be assigned to others and forever lost from us.”

“Is there no previous time where a Single Seer was able to remain within the Temple walls specifically to tutor student Seers? That is your single hope as far as I can see, although as a Daughter you are welcome to stay here.”

“Why didn’t any of the Daughters die as my sister did eat in the company of some of them?”

“The elder was able to save them with her herb lore. The four Initiates started eating well after your sister. In essence she saved them or allowed the elder to save them.”

“It would need superior healing equal if not greater than the Healers of Ure to save so many from certain death. This is not a small thing.”

“All of the Daughters assisted and were at the elder’s command, as one we saved them. What will happen now though, with your sister’s body?”

“My sister’s body will be embalmed, they have probably already started, and then I will mourn for three days over my sister and then middle of the seventh day on a pyre she burns to return to the Goddess.”

The first words of sadness spoken by Rhea thought Charis. While Raisa was still present, her body would mean everyone else accepted her as dead.

“It would be interesting to see if your sister could claim another body though, especially before she became too comfortable in yours,” Charis thought, although spoke the words aloud.

“I need to return to the Temple, for at least seven days I can play on the sympathy of my sister’s death, and I am expected to grieve. All will accept mad things until my mourning watch over my sister’s body is completed. Thank you for the company tonight, I will try to return although most likely in a week’s time. The Temple may want to council me also as is their way for Seer death, so don’t worry about me for some time.”

“Farewell warrior-sister Rhea,” accepted Charis.

“And Raisa,” added Rhea.

“I accept her as a sworn warrior-sister as well as a lover,” Charis answered.

Charis escorted Rhea through the elder’s room to the exit and then returned to the Training Room.

Poisoned food, be it spilt on the floor or still in a bowl joined the poisoned food in the pot and no one knew what to do with it after the delicate task concluded. Those staring at it knew it meant death and it couldn’t remain in the Training Room. In the end, Charis asked Thais and Alexa to pull up some of the replaced boards. Charis and Helice dug a hole under the House and buried the pot to keep it out of harm’s way. The twins then nailed the boards back in place.

The warrior-sisters that were a bell ago writhing in incapacitating pain, were now sitting upright on their bunkbeds with an echo of stomach pain, closer by far to life than death sipping water.

“Do we know who is responsible Mistress?” asked Nysa.

“I doubt we were the target, I believe the Seer Raisa was, we were just there at the same time. I suspect the agent is within the Temple of Saph, beyond our reach. To be on the cautious side we will need to purchase meals at various Inns within Town, you can say we are looking for our own cook after a few visits. In the mean time I will explain what has happened to our friendly Innkeeper and discover if he knows anything,” Charis replied.

“I sent the sisters out in threes to eat at other Inns already Mistress, while you were otherwise occupied, and instructed them to keep to themselves and return immediately once finished,” offered Astera.

“Good. I was unavoidably distracted with Rhea and couldn’t do much else.”

“Mistress, the poisoned sisters are recovering and wish to see you,” Thyia said.