Charis staked out the elder’s room from dawn, Helice kind enough to wake her so she could.

She scanned the room, confirming it a copy of the elder’s cottage in Bearwatch although made of stronger materials. Charis stoked the pot belly stove and prepared a tea for herself, catching herself in a silent chuckle. The elder’s tea habit rubbing off on her.

Cup of tea in hand, head back and eyes closed Charis let all her worries float away.

The moments passed, and Charis’ thoughts and vision returned to the room. As she repositioned her body in the chair, her underclothe rolled over her breasts gently caressing her nipples. Her memory immediately drifted back to the last time they were grasped and teased. Helice’s green eyes staring at her while tending to her, waking her this very morning. A warm shudder passing through her, causing her to rest her cup on the old wooden table and wrapping her arms about herself.

“Mistress, such thoughts!” sent Clymene.

“MMmmm,” sent Alcmene.

“Mistress, I am glad. We all ‘heard’ you, we are a step closer,” sent Helice.

Charis swallowed the lump of embarrassment in her throat, she didn’t mean to share, she didn’t know she could.

---

The elder climbed down from her loft, surprised to find Charis in a chair observing her.

“Do you need to break your fast?” Charis asked.

“No time for that, I ate a small meal last night, although there was such a ruckus I couldn’t concentrate.” She paused, her wrinkled brows gathering, deciding in the moment to remain silent about the other reason she stirred from her slumber.

“Well I am sure you won’t say no to tea? Freshly brewed, your cup awaits you.”

“Yes, true,” the elder, stammered.

“I apologise for the disturbance, we entertained some intruders, which is the reason I am here.”

“Oh and what do you want from me?”

“Well I appreciate you’ve been extremely busy so I would ask if any of the busy included anything to assist with defending our House.” Charis regretted the accusing tone immediately.

“Well, yes, I believe so,” the elder retorted, pausing to sip her tea before continuing.

“I hope you noticed the door. It tries to determine friend from foe, safety from danger, although I made sure, it would always open for you and I. I’ve strengthened the doors and the door jams but only the front door is special. I’ve strengthened the walls on the ground floor, although someone could dig under them and break in through the floor. I am waiting for you to finish the kitchen first; otherwise, the carpenters will struggle to complete their work. The walls on the top floor as well as the ceiling are strengthened, I left the roof alone as we want to entrap there I would think.”

The elder reported in a neutral tone, all warmth gone.

“Thank you elder, I apologise for my unkind questioning, I thought I was relaxed, instead I realise I am concerned about everything.”

“I am not finished. In addition, I enhanced the peepholes in the Watch Room so anyone seeing through them will see further and they will appear as normal wood or brick to anyone spying on the building. If you can provide me with more goblin eyes I could also attach a borrow gem to them. The assassination also convinced me you need these two items.”

She handed Charis another gem similar to her other one and another silver circle.

“You need the silver circle for a deeper magic reserve and the gem for enhancing whatever the first provides you. Oh, swallow this when you attune them, do it now, drink then place the gem and circle where you want them.”

Charis did as she was told and waited to determine if the elder was correct or not about the pain. The red gem joined the other near her belly button and the silver circle nestled behind the nipple of her other breast.

“With this brew we could ease the pain for all the sisters,” queried Charis.

“No dear, your affinity with the elven magic assists, it would not help others.”

Charis finished her tea, resigned to the truth, and stood pushing her chair back.

“We need to encourage Astera and Thyia to practice, train and fight together as the half coins join them as one in combat, even when they’re not within sight of each other they will coordinate their moves and attacks to support each other, but this needs time to develop. Therefore, the more time they spend together the better. Perhaps they could share the same room also.”

“I suspect they are already, although to make the arrangement a requirement of their training would clear up the situation and I am sure they would approve.”

“If you trust Nysa and Kyra they would make another ideal pair for these coins. Possibly Dirce and Drosis another, as three pairs they would gain the luck of three, possibly.”

Charis accepted two pairs of coins from the elder.

“I haven’t found anything remotely similar to Dione’s link to her horse, it seems unique. You must practice and see if you can bend the items to your will more than you have so far. Only you are blessed in this.”

“Well this will be tested shortly, if the assassins I permitted to leave return to me.” Each of Charis’ hands found a dagger to play with, sliding them half way out of their boot sheaths and gently sliding them home.

The elder placed her hands over each of Charis’ and caught her eyes in her own deciding to change the subject.

“I did wonder what would become of you if you attuned every item we have, but I am sure you would run out of flesh first let alone any other danger we aren’t aware of!”

“I wouldn’t want the burden. Plus, I suspect an interested party could easily decide to reclaim them.” Charis remembered her Elven visitor and knew if he made a claim they wouldn’t be able to stop him.

“Then we should attune them to the sisters and quickly!” urged the elder.

“No I suspect those who still claim them would not be good enemies to gain and the company is more than the attuned items, it is each other. Well time I began my walk and check my decision.”

“Take Helice with you, she is fiercely loyal on a completely different level, more so than Astera, she means to make sure you live no matter what the cost to herself or anyone else around you.”

“Yes, I understand why and she did save me last night. It would be remiss of me not to, as a reward if nothing else.”

Charis visited the Training Room and Kitchen to search for Helice possibly breaking her fast. Instead, she found Alcmene there with Astera and Niobe.

“Alcmene, please contact Helice to meet me in my room, she may need to wait for me.”

“Yes Mistress.” Alcmene hugged Charis catching her off guard, followed by Astera who went further and nuzzled her face into Charis’ neck, ensuring sensual contact along the lengths of their bodies.

“I apologise Mistress, I am not sure …”

Alcmene responded quickly placing a gentle arm around Astera, “Mistress shared an intimate memory this morning, as Seers we deeply embraced it, although amazingly all those with items also shared it. Notice Niobe is confused about our behaviour and staring about us.”

Astera released her embraced, awkward, muddled what to do next. Alcmene’s arm dragged Astera closer, rescuing her.

“Your urge will pass quickly, I sense the depth and affect dependant upon how close you are to Mistress.”

Astera nodded curtly, recovering.

Charis wandered in to the Bath Room trying to disguise and tame her churning stomach, uncertain what this will mean.

“Mistress, you don’t need to be concerned, when you have more control your memories won’t escape so easily as your mind will need to focus to contact us and not freely touch all those around you,” sent Alcmene.

Charis spent the time in the water, training herself to keep her dreams and memories within, trying to focus to contact Alcmene. Her mind groping for connection and not finding any.

---

Niobe noticed Alcmene didn’t stop doing what she was doing, preparing some food. How could she ignore the Mistress?

“Sister Alcmene, do you wish for me to find Helice?”

“No Niobe she is found.”

Niobe raised her voice surprised, “How was she found?”

“Can we discuss this tonight? I will visit your bed after dusk, Clymene and Helice will be there also and we can chat about it?”

“Yes, thank you Sister Alcmene,” Niobe replied sheepish, bowing her head slightly.

Alcmene then buckled over managing to gently lower herself to the floor placing the food in Niobe’s hands.

Niobe stepped in one direction to set the food down, propped, should she catch Alcmene, she couldn’t her hands were full. Panic reached her eyes until she saw Alcmene’s eyes roll back in her head followed by heavy panting. Niobe froze, curious and then relieved as a wide satisfied smile stretched across Alcmene’s lips. Alcmene licked her lips slowly, tasting the memory.

“I am recovered,” Alcmene said thickly, leaving the meal preparation with Niobe sprinting up the circular stairs abandoning a perplexed Niobe.

“It is a Seer thing, Niobe,” Astera said sagely.

“Thank you Sister Astera. Alcmene said she would explain tonight.”

“Then all is well initiate.”

Helice finished with Clymene and they both sent their passion to Alcmene, as they knew she was assisting Niobe. Helice then collected her armour and weapons and ran naked down the hallway passing a confused Thyia, who knowingly smiled when she saw Helice hurry into Charis’ room. Helice hurriedly sorted her armour and clothes and presented herself naked on her Mistress’ bed. She was catching her breath and calming down when Charis entered her room. She waited seductively for Charis’ appreciation.

Charis needed to ready herself to follow the Gate Road and meet or not meet three assassins.

“Helice clothes and armour on, quickly. Call your sisters to assist, then the three of you can help me to finish.”

“Yes Mistress, immediately, I, sorry, I misunderstood,” she rushed to her armour and started dressing. Alcmene and Clymene joined her quickly, Alcmene dressed, and Clymene, not so much but they were there to attend Helice. They then took care of Charis.

Charis and Helice exited through the elder’s door. Helice concerned, as the Mistress remained quiet since commanding her to dress. They strode down Gate Road and headed towards the New Gate. Charis slowed once past the Old Gate taking her time and ambling, pausing to browse, pretending to shop at a few stalls, paying too much coin from what Helice observed.

Helice hovered near enough to intervene if required, avoiding to crowd her if possible. She thought she must have carried her part well, as shopkeepers were wary of her and some of them intimidated changed their prices when Helice gave them a look. At least four of her daggers were visible, two at her hips and two in her boots.

They did this for two bells and Helice heard her belly rumble, as she didn’t break her fast. Charis then made a decision and marched with purpose to the New Gate, Helice stepped up her pace to stay with her. Still no conversation though. They visited the stables first and the stall was empty. Helice noticed the signs of preparation, there was a dropped thing, she handed it to Charis who shrugged and gave it back. It was two opposed crosses, each with sharpened tips and edges.

Charis then strode to the New Gate and asked the Gate Captain. He couldn’t confirm six or three riders left early in the morning, let alone if they were male or female. Helice saw through Charis’ polite facade, witnessing a smouldering anger, obviously upset the assassins, after swearing an oath to her, left, returning to their former patron. Betrayal of the highest order. Helice knew Charis; trust and honour were all she ever asks, and she sensed Charis hardened slightly. She understood now about this morning, it was serious business as Charis trusted the assassins and now she exposed the company to a powerful enemy by not slaying the enemy agents.

Charis stalked into an Inn off Gate Road and paid for a room. When they entered the room, she told Helice to undress. Charis started to pace. Not waiting too long she started ravishing Helice, forceful, passionate, and mostly different, an aggressive and relentless Charis. Helice overawed by the pure passion, consumed and desperately needing to save herself unleashed her intensifying pleasure on Clymene and Alcmene. Otherwise, lost in ecstasy and screaming out her release, she would have shocked everyone within earshot including the entire Inn. She enjoyed the surprise of both of her sisters and they signalled their eagerness for more.

Charis stood, panting and raised her arms. Helice understood immediately and removed Charis’ armour and clothes. Once naked, Charis flopped back on the messed bunk, exhausted. Helice gently caressed her, pushing sweat soaked hair from her face and trying to comfort her. Helice could sense the tension and inner turmoil in her body from her core muscles tensing and releasing. Charis took the betrayal personally, deeply, and now concerned her trust of the assassins placed her sisters in clear danger.

Helice rolled her Mistress over until face down. She then massaged and teased her muscle groups trying to relieve the corded tension within them.

“I need to find them!”

Helice flinched. There was a deep venom and deathly growl to the Mistress’ voice. She opened herself to Alcmene and Clymene allowing them to observe through her senses.

“Can you and your sisters send me to the city?”

“I don’t know Mistress.”

“Ask your sisters, you would be in contact with them, apart from being Seers, you were silent each time I took you,” Charis closed her eyes, “I apologise for my condition, I am unsettled at the moment.”

“Mistress, we all enjoyed the efforts and results of your condition and we serve you when and where we can. My Seer sisters don’t know either Mistress.”

“What if Niobe, Thais, and Alexa were added as Seer sisters?”

The desperation in Charis’ voice apparent, Helice answered in a cautious, measured tone.

“It has taken weeks to for me to join Alcmene and Clymene as a third, Mistress, Thais and Alexa are untrained.”

“Rhea and Niobe then, they’re both trained?”

“Five Mistress, not three, and not seven, I am not sure that number would be favoured.”

“What if you and I prayed at the Shrine of Saph? We could travel from Hillperch to the city.”

Mistress starting to grab for the desperate and dangerous, Helice became concerned.

“We’ve never tried, we may make it to the city and then become stranded there or worse seen by someone powerful enough to call what we do into question, and we would never know where that would end up.”

“Don’t you understand Helice, I need to stop them! I’ve placed all your lives in danger I must fix this. We have days before they return to the Mother Superior. If we took double horses and pushed, we could beat them there.” Charis’ chest rose from the bed her core supporting her, her fists clenched then crashed repeatedly into the bed.

“Then what Mistress, what are we going to do to them?” Helice tried to push her Mistress back down onto the bed, Charis resisted fiercely.

“I will ask them why and then kill them!”

At that moment Astera, Thyia, Dione, and Otonia entered the room.

Charis stared at each of them, confused by their appearance all of a sudden. What was going on? Helice climbed upon Charis’ body. Then Charis felt Astera place her finger in her mouth and then nothing.