A nervous energy pervaded the House as the sisters awaited their doom. Charis stalked about the House reminding sisters individually to remain wary and travel in threes to protect each other. The assassins were potentially in the company of their patron by now and if they travelled with urgency possibly planning and plotting their demise.

On the positive side the fully operational kitchen allowed the sisters to gather together for meals, instead of traipsing across town in threes visiting various Inns, spending coin on the fare offered. The fare, its variety and its price steadily increasing as Death Season approached and supplies to the town started to decline.

To the surprise and joy of all, the Seers claimed the running of the kitchen. Alcmene, Clymene and Helice proclaiming themselves expert cooks, as twins and triplets in Temple, expected to mind link and co-ordinate while preparing and cooking meals. The Seer-sisters followed this training technique as well, seamlessly incorporating Niobe into their kitchen duties. This inclusion, a signal to the rest of the House the single seer Niobe now seer proficient to join the House’s Seers.

---

“Mistress, you will receive a visitor soon, Seer Rhea,” Jocasta said, presenting herself in a clean one-piece dress.

“Show her to the Meeting Room please Jocasta,” Charis replied.

“Oh no Mistress you misunderstand. My friends, who chat to their friends, who whisper to other friends, told me the Seer is leaving the Temple shortly. Her mourning time for her sister is over and she is moving to the House.”

“When will she arrive? On second thoughts don’t tell me as we need to pretend we don’t know. Acceptable Jocasta?”

“Yes Mistress, I just tell you, you decide what to do with what I tell you. You are Mistress.”

+++

Late afternoon of the next day, the kettle boiled, and the cups readied Charis waited patiently for the elder to return to her room.

“Mistress can we join you?” asked Thais timidly, her twin standing beside her as a mirror image, the sole difference being their hair. Thais’ close cut, her black hair regrowing. Alexa’s long straight black hair flowing like water from her head, over her shoulders and down her back, her head tossing the now unrestrained locks after she removed the cord wrangling it.

Charis waved them to a seat. They glanced at each other and swallowed, clutching each other’s hand as they descended cautiously into a chair each. Their trade clothes, dirt clinging and sweat on show after a day’s toil, loose around them, tied at their thin lithe waists by frayed rope of all things.

“Do you drink tea?” Charis offered.

“No Mistress, we never have.” Both startled by the offer and responding quickly.

Charis prepared a cup for herself and raised her eyes at each of them inviting them to speak.

“Mistress,” gripping each other’s hand for strength, “we wonder why you pay us no attention.” Their faces flushing bright red in a response beyond their control.

Charis relaxed in her chair, placing the tea cup on the table before her, taking her time to consider her response.

“At what age did you both leave your Seer Temple?”

“We were both birthed and raised within the Seer Temple Mistress,” they drew closer to each, “we were two of seven siblings …” Their throats dried, and their voices strangled to silence.

“I suggest you both need to sip my tea.”

They instinctively knew to take turns, Thais’ long thin fingers wrapping around the cup, taking a sip and passing it to her sister. Alexa taking a sip and returning the cup to the elder’s table. Both struggled to keep a straight face, tea they decided, not to their liking.

“Our birth mother, one of triplets, our father a single twin, his brother having died in childbirth.”

Charis held up her hand, “The Seers of Saph broke the Seer Gift of a triplet for your birth?”

“Yes Mistress, given our escape and freedom not many in our Temple supported the terrible act against our Goddess. Our Mother and her two sisters birthed seven children, two sets of twins and a triplet conceived with the same father. We don’t understand why, we are truly grateful our maid freed us from whatever the plan was.”

“It wasn’t the answer I expected, certainly a great deal more and sinister. I was shocked when I realised what Mother Superiors were using single seers for, now you reveal this horrible tale.” Charis raised her voice more than intended, astonished by the confession.

Both Thais and Alexa barely able to breathe, a hand from each reaching to their chests, pushing back their baggy shirts to steady their rapidly beating hearts. Their Mistress about to exile them, they were too dangerous to protect. Their new home, asking for a new purpose and sense of belonging slipping away, because they asked the Mistress for attention and answered her question too honestly and too openly.

Charis extended both of her hands across the table, offering one to each twin. Thais and Alexa shot out a hand each in response, grasping the offered lifeline, hoping their Mistress’ next words would not mean their end, their expulsion.

“You are both sworn to me, you belong to this House. If anyone tries to claim you be assured the Daughters will defend your freedom.” Charis held their eyes in her own in turn to further reassure them.

Their second hands joined their first, strangling Charis’ hand in their tightening grips, relieved and desperate to hang on. Tears streaming from their eyes, they placed their heads on the table to hide their relief and sobbing.

“You are both bound to me and only you can break your oath. Now lift your eyes to meet mine I am used to crying, I have done my fair share and there is no shame.”

Clutching their Mistress’ hand, Thais and Alexa flew to their feet, their chairs kicked back clattering to the floor. They didn’t pay the ruckus a moment’s notice, as they wrap themselves around her, sandwiching Charis between them. Charis at first inhaled the pleasant aroma of freshly cut wood, her second sniff caught their sweaty pungent body odour.

“Twins I suggest you both need a bath.”

“Oh, sorry Mistress.” Thais and Alexa immediately released their Mistress and stepped back separated as Charis remained seated between them. Charis reached out her weak Seer talent and discovered theirs, raw, unfocused and truth be told like hers.

“Bathe and after the evening meal, if you still wish for my attention I will visit you both.”

They both contained their excitement and controlled their reply as they needed more.

“We are jealous of Alcmene and Clymene Mistress and their Seer Gift, we wish to develop ours and realise being untrained, the task will prove difficult. We witnessed how Niobe, a single seer has recovered her Seer Gift and wondered how.”

They paused, their faces reddening, staring at each other over their seated Mistress.

“We were awake when you attended to Niobe and then when she slept with Alcmene and now she prepares the House meals with Alcmene, Clymene and Helice, an impossible triplet, possibly a future quartet. We remember the design of our birth, the sacrifice of a triplet’s Seer Gift to birth seven seers linked by blood.”

Charis searched deeply within the shallow depths of her cup of tea, appreciating the twin’s deductive words.

“We wish to reclaim our birth right, our Seer Gift and become the fifth and sixth seers of this House’s Seer Circle. We are prepared to make any sacrifice to make this happen Mistress.”

“I will discuss your wishes with the Seers, please know they have approached me about developing your Seer Gift. I was hesitant, believing perhaps falsely you’re both satisfied with your trade and I will not force any to do anything they don’t wish to do, beyond honouring their oath and learning weapon skills to defend this House.”

Thais and Alexa screamed in delight and barely resisted the urge to hug their Mistress. After bouncing on the spot for a moment they raced to the Bath Room leaving their Mistress shaking her head wondering about the House’s future fifth and sixth seers.

“I will put the kettle back on, shall I?” quipped the elder.

Charis didn’t notice the elder join her, distracted by the twins.

“Yes, my last cup briefly shared, to good purpose I am sure.”

“So, you stalk me, an old lady and wait for me, the reason?”

“The paired coins, I believe they have a specific link to a red gem. The one you gave me allowed me to coordinate with Astera and Thyia.”

The elder sniffed the room, petitely, old lady like.

“Their honest toil scent I guess, I will sprinkle a little something.”

The elder’s nose turned up as she pulled a face and then whispered, “Describe coordinate with?”

“I knew their move as they were taking it, I could predict and ensure my move slotted in like a missing piece, without signal, without speech.” Charis held back the actual moves and their purpose, slightly embarrassed, feeling her cheeks warm.

The elder noticed of course and her lips tugged at the ends, imagining the moves without difficulty.

“It makes sense, three items linked, the two half coins obvious but not aligned with fate and the numbers three and seven. There are two more red gems, they could easily link to the other half coin pairs.”

The elder poured them each a cup of tea, her aged hands deft and sure in a task repeated often.

“Can you offer your thoughts about who the gems would suit best as the pairs are set already and I doubt the pairs would want to endure any more pain attuning them.”

Charis blew and sipped on her cup of tea waiting for the elder to respond.

“An archer possibly an ideal choice. Typically, an archer would need to stand down once hand to hand combat is joined. Can you imagine the support an archer could offer a fighting pair? Beyond that I would specifically suggest Otonia due to her special knives and when she throws other knives, protection for her ideal. Are you prepared to give up your red gem and pairing?”

“Yes,” Charis replied.

“So quick? I thought Dione an ideal candidate if you could convince her to suffer through the pain. She would capture with her lasso perhaps or kill with her sling both actions easily enhanced in combat if afforded protection and she knew when her protection would provide her with opportunity.”

“Yes, ideal, now I need to convince her. I will approach Zoe to attune the other gem, she is an excellent archer.”

“What about Charis the Young?”

“What about her? I assume actual combat would be secondary to organising her company.”

+++

“Sister let me walk,” sent Rhea, as they recovered from a stumble. The three boys carrying their goods and chattels with them, pausing, questioning, although unable to provide aid as their hands were full.

“I know I am your passenger sister, our situation is still strange. I don’t suspect I can ever be … comfortable.”

“Raisa dear Raisa, we will arrive soon, don’t fret. We can share her between us and develop our synergy I am sure as there were too many eyes upon us in the Temple.”

“You certain sister?” sent Raisa, her mind voice shaking, although Rhea knew her sister’s fear as there were no secrets between them.

“Quiet sister we are here. Boys place the boxes near the door.”

After the boxes were placed, Rhea paid the boys with coin and then rapped on Charis’ House door.

Charis acted suitably surprised when she answered the knock on the elder’s door mid-morning. Rhea showed Charis her Letter of Release from the Temple to confirm her new status. Charis embraced the twin seer’s shared body and led Rhea and Raisa to their new room on the upper floor of the House. It took a few trips to the room to unload Rhea and Raisa’s goods and chattels there, especially since Charis insisted on doing the carrying allowing Rhea and Raisa to setup their room.

During their reunion conversations Charis stressed to Rhea and Raisa the danger the House and its sisters were preparing for. Rhea and Raisa both shocked a Mother Superior would cultivate single Seers for her own purposes, although they recalled no disguised or subtle conversations in the Temple while there.

Charis allowed herself some rest lounging back on Rhea’s bed observing her unpack her goods and chattels and sort them into a cupboard and a couple of chests, which now furnished each room. The rooms remarkably similar to a typical Inn’s room. Ismene’s organisation and action most likely.

“Did you find any ancient knowledge about your situation?”

“We found mentions of it happening and some doubts expressed by the author’s, especially as they were recording second hand information.”

Rhea/Raisa threw an empty box towards the doorway and proceeded to unpack the last box.

“Before leaving the Temple we lost ourselves in the history archives to cover the amount of time spent in researching our unique situation. We found several entries where a twin didn’t die, while their body did. What become of them we didn’t find out.”

Rhea/Raisa stood hands on hips and then reached for the last box and tipped the entire contents into one of the chests, sitting on its lid to close it. Rhea/Raisa breathed heavily, resting and internally plotting and planning staring at Charis on their bed comfortable and relaxed.

---

Charis insisted the warrior-sister pairs spent time training as combinations every waking moment, dedicated to improving their team dynamics. She also arranged for the pairs to spar against each other, including a three-seer team, trying to improve Niobe’s dagger skill and seer ability.

Dione provided riding lessons and on riding training days, those who were already skilled riders either trained Short Bow with Zoe or Small Crossbow with Dirce. All the training conducted at the farm. The farmer permitted some of his children to learn bow, although they needed to complete their farm chores first. While in the House Otonia taught dual daggers and throwing daggers.

“Alcmene they are preparing to break their fast!” sent Niobe. Alcmene detected the desperate panting within Niobe’s contact and parted her lips in an amused smile.

“They are warrior partners sister, they clasped their forearms, hug strongly and assist each other with their armour without a hint of intimacy,” Niobe mentally gulped, “Would either be … interested?”

“Their interest is immaterial, sisters can say yes or no, you need to hint and entice and discover if either or both are attracted to the encounter.”

“Am I attractive?”

Alcmene, Clymene and Helice filled Niobe’s mind with desirous and imaginative images in response. Niobe blushed and delayed before climbing out of her bunk. Her seer sisters suggested she parade naked before wrapping her seer’s robe about her while ensuring the warriors could glimpse her if they wished. Her naked state required the urging of her three seer sisters, her shyness in such matters a strong legacy from her days at Temple.

Niobe timed her stroll from the White Room to the Kitchen with perfection as Nysa and Kyra followed directly behind her. As Nysa and Kyra seated themselves, Niobe struck.

“I am on my way to the kitchen sisters. Do you wish special service? I can serve your meal to you directly.”

Nysa and Kyra settling in to their chairs, stopped their efforts when Niobe spoke. Nysa’s and Kyra’s eyes meeting, questioning, then quickly nodding. Before seating themselves they observed Niobe disappearing into the kitchen her seer robe swishing around her bottom.

“What was that?” Nysa asked.

“That dear warrior sister was a possible invitation.” Noting Nysa’s confusion Kyra knew she required more explanation.

“You remember Niobe naked this morning, longer than necessary, would you agree,” Nysa nodded, “and now the offer of special service, with a glimpse of her breast. The Seer robe is designed for modesty and therefore requires much manipulation to achieve an interesting view and then the swaying of her arse.”

“She is attempting to seduce us?” Nysa agog with surprise. Kyra playfully snickered in reply as they waited for Niobe to return, which occurred within a few heartbeats.

Niobe confidently walked to them, two plates with trenchers balancing on one arm and two drink mugs clasped in her other hand. As she placed them before her warrior sisters, she needed to fix her seer robe as it somehow became revealing.

“I apologise sisters for my robe.” Niobe needed to open and rewrap her robe, revealing her smooth fair skin, breasts and other curves. Her seer sisters in her mind, counselling calm and control to ensure she wouldn’t blush. Once fixed, Niobe sauntered back to the kitchen.

“Do you believe me now?”

Nysa’s cheeks warmed, while Kyra’s lips parted enjoying her warrior sister’s embarrassment.

“I have never considered another, male or female in that way, since my first catastrophic encounter.” Nysa’s admission, surprisingly difficult and only possible due to their shared trust.

Kyra reached a hand across to console her warrior sister.

“I have lain with men and my experience informs me they are about their pleasure. So, I am inclined to accept the bait being offered, although I would welcome your company as we are a pair …”

Kyra searched Nysa’s face for her reaction, the first positive sign being Nysa’s grip strengthening.

“What of my disfigurement, her flawless skin, smooth and fair,” Nysa cast her eyes down, “I admire her hazel eyes, different …”

“Well warrior sister, lets play with this dessert a little before we accept to partake, it will make the tasting so much sweeter.”

“Yes, together,” Nysa’s eyes glistening as she imagined where this could lead. Her past totally consumed by martial pursuits, she didn’t consider anything else and this House gave her peace and trust and time to discover.

Niobe’s voice brought her back to the present.

“… finished yet, I will return to attend you when you require, you only need ask.”

“When we break our training mid-morning perhaps you could attend to us?” Kyra suggested.

“Do you enjoy some preferred eats and drinks warrior sisters or perhaps a sweet?” Niobe replied, being coached by her seer sisters.

“I would enjoy a sweet, a delightful break from our training, we could savour the taste when we resumed our training.”

Nysa didn’t speak, appreciating the unspoken and implied, studying Niobe intently.

“Some sweets are juicier than others, any preferences?”

Kyra couldn’t understand how Niobe maintained a straight face, sheltered within the Temple, not worldly at all, and so decided to up the ante.

“Smooth skinned fruit, plump and perfect, tastes sweeter and is a pleasure to consume.”

Niobe squirmed ever so slightly, noticed by Nysa alone, her eyes widening when Niobe’s nipples harden in sympathy.

“I will ensure your desert is prepared and served to your liking, for one or two?” Niobe emphasised the word ‘two’ catching Nysa staring at her breasts when Niobe tore herself away from Kyra’s gaze.

Nysa blanked, fumbling her reply, “Two. Yes, for two.”

Niobe hastened to the safety of the kitchen, grateful for Nysa’s word stumble and the opportunity to leave.

“You did well seer sister, will you be comfortable with both? We didn’t expect both, Kyra yes, Nysa has never shown any interest.”

“We are sisters, which should be enough,” fretted Niobe.

“Yes, Nysa though is tall and strong.” Alcmene, Clymene and Helice while trying to keep the possible pleasure from Niobe, couldn’t as it bubbled over as they considered the enticing possibilities. Niobe drew a confidence from their predatory carnal thoughts.

“I hope to discover undiscovered delights sisters.”

Niobe then took more plates out to the Training Room tables and chairs for other sisters breaking their fast. Those present, including Niobe admired Nysa and Kyra training before them for different reasons.

With the number of sisters travelling to the farm together Charis thought it safe enough, her initial concern fading over time and thought. Whatever action the Mother Superior was considering, the agents still needed to make the return journey. If there were any of her agents in the Temple of Saph at Hillperch they could accomplish little, observe and report at most, she hoped.

---

In the morning Charis woke to a rhythmic rapping on her door. She sat up and invited whomever in, as only warrior-sisters were permitted upstairs. Alcmene, Clymene and Helice dressed loosely in their seer robes ambled in.

“Mistress, Niobe is preparing the morning meal and being an Initiate, she is not permitted upstairs. It would benefit her seer learning if she could,” Clymene stated.

“We were wondering if the Seer Rhea could be initiated into our circle as the sooner and closer we are seven the sooner we can start trying certain arts to satisfy a rather demanding Mistress.” Alcmene finished her words with an impish smile.

“The Seer Rhea is not as yet ready, for now please leave her be, the demanding Mistress will need to accept the situation for now,” Charis paused and returned a bright smile. “As for Niobe it would hasten her training to join her Seer-sisters and given she is revealed to the three of you it is time she is promoted to warrior-sister.”

The three Seers leapt upon the recently asleep and therefore naked Charis, conveniently ready for the Seers to consume their Mistress in frenetic delight. Charis thought she also heard a yelp of delight from downstairs although, did she overhear it or sense it in her mind?

Before the Seers left she asked them to fully dress her in armour, cloak and weapons to save her time. They descended on the Kitchen with an appetite, with the Seers going to support an overjoyed Niobe. Two tables being fitted in the Kitchen, additional tables were available in the Training Room. The additional wooden tables were folded down from the walls supported in place by leather throngs, folding chairs hooked to the underside of the table, one on each non-folding side so a square table of three lay flush, held out of the way on the wall.

Charis strode past these and took down a table and chair set in the Kitchen. She found out from Niobe most of the sisters were at training, having broken their fast while the Seers were pleasuring their Mistress. Niobe served her a trencher of stew to break her fast.

“Where is the Seer Rhea?” Charis asked Niobe.

“She hasn’t broken her fast as yet and she didn’t accompany any sisters for training, therefore her room?”

Charis finished her trencher and thanked Niobe. Charis caught her much to her relief as Niobe leapt upon her in an embrace.

“Mistress, I am extremely happy,” she nuzzled her face into Charis’ neck, taking advantage of their height difference, “my seer gift has returned to me and the way to strengthen it most agreeable, yesterday Nysa and Kyra took me.” Charis felt the warmth of Niobe’s face against her neck as confirmation.

“I am glad for your happiness.”

“Mistress, when can we embrace again? I sensed a fourth and I thought it could have been you and I want you, that is to say want you to join with us Seers.”

“Soon Seer Sister Niobe.” Charis broke their embraced gently, Niobe’s face reddest of red.

Charis leaving to visit Rhea.

“Be patient Seer Sister Niobe your eagerness understandable, your haste not required and why did you mention Nysa and Kyra?” enquired Helice.

“I am sorry sister, I thought if others found me desirable, Mistress would eagerly join with me again. I’ve improved in my love making and wish the Mistress to remember me as I am now, not as the scared rabbit when she first attended me. I am sorry.”

“Do you presume you are the first? Be at ease Seer Sister Niobe, the Mistress knows well you have improved, beyond your love making skill, more importantly your Seer Gift. Your Seer Sisters do more than attend their Mistress when they visit, they also update her on the areas we are proficient in.”

“I am sorry seer sister.”

“Fortunately, our ‘mother superior’ Mistress Charis is wise beyond her young years and I suspect no harm done,” sent Alcmene.

---

Rhea/Raisa being alone for the day in new circumstances, unfamiliar company and a new home unhealthy and unacceptable Charis decided.

She entered Rhea’s room after being reluctantly invited and closed the door behind her. Rhea stumbled to embrace her blubbering, trying not to.

“Two people in one body is not the ideal I suspect, not that I know anything about Seer arts and legends, it isn’t natural or normal as people still need their own place and identity,” Charis said.

“Yes, we just needed to be told. Raisa and I are overwhelmed, our situation is difficult and a cure is beyond our understanding.”

“Well firstly, you must get dressed and break your fast. Then we will travel to the farm and start your training.”

“Don’t you protect me? Why do I need any training?”

“You must learn a weapon to protect yourself for the times I am not there to protect you and assist your sisters. Training will distract you from your situation and talking to others about anything will also help.”

Rhea/Raisa remained sullen and quiet, resting her head upon Charis’ shoulder. Charis reached for Rhea’s shoulders with her hands gently pushing her back. Rhea reacted by raising her head and Charis caught her eyes with her own.

“As Mistress I command you and you will wear your armour and cloak. I will help you.”

Rhea/Raisa smiled back. “We may enjoy such help if it is the sort of help we think it is.”

---

Middle of the day, Charis and Rhea/Raisa followed by Helice rode through the New Gate. The sun upon their faces warming, trying to resist the cold due to arrive with Death Season. They planned to ride down the Spur and take the short cut to the farm.

“So Helice accompanies you everywhere outside the House, does she?” asked Rhea.

“You know she does, she is Charis’ bodyguard, why ask the question?” sent Raisa.

“Quiet sister, it is a ridiculous situation, Charis is ours,” sent Rhea in reply.

“Yes, she insists, and it is the one thing as Mistress I’ve no authority over and given she has saved my life on more than one occasion I am caught by her bravery, intuition and devotion.”

Charis couldn’t see Helice’s face though if she could she would’ve realised the immense compliment she bestowed upon her, the joyous rapture escaping her, her Seer Sisters savouring and sharing in their sister’s recognition.

“So, if we decided to frolic behind the bush over there, she would need to watch over you?” teased Rhea.

“How she protects me I leave entirely up to her. She may advise we don’t utilise the bush and ride on to the farm and claim the loft in the barn instead. Whatever her judgement I would obey.”

“You command a company of warrior-sisters and yet one of them can command you? The Mother Superiors would never tolerate such a circumstance!” she replied trying to comprehend.

“Being in command doesn’t mean you are automatically right. Can I test my ability to command you, here and now?”

“Yes Mistress, I apologise, I meant no offence to anyone.” Raisa replied for Rhea, quicker to realise Charis’ tolerance for questioning her bodyguard arrangement about over.

They approached the turn-off to the short cut to the farm and took it. They rode in silence until they reached the farm. Sisters and farm children in motion, training or attending to their farm duties. The farmer's children stabling and caring for their horses.

“From seeing you ride, I don’t expect there is much more Dione can teach you. Perhaps you could learn the Bow with Zoe or the Crossbow with Dirce? A preference?”

“Both are Initiates, aren’t they?” squirmed Rhea.

“Nevertheless, at this time they’re both more skilled than you in either of those weapons, thus they can teach you to use them and use them well.”

“What about spear and shield? I can’t locate Astera though, they would be fine weapons to learn.”

“If you cannot choose what is before you I will command which one you will learn.”

Rhea gawked at Charis not expecting such an ultimatum, they were lovers, weren’t they? Charis sensed the confusion.

“You need a weapon skill to protect yourself, every warrior-sister must. This is not personal, this is survival and a requirement of your oath binding. Now choose please.”

“Oh well, if I must, then bow, it will be lighter to carry, if nothing else.” Charis slapped her across her face. Rhea dropped to the dirt surprised, shock dawning across her face, her hand reaching for the warmth now there.

“Charis told you the reasons, take her seriously sister,” sent Raisa.

“Quiet Raisa!” Rhea sent in reply her confusion growing.

Charis stood over Rhea and when she tried to kick out, Charis stepped back and as Rhea’s leg followed through, her bottom exposed, Charis stood on it and forced her to lie on her stomach. Springing upon Rhea’s back, Charis placed her bow under Rhea’s chin and drew back.

“You will respect me, and you will respect every sister in this company, which includes yourself. If you don’t agree with this, I will release you from your oath to me. Do you understand?”

“Yes Mistress.”

“Louder!”

“Yes Mistress!” she yelled. Everybody resisted the urge to peek at what was going on, this being strictly Mistress business. If the Mistress felt it necessary, it was for their benefit. The farm’s children weren’t under any such restriction and gasped in awe at the spectacle until hunted back to task by their father or their trainer.

Charis whispered in Rhea’s ear, “See how no sister turned, how no sister took an interest? They rely on me making sure we are strong, we are there for each other, we can depend upon each other and die for each other if required.”

“Rhea, life and death is serious business, I thought your recent loss would make you acutely aware of this. Now choose a weapon carefully and I will check to ensure you show respect to your teacher and your teacher assures me you are dedicated to learning your chosen weapon.”

“Yes Mistress, I choose Bow, I will learn it to the best of my ability, I promise.”

“Now stand and introduce yourself to your teacher, I will leave you in her care.”

Rhea brushed some dirt and dust from her and despairingly nodded. The dirt revealing tear tracks on her face.

“You are a warrior-sister, the Initiates look to you for the standard they must live up to, so they too can become warrior-sisters. Remember that. If you wish, I would rather you renounce your oath then call me names when I can’t hear. The choice as always is yours. Now stay or leave.”

“With your permission, I will stay and learn the Bow Mistress.”

Rhea was talking to Zoe when Charis turned to Helice.

“You thinking I was too harsh Helice?”

“No Mistress, I thought you were too lenient, my life may depend upon her one day and I need to be sure I can trust her with it Mistress.”

“Let’s go, I need to check on an Inn and determine if any mysterious strangers have called this late in the season.”