Alcmene’s confidence surged with the return of the silver circle lodged within her flesh. The sun bathing indeed permitting a pain free attuning and manipulation. Her circle no longer a circle, the length gently curved to rest upon the top of her cheekbone, under her skin below her right eye. She experimented and proved to herself, once under the sun the slither of silver could ‘surface’ above her skin, anchored by small hooked ends into her flesh. The absorbed magic propelled her into a euphoric state and she needed to connect to Clymene to steady herself.

With dusk approaching and the aroma of Zoe’s stew luring her, she made a point of finding Niobe and satisfying their hunger. Next, both believed they needed to interrogate and confront Zosime, who until now kept to herself. Questioning Zoe at dinner Alcmene and Niobe hurried to locate Zosime, Niobe guarding a bowl of Zoe’s stew to ensure they at least fed Zosime.

A moaning drew them, the pain carried on the still night air. They paused face to face, checking if the same anguished sound caught their attention. They rushed to its source stepping off the game trail into shadow, the camp fire light too feeble to penetrate the surrounding bush.

Zosime lay in a foetal position, a dark shadow facing away from the game trail and the two Seers. Her moans and gasps in sync with her rocking body. Alcmene knelt on the nearest side testing Zosime’s forehead for a temperature. Niobe skipped over Zosime’s legs to land lightly on the other side trying to find Zosime’s hands and the source of her agony.

Alcmene and Niobe rocked back on their bottoms, staring at each other, Zosime oblivious to their concern and attendance.

“Is she pleasuring herself?” sent Niobe, her shock defeating her training.

“Too loud Niobe!” commented Clymene.

“Who is?” sent Helice her curiosity revealed.

“Never mind you interlopers,” sent Alcmene, to recover the situation.

“Niobe you need to refine your skill, reach for a Seer and construct a discrete connection. I am impressed though you managed to contact Helice, you exhibit a powerful Seer Skill.”

Alcmene also conjectured Niobe’s unrefined send a result of her twin loss, and no blood link, which for any Seer for centuries is where a send would travel without a second thought. To remind Niobe of her twin loss, her sadness, too unkind and not required.

“Thank you, Alcmene, I value any learning. Ismene and Agape attend to me as I do them still, perhaps my strengthening phase is complete, and I now need refinement as you point out.”

Zosime continued her state of incapacitation and ignorance of her surroundings.

“To answer your question though, yes, our sister is pleasuring herself driven to an extreme and we must rescue her using all the means at our disposal,” suggested Alcmene while trying to nudge Zosime to gain her attention.

Eventually Zosime returned to them, startled and relieved, her eyes darting from Alcmene to Niobe, remembering, her gaze fixed upon Niobe, her face whole? The torture of Niobe and her guilt of participation, the slashes and the blood finally breaking her self-administering and returning her to the present. No scars on Niobe’s fair face?

Zosime’s eyes, trailing up the arm reassuring her, centring upon Alcmene’s snub nose, searching for salvation, deciding to take it. Reaching for Alcmene, her nearest, earnest carer and disregarding her new sister’s delicate resistance, dragged Alcmene upon her in an iron embrace, surprising Alcmene with her strength and conviction.

“I am a Seer, we are not lustful creatures, we are restrained and reserved. I suffer for my loose behaviour and I suffer unsatisfied to my horror to obtain relief, it seems I crave for the one who healed me!” Zosime admitted, desperate, her voice thin and weak.

“You are afflicted and distraught, allow us to provide relief and then we can chat and perhaps explain and with explanation travel the road to recovery together?” suggested Alcmene.

“Yes sister, I crave recovery.”

Niobe waited until she caught Alcmene in her gaze.

“Will we need to reveal to her our relief method Seer Sister?” Niobe sent, uncertain.

“Zosime your relief involves pleasuring you, do you understand, do you truly comprehend what is required?”

“We are Seers, servants of Saph? Why suggest … such a thing?” Zosime’s eyes panicked, the Temple’s teachings forbid touching, yet she now embraced Alcmene and drew strength from the contact. Lonely without her twin for years, the ache, the cruel edge of loss smoothed by this simple contact. Not alone and she squeezed Alcmene tighter. This is the treatment she required many years ago, after suffering the loss of her twin sister, not the offer of a new purpose to train ferociously as an assassin. In days past when sadness welled up within her, she trained longer and more strenuously trying to escape the pain of her loss, running away from herself. Did this same loss drive all her assassin sisters, were some driven to insane cruelty? Her memory flashed back to Niobe’s sliced flesh and the glee in eye of the butcher, her former assassin sister.

“We are Seers. This is the sole relief we can administer to a Seer. Two sisters, Dirce and Drosis experienced your condition and while they weren’t Seers they settled after a time,” pleaded Alcmene.

“Yes Zosime, please trust Alcmene, we are trying to recover your sanity and as a Seer in the service of Charis you will need to cast off some past taboos,” offered Niobe.

“I am a Single Seer therefore you over price my value Seer Sister although I appreciate your compassion,” said Zosime, their discussion above her and about her providing a moment of sanity.

“I am a Single Seer also Zosime and how we are about to help you is a blessing from Saph herself.”

Zosime fixed her eyes upon Niobe, searching for humour, faithlessness and possibly teasing, finding none of those things merely sympathy, perhaps a trick of the shadows, although her glistening tearful orbs reflected the meagre camp firelight.

“Do as you surmise you must, I am certain I can’t continue as I am and if Charis appeared, I don’t believe she could possibly cure my condition!” Resigned to her fate she numbly noticed her sisters removing her Seer Robe and then her loin cloth. A cool breeze caressed her body, her sensitive nipples causing her to shudder. Fine hair located across her body answered to the breeze’s efforts also, the gentle tickle stimulating her erogenous zones, her skin on sensual fire. Her head hair tormented her similarly while riding and she pleaded with Alexis to cut it off, to a low buzz cut for relief, she didn’t imagine she could lose all her hair though if her sensitivity stayed at this level, she needed to be cured.

Their caresses upon her aroused flesh left a trail of lightning, sparking her desire. Restraining her vocal acknowledgement, trying not to shame herself, attempting to retain some shred of her Seer disciple forced Zosime to accumulate pleasure upon pleasure. Like a bath filling, the water will eventually overflow, for her, the bath didn’t overflow, once filled with pleasure her bath shattered.

The whites of her eyes reflected the minute sunlight still piercing the dark shroud of night, her pupils bolting and hiding behind eye lids. Her back arched and her toes curled, the ropes of muscle lacing her lower body taunt like steel. Involuntary and against her will, her baser need crushing any perceived control, Zosime screamed her pleasure to the natural world around her, a release, which consumed her including her voice. No sooner did her scream end, her loins stirred again demanding further release.

“Find me Zosime, reach out with your Seer Skill, search for me as I reach out for you.” Zosime caught the echo of Alcmene’s voice, an ever-present echo and now with a moment of respite and relief she sensed her Seer Sister’s presence, her mind, something she didn’t imagine possible. Trying to decipher how, her needs controlled her instead, insisting upon release and relief. She resisted the flame of pleasure licking and stoking her desire.

“Send your release to me Zosime my sister, your consuming pleasure, your aching desire and allow it to consume me. Allow me to provide you with relief …”

Alcmene said no more as wave upon wave of pleasure washed over her, a directional blast of release. Before the pleasure consumed her, she reached for the single permanent link she maintained due to their blood, her twin Clymene. Both Seer Twins stiffened, backs arching to a dangerous curve, no abdominal muscles to restrain the extent and both were sated, exhausted and muscle sore. Alcmene held her scream back, Clymene caught by surprise alerted the House with her stifled shriek.

Thais and Alexa ushered the non-Seer sisters out of the Seer Room, obeying Clymene’s command, spoken using half words, broken and stuttering. She held their heads, one on either side of her, resting them on her chest, the twins subject to a breast each full in their cheeks. A recovering Clymene whispered to them.

“Connect to my offered presence, push yourselves to find it, don’t stop until you do, my sanity is in danger if you don’t!”

Niobe paused in attending to Zosime, rushing to brace Alcmene, the curve of her back surely impossible.

“Urge, insist Zosime search for you, reach out for her, you can’t fail as I am too overcome to release her! Don’t fail!” sent Alcmene, Niobe’s flesh upon hers providing an easy path for her desperate plea.

The magic harvested from the sun bathing flowed and ebbed within Alcmene and she expended it. Heartened by Niobe’s Seer yell she reached out for Helice as a final hope, an incredible distance and evidently possible.

“Sister?”

Doggedly following their plan when Alcmene seemed incapable, Niobe continued to attend to Zosime, it being her duty to save her sister from torment. Her different administrations to different erogenous zones igniting Zosime’s release again. Niobe brushed her forehead against Zosime’s to capture and position herself to offer relief to Alcmene.

The electricity of pleasure exploded out of Zosime, finding paths of least resistance or perhaps clearer connections. Niobe consumed Zosime’s pleasure wanting more, her toes curling, her mouth drying from panting. Regaining her control, Alcmene passed Zosime’s pleasure on in much the same way as she herself did when she released. Clymene desperately followed suit to the amazement of Thais and Alexa who enveloped in pleasure reached for each other’s hand, a totally new sensation shared, which ignited their own surprised brief release, which Clymene consumed not sure if Alcmene could.

Alcmene utilised Helice and sent the majority of Zosime’s release to her. Fortunately, or unfortunately, Charis, Rhea/Raisa, Helice and Otonia celebrated their last night in a bed together, sharing naked company. Otonia scrambled as Helice’s back arched trying to throw her off and as if possessed, in turn Charis and Rhea/Raisa lost control of themselves tied and bound in pleasure.

Niobe, rewarded for her efforts, committed wholeheartedly to saving Zosime. Several times.

Niobe slipped smoothly off Zosime their shared sweat assisting, now sated, eyes shut, mouth open, teeth shining in the dark and her hands caressing her sensitive places relaxing post release. Her eyes opened in a flash as a set of lips kissed her.

“Thank you, Seer Sister,” stated Zosime as she lay back.

Alcmene painfully repositioned her aching body and with difficulty managed to straighten with the assistance of others. Hagne, Korinna and Alexis assisting her slowly into a sitting position. As the assassin Seers assisted Alcmene; Ismene and Agape rushed to attend to Niobe who stretched out at their contact like a cat and embraced them both.

Zoe, one boot raised on a rock, arms crossed upon her knee tried to comprehend the sight she witnessed. Dione on the other hand snickered and chortled from the vantage point of her stallion’s saddle. The stallion quiet for the duration of the exhibition, which amazed Zoe.

“Don’t be confused poor Zoe, the answer lies in the fact they are Seers and Zosime in particular needed to scratch an itch,” said Dione, amused.

Upon overhearing Dione’s statement Hagne, Korinna and Alexis knew instinctively they missed an important life changing event, a secret, which may forever stay a mystery to them. Their participation still in doubt of course, as Seers, they maintained the notion they needed to remain chaste. The price of their Mistress’ healing too expensive.

“Alcmene, I enjoyed saving Zosime, I need to question why you and Clymene placed yourselves at risk?” sent Niobe.

Niobe stared at Alcmene and as the number of heartbeats grew, she chewed her bottom lip and fidgeted embracing Ismene and Agape further.

Alcmene then contacted her, with Clymene and Helice present. Including Niobe, the four shared a space across their four minds, a Circle of Seers. Niobe’s mind barely contained the revelation.

“Welcome Seer Niobe to our Seer Circle,” sent her three Seer Sisters as one.

“I am, I am … in wonder! How?”

“Zosime first. A Seer’s orgasm or release connects us, joyfully for Single Seers, regardless of blood lines. The Mistress’ healing influence upon Zosime resulted in totally unexpected consequences, which exceeded our expectations and required us to scramble to protect ourselves.”

“I apologise Sisters, I should have stopped tending to Zosime, I could have, I didn’t, I revelled … in the power and the reward, I am … very sorry Sisters,” sent Niobe.

“You stopped and reached out to me during my crisis and you absorbed much from Zosime,” sent Alcmene.

“Thank you, Sister … I am still burdened.”

“Let us put your mind to rest Sister, we needed Zosime to cure herself with our encouragement and she needed to purge every portion of her built up desire and need. Zosime by her own glorious actions connected with each Seer or potential Seer within the Daughters of the Duchess this night either directly or indirectly.”

“Oh!” sent Niobe. While the Seers rested, Niobe’s face warmed red, unobserved due to the cloak of night.

“We were going to ask you questions to explain, we won’t, we are too tired.” Humour perhaps, thought Niobe?

“The Assassin Sisters are special, they are fully grown women, train for many years as assassins, while previously Seers. What if they were once again Seers? Imagine deadly assassins able to co-ordinate and communicate effortlessly.”

“Are the Daughters going to be assassinating people now?” sent Niobe.

“No, the Duchy is being invaded by evil and we need to eliminate it, requiring multiple skills and talents and the Assassin Seers provide another skill set.”

“The assassins Hagne, Korinna and Alexis aren’t receptive to our ways?”

“Charis won’t be disappointed if the assassins adhere to their beliefs, they have a choice and she will respect their choice, their skills as assassins are noteworthy and useful as they are! Charis predicts other assassins will be sent and they will provide further opportunities if we can survive them.”

“Such a gamble … we are in danger?”

“We have always been in danger Sister, so we need to grab every opportunity to improve, hence Zosime, she may rediscover her Seer Skill and if she can, then perhaps other Assassins will want to try.”

“Thank you, Seer Sisters for the trust you place in me,” sent Niobe.

“We welcome you to the Daughters of the Duchess Seer Circle and we need to plan how we can awaken Charis’ Seer Skill to join us also!”

“The Mistress? Seer Skill? How?” sent Niobe, excitedly.

---

Charis somewhat speechless after the events in the Inn’s Main Room hinted to her sisters to finish and retire to their rooms. While on the trail, Seer Elpis insisted she share a room with Astera and Thyia and begrudgingly Astera accepted the imposition, somewhat aware of the Seer’s motives.

Charis celebrated with Rhea, Helice and Otonia sharing time and pleasure in their room for the last time before needing to camp beside the trail.

To Astera’s surprise and relief the Seer made an excuse needing to check upon the Innkeeper’s daughter.

“Aren’t we to follow her?” asked Thyia.

“She goes to the daughter. I am not sure if we could eavesdrop through the door and loitering outside her door a difficult position to explain to anyone who asked,” considered Astera.

“Yes, I am not sure I would wish to answer her father. Should we inform our Mistress?”

“You realise an empty bed waits for us and for the first time in some days we are alone, together?”

Thyia smiled mischievously, preparing for bed.

---

With assistance, Alcmene returned to the camp fire followed by Niobe and Zosime. Dione mounted on her stallion remaining observant as she followed, with Zoe astride her stallion behind the saddle.

“Well I suggest Hagne, Korinna, Alexis, Zoe and I scout about the camp in case a certain scream attracted any unwelcomed company. Don’t start the explanation until we return and try to stir the fire and the stew to life please,” ordered Dione as Zoe dismounted from her stallion.

Alcmene nodded without saying a word and then checked on the young child, somehow still asleep and sorely tempted to wake her to feed her. She left well enough alone until Dione’s return and then the explanations could start. Instead she contacted Helice who shared with Charis and Rhea/Raisa.

“We suspect your healing of Zosime overwhelmed her with desire, more than Dirce and Drosis although they weren’t Seers, while Niobe’s healing involved her confidence and sanity, the wounds painful of course,” sent Alcmene.

“Mistress agrees, while Niobe’s wounds were certainly bloody and terrible, they weren’t life threatening or deep and her real healing required other methods,” confirmed Helice.

“Mistress can I ask why you sent Niobe through the gap?” asked Alcmene, while reaching for Niobe’s hand and placing the middle finger of her other hand across her own lips.

“I intended her to discover responsibility and rebuild her confidence, able to call upon her Seer Sisters for advice if needed. The attack a bonus, which I can say now, since she survived although never any intention to place her deliberately in harms way. I could not suffer the loss of one of you my sisters.” While Helice relayed the words, their meaning and heartfelt portent rang true and undeniable.

Alcmene released Niobe’s hand. Tears streaming down her face, both Ismene and Agape rushed to Niobe to embrace her and comfort her unconditionally, Niobe deciding to explain to them later. Niobe mouthed a thank you to Alcmene as clasping Niobe’s hand enabled Alcmene to syphon off Charis words, discreetly and privately to Niobe somehow, another Seer trick for Niobe to learn she realised.

Dione returned first, her stallion at a walk and when near slid from her saddle. She served a small portion of stew for herself and settled in. Zoe and three assassin Seers returned shortly thereafter satisfied Zosime’s scream scared away any prowling beasts or travellers.

“I thank you for your support my sisters and your persistence in caring for me.”

Zosime searched for Alexis, Alcmene and Niobe acknowledging them each with a solemn nod.

“When Mistress healed my body the injures were severe, hairline fractures in bone, deep bruising in muscle and flesh while an arrow pierced and ruptured multiple organs in my lower abdomen, a death wound added to a body too exhausted to naturally heal without rest. Every moment active and the pace of the horse ride torture and ripping asunder any natural healing my body managed until then.”

At her pause the audience about her and far away with Helice and Clymene drew closer either leaning forward or clutching those nearby more tightly.

“Mistress’ healing sent my mind to a happy place, eternal sunshine, forest of green and full of life with each wound, injury and hurt binding and mending painlessly demanding my acknowledgement and each time I did my desire to birth life growing and with such a desire a need to embrace my life giver and couple with him or her. Again, I cursed horse riding as the stimulation on my sensitive womanhood drove me to relieve my frustration in the remaining way left to me, which is when Alcmene and Niobe rescued me.”

Within a heartbeat Alcmene spoke.

“Charis apologises, she meant to save a brave sister not to torture her and applied her magic in a rush due to your condition.”

“Am I permitted to reveal the secret?” asked Zosime.

Alcmene and Niobe studied and waited for the reactions of Hagne, Korinna and Alexis.

“Does the secret require us to lay with a woman? The Mistress perhaps?” enquired Hagne.

Alcmene opened her mouth to answer, trying to find the perfect words, suggestions from Helice and Clymene unhelpful and she resorted to the easiest answer.

“Yes, although not exclusively with the Mistress.”

The Three assassins exchanged questioning looks, sharing whispers and responses.

“Please don’t reveal your secret to us, we are Seers and while grateful to escape the Watcher we maintain a Seer must remain chaste, an obviously disregarded notion amongst this company,” said Hagne, the last few words spoken with a feint sneer.

“We will respect your choice, honouring your oath to remain or wishing release from your oath, you must decide,” answered Alcmene, ignoring Hagne’s attitude.

“The Oath taken we wish to honour, we need to adhere also to our Seer teachings, these are lifelong truths to us, which for more years than those standing before us now, guided our lives.”

“How old are you three?” Dione challenged, sticking her chin out.

The sisters around the camp fire held their breath for several heartbeats until the three assassins shrugged.

“Alexis, Korinna, and I are twenty-five Death Seasons survived and before she denies it, Zosime is twenty-six.”

Dione whistled in surprise.

“Amazing I guessed five or six years older, not ten years!” gasped Dione. Before anyone else could open their mouth, Dione declared another request in a childlike voice.

“Can I touch your abdomen muscles Zosime? Can I?”

“I am not offended by your brashness sister if that is what you were aiming for.” Zosime stood and took three bold steps to stand before Dione. Releasing the tie on her Seer Robe she parted it to reveal her abdominals unavoidably revealing her womanhood as well. Considering most of those in her company observed her writhing in ecstasy mere bells ago she considered her modesty forever lost. A fallen Seer?

A freedom struck her, skin contact no longer a taboo, laying with a woman no longer a taboo and clothing a choice usually for a purpose, if she wanted to run naked now and freeze, none of her sisters would object, admonish or rush to cloth her. A young child’s freedom, not a care. The Temple and its rules, The Watcher and her orders firmly in the past she resolutely embraced the future, trying to imagine Charis’ requirements to belong to the Daughters of the Duchess.

Dione, deliberately caressed Zosime while exploring her abdominal muscles and she sensed Zosime’s desire sparking. Licking her lips, her hands and fingers strayed, searching for more.

“Dione, enough. Zosime wrap and tie your robe please,” commanded Alcmene. Dione shrugged, realising Zosime’s desire existed barely restrained, ready to ignite with the minimum of encouragement.

The remaining chat organised guard duty and then Alcmene ordered her gaggle of sisters to sleep until woken for their watch. Those at the House and the Inn gloated within permissible good taste at their fortune, able to slip under a blanket, head on pillow lying on either comfortable bunk or bed.

---

The Seer returned to her room in the dead of the night, relieved her devotion to silence enabled her to sneak soundlessly from the daughter’s room to safety. She settled under her blankets relieved she didn’t need to explain anything to Astera and Thyia and drifted off to satisfied sleep.

She entered a dream state. Someone urgently tugging on her arm to wake her. She resisted, she needed sleep! Then her nose screamed in pain, something flicked it! Instinctively her hands cupped her pain, while her eyes opened into darkness.

Astera waited in the dark enjoying the sight of the Seer’s eyes darting about searching for the one who assaulted her nose and taking her que to speak when the Seer settled under her blanket.

“Spill! Recount your visit to the Innkeeper’s daughter in every detail,” ordered Astera in a whisper.

Before the Seer could yelp, Astera’s hand cupped her mouth to silence.

“This conversation is between us, at least for now, depending upon the mischief you confess to.”

Astera resisted the Seer’s attempts to rise, shifting her hand from her mouth to her neck, more precisely to her oesophagus. The implied threat not lost on the Seer.

“You can’t harm me, you aren’t allowed to harm me,” she squeaked quietly.

Astera leant her face forward to ensure the Seer could taste her breath when she breathed.

“Well unfortunately for you I know a few ways to hurt someone, which aren’t plainly visible without some embarrassment to the one hurt and I understood Seers were modest and chaste, especially to the devoted in this Inn.”

Fortunately, with excellent planning, Astera utilised her right hand to restrain the Seer by her throat, which allowed her left hand to explore the Seer’s womanhood. Her body shuddered under Astera’s exploration and either resisted the urge to protest or welcomed her invasion, either resulted in silence.

Elpis gulped, Astera’s rough warrior hands rasped against her throat threatening her life, convinced beyond reason her grip would crush her windpipe as easily as a twig. Astera’s left hand then wandered under her robe and upon her flesh, discovering and tracing a path to her womanhood. The dampness there increased as Astera’s fingers crawled nearer, on the verge of discovery, realising her wantonness near detection, Elpis held back a shudder. Astera teased her by slowing the creep of her fingers, by laying the warm palm of her hand upon her stomach, being slowly dragged, at the beck and call of Astera’s marching fingers. The anticipation built until Elpis, already aroused from keeping company with the daughter, yelped in pleasure, her loins bucking in release.

“Details.”

Elpis’ mouth dried as she tried to answer. In the moment it took to gather some saliva, Astera’s fingers slipped lower triggering an uncontrollable moaned response. The Seer considered not saying a word, to receive more … punishment, merely for a couple of heartbeats and then dismissed the notion. The next caress built upon the stimulation previously applied, and she knew the modest and chaste Seer gone, revealed in her place the wanton woman she desired to aspire to. She could send to her sister and risk her unexplainable reaction being witnessed. No! She needed to report, she needed to control her urges and desires, otherwise how would she possibly honour her position as Seer of Lonely Keep.

“I visited the daughter, she threatened to reveal me as she smelt my damp loins. Enjoying the respect and reverence displayed by the Inn’s folk oddly invoked my desire. A powerful man, one I should act cautiously around, bowed at my feet and kissed my boots!” The Seer withdrew into herself recalling the memory, savouring it.

“Details.”

A pity thought Elpis, later perhaps.

“Knocking on the daughter’s door, I didn’t notice no one guarded it until I left. She told me to enter and there to greet me, both toddlers, one latched on to each of her breasts! The suckling sounds stopped shortly after I entered the room and when they did, she lifted both children into a shared cot. She uttered a few flattering comments and then noticed her breasts leaking. She paused about to dry them with a cloth and waved me to approach her. I stood my ground while she pouted in disappointment.”

Elpis, known to her alone, witnessed the feeding, numb, she stood her ground involuntarily. Her and her twin sister were taken by the Temple after four Death Seasons and try as she might memories of her mother were no longer present within her, Mother Superiors though from her first to her last haunted her. Guilt assailed her every time she searched her memory and failed to remember her mother.

“Details.”

“With her breasts exposed, she next revealed her womanhood, inviting me to attend to her. While desire awoke within me, I knew I didn’t know where to start, after all Charis and Otonia attended to me, all I managed, an occasional frenzied kiss as a reward. I convinced her to chat to me instead as a woman and discovered the depths of her despair and convinced her she needed a loving man to satisfy her. After a couple of bells, I left quietly. I did admire her body and dreamt of her until you woke me and discovered my state.”

Astera withdrew both of her hands. Elpis couldn’t decide to celebrate or mourn.

“You realise you managed to avoid death tonight.”

“How, what makes you suspect such a thing?” The panic in her whispering voice clear.

“Not suspect, certain! The daughter is watched, yet no guard at her door. I am sure someone in his family listens in if not actually spies upon her using a peep hole.”

Astera leaned forward again, her breath brushing Elpis’ ear.

“Any indiscretion on your part while attending to her and your position as revered chaste Seer of Saph would shatter before their eyes and mean your death, probably by drowning. Their wroth strong enough to dismiss or destroy any interference including Charis’!”

Elpis’ gulped. “I am thankful.”

“Charis insisted on these two rooms for a reason, the moment the Inn’s residents professed such dedication to the Gods. Her corner room has two sides exposed to the outside wall, another to the hallway and the final wall to this room. Any activities in her room, therefore difficult to discern. The room we share has one vulnerable wall, hence us whispering now and Thyia and I enjoying each other’s company while you were absent, while the chaste Seer couldn’t interfere, at least to anyone eavesdropping or spying.”

“What about now?”

“Perhaps, during our stay we moderated the unusual sounds issuing from this room and whispered our conversations. In the morning you must demonstrate your most chaste Seer of Saph self, nothing less.”

“Yes, thank you again.”

Astera lent back, paused and then found her way back to her bunk.

+++

Helice woke first and stirred Charis, Rhea/Raisa and Otonia until they were up and preparing to leave. She then visited Astera to ensure she was making ready also. As seven they marched to the Inn’s Main Room, nothing appeared amiss, therefore Charis tapped Astera to continue. They seated themselves around the same table as the night before and were promptly served fresh warm milk and not long after hot gruel.

The Innkeeper didn’t bid them farewell, one of the older sons received their coin with thanks. Trying not to hurry Charis led them to the stables, where by some miracle their horses were groomed and saddled. Charis waited for each of them to pass through the gate before she did. When she joined her sisters and the Seer on the trail, the relief they felt palpable. Charis pushed her sisters and their horses, two more nights of camping ahead of them.