Two nights passed uneventfully, and no living dead occupied the Top Cavern. At dawn, accompanied by the echoing ring of the First Bell, Charis led three warrior triples, Helice and Alcmene into the Top Cavern. The days spent waiting utilised in practice, establishing a rotation between the triples so none would overly tire and to enabled orderly retreat if required. The triples operating as elements of an overarching three, Charis convinced this could easily be expanded to seven if the Items could be found.

The plan; treat each passageway and cavern as a battleground and rest between each set melee if the enemy permitted. If overly pressed by numbers or if the living dead seemed in anyway organised Charis would re-evaluate. The sisters could always return if alive to do so.

Charis surveyed her sisters, receiving return nods of readiness.

“Mistress, shouldn’t we name the rest of the Caverns?” While her sisters chose to signal with body language, Otonia decided to ask a question. Not an unreasonable one, except for the tension and apprehension of the circumstances; slaying the living dead and recovering the caverns, regardless of their value and the real risk of death, during Death Season, during Death Month.

Charis, smiled, wide and broad, showing teeth and shallow dimples, finishing with an exhale of breath, forcing her to intake another and begin breathing normally again. Prior to that moment certain her breathing more erratic and probable cause of her reaction.

“Time and place.” The dishevelled shoulder length light brown hair tried and failed to conceal her jutting chin like usual, such was Dione’s displeasure in her sister’s question breaking the “moment”.

“Well we do have Main Cavern, Inner Cavern and Top Cavern, how many more remain?” asked Charis, absently.

“There are seven in total Mistress,” offered Zoe.

Charis clasped Zoe on her shoulder. “Good. Let us keep it simple, Sixth, Fifth, Fourth and Third, for the unnamed then?” Looking about to confirm a consensus, most shrugged, the balanced nodded and therefore with no objections raised, Charis declared the names official.

The ordinary discussion and decision over such a trivial matter seemed to relax the sisters before their descent, muscles once tense now loose and ready, minds fixated now free to think other thoughts and companionship recognised and valued. The banter welcome also.

“Well given Nysa and I cleared the Top Cavern, I believe Astera or Dirce need to clear the next,” said Kyra, a left and right arm respectfully, draped across a shoulder of Nysa and Otonia, a cheerful smile dancing across her lips.

Astera and Dirce exchanged looks, Drosis beating both to a reply.

“The sword’s reach is only useful for imaginary enemies, for practice and the like or empty caverns, it takes a long-shafted weapon to slay real enemies.” Drosis presented her spear and shield and marched forward towards the passageway, Dione playfully slapping Drosis on her shoulders, following closely, giggling.

“Age before beauty it is then,” quipped Kyra, as Dirce fell into position beside Drosis.

“I prefer wisdom and experience, which I will happily demonstrate with weapons,” Dirce purred, “or without.” A wink, an unnecessary hint, offered over her shoulder.

“I am shocked, my child’s ears!” Zoe’s voice high pitched to sell her performance, joining in.

“Actually, you are an adult, there is only one child amongst us.” Astera’s eyes tracking Dione.

“I heard that, three months and I am officially an adult as well you know sister.”

Dirce, Drosis and Dione, escorted by a lantern held by Alcmene, followed by Nysa, Kyra, Otonia and Helice were swallowed up by the passageway when Astera, began to form up with Thyia and Zoe.

Charis reached out and feathered the back of Astera’s elbow with her gloved hand, bringing her sister to a halt.

“We can’t be certain of her age, small though she is, she hasn’t grown since we met her, and I have always wondered if her stated years were short of the truth.”

“I tease her rarely and have considered asking her directly, although the truth we do know has seen her punished enough and her secret, if it is one is harming no one,” replied Astera.

Charis absently tapped her chin with her forefinger. “Dione seems to have found her place amongst the triple and when Death Season ends, she will be reunited with her stallion and officially an adult, so best we leave her past in the past as you suggest.”

Astera hurried away as Thyia and Zoe waited expectantly at the passageway exit from the Top Cavern.

“I think you needed that, and I think the sisters needed that, whatever that was Mistress,” sent Helice. “I acknowledge the two days of drills and practice were required given our new battleground, just they were so wound up, especially since you denied them passionate release.”

Charis’ head snapped around to be greeted by Helice’s sensual smirk.

“We didn’t know when they would attack, and we needed all our energies focused …”

Helice’s peck on her cheek and follow up embrace quelled Charis’ grasp for an excuse, accepting a certain toll or tithe needed to be paid and as soon as it was safe, Charis promised to repay their dedication.

---

They cleared a cavern at a time, no reinforcements joined the living dead and the living dead didn’t attack until they were attacked. Each cavern contained a variable number of living dead, some packed tight, some with free space. The sisters waited at the Cavern entrances, rarely requiring any in depth exploration as once attacked, the living dead charged towards their new found enemy. One disappointment was revealed. The combination of oil and fire an abject failure due to the dampness of their targets, trudging through snow and snow falling upon them waterlogged their dead flesh and clothing remnants, surprising Charis and the Daughters of the Duchess.

Ninth Bell sounded. The sisters translated the bell count to mean late afternoon, fondly remembering perhaps a hot tea to drink after vigorous training, smiling or smirking depending upon the type of training. Living spoilt and safe through Death Season, for some the first time in their lives, instead they descended into dark caverns linked by dark passageways fighting an unfeeling enemy with no regard for life. Astera signalled Charis forward after peeking into another cavern from its lead in passageway. The Inner Cavern this time, second last, their task almost complete. The assault so far steady and careful, a controlled descent over nine bells with generous and frequent rest, given the numbers of living dead waiting for them. Charis ordered another rest, with two bells of daylight remaining, at least above ground. Only the bells of Hillperch marked time for the sister here.

After half a bell, the mission resumed with Zoe sidling along the passageway wall gaining an angle to spy into the Inner Cavern. As a target came into her line of sight, she released her nocked arrow and quickly drew another. Clymene standing back up the passageway with a lantern, shutter partially closed to provide a smudged beam of light to assist. Living Dead didn’t register with the Borrow Stone, no body heat. An occasional living dead charged Zoe, which Astera and Thyia, lined up on the opposite wall of the passageway took care of.

Zoe signalled to Dione, Dirce and Drosis to advance into the Cavern over the husks of the fallen living dead. She followed them up to retrieve her arrows, escorted by Astera and Thyia. Dione drew some towards them by unleashing throwing points at the aimless milling crowd. As Dirce and Drosis skewered them, more turned and charged. Dione dashed back behind Dirce and Drosis who presented their shields and stabbed with their wooden spears.

Astera, Thyia and Zoe joined the line and they stepped across the cavern until enough space allowed the sword and shield pair of Nysa and Kyra, backed by Otonia to add to the line. Dione, Otonia and Zoe sniped from behind their shield pairs with arrows, knives and throwing points, recovering them occasionally as the line advanced. Lantern light provided by Alcmene and Helice and if required Charis. Their Mistress called a halt, their shield wall spaced at its limit, anymore and a sudden charge by the living dead would see it breached. Their Shield Wall forming one side of a triangle, the other two being walls of the Inner Cavern, the cavern’s width preventing the Shield Wall being one side of a square, stretching across the cavern.

As the numbers in the Inner Cavern depleted more spilled in via the passageway, a first during this return visit. Charis ordered a charge, they needed to cross the Inner Cavern so they could reach a position on the opposite side where their shield wall stretched from side to side again, to reform the triangle. The living dead became aggressive, reacting to the charge, resisting the crushing and herding, and several went around the edges. These were taken down by arrow, point and knife, including assists from Charis and an occasional assassination from Helice as required until the situation stabilised, and the shield wall enclosed the opposite entrance corner of the Inner Cavern to constrain the numbers entering.

Charis, Helice and Alcmene started stacking the husks, preparing a pyre containing damp corpses as the Inner Cavern needed clearing. Any hasty retreat could result in a sister tripping over or stepping through a husk. The water logged husks proving a weight challenge to relocate, and no sister convinced they would actually burn and if by some twist of fate, they did, the smoke given off would probably suffocate any celebrating onlookers. If they waited long enough, perhaps they would dry out?

Charis ordered the shield wall forward; the threes were tiring, and a pair needed to be rotated out. The Shield Wall as one stepped forward and pushed. Astera and Thyia were the first to be relieved, step and push. They replaced Dirce and Drosis, step and push, who in turn replaced Nysa and Kyra, step and push and by that time the wall only required a single pair, enough to block the exit to the passageway. Present and hold. At each rotation Charis healed trying to remove their fatigue, although their items knew best. She discovered time spent below in the dark meant her items were near drained at this point, an awkward discovery, although predictable she admonished herself. A weight or fatigue dragged upon her; they were almost done she convinced herself.

The few living dead in the passageway started to gather and push towards the Inner Cavern, each warrior pair took turn-about and pushed back with their third sniping, while Alcmene, Helice and Charis took turns holding a lantern to cast light down the passageway. When not holding a lantern, they dragged away the husks and stacked them to clear the way. With the passageway cleared to the first switchback Charis called another halt and rest. The tenth bell sounded some time ago, perhaps half a bell, so dusk now and no further bells would be rung until first bell at dawn.

The warrior sisters threw down their worn wooden weapons for the third time, replacing them with the last of their spares rising to their feet. Charis using her vision spied around the switchback observing a loose mob of living dead, so she waved Astera and her triple forward with Helice shining the lantern down the passageway stirring the living dead to action. The charging living dead returned to peace quickly with Astera and Thyia guiding their destruction; tiredness and overconfidence the only risks to the Daughters of the Duchess now.

Charis sniped around the last switchback leading into the Main Cavern, stirring a few to action, which Nysa and Kyra impaled, Otonia hovering close. The immediate way clear, Charis edged around the switchback and spied upon Main Cavern. She slid to the stone floor, relieved.

“The way is clear sisters, rest.”

Tiny smiles broke out across their faces, some content to lean against the passageway wall or a sister or like their Mistress simply slide to the stone floor, gathering beside her in the Main Cavern. Alcmene improved everyone’s mood, when she handed out semi-dried apples and corners of cheese.

“Thank your provedore the next time you meet her, she thought the last of the apples, although not as glorious as they once were, would be a fitting treat at a moment like this,” said Alcmene.

Alcmene’ voice reminded Charis of another task, a critical one.

“Alcmene did you conduct the tests with your sister?” Charis’ words weary and strained. Of all the sisters present she didn’t reinvigorate herself and paid for it now. Her joy of completing the task, the chewing of the apple and cheese, keeping her in the present.

“Yes Mistress, there is a definite non-contact section along the way, starting at the Fifth Cavern or thereabouts and finishing once you exit the Inner Cavern, although Niobe reported difficulties in the passageway beyond the Inner Cavern.”

“And no Seer can determine why?”

Helice stroked the cheek of her Mistress’ face. “Draw magic from me Mistress, you not only sound tired, you look tired and we can’t have that.”

“No Mistress, it is a mystery, although we will continue to test and see if we can discover anything.”

Communication represented their greatest advantage and now in this self-imposed system of caverns and passageways where it is needed the most their Seer Skill is denied to them until either at the very top, Top Cavern and Sixth Cavern or the very bottom, Main Cavern.

Zoe reached for the lantern and shuttered it. Helice’s look of surprise lost in the dark.

“Listen,” hissed Zoe.

Tack rattled, a shod horse hoof mis-stepped on stone and then metal wheels ground over solid stone generating a rhythm. The night air embracing the offered sounds of labour and strain, transporting them far and wide.

“They are just entering the path behind the Stone Curtain Wall Mistress,” whispered Zoe.

“Helice with me, we hunt.” Charis tapped Zoe on her shoulder at the same time.

“Alcmene tell the warrior-sisters to retreat to the passageway quietly and prepare, they may need to come running!”

Zoe, Helice and Charis positioned their backs to the inside wall of the Cavern, near the coin chest ledge, the actual coin chest being liberated and gifted to the Provedore for safe keeping and use when they retreated. The waggoneers would be moving away from them and with luck expose their backs.

“Helice target the waggoneer seated beside the Wagon Master, we must make it difficult for them to take the reins and bolt.”

“Yes, Mistress.”

The horses snorted and neighed when reined to a halt. Charis imagined their warm breath creating a cloud within the cold of the surrounding air. Two then jumped from the wagon, their boots clunking against the unforgiving, hard cold stone floor. A third stepped down, exhaling a weary breath. Charis matching the tell-tale sounds to actions, readying for the attack.

The tack jingled and shortly after the horses casually clip clopped towards the parked wagon. Charis imagined the Wagon Master would have gained his position on the bench seat by now, possibly reaching in to claim payment. To drive a team in the dark the Wagon Master at least would require night vision, would he bring another like him? With the horse’s tack secure the two on foot reached up to gain their seat on the wagon.

“Now!”

Charis stepped out beyond the Cavern Entrance to acquire a line of sight on the Wagon Master. Before she released, the thought occurred to her they all must be able to see in the dark, otherwise how would they change over the horse’s tack in the dark of night? Then she swiftly cleared the thought and called upon her items, exhausted as they were and released. The arrow struck the Wagoneer in the back as he raised the reins to flick them upon the horse’s backs. He coughed, weakly flapping the reins instead, when the waggoneer beside him made a grab for them to be rewarded with an arrow in his arm from Zoe, who was aiming at a warm glow. She had stepped out with her Mistress, so her release a moment after.

“Crap that hurt!” he shouted as he turned in the seat staring Zoe in the eye.

“Move over and give me the reins,” said his tack partner.

“What about my arm?”

“We need to leave. I don’t want to become a pin cushion since they can see in the dark like us!”

“But they are little girls!”

“Well their little arrows hurt you, now shut up and pass the reins,” he screamed. Tempted to bump the arrow impaled into his partner’s arm, he thought the better of it in case the whinger dropped the reins, their sole chance of escape.

The wounded waggoneer now gripped the reins using his healthy arm and hand, passing them across, they were short as the Wagon Master still maintained a grip, and he wasted a moment to reef them free. The movement saved him as an arrow grazed his good arm instead of hitting him in the chest. Another arrow missed his accomplice as he stretched over to reach for the reins.

Smiling he quickly snapped the reins and the horses sprang into life. The wagon remained in place and before he could react, he toppled head first from the wagon landing heavily on the stone, releasing the reins as he did, so he wasn’t dragged along, not a pleasant way to die or if lucky, survive injured. Half dazed his last sight, a dagger descending towards his throat.

Helice heard another as he yelled, preparing to jump on her from the wagon. She rolled away after dragging her dagger swiftly across the throat of the stunned waggoneer. When she bounded to a ready position, he remained an incapacitated lump, two arrows impaled in his back. The Wagon Master coughed, his mouth dribbling fluid, leaning forward and tumbling out of the wagon’s bench seat, also striking the stone floor, ending in a wet thump.

“Alcmene send Dione we have a couple of horses that need to be calmed,” sent Helice.

“Alcmene send Otonia we have a special delivery for the elder,” sent Charis, as she rushed to take their eyes.

Alcmene delivered the required messages and relaxed, a smile across her face, then she decided to inform her twin to advise the elder to expect a delivery.

“Nysa and Kyra, prepare, you will need to escort Otonia to the House she has a special delivery for the elder,” said Alcmene.

As they prepared, Alcmene acknowledged her Mistress’ wishes having already pre-empted them.

“Mistress if the pattern remains the same, there will be another, we need to unload the dead and hide one of the wagons, quickly,” urged Zoe.

“Alcmene, the two warrior pairs and yourself to us,” sent Charis.

Oh well a Seer’s work is never done she sighed picking up the lamp.

“Prepare quickly sisters we have work to do.”

The two pairs wished Nysa and Kyra well as they followed Alcmene’s lantern light to the Cavern Entrance.

The bodies unloaded and stacked and after a brief discussion they rolled the parked wagon into the Main Cavern; positioned in front of the stacked dead and rolled the newly arrived wagon forward in case there was an ownership mark or something on it, identifying it. Dione recovered the horses, which she tied to the wagon inside the Main Cavern. To see either would require the waggoneers to look back and crossover the Cavern Entrance threshold, which they had never done to date. Helice retrieved the coin from the dead and eyeless Wagon Master and refilled the coin bag in the grotto. She also realised with a subdued smirk, their only coins in the Main Cavern. The three dead waggoneers were added to the stacked dead, although being fresh they started their own row, too heavy and too much trouble to lift given the urgency.

Zoe waited on the Stone Curtain Wall under the cover of her roost. Helice waited along the foot rest of the parked wagon, she would rise and surprise any who tried to jump into the teamster’s seat. The plan being to attack when they were leading the horses to the waiting wagon. Charis, Astera and Thyia would lurk just inside the Cavern Entrance. Dione, Dirce and Drosis would be the last line of defence in case any either drove a wagon, rode a horse or ran to escape taking the northern exit.

Two further wagons arrived with deliveries and both were taken by surprise. Charis extracted the waggoneers eyes from both, which were run to the elder as soon as possible. The horses were stabled in roughly the same location, near the stacked bodies. There was a chance they would make a sound and alert the next wagon visiting but there was no choice given the season. The empty wagons were parked in front of the resting wagon although further along the path, effectively blocking the exit and possibly out of sight; they couldn’t be rolled into the Main Cavern as their presence would easily be seen once a new wagon parked in front of the Cavern Entrance ready for unloading.

The triples and their “lantern holders” formed three shifts to watch the Cavern Entrance until daylight, although Zoe convinced most, including Charis of her theory they arrived in twos or threes and no more. Also, most nearby villages would be without Gravediggers now given the number of wagons they ambushed.

---

Charis struggled to wake, fighting against the dream, fighting against the illusion. A presence overshadowed her, looked upon her, willing her to attend to something. Something she forgot in the past. Something she needed to complete in the future. As she grasped at the thought, it danced away. Then the caress of warm lips upon hers, a tweak on her bottom lip stretching it and her dream vanished as the real world, at this point in time, Helice’s full face, cheekily stared down at her.

Then light. It consumed a moment of thought to realise Helice had rocked back and no longer lent over her Mistress.

“And that dear Ismene is one way to awaken the Mistress,” triumphed Helice.

Bending her knees and sitting on her heels, she leant over and whispered into Helice’s ear. “Does Mistress often toss in her sleep?”

Helice prepared a glib answer and then refrained from voicing it. The caverns, the days and nights entangled within them, the destruction of one evil and the realisation of the almost indestructible other evil all blurred and explained any unusual behaviour, in them all, including the Mistress. Including Helice’s own shame, Helice confessed to herself. Ismene knew a little, experienced a lot of recent events, although not assigned for the return visit, so perhaps a unique perspective, one of the few who knew every sister, interacted with every sister, although not accustomed to every sister in the ordinary, the usual and the daily of their lives. The exception being the intimate of course, which caress and where, which titillation and tease the most effective, she pleased her sisters to ensure her Mistress would attend to her, which wasn’t now.

A flash of naked white skin in the corner of her eye the only warning. Helice enveloped by an avenging and no longer sleeping Charis. Ismene to her delight dragged into the game as Charis saved an arm to wrap around her and knock her off her unstable seating, not that she resisted. The three sprawling over Helice’s camp bed, a naked Mistress, a semi-naked Bodyguard and depressingly for Ismene, a fully clothed Provedore.

Ismene quickly caught in two minds, participate by subtly loosening off some of her clothing or wait for an opportunity to report her news, her discovery, while Mistress and Helice played?

“Your face is too serious Ismene.” Charis’ lips engulphed Ismene’s, one of her Mistress’ hands straying to loosen clothing restricting vital access. The anticipation and sweet culmination of Charis’ sexual aggression causing Ismene to release her prized coin bag of evidence from her right hand. The different coins restrained a moment ago bursting free as Helice’s bare foot trod upon the bag, while trying to position her buttocks and by inference her womanhood advantageously to receive certain skilful attentions from the now prostrate and helpless Provedore.

The chiming and tinkling of coins waking Ismene from her delight, a signal to alert her, not only of the importance of the coins, also the order by the very person now engaged in forbidden behaviour, while the Caverns remained unsecure, whatever that meant. Nevertheless, Ismene knew, as did every sister, the “edict” remained in force.

“Helice! No.” Ismene slapped Helice’s pert round bum cheek to reinforce her will, admittedly not her preferred choice or desire.

“Mistress! No.” Ismene’s slapping hand now curled around her Mistress’ wrist, withdrawing it from Ismene’s own nether reaches unable to hold back a shudder of pleasure, challenging her own determination.

Upon acquiescence to her instructions Ismene curled up into a sitting position and swivelled on her bottom to face them. The two mischievous imps pouted; their sweets taken from them. Shaking herself in preparation, wrapping her robe around her loins, Ismene ignored their desires and hers.

“We are in hostile territory, is what I heard from you Mistress not three days ago and no distractions, your command. Further I report a discovery of at least some modest importance, if you are willing to listen.”

Charis reached for her robe, while Helice straightened hers, neither spoke a word. Helice neat and tidy, Charis still scrambling, decided, in an attempt to avoid Ismene’s judgemental gaze fetched the coin bag unbidden, after scoping any errant coins into it first of course, and smartly handing it to Ismene. Helice, now waiting, clearly observed with Ismene, a pre-occupied Charis. Trying to call upon her Seer Skill to check and ask, proved useless in the Inner Cavern. Charis eventually composed herself, her arousal battling her will and almost defeating her self-enforced restrain, shocking her. How could this be?

Ismene observed the two before her trying to read the interplay and the difficulty, especially within Charis. Failing to dismiss a nagging feeling, the “something that doesn’t make sense, is wrong" feeling which usually means those displaying the behaviours deny them. Her Mistress especially, would be difficult to convince without more than “a feeling”. Ismene resolved to tell another, perhaps two others in fact, now she thought about it.

Convinced they were at the best she could expect, Ismene didn’t hold back on her discovery any longer.

“Have you inspected these coins?” Ismene while waiting selected five samples to display and placed more into three special stacks. “Including the coins, you acquired from the waggoneers?”

When Charis shook her head, Ismene continued, although uncertain if Charis followed her words or not.

“There are coins minted with the head of several Kings and Dukes I have never heard of or read of, not just their name, their dynasty is a mystery. These coins are from another Kingdom or Kingdoms, Dukedom or Dukedoms, a past long turned to dust! None of the Cavern coins are current coins of this Dukedom. I then looked at the coins that were liberated from the bandits and they’re the same, none have been issued by this Dukedom. So where did they come from?”

Charis shook her head again; she couldn’t believe Ismene’s assessment but neither did she have her wits about her this moment to provide an explanation either. Their Duchy was the only Duchy in existence, a fact proven because it didn’t need a name, always known as the Duchy. While the Duke and his Dynasty would like to be anointed King, there were rules apparently involving the Priests of Judge and since it hadn’t occurred to date, then it was also reasonable to assume the corruption of the priesthood was still to be achieved by the Duke.

To mint false coins in the Duchy, why? Obviously different, expensive to accomplish and probably their value in doubt? If they were minted elsewhere it would at least explain why so many were available. They were certainly real enough. Charis’ head ached due to the possibilities.

“If you don’t know then I am certain I don’t know. We need to keep them safe and locked away for now, no accidental purchasing with them otherwise questions will be asked of us. Be certain to sort through every coin we hold and try to find common Kingdoms and the Dukedoms owing them fealty as a start. Well done Ismene.” Charis placed her trust in Ismene, if the mystery could be solved, she would solve it.

“Thank you, Mistress,” Ismene beamed.