Clymene met Charis and Helice in the Training Room, an evening meal prepared and waiting. The anticipation of a hot meal and the aroma more inviting than the taste.

“We haven’t received any visitors Mistress and the town is still quiet since we are in the middle of Death Season.”

“The House certainly seems lonely now doesn’t it?”

“I do chat to the other Seers, keeping up with any news from Bircharbor or Lonely Keep,” replied Clymene, cheerily enough.

Charis snapped, “How come I’m not included? I thought we were all linked?”

Helice and Clymene snatched a quick worried look at each other.

“It takes some conscious effort to be linked and Mistress we assumed you and others are busy and our intrusion could be a distraction and we couldn’t be sure if the moment was good or not and we didn’t want to put you into any danger,” answered Clymene slightly flustered taking a pause before continuing.

“That is why we were so pleased when Helice contacted us and we could entertain you without worrying about your safety.”

Charis curtly nodded, returning quietly to her meal of salted meat stew and dipping bread, speaking between gulps.

“Thank you, yes I have been busy, the combined attentions of the seer sisters at the time most welcome, I admit. Time for a long sleep I think, please wake me though if something happens.”

Their Mistress’ deadpan reply, a concern, so Clymene quickly suggested an alternative course. “Yes Mistress, although perhaps a bath first? I am sure Helice and I could assist.”

Her voice tired. “Yes, wonderful.” Charis laboriously veered away from the Circular Stairs heading towards the Bath Room.

Helice grasped Clymene by her hand. “She needed to rest at the Fourth Cavern to make the journey here, I am concerned.”

“Well bath and bed rest and we will need to keep visitors to a minimum.”

“I will advise Astera, in case … well in case.”

They both rushed to the Bath Room and found Charis floundering on the floor, one greave discarded, the other half loose and trying to tug it free. Helice gently pushed Charis prone, who offered no resistance with Clymene cradling her head; to remove the rest of her armour. Clymene guided the naked Charis as she stepped into the tub, no reaction to the slightly cold water, simply numb and accepting. Helice and Clymene then attended to her bath, afterwards dressing her in a Seer’s Robe for the final trip to her bedroom.

+++

Charis bolted upright in bed. Her eyes searching her surrounds, settling once establishing she rested in her own bed in her own room. No sense of time, day or night, although her body and mind rested and rejuvenated. Perhaps her sleep enough for now, although thirsty, immediately reaching for the conveniently placed mug of water, drinking in the one motion and refilling the mug from the adjacent jug, slowly drinking the second time.

“Helice, please attend me in my Room.”

While she waited, Charis added a loin cloth and breast wrap under her Seer’s Robe. Finishing as Helice arrived carrying her arms and armour, the elven arrows the easiest, protected within the quiver. The elven bow a greater challenge, a loop of rope, one at each end, held gingerly.

Charis relieved Helice of both elven weapons, not wishing to place Helice is such an awkward situation again, admonishing herself for doing so. Why didn’t she think? A simple oversight causing such a quandary.

Her mouth dry and parched. “Sorry sister …”

“Armour and Arms or as you are?” asked her bodyguard.

“Now that I think upon it, probably as I am, although my armour is clean and polished as never before, could I eat off it?” Charis finished her third mug of water.

Helice deliberated grandly, placing a finger on her chin with a flourish. “Our Goblins, they recognised your armour immediately and I have never seen them shake and shiver so much, except when they thought they were about to die, I suppose?”

Charis swiped at her good naturedly on her arm. “Such a cruel comment.” The breakout of a slight smile welcomed by the owner and the observer.

“Perhaps, although I couldn’t tell if they were nervous, excited or honoured. One or all of them I suspect.”

“I have asked Clymene if any food is available and she has told me to find out for myself, you don’t know what that means do you?”

“You were a bit short night before last, I explained to her you were tired, although she may be holding back a surprise, which is difficult with Seers here and Seers there, so many Seers …” said Helice, amused, leaning over to embrace Charis who couldn’t resist her infectious humour. Much to Helice’s relief.

Wiping away tears of joy Charis held Helice at arm’s length and stared at her Seer Sister.

“I am glad you are my friend and companion.” Tears for a deeper reason flowed from Charis then.

“Ever since you sent the twins to enlighten me and solved the mystery of my sister’s death, I have always been more than I deserved to be. I only live now because you were escorting me to my end and convinced me to do otherwise, so every day is a bonus.” Helice discreetly wiped a tear.

Speaking despite her tears, Charis replied, “Alcmene and Clymene were eager to enlighten you, all I told them was to be careful.”

“Yes, and given the situation, you could have said no, and they would have stopped to obey their Mistress, and I would have flung myself from Hillperch and missed out on so much in your company …” Helice returned Charis’ tears with flowing tears of her own.

“We are a fine mess, aren’t we, best we find out what Clymene has in store for me, also night before last, care to explain?”

Helice opened her mouth to speak and before she could the flat of Charis’ hand waved before her.

“You used the elder’s ointment to put me to sleep didn’t you!”

“Clymene and I thought you needed the rest, without interruption so we thought to guarantee your peace and quiet.”

“I assume Astera is Mistress and she has everything in hand,” replied Charis.

“Of course.”

Charis quickly hugged Helice and together they made for the door.

Tears dried, childlike, happy and carefree the two rushed downstairs, checking each other with a quick look, both now drawn by a rare, although welcome aroma. They joined the night shift in the Kitchen eating a late breakfast prepared by Clymene, a couple of spare chairs and Agape with two plates of steaming fried eggs held in readiness, about to set upon the table.

“Where do you get eggs this far into Death Season?” Charis unable to keep the delight from her voice.

Before Agape could respond, Clymene answered.

“I don’t know. You need to ask Ismene, I just prepare the food she provides for me,” replied Clymene in a straight voice.

First things first Charis thought, declining to seat herself at the proffered table, advancing upon Clymene and reaching out a hand to touch Clymene’s.

“I apologise sister for snapping the past night, I didn’t even remember doing it until Helice … well confirmed I had been less than gracious, and I ask forgiveness.”

“I will always forgive you Mistress, although I am more concerned it occurred at all, you have always been a calm, level-headed leader, even under pressure you demonstrate confidence, and never any … shall we say … outbursts. Last night was an unusual reaction while surrounded by your Daughters and within the safety of this House and I am concerned. What has changed?”

“Nothing a couple of good night’s sleep couldn’t fix and a wonderful wakeup call from Helice and by the looks a stupendous breakfast surprise!”

“Be that as it may, the word has gone out Mistress and we are all concerned and will be watchful.”

“That is why I love you all, the care you have for me and the care you have for each other.”

Clymene placed her other hand over Charis’ and squeezed, reassuring her Mistress, she then went to start the tidy up. Charis returned to her table and banquet of eggs.

Charis gobbled down her eggs, remembering another she needed to care for and feeling slightly ashamed of her neglect. All the food for both them and the horses still flowed, carefully rationed out of course and not once did anyone doubt or worry about their next meal. Daughters, urchins and horses fed with little or no waste, the urchins for example displaying a certain chubbiness around their cheeks.

The night shift finished up and in turn, Nysa, Kyra, Hagne, Otonia and Alcmene filed downstairs carrying various supplies with them, bidding Charis, Helice and Clymene farewell. They would shortly load their goods on the twin’s wagons in the Top Cavern for easy transport to the Inner Cavern. Agape for her part cleaned up the dishes, now eaten clean and returned to the Kitchen with them.

Charis shortly after pushed her finished plate to the centre of their shared table, standing, scrapping her chair back. “I need to check on supplies and such, so I will return in a couple of Bells?”

“Yes Mistress,” replied Helice.

Agape swooped onto Charis’ plate and jumped as the back Helice’s hand slid over her upper arm.

“If agreeable, I am sure Agape and I will fill in the time while I await your return Mistress,” murmured Helice.

“And I slave over a hot stove and am soon forgotten,” hollered Clymene from the Kitchen.

“Never Seer Sister, I contemplated a more the merrier type engagement.”

Happy clinking and rattling of plates and pans emanated from the Kitchen, increasing when Agape hurried from Charis’ table to surprise her Seer Sister, resulting in a tumult of crashing kitchenware and delighted squeals. Helice winked at Charis and followed.

Charis shook her head and searched the most obvious place first. Needing to skip past the Kitchen playfulness and into the Bottom Store Room; neatly stocked, although Ismene absent. Needing to decline certain invites Charis climbed the stairs and then peered into the Top Store Room.

Ismene, one leg bent beneath the other squatted on the floor counting stock, with quill and ink recording the latest stock numbers on parchment carefully bound together. Charis waited for her to put those down and just before she started a new count coughed slightly. Ismene still jumped a little, managing to save the ink well and immediately relaxing when she glimpsed Charis at the door.

“Yes, my Mistress? Sorry you surprised me a little.”

“No, it is I who am sorry, I waited for you to be finished as best I could.”

“Never could you finish with me … do you have a question perhaps my Mistress?”

Coughing, Charis asked, “Yes, I was wondering if we are going to make it through Death Season. We have added a few mouths to feed and perhaps I didn’t advise you well on potential numbers.”

“We should survive, you did mention at the very start to make allowance for a certain extra number and I took the liberty to expand upon your estimate, based upon the number of sisters added to our company in the preceding six months. Some hearsay and guessing were involved though, so we should probably have a Daughters of the Duchess sign-on book perhaps. We could record, when introduced, when made Initiate, when made Sister … and perhaps other details. Anyway, we are well within ...”

Charis lent over and kissed Ismene on her forehead deliberately interrupting her train of thought.

“The answer is yes then?”

Ismene beamed back a smile of pure sunlight, nodding in agreement.

“The other question is chicken eggs.”

“Oh them, well we have some chickens my Mistress, they currently occupy the empty Warrior Sister room on the top floor. I asked Thais and Alexa to make some coops and a false floor so the chicken droppings could be collected, which I ask the urchins to dig into the soil near the loading dock when the weather is settled enough. I intend to make a garden there in Birthing Season if all goes well. I suggested the plan to Clymene, and she agreed, Clymene is the correct person to ask, given she is the Mistress of the House, I am …”

Charis lent over and kissed Ismene on her forehead.

“You are amazing, and I am truly thankful. Do you need anything?”

“Since the noisy ones have left, perhaps a quiet moment or two would be appreciated.”

“Where would you like to spend this quiet moment?”

“We need to go to a certain room with a particular table in it I think.”

“It would be my pleasure,” Charis suggested. Ismene carefully packed away some stock and left her tally sheet, quill and ink where she could find them and reaching for Charis’ hand led her to the promised room.

---

Charis admired her present company. Ismene asleep beside her; face down although turned towards her, the fairness of the face contrasting with the now faint pink glow of Ismene’s chastised buttocks. Her Mistress insisting, they finish their pleasure in her bed for comfort if for no other reason.

Taking advantage of her ardent partner’s exhaustion Charis contacted Agatha who fortunately wasn’t busy except trying to keep warm as occasionally she would need to attend on behalf of her Temple the middle of the day ceremony in the Temple of Judge every five to nine days. The variable day thought to deceive the evil of Death Season. Bircharbor the town otherwise sat quietly amongst the snow fall, never heavy, although continuous. The Seer Temple there well enough supplied with food as the Season Store reported healthy stock levels. Concern existed around firewood, which would depend upon the snow, the resultant cold and subsequent usage.

Charis reached out for Rhea and found Elpis with her, although not totally sure if they were physically together or joined as Seers or both. In the end it didn’t matter as she checked in on them for news concerning Raisa. They left Raisa in the care of a familiar stranger and Rhea didn’t know anymore as she couldn’t contact her twin anymore. The Keep continued to endure Death Season, the snow on the wind from the mountains endless. Detecting some apprehension Charis offered to send food even if it meant risking the use of the Shrines to do so. Both declined saying they would rather be recalled to a House to touch and embrace, Charis agreeable suggesting they make plans with Clymene to the delight of both.

Charis tried contacting Korinna or Niobe without success, it would seem the Inner Cavern once again isolated from Seer Link.

“Zosime are you able to spare a few moments?”

“Yes Mistress, Alexis’ turn to dress as the Dark Priest and I have now alerted Zoe I am Seer Linked to you, so she will keep watch.”

“I can’t contact any Seer in the Inner Cavern, can you or Alexis contact the Inner Cavern?”

“No Mistress, we test throughout our shift as do others and the barrier seems to be random, whatever the cause definitely moves about as we ask Clymene on occasion to run to the First cavern and test. Usually the First Cavern can’t be reached when the Inner Cavern can be, and the opposite is also true. Once, briefly the Main Cavern couldn’t be reached, although several days ago.”

“Thanks, I will contact Alexis for an update of the Main Cavern.”

“She would love the conversation Mistress!”

---

From Alexis, Charis discovered Thais and Alexa with help from the elder finished the corral, so at least the horses could walk freely in their space now. A space finally cleared of corpses as Day Shift, burnt three pyres during their watch to clear them. The horses were also acclimatising to the presence of the Goblins encouraged by Latona. The elder finished the tribute place as well, a small tunnel in the rock that led to a long drop nook, with an exposed covered slot so the tribute could be pushed in.

“The elder advised the Goblins would be needed to retrieve the Tribute, Mistress,” sent Alexis.

“The Goblins? Is this an elder joke?”

“Her theory Mistress, a protection of sorts as most of the tribute would be of little value to the Goblins, while for others, like humans, they wouldn’t be able to reach it.”

Charis mentally shrugged. “The last time I spoke to the elder she wanted to rest, our magic low, do you know what changed her mind?”

“A break in the weather today Mistress, Zoe lay in watch on top of the Stone Curtain Wall, while Zosime and I sunned ourselves, Korinna and Niobe eager to help from Evening Shift and when Hagne and Alcmene returned from the House this morning they dragged their weary bones into the sun and slept, prepared to be woken when needed.”

“I will personally thank-you all when I next meet you, I truly appreciate everyone’s effort.” Charis needing to end the contact, from nowhere heart felt gratitude welled up from the pit of her stomach, swamping her.

Moments later. “You can’t hide your love from us so easily Mistress.” A Seer Circle of sisters led by Alcmene nudging their way into Charis’ mind using a gentle one-way Seer Link, delivering a message with no expectation of reply.

Joyful tears began soaking Charis’ pillow. A gentle hand lifted strands of her deep earth brown hair behind her flat ears, silver jewellery in place causing Charis to meet the hand’s owner face to face. Ismene kissed both tear trails tenderly and then her Mistress’ lips deeply and passionately. Once satisfied, Ismene encouraged and cajoled Charis to rest her head. The target, Ismene’s fair skinned chest nestled between her modest peaks. She didn’t need to know why her Mistress teared, for pity, for joy either mattering little when offering comfort to another, freely and unbidden.

Ismene’s steady, firm heartbeat a ticking comfort, which Charis clung to, to steady her own emotions. An uncharacteristic outburst targeting Clymene recently, deep tearful emotions today, all due to tiredness? Charis closed her eyes as Ismene stroked her hair and stroked her ears. She remembered Halius then and her anger at him for touching her ears. Now perhaps because of her reaction long ago, she learnt to appreciate the affection and trust inferred allowing another to tend to you there, possibly from a deep racial memory on her elven side. Ismene removed Charis’ ear jewellery on the exposed side of her head, immediately causing Charis to prop it, eyes ablaze.

“If you allow me Mistress, I would wish to remove the other side as well.”

Charis gently lifted her head observing the rose colour rise in Ismene’s cheeks, the sides of her dainty nose heave in and out and moisture gather around her eyes. A gentle hand pushed Charis’ head down and long strokes then swept over her hair and ears, reassuring and comforting with each pass matching the steady heartbeat of the owner’s hand.

---

“Charis …”

“Mistress …”

“CHARIS …”

“MISTRESS …”

Helice raced to her Mistress’ room, neither Clymene or Helice able to Seer Link with her, the last Seer Linking with Alexis a couple of bells ago and the last they knew she visited Ismene several bells ago.

Her door unlocked, Helice burst in to be greeted by Ismene, a finger over her owns lips, which then pointed down to the sleeping angel head on her gently heaving chest.

“Did you take her ears off?” whispered Helice, face twisted in shock and awe.

“Not without a little fuss, but yes.”

Helice slowly slid herself onto Charis’ bed, content to observe and admire. Charis’ face relaxed, her lips parted revealing her cute smallish teeth, content.

“How long has she rested?”

“Perhaps a bell and a half and her head rests heavy.”

“And her mind,” added Helice.

At Ismene’s questioning look Helice elaborated. “Clymene and I couldn’t Seer Link to her, which is why I came running to investigate. Should we wake her?”

“Does she need to be woken for any reason?”

“None for the moment.”

“I am glad then.” Ismene cast her eyes down, deciding now or never. “I know my affection to and from my Mistress is different to others in the Company, but it is who I am, and she accepts me, and I would wish to pay her back in this special way for as long as I am able. If possible …”

“I have advised Astera of Charis’ recent behaviours, shall we say, and she is now nominally in charge. Therefore, I leave her in your care. I will remain in the House so yell or shout and I will come running.”

“Thank-you Seer Sister.” Ismene wiped her tears away with her free hand as they started to roll down her face.

Helice kissed Ismene’s tear tracks, her eyes widening in reaction to her Seer Sister’s affection. “Don’t be ashamed of tears, they are your emotions being shared, sadness halved, or joy doubled.”

“Such beautiful words Helice …”

“The final words spoken by my mother as the Mother Superior ripped my sister and I from her desperate grasp.”

Helice turned away and hurried out of Charis’ room. Once out, she lent up against the hallway wall, slowly sliding down and quietly sobbed to herself, wondering if her mother still lived. A question saved for this moment, strangely, never asked by herself in over fourteen years as the Mother Superior’s forcefully assumed the role of their Mothers in the Seer Temple, hence their title.

---

Charis existed in a peaceful dream state, able to recall the preparations to date, the challenges faced, and the tests dealt with. With the last of the preparations completed the elder would be released back to her precious research, surely happy about that after days of enforced duty and Charis couldn’t think of much more that could be done in any case.

She then easily rolled back the days, the weeks and the months of her recent existence. The joys of Sisters joining, the events of high drama and close calls. The people; the Magistrate, the Bard and the Elven Lord to name a few. Sad moments, discovering her father’s death, the careless slaying of the Apprentice Magician and her shame, fleeing the trial with her father, the trial itself. Then the forest. No more, Charis pleaded against a momentum of interest and enquiry, helpless to repulse an unnatural need to discover and invade her past. Relentless and spiralling.

No more she screamed silently as the horror returned; a thin red line across Halius’ throat from ear to ear, the betrayal of a stranger they assumed friend and her loss of the only person who ever treated her with kindness and respect, a companion for life. These traumas accumulating to snap her out of her dream state. The dark thrall imprisoning her, denying her, shattering into a hundred pieces of black clay. Recounting of the trial caused her dream state to wavier while Halius’ slaying destroyed and laid waste to her newly found peaceful place, violently wrenching her awake, bringing her back into the light.

Ismene realised a change. Her Mistress’ head rocked slightly to begin with and then her mouth silently screamed and instantly after Charis bolted upright, her clear blue eyes wide, the whites dominating. Her head darted one way then the other, finally fixating on Ismene who grabbed the distraught visage before her between her own hands kissing Charis’ face and in between whispering assurance.

“I am here my Mistress, you are safe.”

“You are in the House my Mistress, I can call Helice.”

“Speak to me my Mistress, I am beginning to worry.”

“Helice,” Charis croaked, “call Helice.”

Ismene screamed, “HELICE!”

Charis broke free of Ismene’s grasp, her hands going to her ears and then her face.

Helice raced into Charis’ room, rudely awakened from her impromptu hard floor bed in the hallway. Charis’ rasping breaths could be heard from the doorway, her trembling lips seen below her hands as they covered her face.

“Charis …” sent Helice, nothing, her mind slammed shut, entry forbidden and locked away.

“We are here Mistress,” Helice and Ismene chanted, Charis’ head resting between theirs, their arms in an interlocked embrace on Charis’ bed.

Helice and Ismene waited, caressing Charis’ hair and patting her back and in turn whispering supportive and comforting words. After half a bell they knew Charis returned to them when her embrace of them strengthened and drew Helice and Ismene impossibly closer, crushing and flattening lumps and bumps, impacting the comforting sister’s ability to breath, both wondering how Charis could. Then a release.

“I returned to Halius’ murder … the actual moment, standing in my own skin and reliving the time passing unable to change anything, his blood spreading …” Charis’ hands wrapped themselves around Helice’s and Ismene’s heads joining them to hers, closing her eyes for several moments before recovering and backing away. The separation allowing Charis to survey her two rescuers, her anchors in her storm of dread and dismay.

“Mistress?” sent Helice.

“Yes, my dear friend Helice, I am sane once again, recovered from my madness of loss.”

“I am relieved Mistress.”

Ismene’s sobbing broke their moment and they looked in askance.

“I didn’t mean to cause you pain and anguish my Mistress. I am sorry. I am so sorry!” Ismene’s head shook from side to side her long golden-brown hair flaying about in sympathy and her hands cruelly intertwining themselves, her fingernails leaving red welts in their wake.

Charis dived upon her, crashing to the bed, her arms holding Ismene’s arms.

“It. Is. Not. Your. Fault,” rasped Charis.

“Open your eyes Ismene,” added Helice.

Charis released her grip on Ismene’s arms and sitting up, straddling her waist, used both hands to wipe Ismene’s tears and clear her hair from her distraught face.

“You aren’t to blame for my memories.”

“But I put you there, lulled you back via your deep dreams, I … I am to blame my Mistress,” Ismene said, sniffling, hitching her chest.

“Stay your tears …”

Ismene interrupted. “Please forgive me my Mistress!”

“There is nothing to forgive, you are innocent of blame and only wished me well and some of my dreams needed to be relived, to remind me of us and how we met and endured, many good memories I assure you.”

“You don’t know the truth my Mistress, I …” Ismene cast her eyes down. “I would often spy upon my mother comforting one of her grandchildren like I did you and I envied the shared affection having never given or received such tender love from her even as a child. With you I forced the moment, I needed that feeling so badly my Mistress.”

Ismene raised her eyes for the final truth. “I insisted you remove your ear jewellery such my desperation to experience such depths of love and comfort, I seduced you into my fantasy my Mistress. I am so ashamed.”

“You have nothing to be ashamed about.” Charis bent down and kissed her lightly on her lips.

A silent pause hung over the three.

“For a former Noble woman you still hang on to your own importance don’t you, blaming yourself for your Mistress’ memories,” said Helice, while tossing Ismene’s hair and stealing a kiss from her mouth wide and agog, not the best prize to be won, once done thought Helice.

Struggling against Charis’ weight and superior position, Ismene relented in her efforts to strike out at Helice. “So unfair a comment and if my Mistress wasn’t enjoying herself so much in her taming of me, I would slap you Helice, you cheeky Seer wench!”

Helice thought of a retort concerning slapping and resisted, not the right moment.

“We are agreed then?” Charis asked, looking at first Helice and then Ismene who returned “to what” expressions.

“Well … Ismene is not to blame for my memories and she provides most excellent love and comfort on plush fair skinned breasts all would be proud to indulge in while Helice is the best bodyguard and confident a Mistress could be blessed with.”

Helice and Ismene, firmly nodded in agreement, smiling as they did. Charis returning their smile, although deep within her being she sensed an influence, the darkness insisting and propelling her to return to Halius’ murder, her resistance futile. The loss of will and control the real concern, added to the wild emotions in such a short time … Charis took solace knowing Astera would be able to command if need be.

“Yes, my Mistress, and if you could release me, perhaps, although not entirely required to or even urgent.” Vulnerable cheeky eyes captured Charis in that moment, drawing her down to receive a passionate kiss from the Daughters of the Duchess Provedore.