--- (The Cavern 3rd Day of Dark Month)

Dione’s visit energised and galvanised Astera. Ownership of her purpose and position re-established within her mind; appointed by Charis and therefore essentially unassailable unless derelict in her duty. The standard of duty she then imposed upon herself an added, almost impossible weight. Every moment as Mistress she needed to ensure Charis’ trust in her proven beyond any doubt.

She slapped Thyia good naturedly on her thigh, a mischievous smile blossoming due to Thyia’s surprised reaction.

“Why do you act so lightly, given Dione’s accusations or intent or whatever that was?” asked Thyia.

“Our Mistress has been challenged and now rises without doubt, full of conviction I believe,” said Zosime, finishing with a good-natured slap on Thyia’s opposite thigh. Astera and Zosime embracing their target between them, whispering apologies and promises of delight as compensation.

Springing out of their shared bunk, Astera adjusted her armour and recovered her spear. “Yes, first I must address protection of the Caverns and perhaps the elder is best placed to assist. Plus, Seers can now communicate throughout the Caverns so perhaps the Shifts can be rearranged to take advantage. The Daughters of the Duchess will not be found wanting in the days and weeks ahead!”

Thyia and Zosime slid out of the bunk following Astera’s lead, eventually standing either side of her in the Elder’s Cavern before the Elder’s Stone Cabin.

Astera knocked or thumped on the closed wooden door to the Elder’s Stone Cabin using the butt of her dagger. Talking and mumbling escaped through the door, which the elder eventually opened. As her aged face looked up, the elder’s prepared response faulted before Astera’s wide inviting smile and she couldn’t help but smile back, much as she tried not to.

“Glad you are in an agreeable mood today elder,” quipped Astera.

“What help do you require?” The elder’s words tired or perhaps accepting surrender.

“Mistress,” emphasised Astera.

“Apologies, what can I do to help Mistress.”

“I need you to set up alerts around the Main Cavern entrance including the wagon entrance and wagon exit, remembering if someone flies in, they will miss them, so we need some inside as well.”

“It will be done.”

Astera almost too surprised to continue due to the elder’s easy agreement.

“Renewed each day?” The elder nodded. “I also need a Seer to share your cabin so if an alert goes off the word can be quickly spread.” She could see the elder’s face turn a little squeamish with that really do you, look!

“You can have your choice, any that suits your situation best.” At least she seemed to be thinking about a choice or possibly how to avoid the situation thought Astera.

“How about the twins, they could do some modifications while they’re here, at least they have other skills and wouldn’t be conversation and distraction all the time.”

“Agreed, although they need to train, so don’t have them so busy hammering and sawing, they don’t have time for anything else.”

“I am sure they will find some spare time to do as you say.” Then she smiled.

When the elder smiled at your victory … you needed to check the details!

The victory cost Astera two Seers, currently assigned to Day Shift, but at least the elder accepted some company so any alerts could be communicated with their Seer Sisters. She then needed to sort out the shifts to ensure her and Thyia as well as Dirce and Drosis would be a ready reserve to be called by the Seers when required. Reorganising the training of the Daughters of the Duchess would be her next priority, they needed to be ready; for anything.

--- (Farstay 5th Day of Dark Month)

Helice woke sometime in the pre-dawn, a consequence of her excitement with Nysa confirming Charis’ evil could in fact be receding. Who needs a strange Village Priest of Judge she scoffed, while staring into the black of the high cottage roof?

She startled awake, eyes flashing right and then left trying to discover her whereabouts, she must have dozed off again. The pot belly stove, a dark silhouette in the other room, the three prone forms surrounding the diminishing warmth. Charis prone and warm to touch beside her. Casting her eyes back over her head reverse craning her neck she glimpsed sunlight washing against the closed window. Precious sunlight being held back, wasted. Helice rolled over and scrambled towards the window pulling back the shutter, almost blinding herself in the fresh morning glow of the rising sun.

Charis lay within the slab of sunlight, her forehead alight and after an adjustment Charis’ left breast became exposed, Helice certain the silver ring buried within its flesh would seek out the offered sunlight the Item craved.

Helice added nearby wood into the pot belly stove and stoked the embers until the flame returned to life. Grabbed another loin cloth for her Mistress; dried strips of meat and cheese for herself to break her fast, hurrying, happy, needing to stifle a shout of glee, hope real hope!

The loin cloth tumbled slowly, end over end from her grasp, the meat and cheese followed shortly after as Helice stood petrified, her mind trying to decide if she should run, fight or freeze. She couldn’t abandon her Mistress; without weapons she couldn’t fight, her sheathed daggers on the ground beside the bed, which meant she froze, not wishing to tempt the fate of her Mistress.

The maw of the beast snarled a low quiet warning, lips drawn back revealing twin rows of sharp canine teeth, large brown on black eyes snapped towards Helice while a droplet of drool hung and stretched until dropping upon Charis’ exposed breast.

Helice thought about waving her hands, throwing something, anything to distract the creature from the easy prey between its forelegs. The white furred neck of the Snow Wolf stretched toward Helice, issued an audible sniff and returned to the completely vulnerable and available victim, lowering its opening maw.

Helice held her breath. Should she charge? The body weight of the wolf matched her own and a snap of his, no she noted, her jaws would quickly incapacitate whatever they locked onto.

Eyes wide in shock, Helice speechless as the canine’s languid tongue draped and drew across Charis’ exposed breast, tracing along her elongated neck and over an ear worrying Charis’ silver jewellery piece, which stubbornly remained in place. A snail like trail of saliva clear and distinct remained.

The White Wolf completed an impossible turn and leapt from the windowsill.

Helice rushed to the window diving upon the bed, her head peaking past the edge searching and seeking. The Wolf waited for her. An ear-splitting howl echoed throughout the village, to be answered while the beasts brown on black eyes pierced Helice’s soul. Several wolves joined the pack leader and as escorts they bounded away from the village with her, heading North, directly for the snow-covered Mountain Range behind the waking village.

Helice recovered the loin cloth from the floor and wiped Charis down, her Mistress oblivious to the assault and the clean-up. Nysa, Kyra and Otonia, shocked awake by the howling, rushed to her side, Helice’s hands shaking and her head now turned towards them, silent tears streaming down her cheeks.

“The beast tasted her and left … tasted Charis … why?” sniffled Helice.

Nysa placed her hand upon Charis’ chest, shuffling her hand beneath the flimsy underclothe until above the heart, enduring Helice’s inquisitive and affronted look. Helice near hysterical, reached to remove Nysa’ hand, easily restrained by Kyra and Otonia, her eyes projecting pure betrayal in response.

Kyra and Otonia embraced the distraught Helice, one each side to encourage, drag her if necessary, to the warmth of the pot belly stove. Kyra, ensuring Otonia held the sobbing Seer, began preparing a cup of tea, needing to fetch water with the kettle from the well within the village proper.

---

When the kettle whistled, Otonia stopped rocking Helice in her arms rousing her. Nysa drew up a chair for herself and Kyra, while Kyra poured four cups of tea and handed them around. Helice snatching for her cup taking an immediate sip of the steaming liquid oblivious to any scolding.

Nysa rested her hand lightly upon Helice’s arm gaining her attention.

“Mistress Charis’ evil is still present, although extremely difficult to detect, perhaps the wolves were searching for an evil person, one they detected on the trail to Farstay and yet after a couple of nights they lost the scent of. They knew where the evil hid, so they needed to investigate.”

Helice’s red rimmed eyes straining to focus on Nysa, her ears listening for any hope to ease her most recent failure, exposing her helpless Mistress to death.

“Your efforts to charge Charis’ Items saved your Mistress’ life Helice, of that I am certain.”

Nysa allowed herself a small white lie for the greater good asking for Judge’s forgiveness in a silent prayer. Why an instinctual hunter predator like a wolf turned away from an easy kill, anyone’s guess. Helice in no position to prevent the wolf locking its jaws upon Charis’ neck and dragging the body back through the window. Charis’ evil no different from last night and Nysa decided now, when Helice’s eyes were alight with joy and success would be an ideal time to reveal another truth.

Nysa lifted her hand from Helice’s arm and relieved her of her cup of tea, placing the brew upon the stove. She placed her own cup upon the stove beside it, so her second hand could enclose Helice’s hand like her first now did. Helice aware of something, looked longingly into Nysa’ eyes, wondering.

“Charis’ evil isn’t diminishing Helice.”

Helice’s face twisted in pain, she swallowed her devastation … what of the Items, she inwardly pleaded.

“The Items are doing what they were crafted to do with the aid of sunlight. For us, especially the Seers and certainly for Charis they allow us more, access to their magic. For evil they camouflage their putrid corruption, they silence their twisted presence from detection. Charis isn’t being cured. Her evil is being masked.”

Helice’s mind struggle to comprehend and accept.

Nysa took several moments to herself. Following the logic of her theory inspiration hit her hard, right between the eyes causing her mouth to drop open. The wolves did search for evil; the items did hide Charis from them, even after a taste test. Her mind then spiralled back to her Judge Knight Aspirants test, detecting an evil and then nothing, only to be thrown off its trail by finding the evil tainted finger bone, her top of mind prize, to achieve her life’s dream. The evil in the City being gifted an additional Item or recovering a lost Item knowing Nysa’s awareness of them a danger, so offering an alternative find as an explanation. Perhaps responsible for her ridicule and dismissal throughout her training to ensure she failed and with failure broke. Her memory running through her years of agony and torment, the Judge Knight Initiate in charge of her training belittling her devotion, her reputation destroyed based upon his reports to the Priests, on and on.

Her blood boiled with righteous indignation and thoughts of revenge. She would hunt them in the City and destroy them, if not today then tomorrow, as she knew of their masquerade now.

Nysa blinked as she felt a touch on her arm. Helice’s face white with fear, her hands trying and failing to escape Nysa’s grip. Otonia didn’t touch her arm as her follow up swing proved, she slapped Nysa across her face. Kyra’s screaming finally penetrating Nysa’s single-minded focus.

“Nysa, release Helice you are crushing her hands!” yelled Kyra, her voice hoarse.

How many times has Kyra appealed, thought Nysa?

Nysa reacting immediately releasing her grip and performing a backpedal crawl on hands and feet to the cottage wall behind her, shaking her head side to side. “Sorry sister. I am so sorry, please forgive me.”

Helice scurried into the welcoming arms of Otonia, her head buried between Otonia’s soft full breasts encouraged by their owner. Otonia motioned for Helice to stand and guided her to Charis’ bed all the while massaging the hands of the Seer, searching Helice’s face for any reaction of hurt. Paired, they both made room by shuffling Charis’s legs across and laying their bodies down on the exposed bed. Settling in, Helice’s breathing gradually becoming regular, Otonia sighed in relief and glanced at Nysa and Kyra. Observing them, she needed to double take on Helice’s whispered words, although the Seer offered no more, her eyes closed. Turning the words over in her mind, Otonia finally recalled Helice’s plea. “Mother they hurt me again, why …”

Kyra offered Nysa her armour, which she tenuously accepted.

“We need to be busy and purposeful,” said Kyra.

Nysa paused, searching for clarification.

“We need to find three beds. This cottage floor and my back have fought for the last night.”

Nysa nodded. Toiling in the wind and snow would be due penance and while outside, Helice could talk freely with Otonia.

--- (The Lonely Keep 5th Day of Dark Month)

Elpis didn’t dare use her Seer Skills while under house arrest in her own room, a guard paced, snapping his head at random times in her direction, while another claimed a chair and stared.

Rhea and her gripped by their upper arms, deliberately lifted occasionally and forced to tip toe when arrested and force marched to the Keep. The two of them separated by the bodies of the two guards, one holding Rhea in the grip of his right hand, while the other holding Elpis in the grip of his left hand. The Baron’s father skipping along in some insane dance of joy and glee.

“You two have done it now, been very naughty you have. The Baron is very angry, very, very angry!”

When they reached the Great Hall Elpis and Rhea separated, Rhea going down, while Elpis escorted up, to her room. Given her wait Elpis assumed the Baron decided to chat to Rhea first.

After at least a bell a knock went unanswered on Elpis’s door. The two guards reacting waving Elpis to follow between them in single file. She could have run once outside her room, they didn’t form up in such a way to ensure their prisoner couldn’t escape. Given Elpis didn’t know the reason for arrest and couldn’t think what, if any rule she or Rhea broke she ignored the opportunity.

Elpis greeted several guards upon her march to the Great Hall, their light leather armour ideal if they needed to chase down an escapee perhaps. How little they regarded her intelligence, Elpis felt insulted. Strolling down the wide curved stairs into the Great Hall, Elpis screamed and hurried, pushing the guard in front of her to haste, he of course resisting.

Rhea, front and centre, arms red with rope burn, the rough rope still in place binding her limbs to the arms of the chair. Another rope around her waist and the tall back of the chair. Her smoothed healed burnt skin revealed, head, neck and shoulders, her clothes conveniently torn where required. Her remaining strands of long black hair now cut, laying on the floor her head roughly shaven.

The guards seated Elpis in her own chair beside Rhea. None approached to tie her down, apparently a Seer of Saph commanded some respect still in the Lonely Keep.

Rhea meekly smiled at a surprised Elpis. “I did tell them I needed to return to the Inn, after all who will look after my guests!” She flashed her teeth and chuckled.

“Enough!” screeched the Baroness.

Perhaps Rhea’s obvious happy mood, despite her discomfort, the source of the Baroness’ annoyance thought Elpis.

Rhea quickly whispered, “They did quickly retort the Inn was empty, perhaps a fatal flaw in my protest.”

“She makes no sense, addled, perhaps crazy. Therefore, easily manipulated,” accused the Baron, his amber eyes locking on Elpis’.

Elpis waited for them to continue as she still didn’t know why they were arrested. The Baron and Baroness exchanging looks, expecting some protest or reaction and therefore disappointed.

“We are assured by witnesses, that you, Elpis Seer of Saph do engage in carnal acts with Rhea, Innkeeper of the Scarred Lady,” pronounced the Baron.

Rhea laughed loud and long.

“Stop your cackling, insane woman!” commanded the Baroness, who Rhea blatantly ignored.

A guard made to approach Rhea. Elpis noted the Baron waved him away, perhaps with a witness they weren’t willing to brutalise Rhea any further.

“What did you say to them dearest?” ask Elpis.

The Baron’s mouth dropping open and then yammering. Not wanting Elpis to ask Rhea questions and now uncertain how to stop her. Well firstly you shouldn’t have seated us near each other or interviewed me in the same room as Rhea you idiot, thought Elpis.

“Mostly laughter, which they then rewarded me with cruelty, they o b v i o u s l y didn’t get the joke of their own questioning.”

“I don’t deny I care for Rhea, not only an Innkeeper but also a Single Seer and as your father witnessed …”

“Only I call him father, you call him the Castellan!” shouted the Baron, the white knuckles of his fingers on display as he gripped the arms of his Baron’s Chair.

“… as the Castellan witnessed, I comforted her during a particularly traumatic episode.”

“What of a young girl, her parents reported her disappearance near to the Inn,” added the Baroness.

Concerned parents would have knocked on every door, including the Inn’s searching for their child, the Baron obviously heard a rumour of a child’s disappearance and decided to throw in another accusation considered Elpis.

“Well given I have duties in the Keep, I can’t comment on a child who may or may not have visited the Inn, what did Rhea tell you?”

The Baron didn’t answer and in the brief silence the Castellan took up the questioning.

“What I saw, I admit clearly one consoling another. What has been reported by shocked villagers, well indecent, what say you Seer of Saph?”

“I believe the Duke and Duchess have already passed judgement on such relationships, in as much as fighting orders of men can sometimes establish such closeness, they deemed such relationships equally acceptable for fighting orders of women, such as the Daughters of the Duchess.”

The Baroness greedily smiled and swooped! “You Seer of Saph aren’t a Daughter of the Duchess, you have erred and admitted your guilt before the entire Baron’s Court!” She lounged back in her Baroness’ Chair in triumph.

“I believe I stated the current Duke and Duchess’ stance on the matter, I didn’t admit any guilt on my part, because there is none.”

The Baroness immediately knew she pounced too early, begrudgingly concluding the Seer Elpis to be more cautious and cunning than expected.

Elpis rolled her eyes to the back of her head, revealing the whites of her eyes to the court.

The Baron and Baroness looked at each other. “What is she doing?” demanded the Baron, directing his question to Rhea.

With a great deal of exaggeration, sitting up as best she could while bound by her ropes, leaning her neck and head forward and then slowly around to ensure her view of Elpis complete, she then nodded, uttered words such as yep, um, yes and then nodded again.

“What! What is she doing?!” demanded the Baron, shifting in his chair, half rising out of it.

Rhea put on her serious schoolteacher face. “I suspect she is telling on you.”

“I am Lord of my domain. She can’t tell on me.” His face screwed up in consternation.

“Perhaps not then, well she is doing the Seer thing, haven’t you seen it before?”

“She wouldn’t allow us to, secret Seer teachings and techniques and so forth,” said the Castellan.

The Baron placed his head in the palm of his hand, his elbow resting on the arm of his chair. “She requested and I granted the concession, given the tragic murder of her predecessor.”

Elpis straightened her back as she returned to a normal sitting position her eyes only for the Baron.

“I have requested and been granted a concession to reveal to you particular Seer teachings. The Baroness may remain, all others need to vacant the room. My Temple of Saph in Bircharbor knows of your treatment of myself and the Single Seer Rhea and if for some reason I am no longer able to assure my Temple of my good health and your noble welcome in your Keep there will be consequences.”

A rage formed behind the Baron’s eyes, not a surprise thought Elpis, after all, whatever his plans, her contact with her sister at the Temple of Saph has surely obliterated them. Why wouldn’t he expect me to contact my Seer Twin? The Baron though stared daggers at the Baroness, so perhaps she is the architect of this ill-fated plan. Wouldn’t she know being a Seer, I would contact my Seer Twin, thought Elpis now curiously confused.

The Baron waved his hand and the four to remain waited patiently in silence.

“Baron and Baroness, I am not in a relationship with Rhea. When a Seer suffers Seer loss the Temple nurses the surviving Single Seer to ensure she retains her sanity and can recover, hopefully leading a useful life either within the Temple or without.”

At Elpis’ pause the Baron encouraged Elpis to continue, waving his hand in circular fashion. Noting his impatience, she stood up and walked around her chair, leaning on the backrest with each hand. His lips thinned in a polite impatient smile. It seemed the Baron wanted this, whatever this was, to end.

“I had reported to my Temple that Rhea, as amply demonstrated this evening, showed signs of being unable to cope with her loss and as I kept her company, she confided in me, she still received Seer communication from her deceased Seer Twin. Impossible of course, her sister now attends Saph in Judge’s Court, to her though truly believable and unbearable.”

The Baron lent forward in his chair, feigning interest or perhaps not as his mouth opened to speak, shutting again when the Baroness patted him forcefully on his arm. Elpis decided to blur the truth somewhat to test the Baron’s interest.

“There are some ancient texts which reveal this Seer ability to speak with the dead, usually requiring a Single Seer to commune with her deceased twin who then acts as an intermediary. The possible truth of this of course denied to the point I have been given permission to continue support and counselling of Rhea in the hopes of permanently saving her from madness.”

“Where are these ancient texts? If Rhea could read them would she be able to …” His eager words cut short by the Baroness standing, stamping her sandaled foot, and striding from the Great Hall as composed as possible while her pregnant body rebelled and preferred to waddle.

“No Seers let alone Mother Superiors take these texts seriously, at best ancient powers now lost and beyond our hope and understanding and you must not mention them. Please believe me Baron, my Temple is considering recalling me from your Keep and any mention of ancient texts and long forgotten Seer Skills from you and they surely will.”

The Baron nodded although absent, his mind elsewhere.

“May I free Rhea and escort her back to her Inn? I may need to keep her company for several days to assist her recovery.”

The Baron looked up and waved Elpis away, returning to his thoughts. Their light footsteps fading, the Great Hall empty of all noise, leaving contemplative silence. The Baron wondering about this ancient Seer Skill and how he would wish to utilise such a wonderous power. He longed to speak to two people once more, his brother to explain his death and his mother to explain his brother’s death to her and with that truth finally set her surely tortured soul to rest given her long suffering and gnawing doubt.

--- (The Cavern 7th Day of Dark Month)

Several quiet days went by so Astera decided to implement part two of her plan. Hearing no complaints from either the elder or the twins concerning their working relationship, Astera assumed they at least learnt to tolerate each other, possibly forming a good working relationship, if not a good bond.

Astera settled into one of the available chairs in the Elder’s Stone Cabin, accepting the offered tea. “Elder I have a small favour to ask.”

“Yes Mistress, I am always happy to assist where I can.” The elder forced a false smile, easily discerned by Astera or any other for that matter!

Resisting the taunt, Astera asked, “I need you to work with the twins and create a suitable stone door for the Main Cavern Entrance.”

Thais and Alexa didn’t speak, busy with mixing something in wooden bowls to the rear of the Cabin. The elder floated down onto the other chair, sipping her tea until finally placing her cup upon her ancient wooden table, apparently, finally decided.

“I think that is a good idea, stop strangers and other undesirables from wandering in and out and give some of the sisters some rest. Do we need to ask someone else first?” she enquired.

“As I am Mistress, who else, is there to ask?” A slight tone of indignation lacing her words. Well played elder, Astera realised.

The elder smiled and scratched her wrinkled chin. “Do you have any ideas on what you prefer?”

“Perhaps similar to the new Gatehouse that protects Hillperch, if possible, at the very least a huge, thick stone door and if it has to be winched open and closed then so be it.”

“Can I ask the Goblin sisters to help?”

Astera wasn’t sure why but what did it matter. If the elder believed they could help, then all the better.

“I am sure they will have enough spare time to help, I don’t think our weapons can be any sharper or our armour any more polished.”

“Good, yes excellent, the twins and I are keen to start right away. We have been making plans for this for a while now ... smooth the three sides of the entrance, this will make the entrance a little wider and higher. Place multiple iron hinges into one of the sides, make a stone slab that fits onto the hinge and then make another and so on until the door is finished. That way we don’t have to handle one huge block of stone and we should be able to balance the swing, so it is easy to open and close. The Goblin sisters can help there, I think.”

Astera cocked an eyebrow. “Where will you acquire the hinges?”

“Oh, we already have them, like I said this has been planned for a while now, just waiting to be asked really.”

Astera sipped from her tea to disguise her surprise and to ignore the elder’s smug expression; taking a moment to remember and ask another important question. “Is this door going to be, well, strange?”

Amused, the elder grinned. “Tell me what you mean by strange?”

“Well, like the door to your old room in the House, strange?”

“An experiment only, you will be happy to know I have learnt much more since then, so this door will be less strange and more helpful I think,” she finished, with wide smile.

Astera refrained from asking any more questions, standing and nodding, grateful the work would be done and without any argument. At the doorway Astera looked back, the elder squatted satisfied in her chair, smiling. No harm in suggesting then!

“Do you think the door could open, almost back to the wall the hinges are on, so at glance from the outside the entrance doesn’t look like it has a door?”

“Anything is possible!”

With that response Astera left the Elder’s Cavern certain the Entrance would soon have a door.

---

The responsibilities and routines of the new shifts settled down well over the passing days. Astera therefore decided to make use of Latona and at least one Goblin sister before the elder claimed them. Thyia and Zosime would accompany her, one her bodyguard and the other her Seer in case they needed to call for help and rescuing.

The sisters assembled in the Sixth Cavern standing in front of the secret door. Latona and Sweetears helpfully pointing out the hidden trigger for the door. Stand in front, press the trigger and the wall and a portion of the floor spins around and suddenly you are on the other side, not really aware until the darkness surrounds you.

Latona and Sweetears pressed the trigger first, disappearing from view. Astera, Thyia and Zosime followed. When Astera arrived, Latona’s ear rested against the stone wall, with an animated Sweetears gibbering and pointing. Then silence awaiting the arrival of the next sister.

“Sweetears asked me to listen for the mechanism,” explained Latona to her curious Mistress.

Zosime lifted the lantern high, providing light from the back of the marching order. Latona and Sweetears leading, tracking down the passageways again, confirming everything remained how they left it. Astera asked Latona if Sweetears could discern a sense of their location, distance and direction and possibly draw a map.

Latona nodded, “Sweetears will try Mistress.”

Astera suspected the useless dead-end passageways ended underneath the Temples in Hillperch and possibly other important buildings, especially since the basement floors were crafted from stone. The map should be able to confirm her theory without the need to dig.

After several bells they returned to the section of passageway which opened onto the narrow, steep stairs. The stairs one person, possibly two skinny Goblins wide, Astera led the way lantern in hand, Latona, Sweetears and Thyia next, Zosime trailing with another lantern. Descending the steep stairs precarious due to the narrow steps, each sister needing to grasp the stairwell sides often, except Sweetears, who found the steps perfectly sized. The humans at least sighing with thanks when a platform branched off, spacious compared to the stairs and wide enough for the sisters to comfortably fit. The Goblin sister pushed a trigger and pushed a stone door open, jumped through it and shortly after returned.

Latona interpreted and repeated the Goblin sister’s explanation.

“The door opened into the Fifth Cavern, built from this side. The one in the Sixth Cavern instead built from the Cavern side, planned with a mechanism. This door completed as an extra construction, although built up the Cavern wall a way, so opening and closing wouldn’t leave marks on the floor.”

“No wonder the elder couldn’t locate the door, she would have expected the door to be flush with the floor and perhaps triggered from the cavern side,” mentioned Astera.

Thyia snickered in an undignified manner. “What? I couldn’t help imagining her frustrated.”

Zosime shook her head from side to side the lantern tracing a shadow of her profile upon the passageway wall.

“If we closed off the entrance via the Sixth Cavern this area would truly be secret, as the rut in the Cavern leads to it and gives it away and then use this entrance,” mused Astera.

“Sweetears says we would need to redesign this entrance Mistress as it opens only from this side,” said Latona.

“Plus, the stairs Mistress,” shuddered Thyia.

“Pity,” replied Astera.

The sisters descended further and found a similar secret door into the Water Cavern, concluding the evil must have infected their Mistress this way. Again, a platform conveniently constructed, which they all stood comfortably upon and this time each of them tried the secret door and then returned.

The stairs continued down. They ended incomplete with several sets of smallish bones piled upon them, undeniable evidence Goblin labour toiled to create what they discovered. Sweetears took some interest, inspecting them, a different attitude from when they discovered the barracks full of goblin bones.

She started jumping and clapping her hands and only stopped when she noticed all the humans staring at her.

“They’re from another tribe, a rival tribe, so their deaths are to be celebrated!” reported Latona.

“Well given the number we have seen I doubt there is a tribe left,” commented Zosime.

Astera noticed Sweetears’ broad smile and realised her understanding of human speech must have improved greatly and she could probably speak now to be largely understood if pressed.

“Ask Sweetears how the Goblins extracted the stone and waste,” asked Astera.

After some chatter Latona interpreted. “They would have formed a chain and passed buckets up the chain she says. She also mentioned this would have taken significant time and effort and many deaths. She smiled, sort of, when she said that Mistress.”

Astera grimaced slightly, although fully expecting the Goblin sister to be happy at the death of an enemy. “They were more terrified of their masters than death working here it seems. Well time to go.”

“Wait,” Latona listening to her Goblin companion.

Astera turned and waited, looking at the Goblin waving her arms and pointing while talking rapidly to Latona.

“It seems Mistress we stand on the start of another platform so with some additional excavation another secret door could be constructed. Although that is not what concerned her, please pass over a lantern.”

Latona held Astera’s lantern forward, the object her goblin companion spied and mentioned now semi-illuminated and the deep black varnished surface eerily reflected the lantern light.

“That, that is a coffin, is it not?” stuttered Latona.

“Yes sister, placed at the back of these works hoping never to be discovered.”

The lantern held by Latonia shaking. “Astera, I mean Mistress, can we go? A shiver just ran up my spine.”

“Zosime pass the rope. We will tie the rope to the pretty ornate silver handles and drag it out into the light, via the secret door in the Water Cavern.”

--- (Farstay 9th Day of Dark Month)

At Kyra’s urging, Nysa awoke refreshed, they searched until they found enough beds in the other abandon cottages and put them to good use and now worked to seal up any holes in the cottage to resist the freezing weather. The search for wood for the stove taking them further away and taking more time and effort. The returning sister needing to stand before the stove to recover. The sisters declaring the cottage a colder place than the Caverns and they survived by staying rugged up in the layers of clothes and furs they travelled to Farstay in.

Zoe the lucky one Nysa thought, sent back to the Caverns soon after she arrived. Back to the Caverns, Nysa wouldn’t have thought she would ever miss the Caverns but when you are cold and can never quite get warm in a cottage in a small village, just waiting, then a warm place is always the better place when you aren’t there.

Peering across she noticed Kyra, probably asleep already, rugged up in her bed. Middle of the night and with the Borrow Gem her sight as good as in daylight, with no colour. Helice insisted on guard watches being set after the attack on Charis, although the Warrior Three believed, the wolves, once they were unable to detect Charis’ evil returned to their mountains. Otonia convincing Nysa the sacrifice of sleep would help Helice.

With no need to check on Kyra, sleeping with occasional snoring, Nysa swung her legs over the edge of her bed and fumbling, placed both her feet into her cold boots bending down to tie them. She stood and stretched as far as the cottage ceiling would allow and then gathered all her furs back to her. Otonia slept like a stone in a bed beyond Kyra. She checked on Charis and Helice, the lucky two, sharing their body warmth. Charis slept serene and peaceful, while Helice tossed occasionally their breathing pushing out clouds of warm breath into the cold air of the cottage. The pot belly stove, cold and alone, rounded out the occupants of the cottage.

Nysa checked each window and the cottage door to ensure they were secured and blocked up against the cold. She stared at the closed window, which looked over the trail to the Lonely Keep, wondering over the fate of Elpis and Rhea. Helice didn’t talk much these past few days and if she did, she chose Otonia. Annoyed by the fact, Helice with just a thought could check on them Nysa bit her tongue resisting to push the now fragile Seer Sister for an answer. The enclosed cottage a small prison, magnifying their issues and disagreements as they waited for the Village Priest to be enlightened.

Zoe did leave them a practice bow and a few arrows. The expert hunter made it sound so easy to use, nock an arrow, aim along the shaft and release. Nysa practiced with the bow as quietly as she could in the confines of the cottage, predictably the actual release of an arrow, noisy when it hit solid wood or in her case some random part of the cottage wall, usually the floor. She usually attempted bow training when she felt herself tiring, normally just before the dawn, just before first bell.

Nysa dreaded the end of her shift. Helice would appear, tired and drained, every evening transferring magic from her Item into Charis’ Items as if nothing else mattered. Trying to deny the truth perhaps, grasping onto a hope she could try to make happen, even though hopeless.

Enough is enough decided Nysa.

The Judge Knight Adept built up her bed, so it appeared she overslept, sleeping while on guard watch a punishable disgrace. Upon being found out Helice should become suitably agitated and annoyed, maybe even swear and curse. Any reaction welcome, a change from the sullen and sad demeanour Helice currently dragged around with her. Her duty to the Mistress and her helplessness affecting her despite her pretence otherwise. Nysa waited, partially hidden behind the stove.

Dawn arrived, almost second bell and Helice didn’t wake. Nysa gave up on the ruse. Helice missed her shift start, how? To be fair Kyra needed to wake Nysa, although Helice should wake in the morning naturally after a night of sleep.

Nysa stared at Helice for several heartbeats, her breathing disturbing the cold air in a steady rhythm, somehow sleeping deep in peace, no turning or agitation, her face relaxed and calm. Nysa hesitated before waking her, her mind struggling with the decision, Helice desperately needed restful sleep as opposed to failing to wake for her shift and any resultant guilt and shame.

“Have I slept in? It is dawn already, why didn’t you wake me sooner? Nysa I am sorry.” Helice’s voice cracked and panicked as her body sat bolt upright.

Nysa took a chance and gently placed her hands on Helice’s shoulder to push her back into a sleeping position. “Helice all is well, we are safe, and you are finally rested.”

Helice laid down, clenched fists grasping the edges of her bedcovers pulling her security blankets back over herself. “The Mistress isn’t, though is she?” Tears welled up in her eyes.

Two sentences, a whole two sentences! Nysa rejoiced in her heart, calming herself, composing herself, a start, finally Helice talking and to her of all people.

“We have to look after ourselves first, so we can look after those we love, who need our help in the best possible way. We do them no good if we aren’t well. You slept in because your body and probably mind needed the sleep. So be still, be at peace Seer Sister.”

“I didn’t know you felt anything!” Helice’s mouth gapped at her insensitivity. “I am sorry to just blurt that out, I mean you are all fighting, weapons and dedication. I didn’t expect such words … I am making this sound worse, aren’t I?”

“Well I tried to play a trick on you I will have you know!” Nysa tried to add a playful tone to her voice while her hand flicked back her hair to add a humorous gesture to the response.

Nysa rewarded with a wide-eyed look from Helice.

“I puffed up my blankets in my bed hoping you would awake to find me sleeping while on guard and, well express yourself, just be different to how you have been. It is easier for me to be all fighting, weapons and dedication when my sisters around me allow me to be, by being who they truly are.”

Helice’s face softened with inward reflection, Nysa noticed. Nysa!

“I must definitely be someone else if you have noticed the change and are talking to me about it! Sorry … there I go again. I do appreciate your show of concern.” From underneath the blankets Helice snaked her hand out to reach for Nysa’s cheek, Nysa needing to bend down to accept the sincere gesture.

“It is no show Seer Sister, as Charis says we are always stronger together, we each are a part that makes the whole much stronger. I am the fighting, weapons and dedication, but I can’t do that well if my sister the bodyguard and the stealth is worrying about something, she has no skill to fix. Only the Village Priest can change the future for Mistress. Our task is to ensure she is as well as she can be, and she is protected while she cannot protect herself. That is what we can do, that is what we must do for our sworn liege. She would do no less for us!”

Nysa’s words ignited Helice’s mind, body and soul. The fateful, hopeless Seer roused from her morbid stupor of doom and gloom. The weight of loneliness, her duty to protect Charis, her duty to care for Charis, her single duty to cure Charis due to her failures as a bodyguard and friend placed into perspective. The company of sisters strengthened by each other, supporting each other, always their way and Helice lost sight of this simple truth, wandering blind and Nysa’s sincere heartfelt words drew her from the precipice, much like Charis did, allowing Clymene and Alcmene to tempt a Single Seer instead of allowing her to follow through with her fatal plan.

“You are brilliant, and you are wonderful!” Helice reached over to Nysa and embraced her, drawing her closer still until surprising her with a passionate kiss.

“Can’t you two be a little quieter? Oh! Sorry to interrupt.” Otonia smiled. Helice opened an arm to invite her to be embraced, an offer gladly accepted.

“Did you know Nysa is more than just fighting, weapons and dedication?” Helice asked.

Otonia didn’t answer, laughing instead and lightly kissing Nysa. “I am glad you heeded Nysa and her words.”

“Perhaps the moment suited her and me,” Helice said, eyes reddening as they fixed upon Nysa.

“You’re welcome Seer Sister, although what of your fellow Seers they are a thought away and yet …”

“You are wondering how a Seer can convince themselves they are alone.” Helice sniffled trying to gather herself to continue. “My sisters are busy, conserving their magic in their Items and dealing with their own challenges. The Baron watches Elpis and Clymene is concerned about Jocasta and I did try …” Helice wiped growing tears from her eyes.

Otonia shuffled past Nysa to embrace Helice. “Just because Helice can Seer chat doesn’t mean she is ready to reveal or just as importantly her Seer Sisters are ready to listen.” Otonia shifted her gaze to look upon Nysa. “You may do great deeds in the name of your God, and yet if you ever doubt your worth remember this morning, this moment, your simple act of listening saved your sister from despair and possibly worse.”

The three Daughters of the Duchess lovingly embraced, drawing strength and purpose from each other, savouring the moment. A fourth Daughter joined them, her eyes moist, sharing their communion.

“We need to talk to the Priest today, ask him when he expects to have an answer to our question. Staying cooped up in this cottage will lead to nowhere good,” said Kyra.

--- (The Cavern 10th Day of Dark Month)

Zosime explored with her Seer thread, deliberately sleeping in the White Room, hopeful although accepting when her hope failed. She drew on the magic in her Items to send out multiple threads, each tasked with a specific search in a specific location trying to rediscover a dreamed connection. Dreamed because the connection, although hers didn’t originate from her, although of her.

After several bells, discovery! The mind she touched oddly acquainted, her Seer path introduced, although Zosime didn’t remember the introduction. How could she? Her stolen dream paved the way, not her directly because if she did the act would have been heinous and a betrayal and in direct contradiction to Charis’ will.

Zosime drew back all the fruitless threads concentrating now on this single thread, a light touch, slow tripping along her established Seer path and resting. The mind of the other needed to exercise her own fledgling Seer Skill rudely awakened by Zosime’s dreamed connection and generate her own thread. It would most likely be thin, beginners always began thin; crawl, then walk and finally run. The thread would most likely reach minutely beyond the surface of the other’s mind; like the ridged eyes of a beast breaking the surface of the water in a stream. The presence of Zosime’s thread an irritation, a foreign existence where none should be allowed to tread, therefore the neophyte’s Seer thread should develop there in response.

This attempt one of many. Her target running and hiding ever since subjected to Zosime’s dream, elusive and reclusive, lost, trying to come to terms with the change she endured, understanding the act, witnessing the act many times in her previous life, usually in the form of a brutal sexual encounter now comprehending another possibility. The Seers practiced love making in a way she never believed possible, as equals. Witnessing their love making from the outside, usually in the company of the elder, tsk tsking, compared to her previous experiences didn’t prepare her for the overwhelming wonderous joy and beauty of the actual experience, even one delivered as a dream, a very real dream. Zosime’s dream special, particularly when Charis and Zosime joined as one, sending each other into ecstasy, although Zosime extremely receptive to Charis’ attentions due to the healing link, which never subsided over time, although Jocasta didn’t fully comprehend why.

Again, this irritation! Jocasta wanted to slap this presence, this annoying presence. Her hands useless, enough awareness to realise the source not physical and in fact she slept so how could she. Wake Jocasta she told herself. Wake up.

Jocasta blinked, darkness, eyes opened or closed made no difference. She remembered now, she slept in the elder’s room in the House, tucked as far back as possible on the elder’s suspended pallet like bed, a wall of blankets between her and the open side. Well hidden, ignoring the occasional call from Ismene or Clymene, their gentle inviting voices trying to lure her from her hiding place. Didn’t they know she needed time, she needed to step through … everything.

Now this annoyance! Jocasta closed her eyes, somehow, she could locate this thing easier. She decided her mind would create her own annoyance and then she would chase the intruder away. How though? What of these? Minute specks of her mind, from her mind, no, more of an awareness of a shattered path, the cobblestones broken up and cast free. Joining the first one to the second took a great deal of concentration and effort, although once joined, the two minuscule specks became one, long lost friends reunited, awaiting the invitation; the first two cobblestones, a start in rebuilding the path. Jocasta lost track of time, committed to the effort, as she joined her specks to her re-established path, single-minded to the exclusion of all else.

A certain exhausted elation flooded her tired body. Exercising her mind in this way she realised weaken her body, food, no water first, both. The irritation disturbed her indecision, she now manipulated her own, conveniently opposite the invader! Jocasta pushed her path out. She didn’t know what or where it existed in her mind, she used her constructed tool to rush the enemy.

Oh! In her mind’s eye her path extended out, thin, although brave, short, although strong and yet the irritation which greeted her, thick and endless. Fear gripped her, run, withdraw. Too late.

The presence enveloped her timid path, clamping and connecting, Jocasta recognised the presence, how could she be present?

“Hello, my shy Seer Sister Jocasta,” sent Zosime.

Jocasta panicked, opened her eyes, spread her hands out on either side of her, one smashing into the wall of the House she knew would be there and the other pushing away the pile of blankets hiding her. Her mind freezing and her path shattering.

Breathing rapidly, hands rubbing her eyes trying to comprehend. Did she dream? What did Zosime say or did she just dream those words?

“Hello, my shy Seer Sister Jocasta, Clymene has prepared food and drink for you,” whispered Zosime.

Jocasta heard a voice, words? She opened her eyes, not aware she closed them? Light! Zosime! A kind welcoming smile, she felt Zosime’s hand gently grip hers, tugging, hinting for her to finally come out of hiding.