The Evil ignored Kyra and Zosime, insignificant and irrelevant and both sensed his distain. Kyra and Zosime helpless to intercede. He strode confidently towards Nysa to complete his wonderfully delightful plan, devouring the blood of a Judge Knight.

Kyra dropped to her haunches, hands covering her face. If a Judge Knight couldn’t turn the Evil away, an Acolyte of Judge stood little chance, and yet she couldn’t abandon her mentor and lover. In this moment admitting to herself finally and utterly her life meaningless without Nysa and perhaps, just perhaps her sacrifice would allow Nysa to recover and call upon Judge with a truer blind faith and vanquish the evil.

Kyra, glanced up at Zosime, rising, shifting her shield into place, holding her sword high, her well-honed muscles responding effortlessly. Screaming she charged across the Cavern determined to intercept the evil before he could harm Nysa. The Evil ignored her charge, didn’t pause or reward her with a moment of distraction, his intent clear and decisive. Kyra held her sword higher, she would slash him with all her strength, strained muscle and absolute faith, she needed to make him pay attention to her. She needed to make him turn away from their hope. She willed Nysa to stand or roll away, escape her fate and yet she lay prone, perhaps lifeless.

Tears streamed down Kyra’s cheeks, she yelled curses, swore and screamed at the Evil to no avail. Finally, she called upon Judge to smit him, bring him low. The Evil flicked her a condescending look and laughed, bellowing and full, echoing across the Cavern trumpeting his superiority and to tease Kyra further he shifted to a lively pace.

“No!” screamed Kyra, he would reach Nysa before her. “She is mine and I am hers, you have no right to her! Stay away you monster!” Nysa’s tirade continued as her charge reached its zenith and yet she knew her race lost.

Her mind propelled her to the ultimate sacrifice she wouldn’t try to intercept or dislodge the Evil from its path, she would protect her mentor with her own body. A new purpose, a selfless purpose, one of martyr and bravery, which energised her and sped her on. Her eyes fixed on Nysa’s prone body.

Zosime witnessed the race. The Evil toyed with Kyra, Zosime certain he knew exactly Kyra’s speed of charge and direction as he adjusted to any change without the need to observe her. His sense of smell perhaps, more likely his sense of hearing or both, over the tens, no hundreds of years of his existence bored between bouts of blood feasting his immortality would have provided him with ample time to perfect his existence. Her analysis keeping her calm she realised while attesting to the death of two of her sisters. She searched for Jocasta with her Seer’s mind.

“Jocasta, tell the Mistress to hurry although in my heart and I am sorry to place this truth upon your young soul, I believe we are doomed.”

---

Jocasta stumbled, crashing into the stone floor of the passageway. Her hands and face lacerated without mercy as Zosime's Seer Link and message smashed into her mind and dominated her consciousness. A hopelessness and guilty apology carried upon the brief connection, sadness and futility. Zosime defeated?

Painfully lifting her head, she caught the sight of the soles of Zoe’s boots before closing her eyes. An unknown number of heartbeats passed by before her senses returned to her, although an understatement as darkness surrounded her. Without the benefit of a Burrow Stone or the lantern held by Zoe, her choice reduced to feeling her way in the dark.

Tenderly readjusting her body into a sitting position, she reached right and then left, searching for both walls and if her orientation still correct, out of her reach. She decided to sprawl left, the side which held the water carry. Water to quench her thirst and perhaps the coolness sooth her hands and face.

Zosime’s message furthest from her mind of course, as Astera already hurried and if the Daughters of the Duchess fell this night, knowing beforehand wouldn’t change the reality. A world view of a street waif, living for the next moment or the next bell, perhaps the next night. Rarely for the next week or month, such a far away impossible hope. In the company of her sisters she imagined and believed beyond a day, stepping into their comfortable world, dreaming a future; now the end descended upon them all. Jocasta made herself comfortable in the dark. She could run away; to where? If the evil succeeded here, then what? Such a bitter twist. Resentful of missing out, her mind turned, defiance erupted from her being – all in. A waif would die hiding, a sister would die charging. She stretched out again, determined, further and then further again, never give up.

Jocasta found the passageway wall, the tips of her fingers caressing the rough worked stone to her relief and hand over hand felt her way up until the knuckles of one hand scrapped the underside of what could only be the water carry. As her hands grasped the water carry to pull herself up, her knees protested, their numbness to pain over and she needed to rely heavily upon her arm strength. A slosh of water fell upon her, the water carry giving way slightly as she stood. They consisted of stone, didn’t they? Melded to the passageway wall?

Using the water carry as a guide and source of water she quenched her thirst and splashed water upon her wounds trying to find relief. Feeling her way along in dark she realised the water carries consisted of long lengths of curve shaped stone, occasionally melded to the passageway walls at convenient points. The walls of the passageway not always straight or smooth, so a necessary compromise.

The Apprentice Seer struggled on, they passed the Elder’s Cavern before her tumble, the next would be the Inner Cavern, perhaps three switchbacks away, easy she told herself. If death greeted her, she hoped for one unseen, silent and swift in the darkness which presently accommodated her.

---

Kyra’s tear-filled eyes fixed upon Nysa’s prone and helpless body her legs pumping, faster, taking longer strides, she prayed to Judge for a miracle. Desperate and relieved Kyra dropped to the smooth stone cavern floor sliding on her knees and smothering Nysa protectively with her body. Eyes closed waiting for her death while screaming her defiance. “Nysa is mine you have no right to her!”

Zosime stood agape, jaw dropping to her waist. Kyra’s back exposed, her shield slung over and facing towards the Evil. The Evil screamed mid stride, his advanced stopped. Kyra clearly not aware, still awaiting his death blow, now poised above Nysa and rocking her, pleading with her. Tears rolling down her cheeks splashing upon Nysa’s face, ignored.

His screaming done he resorted to shouting. “What trick is this to deny me my blood feast!”

His words echoed around and around the Cavern, all mortals awaited an answer and yet none, forthcoming. Zosime focused upon Kyra, her body shook and yet remained perfectly in place. Whatever miracle saved them both Kyra didn’t want to tempt fate. For now, her and Nysa remained alive and safe and she decided the status quo enough and didn’t dare move.

Zosime dropped to her haunches to ponder his reaction. He attempted to step directly towards Nysa and Kyra and blocked. He charged and again blocked. His clawed fists balled up and his jaw set he finally reasoned brawn wouldn’t succeed. At first, he disregarded the sight of Kyra’s shield, for further attempts he deliberately avoided the bulwark, approaching from different angles with the same, for him, frustrated result.

Zosime kept her laughter to herself after each of his attempts. She expected death or worse and somehow, he treated her to a show of ultimate frustration, a separation of a hunter from its prey.

“Psst.”

Zosime looked over her shoulder, Astera! Her Mistress waved her over, she crouched low at the corner of the passageway and the cavern. Zosime rolled her body over onto all fours as she kept low herself and crept from the Main Cavern, holding her silence when chilled pooled water wet her hand. The Evil testing different approaches, although having witnessed his tracking of Nysa she didn’t want to give him any preventable chances.

“Stand clear from my reward, you pathetic snivelling wretch. Judge has abandoned humanity. The Judge Knight is mine, after two hundred years I am due another!”

Kyra’s attempts to cradle Nysa into a sitting position immediately gaining his attention, her soothing words particularly annoying him. Zosime relieved her caution amply rewarded, the Evil ignoring her retreat.

Kyra didn’t comprehend what protected her and Nysa. She heard each of his attempts to claim them fail, a thump as his body struck something. She wanted to believe Judge answered her call and covered her and Nysa in a protection like the Village Priest invoked for his Village. Whatever the Evil’s restraint, with every moment which passed her confidence grew. She burst into fresh tears as Nysa’s eyes fluttered open and her head turned. Their eyes met and everything felt right with the world as they joined.

“Why … am I alive … lost in the depths … of your large green eyes?” asked Nysa, words spoken in fits and starts.

“Because we are strong, our faith is strong and Judge has granted us a miracle, the Evil is held at bay, look.” Kyra shimmied her buttocks across slightly allowing Nysa to observe the Evil testing his boundaries, restricted to his side of the Cavern.

“Help me stand, let our sisters known their Judge Knight still lives, if nothing else.”

Kyra nodded and repositioned herself, flinging one of Nysa’s arms around her neck and grasping the floating hand firmly. Their eyes met and as one the pair climbed to their feet, Nysa leaning heavily on Kyra. Once steadied Nysa took her first step.

“Bring my prize to me! I command you to comply,” he shouted, crazed, frustrated and beyond denial. All bowed down and begged for their lives, whatever bound him would soon be broken and they would suffer his wrath for this indignity.

Kyra and Nysa ignored his ranting, celebrating their re-union and return to their sisters. With Nysa’s presence amongst them, she banished their fear and they met at the Guard Post more composed than they should have.

“Judge is within me. I will stand watch from the passageway Mistress,” offered Zoe, which Astera sadly nodded in reply to accept and confirm. Zoe keeping her distance, why asked Astera.

Around the stone table all eyes focused upon Kyra, with occasional glances at Nysa in recognition of her bravery.

“Mistress this Evil is too powerful for us. It swept Nysa away effortlessly, although something is preventing it from advancing further. I called upon Judge to protect us and hope a protection circle similar to the Village is in place as the monster seems caged or at least restricted.”

Zosime spoke. “After being repelled he avoided your shield Kyra, although this didn’t allow him to trespass. He then tried different lines of advance, starting with the Dark Priest sentry position, possibly trying to escape, although I know this is wishful thinking on my part. He had tested half to two thirds of the width of the Cavern when Mistress called be back.”

Zoe rolled back into the passageway, the light brown complexion of her face, white, drained of blood.

“Fear me whelp, I remember your scent, hiding behind Judge’s feeble light won’t protect you!” His voice bellowed.

“He advanced up the side of the Cavern wall, until squeezed somehow, forced to reach out with a clawed hand on the end of his outstretched arm. Fortunately for me falling way short, although frightening nevertheless,” said Zoe. Her calm response at odds with her shaking hands, shortly placed on the cold stone passageway floor to steady them.

Zoe stood and placed her back to the right-side passageway wall and side stepped along, her back scrapping on the stone wall.

“He has retreated to the far recesses of the Cavern, beyond the range of my Burrow Stone vision Mistress.”

“Stay where you think is the safest Zoe,” commanded Astera. Astera then focused on Nysa and Kyra. “Take Nysa to the elder and ask for any potions or ointments, which can heal or alleviate Nysa’s wounds and pains.”

Bluefingers sprinted up the passageway, a light-yellow skinned blur.

“Mistress, without Nysa our sisters will be brought low due to fear,” objected Kyra, eyes following Bluefingers dash by.

Prettynose sprinted up the passageway, Sweetears on her heels encouraging her.

Nysa needed her healing to commence as soon as possible so Astera absently waved Kyra's protest away, while momentarily paying attention to the Goblin Sisters sprinting by.

“Those with you during Nysa’s ordination also benefited, Zoe who is on watch now. Zosime and Otonia who are with us now …”

“Mistress what of Jocasta?” asked Zosime.

“She followed close behind, I am certain. Zoe did you ask Jocasta to remain behind for some reason?” asked Thyia.

“No, we ran with urgency, I am sorry, I didn’t check. Poor girl left alone, oh no, she doesn’t carry a Burrow Stone, she will think we abandoned her to the dark. I apologise Mistress.”

“Zoe we are all at fault, stay to your duty. Zosime can you reach her?”

Zosime hesitated. When she Seer sent to Jocasta while in the Cavern Jocasta didn’t respond and shortly after the link broke, Zosime unable to relink and then her attention captured by antics of the Evil. Perhaps her own guilt asked the question of her whereabouts, hoping, believing she would now sit amongst them.

A lantern bounced and swayed down the passageway towards them, held lower than most, but otherwise typical.

“I realise your haste sisters, needing to hurry to your deaths, I still would have appreciated at least one checking on the Mistress’ Apprentice Seer.” Jocasta’s voice almost happy. Edging along in the dark provided countless moments to think and reflect and while initially devastated when forgotten she realised the three adults who left her needed to concentrate on more important and immediate concerns. Except for the dark, the passageways would guide her, and she knew the Inner Cavern not too further along, where a lantern and flint could be found. Hence, almost happy. She wasn’t stupid, her sister’s guilt over leaving her would simply yield her a number of rewards and boons.

Zosime the first to run and hug her. “I am glad you are safe, I will speak to your sisters, including Mistress for abandoning you so.” Zosime gave Jocasta another squeeze.

“You know Seer Sister, your sending caused me to stumble and smash into the stone floor of the passageway, my mind stunned, so …”

“Oh!” sent Zosime, her hug loosening upon realising her part if Jocasta’s abandonment.

“Our secret then?” sent Jocasta.

“Thank-you little one, I will make this … accident up to you if we live long enough, alright?”

Jocasta left Zosime hanging for a response. Thyia joined them in a group hug.

Thyia whispered, “We are glad to see you well little one and apologise for our oversight, I will make amends for myself and Mistress be assured of that.”

“I am sure I can think of something, although I would like to claim a favour from our Mistress if possible,” replied Jocasta.

“Yes, my Seer Sister, offers of kindness will be appreciated, always,” sent Jocasta, who revelled in Zosime’s reaction, her body relaxing and an easy breath exhaling.

“Possibly, although she warned me you may make such a demand and told me to advise you, within limits, if we live long enough of course.” Thyia smiled, ruffling Jocasta’s hair.

Jocasta played along, ruffling a person’s hair, didn’t denote respect, didn’t acknowledge an equal and the only beast known to appreciate such attention, a dog, a pack animal led by an alpha. She knew Zoe would make amends, after all the last adult in line would check on the last in line, especially if a child.

Jocasta jumped out of her skin in response to the Evil’s booming voice.

“You girl, fetch your Mistress and be quick!” It spat as it yelled.

Zoe held her nerve, leaning back slightly, although needlessly as Astera strode towards her and the Evil. Otonia hovering close until handing off their Mistress to Zoe.

The Evil circled within its boundary, the limits of which intimately known after many experiments and tests. Could he be trapped due to Judge’s degree?

“I would set you free if I could trust your word to never return, but I can’t can I?” said Astera.

“You are not Mistress. Is she too cowardly to face me, too craven?”

“I am Mistress of the Daughters of the Duchess, you negotiate with me,” said Astera her tone and voice even, assured.

“The Duchess? That conniving bitch, you serve a dishonourable liege, the lowest of the low!” He laughed, slapping his thigh such his amusement.

“Why would we believe an evil such as yourself?”

“Because I don’t care if you do or you don’t, all I care about …” He charged Astera, both clawed hands bared needing to pull up well short, testing this Mistress’ grit.

Astera didn’t so much as flinch, she reasoned if he could reach them, he would have by now and they would be his blood bags.

“… is feasting on blood, particularly virgin, which means Seers especially, while Judge Knight is tolerable, solely due to their faith …”

“I don’t believe you, which is why your word is worthless.”

He grinned, a flash of his white teeth inviting. “My word is unnecessary, if you choose to offer me a blood pact.”

“I don’t know how a blood pact works, most likely just another of your tricks like you played on Nysa.” Astera reigned in her emotions, her hands clasped behind her back, her thumbs chasing each other.

“Yes, I enjoyed that, it has been some time since I last destroyed a Judge Knight although your daughter no more than fresh meat.”

Every so often the evil would punch at the stone. Fortunately, the stone resisted, solid and immovable much to the disgust of the evil and inner joy of Astera.

“You looked trapped so how long can you last, you must need something to keep you alive, if that is the term?”

“I have lived thousands of years I am only trapped now because of some fate degreed by Judge many years ago, but I will work free as even now I summon my followers to me and when free all of you will pay for this insult!” His voice rising to a shout.

Astera needed to reassess if his claimed age actually true. Charis’ Elf Lord claimed a similar age, could they be ancient enemies?

“Many heartbeats hide from me. Afraid to be sure and so they should be.”

He sniffed the air and edged closer to the passageway opening. A broad smile stretched across his face revealing pointed teeth.

“Young blood, a tasty child, no, oh my, a tasty Seer child, newly awaken and of course virginal. Send her to me and I may forgive you some of the slight you have shown me!”

His desperate talk encouraging and discouraging. Astera smiled, ensuring she displayed her teeth.

“Never,” hissed Astera, who then slid back into the passageway.

Once back in the Guard Post, Astera lowered her voice and said, “Zosime check on Niobe and ask about Dione. They need to abandon the Cavern Blind if not already, in case his followers trap them. Also query Dione, could she find the snow wolf pack leader and perhaps rally the snow wolves to our cause.”

Jocasta nodded toward Zoe. “Zoe would find her Mistress.”

“Definitely,” added Zosime.

Astera exchanged an awkward glance with Thyia. Zoe destined to be gone again from their Warrior Three. Zoe who requested abstinence from their love making without explanation, a cryptic hint about need and great benefit for all the Daughters. Zoe within reach and yet about to be sent far away. Astera steeled herself, Mistress first, the command needed to be spoken.

Clearing her throat, Astera commanded, “Settled then, a Seer will accompany Zoe to Farstay utilising the Hillperch Shrine. While there warn the Village Priest of the danger and possibly ask for his help if his research of the Holy Books of Judge have progressed. You could then meet up with Dione and Niobe, especially if two Seers coordinated as they rode for Farstay.”

Astera’s hinted instruction of the obvious meant as humour, falling flat as the energy required fled the words.

Korinna sighed, “The Hillperch Shrine, the risk Mistress?”

“Our elder, young twins and Goblin Sisters have solved that dilemma,” said Astera, who tried to wink and smirk. “All to be revealed shortly.”

Well that is proof, if nothing else, the young twins somehow kept the secret of the Shrine from their Seer Sisters thought Astera trying to lift her spirits.

Astera continued. “Otonia, your knives, they proved effective against the creature who enthralled Charis, could they have the same affect against this evil.”

“Makes sense, but I am loathed to throw them with little hope of retrieving them and if they don’t prove effective, thrown at us they would prove lethal,” replied Otonia.

Zosime shook her head. “I think with its speed it would catch them and then throw them back in one motion, Korinna should have died, she didn’t because I witnessed her fate as it happened and warned her and she reacted without thought and complete trust,” confirmed Zosime.

“Yes, she should have been my first meal, but now I understand how she escaped her death, Seers you are both Seers, delicious. Also, Charis is not well, that is so sad to hear, still I would enjoy her death slow or otherwise, especially if my special minion tended to her before you destroyed it as I would drink her blood and her tainted soul. No joining the Gods for her my little Daughters of Delicious Seer blood.”

“Thank you for letting us know you can hear us, we will talk much more quietly now,” shouted Korinna in a petty defiance, a chill running up her spine, the Mistress’ soul?

Drosis then laughed slightly, the first utterance from either her or Dirce. Her laughter disturbing after the Evil’s reveal. Astera, Zosime and Otonia shot her questioning looks, she responded by pointing to Jocasta. Jocasta stopped when their eyes fell upon her, suddenly becoming the centre of attention.

Zosime then realised the origin of the fourth wall. As Zosime opened her mouth to speak Astera placed her finger across her sister’s lips and waved them further back into the training area of the Guard Post.

In a hushed and excited tone Zosime revealed her secret. “The fourth wall is a very narrow stream of water. When the evil struck at Korinna it must have clipped the stone water carry and while the portion directly hit shattered under the strike, the remaining length broke away from the wall. Fortunately for us right up to the passageway entrance. Korinna did swear stone hit her and now I know from where. Jocasta, we owe this secret to your thirst, well done.”

Astera edged out of the Guard Post, joining Zoe to study the water flow in silence. Otonia escorted her back to the Guard Post. “The water falls from the stone water carry and then follows a distinct path, leading all the way to the Cavern Entrance.”

Restraining her excitement Zosime said, “The shuffle of thousands of feet Mistress, helped by the fact the stone water carries were made from lengths and joined, allowing our present situation. A break in the stone water carry only at the strike point would have seen water spreading aimlessly and …”

An unintentional co-ordinated audible exhale of breath followed.

Astera quickly laid out her explanation. “As a priority the water flow cannot stop, once it stops, we are all blood bags. It seems similar to the Sixth Cavern, the many feet of the walking dead that toiled there chipping away the stone and then removing the stone over many years wore away enough stone to form a channel to the Cavern Entrance and luckily the elder never did get to finish the door, otherwise she may have smooth out the channel, although fortuitously she did square up the prison side of the Entrance to be flush with the channel!”

“Somehow we need to ensure all our towns and villages are surrounded by running water,” added Otonia.

“I am not sure that will be met with any enthusiasm as drowning in water, you forfeit your soul as every child knows,” replied Astera.

To no one in particular, Drosis spoke, “That seems to make a balance though does it not. Running water traps these creatures of evil. Dying in water we lose our soul upon death. Could this be a fate degreed by Judge? A trade off, of sorts?”

“Well we seem to be at stalemate and since only Nysa, Kyra, Otonia, Zosime, Zoe and Jocasta can stand to be in its presence we need to organise some shifts to watch it. We need Nysa back also so I will check with the elder and Nysa’s healing,” said Astera.

“If you approve Mistress, I will relieve Zoe at watch, being on night shift and blessed by Judge I only require a Seer nearby to communicate any changes,” offered Otonia.

“Perfect, Hagne and Alcmene should be waiting in the Inner Cavern and we can advise them of our change of plans.”

“Hagne has volunteered Mistress,” said Zosime.

“Mistress?” asked Dirce with a frown. “Why hasn’t the beast thrown corral posts, its clothing or even the water barrel at our humble stream in an attempt to block or stem its flow?”

“Or even at us?” added Drosis. “Its strength would be beyond human.”

Astera checked the faces of those with her, all equally flummoxed.

“Good questions sisters, best hope then?” Astera tapped her chin. “Judge’s decree prevents him from throwing through the barrier, however unlikely. Perhaps hubris, over-confidence we must be insects to him, thousands of years old I would be fairly certain no one recently has ever imprisoned him, disobeyed him and when they have tried in the distant past, he crushed them. Exercising his power, plain and simple. Perhaps he is … confused or simply … taking care not to damage his food.”