Otonia relieved her. No fanfare, a polite greeting and wave goodbye. Lysisa didn’t wish to return to her bunk, not trusting herself to sleep easy, although not brave enough to stay and force idle conversation with one of the original three. Lighting a torch for herself she traipsed up the passageway to the Inner Cavern and at the threshold she exchanged the torch for a candle. Making her way to the cold lonely bunk, bending over, she spilt melted wax on the bunk post to affix her sole source of light.

Straightening, devoid of exuberance she plonked her weary body down intending to lay out and not move again. Instead Lysisa sprang up, the semi-soft expectation of the bunk replaced with lumps and bumps poking her bottom.

Pulling back the single blanket, she discovered pieces of armour. The heavy oil aroma striking her heart, taking the former Temple Guard back to the Temple Barracks, the racks of polished armour and sharpened weapons. Also of course, the sweat of men, once a fragrance she relished now forever locked away in bittersweet memory.

She closed her eyes. Man, after satisfied man, many stumbling away weakened by their release and fixing their trousers, eager to be away for some reason, a shameless smile upon their faces and occasionally, a whistle upon their lips. A few men took to summoning her with a whistle and enamoured by their attention, she ran like a fool to satisfy their needs, giddy with acceptance.

As she undressed herself, the armour-stand beside her gladly accepted the pieces from body and bunk. Disrobing she stood naked beside the bunk, the slight chill in the air welcomed upon her skin. The female barracks a wonderous place, devoid of men and their sweaty bodies. She sniffed and almost gagged. Perhaps a hasty wash of loins in order.

“You can bathe properly if you wish.”

Lysisa recognised the silky quiet voice of Korinna and continued with her makeshift washing.

“And eat.”

Both good reasons Lysisa thought, although she would need to face the Kitchen and whomever served.

“We would probably have the run of the place …”

Korinna’s shortish nails crawled across Lysisa’s shoulders, an intriguing sensation rippled through her. What did this mean? An invitation? A whistle type invitation, from a female? From a Seer Assassin. Even the men commented about her toned body as their hands crawled over her curves. They could ignore her face, could Korinna? Could she lay with another female? What of Korinna’s oath to the Goddess?

“What are your intentions?” The suspicion in Lysisa’s words clear and instantly regretted.

“Harmless fun, perhaps education, I didn’t mean to offend …” With a swish of her Seer Robe Korinna disappeared at a brisk pace, exiting the Inner Cavern.

+++

The gentle considerate caress upon her face a wonder. Lysisa’s lover attending to her needs, a pleasant, although impossible reality only conceivable in a dream calming her innate panic. The sensitive touching continued and yet Lysisa didn’t dream for such an event. Eyes open, the touch ceased, although a clinging warmth ran down the length of her body, from the back of her shoulders to the protrusion of her buttocks.

Lysisa turned her head, she always slept with the wine stained cheek down. A pale-yellow hand hovered over her eyes, trembling ever so slightly.

“Sweetears what are you doing?” While an unexpected visit, Lysisa maintained an even voice. Just her luck the strangest of the three Goblin Sisters decided to pay her attention and if you discount the creepiness, the lack of a knife or dagger encouraging thought Lysisa.

“I like you.” Her voice fell to a whisper. “Your mark so special. Can I touch it?”

Lysisa didn’t know what to make of this attention. Looking around no one else seemed to be awake, although she realised Sweetears would’ve made sure, most likely.

“Yes, but then you must leave my bed.” She heard Sweetears’ breathing deepen. Her hand moved closer, slowly passing over Lysisa’s eyes and then withdrawn as if a heat scolded her, hesitating. Lysisa needed this done and took the initiative.

Lysisa using her own hand clasped Sweetears’ gently, pushing down, forcing the touch upon her cheek, steadily releasing her grip afterwards. Sweetears let out a held breath, her fingers firmly upon Lysisa’s cheek. Lysisa winced at the slight roughness, working with stone perhaps she thought. Then Sweetears felt Lysisa’s cheek again, this time with the back of her hand, softer.

While contemplating another question, Sweetears withdrew her touch, body springing from the bunk into the dark, moving quicker than a human, thought Lysisa, no disturbance behind, body or bunk. The other bunks peaceful under the unsteady light cast by the lonely torch.

Satisfied, Lysisa rolled over, blood stained cheek hidden, finding sleep.

---

Lysisa blinked awake and dragged herself upright in the bunk. The Inner Cavern silent, the torch flickering, feeble and variable, almost out. Why didn’t Otonia require a torch last shift? Another secret? She threw back the single blanket and quickly drew the cover back. Naked. Didn’t she at least tie on a loin cloth? For a reason beyond her understanding another clue missed; naked breasts. Before this happenstance … her routine perfectly normal, barracks like … and now all out of sorts.

Nakedness, the Goblin Sisters didn’t care, Korinna touched her shoulders instead of anywhere intimate and all of the Daughters of the Duchess, well, only female. A wonderous freedom Lysisa thought. She recalled running free with her twin around the Temple of Saph their thin robes flying behind them and yet this offered more. She threw back the blanket and stepped out of the bunk, slinking over to the water barrel, one ladle for thirst and another over her face, the rivulets rolling down between and over her breasts awakening her nipples as a chill breeze wafted into the Cavern. She twirled flashing her goose bumps.

She still belonged. Ugly, unfaithful to the Goddess and now Single Seer forever, the Daughters of the Duchess accepted her. Spear and Shield beckoned. Even in the low torchlight they shone and when equipped she practiced her stances, lost in the dance of feigned battle, stabbing shadows.

Back straight, spear held at the correct angle from her body, shield poised against the left-hand side of her body, Lysisa finally stood to attention, panting. The exhilaration of the exercise and something else, the tease of being naked, the risk of being caught perhaps.

Sobering up, Lysisa returned to the bunk, spear and shield laid to rest. Upon the bunk calling to her, loin cloth and breast wrap. First though, another couple of ladles of water, her new routine she decided, although instead of wrapping her breasts she dipped the cloth into the water carry and wiped her body free of sweat, female sweat she chuckled. Dressed in a new set of goose bumps she faced the armour-stand.

The damp breast wrap flung on the bed another dry one available and utilised. Loin cloth next. Then a choice of clothing, new pieces available overnight, how fortunate. Gifts from an admirer? Her outstretched hand withdrew. Another choice presented, knee length over cloth, knee length felt. Both quickly slipped on. Her body warmth finally trapped. Long sleeved soft leather jacket, the cut appropriate, accommodating her breasts. Sniffing first, to check, ah, cleaned, long legged soft leather trousers next and finally fur lined boots.

“If you wish to impress, wearing your armour a wise choice, our Goblin Sisters work if I am not mistaken.”

Lysisa swivelled about in vain, the torch light too weak. Lysisa certain the voice spoke from the darkness. The voice released a merry chuckle, a booted foot stepping into the torchlight, followed by the other. Lysisa noticed, probably due to the flickering light, her commentator’s breasts leading the way, the face a poor second.

“Given you are a Daughter of the Duchess, I would also don the cloak if not the pin.” A swish of a cloak confirmed she followed her own advice.

“Otonia!” Lysisa took a step back. “I wanted to speak to you last night …”

“I hope not about my wounded leg! Dammed thing, instead of here I would be in the chase!”

“No … more about things.” Lysisa spread her arms wide and waved them about.

Otonia craned her neck. “By Bella that is a massive wine stain you have.”

Lysisa shrunk back, falling upon her bunk as Otonia’s eyes drifted away …

“I know, um perhaps knew a certain woman, hair a Judge cursed dark soil brown colour, unique, teased as a child and then of course her mother decided to clip the tops of her ears off! Well children can be cruel, hair, deformed ears and mad mother and yet she survived.”

Lysisa touched her cheek.

“Your stain not a concern unless you make it one, terrorise your foes and those you don’t slay will remember you.” Otonia poked a finger towards Lysisa. “That you can be certain. I did hear right? Your spear and shield aren’t for decoration?”

Lysisa stuttered, “No, no. When I lost my Seer Twin, I dedicated myself to the warrior craft to serve my Goddess. I … I fought the Walking Dead to defend the Cavern …”

“Right. Good for you. Talking about wine stains, I know another with a stain as big as yours, possibly bigger. Hey, perhaps we can compare them some day in the future?”

“I … well if they are willing …”

“You may remember her, serious lady, Judge Knight, my Warrior Three bonded triplet.”

Lysisa’s mind shutdown at Judge Knight. They didn’t exist, did they?

“… not sure if she would have a sense of humour though for what is needed.”

Lysisa returned. “What is needed?”

Otonia smiled and patted Lysisa upon her shoulder. “Her wine stain covers her loins. Your face, her privates we would need to get them close to compare properly.”

Wide green eyes stared at Otonia. “I can understand her probable hesitation, so perhaps not.”

“Yes, you could be right.” Otonia turned away and then paused. “I appreciated your warrior dance, same bell tomorrow?”

Lysisa’s face turned a bright red upon wine stain red, one side angry embarrassed the other plain embarrassed. Otonia chuckled as she headed up to the House; bath, eats and hopefully sleep.

---

Otonia correct. Lysisa brimmed with confidence; armed, armoured and cloaked. She marched down the passageway passing the Guard Post, three prone bodies in the bunks. Who kept watch?

Her eyes traced the water into the Main Cavern until the sunlight from the Main Entrance captured her attention, which she hurried towards while searching for Latona. The girl stared at her. First thought the stain, determined, her free hand remained down. Although Latona acquainted with the mark …

“You look amazing Lysisa, a true Warrior Sister, not a charlatan like me who jumps at every shadow.”

“I doubt you jump at every shadow,” replied Lysisa. When Latona’s eyes drifted up, Lysisa met them with a warm smile.

“Not every shadow then …”

“Well we can practice if you are serious?”

Latona leapt into Lysisa’s arms, their spears barely avoiding impaling either of them, their shields out of harm’s way resting upon their backs.

“You do look magnificent Sister,” whispered Latona.

While savouring the embrace Lysisa noticed the sunlight highlighting a portion of the neatly carved half circle centred on the tombs and the evil contained within. Between the carved line and the water channel enough clearance remained to avoid transgressing either.

Lysisa released Latona and with confidence marched determinedly into the circle of fear. The fear gnawed at her mind, attempting to infiltrate and take over, control her actions. She remembered the words of the Goblin Sisters and held enough of her mind to be in control. Her strength to resist grew. Four, then five steps closer to the tombs, didn’t, to her surprise, increase the level of fear, once defeated; the fear only a whisper, easily ignored. Perhaps if tired or wounded the fear may rise, for now, nothing. Lysisa flashed Latona a confident smile and then joined her.

A quick hug goodbye and Lysisa made her way towards the Cavern Entrance, the Goblin Sisters absent, although their handiwork, the stone blocks, stacked in an orderly fashion, a barrier if not yet a door. She stepped over another stream of water at the Cavern Entrance and peered out. Her memory of the gap one filled with desperate sisters and too many Walking Dead until Nysa and Kyra appeared, turning them to dust. Judge Knights? Finally, an explanation. The Goblin Sisters would be guarding the Northern Wall, so perhaps a stroll to the Southern Wall …

The Sister atop the curtain wall, a statue, her head fixed outwards. Lysisa crept towards her, carefully placing her footfalls, not needing to rush.

“Your Warrior skills appreciated in the defence of the Cavern, your stealth skills … perhaps need more practice.”

“How do you know I am not a foe or a sneak?”

Hagne glanced back at the newcomer, pinpointing her position against the Stone Curtain Wall and then casually resuming her watch.

“You wear our pin, plus you approached from the Cavern and you hold your spear lightly. I only hope you haven’t assaulted another to steal her pin.”

Lysisa straightened. “I am your sister by sworn oath, so you are safe.”

“I welcome you to the Daughters of the Duchess, I believe I kept Guard Duty during your Initiation.”

“Yes, an occasion, which I am glad to be done with.” Her nakedness more frightening then.

“It appears one of our Goblin Sisters requires an audience with you.”

Lysisa swivelled about, preparing for the worst and not disappointed.

“Lysisa, beautiful one,” whispered Sweetears from the shade.

A smiling Sweetears greeted her. Lysisa still failing to understand how her wine stain attracted the attention of this single Goblin Sister, although accepting of the morale boosting attention, at least for now. Sweetears waved Lysisa over, shrugging she trudged towards a new fate. Once there Lysisa followed Sweetears into the Cavern Blind meeting Bluefingers and Prettynose lying in wait.

“We work to build a special place for Dirce and Drosis for Mistress Astera, needed quickly,” said Sweetears.

Lysisa slid onto a shelf type stone seat and observed. The Goblin Sisters invoked some magic and then using their hands shaped and moved the stone in front of them, at this stage removing stone to enlarge the current space. At times they would climb stone stairs to the top of the Stone Curtain Wall, which housed the Blind.

“Why do you go up?”

“We soak in the sun,” said Sweetears.

She said the answer so matter of fact, Lysisa knew she missed something. Goblins didn’t like the sun from what she read. They lived their lives in dark caves.

“Why?”

“Magic our Items.” She patted her right breast, proudly puffing out her chest.

When Sweetears climbed up again, Lysisa followed. Sweetears peeled off her smock, unlacing the top three bindings, allowing the garment to fall to the stony ground. Lysisa couldn’t remove her eyes from the cords of muscle winding around the waist and upon the thighs, possibly shoulder blades and then … breasts. Lysisa swallowed, caught as Sweetears turned about to face the sun. The Goblin Sister promptly ignoring Lysisa’s shocked look as she took her time to lay down.

A broad smile graced Sweetears face, she couldn’t help herself, utterly content with the results of her plan. Her special human gawked upon her naked form, too entranced to run away or speak.

Lysisa studied Sweetears’ naked, sundrenched body. Sweetears deliberately adjusting to ensure her right breast subject to the most sunlight, ignoring the slight cold in the breeze, which coincidently caressed her nipples into a state of erect hardness. To Lysisa’s amazement one nipple became surrounded by a raised areola, a perfect circle.

Lysisa knew the sun could burn if exposed long enough and genteel ladies avoided sunlight to preserve their pure white skin. The Goblin Sister under her gaze didn’t burn while under the sun and she stayed there long enough to do so because Lysisa suffered slight sunburnt before Sweetears dressed and returned to work. Their skin colour seemed to fade under sunlight to an even lighter shade of pale yellow, although Lysisa not entirely certain, witness to only several exposures.

Lysisa compared her skin colour to Sweetears and also Prettynose, truly confused and amazed. “We have eaten plenty of meat and been baking in the sunlight during the cold days. We wonder what will happen when we bake in the sun after the snow melts!” said Prettynose trying to guess at Lysisa’s confusion.

Lysisa shared the middle of the day meal with the three Goblin Sisters and noticed a distinct lack of meat on her plate, so she asked.

Sweetears smiled politely. “No meat for you Warrior Sister, otherwise your beautiful mark will fade.”

Lysisa shook her head from side to side, chuckling. “My wine stain mark is permanent, and no food will make it fade.” She grabbed both of Sweetears hands and looked into her deep dark eyes. “I promise.”

Sweetears nodded, wanting to believe, disinclined to take the chance. Prettynose and Bluefingers, with some reluctance shared a small portion of their dried meat with Lysisa, while Sweetears watched intently, eyes fixed upon a certain wine stained cheek.

When finished Bluefingers and Prettynose removed their smocks, returning to work. Sweetears continued to help by removing stone the other two Sisters extracted. Lysisa stood agog.

“They both polite before, but tired of clothes on and clothes off, so just work, then sun, then work, then sun. No clothes in between. I need to go outside so I wear clothes, our Human sisters still act odd when they see us naked. We didn’t act odd when they sexed and naked,” explained Sweetears.

Lysisa tried to hide her confusion, why would the Sisters need to ‘sex’, at least often enough the Goblin Sisters mentioned their habit and naked state as a typical grumble. Another mystery.

After a couple of loads Lysisa gave up watching. “Sweetears where do you take the stone?”

“Thais and Alexa are building with the stone in the Inner Cavern.”

“You build with your Sisters and I will cart the stone away.” Lysisa finished loading up the small wagon Sweetears intended to fill. Sweating, she removed and neatly stacked cloak, armour and felt. Satisfied, she delivered the load to the Inner Cavern.

Thais and Alexa pointed to a section of wall and Lysisa unloaded piles of stone at a time, heaped where the twins required. The trips continued until a couple of bells before the start of Lysisa’s shift.

“Sweetears I need to ready myself for my shift and I promised to train Latona.”

“See you next day?”

The eagerness in Sweetears eyes couldn’t be denied, the work not difficult and given the strengthening of the Goblin Sisters good training thought Lysisa needing to keep busy, mind and body occupied.

“Yes, although I will need to return to the Inner Cavern to sleep and armour up.”

“Why? All your stuff here.” Sweetears pointing into a separate room.

“When?”

“No point returning with an empty wagon and we thought you might want to stay with us,” said Sweetears, her voice sickly sweet to match her name.

“Well I will need to wash the stone dust off, so I will take the wagon and fetch a bucket of water.”

Bluefingers and Prettynose laughed, while the continued to work. Sweetears took Lysisa’s hand and led her into ‘her’ room. In the corner water poured out of the wall and into a shallow basin shaped into the stone floor. The overflow then continued, disappearing into another opening in the wall.

“We diverted a little water flowing to the Northern Wall to here. Dirce and Drosis will need water to live here so no bother.”

Lysisa didn’t argue, how could she. When she carted the stone Lysisa removed her armour and felt, leaving the pieces in a neat pile. In the corner of the room stood an armour-rack made of stone, fully dressed, while upon hooks of stone hung her cloak, felt and a couple of ‘pretty’ clothes. Near the cistern, two stone hooks carried, what looked like breasts wraps or loin clothes. Lysisa removed her under cloth and grabbed a wrap, dipped the cloth in water to wash herself and used the other to dry herself. Once clean and readied she jogged from the Cavern Blind to begin training Latona. Shortly after Jocasta joined and while unexpected, welcomed, allowing the two beginners to spar, encouraged and corrected under Lysisa’s watchful eye. Sweetears passed by hauling several wagonloads before dusk called a halt to all activity, With the departure of Latona and Jocasta shortly after, Lysisa occupied the Main Cavern alone.

Otonia arrived to relieve her Warrior Sister, standing instead at the passageway entrance to the Main Cavern observing Lysisa move through her combat stances and forms. The martial expertise no less masterful, although less entertaining given the subject armoured up instead of naked.

“Do you wish to sleep sister?” called Otonia.

Lysisa finished the form, smoothly moving into the salute stance and relaxing once completed. Otonia now before her, Lysisa nodded and smiled, once again Otonia without torch in hand.

“Where do you go using the main Entrance?” asked Otonia.

Lysisa paused. “The Goblin Sisters have invited me to stay with them. Is that alright?”

Otonia shrugged, and waved Lysisa on.

The Cavern Blind empty, Lysisa showing her candle in each room and finally her own. The Goblin Sisters definitely having moved in, their goods and chattels occupied the other completed room. Sweetears explaining as much, earlier in the day, eat, work and sleep in the one place, the work completed sooner and then Dirce and Drosis can move in.

Lysisa undressed herself while dressing her armour-stand, finally removing her under cloth and stretching out her nakedness and grabbing the ladle by the cistern and smiling.

+++

The creaking and squeaking of the cavern wagon wheels announced Lysisa’s arrival into the Inner Cavern drawing Thais from her task. Under the flickering light, back straight Lysisa hefted square stone after square stone from the wagon and stacked each upon the marked spot, a neat cross moulded into the Cavern’s floor.

Finishing, Lysisa stretched and glanced towards the twins. This time Thais stared at her, grinning when caught. She returned a weak smile and then trudged off with the empty wagon.

“Given her lack of faith and no longer capable of regaining her Seer Skill, I wonder if we should test this?” sent Thais to Alexa.

Alexa dusted her hands. “What did you have in mind?”

“Why do you speak?”

“Because we are alone and our Seer Skill is still developing … eavesdropping, remember the elder’s advice.”

Thais scrubbed her close-cut hair with her hands, then held them away at Alexa’s laugh … realising her mistake, a greying of her black hair. Dropping her hands, she sent, “We have escaped our past sister, out of view deep in a Cavern system.”

“Everyone is out of view in Death Season sister.” An undercurrent of frustration lacing her words.

Humphing, Thais relented. “We have a couple of odd items left to us when the elder experimented, I wonder if we can gift our fallen Single Seer two of them and see where it takes her?”

Quirking an eyebrow, Alexa asked, “Are we asking the Mistress first?”

Thais feigned a shocked look. “Yes, we aren’t the elder, we’ve sworn an oath.”

The twins continued their work, steadily building up an experimental stone walled room, the hope being any sister sleeping within would do so undisturbed. An airgap between double stone walls offering soundproofing so arrivals and departures or even sisters passing through the Inner Cavern wouldn’t wake those within. As the twins exhausted their Items, they sunned themselves against the outside wall of the Main Cavern. Thais continuing her observation of Lysisa as she carted stone to the Inner Cavern, toiling away without a grumble, her wine stained cheek and neck clearly visible.

“Sister we must go, Niobe warns us Mistress is almost upon the Inner Cavern.”

Thais’ head lolled over in the direction of her sister, nodding and fumbling at her under cloth relacing as required to cover her exposed breasts.

Alexa enjoyed the relaxing necessity, the sunlight a warmth and a comfort in one and any could be easily seduced to ignore the duties and troubles around them while ‘busy’ renewing their Items. The twins ‘met’ Astera, Thyia and Niobe in the passageway past the Inner Cavern.

“Mistress, can I ask you to return to the Inner Cavern for a moment?” asked Thais.

Astera thought nothing of it and agreed, following the twins.

“Alexa and I have been thinking about Lysisa and we would like to test the theory that sleeping with a man results in Seer loss.”

Astera knew of the impossibility … still. “What did you have in mind?”

“The elder possessed some unusual Items which she experimented with, although the notations are sparse and impart no useful knowledge. Perhaps attuned by a fallen Single Seer they may reveal something of their purpose or nature.”

“Has that become a name now, a title?” snapped Astera.

Thais frowned. Alexa stepped forward.

“Fallen Single Seer could mean a number of things Mistress. We have borrowed the term as a shorthand description, no more.”

Niobe touched Astera’s arm subtly. “The term is a statement of fact, although within a Temple of Saph deep shame typically inferred.”

The twins exchanged nervous glances.

Astera looked over her eyebrows. “Names acquire meaning and this one seems to have already. Those Seers, Temple trained, will gradually think less of Lysisa, when she deserves respect as a Sister and recognition as an accomplished Warrior.”

“Yes Mistress.”

Niobe offered, “Perhaps our Sister Lysisa is a perfect candidate instead and if nothing else deserves a reward for loyal service.”

“Select the Items you deem most appropriate, make the gifting common knowledge, no need for secrets as her deeds speak for her.”

“Yes Mistress, Lysisa is due to deliver another load to the Inner Cavern so we will talk to her then.”

Astera leant forward, crowding Thais slightly. “That is a good sign then, is it not? She contributes beyond Guard duty, so I am doubly certain Lysisa will make something of the gifts you give her.”

Alexa closed ranks with her twin. “Yes Mistress, what of Latona, we pass through the Main Cavern and she jumps every time.”

Sighing Astera knew the truth of her neglect in particular, the Goblin Sisters working on the Cavern Entrance door were a company of sorts and now busy elsewhere. “You build rooms in the Inner Cavern, our three Sisters carve out a Barracks within the Stone Curtain Wall, while Dirce, Drosis and Agape are our reserve. While I am ashamed to say, Jocasta is also an important reserve with Judge blessed weapons if perhaps the worst happens and still the Cavern Entrance doesn’t have a door.”

“We will work tirelessly Mistress, so we can then help our Three Sisters finish and then together finish the door to the Cavern,” said Thais.

“Thank you, Sisters. You can investigate these as well.” Astera handed a bag of recently acquired Items to Thais.

“They’re from …”

“Our recent visitors, those who entered the House and slain.”

Thais pulled the leather cord on the bag and peered in. “An interesting collection Sister.”

“Make sure you report their use to the Mistress,” sent Niobe to the twins.

Satisfied, Astera bid the Twins farewell, determined to at least acknowledge Latona’s efforts and assure her.

“I told you,” said Alexa, slightly agitated.

Thais shrugged and showed the contents of the bag.

Forgetting Niobe’s intrusion, Alexa flashed a grin at Thais. “Blue gems?”

Thais winked. “The elder’s notes on the one she tested clearly frustrated her … so perhaps we can do better?”

---

"Your concerns?" questioned Niobe.

"Many."

Niobe stared, stretching out an arm when Astera tried to brush passed her, earning a one-eyed look. Thyia smirking, waiting for the victor.

"I am not convinced the Cavern Door is the solution, which is why I divert our stone workers to other tasks. A door will lock our enemies out while locking us in. A plague of Walking Dead waiting, endless patience and immune from destruction."

"Can I apologise on your behalf?"

"I ..." Astera nodded. Niobe's arm dropped and after a moment as one the three proceeded to the Main Cavern.

---

A blankness surrounded his perception.

He yelled, “I must be slain!”

The words formed in his mind only, bodiless and therefore lacking vocal cords nothing reached “beyond”. Expressing his thoughts, yelling without consequence a small comfort, nevertheless yielding a strange self-satisfaction. Gradually his mind reconnected with memory. The process taking days, perhaps weeks, never knowing, his salvation from death to awareness a mystery, the real world passing him by. Ah! A new memory, his present condition familiar, slain once before and so saved a second time then.

The magic saved his soul, a first step and a given since he existed beyond death. His memories returning piecemeal until awareness … he suspected. Once awareness achieved, self-thought, additional memories and then a sudden stop. Contemplating these thoughts, since time in the blankness meaningless, he believed his soul “the spark of life” and his body “the container of his memories”, perhaps his spirit?

Another memory! Oh dam, he ruminated about the cycle last time! Same conclusions, how boring. Oh, that is unexpected, a female the first time, mmm some unpleasant memories and then nothing. The sudden stop, perhaps the destruction of his body?

Remembering from last time he needed to reach out for others with his mind. He needed another, ideally weak willed to dominate and assume “ownership” over. A gentle wistful brushing up against the other’s mind, sufficient to gain the right amount of information without being “noticed”. If many noticed, people would invariably seek a cure, which meant sharing the encounter and if all described a similar “mind touch” the inquisitive would investigate and if particularly unlucky, one would document. The keeping of such knowledge most unwelcome. So careful and cautious …

Interesting. A flutter, definitely two minds close by. Gently now, focusing … argh, the first rejected the enquiry harshly, a sense of female and nothing else, useless. A name the essential start and according to his memory, always obtained. To the second … ejection, forceful and … oh prepared. The two minds similar or shared? Seers? He imagined peeing his pants, the thought of nothing uncovered about the second, not even male or female meant their shared existence almost one! Scary powerful!

A challenge awaited; the promise of an amazing reward overrode caution, the prospect of possibly dominating both minds if they shared a link! He needed to discover a way in and then explore the possibilities.

His awareness returned to his vessel, the precious sapphire, under a caret in size. No point in being a huge treasure, locked away forever in a chest, better to be set in a piece of everyday jewellery and free to mingle. His consciousness brushed across a whiff of magic … multiples actually. This time other precious stones, circles and loops shared his location, each shape occasionally in contact and then gone, replaced by another, the original eventually returning displacing yet a third piece. At each contact he drew their contained magic to his mind and once this reservoir overflowed, his precious sapphire next. With a store of magic, his memory informed him he could go where previously forbidden …

---

The cool night air reminded him of Death Season’s ending. With half a thought on the future waning of his power, steepled fingers allowed the resting of his chin upon them while he considered the delicious prey … almost within his grasp. Disappointment to be sure, they still eluded capture although there is much to be said for the thrill of the hunt. The original objective to slay modified with the discovery of a bloodied rag. One within his reach a virgin, her sex untainted by the seed of man and therefore blood pure and highly potent. If taken alive and cared for, able to be harvested from until finally sacrificed. Where one existed, perhaps another kept her company, after all his pursuers numbered six.

The first charge of his servants through the barricaded doorway unsuccessful. The prey’s weapons surely blessed to so easily destroy his undead servants by touch. So unfair. His Master slept, possibly hibernating and unable to be contacted to confirm his conjecture. No matter, he would devise new tactics. This did raise the question concerning his Master, his action a prelude to destruction or preparing for retribution?

Using four groups of willing undead workers, he instructed each to assemble before a corner of the house and strike. Bit by bit, chip by chip a slow progress commenced. Some used old rusted weapons, others required one on one direction from their creator to take up the various tools about the farm or stored within outlying buildings which made up the estate. The passage of time, two days, three, mattered little with Death Season end still days away. As for stray visitors, few if any ventured this far south anymore. No, the key rested with the prey, food and/or water supplies would force them to act eventually under threat of the slow relentless destruction of the ground floor, hopefully occurring outside their reach. To take any action requiring them to risk striking from the second floor, probably from a precarious position or alternatively sally forth. He mustered several groups of his servants lurking inside nearby partially ruined outbuildings to ambush them if they choose the second option.

The Dark Priest, his will done then utilised the rest of the night to be transported with a small escort to the nearby ancient battle field. Waiting for the inevitable losses to mount he called forth new followers from the mass grave as replacements and walked his new servants back with him to the house before dusk. He so hated the sunlight upon his eyes.

A nice collection of weapons and tools lay in wait at each corner of the house which he tasked his new followers to pick up if they had none of their own to begin again from where those now destroyed left off. The groups on guard remained complete, therefore his prey must have struck, at great risk from the second floor. A vicious smile decorated his lips as he imagined them weakening and more likely to fall, tomorrow or the night after.