“Maybe we could fetch your family if that would help?” said Otonia.

“No, never!” she shouted, “They must never find out about me! It would be best if they thought me dead. I couldn’t face them, ever.” She relaxed in Otonia’s embrace, defeated.

“Otonia and I do have a duty to perform. We will not abandon you, we will care for you as best suits you if we can, including reminding you that you are not to blame, you were taken against your will. You live and have a future and it can be with us or others.” answered Charis.

Dione turned to look at Charis, her eyes red with crying and tears spilling down her cheeks, which she wiped as best she could. A slight smile dawned on her face as Charis approached, joining Dione and Otonia in a shared hug. They released each other, although Dione wouldn’t let them go free as she grabbed a hand from Otonia and Charis each. Then she danced in a circle and the other two followed suit.

Dione tired quickly, although she continued to smile.

“I do not love a women like you both love and I am not sure if I will ever trust a man again, so to have your sisterly love and you be my new family would be most welcome.” shouted Dione in glorious happiness.

Otonia and Charis looked at each other uncertain. They didn’t think to pick up another considering the circumstances, but a third was a third and they or at least Charis did make an offer of sorts.

“We will prepare to leave, so you still have a couple of days or more if you want to stay longer.” said Charis.

“I am ready to leave, there are some ghosts here that I wish to banish forever.” replied Dione.

They prepared backpacks and saddle bags over the next two days and they left at dawn the day after. Since Otonia was the better rider of the two, Dione shared her horse for the slow ride back. Both horses were equipped with very full saddlebags, while Charis and Otonia wore their backpacks. Dione acquired a small dagger as there was little else she could handle with her limited strength. Charis wished they could have taken more from their dead hosts but they took all they could carry.

Dione shared her story at Charis’ insistence as she was sure talking about it would make her feel better since Halius and her talking always seemed to help them. Charis carried her own guilt and it was only when talking to the elder did some of it fade. They also needed Dione to realise she was taken against her will so none of what happened was her fault. Those to blame were now dead and they couldn’t inflict their cruelty upon anyone else or revisit Dione, she was free and her sisters would be there to help if it was in their power to do so. Charis also thought it would help Otonia even though she didn’t go through the ordeal that Dione did, it was still a close thing.

Dione started with her family and the village she was from. They were typical farmers, although better off than most they used horses to round up cattle and everyone in the family was expected to help as soon as they could ride a horse.

Then after surviving fourteen death seasons, her father allowed her to muster the cattle into town for sale and slaughter at the monthly fair. It was a special reward for helping on the farm with hard work and long days. One night while on watch over the cattle she was taken. She didn’t know how they could take her in the dark and when she was with them they never even teased her about how they did it.

Her family would need to continue on. If they left the cattle they would starve during Death Season because of the cold; her family and their cattle. They needed to make the market, sell the cattle and travel back home with enough supplies to survive Death Season. They couldn’t sacrifice all of them or even some of them for one that was now gone. She would be lost to them, although she would never want them to know the truth, better for them to think her dead, farmers were used to death.

They reached the old trail and the shallow river crossing mid-afternoon after a day of slow riding and much rest. Dione remained on the horse while Otonia led them both across, followed by Charis also leading her horse, she didn’t trust her horse riding skill while crossing a stream, even at a shallow point such as this ford.

They moved a little off the trail, enough not to be seen by any traveller at least and setup camp late afternoon. Charis set the alerts when Dione slept as she didn’t want to explain anything to her just yet. Would a farmer’s daughter denounce a user of magic? Magic that hasn’t been alive and real for many generations.

+++

Breaking their fast they made their way back to the trail and continued on and by late afternoon they were entering their next destination, the Village of Oxrest, the one they were originally destined to reach so many weeks ago. It was similar to any other village just some of the important buildings were in different places along the single main dirt road through the centre of it.

They soon found the Inn and after some enquires managed to stable their horses. Charis was feeling generous and requested the best room the Inn could offer, since it was to accommodate the three of them. Unfortunately the best room was much like the rest of the rooms, although the one they were shown to was filled with two double bunk beds, so could sleep four if required.

They stayed in the common room of the Inn the rest of the day and retired to their room in the evening after some hot stew and cider. Charis and Otonia opened up the Letters of References to Dione to see if one of them would suit her so she could begin a new start in the city. Dione could not read let alone write beyond Charis’ lessons; she could ride a horse and rope cattle. They were hard pressed to find a suitable fit, so left it for now.

They were determined to travel to the Town and couldn’t find any others leaving to suit their need or approval. The Innkeeper was advised that the three ladies would stay another night. With another day available to them Charis and Otonia escorted Dione to purchase a horse for herself. While the stock in the village was limited, she approved of one and bargained a fair price. As the best rider of them it was only fitting she would ride her own horse.

Charis and Otonia deliberately slept on one double bunk and across the room from them slept Dione on her own double bunk. Otonia and Dione each chose the top bunk of course. Charis thought it wise to send Dione as far away as possible from the paired bronze loops. Charis and Otonia are barely influenced by the bronze loops it seems, which could be due to the pairing but Charis was only guessing and not knowing exactly was frustrating. More importantly they didn’t want Dione to be influenced to be their friend. They wanted that to develop naturally or not at all.

+++

The morning was awkward like the previous ones as Otonia always slept naked when inside. Charis didn’t know how to fix this as Dione seemed offended some way, so she decided to talk about it.

“She is fairly unafraid to be naked.” mentioned Charis to know one in particular but hoping for comment, while looking at Otonia getting off their top bunk.

“Oh, I don’t mind her being naked. I just wish to be as healthy! Look at her, full breasts, firm thighs and strong arms. Me, I am still mostly skin and bones.” Dione pouted and then added urgently, “Although I am grateful to you both for saving me from them.”

“Stop talking about me you two.” Otonia smiled wide as she pretended to be embarrassed. Charis and Dione then noticed her taking a little more time to get dressed than usual and they shared a knowing smile. Charis didn’t care why, as long as Dione started to genuinely smile it was progress.

“It won’t take too many more meals and you will be complaining about being overweight.” suggested Charis.

“As if Charis.” Dione snorted, “Your body is just the right proportion of everything, everywhere! You are just more modest about it thanks be to Judge!”

“I stand by what I said, won’t take long or many meals, you are more than skin and bones already and just need to find your strength now, so some riding and more helping ...” Charis lightly hugged Dione to reassure her.

“Oh so that is it, is it, you need me to help more?” Dione’s face was serious for a moment and all in the room stopped and then she laughed and was playfully punched for her acting.

They packed their backpacks and saddle bags and went to the Common Room to break their fast and then take another look for travel companions. This was quickly and easily completed unfortunately.

With no suitable travel companions they saddled up and left. The Innkeeper was aghast that three young ladies would travel alone but he could not persuade them to stay even at a discount rate on their room.

Once out of the village, Dione suddenly smiled and laughed at Charis and Otonia.

“I feel so free, I am glad in my heart that you are my new family, I thank you so much!”

With that said she galloped ahead, paused and cantered back to join them and then they all laughed.

They were accompanied by ploughed fields and sparse trees as they travelled south. The trees were largely cleared and those of any use repurposed long ago. The rolling hills eventually calmed to the east, to the west the Spur still loomed large and hills rolling down from it were plain to see. Otonia took this time to wonder how much the bronze loops were an influence on Dione even though Charis and Otonia took precautions. She was cruelly treated for many months and most of that seemed in the past now not that she could really be sure. Otonia shivered when she realised she could have shared Dione’s fate but for her bronze loop and wondered if Dione’s past was settled.

In the distance they observed a group of riders casually riding on the trail towards them. Charis just realised that on horseback you were always seen by others first and she wondered what could be done about that. The group approaching them didn’t change pace so Charis, Otonia and Dione continued riding towards them, although Charis and Otonia checked their weapons just in case.

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“Hail travellers! You are met by Magistrate of Judge, Apelles, son of Apellicon, citizen of the town of Hillperch!” stated the soldier at the head of the group.

While Charis, Otonia and Dione were trying to understand the importance of this, a distinguished rider in the group rode to the front. He was dressed in fine clothes, although he wore finely engraved and embossed leather armour over his chest and pieces on his forearms and legs. They also noticed the fine scabbard and ornate sword handle he wore at his side and could only imagine at the quality of the actual blade, given the rest of the wealth on display.

His fine light brown curly hair was revealed when he removed his wide brimmed hat, glorified with a large red bird feather on one side.

“I salute your bravery, three ladies alone on the trail, I would not believe except you are all before me. Could we not provide you escort back to the safety of the village of Oxrest?” asked Apelles.

She felt rather than was told by the others that she was the leader of them that needed to respond. Charis didn’t know when she was appointed by the others and just accepted her new role as fact.

“Good Magistrate of Judge, we are well prepared for our travel. We stay to the trails and roads protected by the Duke, so we feel safe in the knowledge that any transgressors will soon feel the justice of Lord God Judge by guiding the Duke and his retainers to right any wrongs.”

“While Judge sees all, the Duke and his retainers may not be at hand in time for everyone who needs justice, so for three young ladies like you I again offer my protection.”

“No offence good Magistrate, we are but a night away from Hillperch and have business there that can’t survive a delay.”

“Why did you just ride towards us? No caution, no questioning? I have to contest your judgement in this?”

“You and your escort did not break from the formation you were in. Your escort is all uniformed, which indicates order not the chaos of robbers or brigands, who wouldn’t be in the open anyway, but in ambush or travelling off the road trying to locate an ideal place for ambush.” This she followed with an amusing smile to try and make light of the encounter, so as not to offend the magistrate.

“I see you have travelled much for one so young. So be it! I hope never to see you listed as victim in a Judgement case I hear. What would be the name I would never wish to read?”

“Gorgo, good magistrate.” quickly replied Charis, possibly too quickly seeing his facial muscles flicker ever so slightly.

“Why do you not venerate your father or mother, although you bare an ancient name? What is your business in Hillperch, the town that I preside over?” She noticed he over emphasised his facial expressions, was this some sort of interrogation now?

“I am to meet an agent of my good Master. Then we will both travel on to the city of Parium and I will be apprenticed.” replied Charis.

Charis was now developing a concern over this questioning and she hoped the magistrate could be her friend and understand everything was alright and they could be on their way. Otonia wasn’t far away and realised the same a few hundred heartbeats sooner than Charis, so she was already moving forward with Dione.

“What will you be apprenticed as and what is the purpose of your companions?”

Otonia looked at Dione, it was time to support Charis and perhaps answer for themselves.

“I will be apprenticed as a magician, good magistrate.” The magistrate and his escort, bellowed in laughter at her response and some even tried to imitate her voice and response, it became a competition of sorts between the soldiers and only stopped when the magistrate held up a fist.

“Ah, laughter is always good on a long journey and you have certainly succeeded in that good Gorgo. Magicians are sleight of hand tricksters, gimmicks and distractions are their mainstay. I wish you every success, given your profession is really only a better dressed beggar in most good people’s opinion and understand now why you don't associate your name with either of your parents as I doubt they would have given you their blessing. So what of your companions then, why and where do they travel?”

Charis was relieved that Otonia was beside her. She thought the two bronze loops working close together would be more effective and she didn’t want them to answer the same question asked by the Magistrate differently. Charis looked at Otonia and hoped she would answer while Otonia was doing what Charis was doing, suggesting that the magistrate be a good friend to them all. Charis also now realised the importance of the ancient name and the naming of the parent. She heard it occasionally within the Keep, never in the Blacksmithy but now knew it was a mark of difference.

“Hail Magistrate of Judge, Apelles, son of Apellicon, I am Katina, daughter of Lais and I am with my servant girl Zita we are also travelling onward to the city of Parium and I am to meet my betrothed. I was travelling with merchant wagons, but none were leaving Oxrest so I joined with Gorgo to reach Hillperch and then perhaps will travel with her and her Master’s agent to Parium.” answered Otonia.

“I salute your mother for she certainly has nurtured you into a fine woman. I am sure the fine young men of my escort lament the missed opportunity to court you and wish you well in your marriage, may it be blessed by the Goddess Mara and be fruitful with many children.” He nodded slightly in a salute of sorts.

The soldier that announced the magistrate then whispered to him and with a whispered reply something was decided.

“Well ladies my escort tells me that we must be on our way to make Oxrest by nightfall and I prefer a warm bed to a camp bedroll. So journey well and I bless you all with the protection of Judge.”

With that said he didn’t wait for a reply and nudged his horse to a trot and continued down the trail with his escort following in pairs.

Charis looked at Otonia while Dione looked at the seven riders fading in the distance.

“Did he just get bored with us or do you know what helped?” whispered Charis.

“Probably a bit of everything, but I think the laughter helped and then my formal greeting, perhaps the bronze loops, although the soldier would have been too far away. Whatever it was we are free again.” answered Otonia.

Most of the morning was gone, when they came over a small rise and halted. Before them was a saddled horse without rider, stamping the ground looking to run, but being held by its reins.

“Someone is injured.” Dione shouted as she kicked her horse into a gallop. Charis called out but Dione was focused and determined to help it seemed. Charis and Otonia following at a slower pace, watchful, trying to make sure they weren’t the next to be injured. The wounded rider's horse finally won its release and bolted as they approached.

When they arrived, Dione was giving the young boy a sip of water and was pressing down on a belly wound with some cloth. His body was sweating and all blood was drained from his skin, he was in shock.

There was nothing any of them could do and each of them knew the truth of it.

“He was definitely stabbed, although he was also hit by two arrows presumably when he made his escape. I pulled those out and tied a bandage on each, but it has all been for nothing. All he could do when I reached him was tap his leather bag, like nothing else mattered.” Dione then looked to Charis and Otonia.

“Well let’s have a look in his leather bag and while we are, it would be good if you rode down the trail a little, making sure you can still see us to see if his pursuers aren’t about to appear.”

“Oh I didn’t think of that.” With that Dione was on her horse and away, purpose giving her energy.

“That will keep her mind off seeing someone dying and if his leather bag has any surprises we won’t need to convince Dione of our decision.” stated Charis.

The leather bag contained a single dispatch and even Otonia with her limited reading caught the name it was to be delivered to, a certain magistrate they were only so recently chatting with. Charis deliberated telling Otonia more, but in the end decided to as she needed to know the full importance of what they could be entangled in. The dispatch carried the Mark of the Seers of Saph. This was priest business, so it was bad enough that someone was trying to intercept it, but horrific that the gods didn’t protect their messenger.

“The other thought is that the message is important and we have become its new messengers Charis? Everyone knows that Saph works in mysterious ways!”

They waved at Dione to come back and when she arrived they decided and Dione agreed that the dispatch needed to be delivered. The left the messenger and rode back to the crest of the trail. It was decided as they rode that given Dione was easily their best rider she would be given all the horses. She would then have two spare mounts so she could chase down the Magistrate and his escort as quickly as possible. Charis and Otonia would move off the trail and walk up into the foothills a little and try to camp in cover and watch the trail for Dione’s return.

“You feel you are recovered enough for this?”

“Charis I am and I am humbled that you entrust me with such an important task, I will not fail.”

They needed to make sure the Magistrate wouldn’t hold Dione for any reason. Dione was coached by Charis and Otonia and told that she was expected to return to her mistress so couldn’t stay with the magistrate, after all, the horses needed to be returned or my mistress would be stranded and would need to walk to Hillperch. If all else failed she could say that her mistress venerated the gods so much that she needed to travel in a group of three, after all the magistrate should understand he was travelling in a group of seven the other venerated number. Then Dione was gone, trailing Charis’ and Otonia’s horses behind her.

Charis and Otonia found a covered place slightly up the slope of the foothills in the west. It provided a good view of the trail in both directions. They estimated that the Magistrate and his escort where at most a half a morning away and with the spare horses that Dione trailed she could actually cover that distance in half the time so at most the round trip journey would take that same amount of time depending upon how much talk time the magistrate insisted upon. So Dione should be back to them by middle to late afternoon if their estimates were correct.

Charis was on first watch and noticed an amazing thing. The panic stricken horse returned to its dead master and was now grazing near him and occasionally nudging him.

The three ladies held a debate about the messenger before they left him, they couldn’t make a funeral pyre to burn him on in case the fire signalled unwanted visitors and if he was followed then there was a body to find and possibly ransack if the pursuers didn’t know what he was carrying. Charis did consider crafting a fake message but they didn’t have ink and parchment let alone seals and wax to make it look official so it would have been a poor attempt at best.

The horse then took fright and jumped and bucked, galloping away again. It didn’t take long for Charis to see movement around the messenger’s body. How the person made it to that location without being seen was beyond Charis, could she simply not have been looking well enough? The person soon revealed themselves and started looking at the trail and after a short distance was clearly satisfied. The frightened and jumpy horse soon returned to the person inspecting the messenger’s body as if led, calm and willingly, he mounted up and followed the trail at full gallop. Charis recognised pretence when she saw it.

Then she realised, would the mysterious rider meet Dione on her return or would she still be with the magistrate, most likely on her return given she could share the exhaustion between the horses. The person following wouldn’t know that Charis and Otonia dismounted after making the crest of the trail to make for cover while Dione continued on, he thought he was trailing three riders; the worrying thing was it didn’t cause him to pause as he still rode to his purpose.

Quickly she stirred Otonia and they packed up their modest camp and walked back to the trail. Charis walked along the trail until they crested the small rise, from where they originally saw the messenger’s horse earlier. It was late in the day so she looked for some cover firstly tall brush and then decided on a nearby tree so she could hide as best she could in the shade that was cast and still look down the trail. Her bow was strung and four arrows staked in the ground in front of her for quick release. Otonia was lying at her feet, ready to stand and let fly with her knives.

The plan was simple, hopefully with fresh horses Dione would be able to outride the killer of the messenger and be heading back to them. As she returned with possibly the killer behind her Charis and then Otonia would surprise him and if lucky wound him at least and chase him off.

It all now depended upon Dione being able to return to them. Did she have the strength and were the three mounts a big enough advantage. Her riding skill was never in question so if her return depended upon that Charis felt she was in the clear and then it would depend upon Otonia and her to save their newest sister.