The farmer’s wife and daughter hurried out of the Arena Team Rooms and the Arena proper ahead of the Ladies Three. Arm in arm they strolled towards and through the New Gate. The farm would be reached in good time with daylight to spare as mother and daughter hurried and would utilise the shortcut.
Charis, Otonia and Dione followed the mother and daughter parting ways to hurry to the Stables. The Town outside the old walls contained as many empty lots as buildings so they didn’t need to follow the marked roads in their haste. Charis swivelled her head from side to side occasionally checking, ever checking, could they escape, would the Honoured Three be delayed long enough in their celebrations. Charis tried to rid herself of her nerves by thinking and planning their next steps, simple ones although essential.
The lack of townsfolk played upon Charis, the normal chatter gone and every person a potential witness to their leaving and whereabouts. The Ladies Three in their armour easily identified. Charis increased their pace while Otonia and Dione chatted.
“It saved you Dione, that is what armour is meant for. That is the difference quality armour makes.”
“I know Otonia,” voice softly spoken, “I am just looking and silently thanking our benefactor. I am not going strange about this. I am just appreciating the quality and also realising our folly.”
“Yes, two or three days before, we enter an ancient annual combat ritual we know nothing about and thought it would be a great idea,” Charis said as she hugged in both of her new family, Dione in her left arm and Otonia in her right arm.
Charis realised now that Dione was only alive due to quality armour and a dash of good luck and she needed to hold both their lives to a higher value, the first step, never to enter such a competition again.
“Still, did you see those guys, we beat them up badly,” Otonia crowed.
“Yes, they didn’t seem amused, the one who tried to cut my head off in particular. I apologise for ignoring family advice in the heat of battle. It won’t happen again,” Dione acknowledged, repentant.
“Dione, since you survived, you get a chance to learn and that is all we can do,” Charis offered.
“Yes old and wise elder, Matriarch of our small family.”
Dione bowed while held up by Charis’ arm, which caused them to stumble, although not tumble forward. Charis wasn’t sure if she was serious or not. Any further thought on the possibility broken by Dione’s youthful high pitch laughing as they recovered.
“Steady with the old and elder, I am only a year older than you,” Charis replied with less humour.
“Hey! I am the elder thank you very much,” Otonia claimed in protest. “Happy for Charis to be the Matriarch though, who wants the responsibility of being the leader.”
---
“Boy, wake, fetch our horses,” urged Charis, clapping her hands to gain his attention and service.
“Sorry Lady.” He scampered off.
“My companions will help,” Charis called out.
Dione and Otonia followed him into the stable while Charis stood watch as inconspicuously as possible, her pulse racing, they were close to escaping and no one as yet approached the stable. She was in fact pleased the stable boy slept as it indicated few if any had visited the stable recently.
Three saddled horses and a spare exited the stable and Charis settled the coin they owed and winked at the boy to hand him a few coins of his own. He knew he failed, so the reward unexpected although appreciated all the same.
Leading their horses at pace, the New Gate loomed quickly before them. As freedom beckoned them, the gates open and the path clear, a voice called out to them.
“I see you still have all your toes, so glad it didn’t come to that and since the arena is still full of people can I assume the victors are the same as last year?” the Gate Captain enquired.
Dione and Otonia waved, while Charis exhaled and breathed again, she knew his voice, she should have realised it was a friend calling to them. She then glanced behind and over the gathered horses to check if any followed, relieved when none showed, turning her attention to the Gate Captain.
“Yes, we seemed to have hurt them both physically as well as their egos and they wanted to continue after the trial was over until someone with more authority called a halt. So we are away now, we think we have exhausted our invitation to stay in your fair town,” Charis stated.
“Fare thee well, it was an interesting interlude seeing you coming and going and since I see you are in a hurry, mount up and be the only ones ever granted permission to ride through the New Gate!”
They mounted and spurred their horses to a gallop enjoying the privilege. Charis tasted the escape and freedom unable to shake the shadow of someone knowing and telling the Honoured Three. As she turned in her saddle, the Gate Captain stood hands on hips while a couple of his guards watched inwards towards the Town instead of outwards. The Gate Captain definitely recognised their urgency and possibly Charis’ fear and conspired to assist the Ladies Three on their way. He waved to Charis, his assurance important to her, allowing her to settle back in her saddle, grateful.
“We forgot, I wonder if that was his plan!” shouted Dione, to be heard over the gallop of the horses hooves.
“Probably! We will ask him his secret if we ever return,” Otonia yelled, while Charis realised their oversight in their haste to leave. The Gate Captain’s secret would remain until they returned, if they returned.
They rode in search of the same shortcut as last time and loitered, taking cover in a stand of trees until sure they were alone and weren’t being followed. When certain they continued to the farm.
A celebration type welcome greeted them led by the farmer and his wife. The older boys taking care of their horses, carrying their saddles to the barn and allowing the horses to run free in the attached corral.
“Father, they need to wash and change their clothes before the feast don’t they?” suggested their eldest daughter.
“They know where the bath is daughter, so I am sure they can decided for themselves,” he replied.
She hung off Charis and grabbing her hands pulled and pushed her in the direction of the barn. Her mother shook her head and return to preparing the feast. Her father waved in resignation and continued to setup the tables and fetch the required chairs.
Dione and Otonia watched on, amused as a farm girl bossed and bullied Charis to the barn.
“You smell, and the dirt, a bath would relax you also,” she yammered.
Charis considered her words and they made sense, although she remembered the previous bath and recognised the reason for the girl’s enthusiasm and motivation and her desired outcome. Reluctantly she allowed herself to be led away to the bath by the girl.
“The bath is ready I made sure my brothers and sisters prepared it as soon as mother and I returned to the farm after your marvellous contest in the arena,” she said, pleased with her efforts.
“How many children does your father and mother have?” Charis asked.
“Some are theirs, like myself, others are strays or from families unable to feed them. Father takes them all in, they are all help to work the farm or help mother,” she replied flashing a brilliant smile.
As Charis checked one last time before disappearing into the barn, she observed the children running around or assisting their farmer parents and decided they were happy enough.
---
As Charis and the farmer’s daughter stepped into the bathhouse, the farmer’s daughter began undressing Charis.
“Wait. Please,” Charis commanded, placing her hands on the eager and feverishly busy hands of the farmer’s daughter, who paused and met Charis’ eyes with her own.
“We are sisters and for better or worse we express our love for each other physically as well as verbally and emotionally.” Charis paused to ensure the daughter paid attention, holding her shoulders to be certain.
“You are not our sister and we feel a guilt due to our actions the last time as you may not have been given a choice. Do you understand, being in our presence could have been enough to seduce you.”
The farmer’s daughter cupped her hands around Charis cheeks, her thumbs stroking either side of her nose before she replied.
“I am eighteen Death Seasons old, truly an adult now and I suspect older than you, certainly older than Dione and possibly as old as Otonia. I know my own mind, I told my mother as much, last time. This is what I want, this is what I desire. Please allow me to enjoy your company for as long as you stay.”
Charis couldn’t disagree with any of her words and her large brown eyes pleaded with Charis. Charis’ considered thoughts on the matter were interrupted when water splashed them both. Dione and Otonia, playfully smiling at them both from inside the bath, their heads resting on folded arms on its turned lip.
“The water is magnificent Charis, aches and pains are dissolving,” Dione purred, while Otonia sprinkled water over the stones to produce the soothing and sweat inducing steam.
“I am satisfied you know your own mind, although know this arrangement lasts only while we stay at the farm,” Charis declared.
The farmer’s daughter didn’t reply, she wrapped her arms around Charis instead and giggled in delight.
Soon all four were joined in the bath, familiarities and enjoyments revisited.
---
Relaxing between diversions Charis thought back to Otonia’s statement, was she the leader of their three? As in, do Otonia and Dione view her as such? Charis considered all three of them equal, although this was the second time her sisters didn’t see it so and they were both comfortable saying it aloud. Charis debated within herself if she could accept the responsibility for the care of others, an inner voice spoke to her and reassured her, while the sixteen year old trembled and eventually scoffed at the idea. The farmer’s daughter was older, why not her and then she only needed to remember being led to the bathhouse by this older girl or woman who in essence begged and pleaded and never commanded Charis to follow and only hoped she could convince her to.
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At her ease Otonia propelled a fountain of water from her mouth and then realised something amiss. “You know we have no spare clothes? In our haste to disappear we are travelling a bit light!”
“No problem,” the farmer’s daughter waved a hand at them, “we are a large family so have many mixed dresses, shirts and breaches that you can try on, you know, after,” she smiled, after emphasising her final word.
Charis’ concern persisted, yet the farmer’s daughter insisted she knew what she was doing. Charis needed to accept the situation and resigned herself to not being able to change anything. Her and Otonia needed to take more care when with others given the influence of the bronze loops, although she thought they did last time. They must have fallen asleep it was the only explanation. When asleep they relaxed and exposed the farmer’s daughter, to not only the bronze loops, but also their dreams and desires just as the elder warned.
“We don’t have enough room in the main house so father has converted the loft in the stable as a sort of room, if that is bearable. He thought you would probably want your privacy in any case.”
After a couple of fluttering heartbeats, she continued. “I would be hopeful of visiting occasionally though,” she winked,” if that was acceptable of course?”
“You need to be sure to thank your father on our behalf, he is most generous,” Charis answered, remaining non-committal on the offer to visit.
“Oh father takes in the lost and stray all the time as I think I have mentioned before. While he doesn’t think you will stay, he still sees you as three girls who he needs to help. The children you see on the farm today are only those that have decided to stay or too young to leave, but others have left with father’s blessing.”
“How does your father afford his generosity?” Otonia asked before Charis or Dione could.
“The farm is large and fertile. The more here to help the more it can produce and it is one of the closest farms to Town so most food businesses obtain fresh food easily. What land is not under a crop is running beasts, mainly sheep for meat and wool, although he did try wild deer one year, but they kept jumping the fence! When he needs extra help he asks about in the town, but tries to run the farm with the help of his children.”
Ducking her head under water briefly, grinning as she surfaces, “Does all this talk earn me some attentions?”
Drops of water fell from her face, rolling down her strong nose, while long brown black hair gathered and flowed full of water behind her, framing her soft facial features forming an alluring vision. The farmer’s daughter looking every part the woman.
---
A hard knocking on the bath door called a halt to their activity, causing them all to share mischievous looks.
A feminine voice called out, “The feast is ready!”
“Bring back a collection of clothes sister!” yelled the farmer’s daughter from the bath.
“Already here at the door, mother thought they would be needed.”
The farmer’s daughter stepped out of the bath slowly, her nakedness on display while she dried herself. She dressed and fetched the box of clothes, locking the door to the bath behind her, swivelling back in time to appreciate the Ladies Three climb out of bath naked and then towelling off.
The Ladies Three wore their leather pants and boots, underclothe while leaving the felt, so they only looked for shirts as they didn’t find any dresses that suited.
“My brothers will be pleased with your choices,” she commented.
The farmer greeted them with a lavish feast! Charis, Otonia and Dione felt humbled at the unexpected honour, thanking him often throughout the meal. His smile broadened at each mention.
After dining and drinking their fill at the feast and engaging in polite small talk, the Ladies Three made their excuses and retired to the loft.
---
The loft reminded Charis of the elder’s cottage, only much larger, a pleasant memory to bless this new home. A pang of emptiness reminded her of her father’s home where she truly wanted to be. The memory of it suddenly stirring within her as she hoped her father was still crafting in his smithy and remembering and missing her as she did him.
They playfully fought for places to roll out the bedding supplied by the farmer and settled in for the night.
“Do we know how long we will be here?” asked a voice in the dark.
“Are we going to return to Hillperch or travel to the city?” asked another, easily identified as belonging to Otonia by its nasal sound.
“If we return to Hillperch now, the Honoured Three will probably try to revenge their hurts. If we travel to the city the Honoured Three will eventually travel there as well and again revenge will be on their minds,” offered Charis.
“So what you are saying is we wait here until the Honoured Three leave Hillperch, our plans to apprentice in the city on hold for now,” replied Dione with an undertone of relieved hope.
“The city is our final destination, we need to allow the Honoured Three enough time to heal, forgive and forget.” Charis stared at the barn’s ceiling as she spoke, doubting if they would ever forgive.
“What of the farmer’s daughter?”
“Full of questions tonight Dione,” quipped Otonia.
“I would rather ask questions than stay silent and we know she is infatuated with us or the mystique of us being the Ladies Three, which suggests there can’t be a fourth,” Dione said.
“It is not only her, although she is the most pressing example. We need to consider the influence of the bronze loops as we can’t keep gathering devotees, what would we do with them? Charis?”
Charis reached for each of her items utilising her mind recreating the attuning process. They returned no words or thoughts of wisdom no matter how much she pleaded, so they were but tools.
“If we gather more, we would draw attention from powerful people thinking we are a challenge to them or a threat, one of which would be sure to investigate and then who knows what the result would be.”
“You make it seem like a poor choice!” Dione nervously replied.
“We need to decide yes or no and accept either choice has a risk. For now three is enough,” finished Charis.
---
The rising sun’s golden rays welcomed the Ladies Three to the start of a new day. The barn ran north-south while the barn’s shuttered windows ran along both lengths for the morning and afternoon sun. The main double door entrance faced the house on the north side and the second story hay loading bay opened to the south. Usefully from the hay loading bay the crossroads at the base of the Spur and the Inn could be observed.
Over the passing days a routine established itself with Charis placing alerts nightly, although they never detected the farmer’s daughter’s approach. No harm in her visits apparently as tiredness didn’t count.
Charis and Otonia spent the evenings setting traps and hunting either wolves or deer depending what was on offer. The farmer’s daughter escorted them with her boar spear. Dione stayed on the farm and taught a number of the older children to ride as well as some basic roping. She needed to advise a couple of the older boys that she was already taken and while she was honoured by their attention it was right and proper she refused their advances.
Charis started teaching Otonia and Dione to read and write. If they were serious about adopting an apprenticeship from the Letters of Introduction they all needed this skill to obtain the best possible positions. Charis acquired the materials by asking the farmer to visit Town to fetch them, doing so in a number of visits to hopefully allay any suspicion.
As the days passed a number of the farmer’s children attended class. Charis was surprised at first given the duties the children were required to do about the farm but then the farmer’s daughter confirmed her father was encouraging them to attend even if his working day needed to be longer to look after the farm and allow them the opportunity. As difficult as it was organising the light Charis extended the classes to late afternoon and early night after dinner to help, which the farmer appreciated.
Almost two weeks past when the farmer approached them late in the day before the evening meal. The Honoured Team left Hillperch a couple of days ago was the latest news. They thanked him for his hospitality and advised him they would be leaving the next day. The goodbye involved the entire family. Charis left a small coin cache in the loft as she knew the farmer would not accept any money directly. She whispered into his daughter’s ear as they said goodbye, to gift her father whatever she found in the loft. Such was the family’s willingness to hold them at the farm it was late afternoon before they left, having by that time run out of excuses, tasks and reasons.
---
They rode from the farm via the Oxrest Trail not wanting to use the short cut from the Spur Trail possibly surprising and alerting others to its existence. The collection of buildings at the foot of the Spur, centred around the Inn were enough to be called a hamlet thought Charis as they rode by them at their leisure. Approaching the New Gate, the Town Guards reacted immediately, half sprinted out of view!
When the Ladies Three dismounted at the New Gate the Gate Captain greeted them with a broad smile. They acknowledged him, handed their large weapons to his Guards and led their horses to the Stable. Nothing changed so far assessed Charis, who nevertheless continued to watch her surrounds suspiciously.
As the Ladies Three strolled along Gate Road the occasional passer by recognised them, offering a friendly wave, although no crowd gathered or followed them to the relief of Charis. Dione on the other hand became somewhat deflated, their fame now diminished. Checking with each other, they guardedly entered the Inn as they didn’t know what the Innkeeper would make of customer’s who were late on their accommodation bill.
The proud owner approached them smiling the moment they crossed the Inn’s threshold, thumbs in his apron, relaxed.
“Welcome back! Everyone thought the worst, but not I, your room is yours still and as you left it.”
“The worst?” Charis asked.
“Well, most could see the Honoured Team didn’t particularly act honourably after you surrendered and they mostly assumed you were now running in fear for your lives, never to return and to leave any debts unpaid, but not I!”
“Thank you.”
Charis was particularly touched and emotional in the belief the Innkeeper showed towards them. She tried to say more but the Innkeeper either realising her deep appreciation or just needing to talk, continued.
“There is brave and there is smart, I picked you for smart, after all it would only be a matter of time before the Honoured Team would travel to the city.”
He lent forward, to join them to his conspiracy.
“They did of course vigorously ask around if anyone knew where you were or where you went, but no one knew, you didn’t tell anyone!” he laughed loudly at his own humour.
“Then the guards at the gate confirmed that you left Town immediately after you were ordered to leave the arena so that sealed it for them I guess, although they didn’t accept it was the actual truth … for a long time!”
“Again, thanks, I think we need a hearty meal to welcome us back home, if that can be arranged?”
“Observe! Your table is available and food and drink await your attention.” He turned his body, an arm and hand extended sweeping towards their table.
The Innkeeper received a tender lingering hug from each of the Ladies as they passed him their appreciation trumping their eagerness to reach their table and dine on their meal.
A general sense of welcome from the regulars and more than a few new faces pervaded the Inn. Some smiled, some waved and some sent over drinks. Charis, Otonia and Dione squatted around their favourite table satisfied they were back home, the warmth and welcome sincere and heartfelt.
Charis caught One-Thumb’s eye and called him over.
“Do you think you could organise a late night visit to the Mistress Leatherworker across the way?”
“Certainly Mistress, I will be back when I know for sure,” he replied and bowed slightly.
They finished their meal and were onto finishing their large number of drinks when One Thumb returned. All he did was nod in Charis’ direction and left from her sight to scamper somewhere unknown.
Charis called her sisters to her and they left the Inn before the number of drinks on offer would affect their ability to walk straight. Crossing the street they lightly tapped the door of the Mistress Leatherworker’s shop with a dagger hilt. Answering the knock immediately the Master Craftswomen asked them in, slammed the door behind them and embraced each of them, which was returned with affection.
“We thank you for the armour, it saved the life of Dione, a boon which we don’t know how to repay,” Charis said, holding the embrace for a few heartbeats longer.
The large strong woman in front of them teared and with difficulty spoke as her voice strangled with emotion.
“It is I who must thank you. My skill is now recognised and as any Master Craftsman will tell you being recognised is the ultimate reward they can be given. I am forever grateful that you trusted my skill.”
“I am grateful we both benefited! We have plans to travel to the City soon so we didn’t want to go without thanking you in person the very day we returned from our voluntary banishment. We would have looked in sooner but even from the Inn we could see the customers at your door and didn’t want to interrupt,” Charis returned.
“A visit from you ladies would never be an interruption you would be welcome any time.”
“It is late, we will go now, but you have our eternal thanks for your craftsmanship.”
A last hug and Charis, Otonia and Dione left the Master Leatherworker aglow with pride and satisfaction. A short trip back to the Inn and they headed for their room to find some sleep between familiar sheets.
“Given our generosity, how much coin do we have left to live the life of a noble?” Dione asked
Charis was loosening the straps on Dione’s armour and helping her remove the felt over shirt.
“We still have a substantial amount, we should get to the city at least and live without worry for a few weeks until we know what we need to know,” Charis replied.
Charis then turned around and Dione started to loosen and remove her armour.
“You two, you can get out of your own armour you know, you just need a little flexibility.”
Otonia laid on their shared queen bed out of her armour and seductively naked as proof.
Charis and Dione rolled their eyes, together!
“Didn’t we have enough moments in the loft?” Dione asked.
“Yes, but this is our special place,” Otonia replied, pouting, feigning hurt.
A strong, solid knock on their door caused panic in their eyes as they briefly stared at each other at a loss.
Charis, the most dressed, wearing felt over shirt and leather pants readied herself at the door. Otonia took the easy way, pulled the bed covers back, and slipped under them up to her neck. Dione rushed to put her leather pants back on, tripped and scrambled under the covers of the bed as Otonia held them high for her. Both resisting the urge to giggle.
Checking on the state of her sisters, Charis then asked who knocked and received an unexpected answer.