They were fully attired and dressed by the craftswoman and two of her assistants. The armour was perfect, in function, in form and in appearance. The craftswoman supplied all the pieces, each were inscribed with her mark, the pinnacle of her skill. The felt wasn’t used as they didn’t expect battle and this was more about presence. The cloth undergarments were also fitted now, so they followed their curves and bumps and moved easily under the armour. Their weapons could be properly sheathed, so they were on display, including a hook on her hip for Dione’s rope and an improved belt for Otonia’s oversized sling bullets if she chooses to wear it. Well there wasn’t really another name and that is where the idea of them grew from.

The final piece was a fine dark cloak with hood for each so they could “reveal” when they entered the Temple proper. Charis was impressed and was beyond words.

“It was my honour and the least I could do to repay your faith in me to protect your lives with my craft. You have secured my future and also my daughter’s and the people who work with me, there is not much more that could make me happy.”

They all hugged her and left, confidently walking to the Temple of Judge.

As they approached the wide broad steps of the Temple the small crowd gathering parted to allow them through. The temple crowd was more curious than intimidated as the Ladies Three were expected but perhaps not in the manner they chose! The general townsfolk were more impressed as they became a little animated, tapping each other on their shoulders and pointing fingers.

As they approached the guards at the entrance, they presented the letter of invitation and were asked to wait until their escort arrived.

“Why do we require an escort?” asked Charis.

“So you don’t get lost within the Temple and then miss the ceremony and subsequent honour that is being bestowed upon you.” replied the guard.

As they waited more entered, all unescorted, although they seemed to be Priests and the like with their trusted seconds perhaps. They didn’t think many were from the town, so they were from elsewhere and this ceremony then was a major gathering of the faithful. Charis noted that the Ladies Three were the only non-worshippers of Judge. This was easily identified when they were the only attendees not wearing his holy symbol somewhere upon them. Most wore a small discreet version, even the Temple Guards. It was the Ladies Three that didn't wear the blazing yellow circle with seven wiggly tails pointing outwards, the top wiggly tail, the seventh, was extended and meant to represent Judge as King of the Gods.

While they were wondering if they should be here their escort arrived.

It was a familiar figure in full armour, his face hidden this time by his helm face guard.

“You need to follow me and not stray; to be found alone would not be viewed with any sympathy or kindness. You understand?” When they acknowledged his instructions he turned and led them deeper into the Temple. The building was well made with stone, with certain areas polished and faced with another type of stone, which looked impressive. They were led to a balcony level which overlooked the entire praying area proper. The high ceiling was also impressive and added openness to the building and required many people attending to create a palpable atmosphere. A single person in the praying area would feel the space and possibly be able to reach for Judge with their faith she thought.

They soon realised that all the guards of a certain importance, including the one that was escorting them, all looked the same, well outfitted the same. They knew they were in the company of something special as the number was limited, although to count them, always resulted in a different total. They also realised this wasn’t the same Judge Knight Aspirant that visited them to deliver the invitation. They really did all tend to look the same including height. Charis noticed some wore boots with thick soles to improve their height perhaps to add to this illusion of sameness.

The ceremony started with the Magistrate commanding the audience and recounting the creation of the Gods, the place of each God, Judge The Justice, Lord of the Gods also known as The Purifying Sun, Jury his sister Queen of the Dead, Mara the Mother, Soll Battle God, Bella Goddess of Change, Saph the Seer Goddess and Ure Goddess of Healing and the day the magic went away. He then continued on with the importance of Judge Knights, Judge Knight Aspirants and the Judge Knight Initiates. The ceremony was to confirm Initiates to Aspirants and newly identified promising followers to Initiates.

Charis observed carefully and it seemed the armour also denoted rank, although a few exceptions seemed possible, perhaps because of wealth either from family or perhaps a sponsor. The armour they wore needed to be shiny and abled to be polished that seemed to be a given she thought.

The material could be anything but obviously the higher the rank the better the material, so the Aspirants were mostly in Plate Armour, full metal, especially the chest piece and the helm, other pieces if the Aspirant could afford it perhaps. The Initiates were more modest and harden Leather Armour was most common, but lacquered to appear shiny and polished and if they wore Plate it wasn’t on their chest, although could be their helm.

Whatever was worn was black from head to toe and regardless of the material it was made from a casual look would have you believe they were all in Plate Armour, such was the deception of the craftsmanship on any lessor pieces. In battle they would be able to very effectively intimidate before a blow was even struck. Charis did wonder though the outcome if the deception was ever challenged, nevertheless the deception and the art of it being a good lesson to learn.

“Why aren’t any Judge Knight Aspirants being promoted to Judge Knights?” asked Charis

“You will need to ask a Priest.” answered the armoured statue of a man.

With the ceremony concluded they were waiting to be escorted from the Temple, instead they just waited and observed the worshippers mingle and congratulate each other.

“Welcome ladies, we meet again and I offer my welcome to the Temple of Judge, Lord of Gods.” announced Apelles, Magistrate of Judge.

“So are you escorting us from the Temple?” asked Charis.

“Well the answer is yes and no. We need to have a discussion first. I believe we can help each other and have some common objectives.”

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“What if we don’t consider our objectives common?” questioned Charis.

“Let us talk first before we leap, knowing that appearances aren’t always everything and three vulnerable ladies on the trail with a story can’t always be believed.” He walked away from them into another room off the balcony. They just followed; they didn’t know what else to do. Behind them the Knight Aspirant followed. As they entered the room the Knight Aspirant closed the door and stood guard on the balcony side.

“I need a favour. I have a very important cargo that must be delivered and while I could assign this to one of many Judge Knight Aspirants they are rather obvious and there have been occasions when what they were guarding has not reached the destination. Can you help?”

“If a Judge Knight Aspirant cannot deliver, what makes you think three vulnerable ladies can or would even want to, given, I assume failure normally results in death or worse?” ask Charis.

“Why where their no Judge Knights proclaimed in the ceremony?” asked Dione. They all looked at her; this was probably not the right time for that question.

“Well we are with a Priest of Judge and he said,” Pointing out of the room to the Judge Knight Aspirant, “that we would need to ask a Priest.” Dione continued.

“The incumbent Judge Knight has to die before another can ascend to the honour.” answered the Judge Magistrate.

“Why?” Otonia asked.

“It is a Law from the God Time. We haven’t time to teach you more histories of the Gods. To answer your original question, not many failed deliveries have resulted in any loss of life for those who guard and escort, which is the problem, the deliveries are being taken without conflict, so there are no opponents, no information on who, which can be followed up.”

“So for the joy of risking our lives, I know you have said this is unlikely, but let us be entirely truthful, there would still be a possibility, what would our reward be?” asked Charis.

“Well for a start your altered letters of introduction won’t be revealed for the lies they are and result in your arrest for killing the original holders of those documents.”

They were stunned, how did he know? Where to now?

“No need to panic, for I am well placed to provide you with letters of introduction from myself or good friends to replace those altered letters. I will also need any more you have and the story behind how you acquired them. Not now because time is pressing, you will understand why shortly.”

“Firstly, on our honour we did not kill the original holders of the Letters.” Charis slightly raised her voice as the accusation stung.

“I reasoned as much, which is why we are still talking, but we haven’t much time, so a discussion for another time perhaps?”

Charis considered his reply. So why accuse if you know it isn’t true. Seeing him wring his hands and general agitation, she decided it would hold for another time as he suggested.

“So let us say we agree, when will the package be delivered to us and where does it need to go?” asked Charis.

“You need to accept the task without restriction and now. To obtain further instructions you will need to visit your new friend when she trains at the Arena. Apart from that there will be no further contact between you and the Temple. Do you understand?”

“We must accept it seems. Why do we have to leave in a hurry?” asked Charis.

“You must leave with everyone else; you can’t be seen leaving after, as if someone has delayed you by meeting with you and making some sort of deal with the Temple. So yes, please leave. The Knight Aspirant will show you the quickest way.”

They left the room; the Knight already knew his mission and led them quickly to the front steps of the Temple. Their cloaks never left their shoulders, the armour was never seen by anyone important, so all that happened was they were trapped into serving a Magistrate of Judge and by extension his God. There was still a healthy crowd of congratulating devotees to walk through, offering little resistance as they passed and left the Temple. The Ladies Three then walked down Temple Street but not in celebration rather confusion, depression and feeling like they had just been kicked.

“We will not tell the Master of Leather crafting that her armour did not get the opportunity to impress that we know it deserved.” mumbled Charis.

They walked home distracted. This was not the triumph they thought it would be and in fact it turned out to be much worse. They were no longer in control of their future. They were no longer free to choose their own path. They felt trapped for the very first time, the adults were back in control and they were children again. They needed to lift themselves though because Astera would expect some joy at least?

“I think we tell Astera the truth, the whole truth.” said Charis. There was no argument, if she was family that meant knowing the good and the bad when everyone else knew, not some false version. They must maintain the trust.

They knocked on their door. There was no answer. They knocked again a little firmer this time and heard a rustling sound from within.

“Who is it?”

“Your family.” replied Dione.

The door was opened in an instant and Astera was clearly pleased to see them. As Charis, Otonia and Dione entered the room, Astera was pouring a drink for each of them and herself, ready for the celebration. As she turned to hand their mug to them, they hung up their cloaks. They looked amazing and she gasped at their armour, they looked every part the Ladies Three.

“I am humbled in your presence mistress, you all look truly magnificent, I can only imagine the impression you left!” She then handed them their drinks. Each in turn took the offered drink and just knocked back the mug and threw all the drink down their throat in the one swallow. It was not the reaction she planned for and so quickly threw her drink down as well. It did burn a little though. The room became uncomfortable and Astera wasn't sure what to say or how to act.

“We must tell you Astera it did not go anything like we thought. We were allowed to observe and then we met with the Magistrate and then he told us he knew about our letters of introduction and then he basically blackmailed us into accepting a task.” said Otonia.

“So what does that mean for us?” asked Astera.

“Well first we need to look for an information drop. Then once we have read the instructions, follow them and so on. Apparently, like us he knows you are training at the Arena.” said Charis.

“You know? I hope I did not disappoint you mistress.” She lower her eyes as she spoke, awaiting judgement.

“She couldn’t take her eyes off you Astera, it took both Otonia and I to convince her to leave before you saw her!”

“I am working as hard as possible Mistress.” said Astera as tears welled up in her eyes. She was so happy, it was only two days but they were tougher than the days on the farm and she felt she was learning so fast. The boar spear was good against animals and she knew how best to use it against them. Learning the Spear and Shield was the same, although better, the opponents were smarter.

Charis reached for her, drew her close and kissed her on each cheek.

“Yes you are and I was extremely pleased as I watched you. And if you didn’t train at the arena you would need to train somewhere, so the location wasn’t important.”

“Break it up you two, we have to make some plans.” said Otonia as she reached over and gently pulled them apart.

“Well first we need to visit our favourite craftswoman so Astera can be outfitted like the rest of her family.” announced Charis.

Timidly, Astera approached Charis.

“I have already organised that I am afraid, it was before I swore fealty and I have to confess I used the coin that you left for my father.” she said softly. “Not all of it, I left him some I am not that bad of a daughter, but I suppose it could, sorry, would be considered stealing.”

“I would suggest that the coin always belonged to your new family, so while you took some that was to go to your old family it was probably just a misunderstanding.” smiled Dione.

“You will be paying your father back the full amount.” Charis wasn’t smiling.

“Yes Mistress without fail.”

“Well nevertheless it means one less preparation and now I assume the drop is going to be made to us while Astera is training, so I guess we take daily visits to observe our sister?” suggested Otonia.

“Going there every day at random, the three of us. Eventually, we will attract a crowd. So I think Astera needs to check each of the Team Rooms after training and see if the message is there. I would start with the room we used first I think.” commanded Charis.

“Yes Mistress without fail.”