Astera broke her fast first as she did every morning and went to visit the Gate Captain.
“My brother told me about the ambush. Unusual as we thought the Honoured Three were over their grudge.”
“We don’t know of any others that would want to attack us or take me and we are sorry that you lost a Guard.” Astera’s voice softened as she spoke those last words. She realised that even though she didn’t know why, her training there caused his death.
“He was one of our best; he noticed the Team Room door you know. We can’t find any family and if he did have any, they knew as well as him that being a Guard comes with certain risks. On a better thought though, Garal will recover. We called in a Priestess of Ure; she put some ointment on, sewed him up like a dress and then bandaged him again. He squealed, so she gave him some tough leather to gnaw on. The only good thing is she will return every day to change his bandage and check on him and she was pretty in a Priestess sort of way.” He looked up wistfully.
“I saw some smoke while walking over, was that…”
“Yes we sent poor Raginen to Judge on a high pyre this morning. We had a near full turn out for him as the evening shift returned to pay their homage. The other two that attacked you we burnt face down on the ground to face Jury. While the survivor wasn’t saying much so we asked him to stay another night.”
“I am sorry on behalf of myself and the Ladies Three, we, well,” she looked down, “I, at least … although probably … we should have been there since he saved my life.” She finally spoke the words.
“It is alright young one, it wasn’t expected, after all Charis and your sisters arriving probably saved my brother so it all evens out.”
She looked up at him then and they both paused for an awkward moment.
“I am glad. Charis was wondering if she and the others sisters could join the training?” Astera was a little hesitant to ask so plainly but he seemed to be in a talkative mood and it broke the silence.
“They would be most welcome and my brother has some strange plans so having the Ladies Three training there will probably help and he was wondering how he was going to ask them. So you see it all works out easy sometimes.”
Then Astera saw a wonderful sight, the two Gate Captains at once!
“Looks like you can follow them over.” He winked and turned back to his own duties.
Astera smiled, even in death and a bad situation he choose humour and understanding. She would learn from that she thought as she ran to catch his brother and the six, yes there were six Guards with him. On no thought Astera, she hoped there would be others training as three, one after the other testing her gave her a chance to rest, but six?
---
Otonia and Dione left the Inn immediately after breaking their fast, with a wave goodbye to Charis. They didn’t go directly to Temple Street but used a couple of back ways and lanes so they arrived as near to the Scribe’s shop as possible without any of the Temple Guards being able to look upon them for long. Otonia and Dione were also in their dresses to try and disguise themselves further.
Charis watched Otonia and Dione leave. This was probably the first time that they were deliberately separated by choice and she was alone again. Charis decided she didn’t like being alone much and it was probably because she never really ever was. Either her father was with her or Halius, poor dear Halius. Every time she thought of him she needed to fight back the tears, she didn’t understand why, it just was.
“Don’t be sad lass! I have just the tune for you!”
It was a song about a child’s birthday party and instead of a few friends with a few gifts, many friends arrived with no gifts but themselves, with joy and love in their hearts that would last a lifetime.
She tossed him a coin in appreciation, because he was right, the song did lift her from her sadness.
“Young lady you are most generous! I would be honoured to escort you around town and entertain you whenever your mood required!”
“I plan to spend the morning here in my cups, so I don’t require an escort. I have not seen you before, so are you new to town? If so how would you be able to show me around?”
“So many questions for one so young and it would not be wrong to say, so beautiful!” he noticed Charis’ lips curl a little, a smile perhaps, “Are yes, I am new to town and I am old to town. I travel. I stick to the towns, overnighting in villages where I can, the side of the road where I must. This Dukedom has seven towns, I avoid the road in Death Season, which is only common sense really, so I spend the other seasons traveling to each town staying but a month and then moving on. I repeat that three times, which is lucky of course and then spend Death Season in the City. So for the past countless years I have spent many months in this town, but today is my first day this month.” He ended with a broad smile. The speech was long, but flowed and so well practiced there was a rhythm to it that relieved the boredom of the words.
“From where have you travelled from?” asked Charis
“Most recently from Northreach, there are many soldier types there to push back the enemy, an enemy no one really remembers, but that is alright as they cling to their tradition I celebrate as soldiers are always good listeners to a tune or a tale.”
Charis was keeping him talking because she was looking for anything, although in particular a bronze loop, that would indicate he wasn’t anything more than he presented himself as.
“You didn’t happen to meet or hear tell of anyone meeting a Magistrate of Judge named Apelles by any chance?”
“There are many such Priests of Judge to be encountered, not all magistrates of course, but they all seem to dress the same, so it tends to be difficult to tell one from the other!”
“This one you would remember, he would have announced his name and his father’s name and his town, declare himself a Magistrate and then tell you what is best for you.” she smiled.
“There were none so obvious, certainly I didn’t meet such a Priest and one such as I tend to overhear about unusual visitors from others and none of them spoke of such a Priest.”
“Thanks and here is another reward for the conversation and your time wasted talking to me instead of working for your supper.” replied Charis as she threw him another coin.
“Keos the Bard will always be at your service generous lady. My reputation is widely known in the Duchy and a message left for me at any reputable Inn will reach me in good time. My next stop next month will be Bircharbor if you happen to be there.” He bowed and then went to seek another patron.
So at least, if the Bard was to be believed, the Magistrate did not venture east and to the coast. He could not have ventured north as there isn’t anything there except some villages. South is the city and Charis thought that is where their task would take them, so wouldn’t expect the Magistrate to go there himself. So west perhaps, although it was only a guess really, it would depend upon what the Scribe knew and more importantly what he was willing to tell.
---
The Scribe was busy with another interruption so that was a mixed blessing thought Otonia. At least they didn’t have to get his attention, but then they would need to wait until he was finished. Otonia arranged for Dione to close the shop door and draw the blind to indicate the shop wasn’t open when they were alone with the Scribe so they wouldn’t suffer any further interruptions.
“It will be ready Sir by the first day of the Month of Law, you have my word on it!” and then the shop was empty and Dione went into action.
“What are you doing good lady? It is morning, I am not closed yet?”
“We need a quiet, uninterrupted word Master Scribe.” To ensure he understood and acquired the correct urgency, Otonia placed one of her knives under his nose.
“There is no need for violence, I am an old man, I need to sit down as you have put quite a fright into me.” He felt behind him for his stool and once sure he sat down in some relief.
“Do you remember us? We weren’t dressed as ladies last time. We asked about some name changes on some documents.”
“Yes, I remember, I did the work and haven’t asked for my favour as yet, which is most fortunate, because I have one.”
Otonia and Dione looked at each other, not really knowing how to respond as this wasn’t in the plan. So they did the only thing they could in the circumstances and heard him out.
“You must understand that my business is tolerated by the Temples because they do not wish to be bothered by all sorts of petty works, they are transcribing their God’s words. The Magistrate of Judge in particular protects me, for some information he ensures the other Temples don’t interfere too much.”
Dione was about to say or yell ‘I know’, when Otonia lightly touched her arm and shook her head ever so slightly.
“Over the years our arrangement has developed into a polite friendship and when times permits we battle with our minds playing an ancient game called chess. I acquired a description of the game and in fascination asked a woodcarver to create the pieces and the playing board. It was displayed for many months and then upon one visit the Magistrate asked about it, so I shared a copy of the description of the game with him. A few months passed and then he wondered if we could try to play. Since then he has been an on again and off again fairly regular visitor, which is when our friendship started.”
He reached for a cup and took a swallow.
“I have not seen him now for over a month, I made an allowance for the ceremony, he would have been busy then that is for sure, but twenty-one days is way too long to be absent. I fear something most foul has happened. I haven’t made any enquires at the Temple because what could I do with the information anyway and I doubt they would talk to me. Then I thought of our arrangement and was about to send for you. So that begs the question, why are you at my shop, closing it and waving a knife around?” He eyed them both suspiciously.
“We are also looking for the Magistrate; he is a friend of ours of sorts. We did not know he was a friend of yours also, so we thought we may have need of threats for you to help us. Being so close to the Temples we thought you may know or have seen something, failing that we were going to use your shop to spy on the Temples to see if any information could be gained that way?” answered Otonia, satisfied that her words would satisfy most of his questioning.
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“So it seems we have a common purpose then. Given that, I don’t need to call in my favour, instead I can help you with information that will see our mutual friend the Magistrate found. Are we agreed?”
“Certainly.” answered Otonia and Dione in unison, actually very relieved things turned out as well as they have. Although this did mean they still owed him a favour didn’t it?
“I will start by asking his favoured Judge Knight Aspirant. I will need to be very careful they don’t like being asked questions because they are trained to following orders. Speaking words to them is usually a way of getting themselves into trouble as only the Priests speak. I will send word to your Inn when I have anything useful. If you don’t hear anything in a few days, visit me again as I may need some more direct assistance.”
“Thanks, we will await your message.”
“Oh I just thought of something. Next month is the Month of Law, we could be favoured! It is only two days hence. Most fortunate as it is one of Judge’s favoured months. Now please restore my shop to being open and leave as subtly as possible so the Temple Guards don’t mark you for both our sakes.”
Before Dione left she couldn’t resist asking another question.
“How do you tell the Judge Knight Aspirants apart, they all look the same?”
“They have a mark on their armour, near the neck. It just denotes 1st favoured, 2nd favoured and so on, so if one of them dies, for example, you need to find out where the real person is in the count, but until then you can at least be fairly sure you are talking to the same one you have previously spoken to. It makes them very difficult to bribe or acquire information from as you can never be absolutely sure you are talking to the one you think you are. I don’t think the Priests like it either but it is one of their God’s Instructions so they have no choice.”
“Thanks, I think that was helpful.” replied Dione slightly mystified.
Otonia and Dione were nearer to the Inn than Temple Street when they realised they did not ask the Scribe about night seeing. They would have to explain to Charis, they couldn’t go back again on the same day, most times you visited the scribe and then you returned after days, not a few bells. The decided to return to the Inn and change out of their dresses as their next destination wouldn’t appreciate them.
---
As the Bard walked away, Charis thought there goes at least one soul who seemed happy with his lot in life. She already confirmed with herself though being alone was not for her. She needed to wait most of the morning before the Bard left the Inn. She then approached the Innkeeper at the bar.
“Do you know who has the biggest collection of books or scrolls of knowledge hereabouts?”
“That is an odd question from a young one. Aren’t you all about getting out there and not staying indoors reading old scrolls?”
“Usually, but to get out there more I need a little knowledge and some knowledge can only be found in books it seems.”
“Only the Temples have a good quantity of books. It would help if there was a specific subject as your answer could be in a smaller more exacting collection. Are you able to tell an old Innkeeper?”
“What you are really asking is if I trust the man I am talking to are you not?”
“Yes, as with most things it comes down to trust and if you don’t have that then there is not much of a foundation to build anything else on I would say.”
“I learnt the same from another old and wise man, who I dearly hope is still alive, my father. So where to begin? Accept that both Otonia and Dione have survived where they shouldn’t have. They were taken at night by two men that are now dead. These men we able to abduct both of them in the dark of night with little it seems difficulty. I need to know how and if it is possible for others to acquire this way?” asked Charis.
“Oh. That I didn’t expect to hear! I don’t think I am the correct person you should be asking and I will explain it this way. In a town an Inn relies on patrons, usually regular patrons who talk to their friends sharing town gossip or news, unless it is some big out of town gossip or news or we host some unusual guests like you that are willing to talk. An Inn in a village tends to have fewer regular patrons and so rely most on the travellers who come in with new gossip or news from wherever they have been. If there aren’t many travellers then there isn’t much to tell. You need to speak to someone like the Bard that was here this morning. He travels from town to town via every village in between, he hears all that people are willing to tell him and if people know of people that can see in the black of night and they are willing to tell someone, all you need is for that someone to tell a traveller.”
“So I should have taken him up on his offer to escort me around town to allow him to keep me entertained then!”
“I am not suggesting that lass, but it is probably worthwhile talking to him again before you go asking anyone else. You should probably not ask at any Temples either as seeing in the dark isn’t a sign that you are a good person in their eyes, if you excuse my little pun there!” he laughed as he finished.
“Some men are old and some men are old and wise, thank you good sir for your advice.” Charis finished off with a slight bow.
“I have been an Innkeeper all my life, as my father before me and his before him, listening to people all day every day allows you to gather all sorts of wisdom! Now be on your way, I have been diluting your cups, so you are still able to walk as I knew when your sisters left you needed to complete your own part today.”
“I was wondering why they were being proffered so cheaply, I thought you were treating me!”
She could chase the Bard from Inn to Inn or just wait for him to turn up tomorrow after she broke her fast. If she waited that would allow her to visit the arena and see what weapon she should learn that will possibly help her live a little longer and that could only be a good thing.
---
Otonia and Dione approached the arena with caution after yesterday and were relieved when the weapon noise they heard was from sparring and not life or death combat.
The Gate Captain greeted them and they discussed what they needed and waited for him to choose a weapon he thought most suitable. He reached the conclusion that the spear would be the easiest for both of them, specifically the two handed spear. Against a charging beast or man it could be set and the strength of the opponent would be used against them. Also while on the road Astera could further their training as she was very competent in its use, which is why they have been training her to use spear and shield for protection against opponents that don’t always charge at you.
When asked about the sword, he replied it was a good weapon but really needed a great amount of training to master and to further complicate things it was made in many lengths, many weights and each tended to be used in its own style. He did not think they would be in town long enough. He consoled them somewhat by introducing them to the sling. When they looked doubtful he asked one of his men to release a few stones. They stung the wall of the arena and left a couple of pock marks in the stone facing. While you preferred to use pellets, if you ran out of them you could sometimes find something just as good on the ground, like stones, unlike a bow which was useless once all of its arrows were released he informed them.
They both started drilling with the spear, sparring was still a long while off given this was the first time either of them actually held a spear. When they were tired from that they practised with the sling, which was more about holding a strong balanced centre and twirling the sling to produce the force behind the stone when it was released. There was little success and little control of direction to begin with. Through all this Astera took on her three opponents, one at a time so they were as fresh as possible with spear and shield. The others were sparring with each other, to the relief of Astera.
It was near middle of the day as five bells just sounded, Charis arrived carrying two large baskets of fresh food and drink, picnic style for all. The Gate Captain looked on and appreciated the gesture, the soldiers defiantly did! Otonia and Dione took the opportunity for a break, while without opponents to spar against Astera also stopped to eat and drink.
“We have been doing basic drills with the two handed spear and introducing Otonia and Dione to the sling. They have their own preferences for ranged attack so the sling is just a backup that can be readily practiced. What did you have in mind for yourself Charis?”
“I am proficient in the bow, since I was old enough to walk it seems, I can hold a dagger, I don’t believe I have any special skill in it, so perhaps the two handed spear is also going to be my weapon as well.”
“It is probably best as Astera is proficient in its use and can continue any training when you next rest or stop for some time. I would also say at the rate she is learning spear and shield she could at least be able to drill anyone in the basics of that combination also.” said the Gate Captain.
“High praise indeed Captain! I salute you Astera, well done!” As did they all, following Charis’ lead. Astera felt like hiding under a rock but there were none, only sand. She went bright red, which was noticeable now since her exertions from sparring had faded. As all noticed, her face turned the more red. Charis went to her and hugged her.
“You are all you promised to be and more, sister. Rejoice in acknowledgement of your efforts and hard work!” she whispered.
With the middle day meal consumed by all, Otonia and Dione approached Charis before the spear drill started.
“We didn’t get to ask the Scribe about dark seeing, somehow it just didn’t come up and we were away from his shop before we realised. We can go back tomorrow or perhaps the next day? We don’t want to visit the Scribe too often.” confessed Otonia.
“It may be for the best anyway, we will talk more tonight.” replied Charis.
“We thought you would be at least annoyed with us, forgetting such a simple task.” offered Dione.
“It is something easily corrected if needs be so no great matter. We will talk tonight; lead me to this sparring I feel like stabbing something even if it is just air!”
As they walked to their mark the Gate Captain approached them.
“I have been considering your large sling bullets, Otonia. Against the unarmoured assassin yesterday they dropped him very quickly, but I think I have another use after seeing Dione rope the other one and reminded that they are based upon the sling bullet. Something I hope that could bring someone down regardless of their armour.” He paused to see if there was some interest and seeing they were at least listening, he continued.
“Can I borrow two please, although you may not get them back if I destroy them in my attempt to make them into something else?”
Otonia took out two from her belt and handed them to him.
“I can ask for another couple to be made easy enough. The Blacksmith was amused the first time so it will humour him again I would say.” The Gate Captain smiled and waved as he left with them.
All sweated on the sand. The Gate Captain and his Guards quickly left the sand as dusk approached leaving Charis, Otonia and Dione staring at them as they did so.
“Time to cool off now sisters.” announced Astera.
Her sisters looked at her and it was obvious the “cool off” words sounded good and then Astera started to run away from them. They stared and caught the sight of the Gate Captain laughing as he briskly walked away through the Team Rooms tunnel tossing the two large bullets Otonia gave him like a juggler that he wasn’t.
It was then that Astera called to them to fall in behind her. Reluctantly they did although at that point Otonia and Dione looked pleadingly at Charis to pull rank and stop this silliness, but she didn’t.
Charis actually used the time to think. It was a balance between breathing and pacing, not fast enough to run out of breath but fast enough to keep pace with Astera who actually slowed as each lap was run. She considered Otonia. Charis realised that Otonia was the elder, although weren’t they equal, always equal? Didn’t both Otonia and Dione defer to her on the road south? Was it time to ask them for fealty, then she laughed within, airs and graces and who made her a Lord to even think those thoughts. Friends were best and she would just need to request more rather than order perhaps.
As they entered the Inn they noticed some of the patrons lean away from them, they still smiled though even if it was awkwardly as they were looking at the Ladies Three. Charis took the hint, they paused to smell each other and Charis turned them around and they headed for the bathhouse.
They returned to the Inn for the evening meal, which was consumed with gusto by all. When the Innkeeper enquired if seconds would be in order Astera spoke for them all to decline the offer, they were in training apparently. Not even Charis knew until just then, but it seemed like Astera was in charge this time. Slightly disappointed, except for Astera of course, they trudged upstairs to their room.
All, except Astera of course flopped on the bed very tired. She tried to make them comfortable by way of apology. Charis for her part placed a hand on Otonia and Dione and made the effort to console them and promised they would soon feel better and tomorrow would be better.
“Well I guess we wait to hear from the Scribe. I will try to meet the Bard again in the morning, while you three enjoy your training and I will join you as soon as I can.” she smiled.
“Don’t worry sisters, my mistress will have make-ups while we travel, I will make sure of it!”
Charis smiled at the promise and Astera laughed in return.
“I am glad we changed out of our dresses before we went to training, even though we sparred it would have become a real challenge when you ordered us to run around the arena.” quipped Dione.
“Yes tomorrow we will, outrun and outlast Astera for sure!” replied Otonia.
“I will enjoy the challenge sisters.”
“I wonder what four competent women can do to earn some money while we wait? We aren’t poor, but we can’t afford the coin to take a bath after each training, especially if our next move is days away.” said Charis.
“Perhaps you could use your influence with the Innkeeper to see if a bath of sorts could be made available to his favourite patrons?” suggested Dione.
“It doesn’t hurt to ask, I will mention it tomorrow as I await the Bard. Now I think we all need sleep.” As she looked over to the bed Astera and Otonia were already comfortable and sleeping.