They made their way down a game trail amongst light bushes, heading towards the stream and the trees and thicker and plentiful bushes which lined it. Charis glanced back often to make sure everyone was keeping as low as possible. She also heard some screams and yelling back at the camp.

“How do you know where to go?” asked the Lord, suspicion in his voice.

“Unlike yourself we prepare, we don’t assume our decisions are always the right one. We have pre-scouted and pre-marked this trail. Well my warrior-sisters did as I couldn’t leave the camp.”

Charis paused to do a count as they passed her, the Lord, two of his servants, three of his men at arms and the two children rescued by Helice.

They reached the stream, without pursuit. The noise from the camp either stopped or was too low and far away to be heard. Charis decided she needed to ask the Lord for a direction choice to try and include him in the decision making process.

“Lord, we have plotted courses for up the stream and down the stream, we didn’t believe heading straight for the city would be wise as that was too obvious. One will return us to the road, the other further away from everything and everyone. What is your command?”

“I, well, um, I would think far away from everyone and everything, once we have dawn we will be able to fight back and even walking we will make the city by the end of the day.”

“Away from everyone and everything it is. Follow Dione as she scouted this trail.”

“What is happening at the camp?” asked Charis

“Dione said the horses were still tethered including hers, the raiders were spreading out searching, mostly towards the city,” replied Helice.

“Let’s follow and ensure no one strays from the path.”

They kept up a decent pace for blind people leading blind people, a hand on the shoulder of the one walking in front of them, although the stream on one side ensured no one strayed too far from the game trail. With everyone else in front of her she set alerts behind them at intervals to detect if anyone was following them directly. It was dawn when the first alert signalled her. Charis was secretly relieved as they managed a significant lead on those hunting them, even if the pace was a constant slow!

“Helice, ask Alcmene to contact the Seers and ask for a message to be sent to the city and find out if a patrol from the city could meet them along the stream? Advise them the Lord is with them. Make sure they came across this information in a vision, possibly from Rhea!”

Charis then headed to the front of the line and as she approached Dione, Charis whispered to her to release her horse and as many others as possible to discover if they would follow the stallion in a wide circle to meet them. Dione smiled, she always seemed happiest when working with her stallion thought Charis.

With dawn just gone the Lord insisted on a rest. Charis agreed, not that she was going to say no to him! The children’s condition was also a concern, both distressed and quietly whimpering, Helice trying to console them. They were still under cover beside the stream, so they drank fresh water and Dione shared some cold rations with them all. Charis pushed through the foliage to observe what if anything was beyond the tree line. All Charis could sight were fields upon fields of mature corn, no movement and no people. May be it was time to circle back towards the city. She would check with the Lord first though, she smiled to herself.

“Lord, we’re probably far enough away from the ambush to start heading towards the city, do you agree?”

“Yes.” he replied, short and sharp as he slapped at an insect of some sort.

Charis rounded everybody up, the Lord last and suggested he lead off as was proper in the circumstances. She asked Dione about her horse and he was making excellent time and leading a few of the other horses with him. They should discover the herd soon. Helice let her know there were some questions about children and were any with them? Charis thought for a while and advised Helice to let whoever was asking know a couple of children accompanied them, although she wondered how a vision would reveal the information and she needed to trust Rhea to convince those asking. Still it did mean someone valued them, which contrasted with the Lord’s lack of concern for them when his life was on the line.

They heard the horses then. She asked Dione to make a bit of a show so they didn’t just line up for the Lord and his men, especially her stallion. Eventually the Lord and his men at arms were mounted. The Lord didn’t seem concerned when his men failed to capture the black stallion, which evaded all their attempts. Dione concluded that being black it wasn’t considered noble.

“I hold you to your oath Charis the Young; we will meet in the city. I ride ahead to announce our arrival.”

“What of your servant and the two children Lord?” asked Charis

“I leave them to your care, my servant will ensure you don’t make an escape and present yourself as soon as possible to the City Guard when you arrive.” Then he turned his horse and was off, leading his men at arms and servant.

“It seems his safety is more important than any others. Why are you still his servant? How did the children come to be with him?” asked Charis not expecting an answer to either question.

“I have served My Lord for five years, been faithful to do his bidding and loyal. I am honoured he entrusted me to ensure you hold to your oath.”

The children upon hearing his speech didn’t volunteer any information.

Dione drew Charis away from them all.

“I can call my horse back and we could at least ensure the children are away safely?”

“No we will stay together, although have your stallion circle wide. There should be a city patrol searching for us by now and there might be a chance we’re still being sought after by the raiders.”

“Yes Mistress.”

Charis rounded up the party and they headed back through the bush and trees to the stream and under cover, as she expected the patrol from the city to follow the stream. At dusk they made a cold camp much to the disgust of the Lord’s Servant. Charis asked Helice to check on what was happening, especially the patrol. She was told the Lord insisted on being escorted to the city by the patrol and another would be sent out the next day for them. She took some moments to compose herself as the news was not supposed to be known by them and her reaction would have been suspicious.

“Why are we not at the city? Why are we further up this stream and moving away from the City? Are you trying to escape?” shouted the Servant.

Charis just punched him in the stomach. Everyone was shocked. She then walked away and perched on the edge of a dead log to plan, given the latest information.

They would have to make their own way to the city and one of the best ways would be back along the stream to the main road, surely the raiders wouldn’t expect them to double back? It would also ensure they didn’t become lost amongst farmer’s fields.

+++

In the morning Charis stated the plan, no discussion was entered into. She asked Dione to call in her horse and gallop it in front of them along the path they would be taking beside the stream. The children complained to each other and they thought she didn’t hear them. She couldn’t blame them, as the adults in their lives so far weren’t exactly caring for them or worried about them.

Dione and Helice walked with them and tried to cheer the children as best they could. The servant just derided their efforts. They are children what say do they have in the world, being his opinion.

Charis checked with Dione to confirm her stallion was alone in the Lord’s camp before allowing them all to return to it. Dione also let her Mistress know about a tent the children could stay in to avoid most of the dead bodies and blood.

Although dusk was upon them, enough sunlight remained to reveal the dead. The dead still lay where they fell, most in the guard tents and more in the Lord’s tent and they were starting to smell. Charis noted the livery and armour from most of the men at arms was removed, so perhaps the Lord was still in danger. It would also explain the lack of pursuit by the raiders.

Charis asked the servant and the children to strike the best tent, no bodies and no blood near it to traumatise them and to keep them busy. The servant actually assisted without complaint. A couple of horses were still tethered so Helice moved them to the stream and cared for them as they suffered from severe dehydration, the ground around them devoid of any vegetation, so likely hungry as well.

Charis and Dione started to collect the dead bodies with the aid of her horse and piled them upon the camp’s fire pit.

“Mistress I have found an ideal campsite by the stream, so I will lead the servant and children to it so they can pitch the tent for tonight.” sent Helice.

Charis used her frustration about not being able to communicate Seer-like with Helice to shout in her mind’s eye “YES” and hoped.

“I felt your emotion Mistress, it will be done.”

Charis and Dione finished with the bodies and then added most of the goods and chattels from the tents, including the tents themselves. Then they fired the pit and called it a pyre. Charis didn’t have the time or energy to sort those deserving from those undeserving so they would all face Jury and she could decide upon the fate of their souls. Her words spoken over the pyre apologising to them as it was the best they could do. She didn’t take any eyes either in case she guessed wrong. No one deserved to walk blindly in life, let alone forever in death unless proven evil. She felt the pyre was safe, after all who on the run would advertise where they were to their pursuers, so it must be a patrol or others dealing with the dead.

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Charis took the opportunity to set some alerts by the stream as she approached their new camp site. Dione, Helice, the children and the servant were gathered around a discrete camp fire eating what was left of their meagre provisions when Charis arrived. They were here to be away from death and blood and in case someone investigated the pyre overnight.

The servant and children appreciated the hint of civilisation and were soon asleep inside the tent.

Dione, after grooming the horses let Charis know the rescued horses weren’t fit to be ridden for now; although given time and care they should recover their health and condition.

+++

They broke their fast with the last of the cheese and stale bread. Under the guise of grooming one of the horses the Lord’s Servant leapt upon its back and rode it towards the city, shouting back he was sure they would follow him soon enough. Charis was happy to be rid of him now she suspected the raiders were working on another plan. She asked Helice to let their friends know they would be walking to the city using the main road.

It would also allow her some time to chat to the children. It took a bit of entertaining and laughter, to relax them enough to answer some questions. Helice stole some of the simpler troupe tricks from Otonia by connecting with Alcmene to learn them. The boy was being squired and educated by the Lord; he was a third son of a minor Baron, no one special, which is why the Lord abandoned him to her care. The girl was being escorted to Parium, when the Lord became interested in Charis, so she was now overdue to arrive in the city.

They reached the City Gates and were not stopped, checked or in any way asked the reason for their visit or if they have any business in the city. Charis was amazed, they weren’t required to surrender their weapons or asked to stable their horses. While Dione, Helice and Charis presented reasonably well attired and fit, the children were not, in fact they appeared bedraggled and unkempt. Given the horses were allowed to accompany them they left the two children on Dione’s stallion to reduce the amount of walking they still needed to do.

They made it to the first reasonable looking Inn – The Weary Pony, which seemed to fit their situation. The horses were stabled and the children led up to a room. Helice agreed to sleep in the room with them, while Charis and Dione took a separate room. They raced to the common room, the children laughing and eager to enjoy the best meal to be eaten by them in over five days. Charis explained to the children they would ask for directions to the Duke’s Castle, which shouldn’t be difficult to find, in the morning. More important would be a hearty meal and a restful night’s sleep. She was rewarded with a smile from both of them.

+++

In the morning they broke their fast, paid the Innkeeper and collected their two horses. The Innkeeper advised them to find for the main street and follow it to the middle of the city and ask the Guard to gain entry to Duke’s Castle, which dominated the middle of the city. They placed the children on Dione’s horse like the previous day, although they were now more animated and couldn’t stop asking questions, which no one knew the answers to. Charis found a main street easily as the Inn wasn’t far from one. They followed it to the centre of the city; the number of people here intimidated Charis. Dione and Helice weren’t comfortable either. To the children this was an adventure; back in civilisation, safe with much to see and do.

As they approached the Main Gate of the Castle, they looked up and up. They didn’t imagine a stone wall could be this high and still remain standing.

“State your business!” yelled the Guard at the Gate, watched on by a number of his company.

“I am Charis the Young, Honoured prisoner of the Lord of the Northern Watch and called to the City of Parium to be judged by the Duke.”

Her loud announcement compelled their attention and one was sent into the Castle to report their arrival. As they waited, a number of citizens gathered around them, showing interest all of a sudden in these strangers, which suited Charis. The Guard called them into the Gatehouse and commanded the others to move the crowd on. Charis wanted to make sure the news of her arrival would be common knowledge so she couldn’t vanish without people knowing she did so after visiting the Castle and the Duke.

Only one approached Charis, Dione, Helice and the children. He was a Judge Knight for sure, what grade Charis did not know, she could never tell, by some religious design they all appeared alike. The Guards deferred to him immediately and with great respect. He was encased in impressive and expensive plate mail armour and while not an expert on armour Charis could still appreciate fine workmanship after observing her father at the forge for so many years. Charis was impressed by the wealth on display and was surprised this armoured guard wore a sword at his side and a shield on his back and not more impressive weapons, like a two handed great sword.

“I am the Judge Knight of the Dukedom; you will follow me now please.” It was more of a command than an invitation. He did not wait to be obeyed, it was just expected. The guards returned to their duty. Charis wanted to bolt to test their respective actions; she managed to supressed the childish thought though, maybe for another time.

Charis, Dione and Helice strode through the Main Wall Gate with the children on Dione’s stallion following behind. They followed the stone roadway, which dissected a region mostly covered in grass. Then another stone wall, this one less formidable than the Main Wall. The Gate in this wall was around from the first Gate so any siege engines would need to be re-positioned. Through this Gate, which was also guarded, they continued to follow. The Judge Knight asked no questions, made no comment and was making them follow him because he expected them to, still.

Inside these walls sat many buildings with many purposes, including barracks and stables for many men at arms, blacksmiths, leatherworkers and other trades. Behind the inner wall and placed in the centre; stood the most majestic and foreboding Castle of the Duke. The guards at the main entrance stood aside as the Judge Knight led them in. Their horses were taken by retainers and the children continued, walking with Charis.

The Judge Knights footfalls clanked upon the stone and it was the only sound Charis heard. They were led through a maze of hallways and past many different rooms. Eventually they were asked to wait in one of them. Food was set before them as well as drinks and surprisingly the children were still with them. Then they waited. There were no windows in the room, so the lanterns continued to provide the only light and no dusk to measure the day going by. It was comfortably fitted out, so not a prison cell in the truest sense; however they weren’t allowed to leave it without company.

Finally the door opened and the Duke’s Retainer presented himself.

“Please follow me; you are now going to present yourselves to the Duke.”

“We’re hardly in a condition to be presented, we have been on the trail for days, running for our lives!” stated Charis

The retainer glanced back at Charis ignoring her plea and signalled them to follow. The Throne Room was not far and they stopped before closed double doors. The guards at the door knocked twice and then they were opened by unseen hands from inside the room.

Charis expected to see the Duke, all she saw was a trail of carpet which turned right and left, where she thought the Duke would be sitting. A retainer within the Throne Room announced her.

“Charis the Young, Honourable prisoner of the Lord of the Northern March presents herself to the Duke, Ruler of the Duchy of Parium.” The retainer with her then indicated she should follow the carpet and turn right. Charis was first, with the boy on her right and the girl on her left, behind them walked Dione and Helice.

Charis strode in with her head held level; she did not gawk although tempted to do so, as she aimed for dignity. Following the bright red carpet into the room she did not observe the Duke until she turned right and appraised him seated on his throne.

The Duke reminded Charis of Halius, same amber eyes, and clean shaven square jaw with his face framed by feint full eyebrows. His eyebrows, being the lightest of brown, probably should have its own colour name, given how far from brown the colour actually appeared to be, imagined Charis. This all suggested his blood line was and still is extremely pure, if not more so than the Lord of the Northern Watch’s blood line.

Charis needed to shrug off this false familiarity, the Duke wasn’t Halius. To accomplish this she looked at his bright red royal hair, plentiful, shoulder length.

A vacant throne to his left, on his right stood the Judge Knight. She thought it could be the same one. No one else could easily protect the Duke from harm and there couldn’t be two sets of armour like the one she witnessed could there? She wondered where the carpet to the left would take her. Random distracting thoughts, Charis admonished herself.

The girl bowed before the Duke as the boy knelt on one knee. Charis followed the girl’s lead, only noticing in time, previously lost in her own thoughts, remembering Halius. Dione and Helice followed Charis’ lead.

“First things first, I thank you for the safe delivery of the children, they are important to me and I am gladdened to see them healthy and well after their ordeal.” At flourish of the hand from the Duke and the retainer currently with them, quickly led them away.

“I am impressed. Given multiple opportunities you were determined to present yourself to me.” He lent forward slightly. “I have many who are advocating on your behalf my girl,” he flashed his teeth, “I find it remarkable one so young has many petitioning me to release you, innocent of all charges.”

He stood up then and stepped down from the dais his impressive throne was on and strolled around the warrior-sisters placing his hands behind his back. He did not ask a question so Charis did not make a comment. They still were equipped with their weapons and he was within reach of them! Charis was mildly shocked and trying to cover any signs of it.

“My Lord of the Northern March on the other hand is utterly convinced you are an agent of the ancient enemy and I should strike you down!” he finished. He ambled back to his throne smiling to himself; he revelled in being the Duke!

“No comment no offer of defence on your behalf, no plea?”

“I am what I do, not what I say or others say about me.” answered Charis.

“What do you do Charis the Young?”

“I try to treat all I meet as fairly as possible. I try to assist others where I can. I try to be generous in deed, favour and coin when I can afford to be.”

“This must work well for you. I bare witness to the determination, the watchfulness and dedication of the two with you. I would suggest the heartbeat any of my men at arms tried to kill you those two would fling themselves at them to try and save you. Yes their eyes have narrowed and they are ready to spring. Hold loyal followers of Charis, I wish her no harm,” he paused, “at this time.”

While Dione and Helice would like to trust the Duke they only relaxed slightly.

“I will admit to you I find it difficult to reconcile all the stories I have been told about you with the girl standing before me. Well are you named Charis the Young, although I surmise a better name would be Charis the Mystery?” He raised his voice as he finished.

The final words must have been a signal of some sort as a number of retainers entered the room and at another wave of his hand they escorted the warrior-sisters from the Throne Room. All bowed as they left and then turned to walk back along the red carpet.

“We will continue our conversation tomorrow, unfortunately with much more yelling I suspect.” said the Duke as they were walking away.

Once the warrior-sisters were escorted from his presence the Duke then turned towards the Judge Knight, resting one leg over the arm of his throne, very relaxed! The room belonged to them alone.

“What do you make of our guest then?”

“She is not evil. I did not sense or detect such on her or her companions. She says few words and would rather be judged by her actions, which is a pleasant change from most of your court. You can often discern much about the leader from the actions and loyalty of those who follow them and the two with her were prepared to die for her.”

“I am surprised you managed to utter so many words! Was that a speech from you? I sense you admire her don’t you! One meeting and she has won you over, incredible. Two miracles, so I best pray so I receive the third.”

The Judge Knight considered speaking further and then thought better of it. He was not prone to much speech as the Duke well knew, so what was said was enough.

“Now you go silent again!” he bellowed, his voice echoing around the empty Throne Room!

Under his helm, unseen, the Judge Knight’s lips turn up slightly in a minute smile.