The struggle and muffled screaming stopped as one, the girl’s bright green eyes darting from Dirce to Drosis to Otonia and finally settling on Otonia’s bared knife. Her initial fear dissolving when the woman sheathed her knife, then a mystery awoke within her, who were these three women, they surely can’t be with the pig of a Priest and would they free her? Rescue her?

“You are safe. The creature that captured you is now dead.” Otonia softly told her, squatting on her haunches to pull the gag down from the girl’s mouth.

“I am free? He is dead? That animal is dead?” Her questioning ending in sobs, her tears creating tracks on her dirt covered face.

“Yes, and you are amongst friends, we will help you if we can.” Otonia reached over, slowly with her knife, first to cut the rope around her legs and then her wrists. The girl rubbed her wrists with her opposing hands and then her ankles. As she stood or tried to stand Otonia helped her and after putting her knife back in her belt, she untied the gag and threw it on the pyre nearby.

The girl followed the arch of the throw and startled herself as she recognised his fur cloak. The woman who freed her from her bonds then rewarded her with the longest hug. Patient, allowing her to cry out her tears.

“Do you have a home? A family?” asked Drosis, handing the girl stale bread and water.

“Yes, taken from my family’s farm near Clayvale maybe four or five nights ago. It is difficult to tell when you are rolled up in a rug and only released at night. So, you should probably burn the rug as well. I have despoiled it, sorry.”

After the tension and the unknown they all laughed and once she realised, they were laughing with her, she managed a smile as well, which lifted her spirits somewhat. She hid her face behind the bread, nibbling not realising her hunger, sipping at the water pacing herself, no one would harm anyone while they ate, would they? Women surrounded her, all women, not a man in sight, somehow, she felt safer brave enough to take bigger bites of her bread and gulp down her water. Then, the strangest thing, she noticed most were her age or slightly older, who were these confident women, armed and armoured and prepared to slay evil.

They introduced themselves, satisfied to watch her eat and as she finished, she noticed their posture change. Not from fear or trepidation; their shoulders straightened, their chins raised slightly and while they didn’t smile their eyes blazed with fierce loyalty and respect as another woman joined them. She noticed instantly, deference by all of them regardless of age or any other criteria she could think of, to this new arrival. They all bowed their heads quickly to varying degrees as she passed by, until she stood before her. This woman wasn’t the tallest or the shortest of those gathered around her, although taller than her, so she needed to look up slightly.

Her hair full, slightly curly at the ends and a deep dark soil brown, like well nourish farming land she thought, her farmer father would have been envious and keen to plant in it if not hair. Her face slim in an exotic beautiful way, longish neck, revealed when she removed her helm. Her ears, the shape of the silver extensions, goblins spoke of them in awe and fear. She trembled unknowingly. The armour she wore and her one, a second skin skilfully crafted solely for her use and she moved effortlessly, there were no glimpses of flesh, dedicated armour, to help the wearer survive combat, blatantly obvious to even a backwards farm girl like her, knowing it to be true. She finally spied the bow, exotic, the deep dark brown wood to match her hair and the goblins whispered about this weapon, afraid any louder mention would call its death upon them.

She dropped to one knee, like she witnessed so many before do at the village fair when a lord or knight rarely visited as a special guest. Although this woman existed beyond rank and titles, she didn’t demand respect, her followers freely gave it. She didn’t demand lordship; her followers freely followed her. Mesmerised by her presence, her own nakedness eventually dawned upon her, although it didn’t seem to matter in a company of women. With determination she refused to try and cover her sex and breasts with her hands, rising naked and unashamed of her body.

“So, do we return you home? Dawn is upon us, although the weather will be a little harsh for some time yet.”

The woman seemed to be thinking allowed and after so long captive the girl decided to voice her preference, regardless of the consequences, certain death wouldn’t be one of them, which she feared for the past several days.

“No, I would like to stay if I could? At least until Death Season is over, I don’t want to face the cold again just yet.” She felt a fur land gently around her shoulders and fall down her back. She quickly grabbed the edges, so it wrapped around her, now aware of her goose bumps. She nodded at her gift giver in thanks.

“Well you can’t stay down here. You would most likely be in the way and may possibly be killed or cause one of my sisters to be killed trying to save you. I am also not sure if you can be taken elsewhere for reasons I don’t need to explain, so what do you suggest I do with you?”

This woman’s directness surprised her, no ums and arghs, to the point.

“I, well I, will not be any trouble, I will do exactly what I am told. I am grateful to you and your sisters for my life, so I will repay that debt as best I can, just name your price. I don’t know what else to say.”

“Do you know anything about the man who captured you?” Charis asked.

“Once he captured me, he named me virgin without inspecting me, which pleased him as he smiled like he was about to feast on a good meal. He let me out of the rug occasionally so I could do my business, eat and drink a little before being wrapped back in the rug. I don’t know much else.”

“From the camp over there, he and the previous one, liked blood, plenty of blood. I suspect they used it to make their magic work. I wonder how many they have murdered and how many have now been unknowingly saved because those two are now dead.” Charis drifted off into a little self-thought and then realised she still needed to decide on the girl before her.

Picking up on the silence as probably not a good thing she decided that to remain silent wouldn’t help her.

“Mistress, I could tend and care for the horses, our farm used several. I could also prepare meals if given some basic supplies. I would stay out of the way and hide behind the horses if needed so I wouldn’t put anyone in any danger, I am used to sleeping in the barn with them and so it would be no different.” The last a small lie, when she displeased her father, he would send her to the barn.

“Yes, adequate for now. At any sign of danger, you hide behind the horses. If any of the sisters give you an instruction you obey without hesitation, understand?”

“Yes Mistress. Thank-you Mistress.” The girl curtsied as best she could.

“Go see Astera and tend the horses. We will have some clothes for you shortly as well and some boots.”

“Thank you.”

“Wait!” called Charis.

She slowly turned back, humming nervously, did she do something, did the Mistress pick out her small lie?

“When did you last bleed?” asked Charis.

What? Why is that important? Do they need a sacrifice? Terror laced across her eyes as she failed to answer.

“I can’t explain but don’t be a feared. I need to know for your protection,” explained Charis.

“When taken, did my bleeding attract the pig of a man?”

“Clever girl, yes. If regular, then you will bleed again in five weeks’ time, last week of Fate Month?” Charis raised a questioning eyebrow.

“Yes Mistress.”

As she walked off, Charis wondered if she truly would be thankful, many weeks of Death Season remained and probably many visitors as well, so danger would be ever constant. Unfortunately, it would not end with Death Season and probably increase as the more subtle threats would visit on the way to somewhere else. Well at least two farm girls would have something to talk about Charis thought. As she turned to walk back up to the Inner Cavern, she noticed the first water starting to flow in the water carriers, so at least the horses and the humans for that matter; would have water readily available. One problem solved at least, as she silently thanked the elder. Charis hearing the cheering echoing from the Inner Cavern realised her sisters welcomed the water also.

Charis still felt guilt, her plans for Death Season waylaid. The sisters were meant to be preparing and training, not worried by visitors and protecting a dark dank cavern. A cavern more vital to the town, unimportant to them if they left, which otherwise bound them to the one location.

“We are not far away Mistress. Are you able to meet us?” sent Zosime.

“Yes sister, and if you haven’t been told yet, we have a tale to tell!”

Their arrival good news, welcome news. The other surprise Zosime’s Seer Link able to connect with Charis near the entrance to the Inner Cavern, proving the boundary moved, not sure what could be deduced from that though.

---

Dione, Zosime, Zoe and Jocasta all rushed Charis when she appeared in the Main Cavern knocking her over requiring Helice to grab her from behind to hold her up and slow her fall to the hard-stone cavern floor. Zosime and Helice plotted to co-ordinate the tumbled greeting and they all ended up on the stone floor in a huge ball of laughter, which Astera, Thyia, Niobe and Agape joined in after they saw them sprawled out on, under and over each other.

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“No fair sisters, I am left lonely on watch!” sent Alexis.

“I am sure your sisters will make up for your dedication!” sent Helice.

Their new guest snuck a look attracted by the laughter and greetings of delight. Why would a leader accept such treatment, no noble or knight she knew of would accept that from their lessors, why would this Mistress? Were these new guests special? That didn’t make sense as her sworn women also joined in without hesitation. Charis the Mistress clearly in command; no doubt, especially since none talked of wanting to replace her or even whinging talk someone could do better. Totally unlike the world she knew, farmers bickered, merchants bickered, all experts on how things should be done, including her father! As the pile unravelled, she made herself busy brushing down one of the newly arrived horses.

“What you are seeing is our love for each other.”

She jumped in fright initially, consumed in thought and her task finally acknowledging Astera and nodding.

“Charis is our Mistress, but her care for and of us is clear and certain and goes beyond normal fealty. Each one of us would die for her if it would save her life, although if you asked her, she would not wish us to waste our lives at any time, even for her.”

“I think I understand,” she finally answered.

“That is why you are a problem. We have enemies and dangers and they would like to find someone who knows us but may not be totally loyal to us to freely ask some questions. Do we risk letting you go and take the chance that they will find you or you will tell tales about us or many other possibilities?”

“I would never say anything I am grateful that I was saved from certain death!” The pitch of her voice rising as she spoke in earnest.

Astera held her hand up.

“What will you say to your parents when you return?”

“I will, well, I could say, uh, well, maybe I was rescued by a knight!”

“What if your parents wish to meet this knight to reward him or at least thank him, what of his name?”

“I don’t know.” She crumpled down into a ball and started sobbing. Was her life in danger now?

“Get up girl, now!” The voice that spoke did not belong to Astera.

She straightened, frightened not even daring to look up in case she caught the Mistress in her eye.

“I have decided you cannot return to your family. To them you are dead,” Charis stated. Their guest quailed but resisted with all her will to drop to the ground again, she would accept her fate, whatever it was going to be, standing up.

“I can’t have you being killed in battle and I can’t have you being the reason for another being killed because they’re trying to save you. So, I only have one choice left.” It was like waiting for her death again; given a stay of execution when rescued and now what, a reversal?

“You will need to swear an oath of allegiance to me and you will need to train every waking heartbeat until I am reasonably confident that you will develop weapon skills useful to you and useful to us.”

“I swear Mistress, I swear on my life that I will honour and obey you. You are my Liege and I will serve at your command.” She dropped to one knee as she swore her oath, desperate and hoping this would be enough to save her life.

“You need to cast off your clothes and stand naked before me. This symbolises you casting away your past.”

“Yes Mistress.” She removed her furs and the clothes underneath, cold but so nervous she easily ignored the discomfort and looked up at Charis.

“I swear to serve you as my liege, to obey you in all things, my life is yours!”

Charis handed her a dagger.

“Please kill yourself by stabbing yourself in your heart.” Charis looked directly into her eyes. The daughter of a farmer, her eyes welled up in tears and a shocked weakness spread over her. She fingered the dagger in her hands; eventually gripping it in resolution and placed the point in line with her heart. She looked up once again at her liege and seeing no sympathy or clemency started to push on the dagger and soon felt blood trickle down between her breasts until she smelt it also. She closed her eyes for the final push.

“You need to stop.”

A reprieve, a test of loyalty. She blew out a breath of relief opening her eyes.

“The dagger isn’t over your heart, let me reposition it for you.”

The daughter jumped stunned closing her eyes, false hope. Her pardon snatched away so quickly and cruelly. True to her word she felt her Mistress’ hand on hers and move her hand and dagger letting them both go once in a new position, which satisfied her Mistress. She needed to gather herself again, determined to just drive the dagger in one swift motion and get this over with. She could have run, the result the same. At least this way, she didn’t die serving the depraved experiments of a pig of a Priest.

“Will you please burn my body high on a Pyre so my soul will reach the sky and into the care of Judge?”

“Certainly, it would be the least we could do,” replied Charis quietly.

She tensed deep breath in, ready to meet Judge and pass from this world, her arm muscles gathering for one quick stroke. Now! Her stroke failed. A superior strength refused to allow her to push the dagger home. She opened her eyes releasing the dagger in shock. Astera and her Spear Sister stood either side of her, Astera sheathing the dagger.

“Take a knee.” declared Charis.

“I accept your fealty to me, and I promise in return to value your life and protect it as much as possible to the limits of my power and ability. Further I will never ask you to do anything that would dishonour you or me.”

Surprise, relief, confusion and many other sensations ran through her and she only realised time stopped when her Mistress helped her to stand.

“I sense your questions. We don’t have the time to observe you and get to know the real you, so I can only subject you to a very cruel test to make this decision quickly. Normally we would have more time to observe you and then meet you and question you. We need to spend that time training you.”

“Yes Mistress.” Her response quickly spoken, and Charis could tell, rightfully so, shock gripped her.

Charis embraced her, which after a few heartbeats the new Initiate of the Daughters of the Duchess returned.

“I apologise,” Charis whispered. She then felt the farmer’s daughter relax a little more.

“Welcome Latona daughter of Charis,” smiled Helice.

“That is not my name. I am not important enough to have an ancient name Mistress.”

“You have cast off your previous life and you are now in my service. We are a Fighting Order granted Charter by the Duchess, as Daughters of the Duchess and I am its Mistress. As such I give you rebirth and with that rebirth you are renamed. You will find that your new name, especially daughter of Charis will provide you with respect and possibly help from strangers. It could also provide you with instant death or at least capture and ransom from our enemies.”

“Oh, Mistress! I am sorry to question I am just a farmer’s daughter after all.” Charis released her from the embrace and then slapped her across her face. The stinging lingered when Charis spoke to her and she only managed to keep her feet as Helice caught her before she fell.

“Don’t make your past an excuse. Ever. You are reborn, you will acquire new skills, you will be better today than you were yesterday and if not, I will slap you again. You understand?”

“Yes Mistress!” she answered promptly and confidently. Charis didn’t yell when she spoke, Latona realised she didn’t need to, Mistress spoke plain truth, a given that did not assume anything but compliance. The new Initiate regretting guzzling the offered water as she internally clenched her nether regions to avoid further shame.

“Helice will introduce you to your sisters and from each of them you will train until you find weapons and skills that you desire to learn or are naturally gifted at using. Understand?”

“Yes Mistress!” Latona replied. She did wonder what if such weapons or skills didn’t reveal themselves to her and she proved useless at everything. She knew what would happen if she spoke those doubts, so she didn’t.

Her Mistress placed her hand gently between her breasts. “I have found that everyone has talent with at least one weapon.” Did she read her mind? Did she read her face? Latona stood stunned and not until Helice touched her to follow did she awaken.

As Helice led her away Charis turned to Astera.

“Ensure she is equipped, and trained, she must learn quickly to be able to at least survive.”

“Yes Mistress, I will ensure she has no rest until she is at least competent to use one weapon,” Astera answered.

Charis nodded and left. She still felt slightly hollow inside, Latona stood only a small chance of surviving at best so Charis needed to look at the entrance to the Main Cavern and see what else could be done.

Charis stood outside the Cavern Entrance, watching the twins taking a wagon apart and several sisters, including Jocasta assisting to carry the parts into the Main Cavern. She also felt the warmth of the sun upon her and very little cold reaching her. As the sun set in the West, sunshine would extend into the entrance of the Main Cavern until it sank low enough to be blocked by the Stone Curtain Wall which shielded and hid the entrance.

She climbed into the undisturbed wagon and started taking off her armour. Sisters glanced in her direction, eventually returning to what they were doing. She eventually laid down semi naked letting the sun’s ray warm her, regenerating her magic while she thought. After three bells, she realised someone watched her and straightened.

“Are you protecting me or admiring my body?”

“Can’t I do both Mistress as I don’t see one being exclusive to the other?” replied Helice.

“What if you were distracted looking at me instead of looking about for danger?”

“Well I am cheating a little. I have linked with Niobe, so we take turns watching while the other admires.” Helice lightly laughed at Charis’ surprise.

“Cheeky wenches, both of you!”

“Niobe prefers to view this as useful training, especially since she was linked to, well, shall we say interested others.”

“I claim to be slightly violated and possibly offended!”

“Oh, don’t be Mistress, you can see this as morale boosting if you like!”

Charis then stiffened as a wave of pleasure swept over her, with Elpis grinning in her mind’s eye.

“See you have made at least two sisters very happy.”

“Yes. I guess.” She was prevented from saying more as multiple waves of pleasure deluged upon her. Somehow the Seer sisters co-ordinated multiple releases, so they washed over her in a pulsating sensual rhythm. She couldn’t prevent her pleasure vocalising and upon doing so Helice press her shoulders down to hold her.

“Hold Mistress, enjoy, it is our pleasure.”

One bell passed before Helice released her from her bliss. Red faced, which amused Helice she sat up and gathered herself as best she could to armour up. Helice assisting.

“Well that was excellent timing wasn’t it just!” exclaimed the elder.

“Yes, for both of us. Was my hair brained plan explained to you?” replied Charis.

“Yes. You are going to freeze your seer sisters in the fading sunlight while I draw magic from them to create a small cavern out of the facing rock wall here. Oh, also lower the height of it so the sunlight will penetrate the cavern entrance further and for longer. Is that about it?”

“Yes elder, will it be possible?”

“You provide me with enough magic, and it should be.”

Latona’s curiosity needed quenching and she made an excuse to help the carpenter twins to find out about the steady procession of sisters leaving the Main Cavern. She forgot herself, stunned by the sight before her. Each Seer Sister naked or semi naked, stood against the outside wall of the Main Cavern, silent, although their facial expressions changed often. Unknown to Latona the Seer Sisters exposed to the fading sunlight were recharging as much magic as they could, while their Mistress, in her turn held the elder, to allow the venerable ancient to draw magic.

Charis instructed the sisters to reposition the final wagon, park it against the Stone Curtain Wall so the entrance to the newly crafted cavern in that wall could be disguised as much as possible. The finished cavern carved out to hold at least two defenders, each with their own narrow arrow slot facing the Cavern Entrance. The elder started a set of round stairs. These would lead to the top of the Stone Curtain Wall so she could reduce its height. That would have to be another day as dusk fell upon them.

The Seer Sisters hurried naked, to the Inner Cavern to dress, especially Charis and Helice just in case Dione and Zosime required rest and couldn’t report for their evening shift. The Warrior Sisters grateful for no unexpected interruptions! All sisters except Clymene were required to supply their magic to the elder to ensure as much as possible could be done before day end.