The Innkeeper provided a lavish meal to break their fast; it started with a light onion soup, followed by a roast leg of lamb surrounded by carrots, pumpkin and peas. He wanted to make sure they remembered his Inn, so no gruel this morning! He was up just before dawn to ensure the meals would be ready, as was the stable hand preparing the horses. The warrior-sisters were soon in the common room eating the lavish meal.

All were happy with themselves to varying degrees, some more than others but there was an air of satisfaction and trust. The surprise of the morning was the friendliness of Alcmene and Clymene; they went from reserved fearful kidnap victims to a clinging closeness, their hands straying often to the shoulders and hands of their sisters in a most unintentional way.

---

Charis stood first and as she did all looked to her.

“Finish up, our thanks to the Innkeeper for a fine meal,” a shout went up from her warrior sisters, “but we have dallied too long and must be on our way as I have a destination in mind.”

Charis with saddlebags was followed by Otonia, Dione and Astera to the stables. Thyia, Clymene and Alcmene, were taking final meat cuts from the table and scrambling after them.

Charis, Otonia, Dione and Astera armoured and armed looked formidable and impressive the Innkeeper thought. His appreciation of them quickly dismissed, to offend them was to invite calamity. Their coin was worth more than coveting what he couldn’t have. He did wonder about the three lambs though and wondered if they would next visit with seven or less than seven as they looked unprepared and unimpressive.

Thyia wanted to be one of them; she needed to be one of them to find a new family, they to protect her and Thyia to protect them. Alcmene and Clymene were aroused by them, sharing their thoughts within their Seer link; the twins shared the memories of them naked and the lust of last night between them, knowing in pleasurable detail their shapes and curves under the leather armour, sharing this as well. This was a freedom they would fight for and they would prove their worth to make sure they stayed. They were never setting foot in a Temple of Saph again.

The sharing between the twins pleasantly surprised them both and without really thinking about it channelled their pleasure to their respective twin sister in turn to further enhance the pleasure, which required them to squirm a little and hide their arousal. Even in the busy common room of an Inn they were now able to maintain their Seer link so maintaining it while walking to the stables and once mounted was simplicity. Without the knowledge of their sisters they decided on a plan, it was going to be such fun.

The stable boy impressed them with the way he prepared the horses and Charis tossed him some coins as a reward, which he was delighted with and thanked her. He also received a wave and a smile from each of the warrior sisters as they followed their Mistress by the west road of out Bearwatch.

---

They had left the village well behind when Alcmene rode up beside Charis.

“Charis we need to ride back and search our room for a special brooch that our mother gave us, it is the last item we have of hers.” pleaded Alcmene.

“We need to make good time and I cannot let you and your sister ride back alone.”

“Dione can ride back with us, she is an excellent rider and will be able to protect us if it comes to that.”

“It would be my honour Charis if it is your will. I will be able to ensure they search as quickly as possible and ride hard to catch up. With the elder riding with you we will be able to ride faster to catch you.” said Dione.

“Be as quick as possible, I will worry until I see you re-join us, while I am sure the trappers are not a threat, the disappearance of the minstrel still bothers me. As I have said be as quick as possible.”

It was rare for Charis to repeat herself thought Dione so she must be concerned about something that no one else can sense. Dione turned her stallion back towards the village, Alcmene and Clymene followed her. They called over their shoulders thanks and then they needed to gallop to catch up to Dione and her stallion, already away.

---

They reined in at the stable and surprised the boy. He shifted the gate rail from a corral built off the stable so they could ride their horses in. Dione pressed a couple of coins in his hand as they walked-ran to the Inn.

“Leave them saddled please boy we won’t be long and need to be away quickly so one gate rail will be enough.” said Dione. She asked her stallion to stand guard by the corral gate to ensure the other horses didn’t decide to run free.

Dione found the common room empty and cleaned. She fronted the bar and quickly secured the key to the Seers’ room from the Innkeeper and escorted Alcmene and Clymene to their room and led them in. The twins described what to look for during the ride in.

Both Alcmene and Clymene stripped down as they claimed to be hot and sweating, while within their Seer Link they were a couple of giggling mischiefs. They continued to search largely naked except for their loin cloth ensuring they were checking on progress with each other. First Alcmene worked her way over to where Dione was searching and then Clymene. As Alcmene was moving away Dione’s eye followed her.

Clymene immediately chatted to Alcmene, who then declared it was just too hot and undid her loin cloth and flopped on the bed. With Dione fully distracted Clymene locked the door to the room and by the time she returned to the bed her sister was kissing Dione. Clymene started removing Dione’s armour and added kissing to this activity as well.

The twins then worked together removing armour and pleasuring her. Alcmene recalled for both of them the most pleasurable touches that Thyia and especially Charis and Otonia played on Dione’s body the night before. It did not take long for Dione to writhe in pleasure.

They were interrupted by a thumping noise from the stable, loud and clear. Dione connected to her Stallion and regretted it immediately and withdrew.

“Oh! That is my horse; she is mounting a mare in the corral.” Dione said eyes wide and her jaw slowly dropping at the realisation.

Both Alcmene and Clymene didn’t understand what she was saying. Then Dione’s eyes rolled back in her head for an instant.

“I can feel his pleasure and he can feel my pleasure. It is a very strange mix of a male instant release with the smouldering build-up of a female climax that I am not too sure about.”

Dione then wondered if her appreciation of the twins contributed to her horse’s appreciation of the mare he was now servicing, which contributed to her unwise participation in the obvious and feeble seduction attempt by the twins, instead of commanding the truth from them. She was feeling so stupid now and almost yelled in frustration. They were alone and far away from any help so she needed to call this for what it was.

“I now understand your ruse to lure one of your warrior-sisters back here. This is a dangerous game as we are vulnerable separated. We must go and in future we all share what we know so this never happens again!” Dione finished only just in control of her voice, which she did by digging her fingernails into her hands. She really wanted to shout at them, so selfish and careless. If they die here she promised herself to haunt them, forever.

“Sorry sister. This freedom, this trust is new to us; we do not know this new life and thank our luck every day for being here.” They both answered awkwardly together.

“Help me dress, since you know well how to undress me. We must leave as soon as possible. It seems my horse with its amorous activity has attracted some attention.” Dione connected to her stallion and settled him, while her armour was being put on and it was then that she noticed a Lord’s soldiers, luckily they were only just walking away from her horse, laughing. Panic grabbed her briefly and then her stallion settled her. She asked her stallion to work the rail on the corral to free him and the two horses Alcmene and Clymene rode in on. She then had the thought her horse’s activity may have not only warned them of the soldiers by gaining their attention but also bought them enough time with the unusual diversion. She would know soon enough.

“We will go downstairs and make for the room with the bath in it. Now hurry!” Dione resisted the temptation to slap them both on the back of their heads as the left the room before her. She felt they deserved some punishment, if they got away from here that is.

They ran before Dione down the stairs and to the room. Dione closed the door behind them as they heard a commotion in the common room, with the Innkeeper feebly protesting, although effective enough to buy them some more time to use the stairs unseen. Then there were boots heading up the stairs.

Dione went to the window and opened it. Carefully she looked up at the second floor windows and when satisfied no one was looking out instructed her horse to lead the other horses to her open window. She then held her hand up and Alcmene and Clymene stopped before the window.

“You both deserve this, so don't move until I tell you to do so!” They heard the underlying anger in Dione's voice and both panicked about what to expect. They didn't need to wait long. Dione slapped Alcmene hard across the face. While she was in shock, Dione looked at Clymene's sad face but slapped it anyway. Both twins tried to rub the pain away. Dione was satisfied with that, hopefully they would remember.

No words were spoken as Dione helped both to step through the window.

As she followed the chastised twins out through the window she heard the slamming of a door upstairs. Dione looked up again just to make sure.

When they were all mounted they kicked away and their horses responded and gathered speed. Dione waved goodbye to the stable boy who must have followed the horses and stood at the corner of the Inn with a huge smile on his face. He then did an odd thing. He ran away from the Inn. Dione thought, smart boy, if he couldn’t be found he couldn’t be asked any questions, kindly or unkindly. She just hoped they didn’t catch up with him at some later date, a smart anyone didn’t deserve that.

Rounding back onto the trail, she glimpsed the horse blankets and the Lord’s coat of arms emblazoned on them, she didn’t know who they belonged to, but she knew Otonia would, with her troupe she played for most, if not all the Lords in this land. Before her Alcmene and Clymene were excellent riders, at least they were taught something practicable at the Temple.

"We should apologise to Dione sister." sent Clymene.

"Yes sister, we must and we know how don't we sister." sent Alcmene.

It also made for interesting viewing when they stood in their stirrups, given flimsy cloth shift and the loin cloth underneath. Alcmene then looked back to her, smiled and rode higher, somehow her loincloth worked free and as the wind caught her shift Dione collected seductive memories. Dione could only think of her and when she could next grab a piece of her, she shook her head and recognised that forceful feeling was more animalistic and realised her stallion was influencing her! Clymene was then also high in her stirrups. Before Clymene could lose her loin cloth Dione urged her horse on and effortlessly rode past them both, she couldn’t be distracted like this, it could cost their lives. She realised then they were a dangerous distraction and they needed rules before they brought ruin upon them all. Obviously slapping them across the face didn’t make a difference.

Dione calmed her horse, he was feeding off her thoughts and for practical reasons she needed him relaxed, not engorged or angry so he focused as well. She looked back and it didn’t appear they were being followed so she called a halt. She positioned her stallion to face them both, one on her left and one on her right.

“We just missed whatever that was, just then!” Dione tried not to raise her voice but she couldn’t, the latest stunt of losing a loin cloth was the straw that broke the horse’s back.

They shivered before her and looked at each other even though they didn’t need to. They instantly returned to the Temple before the Mother Superior, although this time they didn’t lose their water as Seer linked they were stronger now. Then they realised their vulnerability, they should be with their new sisters, together, not luring one away whatever the reward, at such great risk to them all. They realised why Dione was angry with them, why they had been slapped. A great shame washed over them.

“Get. Your. Loin. Cloths. Tied. Off. and ... your belts around your waist, we are trying to escape and we cannot be distracted.” She didn’t wait for them to comply, her stallion knew her mind and turned away from them and started to walk off.

The twins did exactly what they were told to do and as their horses approached Dione’s, her stallion broke into a trot and then a gallop. They followed her lead.

---

Thankfully they found Charis and their warrior-sisters by the stream at the exact same crossing place of a few days ago. They quickly crossed the stream at the ford on horseback to join them. Alcmene and Clymene were worried about what Dione would say, but then she did mention trust to them, so they would accept whatever was said and try to repay any debt. They realised Dione was not pleased and their mischief not welcomed, this freedom was just so new and unexplored to them, they needed new boundaries they both realised.

“Charis, we encountered some unknown Lord’s guards. We didn’t stop to ask them why they were searching for us, well we think they were searching for us and made our escape. We were distracted though and I apologise as I let myself be, shall I say seduced. I offer no excuse except being dangerously tempted.”

“What are you trying to tell me?” asked Charis, looking at Dione as if she wasn’t Dione. This Dione wasn't making any sense, so what did happen while they were away?

“The twins have a unique skill in lovemaking that probably needs a better and safer location to explore. This was further complicated by the link I have with my horse, so in essence they were pleasuring me, my arousal was transferred to my horse who claimed a mare and his satisfaction was then returned to me. It was amazing and scary at the same time.” Dione’s voice reached a higher pitch towards the end, due to her exciting discovery.

This explanation didn't help Charis a great deal either, she just sensed the twins were at the heart of it so after a pause and a little thought she turned to them.

Alcmene and Clymene were happy that Dione was deflecting everything towards her and thought with relief that would be the end of it. They agreed they would both make it up to Dione at some later date.

“Dione, I acknowledge your part in this, but Alcmene and Clymene I need both of you to tell me how two innocent warrior-sisters such as yourselves placed you all into a situation of great danger.” Charis didn't yell or shout the words; they were spoken calmly and confidently but with purpose and the twins knew they were being tested and if found unfit they felt Charis would discard them.

They almost lost their water, so close to escaping but not to be. Charis just doesn’t stop asking questions, just like a Mother Superior was their instant thought. No matter how embarrassing, they both agreed to tell all, they needed to be committed, this was their future; both sisters had no other future if not here. They also realised while Dione was serious in her own way, Charis was their oath sworn Mistress and although young she was much wiser than her age seemed to suggest and they knew one way or another Charis would forge and bend them to her will.

They explained in full, no detail left out, including the plotting on the way to the stable and as they rode out of the village, of what transpired between them and Dione. When they were finished they were lucky they were in the wilderness and the elder was with them as chaperone, otherwise desire may have overruled good sense for those listening. Charis though, as was her way, took a different lesson from what was told to her.

“So Dione your link with your horse is so strengthened now that you can share feelings? Instruct your horse? What else?” asked Charis seeing the potential while the other sisters could only see the amazing!

“Yes Mistress, the shared sexual experience really enhanced what was just a general link before, we are one now, easily. I, well, I can see, smell, even listen through my horse’s senses if I concentrate enough, but the effort in concentration and magic used seems greatly reduced. It is an unusual path I am on!” She blushed remembering her horse’s satisfaction with the mare.

“So Alcmene and Clymene,” Charis paused pretending to think, trying to ensure they realised the importance of the answer, “am I to understand your sexual awakening has allowed you to link as twins stronger and easier, overnight in fact, making you both more skilled as Seers than twelve Death Seasons of Temple training?”

They looked at each other slightly guilty, they didn’t know why, perhaps because they felt, they cheated on their teachers by not really trying or gave up on themselves when they were told they wouldn’t be any better, accepting they would always be mediocre.

“Yes Mistress, our pleasure and awaking has enhanced our Seer Link, we can share memories in detail and are able to speak as one if required to. We can do this, “she stammered a little, “because we transfer our pleasure to the other and it seems to be this transference which further strengthens our link.” She and her sister turned bright red as they said the last words quickly.

“I was in the room when you, Otonia and Dione were making love.” she waited for a judgement and when none came she continued.

“I was overcome with pleasure and needed to scream; in simple terms I found my sister’s mind and screamed my pleasure to her. She later told me that she was almost overcome in pleasure, almost tripping up the stairs of the Inn.” confessed Alcmene.

Charis then commanded them to confess their movements and encounters of that night in the greatest of detail. Astera, as was her way updated them all on the next morning as well.

“We pleasured ourselves as well and transferred that between us and while it was pleasurable … it didn’t seem as, well, like, with others, benefit our Seer ability as well as when we are pleasured by others.” Their faces were already bright red so their further embarrassment was covered up nicely.

“So, not only is your link strengthened by all this, shall we say, pleasurable activity, you are also adept at moving silently about without being heard and while I admit we warrior-sisters were a little distracted at the time, I am still impressed with your skill." as they nodded, Charis continued, "So you have a true skill and yesterday the noise of battle or not you would have easily crept up on the trapper.” finished Charis.

“Yes Mistress. We are happy to serve, we are happy to be here in your warrior-sister company. We are trying to set aside some of the temple ways that are no longer acceptable in your company. We were never trusted and all were trained to be the same in everything. We have left no detail out, we regret we didn’t tell you sooner. We know we have endangered Dione and we ask forgiveness Mistress.” The words tumbled from their lips, they felt the fear of being discarded. They both dropped to their knees, with heads bowed, eyes to the ground sharing their fear through their Seer Link, which fed it higher and higher as they bounce their concern between them awaiting their Mistress' verdict.

All through the conversation Charis was amazed. Each Seer talked in turns at random points, neither breaking a sentence or conversation; it was like one person talking or in their case confessing.

“It is good you mention trust. Until I am satisfied that you are totally comfortable with sharing and revealing all, you will refrain from tempting and pleasuring until I decide it is safe enough to do so.” As they both started to raise their heads and open their mouths to speak, Charis held up her hand, “I know this will prevent you improving your Seer link, but better alive at your present ability, than dead trying to improve it because we are distracted.”

"Sister I am glad we didn't speak we would have further embarrassed ourselves by embracing our Mistress and thanking her for not discarding us."

"I know sister; I am on the verge of crying in relief. We must be mindful, we must observe and we must learn the ways beyond the Temple."

"And we must learn all of it quickly as I am not sure if our Mistress has unlimited patience."

“Yes Mistress, it is for the best.” Their voices droned a little with sadness, trying to cover their very real relief, the effect working as they combined their efforts, effortlessly.

“As for your stealth skills,” they looked up smiling in anticipation, “you will practice them constantly; you must leave an item on or near one of our company as often as possible without them knowing and claim it again in front of as many as possible, no weapons though a warrior needs to know where they are, always.”

“Yes Mistress.” They stood up.

“Thank you Mistress.” They then stood high on their toes and clapped their hands briefly. Simple boundaries Charis thought, this needs to work.

“Can we move on now? All this loving talk has almost made me wish to be young again.” declared the elder.

“You are not upset with us, will not punish us?” stammered Clymene, she needed to know, she needed to ask. She heard her sister scream into her mind the word no, but it was too late.

“I am concerned that you felt the need to sneak around and secretly explore your pleasure, but I accept this because of your Temple upbringing and I am thankful that none of it ended in tragedy for this company. We all clearly understand now this will never happen again.”

“Yes Mistress.” they replied in unison.

There was still enough of the day left that they made it over the spur, although they found themselves a little further north of Farstay then planned. Charis made camp before dusk and welcomed sleep trying not to be disturbed by how two Seers almost tempted fate to endanger three warrior sisters because of secrecy and lust.