The High Queen's Vow [The Mystic Women of The Realm Series Book IV] (25 page)

They rode as swift as lightning, each becoming more worried with each passing moment. For each of them, the moments passed by as if the moments in The Realm had slowed to a screaming crawl. As the sun's set had long-prior occurred, The High Queen finally saw the large rock structure that she had felt in her mind.

He is there. I can feel him.

She desperately wanted to know if Sle'nel’ and the others were safe, but knew she couldn't risk him being able to detect her thoughts. They rode until they were near enough, remaining well hidden in the surrounding forests. Fon'elnn’ halted them at the edge of the forest where the empty expanse began up to the large rock-face. It would only take a few moments to achieve the rock, but she hadn't yet found the cave's opening. Fon'elnn’ dismounted and motioned that everyone was to remain silent.

The High Queen's great raptor called from overhead. The High Queen gave a soft whistle, then held out her arm. For many moments, the raptor and The High Queen seemed to communicate, then the raptor flew off, back into the skies far away from their eyesight.

The High Queen had learned what she needed to know, “They are here. He has many guards about him within the entryway.” She sighed deeply, heavy with emotion, “They have been here since the early morn."

A sky of brilliant stars and a bright partial moon had risen with the sun's set, so Fon'elnn’ informed Ann'wn and the others that they would wait until cloud covering or until moon's set. San'lr'in’ was anxious to get inside and save her lover from the Dark Sorcerer, but saw the bright moon. Using the lightest spell possible so as to remain undetected by the Dark Sorcerer, she made some clouds to visit their portion of the sky.

"What will it be, Elf? You or one of them?"

Sle'nel’ looked at the Dark Sorcerer, remaining silent. She studied his movements and his thinking, trying to waste the moments. As she did, she knew that San'lr'in’ and the others would already be on their way. She knew that if they could be found and if The High Queen could arrive before he killed them, San'lr'in’ would save them.

I know they come
.

"You think they will be able to save you prior to your death, Elf?” He laughed, “Don't be as foolish as this. We are well hidden. Even with her powers, she will take at least another turn to find us."

She looked into his eyes, wondering how strong his powers really were.

He laughed absent mindedly and spoke to himself, “And then she will be mine."

Sle'nel’ was trying to remain alert, but wished she could lie down. He had beaten her badly throughout the long turn, and displayed no signs of halting. She struggled to keep her mind in full awareness. He had yet to use his powers since their forced arrival, choosing to physically beat them instead. She wondered about this, wondering if he had been over-using his powers. She glanced over to The Healer, feeling sorry for her. The Healer had been beaten, then knocked unconscious. The Dark Sorcerer had then thrown her harshly down upon the cold stone floor, leaving her to her own resources.

At least she is yet alive.

"Yes, Elf. She is. It is you who will die, and soon. But I have at least until the late-morn, as there is no chance that they could track us here prior to this. They must first find us. So I have the full eve to have my pleasure with the three of you. And I have always wondered what it would be like to be with an Elf. You know of course that I am part
R'kin'dles
. And they always desire two things—to be with an Elf, and to kill an Elf. I will be able to do both, most honored High Sorcerer. And with your death, the Elves will never again return to The Realm, and I will become High Sorcerer."

"Others will find a way to return the Elves to The Realm."

He raised his hand and struck her backhanded, with full force, “I care not for your responses, Elf. I much prefer you silent."

She had lost track of the many moments he had hit her on the side of the face, yet she tried to remain defiant. There was little else she could do, as her arms and legs were shackled tightly against the wall.

San'lr'in'. We need you.

She let her head lower for a moment to give it a chance to clear. She could feel blood running down her badly swollen cheek and neck and feel her head pound, but gave little attention to them. She risked a glance toward Caitha. Like The Healer, Caitha had also been beaten and knocked unconscious, but he had yet to do anything else to her.

Suddenly, his tone became angry, “Where is your staff? You were to bring it with you!"

She licked her lips, tasting blood and needing water. She felt thirsty and wondered how much blood she had lost, “Apparently, it didn't follow. Your spells must be weaker than you believe them to be."

He hit her again, harder upon this moment, “Insolence will cost you, Elf. Where is your staff? I must have it!"

Her head and jaw hurt from the blows to her face, but she displaced the pain as the Sorcerer Women had taught her. She could barely see out of her left eye, “You are the one to bring me to you. I was unaware that I came. How was I to know to bring it? Did you give it a personal invitation?"

He stared at her, fully angry at the moment, but suddenly smiled as he hit her again. She could see that he delighted in causing pain to others, but she also saw that his moods swung widely within a short span. She thought that if she saw him as an ordinary stranger, she might think him alluring, but couldn't now find it within herself to think any kind thoughts of him. She had woken from whatever trance he had placed upon her, tied to the wall, and to the sight and sound of the beatings he had placed upon The Healer. As he beat The Healer, pounding her relentlessly, finally smashing her head solidly upon the stone floor, Sle'nel’ became sickened as she saw him smiling wickedly with each blow.

Looking at him now, his smile sent shivers of revulsion throughout her body. He was pleased that he could stir such emotion, “You are a most beautiful woman, Elf. Not as beautiful as some of the prior Elves I used to know, but more beautiful than any Mystic I have seen in this era. The High Queen is lucky to have such as you. I wonder if she will desire you after I have had my fill of you. But I think I will have some fun with the Storyteller prior to you. She also is quite beautiful."

Up to this moment, the Dark Sorcerer had focused most of his attentions on Sle'nel', and she wanted it to remain this way. She had never prior thought herself as brave, but couldn't stand the thought of having to see and hear her friends being beaten or tortured. She had seen Caitha and The Healer being beaten, and it had been enough. She forced herself to remain alert so that she could keep his attentions focused only upon her, “You have knocked her unconscious. She will be of little use to you."

He sneered at her, his voice taunting and filled with evil, “How very brave of you, Elf. You would risk yourself to save your friends. I would tell you not to bother. You are all to die, anyway. It is to be my gift to your Great High Queen as she steps into this cave."

"You must be quite stupid to believe she will allow as such. You think your powers are stronger than hers?"

She knew she had to make him mad enough so that he remained focused upon her rather than Caitha or The Healer. And she knew that she had to give her Queen enough moments to arrive. She had no doubts that San'lr'in’ would arrive and would defeat this most vile creature; she just hoped it would be while they were yet alive. The Healer moaned, and the Dark Sorcerer turned to her. Sle'nel’ thought quickly, trying to keep his attentions upon her.

It was becoming more difficult for her to speak with her cheek as swollen as it was, “Why do you want the staff? Have you not these powers, already? I was informed that you are the greatest of all the sorcerers in our era."

He looked back at her, his eyes narrowed, yet his ego slightly inflated, “I am, in truth. But your staff holds some powers that have remained elusive to me."

"Which ones?"

He sneered at her, yet interested in the conversation, “And wouldn't you just love to know."

She took a guess, “The Elves wouldn't give you these powers, then?"

He hit her again. She could tell he was thinking of other matters, as the blow wasn't as hard as the others had been. Yet, her pain was great as he hit her solidly upon her already badly beaten and swollen face. She struggled through the pain, and struggled to keep him focused on her, “I didn't think the staff could work for anyone but the one who spoke with the Sorrows."

"I have ways to make you give me these powers. It can be done. And I have much need of these powers."

"Why? So you can inflict yourself and your tortures onto all those who would oppose you?"

He sneered at her again, “Is that not the way of the ones who conquer? It is the same across all battles. You, of all the others, cannot be this naïve.” Suddenly, without any warning, his mood shifted yet again, “Tell me, Elf. Do you find me appealing?"

"What does it matter to you? You take what you want with little regard to this."

"I take what I am due!” He had been angered at her statement, but she couldn't guess as to why.

"Due? You shouldn't even be in this era. You are from another."

Ignoring her, he came up close and ran his thumb roughly across her swollen and bleeding lip. He then placed the tip of his thumb in his mouth, “Hmmm ... the taste of Elfin blood is most exciting."

He traced the outline of one of her breasts roughly, allowing himself to be moved in his need and urgency. She could see that his breathing was becoming more rapid as his excitement grew. She readied her body for the moment he would remove her from the shackles. He placed both his hands on her breasts, squeezing hard. The pain increased, but she remained silent, trying to show no emotion.

Suddenly, he ripped her shirt apart, exposing her breasts, “Beautiful."

She closed her eyes and thought of her Queen,
She will come. I know this is so. I know it!

The Healer stirred, looking back at Sle'nel'. She lay upon the floor confused, but seeing that the sorcerer was placing his attentions onto Sle'nel'.

Without turning to The Healer, he said, “Remain as you are, Healer, or you will die sooner."

The Healer tried to remove the pain from her body, but was overly confused from her head injury to know where to begin. She concentrated upon the moment, focusing upon her pains. She knew that her face was swollen and bruised from the beatings, that her head was bleeding from being smashed against the floor, that it hurt to breathe, and that her right arm was most likely broken. She began with her head.

Caitha had woken a few moments prior, but had remained as she was, waiting for the correct moment. She guessed that he might know she was awake, given his sorcerer abilities. She wondered when her lover and The High Queen would arrive.

"I think this the moment for our pleasures, Elf."

She spat into his face, “You disgust me."

He looked at her, frowning, then leered, “Have you ever lain with another while standing, Elf?” He laughed manically, then pulled out his sword and placed it into the fire. After a few moments, he removed the red-hot sword, unbuttoned his pants, then began his tortures and pleasures on the Elf.

As the clouds finally covered the moon, San'lr'in’ prepared herself. She had sensed into the cave enough to know that Sle'nel’ and the others were yet alive, but also knew that they were badly beaten and were being tortured. She tried placing her raging anger aside to ensure that she could win this battle, and to ensure Caitha and the others remained alive, then called Ann'wn to her.

Whispering, she said, “Do you see the cave's entrance?"

Ann'wn nodded.

"There will be many guards inside. It will be up to you to disable them. I will enter first."

"But My Queen, they will see—"

"I will hide myself. I will go unseen by them."

Ann'wn nodded, not understanding.

She looked at Ann'wn, knowing of what they would find once in the cave, “Prepare yourself, Force Leader. They have been badly beaten, but are alive."

She saw Ann'wn tense. She placed a hand upon her shoulder, “Be brave. It is what they will need from us."

Ann'wn nodded, but now with a tear in her eye. The High Queen looked over to Fon'elnn', trying to keep herself distant from the emotions that now haunted her Force Leader. She tried to hold her consuming rage within her for a few more moments, nodded to Fon'elnn', then to Ann'wn, and they all ran silently to the cave's entrance. At the entrance, The High Queen whispered a soft spell, masking herself from view. Ann'wn could barely make out her form, seeing that her Queen had become mostly invisible, blending perfectly into the cave.

Not knowing that her Queen had moved close to her, Ann'wn jumped as The High Queen whispered in her ear, “Give Me a few long moments, Force Leader. I must arrive to the Dark Sorcerer prior to you making any noise, or he may kill them prior to My arrival."

Ann'wn nodded, knowing that her High Queen had left, but only by the sight of her boot prints in the dirt. San'lr'in’ entered the cave, moving as quickly but silently as possibly. While the guards couldn't see her, she didn't want to give away her presence to the Dark Sorcerer. As she neared the Dark Sorcerer's location, she cringed as violent torrents of rage exploded through her body when she heard Sle'nel's agonized demented screams.

She forced herself to swallow the bile and moans that threatened to escape from her,
By the mothers, help Me save her.

With no doubt, she well knew what the Dark Sorcerer was doing to Sle'nel’ to cause such sounds of tortured terror.

She fiercely fought the internal rage that struggled so violently to burst free from her. She called all her powers to her, then silently unsheathed her sword and touched the stone in her pouch,
This is the moment, Great Red Stone. Enhance My powers, as I have great need of them.

Remaining invisible used much of San'lr'in's strength, but she risked it until she reached the room where the screams were coming from. She entered into the large room, quickly assessing the situation, seeing that they were all yet alive, but also seeing that the Dark Sorcerer was now torturing Sle'nel', who was hanging limply from her shackles. She briefly noticed Sle'nel’ was trying to remain conscious, and trying not to scream out her great pain as he placed the tip of the red-hot sword well into and through the side of her knee.