The High Queen's Vow [The Mystic Women of The Realm Series Book IV] (38 page)

Sren'trn broke down, dropped her sword, fell to the ground, and sobbed. San'lr'in’ rolled her eyes in dismay and impatience. She had no way of understanding such weakness. Ignoring the young girl, she did the same to the remaining four. She found that only one of them wished to be a Master, and all but the one had been forced into the ranks. She looked around and saw her sister. She beckoned to her.

"Yes, my Queen?"

"Could Woden use four Mystics of a most gentle nature, Highest of Woden?"

Sam looked upon the four who were indicated, but remained confused, “My Queen?"

"Highest of Woden. These four have been well mistreated in our realm, and would like nothing more than to spend the remainder of their turns in a most quiet of locations. I have two choices. I could send them to keep A'lon'lden and Yyeoiraa company or to send them to Woden under your command. It might provide an interesting solution to Woden remaining overly apart from The Realm. Plus, it might make these four feel somewhat useful and needed in this Realm.” To herself she thought that the four might help bring more of the Mystics’ ways to Woden, yet in a quiet fashion.

Sam considered the moment, then nodded, “Of course, my Queen."

"Thank you.” She looked at the four, “Rise and meet your new Queen. This is the Highest of Woden. You will be under her command. She has agreed to take you to Woden, a most gentle of places. I think you will be pleased at this choice."

She turned to the one remaining, “Tell Me what you are called by."

She bowed her head, “Krl'lnn', High Queen; High First Master."

San'lr'in’ saw that she held her fear well, “And you wish to be a Master?"

"Yes, High Queen."

"From this moment on, Krl'lnn', Apprentice-Master, you are under the command of Master Fon'elnn', and under the care of Apprentice-Master Ern'seln'."

"Thank you, High Queen."

"Hear Me well, Krl'lnn', Apprentice-Master. You have been under the command of Ll'strin'll the Traitor, so have much yet to learn. While your mind remains loyal to The Realm, your future actions will tell us all where your loyalties truly lie. One misstep, Apprentice-Master, and you also will lose your head, as you are now invited into The High Queen's ranks."

Krl'lnn’ looked at The High Queen and bowed her head once again, “I vow my loyalty to you, High Queen, unto my death.” She kneeled, then placed her lips to The High Queen's boots, “You are my Master, Highness."

"We shall see, Apprentice-Master. High Master Fon'elnn', she has My leave."

After the long challenge and final moments were completed, San'lr'in’ closed her eyes and let loose her powers. They flowed away from her as if a river, allowing her to feel lighter for the first moment since the beginning of their overly extended journey. She knew that the trip to El'fs'nd'lle would now be quiet and safe, having learned that Ll'strin'll had already defeated whatever enemy had awaited them. And while she also knew that there would be one more group of Masters at the Gates, they were a small group and would be easily turned at the moment of the arrival, if needed.

She breathed in deeply, then recalled her new wound as the pain came rushing to her. She winced, surprised at the burning intensity of it.

Roen has saved My life.

She placed her hand even more tightly on the wound so as to relieve the pain, but found overly weakened healing powers left within her.

"My Queen. Perhaps we should tend to your wound?"

Breathing now being a painful act, she replied, “Healer. You are a most welcomed voice."

The Healer placed her hand on her Queen's head, sensing her deep pain. But she also sensed her Queen's surrender to her even deeper exhaustion

San'lr'in’ closed her eyes again, “I can finally let loose this long-prior weight that I have carried overly long. I feel The Realm beginning to change, Healer. We may win our vows, yet."

The Healer took hold of her Queen's arm and led her away. In all The Realm, only The Healer could touch The High Queen as freely as this, “Come, Leader of All. We must tend to your wound, and you must rest."

Once in the tent, The High Queen remained standing, allowing her attendants and Healer to tend to her, but almost asleep. She had closed her eyes, feeling as if she barely the strength to breathe. She was overly tired and didn't even bother listening to the words of her attendants or Healer, but suddenly feeling a change inside the tent, she opened her eyes and held out her left arm, “My Desire."

Sle'nel’ took her Queen's hand into her own, then examined the wound, “How fares this wound?"

The Healer showed the wound to her, “It is deep enough, but our Queen did well to halt the blood flow as quickly as she did. The poison would have entered into her body much more deeply than she allowed."

The High Queen looked down at her Healer, “Poison?” She didn't wish any yet to know of Roen's abilities.

"Her sword, my Queen. I thought you had seen as such, this being the reason you tended to your wound during the fight."

"I halted the flow of blood so that I wouldn't become weakened as I fought. I couldn't risk any weakness, or I might have lost. Tell Me of this poison to which you refer."

"Did you not see her wipe her sword just prior to the fight, High One? Just as she unsheathed it?"

She nodded, “I recall the moment, but had no thought on it. How are you aware of this poison?"

"I took the authority of my role to examine the sword. The smell of the poison is one I know well, as it is one of the ingredients in your—"

"Hold, Healer. It is enough. Spare Me the details of your potions. And I thank you for your most excellent awareness in this regard. It would appear that you have saved My life."

"No, my Queen. You saved your own life upon that moment when you halted your flow of blood to the wound."

"Will it take the wound long to heal?"

"Better to have a slow-healing wound than a headless neck, High One. I have never seen you do as such, and with such haste as this."

The High Queen thought little of the moment, “The Masters could no longer be trusted, so their purpose was over. I couldn't risk The Realm to their deceit. They were overly strong to leave them to their own creations."

"You being High Master now, my Queen."

The High Queen looked over to the voice. She nodded her head, “Master Fon'elnn'. But perhaps the moment for the Masters is over. Perhaps we begin a new guild. Why is it you come?"

"Your forces asking to your wellness, Highness."

"You see for yourself. Tell them what you will."

"And they would like knowing when we leaving, Highness."

"On the second turn, Master. Now, leave The High Queen or I will give you a long sleeping spell."

San'lr'in’ looked down at her Healer, “Now you command My forces, Healer?"

"If I must, High One. They interrupt overly. I told Ann'wn that if she came in while you were resting, I would personally seek retribution."

The High Queen smiled, “It would appear we leave on the second turn from now, Master. Why do you ask?"

"Your forces would like to prepare a feast."

"A feast would be most welcome. You have My leave."

Fon'elnn’ bowed and left. The Healer looked up to her, “The wound will need stitches, High One. You will need to lie down."

"Do them while I am standing, Healer. It is all the same to Me."

San'lr'in’ entered into her first meditation, removing herself from the pain as The Healer provided the nine stitches.

"Your body begins to look like a practice body for the young healers. Along with these stitches, I have also provided an infection preventative potion, as well as a preventative against the scaring effects. The potions contain a most interesting mixture of sp—"

The High Queen shivered slightly, “Overly many details, Healer. Please spare Me from this knowledge of your potions."

When The Healer was done with the wound, The High Queen was dressed into her lighter garments for the eve, “You must eat, High One, whether this be your desire or no. It will help to soak up any remaining poison. You must not sleep until you have eaten, or the effects may return."

The High Queen looked exhausted, her eyes beginning to close. Sle'nel’ took the food from the attendants, “I will ensure that she eats her food, Healer."

Sle'nel’ looked at her Queen, smiling, “You most certainly won, and left no question of such. But your titles grow once again. What do we call you now, my Love? High Master Queen? Great High Master Queen? Great High Master Warrior Queen? Great High Master High Queen? Or Great High Master High Warrior Queen?"

The Healer laughed, “I rather like the last one, Elf.” She looked back to her Queen, “Make certain to rest for the remainder of the turn, at least until the morn, Highness."

"You are making Me a prisoner, Healer."

She nodded, “Hmmm ... so it would appear, High One. But this is my command of you. I will allow you your freedom at the morn."

Sle'nel’ went up to San'lr'in', “I think you could use the rest. And I will remain with you through the midturn, eve and morn."

San'lr'in’ was feeling tired, but pleased. In truth, she desired nothing more than to rest. To rest in the presence of her lover was an added bonus, “Then My imprisonment has become a paradise."

The Healer left and went to her own tent to rest. Their journey had indeed been an exhausting one, ever on the alert, and all were tired. She sat and re-organized her healing potions and equipment while she waited for her lover.

Now. What did I do with that snake tongue oil?

Ann'wn walked quietly through her force ranks, listening to them speak of the journey. She tried to do this often in order to provide a presence for them. As she walked through her ranks, she noticed that their talk was about their Queen. All were yet amazed as to her warrior stance. She was relieved to note that the talk was admiring rather than condemning. She then walked past all the ranks that were now guarding their camp, motivating them to even greater awareness, keeping the level of alertness high until their return to the Valley.

Ann'wn tended to her forces, then found her lover busily engaged amongst all her potions, “How fares our Queen?"

The Healer looked up as Ann'wn entered their tent, “The wound is deep, but she controlled it well. A good thing she did or the poison would have already entered into her heart."

"I wonder how she knew that Ll'strin'll had placed as such onto her sword."

"She didn't know.” She thought about it for a moment, then wondered, but held her question to herself. “But the matter is resolved and she will recover quickly. As you saw, however, she is beyond exhausted. You must allow her to rest, Ann'wn. And you, as well. You need to rest. This is the moment, as even our Queen has acknowledged that our battles are won, for the moment."

"I know not how to feel about such as we have had overly many battles of late. We have been on continual alert throughout this journey. In truth, at this moment I know no other way to behave."

The Healer rose and began to undo Ann'wn's warrior garments, “Perhaps you would allow me to show you another way, as your own personal Healer."

Ann'wn smiled, “You are the wisest of healers."

When San'lr'in’ woke in the morn, she saw that Sle'nel’ was yet sleeping. She placed a soft kiss on her cheek, rose from their bed, tended to herself, then left the tent. She found a quiet spot that appealed to her senses, then turned to her meditations, hoping to remove the pain from her side as well as recall her powers to her. As across all her prior turns for as long as her memory could recall, she entered into her meditations, reflecting on the prior turn's events, examining her stance in The Realm, renewing her powers and spells to her, and finding her peace and solace.

Perhaps now we might entertain peace for a few moments
.

She sensed her powers, feeling their strength, and was surprised to find that her powers had grown even stronger than the prior turn. She wondered what had made them so strong.

The red stone?

The Sword of Legends?

After she returned her powers to a readiness level, she entered into a higher meditation, forcing herself to sense The Realm only. She moved slowly through this meditation, observing all that was around her. She became amazed that even her meditations were far easier with the use of her growing powers. Sensing nothing of great concern, she slowly exited her meditations.

My Queen. Allow me to assist you.

San'lr'in’ gave over control of her meditations to her Healer, as often occurred. When they had come to her last meditation, The Healer moved her carefully back into The Realm. She spoke softly, “As you were taught, High One. Breathe. Hear your heartbeat. Breathe."

Breathe.

"Hear your heart, my Queen."

Breathe.

"Open you eyes, my Queen."

San'lr'in’ did so, surprised to see Sle'nel', Ann'wn and Meera, as well as her Healer. She became concerned, “Tell Me."

The Healer smiled, “Highness. When did you enter into your meditations?"

"In the early morn. Why do you ask, Healer?"

"Look at the sun's passage, my Queen."

She looked at the sun's location in the sky, then examined the shadows about her, “This cannot be so. I have been in My meditations for a short while, only.” She looked up Sle'nel', “And how is it that I didn't sense your presence, My Desire?"

The Healer spoke, “Or mine, High One, even though I tried to speak with you."

San'lr'in’ just stared at them in disbelief.

"I have never prior seen you so deeply involved in your meditations, High One, but all seems well. How do you feel?"

San'lr'in’ moved her muscles slightly, then brought some of her sensing powers to her. She searched with her senses for her great raptor, sensing her high overhead. She shook her head, yet wondering, “I know not what has occurred, Healer. But as you say, all seems well enough.” She looked up and gave a soft whistle. She held out her arm and waited for a moment, as her raptor came to her. A few moments passed as the raptor delivered her message, then left.