The High Queen's Vow [The Mystic Women of The Realm Series Book IV] (57 page)

San'lr'in’ nodded again, “You speak truth, and it is a good reminder, but she has much more learning prior to her knowing of her full abilities. I will not risk her to this one."

"Trust her abilities further, High Queen, as she will learn them quickly. And trust the High Priestess. She knows well her spells, and while unknown to you, has been exceptionally well prepared for such as this. She is a R'kin'dles and has much worth in this Realm than has prior been given to her."

"I have begun to see as such. Why did the prior Elves not know this in regard to the R'kin'dles? And why was she remained as overly hidden in this realm?"

The High Queen heard a soft sigh, “The newly-returned Elves were well chosen, my Queen, but you will know this not, as you knew little of the troubles within the Elves. As is legend, the long-prior Elves treated all those living the same. But the role of overseers of The Realm slowly turned into those who remained elevated and merely observant of The Realm, and the R'kin'dles were the most affected."

San'lr'in’ took a guess, “They needed the most attention and the most love."

"It sounds easy, does it not? But it wasn't easy for the Elves to keep themselves connected to the R'kin'dles, as many didn't wish the races to inter-breed. This issue caused much dissension between the Elves. It wasn't an easy moment."

"Will the newly-arrived Elves be as such?

"No. No longer. This has been well planned."

"You have seen the new babe created between a Mystic and a Dungaras?"

"You refer to your first love's daughter's child?"

"Yes."

"A strange breeding, but you will find its resistance to disease unusually strong. But nothing else is known of such a pairing, as never prior has such occurred."

San'lr'in’ heard a far-distant noise; one she had been hoping for, “Please excuse Me, High Wizard Sorcerer, but another seeks Me. We will speak again later."

She gave a soft whistle, then waited. When she saw the great bird, she held out her arm, letting the bird land on it. While the bird spoke to her, she listened carefully, far from pleased with the report. She stood completely yet in her thoughts, unaware of all those about the town, reminding herself of her long-prior teacher's words:
There is usually a reason for dark moments such as this
.

With the new report from her winged messenger, San'lr'in’ had become anxious to return to the Valley. She had spent many moments thinking over the message, then had Ann'wn, Erthrn, Uthrn, the Warrior Woman, Mil'der'in, Sume', An'ther'on and Fon'elnn called to her at the small arena in the middle of the town.

"We leave on the third turn."

Ann'wn nodded, knowing fully that this wasn't the purpose for the meeting, “Yes, Highness.” She could sense her queen's uneasiness.

Sume’ had no patience, “You surely couldn't have called us together for this startling report."

The High Queen rose and began to pace, ignoring her sister's statement, “Mil'der'in. What report comes from the Valley this turn?"

"There is an unconfirmed report that there has been a slight disturbance in the Southern Lands, Highness. And there has been a report from Sansthera."

"Tell us of both."

"A guard from one of our far-southern villages has reported a battle. A second messenger has been vowed to arrive with another report once more is known. And there has been a report from Sansthera. The arriving humans have asked us to inform them of what Mystics are, Highness."

The High Queen looked briefly at Mil'der'in, displeased with the lack of knowledge in the report, “Have another messenger returned quickly to the Valley. I want the full details of the incident in the southern community by My return to the Valley."

Mil'der'in nodded, “Yes, Highness. And what of the arriving humans? Do you wish to have a message sent?"

The High Queen looked puzzled, “An answer? They know not Mystics? How overly strange. Sister, do you have an answer for such?"

Sume’ shrugged, “They sound dull-witted, so provide them a simple response, only. Tell them that Mystics are not humans."

"Will they understand this, an answer in the reverse?"

"And how would you explain that which they know nothing of, Force Leader?"

San'lr'in’ waved her hand, dismissing the discussion, “Tell them what My sister says. It will keep them busy. We have more important issues facing us. An'ther'on, what report from your forces?"

"The journey to the Valley is clear of danger, Highness. I have heard nothing about this battle in the Southern Lands."

"Erthrn. What reports have you from your forces?"

"We are yet following the Mungardies, Highness. I have no reports from the Southern Lands."

"Ann'wn. What reports have you heard?"

"The Realm's forces report the battle, my Queen. A few of the town's subjects were fleeing to another village for safety, and told your forces of the battle."

The High Queen waited a moment, becoming frustrated, “And?"

"A village had been attacked, Highness."

"By who, Force Leader? Can you not be more forthcoming than this?"

Ann'wn had received a report from her messengers, but hadn't wished to share the details until the facts were fully verified, “In truth, my Queen, what I have heard is mere story, until my forces can determine this."

"Tell Me, Force Leader. Make Me not beg for this information."

"The fleeing villages stated that they were attacked by the R'kin'dles, Highness. But this is not possible."

Sume’ stood, protesting loudly, “This cannot be so, San'lr'in'. They wouldn't do as such. These villagers lie. The R'kin'dles have vowed they would no longer battle against The Realm."

San'lr'in’ halted her pacing and faced her sister, “Yes, I know this, High Priestess. It is as you say. If they did this, they did as such for a reason we yet know not.” She turned to Ann'wn, “And I have also heard that the R'kin'dles attacked the village, but My messenger told Me more. I have been informed that they attack as their town is being held captive unless they do as such."

Sume’ was angered, “Who is behind this?"

San'lr'in’ looked at her, wishing she knew more. She waited a moment, sighed deeply, then said, “I have a guess, only."

"You are as infuriating as your Force Leader. Tell me your guess."

She sighed, looking more than frustrated, “I believe it is the Wizard of The Ravens. I believe she is awakening."

Sume’ looked stunned. An'ther'on had never heard of such, “Who is this, Highness?"

Sume’ stood staring at her, fully paralyzed in the possibility, “But she cannot yet be returned. The legends say otherwise. She was to be gone well past our lifespans."

San'lr'in’ looked at Sume', “She has sensed Me through My spells."

Sume’ looked panicked and now shook her head in disbelief, “Not her. Tell me that you jest, as we cannot win against her powers."

Ann'wn, like An'ther'on, didn't know of the Wizard of The Ravens, but felt Sume's fear, “Who is this, Highness?"

Sume’ sat down heavily, her heart filled with despair, “The most evil and strongest wizard to ever walk in The Realm."

Mil'der'in looked confused, “I thought the Dark Sorcerer was the strongest, Highness."

Erthrn was also bewildered, “And I thought that most of the magic spells have been returned to the safety of The Realm, my Queen."

The High Queen was thinking thoughts far removed from the moment so hadn't heard their questions, “Highness?"

She turned, startled, “Huh? Ah, My apologies. Tell them, High Priestess, of this long prior one. They know not this tale."

Sume’ was yet in shock as to her sister's statement, and in full disbelief that this wizard could be in The Realm in their own lifespan. She gathered what memory she could from the long-prior tale, “Her name was banned from The Realm for fear that the saying aloud of it could return her to The Realm. This is why so few know of her existence in our era. For many eons, well prior to our imaginings, this Wizard's name has remained as unspoken across all the cycles. She lives in the far Southern Lands, far below any settled regions, in the lands where the mountains explode into hot flowing lava and where the lands shake with such violence as to bring down the trees. The Dark Sorcerer was nothing but a mere Mystic babe as compared to her."

"Where did she come from? I thought all the sorcery contained."

"Contained? What do they mean by this, San'lr'in'?"

San'lr'in’ sighed. Upon their arrival to El'fs'nd'lle, she had felt lighter, far removed from her usual burdens of The Realm, but this report brought all its weight crashing back onto her, “Into the High Wizard Sorcerer's staff."

Sume’ nodded her understanding. She turned back to Mil'der'in, “The spells are contained, from those that have been available to us in our era, but the Wizard of The Ravens is from far long prior, well beyond our known past."

"Tell them the story, High Priestess. All of it, so that they might share the burden of what might now face us."

Sume’ repeated the same story that both she and her sister had been told prior by their grandmother and teachers, “Far removed from our moments, even prior to when this realm was first settled by our kind, this wizard was the High Counselor to its leader, one far long-prior to any High Queen. It was when the powers were stronger than any we know, well beyond our imaginings. The leader of The Realm, Jre'nec'rn', was strong, but young. We know not if this line yet continues, and we know not if she was even of the Mystics. The Realm was a larger place then, including many from other Realms, but in this we have little understanding. Jre'nec'rn’ ruled all this Realm as well as two others. We know these not. The Wizard of The Ravens was of a ruling family from far across the realms, but had been passed by as a leader, even though she was most beautiful. She was given to Jre'nec'rn’ as a token of friendship and peace, in hopes of combining two great legions, and she became Jre'nec'rn's partner by oath. Jre'nec'rn’ saw it as a good political pairing, as the Wizard of The Ravens was gifted with farsight, a sight that Jre'nec'rn’ was lacking. The Wizard of The Ravens thus became Jre'nec'rn's most favored counsel, and her partner, although Jre'nec'rn’ had another as her true and only lover.

"Jre'nec'rn’ increased her holdings, with much guidance from the Wizard of The Ravens. It was said that this realm in which we live was alive with more races and population than we can guess, with other realms traveling here to trade. Her rule was successful and prosperous, and all loved her. Over the cycles, Jre'nec'rn’ and her lover had two children, which Jre'nec'rn’ is reported to have loved beyond reason. This caused much jealousy in the Wizard of The Ravens, but she said nothing of it for a long while.

"Jre'nec'rn’ knew of her High Counselor's jealousy, but ignored it. And thus began the High Counselor's slip into the darkest of all thoughts. She began scheming against Jre'nec'rn', plotting her downfall, as she secretly traded the palace's riches in exchange for the magical spells. Also during these moments, she built her own Keep in the Southern Lands. While Jre'nec'rn’ knew of her High Counselor's building, she thought it as good in order to keep the High Counselor busy and away from the royal family. The Southern Lands, like now, were mostly ignored for lack of any desirable locations for habitation within them.

"The more Jre'nec'rn’ allowed her High Counselor her freedom, the more she took and the more she wanted. As she became stronger in her powers, she began to wish for Jre'nec'rn's rule, thinking it her due. She bought many alliances and planned Jre'nec'rn's overthrow and assassination. In all these moments, Jre'nec'rn’ was considered a great leader, and was fully devoted to her lover and children. Wherever she traveled, she took her family, never wishing to remain apart from them. Jre'nec'rn's realms strongly approved, ever celebrating her arrival with her family. But at each moment of this occurrence, in her High Counselor's company, it would twist the High Counselor's mind a bit more.

"The High Counselor held her patience, training her ravens for when the moment was correct. It is said that she had thousands upon thousands of ravens. When the moment arrived, Jre'nec'rn’ and her family were captured, as by now none could hide from the High Counselor's ravens, and Jre'nec'rn’ was forced to watch as her lover was tortured and killed, and as her children's eyes were pecked out by the High Counselor's ravens, then tortured and killed.

"Jre'nec'rn’ was also to be killed, but escaped with the aide of her own guards. After many cycles, and after her former High Counselor had now placed herself as leader, Jre'nec'rn’ returned for her revenge. None thought that she could ever overcome the Wizard of The Ravens, as the Wizard had become overly strong, beyond any prior, and stronger than any other across all the known realms. She now ruled the known realms, yet all her subjects feared and hated her. But none could plot against her, as the ravens were everywhere, acting as her eyes and ears. She ruled her realms through fear, and the ravens were ever seeking out those who would betray her. It is said that many went insane from the sight of the ever-present ravens. And it is said that she could often be seen standing on her balcony, laughing as her ravens pecked the eyes of one of her subjects. The only love this one had was her love for killing. By the end of her reign, many of her realms’ races were wiped-out by her, forever extinct.

"Like her High Counselor had done to her, Jre'nec'rn’ waited until the correct moment, planning carefully, practicing her own powers to make them stronger. When the moment came, scores of those yet loyal to Jre'nec'rn’ helped in the scheme. Suddenly, across all the realms, the ravens were captured until only a few remained. Without her eyes and ears, the former High Counselor felt blind and fearful. Jre'nec'rn’ stepped into her Keep, challenging her for the return of her own reign. The contest lasted many turns, but Jre'nec'rn’ sadly saw that she was to lose to this overly powerful wizard. As her last act, now knowing that she could never kill the Wizard, she used her remaining powers to imprison her within her own Keep. As Jre'nec'rn’ died, she did so knowing that her powers had worked, for as her eyesight began to fade from her realm, she saw that the Wizard lay on her floor, asleep for the eons yet to come. It is said that the remainder of the ravens that could be caught were killed, and the Keep was sealed, as none knew how to rid The Realm of this Wizard."