The High Queen's Vow [The Mystic Women of The Realm Series Book IV] (80 page)

Ann'wn then looked at the Force Leader of the Mungardies, “Once the command is given to begin the battle, you and your forces will be solely on your own. Hold tight to your ranks, as you cannot fall."

The Mungardies Force Leader bowed her head deeply, “We will hold our ranks. Fear this not, Force Leader for The High Queen. We know our prior stories well, and we cannot allow this Wizard to gain any of The Realm."

Ann'wn looked up at the sky, seeing the ravens. Now that they were fully in the Southern Hemisphere, the ravens had been greater in number, even given that many were now fighting against them. She looked back to her forces, “The Private Guard will wait until after the first turn of the battle, while the Black Guard will do as they ever do, slipping behind the lines."

She sighed, wishing her Queen was with her. She examined Sle'nel’ for a moment, wondering how she could act as normal given where her lover was. She sighed again, “We begin at the signal. I wish you well.” She gave great effort to muster what motivation she could for her forces, “For The Realm. For The High Queen!"

They all moved their fist firmly to their heart, “For The High Queen!"

"It is a good turn to save The Realm."

Ann'wn nodded, watching a few of the Elfin flying horses fly overhead, “Indeed, Queen Erthrn. And may we all live to tell the battle's tales."

San'lr'in’ saw the Wizard come to her. It had been more than a full turn since she had seen the Wizard, and she knew the moments were now moving against her and her forces. She was becoming urgent in her need to move her plan forward. She got up and held out her hands to her, “Wizard. Finally, you return."

The Wizard moved desirously into San'lr'in', embracing her tightly and kissing her fully, “I want you now, but I fear that I must tend to my duties."

"Perhaps this eve, then?"

The Wizard was pleased in The High Queen's desire, sensing that it was indeed truth, “When I regain The Realm, we will have many more moments, my red-haired one. In the meanwhile, I am truly pleased in you."

San'lr'in’ moved the Wizard's hand to her breast, urging her forward in the plan, “Surely your forces can tend to these affairs without you for a moment."

The Wizard bent down slightly, removed The High Queen's gown away from her breast, and touched the more inviting part, while moaning her own pleasure, “I cannot come this eve, High Queen, but I vow that I will come upon the next turn."

San'lr'in’ covered her breast, “May I have your leave to explore My new surroundings, Wizard?"

The Wizard kissed The High Queen's neck, then moved to her mouth, kissing her again fully, while her hands explored San'lr'in's breasts. Gasping, wanting more, she moved slightly away, “Of course. Just promise me that you will stay inside the Keep until after I tend to my affairs."

San'lr'in’ looked confused, “Promise? What is this meaning?"

The Wizard laughed, “How very humorous. Promise. Pledge. Give your honor."

She bowed her head, understanding, “Ah. You have My vow."

The Wizard leered at her, “And vow that you will be as eager upon my return."

San'lr'in’ raised an eyebrow and gave a knowing smile, “You will have to determine this for yourself, Wizard, but I vow that I will be waiting for you, and fully so."

The Wizard leered again. She kissed her upon her neck once more, “I find your neck overly compelling, High Queen. I cannot wait for our moments together."

"I can hear the battle."

Sam listened, then looked at U'Aine, “Which direction?"

U'Aine pointed, “There. You can see the battle's smoke above the tree line."

Sam nodded, “I see it. We must find Ann'wn."

"We go there now."

U'Aine turned back to the Woden Forces, “From this moment on, be well prepared for the enemy.” She looked at Sam then held out her hand, “I must find our High Queen, Highest. Please tend well to yourself in my absence."

Sam took her hand and nodded, “And you as well, Master. I would like to continue where we left off, in Woden."

For the first moment in U'Aine's life, she worried over whether she would live to return to this woman she had fallen in love with, “Highest ... I find myself unable to—"

Sam placed her finger to U'Aine's lips, “I know, Master. You need not say this. I feel the same. You will remain in my thoughts. Go and find my sister, for The Realm, Master."

U'Aine nodded, gathering all her Master training firmly to her, trying to force herself into a more distanced stance, as would be needed from her, “I will take you to Ann'wn, and will leave from there."

The warrior had a seldom-seen frantic look upon her face, “Force Leader. They continue to come at us. They are never-ending in their numbers, and we are running low on arrows."

Ann'wn looked around at the battle scene, knowing that they had killed as many as possible without yet engaging in the hand-to-hand combat, “It is the moment. Take up the swords and spears. Move in quickly, and move through the lines—as planned, with the horses at full speed.” She turned toward Erthrn, “We will begin the third phase of the attack when I see that your forces have moved through the front lines. Remember to remain away from the east side of the Keep."

Erthrn bowed her head, “It shall be done."

"Force Leader. We cannot hold them any longer."

She turned to the voice, seeing another of her battle-weary leaders. She was surprised to see this one so defeated looking, “Fall back as the Private Guard move in. They are fresh and will hold them until the next phase."

Mil'der'in stood next to Ann'wn, “It is the moment for Sume’ to begin."

Ann'wn didn't move her eyes from the battlefield, “Tell her to begin after the sword fighting begins. Tell her to then begin with all her might. And Sele’ also. We need to gain entrance into the Keep."

"I can no longer see Sle'nel'."

Ann'wn had lost sight of her a half-turn ago, and wasn't pleased, “Our only hope in this regard is that the Warrior Woman of Woden is with her."

"When will the Elves and the flying horses arrive?"

"They have already arrived, long prior and now just wait for their moment. Sle'nel’ prepared the Elves well. They know the plan."

Mil'der'in looked to her and placed her hand on Ann'wn's shoulder, “Any word from The High Queen?"

Ann'wn merely shook her head.

"Force leader. What, or who are these that our forces now fight against?"

She turned to look at her lover, “I know not, Healer, but The High Queen told us that they have come through the OuterRealm. They don't fight well, but there seem to be unending numbers of them."

The Healer looked at the multitudes upon the battlefield, “How are we to halt that which is unending in their numbers?"

"Let us trust that The High Queen knows well what she does."

The Healer nodded in full trust, “She does. Of this I know. I understand it not, but I know fully she will achieve her goal."

"I have the Wizard's permission to explore her Keep."

The guard didn't move, “I am sorry, High Queen. I act on orders."

The High Queen made a slight movement with her hand, casting a sleeping spell onto the guard, “Of course, Guard. I understand."

She lowered the guard to a nearby chair, then entered the forbidden passage quietly, trying to avoid any other guard. She saw nothing but darkness as she peeked in through the door. Waiting for a moment for her eyes to adjust to the dim light, she listened carefully to the muffled noises ahead of her. Moving silently but quickly down the long, dark hallway, she felt relief that no guards were outside any of the many doors she passed, except for one. As she saw the guard, she halted, hoping that this would be the door she sought. The guard seemed quite bored, but avoiding any further risk, she used the sleeping spell again. As the guard slumped to the floor, she cracked the guarded door open.

She sighed in frustration as she saw yet another dark hallway. She entered it, moving quickly down toward the bright light and the noise. She listened, smiling briefly as she recognized the sounds. As she neared the light, she kept her distance, but saw what she expected to see.

The portal. Finally.

She watched for a moment as the Wizard's forces entered from the OuterRealm into this realm, through what seemed no more than a shining archway. The arch seemed to be standing on its own as the Wizard's legions filed from it in a steady stream, directly out to the outside through the Keep's thick wall. She looked around carefully, her eyes narrowing.

Where is it? Where is the sphere?

She began to feel herself panic, knowing the urgency of halting these forces, but knowing that she hadn't yet found the key to lock this portal against them. She grew angry with herself, having assumed that the sphere would be in the same location. Her desperation grew, especially now in seeing the great numbers her forces were having to battle.

She closed her eyes for a moment and moved lightly into her meditations, trying to sense the energy's location.

It is not in this room
. Her frustrations were becoming uncontrollable, well knowing that she needed to complete the task soon or face a greater risk of detection upon each moment, and then, failure for The Realm.

She tried again, then felt it,
Of course! It is beneath this room
.

She turned quickly and retraced her steps, removing all the evidence of her presence as she went.

Re-entering the first hallway, she sensed the air about her, seeking cooler air, knowing that such would indicate a passage to the lower levels. She walked the long hallway slowly, sensing no change. Then, as she neared the doorway from which she had first entered, she felt it.

Finally. Cooler air.

She was surprised in seeing that it wasn't another doorway, but a stairway down that had been hidden just slightly to the side, yet behind of the door she had first entered. Beginning the stairway, she moved steadily down into the hollows of the Wizard's great Keep, avoiding the use of any light. She moved her hand lightly along the wall to help guide her, feeling nothing but a cool slimy substance upon it.

The further down the circular stairway she went, the darker and cooler it became. She brought forward a spell, bringing a small ball of light to her, now having no choice but to do as such. As the spiral staircase ended, she saw a crossroads of four separate paths in front of her. She bent down and examined the dirt paths, then rose, examining the right one. She received no signs from the path of its destination. She went down it a ways, then halted.

She heard moaning, guessing the sounds to be from prisoners in their cells. She returned to the crossroads and chose the next path. Hearing voices, she chanted another spell to remove the ball of light from her. She had brought no weapons with her, not wanting them on her in case she was caught. She moved slowly down toward the noise, listening as she went.

"...glad I am not in that battle..."

"...nothing but ... coward...."

"I AM NO COWARD! Take ... back ... kill you!"

She heard the sound of swords clashing against each other, then moved quickly to the edge of the room. Once there, she made certain to stand against the unlit wall so as to remain away from the shadows. She was grateful for the guards’ inattention to their duty, hoping there were only the two of them. As the two guards fought each other, she cast a sleeping spell upon them, as she had done to the other guards. As they fell quietly to the dirt floor, she stepped over them to study the lock upon the closed door. After a brief moment, she moved her hand slightly, unlocking it. She entered inside, brought the small ball of light to her once more, then anxiously examined the room. Her frantic eyes came to rest on the only item in the room.

Thank the Mothers.

She closed her eyes for a moment, sensing for the portal. After a moment, she sensed it directly above her, but far so.

She was stunned,
This sphere has greater power than I thought to be so overly far removed from the portal.

Moving to the middle of the otherwise empty room, she examined the item she had sought. A large round crystal ball had been carefully set onto a chest-high pedestal. Feeling its power call to her, she fought the urge to touch it, to become one with it. Yet, even as she fought against its great powers, she felt deep awe in the moment.

The Crystal Sphere of the OuterRealm. After all these eons
.

In truth, until just a moon prior, she hadn't believed the sphere yet existed in The Realm, believing she would have felt its presence. She could feel the energy it was both using and emitting, knowing fully that it was acting as the door between this realm and the OuterRealm. She had heard many legends of this crystal ball in the tales of the storytellers, tales of immense powers well prior to The High Queens’ line, but knew that it no longer existed in her known realm. She stood staring at it in wonder, now seeing that it indeed did exist, and in her known realm.

How do I halt it from its powers?

She allowed herself a moment to work through her plan, wishing that all the prior High Queens could assist her.

Crack it.

Her heart jumped at the unexpected sound that rang in her mind. She whispered, “How are you here, Teacher?"

Someone needs to tend to you, Highness, and I have more final moments. After you shared your concerns with me, I knew you might need my assistance, so a few of the other Elfin Spirits gave me their final moments. But enough of this. In my era, I studied the Wizard of the Ravens carefully, always wondering what we would do should she return within our lifespans. But I now see that there is little reason for my presence, as I should have known that you would take good care of our realm.

The High Queen could barely believe that Is'en'nel's spirit was yet with her, and in this room, “But how—?"

Quickly, Student. You have few moments.

"I will have to make it look like the guards did as such."