The High Queen's Vow [The Mystic Women of The Realm Series Book IV] (81 page)

Yes, during their swordplay.

"Can this sphere not be repaired, if it is only cracked?"

We cannot break it. This is all I know. If we break it fully, the OuterRealm gains a fully opened entrance into our Realm that cannot be sealed. If we crack it, we can never again enter the OuterRealm, but it also then cannot come into our Realm.

The High Queen shivered at the thought of what she had been about to do, “Then it is most certain a good moment that you are here, as I would have broken it.” She went quickly back to the guards and removed one of their swords, “Let us hope this works, Teacher."

Indeed, High Queen.

She raised the sword, then brought it firmly down upon the crystal ball. She raised an eyebrow when she saw that it had no effect, surprised.

Quickly. Again. Your moments are passing
.

She brought the sword fully down upon the crystal ball again, closing her eyes at the moment of impact. Her heart was beating uncontrollably, hoping she hadn't fully broken the ball. She heard the impact, then winced.

You did it! Now hurry. Move the guards.

Amazed, The High Queen looked at the crystal ball and saw a great crack in it. She heard her Teacher's words, then moved quickly to the outer hallway and dragged in the guards, placing them strategically. She backed out of the room, removing her sorcery signs as she did so, and removing footsteps and other physical signs from the dirt floor.

She looked down the hallway, then began her exit. As she came to the crossroads, she halted.

Why do you halt?

"The prisoners."

You cannot worry over them. You will do no one any good if you cannot complete your mission.

"You know of it?"

Move, Student!

The High Queen ran quickly up the stairs. As she reached the main floor, she turned back to the guard onto which she had first placed her sleeping spell. She stood in front of the guard, slowed down her own breathing and heart, then woke her.

Acting like no moments had passed, she responded to the guard's prior statement, “Of course, Guard. I understand."

The guard awoke, but looked confused. She shook her head, then said, “Thank you, High Queen."

As The High Queen moved away from the door, she waived her hand slightly, making the guard to forget the moment. She then entered her room, finding her attendant yet asleep from the spell she had given to her. She undid her spell, waived her hand, dismissing the attendant's memory of the moment.

She picked up their conversation as if in the middle of it, “...food in the Valley."

The attendant shook her head, “Huh? Oh, yes, High Queen."

Your garments, High Queen. They are dirtied from the dirt floors
.

She felt a sudden sense of panic, then calmed herself,
Thank you.

Thinking quickly, she rose, “I need a short nap, Attendant. My heart needs rest if I am to entertain the Wizard this eve.” She waived her hand lightly, making the attendant to once again fall asleep, but only lightly, knowing that the Wizard would need to be able to wake her. She got into the bed and arranged the covers over her gown.

Quickly. She comes. But you are yet in your gown.

"Let us hope that I can argue my case well, Teacher."

She laid her head down on the pillow and willed her heart to slow down to a sleeping pace. She removed all her thoughts from sensing, placing in a pleasant dream of the Wizard instead. She gave a small spell of pleasant aromas in hopes of masking the musky scent from the dungeon she had taken on, then gave another spell to hide the scent of the spells. She then allowed herself to move into her third meditation as she waited for the Wizard.

Sweet visions, Student.

She smiled lightly, as in a dream, silently thanking her teacher.

Suddenly, the Wizard stormed into the room, glancing about, searching for The High Queen. As she looked around the room, she became confused in the scene. All looked in unanticipated order. She saw the attendant, and shook her, “Attendant. Get up! You have fallen asleep. Tell me. Has The High Queen been here all the moments?"

The attendant fell to her knees, bowing to the Wizard, “Yes, Most Honored Wizard. She was tired. She was going to explore the Keep, but decided against it. She said that her heart needed to rest prior to being with you for the eve. She has been wounded most recently, Wizard, in her heart, and wanted to be fully rested for you."

The Wizard went quickly over to the bed and stood, studying her guest carefully. She was fully angry, well beyond control, but could sense only pleasant thoughts from her, and grew even more confused. San'lr'in’ stirred, then acted as if she were waking.

She opened her eyes, then startled, “Wizard. It is you. Have you come already? But I am hardly prepared. You should have sent a messenger, and I would have been made fresh for you."

The Wizard sensed into San'lr'in's heart, yet confused, “Your heart is still weakened from my stupid attempt on your life?"

San'lr'in’ reached up to the Wizard's neck and brought her to her, kissing her, “Hmmm ... Wizard. Would you care to join me?"

The Wizard stood back up, smiling, somewhat softened, beginning to believe that her visitor had not caused the sphere's breaking, “I cannot, sweet desirous one. Something of great urgency has occurred that needs my attention, but I will return, and gladly so, to your bed. But is your heart still weak?"

San'lr'in’ placed her hand to her heart, acting the role, “Somewhat, My Wizard. I only nap so as to be well rested for you. It yet makes me tire over easily."

The Wizard examined San'lr'in's thoughts once again, sensing only truth, desire and a weakness of the heart. She sighed, now fully believing that the guards’ carelessness had cracked her beloved crystal ball, instead of San'lr'in'. Her heart softened to her soon-to-be lover, “Allow me to repair your heart, the desire of my own heart."

San'lr'in’ quickly grabbed the Wizard's hand, “No, My Wizard. I cannot accept such a gift as this. You cannot be weakened in this moment. I am fine, and given the gracious rest you allow of Me, I will recover most quickly. In truth, My Wizard, you will not see any weakness when our moments together finally arrive. Kiss Me instead, My Wizard."

San'lr'in’ pulled the willing Wizard down to her, making her to lay upon her. The Wizard began to kiss her, but was well pleased when her High Queen kissed her fully, in return. San'lr'in’ used all the experience she had gained from her many lovers, exploring fully the Wizard's mouth, holding her head tightly to her with one hand placed at the back of her head, and moving her other hand between them, down to the Wizard's greatest need.

She continued to kiss the Wizard, dissolving her need to leave. The Wizard hesitated briefly, then moved fully into the moment, beginning to explore San'lr'in's body, wanting more.

As suddenly, San'lr'in’ halted the moment, acting somewhat upset. She knew she couldn't allow the Wizard to see her dirtied gown, “Leave now, so that you can come back fully to Me when the moments are yours. I want no blame for whatever takes you from this moment."

The Wizard was gasping in her need of the moment, yet rose, “You are correct. I will return in a short while. I promise that our moments will occur soon, my desirous one. It is I who am to blame for this most inopportune moment.” She straightened her garments, then smiled at San'lr'in', “I knew better than to think you a traitor, High Queen. I now know fully that you have come willingly to me."

San'lr'in’ raised an eyebrow, “Traitor? Me? Yet, I will desire to remain no longer if you and I cannot have more moments, Wizard. I came not so as to enjoy your Keep."

The Wizard looked outside the window, “I will return as the sun's set occurs. In truth, it will be difficult for me to wait until then, but I must attend to another affair. Until then, my desirous one."

San'lr'in’ smiled knowingly at her, “Until then. I will be waiting for you, fully."

"Force Leader. Their forces seem to be diminishing. Their ranks are not being re-supplied, as they were prior."

Ann'wn continued to study the bloody battlefield, “Yes. I have also seen this."

Mil'der'in spoke softly to her after the guard departed, “Our High Queen did as such?"

"I cannot imagine that the OuterRealm would run out of numbers, so it must be that our High Queen has managed to halt their passage, although I cannot guess how she has managed as such."

Another voice provided the answer, “Per her usual, she commands the impossible."

Ann'wn startled at the voice, unaware of The Healer's presence, “You are here."

The Healer took her hand, “I came to report that our field services have been placed directly north of here. Please direct all the wounded to the new location."

Ann'wn squeezed her hand lightly, “Of course, Healer. Take care of yourself. We have great need of you."

"And I, you, Lover. But you look tired."

"If their numbers decrease not soon, we will lose this battle."

One of her commanders came to her, “Force Leader. It is The Highest from Woden. She has arrived, and with a few reinforcements of her own."

"And with the Master?"

"She arrived with them, then immediately left, saying she was going to find The High Queen."

Sam walked up as Ann'wn heard her commander's words, “Find The High Queen? But she is inside the Keep."

Sam nodded, “Indeed, Force Leader. This knowledge seems not to but halt a Master, however. She is already departed on her mission."

Ann'wn held out her arm in greeting to Sam, “Highest. It is good you come. We have great need of your forces, no matter your numbers."

"And I now have powers that I can use against all these forces.” She looked out toward the battlefield, “But who, or what are these forces, Force Leader? These cannot be of The Realm. They appear to be half-dead."

"They are from the OuterRealm, somewhere."

"Sle'nel'?"

Ann'wn shrugged, “I know not where she is."

Sam looked again out onto the battlefield, “Where do you have greatest need of us?"

Ann'wn waved her hand across the entire battlefield, feeling defeated, “Out there."

Keddi was standing to one side, then came up, “With your permission, Highest?"

Sam nodded to her.

"I would like to take our forces to the center. It seems to be the greatest need at the moment."

"Go then.” She turned back to Ann'wn, “U'Aine has told us that my sister is in the Keep."

Ann'wn nodded, “She is."

"How was this possible?"

"The moments are most amazing, Highest. Since we have no moments now to discuss them, let us hope that we live to share the tales of this most interesting of battles."

"My daughter?"

Ann'wn looked slightly to her right, far across the battlefield, searching for her. She pointed, “There. With Sume'. What they do is but a guess to me, but it is sorcery most grand, as Sume’ is now the High Wizard Sorcerer.” She kept her eyes over to their part of the battlefield, then jerked, “Look. A cloud is growing, over their heads."

Sam shook her head, “Sele’ and Sume'. These tales will be most interesting. But I am off, Force Leader, to do what damage I am allowed."

Sele’ walked with her Aunt Sume', holding her hand, “Where do we head, Aunt High Wizard Sorcerer?"

Sume’ pointed, “There. It seems to be well unused by the fighting forces."

As they arrived, Sume’ looked around, wondering how she ever got to this moment.

Sele’ sensed her thoughts, “You were destined for this moment, Aunt Sume'."

Sume’ looked down at her beloved young one, “Perhaps, Young One, but your sensing into my thoughts is not welcomed. But come, we have much to do. See that wall?"

Sele’ nodded, “The East Wall, as Ann'wn said?"

Sume’ also nodded, “Exactly, Future Supreme Sovereign. That is one of our tasks. We must break down this wall and wreak as much havoc within the Keep's compound as we can manage. Once we break the wall, our forces will be able to defeat the Keep. Then we must remove the magic that has been given to protect the Keep."

"I can do locusts. Thousands and thousands of them."

She shivered at the thought, “No. What else?"

"Rocks."

"Hmmm ... perhaps. What else?"

"Is there water nearby?"

Sume’ looked around the landscape, then pointed, “There. A river."

Sele’ smiled up at her, “A flood, with the river rocks."

"Will the rocks mind?"

Sele’ shook her head, “They enjoy the adventure, but I will try to avoid any trees from being flooded out. They will not appreciate this unless they volunteer first, and I have not asked them."

Sume’ was surprised, “You learned much from the Women in the Trees."

Sele’ nodded, bringing the spell forward in her mind, “I knew not that the trees could be angered in this regard."

"Enough. We must tend to our duty. I will bring in a great storm, and you will turn the river into a flood. Then we will both enlist the rocks’ cooperation in hopes that they like to butt up against their relatives, the walls."

"They do. I have spoken to them of this, and they think it is most entertaining."

"Elfin Queen?"

Sle'nel’ turned, seeing the Elfin Force Leader of the few forces they had, “You have safely arrived, then?"

"We are all here, Elfin Queen, and await your commands."

"You must not enlist greatly in this battle but you do have a few main targets that we must try to rid The Realm of.” She pointed, “There. See the outlook?"

She nodded, “This we can accomplish. And the others?"

Sle'nel’ pointed to another location on the Keep, “We must take out the main gate."

She nodded again, “This also can be accomplished. Any others?"

She looked at her Force Leader, “Only one other, but it is not as easy as these. We must engage against the moat."

The Elfin Force Leader raised an eyebrow, “This is a challenge, then, Elfin Queen, but we will manage. Destroyed or filled?"

"Flooded. There are three main feeders.” She pointed again, “See? There are the feeder-rivers, and the damns that control them. And there are three main drains.” She pointed, “These also must be destroyed. But you must remain clear of the moat as there are most unusual creatures that live within it."