The High Queen's Vow [The Mystic Women of The Realm Series Book IV] (83 page)

Ann'wn sighed, holding her feelings away from her heart, “Then tell the Mungardies, Messenger."

Her messenger nodded, then ran to her assignment. Ann'wn watched her for a moment, wondering if the young messenger would live through the battle. She looked back out across the battlefield, seeing the vast carnage strewn before her, fully overwhelmed in its enormity. She closed her eyes for a moment, holding back the heaviness of her heart at the report of Erthrn's possible death.

"Their forces now dwindle quickly, Force Leader. It appears we have taken control of the battle."

She opened her eyes and turned to the voice. She examined Sam for a moment, seeing her wounded in many places, blood yet flowing from the wounds, “The Healer's camp is directly behind us, Highest. You have great need of her services."

Sam nodded wearily, “Any report from The High Queen?"

Ann'wn shook her head, “I know not who yet remains in The Realm."

Sam shook her head, “Not many. It was a terrible battle. Perhaps it is the moment to find out, Force Leader. But you also have great need of a Healer. Your arm is bleeding overly freely."

Ann'wn looked back out to the battlefield, not hearing or caring what Sam had said, “So much death."

Once the Keep's walls were finally broken down, Sle'nel’ ran through them, trying to remain away from the main battle lines.

"Second. Wait."

She glanced back to Meera, “I cannot wait. Hurry, Meera. This battle is not our concern. We have a greater task. Be rid of this fight that seeks you."

Meera had begun to fight against a few of the Wizard's forces but saw that Sle'nel’ was running ahead of her, ignoring and evading the fights as possible, and quickly ending the fights in which she was forced to engage. Meera dispatched the three from the OuterRealm, then ran to catch up with Sle'nel'. She caught up with her as Sle'nel’ looked up at the main part of the Keep, “We must find a way inside this building, Meera, and quickly so. The High Queen's life now depends on us."

Meera examined the main part of the Keep, then saw a door, “We could try to enter through its doors, Second."

Sle'nel’ looked at her as if she were crazy, then nodded, “The obvious solution, yet I didn't think of such."

They reached the door and turned the handle, then were fully surprised as it opened, “Where now, Second?"

"I know not, Meera. Let us hope my staff will direct us. Quickly. Let us to the inside."

Unwittingly, they had entered into the main entrance of the Keep's center. Looking about them, Meera was surprised in its opulence, “I have never seen such as this. Where did she get all these beautiful items?"

Sle'nel’ was consulting her staff, but answered absentmindedly, “From the other Realms. Come. My staff tells me that we must enter into another section of this building. The Cloak is not in this room."

Meera followed dumbly, prepared to defend them, but wishing she knew where they were, or where they were going, “There is no one about. Where is everyone?"

Sle'nel’ shrugged, “Fighting, would be my guess. Let us just hope we don't run into the Wizard until after we gain this Cloak."

They sprinted down a long hallway, dispatching two unobservant guards in the process, but otherwise not encountering any forces of great concern, “Where do we head, Second?"

"We need to find the Wizard's bedroom. The Cloak will be there."

"Why is this cloak needed, Second?"

They came to a junction in the hallway, Sle'nel’ looking down both halls. As she began to sprint down the hall to the right, she answered back over her shoulder, “It is the Cloak of Life."

After the Master left Sam with Ann'wn, she ran toward the Keep, generally ignoring the main part of the battle. She slipped from one fight to the next, avoiding detection by either side. She moved quickly, yet mostly unobserved, focused solely upon finding her High Queen.

She hid discreetly, as needed, finally gaining entry into the Keep through its main gates, even prior to its great walls being destroyed. By the moment she had arrived in the Keep's main courtyard, she had stolen and donned some garments that made her to look as if she were in the Wizard's forces.

She entered into the main building, moving quickly from room to room, wishing she knew the layout of the Wizard's Keep.

"Halt. You cannot enter there."

She turned to the voice, “The Wizard has sent for me. I have reports from the battle. It is urgent."

The guard blocked her passage, “I know you not. Who are you?"

"My Force Leader has died in battle. I am the only one left."

The guard was confused, “The Wizard didn't give any commands for such."

The Master shrugged and acted as if she was going to leave, “Fine. Then you tell her. It was a bad report anyway, and she would have beaten me for it. You tell her then. I would rather fight than face her anger."

"Wait. You may enter."

The Master turned back and began to enter into the room, then turned suddenly, killing the guard without warning. She opened the doors slightly, listening for any noise. Hearing none, she entered quietly into the room, searching for her High Queen. She searched the room thoroughly, then moved into the next room. Seeing nothing again, she moved on into the next, then stood in the door as she entered, seeing the one sight she had hoped against all hope to never see.

"Tell all Force Leaders, to the Keep."

The messengers mounted, then left quickly to their task. Ann'wn looked out across the battlefield yet again, knowing that most of The High Queen's Private Guard were now laying out there, as well as most her own forces. She had lost sight of The High Queen's Black Guard long prior, wondering if Uthrn were yet alive. She felt herself shudder at the sounds of pain and dying that seemed to continually come from the battlefield. Never had she seen such utter devastation in battle as she had seen this battle. And now as she spoke to her messengers, she knew them to be replacements only, not recognizing any of them.

She mounted her horse, wondering if she would ever lift a sword again with her arm, then chose to ignore the pain.

"Force Leader. We must halt your bleeding."

She offered her left arm down toward the voice, “Come. We must find The High Queen."

The Healer looked at her for a moment, then grabbed her arm and swung herself up onto the horse. They rode quickly toward the Keep, avoiding the few lingering fights yet occurring. The Healer looked out across the battlefield as they rode, shocked in the sight.

"Look not, Healer. There is little you can do to improve the moment."

She whispered her horror, “There are thousands, Ann'wn."

Ann'wn nodded, thinking to herself,
Thousands upon thousands.

Sle'nel’ closed her eyes, trying to feel any signs of the cloak she now sought.

"Anything?"

She shook her head, becoming fully frustrated, “No. Yet I must find it, and soon."

Meera looked around, “This seems to be the wrong section of the building. This appears to be more for her attendants. Let us move down the hall more."

Sle'nel’ nodded, moving quickly. They turned down another hall, then saw two large doors, “Look. Perhaps this be it, Second."

Meera opened one of the doors quietly, listening for any sounds from within. Hearing none, she entered, “I think this might be end of your search, Second."

Sle'nel’ felt her staff twitch, and knew Meera was correct. She moved closer to the doors that entered into another smaller room, “This must be where her garments are stored."

"What does it look like, Second?"

Sle'nel’ felt her heart skip a beat as she looked up and saw it. She reached to the cloak and removed it slowly from its location, “Like this."

Meera looked over and saw it. She was stunned at its simpleness, “Are you certain, Second? That doesn't look like a special cloak in any regard."

Her hands shook as she touched it, feeling its immense power, “This is it, Meera."

She brought it to her, holding it carefully as it were a mere babe, “Now, Meera, we must find The High Queen, and quickly so."

The Master moved quickly to her High Queen, kneeling at her side, checking for any signs of life.

"Is she yet alive, Master?"

She bent down, listening for a heartbeat, or breathing. She heard nothing. She then felt The High Queen's arm, feeling its coolness.

"No. She lives no more."

The Master hung her head, now knowing she had arrived overly late.

Ann'wn knelt next to her Queen, across from the Master. She examined her High Queen's face, seeing peace in its stillness. She didn't feel the tears that streamed freely from her eyes.

"Move aside. Both of you."

The Healer shoved the Master away forcefully, then knelt down next to her Queen. She felt her neck, checking for a pulse. She knew her Queen well enough to know that nothing would be so simple with her. She felt for many moments, becoming less hopeful with each passing moment, her own desperation growing more quickly than she had thought possible. Then, just as she was about to give up, she jumped as she felt a slight beat.

"What is it?"

Then she felt nothing, so waited again, wondering.

They whispered, “What is it, Healer?"

She was annoyed at the disturbance, “Shhhh! I cannot attend with you yelling in my ear."

Sume’ and Sele’ entered, “Does she live, Healer?"

Sume’ moved Ann'wn away, studying San'lr'in's body, “She removed the great Red Stone of Power away from her heart."

Sele’ was examining the Wizard, “Look. She killed the Wizard."

Sume’ knelt down and touched her finger lightly to the Red Stone, feeling its pulsing, “We need to place this back within her. Her heart is now inside it."

The Healer looked at her, “How could this be that she is not dead?"

"The Red Stone touches her, so she may yet live. She was directed to do as such, so as to live, if possible. We must do as Sume’ says, and then we are to place this cloak over her."

Everyone turned to the voice, stunned. Sle'nel’ walked over next to Sume'.

Sume’ looked up at her, then saw the cloak, “The Cloak of Life? Where did you find this? This has long been gone from The Realm."

Sele’ looked to her Aunt, “How do you know of such, Aunt High Wizard Sorcerer?"

Sume’ looked puzzled, “Hmmm ... I know not, Young One. I suppose the knowledge came as I became High Wizard Sorcerer.” She turned to Sle'nel', “But how did you know of it, Elf? And how did you know it was here?"

Sele’ answered, “Grandmother Is'en'nel’ is here. I can feel her presence."

The Healer examined the Red Stone without touching it, “Who is to return this to her?"

Sume’ shook her head, “I did prior, but it now contains all the powers of the Wizard, so would be even more dangerous than prior."

Sle'nel’ felt her desperation growing. She touched her hand to her Queen's cold cheek, “We must tend to this quickly. I cannot lose her. The Realm has great need of her."

Sele’ stood by her and placed her hand on her shoulder, “It is for me to do, Birth-Mother."

Sle'nel’ looked at her, surprised, “You?"

Sume’ shook her head, “You cannot know of this, Young One."

"Some things just come to me, Aunt High Wizard Sorcerer. And this came to me as soon as Grandmother Is'en'nel’ reminded me of where this memory was kept."

"You can return her heart to her?"

Sele’ nodded, “She is yet alive as long as the great Red Stone of Power touches her. Look at it. Can you not see its pulsing? It beats her life for her. Barely so, but it is now of life itself. It contains great powers that The Realm has long prior forgotten."

Sle'nel’ stood, “Can one mystic hold all these powers, and yet remain as she once was?"

Her mother answered,
She will be changed, but The Realm has need of these powers, and is why this moment has come to be. Have your Birth-Daughter restore The High Queen's heart, Daughter. It is the moment.

Sle'nel’ touched Sele's yet small shoulder, “Do as you will, Birth-Daughter."

Sele’ moved her arms out in the form of a circle and began chanting her spells and powers to her, as she closed her eyes and moved her head upward. She then knelt next to The High Queen and placed one hand on the great Red Stone of Power, as she raised the other hand up toward the sky.

Suddenly, a huge bolt of red lightning struck the Red Stone of Power, then another. After five lightning strikes, all watched in shock as the stone slowly dissolved itself into The High Queen's chest. When it had disappeared to inside The High Queen, one last lightning bolt slammed into her chest, causing her body to jump at its power.

The Healer saw life return to her High Queen, and sighed, “She breathes. Unbelievably, she lives."

Sle'nel’ bent down next to San'lr'in', seeing her lover's skin regain its color. As she looked at her lover's face, she saw The High Queen staring up at her, yet with eyes that were so far removed from The Realm that a sudden chill raced down her spine.

"San'lr'in'? Can you hear me?"

San'lr'in's eyes stared into Sle'nel's, but no sign of recognition was given. And as suddenly, her eyes closed against to The Realm.

"Does she live?"

Sele’ nodded, “The High Queen lives."

The Healer moved close so as to try to help remove some of The High Queen's pain, but when she touched her forehead, a great jolt of power slammed into her, throwing her slightly away from The High Queen, “What happened?"

Sele’ looked at The Healer, then at her Aunt, then at her Birth-Mother, “When all her new powers are fully integrated into her, she will be returned to The Realm. Until then, the powers will not allow anyone to touch The High Queen."

"But how are we to transport her?"

Sle'nel’ placed the Cloak of Life over The High Queen, wrapping it firmly around her, “The Cloak of Life will protect The High Queen, and it will also allow us to move her."

The Healer protested, “She will need water. And food."

Sele’ shook her head, “The Cloak of Life will tend to her needs, Healer. She is no longer as we knew her. She will not require these things until she is allowed to be returned to The Realm. None of us has ever prior dealt with such powers, but now these powers are fully in control of her for the moment, until they have become her, and her, them."