The High Queen's Vow [The Mystic Women of The Realm Series Book IV] (9 page)

When all was prepared, San'lr'in’ nodded to the warriors to begin, but Ann'wn suddenly interrupted her, “More strangers approach, Highness."

Having gone unnoticed by The High Queen, seven travelers neared, kneeling fully before San'lr'in', “Most Great High Queen of The Realm."

Ann'wn, Sam, Meera, An'ther'on and Uthrn were instantly present, swords already at the strangers’ necks, “State your purpose."

"We request permission to attend the Great Third Master's funeral."

The women lay fully upon the ground before The High Queen, as was their fashion. Their bodies were fully flattened upon the dry earth, with their arms straight out from their sides.

San'lr'in’ studied them carefully, recognizing their garments but not knowing the identity of the strangers. She spoke quietly to them, guessing as to their true identity, “How is it you knew of her death?"

The woman who spoke for the group glanced up for a slight moment at The High Queen, then cast her eyes quickly away, “We sensed it, Most Honored and Greatest High Queen."

All saw that the women covered most of their faces with a veil that wrapped around their head, shielding even most of their hair from view, yet the remainder of their clothes was scant. The High Queen saw an all-but-covered mark upon the hand of the spokeswoman for the group, recognizing the mark instantly. But she held the knowledge to herself.

"Rise. Tell Us who now stands before Us."

The women rose, with the spokeswoman standing before The High Queen, yet keeping her glance removed from her.

"We are just simple travelers, Highness. We met the Great Third Master long prior as she saved us from traitors of The Realm. We would like to give our final respects to her, as is her due."

"You are not a Master.” The remark came from a guard.

The woman suddenly and surprisingly removed one of the guard's swords from her grasp, moving it to just a breath away from The High Queen's neck, then as suddenly and quickly, tossed it up, catching it by the tip, offering the sword's hilt to The High Queen. The High Queen watched the woman's movements carefully, seeing great skill in her sword usage. The movements were so quick as to catch The High Queen's guards fully off-guard. Ann'wn made a move to kill the stranger, but The High Queen placed her hand on Ann'wn's arm, halting her.

She then nodded, “You may remain. Do you wish to provide the song for the Master?"

The woman bowed her head slightly, “We would be honored, Great Highness."

The High Queen motioned for Ann'wn and the others to relax their swords. As they moved back to their prior positions, The High Queen studied the eyes of the spokeswoman for the group, seeking her identity, but the woman yet kept her eyes averted.

San'lr'in’ turned back to the task at-hand, resting her hand lightly on Ern'seln's shoulder, sending her a message,
Be strong, Master-Apprentice. Your Birth-Mother would have it so.

She saw Ern'seln strengthen her body against her sadness, and saw that Ern'seln also didn't seem to recognize the strangers.

The High Queen nodded to Ann'wn to begin the ceremony, thinking to herself,
We bury overly many of The Realm's loyal daughters these turns.

The newly arrived strangers began The Master's funeral song, a slow, sad melodic dirge with whistles and drums. The Masters quietly fought between themselves to carry Be'rn’ on her last journey, each side carrying one side of the flat plank on which Be'rn’ was laid. As the music began, they carefully lifted the plank, then slowly began Be'rn's last walk in this realm, carrying Be'rn's body over their heads, her sword resting lengthwise on top of her prone body, her hands grasping its hilt. She had been prepared in her Master's uniform, and if no one knew better, it looked only as if she now slept.

The High Queen closed her eyes, trying to regain the emotional strength she knew she would need for this moment. When she opened her eyes, she watched Be'rn's last journey with great sadness.

I am sorry, Be'rn', Third Master.

Sle'nel’ watched her lover, seeing her stand rigidly unmoving, seeing her stand in her most formal of manners, seeing her stand as strong and unwavering, yet seeing her eyes cast a sadness that reached well into eternity.

The remaining Masters finally joined in the song, accompany the singers with drums giving forth their death roll. The song wailed and cried of the death of one of The Realm's great warriors, and The High Queen was pleased that Be'rn’ was receiving her proper due.

The procession lasted for many moments, at a slow pace and with great dignity. Sle'nel’ saw that her lover's eyes never moved away from Be'rn's body.

The Masters reached the funeral pyre and placed Be'rn's body gently upon it. The High Queen stepped close to the body, bringing Ern'seln with her. As the strangers and Masters continued Be'rn's final song, San'lr'in’ began her part of the ceremony by looking upward, raising her hands to the sky, then bringing them back to her, crossing them quickly, fisted, over her chest, as she bowed her head. With arms crossed over her breasts, she raised her head back to the sky.

As the strangers and Masters continued singing the Master's funeral song, she began her portion of the ceremony, “Spirits of The Realm. Watchers of The Realm. Hear Me, as High Queen. The Realm is forced to relinquish a Great Master to you this turn. As we are greatly and deeply saddened for her departure, we also now celebrate her service to The Realm she so loved. Take her quickly to you, as this is Be'rn', the Great Third Master of The Realm. Guide her swiftly across the winds to her rest. We now honor her from this turn on, singing praises to her fully loyal and selfless deeds. And we all struggle to follow her generosity and steadfastness to The Realm. Her unshaken belief in her direction serves as the example we uphold. Her strength and dedication were that of a true Master, and of the greatest of Warriors."

Unfolding her arms, she looked down at her, “Be'rn'. Master Teacher. Great Third Master. We are saddened in your departure from us. You have well earned your rest and our undying respect. You will be honored ever forward from this moment."

She looked back up to the sky, her arms once again folded across her chest, but keeping her thoughts to herself,
You take the wrong one this turn
.

She again unfolded her arms and returned her look to Be'rn', “I will miss you, Master Teacher.” As she kept her eyes upon Be'rn', all heard her say, “Here lies The Realm's most loyal of daughters. Here lies a life of dedication unequaled. Here lies a true warrior, and a true friend.” She raised her head to those who stood watching, “Who among you now takes her place? Who among you now completes her path?"

She touched Ern'seln's shoulder lightly. Ern'seln moved close to her Birth-Mother, then looked at her High Queen, “I take her place, High Queen. As my Birth-Mother displayed, so shall I.” She turned back to her Birth-Mother, bowing her head, “Birth-Mother. Great Third Master. Master Teacher. I will miss you greatly."

She moved back next to The High Queen. All the Masters and warriors then knelt onto one knee, clasped their fisted right hand to their heart, and bowed their head, “Master."

After they rose, San'lr'in’ looked at Ern'seln, who nodded slightly to her. San'lr'in’ nodded to the sorcerers, who brought forward the torch. They handed it to Ern'seln, who took it and lit the pyre in several places. San'lr'in’ moved her hand slightly, raising the intensity of the fire, ensuring that the fire would burn hot and quick.

When the fire engulfed Be'rn's body fully within it, San'lr'in’ closed her eyes for a moment, bowing her head, calling a spell to her. She opened her eyes, then reached into the fire with one hand, removing Be'rn's sword. She brought the red-hot glowing sword from the fire and held it close to her, holding it upright, while looking at it as if examining it.

"A Master's sword. A gift to The Realm. A great sword of a greater Master.” She turned to Ern'seln, “A Master's sword is among the finest of swords in The Realm. It is cast as the heart of a Master: True. Strong. Willing. Fearless. It is cast from metals known only to the Masters, and is as rare in The Realm as the Masters themselves. When a Master dies, it is tradition that their sword dies with them. But Third Master Be'rn’ asked a last request of The Realm, and upon this turn, I grant this request."

She touched the red-hot sword with her other hand, cooling it, then turned to Ern'seln, “This is the sword of a great, great Master. Your Birth-Mother's sword. It is now yours, Master-Apprentice, as this is your Birth-Mother's last request. Hold it ever close to you. Always use it as your Birth-Mother would, as the Great Third Master would desire of you. Make no errors with this sword, and depart not from what the Masters would have from you. With this sword, hold true to your path, as did your Birth-Mother."

She raised it high for all to see, “This is now Master-Apprentice Ern'seln's sword."

She lowered it and held the hilt to Ern'seln. Ern'seln took it, trying to clear the tears from her eyes. San'lr'in’ saw that Ll'strin'll looked well displeased about Be'rn's last request. She guessed that Ll'strin'll now knew that she would gain no hold on Ern'seln. While all waited, watching the funeral pyre take hold of the Great Third Master, the strangers and Masters continued their song until it was completed, providing the appropriate background for this most solemn and honored of ceremonies.

When the ceremony was completed, San'lr'in’ looked back to the burning pyre and softly said, “Farewell, Great Third Master. You performed your duty to The Realm in the highest of bravery. I hope I do as well."

As they watched the fire, the spokeswoman for the group of strangers began another song. It was a beautiful melody, and one that most of those present assumed was providing a story about the funeral of the Great Third Master. But as the song began, The High Queen jerked ever-so-slightly, being caught off-guard in the song's words:

San'lr'in’ listened to the song, watching as the singer glanced at her occasionally, showing dark eyes to her. The High Queen glanced around, wondering if anyone else recognized the long-prior unused words of the Masters’ Secret Codes. As the woman sang the song of warning, using the long unused words, San'lr'in’ finally knew of her identity, without question.

U'Aine. The Fourth Great Master.

When the song ended, the woman knelt, made eye contact with her, bowed her head, rose, then quickly and silently departed.

"Who was that, Highness?"

San'lr'in’ turned to the voice, “Just a long-prior friend of Be'rn's, Force Leader."

She placed her arm around Ern'seln, moving them away from the now raging fire. Knowing that the fire burned as needed, San'lr'in’ was now ready to leave. But she saw that Eanna and Ll'strin'll were once again preparing to fight each other.

"I challenge you, Eanna. Prepare yourself."

"I accept, Traitor."

San'lr'in’ knew that Ll'strin'll would most certainly beat Eanna in the challenge, killing her, as Ll'strin'll was the First Great Master.

She called to her long-prior former teacher, “Ll'strin'll."

Ll'strin'll looked at her with intense hatred, “Do you interfere in our affairs once again, San'lr'in'thel'ineln'?"

"Do I need remind you that you challenged Me prior to challenging Eanna?"

"What of this?"

"You must complete your challenge with Me, first, Traitor."

"You just know she will lose and now seek to save her worthless life."

"You are most certainly a traitor, and of this we know, but are you also now a liar?"

Ll'strin'll's eyes filled with loathing, “A liar? Why do you call me as such?"

"Did you not vow this, as a Master, that you must win your first challenge prior to beginning the next?"

She glared at her, “You both will lose, anyway. I am First Master."