The High Queen's Vow [The Mystic Women of The Realm Series Book IV]

by Robbie Collins

  San'lr'in’ closed her eyes again, “I can finally let loose this long-prior weight that I have carried overly long. I feel The Realm beginning to change, Healer. We may win our vows, yet."

  The Healer took hold of her Queen's arm and led her away. In all The Realm, only The Healer could touch The High Queen as freely as this, “Come, Leader of All. We must tend to your wound, and you must rest."

  Once in the tent, The High Queen remained standing, allowing her attendants and Healer to tend to her, but almost asleep. She had closed her eyes, feeling as if she barely the strength to breathe. She was overly tired and didn't even bother listening to the words of her attendants or Healer, but suddenly feeling a change inside the tent, she opened her eyes and held out her left arm, “My Desire."

  Sle'nel’ took her Queen's hand into her own, then examined the wound, “How fares this wound?"

  The Healer showed the wound to her, “It is deep enough, but our Queen did well to halt the blood flow as quickly as she did. The poison would have entered into her body much more deeply than she allowed."

  The High Queen looked down at her Healer, “Poison?” She didn't wish any yet to know of Roen's abilities.

  "Her sword, my Queen. I thought you had seen as such, this being the reason you tended to your wound during the fight."

  "I halted the flow of blood so that I wouldn't become weakened as I fought. I couldn't risk any weakness, or I might have lost. Tell Me of this poison to which you refer."

  "Did you not see her wipe her sword just prior to the fight, High One? Just as she unsheathed it?"

  She nodded, “I recall the moment, but had no thought on it. How are you aware of this poison?"

  "I took the authority of my role to examine the sword. The smell of the poison is one I know well, as it is one of the ingredients in your—"

  "Hold, Healer. It is enough. Spare Me the details of your potions. And I thank you for your most excellent awareness in this regard. It would appear that you have saved My life."

  "No, my Queen. You saved your own life upon that moment when you halted your flow of blood to the wound."

  "Will it take the wound long to heal?"

  "Better to have a slow-healing wound than a headless neck, High One. I have never seen you do as such, and with such haste as this."

  The High Queen thought little of the moment, “The Masters could no longer be trusted, so their purpose was over. I couldn't risk The Realm to their deceit. They were overly strong to leave them to their own creations."

  "You being High Master now, my Queen."

  The High Queen looked over to the voice. She nodded her head, “Master Fon'elnn'. But perhaps the moment for the Masters is over. Perhaps we begin a new guild. Why is it you come?"

  "Your forces asking to your wellness, Highness."

  "You see for yourself. Tell them what you will."

  "And they would like knowing when we leaving, Highness."

  "On the second turn, Master. Now, leave The High Queen or I will give you a long sleeping spell."

  San'lr'in’ looked down at her Healer, “Now you command My forces, Healer?"

  "If I must, High One. They interrupt overly. I told Ann'wn that if she came in while you were resting, I would personally seek retribution."

  The High Queen smiled, “It would appear we leave on the second turn from now, Master. Why do you ask?"

  "Your forces would like to prepare a feast."

  "A feast would be most welcome. You have My leave."

  Fon'elnn’ bowed and left. The Healer looked up to her, “The wound will need stitches, High One. You will need to lie down."

  "Do them while I am standing, Healer. It is all the same to Me."

  San'lr'in’ entered into her first meditation, removing herself from the pain as The Healer provided the nine stitches.

  "Your body begins to look like a practice body for the young healers. Along with these stitches, I have also provided an infection preventative potion, as well as a preventative against the scaring effects. The potions contain a most interesting mixture of sp—"

  The High Queen shivered slightly, “Overly many details, Healer. Please spare Me from this knowledge of your potions."

  When The Healer was done with the wound, The High Queen was dressed into her lighter garments for the eve, “You must eat, High One, whether this be your desire or no. It will help to soak up any remaining poison. You must not sleep until you have eaten, or the effects may return."

  The High Queen looked exhausted, her eyes beginning to close. Sle'nel’ took the food from the attendants, “I will ensure that she eats her food, Healer."

  Sle'nel’ looked at her Queen, smiling, “You most certainly won, and left no question of such. But your titles grow once again. What do we call you now, my Love? High Master Queen? Great High Master Queen? Great High Master Warrior Queen? Great High Master High Queen? Or Great High Master High Warrior Queen?"

  The Healer laughed, “I rather like the last one, Elf.” She looked back to her Queen, “Make certain to rest for the remainder of the turn, at least until the morn, Highness."

  "You are making Me a prisoner, Healer."

  She nodded, “Hmmm ... so it would appear, High One. But this is my command of you. I will allow you your freedom at the morn."

  Sle'nel’ went up to San'lr'in', “I think you could use the rest. And I will remain with you through the midturn, eve and morn."

  San'lr'in’ was feeling tired, but pleased. In truth, she desired nothing more than to rest. To rest in the presence of her lover was an added bonus, “Then My imprisonment has become a paradise."

  The Healer left and went to her own tent to rest. Their journey had indeed been an exhausting one, ever on the alert, and all were tired. She sat and re-organized her healing potions and equipment while she waited for her lover.

  Now. What did I do with that snake tongue oil?

  Ann'wn walked quietly through her force ranks, listening to them speak of the journey. She tried to do this often in order to provide a presence for them. As she walked through her ranks, she noticed that their talk was about their Queen. All were yet amazed as to her warrior stance. She was relieved to note that the talk was admiring rather than condemning. She then walked past all the ranks that were now guarding their camp, motivating them to even greater awareness, keeping the level of alertness high until their return to the Valley.

  Ann'wn tended to her forces, then found her lover busily engaged amongst all her potions, “How fares our Queen?"

  The Healer looked up as Ann'wn entered their tent, “The wound is deep, but she controlled it well. A good thing she did or the poison would have already entered into her heart."

  "I wonder how she knew that Ll'strin'll had placed as such onto her sword."

  "She didn't know.” She thought about it for a moment, then wondered, but held her question to herself. “But the matter is resolved and she will recover quickly. As you saw, however, she is beyond exhausted. You must allow her to rest, Ann'wn. And you, as well. You need to rest. This is the moment, as even our Queen has acknowledged that our battles are won, for the moment."

  "I know not how to feel about such as we have had overly many battles of late. We have been on continual alert throughout this journey. In truth, at this moment I know no other way to behave."

  The Healer rose and began to undo Ann'wn's warrior garments, “Perhaps you would allow me to show you another way, as your own personal Healer."

  Ann'wn smiled, “You are the wisest of healers."

  * * * *

  When San'lr'in’ woke in the morn, she saw that Sle'nel’ was yet sleeping. She placed a soft kiss on her cheek, rose from their bed, tended to herself, then left the tent. She found a quiet spot that appealed to her senses, then turned to her meditations, hoping to remove the pain from her side as well as recall her powers to her. As across all her prior turns for as long as her memory could recall, she entered into her meditations, reflecting on the prior turn's events, examin
ing her stance in The Realm, renewing her powers and spells to her, and finding her peace and solace.

  Perhaps now we might entertain peace for a few moments.

  She sensed her powers, feeling their strength, and was surprised to find that her powers had grown even stronger than the prior turn. She wondered what had made them so strong.

  The red stone?

  The Sword of Legends?

  After she returned her powers to a readiness level, she entered into a higher meditation, forcing herself to sense The Realm only. She moved slowly through this meditation, observing all that was around her. She became amazed that even her meditations were far easier with the use of her growing powers. Sensing nothing of great concern, she slowly exited her meditations.

  My Queen. Allow me to assist you.

  San'lr'in’ gave over control of her meditations to her Healer, as often occurred. When they had come to her last meditation, The Healer moved her carefully back into The Realm. She spoke softly, “As you were taught, High One. Breathe. Hear your heartbeat. Breathe."

  Breathe.

  "Hear your heart, my Queen."

  Breathe.

  "Open you eyes, my Queen."

  San'lr'in’ did so, surprised to see Sle'nel', Ann'wn and Meera, as well as her Healer. She became concerned, “Tell Me."

  The Healer smiled, “Highness. When did you enter into your meditations?"

  "In the early morn. Why do you ask, Healer?"

  "Look at the sun's passage, my Queen."

  She looked at the sun's location in the sky, then examined the shadows about her, “This cannot be so. I have been in My meditations for a short while, only.” She looked up Sle'nel', “And how is it that I didn't sense your presence, My Desire?"

  The Healer spoke, “Or mine, High One, even though I tried to speak with you."

  San'lr'in’ just stared at them in disbelief.

  "I have never prior seen you so deeply involved in your meditations, High One, but all seems well. How do you feel?"

  San'lr'in’ moved her muscles slightly, then brought some of her sensing powers to her. She searched with her senses for her great raptor, sensing her high overhead. She shook her head, yet wondering, “I know not what has occurred, Healer. But as you say, all seems well enough.” She looked up and gave a soft whistle. She held out her arm and waited for a moment, as her raptor came to her. A few moments passed as the raptor delivered her message, then left.

  "Is all well, Highness?"

  She smiled, “It would seem so, for a change. We have had overly little of the good reports, of late."

  "If this be so, then you might find the eve's entertainment and meal most amusing, Highness."

  San'lr'in’ raised her eyebrows in surprise and looked at Sam, “Entertainment?"

  Sam nodded, “Your Black Guards have put together a short play, in your honor."

  "A play?"

  "And your Private Guard have prepared the eve's meal."

  "The Private Guard cook?"

  Sle'nel’ took her Queen's arm into hers, wrapping her arms around it, “Come. Let us prepare you for the festivities. Your garments look as tired as you must be."

  As they walked away, Sle'nel’ called back to them, “We will arrive soon.

  Sle'nel’ was yet limping because of her knee, so San'lr'in’ walked slowly beside her, enjoying the feeling of her arm linked within her lover's. She breathed in deeply, taking pleasure in the still and calm of the moment.

  "How long has our journey been, My Desire"

  "Overly long."

  "Indeed. It will seem as strange to return to the every-turn affairs of the Valley and The Realm. I have almost forgotten what it is like to not live upon the dirt at every moment. But El'fs'nd'lle will be worth this tortured journey."

  "There seems to be much resistance to the Elfin-kind return."

  "They were intensely intelligent, and this created much envy. Envy is most harsh at even the best of moments. Do the memories given to you contain moments in El'fs'nd'lle'?

  "I know not. My memories seem returned to me only as the event or the need arises. Most peculiar."

  San'lr'in’ noticed that Sle'nel’ was fully present, but providing little in way of communication, “Are you with much pain?"

  "No. The Healer tends well to me. In truth, the pain subsides greatly from where it once stood."

  "Do you worry over El'fs'nd'lle?"

  "No. Some, perhaps, but to no great concern."

  The High Queen sensed into Sle'nel's thoughts for a brief moment, finding that she yet had remaining anguish from what the Dark Sorcerer had done to her. She knew that Sle'nel’ would find her way out of these eventually, but decided to distract her for the moment.

  "Did I ever tell you about the moment when Mor'inl’ was upset with Me?"

  She saw that Sle'nel’ was surprised and interested, “Mor'inl’ was upset with you? I thought she did nothing but love you."

  The High Queen laughed, “She did, but didn't always approve of My actions. Just prior to Me becoming Queen of the Valley, I ran from My teachers in a rage, riding Mor'inl’ hard. After a turn, I finally allowed her to rest, but she decided not to forgive Me as easily as this. I had dismounted to allow her to rest and get a drink, but when I tried to re-mount her, she moved away. For the entire return, as I tried to go to her, she would move just slightly ahead of Me. We walked the entire path back to the Valley. It took Me two full turns. By the moment we had almost achieved the return, I began to laugh at her stubbornness and My foolishness, and she finally saw that I had learned My lesson. She was perhaps one of My better teachers."

  Sle'nel’ laughed at the story, imagining it fully, “She knows you well."

  "Certainly better than My prior teachers, and My present counselors. My Desire, have I ever prior cooked for you?"

  "You know how to cook?"

  She pretended to frown, “I am deeply offended. I cook many fine meals, Elf."

  Sle'nel’ wasn't certain if her Queen was in truth, or jesting, “And what is an example of these great meals you are able to prepare, oh Queen of Many Talents?"

  "I can give you many examples. I can prepare fried bugs. Very tasty. I can boil the pan of water. I can make a cup of tea. I can even burn a piece of bread over the fire. But My specialty is buttered bread."

  "I am most certain that if you prepared a meal for me, I would be most pleased to eat it."

  San'lr'in’ studied her, as if assessing her. She looked most serious, “Perhaps you are the one that should be High Queen, My most diplomatic one."

  Sle'nel’ laughed, “Oh yes. That is certainly me. The Diplomat."

  * * * *

  The High Queen and Sle'nel’ were seated at yet another makeshift table, then treated to a most wonderful meal, “I wonder how they have managed such a meal as this."

  "And I am most grateful for it. I have grown overly tired of our camp food."

  Sle'nel’ nodded, looking around, “It would seem that all have, as it seems that all have become quite thin on our journey."

  "I feel mostly to blame, as this journey has extended itself beyond imagination."

  "How long will El'fs'nd'lle hold us?"

  "I know not. That is up to you, but once there, I will release most our guards back to their duties."

  "Many new unions were begun on this journey, so this will be an interesting moment."

  "They have?"

  Sle'nel’ laughed and nodded, “Many. Ask Ann'wn. She was commenting on how many of her guards have finally placed themselves into a union."

  The High Queen laughed quietly, “The journey has made us all closer, it would seem."

  After The High Queen had completed her meal, Sam approached the table, “With your leave, my Queen, we would like to begin our play for you."

  Interested, the High Queen's eyebrows raised, “Of course, Highest of Woden. What is the story of this play?"

  "You will see, my Queen."

  A small stage was drawn upon the g
round. Sam began the introduction, “Our happy little play contains two guards, one narrator, a host of unseen characters, and one musician. We hope you enjoy our play."

  The whistle player began playing some light and airy music.

  Narrator: “Long prior in a far-off land, there lived a most dedicated group of Mystics and humans. They lived together amiably ... perhaps a little overly amiably ... as they fought and rode together to rid their land of evil and to restore peace to The Realm. As our play opens, our amiable band is traveling across their great lands in search for the Great-Unknown Mystery. One guard has just received a message from a passing small group of Deep Mystics who would like to meet with someone in-charge, and approaches the second guard."

  "Where is The High Queen?"

  "She is with the Elf."

  "With the Elf? How do you mean? Is she busy?"

  "You know. With the Elf."

  "Ah.” She pauses, “Then where is our Force Leader?"

  "She is with The Healer."

  "Ah.” She pauses again, “Then where is our High Counselor? Perhaps she could help us."

  "She is with the High Master."

  "Ah.” Another, longer pause, “The Warrior Woman?"

  "With her Caitha."

  "Hmmm...” Yet another pause, “The Highest?"

  "With Uthrn."

  "So, we should do this thing ourselves?"

  "Well, there is An'ther'on."

  "No. She is with ... well, you know. She is detained."

  "Ah.” The second guard pauses, “But we need to supply an answer."

  "Have them wait. Feed them."

  The Narrator had been watching the two characters, then returned her glance back to the audience as the musician continued her happy tune, “They feed the visiting Deep Mystics while they await their Queen. The eve passes, then the morn comes upon them. The Deep Mystics rise, and the guards feed them once again. At last, The High Queen rises while the guards speak to each other."

  "Did you find Ann'wn?"

  "I did. But we must leave. The High Queen has issued it as so."

  "Leave? Now?"

  "We are in a hurry."

  "Ah."

  The Narrator once again returned her look to the audience, as the musician began her music, “The happy and amiable band of travelers leave, now taking the visiting Deep Mystics with them. They travel for two turns, then halt. The guards attempt once again to tell one of their leaders of the Deep Mystics, but also of the new visitors, five Counselors from the Valley."