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

by Robbie Collins

  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."

  The Elfin Force Leader studied the targets, “Any particular order?"

  "The outlook tower must be destroyed first. It is then up to you. How do our great flying horses fare against the ravens."

  "Only one further loss since they discovered the teaming approach. All the ravens have now returned to the Southern Hemisphere, Highness, so our efforts are more concentrated. And The High Queen's High Council's forces have been most successful. The ravens’ numbers have been greatly reduced. Will you remain here, Elfin Queen?"

  "No, Force Leader. You have your mission, and you are now in-charge. I have other duties to which I must attend."

  "Please mind to your safety, Elfin Queen. We have great need of you in our new beginning."

  "And mind yourselves to safety, Force Leader. You all carry our future within you."

  She began to turn so as to move to her next mission, when she heard another voice, “Second."

  She turned back, “Meera? Why are you here?"

  "I have been assigned to guard you."

  "During such a battle as this? How ridiculous. Have you nothing better to do?"

  "It was The High Queen's command."

  Sle'nel’ studied her friend for a moment, then smiled, “Then come quickly, as we have much to do."

  "What is our mission, Second?"

  "OUR mission, Meera? So now it is OUR mission? Then so it is. Our mission is to find the Wizard's cloak."

  She looked to the Keep, having developed a deep sense of foreboding, “In there, Second?"

  She lowered her eyebrows, “Did you expect us to just call to it, and it would come?"

  Meera snickered, “No, Second. Nothing we do could be as easy as this. Where do we begin?"

  "As soon as Sume’ and Sele’ open the wall, we will enter. From there, let us hope that my staff can sense it. The Realm has great need of this cloak. And I believe that The High Queen
will have great need of this cloak in the next moments."

  "How do you know of this cloak, Second?"

  Sle'nel’ glanced at her for a moment, her eyes twinkling, “A little birdie told me.” Then, as she saw the wall falling, she began to run toward the Keep.

  * * * *

  Sume’ and Sele’ were yet working on their part of the wall, “Are you going to use your crystal ball, Aunt High Wizard Sorcerer?"

  Sume’ examined the damage they had already done to the wall, displeased, “It would appear that we must do so, Young One, as our prior spells have not performed to our need."

  She pulled it out of her cloak, holding it out in one of her hands. She waved her other hand over it and began to chant a spell. Sele’ watched, spellbound, at the image that was emerging within the crystal.

  "Is this what you will cast, Aunt High Wizard Sorcerer?"

  She nodded, “Watch."

  "How did you come to this idea, Aunt Sorcerer?"

  "You gave me the idea, Young One."

  "Me, Aunt High Wizard Sorcerer? How?"

  "You said you could do locusts."

  Sele’ looked into the Crystal Ball, shaking her head, “I know not these types of locusts, Aunt High Queen."

  "Now you will. Watch."

  Sume’ moved her hand slowly back and forth over the Crystal Ball, chanting as she did so. After a few moments, Sele’ clapped her hands as a great swarm of locusts emerged from the Crystal Ball and headed directly for the wall.

  "What do you call them, Aunt?"

  "Wall-eating locusts.” Sume’ looked down at her and smiled, “Is this not a good title for them?"

  They both watched, well pleased in the moment as they saw the locusts go to the wall and begin to eat it. Slowly, the wall disappeared as the gigantic swarm fulfilled their hunger.

  As they completed their task, Sume’ frowned, “And here is the downside, Young One."

  Sele’ looked confused, “Downside, Aunt?"

  "Indeed. We have let these creatures loose in The Realm. Now we must find a way to make them disappear, or they will consume every building within The Realm."

  Sele’ smiled, thinking the moment overly humorous, “This is what my teachers try to teach me, Aunt, that there are consequences to the spells of sorcery."

  Sume’ didn't look pleased, “Yes. Well, I have not had the opportunity to be trained, Young One. I am making this up as I go. Now, help me."

  * * * *

  Erthrn watched as Sume’ and Sele's spells began to break the first portion of the wall. She turned to her forces, “It is the moment, Force Leader. Let loose the boulders, then begin the arrows, once again."

  "Yes, Queen Erthrn. Are the others also beginning their attack upon the Keep?"

  "They are. It has begun. In half a turn, there will be no wall around this side of the Keep, should luck be with us."

  The Warrior Woman of the Sword Force Leader raised her arm to her forces, then lowered it. The planned ruse had worked—Sle'nel’ had supplied a spell of displacement, making it seem to the Wizard that The Realm's forces had collected boulders on a different side of the Keep. It was on that side that the Wizard's forces had built up the Keep's wall in preparation of the boulders being let loose upon them.

  As the force leader had given the signal, her forces nodded, then cut the ropes. Within a brief moment, hundreds of boulders hurtled down the small hill, meeting directly with the wall. Erthrn watched the boulders, amazed that the plan was working. The boulders hit the wall one-by-one, gradually breaking its integrity until finally, the wall gave way. Then, as more boulders came, more of the wall gave.

  "Send in the forces, Force Leader."

  The Force Leader gave another hand command, and the Women of the Sword went charging into the Keep, readied for hand-to-hand combat. Queen Erthrn led them, raising her sword in a blood-curdling yell, killing many in her wake, but taking serious injuries as she did so. As they entered into the Keep, they met even stronger and fresh defenses that had been waiting. As Queen Erthrn rode into the middle of the plaza, her Force Leader saw her go down, then could find her no more.

  * * * *

  "What angers you so, Wizard?"

  She looked at her would-be lover, “Your forces. They have found a way to enter my Keep. What can you do to halt them?"

  San'lr'in’ looked surprised, “Me? I am nothing but a traitor to them. Why do you not use your great powers?"

  The Wizard paced about the room, thinking hurriedly of what she might do to halt The Realm's forces. She waived her hand in dismissal, “I will, of course. I just didn't wish to enter into this battle. It begins to look like both of us must."

  Once again San'lr'in’ tried to look surprised, “Is this urgent? Are we in danger, Wizard?"

  The Wizard examined her for a moment, distracted by The High Queen's beauty. While she was concerned over the battle, she felt no great anxiety over its outcome, fully knowing she would win, “No, not really. They are merely pests that are ruining my Keep, but it can be rebuilt, and they will be made to do the rebuilding. It needs some updating, at any rate. But for the moment I should be concentrating on you, my compelling one."

  "You are not worried about them entering into your Keep?"

  "No. My forces will be able to hold them. We yet have a few surprises prior to me needing to enter into the battle. Come to me. Entertain me. I have waited long for this moment."

  San'lr'in’ saw the look in the Wizard's eyes, and knew it well. She knew she needed to fully compel the Wizard to her this moment, as the battle would soon draw the Wizard's powers into it. And The High Queen well knew that if the Wizard entered into the battle, The Realm would lose. She went slowly to the Wizard, returning the knowing glance to her, sounding most seductive, “You quite like your moments of danger, Wizard. I like this in you. You are indeed strong."

  As San'lr'in’ approached her in a most alluring fashion, the Wizard grabbed her and brought her to her roughly and with great urgency. She kissed her, forcing herself onto San'lr'in', regardless of her desire. San'lr'in’ placed her hand on the Wizard's breast, “You have waited long for this moment, Wizard."

  The Wizard moaned as San'lr'in’ forcefully squeezed her breast. Instead of answering the statement, the Wizard brought San'lr'in’ more violently to her, beginning to rip her garments away from her, “I need you. This moment. I can wait no longer."

  "Wizard. Careful. You show your need overly. You will display your weakness should you continue."

  The Wizard leered at her, then physically moved her to the rug on the ground. It was the moment San'lr'in’ had been waiting for, while yet hoping against it. She struggled to regain control of the moment, needing the Wizard to be the one receiving the advances. Slowly, she did as needed, laying on top of the Wizard, and touching her so as to tease her.

  The Wizard was gasping her desire, “I need you, San'lr'in'thel'ineln'. I have waited eons for this moment with you. Make me stronger through your touches."

  San'lr'in’ raised an eyebrow and smiled knowingly at the Wizard, “Then prepare to accept the strongest power in all The Realm, Wizard."

  So as to distract her fully from the ongoing battle, The High Queen began her aggressive physical advances onto the Wizard, while also beginning to chant a spell softly under her breath. She knew the moment would be difficult in many fashions, but also knew to remain alert to her red-stoned heart, and alert to the Wizard's moment, not allowing her any rest.

  She moved the Wizard forward quickly in her need, holding her need to the highest edge possible so as to keep the Wizard's senses fully engaged. She monitored her own heart, avoiding any detection of it, as she continued to softly chant the spell. Even given the Wizard's urgent desire for the diversion, San'lr'in’ well knew that the Wizard might detect the deception at any moment, so remained fully on guard. She heard the Wizard gasp her need, but kept her mind focused to her task.

  After a few moments, but far, far longer than The High Queen had desired, she
finally sensed the Wizard fully consumed in her physical need. Making a silent wish of desperation, and saying her own farewell to The Realm, she chanted the spell's final words.

  As she spoke the spell's last word and as she was finally allowing the Wizard her well desired physical release, the great Red Stone of Power moved out of her and entered quickly into The Wizard's heart. After all her planning and patient waiting, San'lr'in’ sensed the moment was successful and sighed a moment of relief, even as her own unbearable pain grew blazingly within her.

  The Wizard's eyes widened in great horror at the painful realization of the moment, “What have you done to me?"

  She was gasping her great pain, unable to breathe. Her hands flew to her chest, trying to hold back the now enormous pain that was consuming her body, “YOU HAVE BETRAYED ME!"

  San'lr'in’ saw that the Wizard's eyes were frantic, and saw that the Wizard knew she was now being destroyed by the Red Stone, as was the plan. San'lr'in’ could do nothing but watch though, as her own pain began to destroy her own body. It was the risk she had chosen to take, knowing that to rid The Realm of the Wizard, she would have to place the Red Stone of Power into the Wizard's heart, while also knowing that to remove it from within herself would be certain death.

  The Wizard struggled to fight back against The High Queen, but as she did, the pain took over and made her to fall back to the ground. She knew the Red Stone was killing her, but was gladdened to see that her traitor lover was also dying, “You have also undone yourself, my traitor. My advisor was correct. All this was a trap."

  San'lr'in’ sat upon the ground, trying to hold herself up, but losing to her pain. She laid herself down on the woven rug, trying to give her body what rest it might know prior to her death, as she kept watch on the dying Wizard.

  As the Wizard became consumed by the Red Stone, her words were no more than mere whispers of her once great powers, “You hid this power well, but it will cost you your life. So I die knowing that at least you die with me."

  San'lr'in’ had no strength in which to answer the Wizard, but struggled within herself to make certain that the Wizard died before her. She thought of Sle'nel’ for a moment, saddened in knowing that she would never see her again, but gladdened in knowing that she had saved The Realm.