The Realm's Mystics [Mystic Women of The Realm Series Book 3]

by Robbie Collins

  "I know not for certain, but many. Perhaps two-hundred. Perhaps more."

  Ann'wn was angry with herself for halting in this spot, “Two-hundred?” She saw that they had no good land to use for defense, and were well outnumbered. Her heart fell heavily in her chest as she began to feel that she had failed her High Queen.

  "My Queen, perhaps you would entertain leaving us here for this fight while you remove yourself from it. You must not risk yourself. The Realm has great need of you."

  The High Queen raised an eyebrow, narrowing her eyes, “You think a Master ever runs from a fight, Force Leader?"

  As The High Queen spoke, the Dungaras force moved out from the dense forest, encasing them in a full half circle. The High Queen turned her head around, sensing more Dungaras in back of them, seeing that they were now fully encircled, “How many are there?"

  Ann'wn did a quick count, “Well over two-hundred-fifty. We are well outnumbered."

  She turned to Ann'wn, her eyes twinkling, “Oh? Why, Ann'wn, I thought a warrior like you never gave up. Only two-hundred-fifty or so? Where is your sense of adventure? It seems like a good turn to see if this number is our undoing."

  Sle'nel’ smiled at her Queen, “Yes, my Queen. When with you, it always be a good turn to face such a challenge. Back-to-back, my Queen."

  The High Queen looked upon her Elf, “I love you, My Elf."

  To Ann'wn she said, “Remember your swift moves, Ann'wn. And remember that true warriors never give up. The Realm needs you as well, Ann'wn. I command you not to die this turn."

  Ann'wn bowed her head, “Yes, my Queen,” but wondered how she would be able to hold to this vow as she saw the Dungaras forces well armed.

  She turned to Sam, “My Sister, remember your eyes.” Sam merely nodded, thankful for the reminder, seeing why legions were so loyal to this Queen—she never gave in to overwhelming and impossible odds. Ann'wn went quickly to Meera and Sam, arranging them in the best ways possible, back-to-back as Sle'nel’ had said to The High Queen. Sle'nel’ placed Caitha between her and The High Queen for better protection. She gave her as many throwing knives as she could gather between them.

  San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ looked about them, studying the situation. While she had a passing thought that they were, as Ann'wn’ had said, very clearly outnumbered and outdone, all her training took over, providing her a warrior's instinct of challenge in the face of overwhelming odds. And like a true Master, she was taught to face the gravest challenges as if they were nothing more than a contest at a festival.

  The leader of the Dungaras stepped hesitantly forward, “Queen. We only want Yyeoiraa and baby. You go free if get them. If not, you die."

  The High Queen took the moment to attempt some negotiation, as well as to provide more moments for preparation, “Why? Is this baby not proof that our races can live together peacefully and productively?"

  "No. No such child occur. Is wrong."

  "Tell Me why."

  "Will change Dungaras ways."

  "For the better, only. You have become overly violent. No. I will not give them up.” She used the moments of speaking to her benefit, giving herself the moments needed to bring her powers fully to her.

  "Then we fight. Tell Elf to move away. We want not to fight Elf."

  Sle'nel’ spoke in her Elfin language, which she knew the Dungaras understood, “If you fight against The High Queen, you fight against me. Go not to this task of yours. It be not worth it. The High Queen has saved this Dungaras. It is of your race. Does this mean nothing to you? I also wish not to fight against you, but this union can be good for The Realm."

  "We sorry to you, Elfin Faiere. Must do so."

  Sle'nel’ nodded and said in The High Queen's language, “So be it, then. You fight me as well."

  The High Queen spoke softly to her Elf, “Perhaps, Elf, should we survive this, you might teach Me this language of yours."

  "Consider it a vow then, my Queen."

  "One thing, Elf. As we fight?"

  "Yes, my Queen."

  "Remember Me."

  "To our stars, my Queen."

  San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ took a quick look up into the skies, giving one soft whistle as she did, hoping it was heard. She raised her sword, “So it is, Dungaras. I am sorry you did not bring more warriors with you, as you are now well outnumbered."

  As she spoke, The High Queen drew on her powers of fog and mist. Within a quick instant, a great cloud of fog hung over all of them. No one could see anything. She then drew on another power, making hundreds of arrows to fly into the Dungaras. The Dungaras were well trained against such powers as the arrows, but couldn't see the arrows through the fog, so many Dungaras were instantly killed. As this occurred, she quickly cast a spell upon the ground, causing a great chasm to open. Many more Dungaras fell into the chasm just prior to it closing in on them. As the fog began to lift, she sent a round of spears into the Dungaras, and then said to Sam, “Use your eyes, Sam'r'in'thel'ineln'."

  The Dungaras leader looked confused, but raised Its sword as the fog lifted. The one-to-one battle began, the Valley's eight battling furiously against the remaining Dungaras. As the Dungaras made the first move, The High Queen used her powers once more, preventing two from moving their swords, sending flying rocks upon a few others, and taking the moment to send one slamming into a tree. As some of the less experienced Dungaras warriors used their knives, spears or arrows against the small band of the Valley, The High Queen would instantly turn those weapons back upon them, killing some and injuring others with their own weapons.

  Sam used her eyes to ignite many of the trees in back of the Dungaras, causing them to fall upon a few of them. She then sent her power to her sword, battling urgently against two of the Dungaras, also remembering what her sister had taught to Meera and Ann'wn.

  Ann'wn, in her anger at herself for allowing her Queen to be placed in jeopardy, began fighting with a fury, remembering what her Queen had just taught her about swiftness. Three of the Dungaras had begun to fight Ann'wn, not caring about fairness. Ann'wn fought valiantly, taking some injury, but killing one soon, then battling the other two for many moments.

  As the fight had begun, Caitha threw a knife into one of the Dungaras with a deadly aim. Another Dungaran threw a knife at Caitha that The High Queen hadn't seen, and it went squarely into her shoulder. Without thinking of the pain, Caitha pulled the knife out, and in the same movement, threw the knife back square into the chest of the Dungaras. She felt grateful for the training she had received from Meera, while in Woden.

  Like Ann'wn, Meera was also trying to hold off three of the Dungaras, but without any of the powers that the others had. She used her short, quick moves The High Queen had been teaching her, able to undo one of the Dungaras, but struggling against the other two. During the struggle, Meera took many blows, causing some injury.

  The two guards also were besieged against the Dungaras, holding off at least two each. One of the guards had been seriously injured in the first moments of the battle, but continued to fight like a true warrior. The other fought for her life, seeing that more of the battle would fall to her, due to her injured partner.

  Sle'nel’ was fighting against four of them, keeping them well busy against her Elfin sword abilities. But these Dungaras were well-trained, and in their past had trained with some of the prior Elfin masters. So they knew her abilities well. Yet, the Dungaras didn't wish to kill the last Elf in all The Realm, making moves to only injure her, even at the cost of their own lives. She managed to seriously injure one of them, placing it out of the battle, but faced her match against the other three. One placed a sword move against her, injuring her arm, as the other two rallied their swords at the same moment. Fighting with only one good arm, Sle'nel’ fought for her Queen's life, becoming wild in her moves against them.

  The High Queen continued to use her powers as she wielded her sword. Fighting many at one moment, she couldn't keep watch upon her companions. The Dungaras knew that if they mana
ged to kill The High Queen, much of their fight in The Realm would be over. Because of such, The High Queen now faced at least ten of the Dungaras directly. She used her power to burn the hands of one of the Dungaras so that It couldn't use any weapon. She used her Master sword skills against them, surprising them, for they hadn't seen these skills for many cycles. At one moment, while six used their swords against her, one managed to fix a well-placed injury across her side. She felt the pain, but instantly displaced it for later. In her rage, she slashed out at the Dungaras, killing It instantly, while she kept her sword moving to the next.

  The small band fought desperately against the Dungaras, knowing the odds well against them. By the middle of the battle, each of them had blood streaming from various parts of their bodies, injured and overwhelmed. But each of them had been raised in a very violent and harsh realm, learning their fighting abilities and attitudes toward danger and death from their youth.

  To give up was to die.

  Both Sam and Meera were always prepared to fight to the death, never giving up no matter the odds. Ann'wn was prepared to fight beyond death, knowing her Queen's life was at risk if she didn't. Caitha, while not raised to be a warrior, was desperate to help, not wishing to lose any of her friends in battle, having lost overly many during Woden's long violent past. The two guards fought gallantly, wishing to prove themselves to their leader, and also to live. As an Elf, Sle'nel’ now faced violence as a sad reality of The Realm, but fighting against it, hoping for an eventual ending of it. Also as an Elf, never would she give up, fighting until her last breath.

  The battle lasted far longer than their injuries could withstand, but their determination held them fast to the cause, each of them finding a force within them to keep fighting. After many more moments and many more injuries, the battle was won as The High Queen took down the last two Dungaras. Ann'wn struggled to keep herself upright as she went from one Dungaras to another, ensuring herself that they were dead.

  The High Queen, seriously injured and well beyond sheer exhaustion, looked about her. She saw her sister lying upon the ground with many injuries.

  She went to her, examining the wounds. Seeing that they weren't fatal, she said, “I go to help the others. You will live."

  Sam nodded, weary and in much pain. The High Queen went to Meera, but saw that Caitha was tending her well, “How are her injuries?"

  "She loses much blood."

  The High Queen nodded, placing her hand upon Meera, giving her a spell to slow down the bleeding. She then examined Ann'wn and saw that she needed the same. As she went up to Ann'wn, Ann'wn resisted, “No, my Queen. You have given enough already."

  As she spoke, Ann'wn staggered, then fell hard to the ground. The High Queen gave her the same spell to slow down her blood flow until they could receive some help. Caitha was also injured, but less so than any of them, so The High Queen returned to Sle'nel', seeing her yet battling, but battling against only ghosts. The High Queen studied Sle'nel’ for a moment, noting that she had been hit in the head with the side of a broadsword. She saw that Sle'nel’ was well-dazed and confused, not even knowing where she was or why she was fighting.

  The High Queen went as close as she dared, “Place down your sword, My Desire. The battle is won."

  Sle'nel’ was dizzy, barely able to see anything straight, now fighting against the voices in her head.

  More forcefully, The High Queen said, “Halt, Sle'nel'. It is enough. Come home to Me. Remember our stars."

  Sle'nel’ looked toward the voice, not recognizing it. But the command reminded her of something she was supposed to remember. Standing silent and confused, she dropped her sword, blood streaming from a wound to her lower side stomach area and from a wound on her arm. Seriously wounded, in shock from loss of blood, and with a deep concussive injury on her head that was bleeding freely, she could stand no longer, falling upon her knees, then to the ground, into full unconsciousness. The High Queen knelt beside her, giving her what healing powers and spells she could with what energies she had remaining within her, which were depleting rapidly.

  She whispered to Sle'nel', “Sle'nel', come home to Me. Remember Me."

  With great effort, she then stood, looking up to the skies, hoping to see her raptor. She had been looking for it since the close of the battle. Seeing something way up in the sky, she gave a soft high whistle, hoping it was there. She looked back down at her love, knowing that they were all now in great danger, as they were all overly wounded to even help each other. The only woman among them that could help was Caitha, so The High Queen sighed deeply, knowing she would have to now place her trust in this gentle storyteller.

  She stood momentarily holding out her good arm, waiting for her raptor. When it landed, she gave it a quick message, then helped it to fly off, hoping beyond hope that the message would be delivered. After she called for the horses to return to her, she went to Caitha.

  Caitha stood, looking well injured herself, but with no serious wounds, “Caitha. I have great need of you."

  Caitha looked at The High Queen, seeing for the first moment how gravely wounded she was. A great gash was upon her side with blood almost pouring from it, and another gash was from her shoulder and across her arm.

  Looking at The High Queen's face and seeing it completely white, she said, “My Queen. Place a spell upon yourself to slow down the blood flow. You are seriously injured."

  The horses returned. The High Queen went to her own horse as well as to Mor'inl', Sle'nel's horse, “We all die unless help arrives soon. I have need of you to retrieve help and lead them back to us as quickly as possible. Mor'inl', your love lies dying and I have nothing left to help."

  She turned to her own horse, “And I am dying from My wounds. Go quickly, and return even more quickly, or we all die here."

  The two horses, instantly frantic, left with haste, determined in their mission. The High Queen began to stagger, like some of the others had done, from the shock of lack of blood and from the depletion of her energies, “Listen well to Me, Caitha as I will be unable to maintain awareness much longer. I have sent for help. If it doesn't arrive soon, we die here. You will not be able to get us upon what remains of our horses. Do as you can to halt the bleeding. But I have great trust in My messengers. Within a short span, help should arrive."

  She turned, staggering back to her Elf, laying beside her, placing her hand upon Sle'nel's. Closing her eyes, she sent the very last of her energies into Sle'nel', hoping to help slow the flow of her blood. Before slipping into her own unconsciousness, she sent one last message, I love you, My Desire. Come home to Me. Fight!

  * * * *

  The High Queen knew nothing of the rescue and their return to the Valley. When she finally opened her eyes after five turns, she found herself alone in her room. She closed her eyes again, feeling weak and exhausted. Listening to the sounds within the adjoining room, she heard her Healer speaking softly to Sle'nel'. Breathing in more deeply, she was comforted in knowing that Sle'nel’ lived—the first concern in her mind as she awoke.

  She lay quietly without moving, assessing her own wounds. She now knew it hurt to breathe deeply. She shifted her body, feeling jolts of pain from her left shoulder and arm and from her right side as she moved. She mentally pushed the pain away, suddenly breathless from the sharpness of it.

  The Healer heard her move. She came to The High Queen's side, “My Queen. You have finally awakened."

  The High Queen opened her eyes for a moment, seeing her Healer standing above her. Trying to regain her energy and having difficulty with speaking, she simply asked, “Sle'nel'?"

  "Recovers from her body's wounds, but has a great head wound, High One. Her mind is dazed and she remembers nothing at present, except something about stars. I hold hope for her to recover as the swelling decreases in her head."

  The High Queen held her thoughts to herself, Poor Sle'nel'. Alone in The Realm, and now remembers nothing, but then needed to know more, “Ann'wn? Others?"


  "They all live and recover well. You and your Elf were the most seriously injured and were all but dead when I finally arrived. Ann'wn reports that you killed well over twenty-three of the Dungaras during the hand-to-hand combat and that there was well over two hundred-fifty Dungaras prior to the battle that you used your powers upon. Your counselors are quite upset at you for taking such a risk as this.” The Healer smiled at her Queen, hoping to lighten the moment, “Would you like me to place a spell of silence upon them?"

  The High Queen listened, but her eyes grew heavy. She closed them as her Healer said her last words, not hearing the jest. She fell into a deep sleep as she sent one weak message to her lover: Come back to Me, My Desire.

  Two turns later, The High Queen awoke again, feeling some energy restored to her. For a moment, she tried to gather her memories together of the battle. While she recalled well their fight against the Dungaras, she couldn't find any memories of their rescue or journey back to the Valley. She moved slightly, feeling the sharp pain from her side and shoulder. She decided not to remove the pain, saving her energy. She wondered if it were eve or turn, but didn't really care. She slowly tried to sit up, but felt a hand hold her down.

  She turned her head to where the hand was, seeing Ann'wn sitting next to her.

  "You must not yet move, my Queen. I will get your Healer."

  So softly that it surprised even herself, she said, “Sle'nel'?"

  "She recovers from her sword wounds, my Queen."

  "I must see her."

  "See your Healer first, my Queen."

  She began to rise, not liking Ann'wn's response. Ann'wn reached down again gently, holding her Queen down, “Please, my Queen. Let us speak first to The Healer, then we will try to arrange this."

  With only one focus, she ignored Ann'wn's pleas, “Help Me to sit up, or leave Me."

  Since her left shoulder and arm were well injured as well as her right side near her ribs, any movement caused severe pain, everywhere. She struggled against it, forcing herself to endure the pain, wanting to see Sle'nel'. The bandages were firmly against her, wrapped well around her waist, and wrapped well around her chest, holding her arm tightly to her body.