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

by Robbie Collins

  He sneered at her, his voice taunting and filled with evil, “How very brave of you, Elf. You would risk yourself to save your friends. I would tell you not to bother. You are all to die, anyway. It is to be my gift to your Great High Queen as she steps into this cave."

  "You must be quite stupid to believe she will allow as such. You think your powers are stronger than hers?"

  She knew she had to make him mad enough so that he remained focused upon her rather than Caitha or The Healer. And she knew that she had to give her Queen enough moments to arrive. She had no doubts that San'lr'in’ would arrive and would defeat this most vile creature; she just hoped it would be while they were yet alive. The Healer moaned, and the Dark Sorcerer turned to her. Sle'nel’ thought quickly, trying to keep his attentions upon her.

  It was becoming more difficult for her to speak with her cheek as swollen as it was, “Why do you want the staff? Have you not these powers, already? I was informed that you are the greatest of all the sorcerers in our era."

  He looked back at her, his eyes narrowed, yet his ego slightly inflated, “I am, in truth. But your staff holds some powers that have remained elusive to me."

  "Which ones?"

  He sneered at her, yet interested in the conversation, “And wouldn't you just love to know."

  She took a guess, “The Elves wouldn't give you these powers, then?"

  He hit her again. She could tell he was thinking of other matters, as the blow wasn't as hard as the others had been. Yet, her pain was great as he hit her solidly upon her already badly beaten and swollen face. She struggled through the pain, and struggled to keep him focused on her, “I didn't think the staff could work for anyone but the one who spoke with the Sorrows."

  "I have ways to make you give me these powers. It can be done. And I have much need of these powers."

  "Why? So you can inflict yourself and your tortures onto all those who would oppose you?"

  He sneered at her again, “Is that not the way of the ones who conquer? It is the same across all battles. You, of all the others, cannot be this naïve.” Suddenly, without any warning, his mood shifted yet again, “Tell me, Elf. Do you find me appealing?"

  "What does it matter to you? You take what you want with little regard to this."

  "I take what I am due!” He had been angered at her statement, but she couldn't guess as to why.

  "Due? You shouldn't even be in this era. You are from another."

  Ignoring her, he came up close and ran his thumb roughly across her swollen and bleeding lip. He then placed the tip of his thumb in his mouth, “Hmmm ... the taste of Elfin blood is most exciting."

  He traced the outline of one of her breasts roughly, allowing himself to be moved in his need and urgency. She could see that his breathing was becoming more rapid as his excitement grew. She readied her body for the moment he would remove her from the shackles. He placed both his hands on her breasts, squeezing hard. The pain increased, but she remained silent, trying to show no emotion.

  Suddenly, he ripped her shirt apart, exposing her breasts, “Beautiful."

  She closed her eyes and thought of her Queen, She will come. I know this is so. I know it!

  The Healer stirred, looking back at Sle'nel'. She lay upon the floor confused, but seeing that the sorcerer was placing his attentions onto Sle'nel'.

  Without turning to The Healer, he said, “Remain as you are, Healer, or you will die sooner."

  The Healer tried to remove the pain from her body, but was overly confused from her head injury to know where to begin. She concentrated upon the moment, focusing upon her pains. She knew that her face was swollen and bruised from the beatings, that her head was bleeding from being smashed against the floor, that it hurt to breathe, and that her right arm was most likely broken. She began with her head.

  Caitha had woken a few moments prior, but had remained as she was, waiting for the correct moment. She guessed that he might know she was awake, given his sorcerer abilities. She wondered when her lover and The High Queen would arrive.

  "I think this the moment for our pleasures, Elf."

  She spat into his face, “You disgust me."

  He looked at her, frowning, then leered, “Have you ever lain with another while standing, Elf?” He laughed manically, then pulled out his sword and placed it into the fire. After a few moments, he removed the red-hot sword, unbuttoned his pants, then began his tortures and pleasures on the Elf.

  * * * *

  As the clouds finally covered the moon, San'lr'in’ prepared herself. She had sensed into the cave enough to know that Sle'nel’ and the others were yet alive, but also knew that they were badly beaten and were being tortured. She tried placing her raging anger aside to ensure that she could win this battle, and to ensure Caitha and the others remained alive, then called Ann'wn to her.

  Whispering, she said, “Do you see the cave's entrance?"

  Ann'wn nodded.

  "There will be many guards inside. It will be up to you to disable them. I will enter first."

  "But My Queen, they will see—"

  "I will hide myself. I will go unseen by them."

  Ann'wn nodded, not understanding.

  She looked at Ann'wn, knowing of what they would find once in the cave, “Prepare yourself, Force Leader. They have been badly beaten, but are alive."

  She saw Ann'wn tense. She placed a hand upon her shoulder, “Be brave. It is what they will need from us."

  Ann'wn nodded, but now with a tear in her eye. The High Queen looked over to Fon'elnn', trying to keep herself distant from the emotions that now haunted her Force Leader. She tried to hold her consuming rage within her for a few more moments, nodded to Fon'elnn', then to Ann'wn, and they all ran silently to the cave's entrance. At the entrance, The High Queen whispered a soft spell, masking herself from view. Ann'wn could barely make out her form, seeing that her Queen had become mostly invisible, blending perfectly into the cave.

  Not knowing that her Queen had moved close to her, Ann'wn jumped as The High Queen whispered in her ear, “Give Me a few long moments, Force Leader. I must arrive to the Dark Sorcerer prior to you making any noise, or he may kill them prior to My arrival."

  Ann'wn nodded, knowing that her High Queen had left, but only by the sight of her boot prints in the dirt. San'lr'in’ entered the cave, moving as quickly but silently as possibly. While the guards couldn't see her, she didn't want to give away her presence to the Dark Sorcerer. As she neared the Dark Sorcerer's location, she cringed as violent torrents of rage exploded through her body when she heard Sle'nel's agonized demented screams.

  She forced herself to swallow the bile and moans that threatened to escape from her, By the mothers, help Me save her.

  With no doubt, she well knew what the Dark Sorcerer was doing to Sle'nel’ to cause such sounds of tortured terror.

  She fiercely fought the internal rage that struggled so violently to burst free from her. She called all her powers to her, then silently unsheathed her sword and touched the stone in her pouch, This is the moment, Great Red Stone. Enhance My powers, as I have great need of them.

  Remaining invisible used much of San'lr'in's strength, but she risked it until she reached the room where the screams were coming from. She entered into the large room, quickly assessing the situation, seeing that they were all yet alive, but also seeing that the Dark Sorcerer was now torturing Sle'nel', who was hanging limply from her shackles. She briefly noticed Sle'nel’ was trying to remain conscious, and trying not to scream out her great pain as he placed the tip of the red-hot sword well into and through the side of her knee.

  San'lr'in’ undid her cloak, allowing it to drop to the floor, then used her eager powers to knock him well away from Sle'nel'. Fully enraged with barely controlled fury, she used her powers to throw him with the greatest of forces against the far wall. She heard a satisfying ‘thud’ as his body hit hard against the wall, and an even more satisfying groan of pain, and took the brief moment prior to his recovery
to try to comfort her Elf. She placed her hand on her lover's head and sent her some strength and hope.

  Sle'nel’ raised her head and looked at her, trying to smile, but unable to do so. Her face was now overly swollen to speak any further, but she tried, “Than'rn'...?"

  The pain in Sle'nel's face and eyes made The High Queen's wrath burst, but while mixed in the extremes of emotion, she smiled tenderly at her lover, “We have arrived, My Bright Star."

  As she spoke, she made a slight motion with her hand, undoing Sle'nel's shackles, helping her fall softly to the cave's floor. She covered her Elf's well tortured yet mostly exposed body with her cloak, seeing blood escape from her private areas, then returned her complete attentions to the Dark Sorcerer. She understood well the tortures that had caused that blood.

  Her rage began to surge forward, Now you suffer for these acts.

  He had just managed to stand, sending a spell to her. She countered it, thinking it was a pitiful attempt on his part, hoping this was an indication that she had injured him. He picked up his sword and moved toward her.

  He halted for a moment, “I didn't think you could arrive as quickly as this. But not soon enough, my red-haired lovely. While you have ruined my surprise for you, you did allow me the moments to have my pleasures with your treasured ones."

  The High Queen forced herself to remain distant from this knowledge, but could feel her wrath at the very end of her fingertips, as her boiling hot hate rose up to her throat. She loathed him for what he had done, but could sense that he told the truth—he had his pleasures with Sle'nel'. She refused to allow her hate to engulf and force her into carelessness. She said nothing, knowing it would give away her anger, focusing intently on his actions, instead. She raised her sword and prepared herself to kill him.

  "You are quite exceptional, my San'lr'in'thel'ineln', as our grandmother said. I believed her, but only mildly so, and now find myself fully captivated by your appearance."

  She ignored his words, looking upon him carefully, sensing his powers. She could feel that they were stronger than she had first guessed. She motioned again with her hand, trying to throw him against the wall once more, but guessing that it wouldn't work on him upon the second attempt.

  He raised his own hand, halting the spell just prior to it unleashing upon him. San'lr'in’ could see that he easily cast off the spell, “You called the former High Queens to you. A smart move, considering."

  His words began to irritate her, “I care not at all for your thoughts."

  He ignored her statement, “And your guard killed Grandmother. How sad for me.” He tried to look sad for a moment, then brightened, casting away his prior thought as if nothing, “Oh well, she was overly greedy and would have insisted I return the favors."

  "I should have guessed that you learned from her."

  He laughed, “I quite enjoy being in your realm, but enjoy it more because of your presence. I have watched you from afar since my return to The Realm. You are most exceptional."

  She used another power, this one slightly stronger than the prior, testing his strength and abilities. As prior, he countered it easily.

  He laughed again, “You are no match against me, San'lr'in'thel'ineln'. My sorcery is much stronger than yours and The First High Queen's powers. Even Drn'rn'thel'ineln’ was no match for me. Perhaps you remain unaware as to the strength of my sorcery. I have seen the sorcerers in this era and find them pitifully weak and useless. I am stronger than you and all the prior The High Queens."

  She reminded herself, Careful. Don't grow careless. Discover his weaknesses. Don't allow him to know of your true strength.

  He stood gazing at her, into her eyes, trying to discover her secrets. She found his gaze and presence hypnotizing, but found him overly assured of his own abilities, easily casting aside his attempts to overtake her mind. She studied him for a moment, seeing that he was at least two-heads taller than she stood, with shiny black hair that hung freely down his back. As she examined him fully, she found herself unexplainably allured by his eyebrows that fully captured her attention, even away from the sparkle of his bluest of blue eyes, even bluer than Sam's. She distanced herself away from his forced presence, avoiding the charm he used so well to captivate and control his prey.

  "You are truly astonishing, San'lr'in'thel'ineln'. I stand stunned in your presence. Although I must say, it was truly wonderful to take my pleasures with your Elf."

  She fought to ignore his statement, feeling her body tense at the words. She knew that the long-prior sorcerers were powerful beyond anything now in The Realm, but guessed that he hadn't yet realized that she had been given many more powers than all the prior High Queens. She prepared herself to use his ignorance to her advantage, while she momentarily touched the large red stone.

  He will lose because of his arrogance. This is one of his weaknesses.

  She pushed his statement aside, “Release your powers to Me. I would then assure your safety in this realm for the duration of your pitiful lifespan."

  "How very generous of you, High Queen. But your powers are no match for mine, even though I sense that you are well more powerful than your First High Queen, Drn'rn'thel'ineln'. And she wasn't nearly as beautiful as you. It will be a pity to have to kill you. Join me, San'lr'in'thel'ineln'. Join me so that I don't have to kill such beauty as yours. Drn'rn'thel'ineln’ seemed to enjoy my companionship, or shall I say offerings, quite well. I would strive to please you."

  Using another small power, she sent a ball of fire at him, testing his strength. He repelled it, but not as easily as prior. She took careful note of his abilities.

  "Your self-involved talk is tedious."

  She heard Caitha and The Healer moan, and saw that Sle'nel’ was more injured than she had first thought, but once again forced herself to remain distant from them, keeping the main task at-hand. She fought against her rage as she fought against the Dark Sorcerer, refusing to lose to neither. But it was taking all her strength and powers to do so.

  "Your Elf cannot give you what I can, San'lr'in'thel'ineln'. I can take away all your responsibilities for you. No longer will you have to take on this burden. Although I must say, the Elf does manage to give a considerable amount through her pleasures. I could not get enough of moving strongly into her. Each moment with her was better than the prior. The feeling was like no other.” He leered at her, “But you know well of this, don't you, my Love."

  Her eyes narrowed at the thought of what he had done to Sle'nel', but she resisted the urge to attempt to kill him at this moment, choosing to wait until she could be certain of his defeat. She knew he was taunting her, but felt as if her rage were about to burst out of her skin.

  Don't risk this loss. You must not lose this battle. Your moment will come.

  She took great care to make no mistakes with him. She studied him more carefully, wondering as to why he despised the Elves so.

  "Tell me, Sorcerer. Are you related to Sume'n'tinel'ti'non?"

  "I am related to all three of you, including your eldest sister. But she is far removed from your beauty and hasn't the powers you possess."

  She took a guess, “You are a R'kin'dles."

  He held out his arm, and his staff came flying to him. With great anger, he said, “I am part R'kin'dles, and am vowed to rid The Realm of Elves. They have done nothing but harm to the R'kin'dles."

  He held his staff out from him and sent a spell meant to blind her. She held up her sword, using it to repel the spell easily prior to it even touching her. She knew that he was testing her strength.

  He laughed, “Your are quick minded, also. I am pleased. You are an able opponent."

  She said nothing, but saw that he studied the sword for a moment. His eyebrows rose as he made the connection, his eyes widening in surprise, “How is this possible? How could you have The High Queen's Sword? This sword should have been long-prior buried with Drn'rn'thel'ineln'."

  "Quite startling, is it not? Yet, here it is.” She refused to tell hi
m any further of the tale.

  "I am surprised, but am pleased as to your abilities. It makes you all the more fascinating ... and desirable."

  "I care nothing about pleasing you."

  "Have you not the slightest curiosity regarding me, my Love?"

  "No."

  He wasn't pleased with her answer, seeing that his well-practiced charms were ineffectual against this High Queen. He cast another spell and sent it her way, a spell meant to rid her of Sle'nel's staff. She held out her hand quickly, and as easily as she had prior, cast off the spell.

  "You are not as strong as you believe of yourself, Sorcerer."

  Quietly and without movement, she called the power of confusion to her, then as quickly cast it upon the Dark Sorcerer. It was a small and mostly insignificant power, but like him, she used it to test his alertness and abilities.

  He had been slightly unguarded. The spell confused him for a short moment, and then he cast it suddenly away, “A spell of confusion? You hold sorcerer powers as well, my beauty? I am surprised yet again. This I knew not of you. You are indeed most intriguing."

  He sent another spell to her. Instead of repelling it, she took the spell into herself, now owning it. She noted that it had been a spell of turning one into stone. As she took the spell from him, he grew angry.

  "You cannot do this. You cannot remove my spells from me!"

  "I can if you choose to give them to Me. You have no such an ability, oh mighty one?” She laughed lightly, irritating him even further, but also bewildering him. He wondered if she would be able to do this with each spell he sent to her. Few across all The Realm's eras had such a power as this.

  He tried again. As prior, she took the spell as one of her own. She felt that it had been even a stronger spell, as he tried to kill her this moment. She remained well focused, knowing that she was yet learning his limits.