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

by Robbie Collins

  Using his staff, he sent a spell meant to throw San'lr'in’ a long distance, but again she took the spell as her own. Then suddenly, she brought Sle'nel's staff forward and cast a spell of her own, making his staff to fly to her. He hadn't been prepared for the quickness of such a move.

  As his staff jerked out of his hand, he screamed, “Nooooooo! Not my staff!"

  She grabbed his staff as it flew to her, studied it, then after a brief moment of a quick quiet chant, broke it in half. She looked up quickly, preparing herself for his anger. She saw that he was fully surprised at what she had done, but had picked up a sword again.

  "You choose to engage me in a sword dance, Sorcerer?” She could now feel his anger growing against her.

  "I am much stronger than you. Prepare to die."

  "You are stupid, Sorcerer. And I had thought you to be more intelligent than this."

  He lunged at her, thinking her to be mostly unskilled in the sword. She scoffed at his attempt, hitting him on the back with the hilt of her sword as he went flying by her, uncontrolled.

  "DON'T LAUGH AT ME!"

  He shows his weakness! She laughed, knowing it would anger him further, “But you are pathetic and ridiculous."

  She became angered at herself for a brief moment, realizing that she should have killed him upon that moment. But she let her anger depart as quickly, knowing that she could take no risk in this; knowing that when she went to kill him, the moment must be well assured.

  He charged at her, bringing his sword down at her with full force. She held it off, then made a few swift moves from her long-prior training, mystifying him with her abilities.

  "How do you know of such moves?"

  She shrugged as if they were nothing, “These Master moves, Sorcerer? They are just a simple diversion of mine."

  He tried again, but as prior she evaded his blows easily, mocking his attempts. He ran over to Sle'nel', holding the sword to her eye, “Here is what I have waited for. Here is my present to you."

  Her anger yet trying to break loose, San'lr'in’ cast it aside as she waved her hand slightly, making his sword come flying to her. She caught it, then sent a spell his way, causing him to fall to the floor.

  He was now fully engulfed within his own rage against her. He held out both hands and sent a huge flame to San'lr'in', intending to consume her. Using her great powers, she bounced the flame of energy back to him as if it were mere child's play. He caught it, but it had cost him much effort to do so. He then sent another spell to her, trying to kill her by boiling within. The spell caught her off-guard in its strength. She grew angry with herself, knowing that she had sensed the great power within the spell just a brief moment to it causing her to lose.

  NO! Be more careful. Think! Prepare yourself.

  As she diverted it, he sent yet another spell of a giant poisoned and angry snake. She had to cast another spell onto it swiftly so as to avoid its attack, but did so, sending it back to the Dark Sorcerer. He had to react even more quickly than The High Queen to avoid its venom aimed at him, as her spell had been even stronger.

  "You are stronger than I had first imagined."

  "I grow weary of you."

  She sensed him growing weaker, but also angrier. She knew she would have to act soon prior to his anger being unleashed. She remained cautious, knowing she could make no mistakes with him.

  Focus your training. You cannot lose, or all The Realm loses.

  They fought between themselves for many more long moments, with her raising the strength at each attempt, testing him. With highly trained focus and skill, she waited for the correct moment as she continued to study his powers and abilities. She realized that all her long hard moments of training were now singularly focused for this moment, only. All her training, all her powers and guile, all her agility, all brought forward for this one test of wills and strength.

  Then, Finally. I have you!

  As he prepared to send another spell to her, she instantly brought one of the great powers to her, entombing him within a circle of energy.

  And suddenly, the fight was over.

  He remained as he had been standing, unable to move about; unable to use any of his spells. He was fully imprisoned within the circle. She thought the use of this massive power would weaken her, but was pleased that she yet felt strong. For a moment, she feared that he would be able to undo the spell, but saw that he couldn't, grateful that it held true. After all the tortures, threats, and spells, he was now captured.

  She had won.

  She hung her head for a moment, Thank you.

  She had thought the words, but knew not to whom she said them, just feeling grateful that she had been able to win the long and difficult battle. While she had been far overly concerned for Sle'nel', Caitha and her Healer, she had remained focused upon removing the Dark Sorcerer from The Realm. Finally, after what seemed overly many moments, the Dark Sorcerer was finished.

  Prior to this moment, Ann'wn and the others had arrived, after they had searched and disabled the Dark Sorcerer's guards. Now that The High Queen had the Dark Sorcerer safely imprisoned within her powers, Ann'wn motioned the guards to take Caitha, The Healer, and Sle'nel’ away from the cave. Ann'wn winced as she went to The Healer, seeing her well injured and in great pain.

  Sam had gone to Caitha and then to Sle'nel', shocked at their condition, “Sle'nel'. Can you hear me?"

  Sle'nel’ opened one eye, then whispered, “Sam."

  Tears came to Sam's eyes upon seeing how seriously injured her former lover was, “It is over now, Sle'nel'. You are safe.” She placed her hand carefully upon Sle'nel's good shoulder, touching her gently, “I am so sorry we couldn't arrive sooner, Sle'nel'. But we have done much to arrive as soon as this.” She placed her hand gently on Sle'nel's forehead, “I am so grateful that you are alive."

  "Than'lr'in'?"

  "She is safe. She has defeated the Dark Sorcerer. He has lost."

  "Caitha?"

  Sam nodded, amazed at Sle'nel's strength and resolve, “She hasn't been seriously injured."

  "The Healer?"

  Sam shook her head in disbelief of Sle'nel'. Seldom had she witnessed such quality, How could I have let such as her go? She nodded, “She will heal, but has some serious injuries. None such as yours, though."

  As The High Queen's guards gently carried the three captives out of the cave, Ann'wn went to her Queen, as did Meera, “We would like to have some moments alone with this one, my Queen, to ensure a most painful of deaths. Our lovers deserve this revenge."

  She thought about it for a long moment, uncertain if this should be allowed. She responded softly, “I will give you this after I remove his powers, but with one condition. You must not kill him. He is destined for the Sorrows of the Stones. This will have to suffice, Force Leader."

  Ann'wn bowed her head “It is enough, my Queen."

  The Dark Sorcerer was begging her, “San'lr'in'thel'ineln'. Leave me not in here. I will give you my powers. I will surrender to you. I knew not you were as strong as this. Please—give me not to the powers of the Stones. Please!"

  He had never prior known of such powers that San'lr'in’ had used against him. In all the greatness of his powers, she had finally made him look as a mere child with his spells. He never believed he could lose, but now he was fully halted in his plans and actions, as well as his life. In his era, The High Queen had no such powers as San'lr'in's.

  "You surrendered any opportunity for living when you hurt those in My heart. And know this, your powers will be The Realm's even without your consent."

  She walked slowly up to his cell of captivity. Fon'elnn’ grew concerned, “High Queen. Releasing not this one. He having many powers. Many. He is not needing his staff."

  She raised her hand in acknowledgement but said nothing, yet looking at the Dark Sorcerer, “Your fate finally meets up with you, Brn'stn'gil'. You will now receive your due. I regret that you couldn't use your powers for The Realm, Sorcerer, as they are indeed mi
ghty. But you instead chose to follow the path of darkness."

  She motioned slightly with her hand, making the ball of energy to follow her as she walked to the outside of the cave. As she exited the cave, she gave another motion, halting it. The Dark Sorcerer continued to plead to her, wailing in his defeat, to let him live. He begged and begged, but she remained passive and unhearing of his pleas.

  Feel nothing. Hear nothing. Remove yourself from all emotions, as you were taught.

  She bowed her head, then looked to the sky as she raised her arms. She chanted for a short moment, then touched the circle that held the Dark Sorcerer. All watched as his powers left him, seeing them move into the circle's energy. He screamed as it occurred, never having been without his powers, as she allowed the usual pain that accompanied the transfer. Ann'wn thought that it looked most painful. The High Queen brought Sle'nel's staff to the circle, touching the tip of it slightly to the circle's boundary. The powers transferred silently into the staff, leaving the Dark Sorcerer completely and forever powerless. She looked quizzically at Sle'nel's staff, noticing that it felt somewhat heavier after the transfer of powers, having no such knowledge that spells weighed this much.

  Displaying no outward sign of emotion, she motioned to Ann'wn. With a voice so cold in its delivery as to turn warmed blood to ice, she said, “Force Leader. I release him to your care. You and the Warrior Woman have but three turns. If he dies while in your care, you will take his place."

  Ann'wn bowed her head, cringing at The High Queen's distant and harsh words, “Thank you, my Queen. He will remain alive.” Meera also winced at the words, never hearing as such from a leader, but believing them fully.

  "Should you choose to remove any of his ... ummmm ... parts, keep them close by. The Sorrows will desire all of him. It is their due."

  She released the circle of energy from around the now powerless Dark Sorcerer, and Ann'wn took charge of him. As Ann'wn and Meera took him to begin inflicting their tortures upon him, she went to where Sle'nel’ was lying.

  She knelt down beside her, aching in having restrained her great rage and guilt, “My Desire. I am sorry I did not arrive sooner."

  Sle'nel’ was in much pain, hovering on unconsciousness, but moved her fingers to her lover's lips, taking great comfort in their realness. She said softly, with the greatest of efforts, “You came."

  San'lr'in’ looked upon her well-beaten Elf, seeing all the injuries. A tear came to her eye, and her rage and emotions came forward so quickly that she could barely control them, “I am so sorry, My Elf. I should have prevented this. This was My fault. I have failed you."

  Sle'nel’ was in immense pain, but placed her hand gently on her Queen's cheek, “No ... You saved us ... But I am no longer desirable."

  "WHAT?” Her anger grew at the Dark Sorcerer for causing Sle'nel’ to think as such.

  He will suffer for what he did!

  "This is not truth. Nothing will prevent My desire of you, My Love. Nothing. Think not these vile thoughts. They are merely of the spells he cast upon you."

  She touched Sle'nel's head, touching her softly and with great love, “I am sorry, My Elf. I had only wanted happiness for you. Now you lay here before Me, broken and abused.” She lowered her head, ashamed of herself, “I should have prevented this. Look what he has done to you."

  "San'lr'in', I will live. Once the ... pain ... is gone, I will feel ... improved."

  San'lr'in’ studied Sle'nel's wounds for a moment, assessing the damage the Dark Sorcerer had inflicted upon her. She touched Sle'nel's head gently, then moved her hands carefully over each wound. She withheld her shock as she discovered each wound, and as she discovered what the Dark Sorcerer had truly done to her lover. He had made a hole from the front of her shoulder clear through to the back of it with something red-hot. He had raped her, most brutally, and she could tell that it had occurred more than once. He had hit her several moments upon her face. He had placed his sword into her thigh, her breast, and her knee. And he slammed her head against something very hard. With all this, her greatest surprise was that Sle'nel’ remained conscious.

  As she gave Sle'nel’ some relief from her greatest of pains, and as she began to try to heal some of her greatest of wounds, she heard the Dark Sorcerer screaming from the tortures now being inflicted upon him. She never cared for the sound of torture or the notion of it, but found herself thinking it was his due. She removed herself from the sounds.

  "I am going to give you a sleeping spell, My Desire, so that you may rest comfortably. When you awaken, you will feel much less pain."

  Sle'nel’ was having great difficulty remaining conscious now, but placed her hand on San'lr'in's arm: “I ... love ... you, my Queen.” She breathed heavily for a moment, with great effort, then spoke softly again, “Remember ... this. I need you."

  She sat back, seeing that Sle'nel’ had fallen asleep from the strong sleeping spell. She shook her head, feeling ashamed of herself for allowing such tortures to occur. Escaped tears of uncontrollable anger and sorrow rolled down her cheek, and her lungs no longer wished to breathe. Her lover was beaten beyond recognition, and had been well abused. She felt in awe of this most strong of gentle Elves, knowing she had suffered beyond all endurance levels. The High Queen became enraged with herself, and didn't know what to do with it. She knew that her Elf would no longer be able to abide her. She took one last look at her great love, breathed deeply, then went to help The Healer and Caitha.

  I have failed her.

  Caitha had been beaten, but was the least harmed of the three. The Dark Sorcerer had knocked her head against the wall, but the impact hadn't cracked the skull. He had kicked her in the ribs, legs and arms, but nothing had been broken. The worse injuries were the blows to her face, but were far from the severe wounds sustained by Sle'nel'. Meera had accompanied The High Queen to Caitha, letting Ann'wn proceed with the tortures of the Dark Sorcerer until The High Queen was finished with Caitha.

  The High Queen smiled gently down at her as she removed some of the pain, “You will heal quickly enough, My Singer of Songs. You are strong."

  Caitha touched San'lr'in's cheek softly, “I am fine, my Queen, because of Jandra. She saved The Healer and me from even more beatings and tortures from the Dark Sorcerer. She was so brave."

  "You are all brave, My Storyteller. None of you yielded to his spells."

  She looked sad, “Because of Jandra, my Queen. She remained strong, and showed us how. She took the burden on herself. She kept telling us that you were on your way, even as she was being tortured."

  "You were all brave, Caitha. None of you took the path of death. This is not easy."

  Caitha began to cry, recounting the tortures and abuse he forced onto Sle'nel'.

  Meera couldn't stand it when Caitha cried, “Are you in great pain, Caitha? Is this why you cry?"

  Caitha looked sadly at Meera, then to The High Queen, yet crying, “What he did to her, M'Love, I cannot remove from my head. It was the most awful of moments. I could do nothing to help, and yet she willingly let him so that he would leave The Healer and me alone. It is the most awful of memories. Poor, poor Jandra."

  The High Queen felt sick with this information, but remained strong, “I know, Caitha. I know. I have already seen our Elf, but you are now free to let these terrible visions go. Sle'nel’ is resting comfortably. I have removed much of her pain, and have begun to help her to heal. I will do more for her after I tend to The Healer. Elves are always this brave, Caitha. We are lucky for their presence."

  She touched her hand gently to Caitha's head, removing some of the pain, healing some of the head wound, and completely removing some of the most terrible of memories. She winced as she took the memories into her own, not wanting these terrible images of terror, yet never wanting to forget what her Elf had endured. Her heart felt heavy in its sorrow. She gave Caitha a sleeping spell, then turned to Meera, “You should be proud of her. She suffered much, but remained strong. Tend to her gently, Warrior Wom
an."

  Meera looked down at her Caitha, then to The High Queen, looking sad and lost. The High Queen placed a hand on Meera's shoulder, “I am in truth most sorry for this, My Warrior Woman. I should have prevented as such. But I do not ask your forgiveness in this. It is My blame to bear."

  Meera was shocked at the statement, never thinking this to be The High Queen's fault, but as she began to protest, The High Queen turned and left. She went to The Healer's tent, “Bring Ann'wn to Me."

  She looked down at The Healer, seeing that she was barely conscious. Her heart recoiled in shock as she saw her former lover as broken and beaten as this.

  My poor, poor Healer. I am so sorry.

  She touched her hand gently to The Healer's head wound, feeling that the skull had been cracked. She closed her eyes for a moment, sending her healing powers to help heal this terrible wound, using many of her healing powers to do so.

  The Healer stirred, “My Queen."

  She spoke softly, “Shhhhh, Healer. Rest. You are all alive and now safe. Your head is well injured, so try not to move. I will remove your pain, heal your wound some, and give you a sleeping spell so that you will rest comfortably. You were very brave, My most excellent Healer."

  Ann'wn walked in, “My Queen. How does she fare?"

  She looked up at Ann'wn, “Wait but a moment while I finish."

  She felt The Healer's right arm, feeling that the bone had been badly broken.

  "Remain strong, My most valued Healer. I must set your bone."

  The Healer screamed, but only for a short moment, as The High Queen quickly sent more healing powers to help the bone begin to heal. She examined the remainder of The Healer's body, finding that The Healer had been kicked on her side, now having two broken ribs. The High Queen helped the ribs to begin their healing process, then removed much of her pain. After securing the broken bones with wrappings, The High Queen was finally completed in her initial healing tasks.

  The Healer opened her eyes, “You saved us. Sle'nel’ knew you would. She kept telling us of such."