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

by Robbie Collins

  "Did you find our Force Leader?"

  "I did."

  "And?"

  "She is with The Healer."

  "Again?"

  She nods.

  "Ah.” She pauses, then tries again, “The High Queen?

  "She is resting after having used her powers."

  "Ah.” Yet another pause, “The Elf?

  "With The High Queen."

  "The Warrior Woman?"

  "With the Storyteller."

  "High Counselor?"

  "High Master."

  "An'ther'on?"

  "Detained."

  "Of course.” She pauses, “We could try asking one of Deep Mystics to speak to the Counselors from the Valley."

  "We could, but they are with our not-on-duty guards."

  "Ah."

  "Have them wait. Feed them."

  The Narrator and Musician continue, “They feed the visiting Deep Mystics along with the new visiting Counselors from the Valley. The eve passes, then the morn comes upon them. The Deep Mystics and the Counselors rise, and the guards feed them once again. At last, The High Queen rises."

  "Did you find our Force Leader? Has she yet spoken to our Queen?"

  "She did. But we must leave. The High Queen has an urgent concern."

  "Leave? Now?"

  "We are in a hurry."

  "Ah."

  Narrator, “The happy, amiable and well-fed band of travelers leave, now taking the visiting Deep Mystics as well as the Counselors with them. They travel for two turns, then halt. The guards attempt once again to tell one of their leaders of the visiting Deep Mystics and Counselors, but now, Queen Erthrn and a small group of guards arrive, wishing to visit with The High Queen. In the meanwhile, the Deep Mystics and Counselors are fed once again."

  "Did you find Ann'wn?"

  "I did."

  "She is with The Healer?"

  "Yes."

  "Ah.” She pauses, “And The High Queen is with The Elf?"

  "She is."

  "Ah.” Another pause, then she sighs, “And I suppose the Warrior Woman is with Caitha?"

  "How did you know?"

  "The Highest is with Uthrn?"

  She nods.

  "And the High Counselor is with the High Master?"

  "Yes. And An'ther'on is detained."

  "Of course she is. But there is yet another set of visitors. Queen Erthrn and group arrive and wish to see our Queen."

  "There is no one to greet them."

  "Perhaps the Deep Mystics?"

  "They are yet again with the guards not-on-duty."

  "Perhaps the Counselors from the Valley might agree to greet Queen Erthrn?"

  "They are with the remainder of the Deep Mystics."

  "Ah."

  "Feed them. Have them wait."

  Narrator, “They feed the visiting Deep Mystics, the Counselors, along with Queen Erthrn and her group. The eve passes, then the morn comes upon them. The Deep Mystics, the Counselors, and Queen Erthrn and group rise, and the guards feed them all. At last, The High Queen rises."

  "Has our Force Leader yet spoken to our Queen?"

  "She did. And she is aware, but we must leave. A battle awaits us."

  "A battle? But what of our visitors?"

  "We are in a hurry. Bring them along."

  "Ah."

  Narrator, “The happy, well-fed, amiable and growing little group of travelers leave, now taking the visiting Deep Mystics, the Counselors, and Queen Erthrn and her group with them. They travel for two turns, then halt. A small group of six scholars come to visit with The High Queen. In the meanwhile, the Deep Mystics, Counselors, and Queen Erthrn and her group are fed yet again."

  Frustrated, she begins, “You found Ann'wn, but she is in her tent with The Healer."

  "This is so."

  Resigned to what she knows is truth, she adds, “And The High Queen is with the Elf."

  "This is truth."

  She then shrugs, “And the Warrior Woman is with Caitha."

  "Yes."

  And she shrugs again, “The Highest is with Uthrn, and the High Counselor is with the High Master."

  "Yes."

  She then raises her hands as if in dismay, “And An'ther'on is detained with yet another Private Guard. And the Deep Mystics are with our guards not-on-duty, and the Counselors are with the Deep Mystics not taken by our guards."

  "Yes. This is so, but how did you know?"

  "But there is yet another set of visitors. Six scholars come to visit with The High Queen."

  "There is no one to greet them."

  "Perhaps Queen Erthrn or one of her group would greet them?"

  "She and her group are all ... busy with The High Queen's attendants."

  "Ah."

  The guard shrugs, “Feed them. Have them wait."

  Narrator, “They feed the visiting Deep Mystics, the Counselors, Queen Erthrn and her group, and the six scholars while they await for their Queen. The eve passes, then the morn comes upon them. The Deep Mystics, the Counselors, Queen Erthrn and her group, and the six scholars all rise, and the guards feed them once again. At last, The High Queen rises."

  "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. We are late for a meeting somewhere."

  "Bring all of them along?"

  "Yes."

  "Ah."

  Narrator, “The happy, amiable, well-fed, growing and lusty band of travelers leave, now taking the visiting Deep Mystics, the Counselors, Queen Erthrn and her group, and the six scholars with them. They travel for two turns, then halt. The guards attempt once again to tell one of their leaders of the Deep Mystics, the five Counselors, Queen Erthrn and her group, the six scholars, but also of the new visitors, seven sorcerers.

  "You found our Force Leader, but she is with The Healer. And you have found The High Queen, but she is with the Elf, and you have found the Warrior Woman, but she is with Caitha, and The Highest is with Uthrn, and the High Counselor is with the High Master, and An'ther'on is detained."

  "But how did you know this?"

  "There is yet another set of visitors. Seven sorcerers arrive and wish to see our Queen."

  "There is no one to greet them."

  "Perhaps the six scholars?"

  "They are with each other."

  "Ah."

  "Feed them. Have them wait."

  Narrator, “They feed the visiting Deep Mystics, the Counselors, Queen Erthrn and her group, the six scholars, and now the seven sorcerers while they await for their Queen. The eve passes, then the morn comes upon them. The Deep Mystics, the Counselors, Queen Erthrn and her group, the six scholars, and the seven sorcerers all rise, and the guards feed them again. At last, The High Queen rises."

  "You found Ann'wn, but we must leave, as The High Queen has issued it as so."

  "Yes. You must read my mind."

  "And I suppose we are in a hurry. We are rushing off to somewhere."

  "We have to pass through the tunnel of No-where."

  "Bring all of them along?"

  "Yes."

  "Ah."

  Narrator, “The happy, amiable, well-fed, growing, lusty and intimate band of travelers leave, now taking the Deep Mystics, the Counselors, Queen Erthrn and her group, the six scholars, and the seven sorcerers with them. They travel for two turns, then halt. The guards attempt once again to tell one of their leaders of the Deep Mystics, the five Counselors, Queen Erthrn and her group, the six scholars, the seven sorcerers, but also of the new visitors, fourteen of the Mystics of the Winds."

  More frustrated than prior, she said, “You found everyone, but everyone is detained with everyone else?"

  "Yes. This is so."

  Now well tired of trying, she gives the report, “There is yet another set of visitors. Fourteen Mystics of the Winds arrive and wish to see our Queen."

  "There is no one to greet them."

  She sighs, �
�As prior."

  "Feed them. Have them wait."

  "There is no more food."

  "The cooks are detained with each other, anyway."

  "Who are you with this eve?"

  "No one. There is no one left that is available. All are with another."

  "Are there no guards about?"

  She shrugs, “They all seem to be with each other. There must be a spell of lust upon us."

  She winked at her, “Would you care to be with me?"

  She smiles and nods. They walk off-stage.

  Narrator, “Thus ends our tale of the happy, amiable, well-fed, growing, lusty, extremely intimate, but now hungry band of travelers. But who would notice?"

  San'lr'in’ laughed lightly, finding the play humorous, “They created quite the social observation."

  Sle'nel’ also thought it humorous, “I am grateful they halted the play there. I guessed not as to where they might have ended this."

  "While it doesn't match the high plays of the Valley or of Rns'deln', this was a most excellent diversion, and quite witty of them."

  The High Queen rose, smiling, “Highest of Woden, I hope this doesn't mean we now run short on food."

  Sam smiled and bowed her head, “No, my Queen."

  She turned to Ann'wn, yet smiling, “And Force Leader, I hope this doesn't mean we now run short of guards."

  Ann'wn bowed her head and smiled, “No, my Queen. All is well."

  "And it would appear we run not short on humor. Thank you for the wonderful diversion, My Forces. I am well entertained and well fed this eve. At long last, we leave in the morn for El'fs'nd'lle."

  * * * *

  They traveled for two turns, arriving just prior to the Gates of El'fs'nd'lle in the just-after-midturn. They decided that they would spend the eve slightly distant from the gates so as to prepare their arrival in the morn, and to give the Black Guard the moments necessary to fully assess who might already be at the gates.

  They camped in a quiet spot near a lake so that all could refresh themselves from their long journey. The High Queen and Sle'nel’ found a smaller lake just off from the main one, and were there allowing Sle'nel’ to prepare herself for El'fs'nd'lle and allowing for some much needed moments of peace. They spent the late-after-midturn together near the lake, each in their in own reflections of what now awaited them, San'lr'in’ thinking on how it might change The Realm and her life with Sle'nel', and Sle'nel’ wondering how she had gotten to this spot so far from Woden.

  "My Queen?"

  San'lr'in’ had sensed Ann'wn coming up behind her. She continued to look out onto the lake as she responded to Ann'wn's request for an audience, “Tell Me."

  "The Gates of El'fs'nd'lle are lined by many. They appear to await our arrival, Highness."

  She sighed, yet looking upon the lake, “Many, Force Leader?"

  "Beyond counting, Highness. The Women of the Waters are present, as are the Mystics of the Winds, the Women of the Trees, all the Valley's and Realm's sorcerers, the Skr'kinges, the Warriors of the Sword, the Women of the Soul, the Spirit Mothers, the Women of the Waters, the—"

  She held up her hand, “Enough, Ann'wn. I have obtained the idea."

  "Yes, my Queen, but you may wish to know that the High Priestess is present, and has asked for you."

  She sighed again and turned to Ann'wn, “Are there perhaps any good reports that you might share with Me?"

  "One, Highness. There will be no battles."

  To no one in particular, she said, “There are battles, and then there are battles."

  "My Queen?"

  She turned back to the lake, sighing again, “At moments, Force Leader, it is easier to draw the sword than to engage in the social formalities. But I suppose it is a show of support."

  "Yes, my Queen."

  "Is there anything else, Force Leader?"

  "Yes, Highness. The path to El'fs'nd'lle is also lined with many others. Many from The Realm, from many villages. And there were the sixteen remaining disloyal Masters, but Queen Erthrn has dealt with them."

  "A shining light amongst an overly dark sky."

  "My Queen?"

  Yet sighing, she waved her hand as if dismissing her statement, “It would appear that we will be required to pass through this awaiting vanguard."

  "Yes, Highness. They await the usual pageantry of which you are so fond."

  She turned as she raised an eyebrow, smiling slightly at Ann'wn, with some interest, “A jest, Ann'wn? From you?"

  "I apologize, my Queen."

  "No need. Give Me a guess as to the length of the pageantry we must provide, Force Leader."

  "Perhaps nine-thousand from The Realm are present, my Queen. It is much like a grand party."

  "Indeed. So it must be. Inform the camp. We leave in the morn."

  Ann'wn bowed slightly, “Yes, my Queen. Highness?"

  "Tell Me."

  "Your meal awaits."

  "You have My leave, Force Leader."

  "My Queen?"

  She sighed once again, “Perhaps you could tell Me all that awaits in your mind without all this formality, Force Leader?"

  "Yes, my Queen. First, my Queen, Mil'der'in wishes an audience."

  "I grant the request."

  "And The Highest of Woden would like an audience, if you don't plan to attend the eve's meal."

  "Another bright star. She truly understands. Tell her I will attend the meal."

  "Yes, Highness. Fon'elnn’ would like to know what you wish of her, upon your return."

  "Ann'wn. Might I attend to all these requests at the eve's meal?"

  "Yes, my Queen. I was uncertain if you would attend."

  "We will attend, and I will answer everyone's needs at that moment. Might this suffice?"

  "Yes, my Queen. Thank you."

  As Ann'wn left, Mil'der'in approached. She bowed her head, “High Queen."

  San'lr'in’ bowed her head slightly in return, as was custom in a display of respect, “High Counselor. Must we attend to such formalities this turn, Mil'der'in, or might you allow Me a reprieve from them?"

  "To your desire, Highness."

  "Good. Come. Let us sit by the lakeshore."

  They both sat on a grassy knoll that overlooked the lake, “It is a most beautiful lake, Highness."

  San'lr'in’ nodded, “It is peaceful. There is a lake that is often mentioned in the Elfin memories. I wonder if this is the lake of reference.” She looked at Mil'der'in for a moment, then back at the lake, “I owe you an apology, Mil'der'in."

  "Me, Highness? This cannot be so."

  She laughed, “Most assuredly I do. I thought our journey would be a short one with little distraction, but it turned into a most difficult of adventures. I know you not to enjoy such moments, so I give you My apology. If I had known, Mil'der'in, I wouldn't have—"

  Mil'der'in touched her Queen's arm, “No, San'lr'in'thel'ineln'. This is one of the reasons why I have requested an audience with you, to thank you for allowing me on this journey. I was a little overly settled into the life of the Valley, and this has allowed me to open my mind in many ways."

  San'lr'in’ looped her arm through Mil'der'in's, feeling close to her friend. She laughed lightly once again, “How fares your ... hmmm ... passions with Fon'elnn?"

  Mil'der'in leaned her shoulder against her Queen's, making them to come closer together, a practice they had done long-prior as young girls, “Most wonderful.” She giggled a little, “I feel like it is my first love. And thank you for asking me to provide her company that eve. You have a most devious of minds, Highness."

  "And you, My friend, have needed such as her for many long moments. I am pleased to see you so content in this relationship. And she has great need for such as you, as she lost her great love, a love that was never attained. A most sad story, really."

  "But one that has ended most happily, my Queen. But perhaps I may alter the subject and give you the reports from The Realm?"

  "Of course. But allow Me the
first guess. First, the Counselors are upset with Me, yet again. Second, a celebration awaits our return. Third, the Mungardies are making overly many noises again. Fourth, it is long past due for the Queen's Audience as well as The High Queen's Court. Fifth—"

  Mil'der'in laughed, once again touching her hand to her Queen's arm, “Halt, Highness, or you will give me nothing to report."

  They chatted and laughed together for many long moments, The High Queen letting down her guard for the first moments since the beginning of their journey. Mil'der'in had been the only friend she had prior to Sle'nel', and they shared many memories of their past together, having both been trained to fill the positions of The Realm. Sle'nel’ sat well apart from them, also looking out on the lake, hearing them, and pleased that San'lr'in’ could enjoy the moment.

  But since her moment with the Dark Sorcerer, little in her life made sense. She faced the Gates of El'fs'nd'lle with nothing of the great anticipation she knew was expected from her, but couldn't find the motivation to rise to the moment. She was angry, but knew not at what.

  San'lr'in’ had completed her moment with Mil'der'in and came to sit next to Sle'nel', “Your thoughts are heavy these turns. Is there something I might do to ease them, My Desire?"

  At first Sle'nel’ didn't respond, then finally, “I asked not to be an Elf."

  "This is truth."

  "I knew not that you were High Queen."

  "Again, you speak truly."

  "I knew not even what a High Queen was."

  "Not many do, in truth. I often think I know not."

  "And I certainly wish not to be responsible for bringing back to The Realm an entire race."

  "No. As nor would I. The burden is great."

  "I know not even what it means to be an Elf."

  "It must be difficult."

  "And I am angry."

  "This I can understand, but may I ask at who?"

  "At the Dark Sorcerer. At The Realm. At Sam. At Sele'. At you."

  "Me?"

  "Yes."

  "Why is this so? If you tell Me, perhaps I can alter the moment—"

  "No. I am just angry, and you are here. For no other reason. Just because you are here."