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

by Robbie Collins

  The High Wizard Sorcerer bowed her head, “High Queen. I am glad to see that you have recovered fully from this attempt on your life. Has the assassin been found?"

  She smiled, also bowing her head, “High Wizard Sorcerer. I am well pleased of your presence. Thank you for arriving as quickly as this. The Realm is now in great danger, and I need your help to prepare fully to this task.” She watched her closely as she said, “The traitor is being tended to."

  "As should be. And as ever, I am at your service, Highness."

  As had been planned, Sume’ and Sle'nel’ also attended, along with Erthrn. Sle'nel’ spoke, “High Wizard Sorcerer. It is good to see you once again."

  The High Wizard Sorcerer bowed her head, “High Sorcerer. And you, as well. And now you are the Elfin Queen. My congratulations. And it is good to see you also, Sume'n'tinel'ti'non. I never prior believed that you would come willingly into The Realm. You have for long prior resisted my sorcery."

  Sume’ had long prior detested the High Wizard Sorcerer, thinking her as useless and politically inept. She bowed her head and provided the briefest of responses, “Sorcerer."

  The Sorcerer turned to San'lr'in', “They are to train with you, High Queen?"

  She waived her hand slightly, as if dismissing the notion, “In a moment, perhaps. But first, High Wizard Sorcerer, I have been puzzled over the Masters."

  "The Masters, High Queen?"

  She nodded, “The First Master. The one who betrayed The Realm."

  The High Wizard Sorcerer looked puzzled, “Is there a problem, Highness?"

  "No. Not as such. I merely require some knowledge in this regard, as she became, shall I say, rather indisposed overly soon."

  The High Wizard was concerned, but knew The High Queen well enough to know this as a usual pattern, “What is your need in this regard, Highness?"

  San'lr'in’ moved closer to the High Wizard Sorcerer, “When was the last moment you were with her, Shandor'nel?"

  The use of her name placed her on instant high alert, “You trust me not, Highness.” She looked about her, finally becoming aware of all the guards within the forest.

  San'lr'in’ waived her hand again as if in dismissal, “Patience, Shandor'nel. You know Me well enough to sense that I am merely concerned over an issue. No more than this. Tell Me, when was the last moment you spoke with the First High Master?"

  "I knew her not well, my Queen. Only in passing."

  "You knew of her being a traitor, High Wizard Sorcerer?"

  She bowed her head once, “Yes. This I learned most recently. A sad thing, this."

  The High Queen walked over to Erthrn, retrieving an item from her. She walked back to the High Wizard Sorcerer, “Do you recognize this, Shandor'nel?"

  "It is a knife, Highness."

  "Is it your knife?"

  "No, my Queen. I have no knife."

  "Do you recognize its owner?"

  She shook her head, “This I know not."

  "It was the same knife used on Me, High Wizard Sorcerer."

  She relaxed for a moment, “Ah. You wish me to discern who this knife might belong to, Highness? But I thought that you had captured your attempted assassin. Is this not truth?"

  She shrugged, “In truth, we captured the one who threw this knife. A good aim, that one."

  Shandor'nel laughed lightly, “You have always had a twisted sense of humor, High Queen."

  "Oh? But I digress. Tell Me, Shandor'nel. Have you ever prior met Krl'lnn, the Young Master?"

  "Who, Highness? I know not this name."

  She turned to Erthrn, “Do you not find this as a puzzlement, Queen Erthrn?"

  "I do, my Queen, as when I questioned her, she informed me that the First Master had taken her to meet our High Wizard Sorcerer."

  Shandor'nel thought better of it, “Ah. Now I know to who you refer. The Young Master that the First High Master brought to me for training. She took ill and had to leave even prior to us meeting. A most unfortunate occurrence for her."

  "This knife is of your sensing. It has traces of you that remain upon it."

  Shandor'nel jerked backed, surprised, “This is an impossibility. I never use any weapons, and this you well know."

  The High Queen examined into Shandor'nel's mind closely, wondering, “Have you prior met this Wizard of the Ravens, Sorcerer?"

  "Met her, High Queen? I would hope not. She could take my sorcery from me easily, from the tales I have heard of her."

  San'lr'in’ walked slowly around the High Wizard Sorcerer, displeased. It was easily apparent to her that the High Wizard Sorcerer was indeed telling her truths. She looked over to Erthrn, who merely shrugged in response. The High Queen turned back to Shandor'nel, beginning to wonder how far the Wizard of the Ravens had reached.

  With a quick movement, she touched the base of Shandor'nel's neck, suddenly placing Shandor'nel into a deep sleep. She carefully lowered her to the ground, then knelt beside her.

  All came near her as she knelt beside the High Wizard Sorcerer, “My Queen?"

  She looked up to Ann'wn briefly, hearing the anxious tone in her voice, “I fear that the Wizard of the Ravens has found an entrance into this one's mind, Force Leader, as I sense that Shandor'nel has spoken truly. I must find whatever the Wizard has instilled into her mind."

  "I can help, High One."

  She nodded to her Healer.

  "And me as well."

  She looked at her sister, “Thank you."

  She placed her hand tentatively on Shandor'nel's head, having briefly felt another's presence when she had placed a deep sleep onto her.

  The Healer watched her High Queen carefully, seeing The High Queen close her eyes as she concentrated on the High Wizard Sorcerer. In a few moments only, she saw The High Queen take in a deep breath, then shake her head free of whatever she had sensed.

  She looked at her Healer, “She most certainly placed a spell upon Krl'lnn'."

  "So she is the traitor, my Queen?"

  She looked back down at her High Wizard Sorcerer, feeling the weight of The Realm's burdens upon her. She sighed, taking a few moments to bring her thoughts together, “No, Force Leader. She is not knowingly a traitor. Even now, she knows not that she placed such a spell into Krl'lnn'."

  Sle'nel’ placed her hand softly on her lover's shoulder, “The Wizard did as such?"

  The High Queen merely nodded.

  "Can you remove this spell upon her, San'lr'in'?"

  She looked up to the voice, “No, High Priestess. The spell is such that if I were to touch it, Shandor'nel would die. I cannot remove the spell without killing her."

  "Yet the spell must be removed, as there might be more spells hidden within."

  Ann'wn looked in horror upon Sume', having heard her response to The High Queen, “If you remove the spell, you kill her? But if you not do so, she might be more of a traitor to The Realm?"

  The High Queen sighed, then rose, “Correct, Force Leader. That is our dilemma."

  "You cannot do as you did to Krl'lnn', Highness?"

  "Block her spell, Force Leader?"

  She thought it for a moment, wondering, then shook her head, “No. This cannot be done. I was only able to do as such to Krl'lnn', as it was the High Wizard Sorcerer's spell upon her. This spell within our Sorcerer has been placed by the Wizard of the Ravens."

  "Then what are your options, San'lr'in? Surely you cannot allow her to die. Even in my disgust of her uselessness, The Realm cannot be without a High Wizard Sorcerer. Especially at this moment."

  San'lr'in’ weighed the possibilities silently, then knelt back down next to The High Wizard Sorcerer, “I know not.” While she did indeed know the possibilities, she refrained from speaking of them, hoping she could quickly determine another possibility.

  The High Queen woke Shandor'nel, then helped her to rise. She looked confused, “What happened, my Queen?"

  San'lr'in’ told her of the Wizard of the Ravens, and the spell she had placed onto her, “But this
cannot be, Highness. I most surely would have known of such."

  "I am sorry, but I speak truth, High Wizard Sorcerer."

  "And you cannot remove it, Highness?"

  "Not without killing you, Shandor'nel."

  "You cannot block it?"

  "I could barely get near enough to sense it. It is as watchful as this."

  "But how did she place such a spell within me? I have never even met her. I have felt nothing unusual in this regard."

  The High Queen merely looked upon her, saddened in what she knew as truth, and deeply saddened in knowing what she must do.

  "Have me watched turn-in and turn-out, Highness. I would like to battle against this one. And perhaps if we are able to defeat her, I might win back my life."

  San'lr'in’ knew it as not so, knowing that the Wizard had placed a final spell that would most certainly kill Shandor'nel soon, but nodded, “Perhaps it can be as you say, High Wizard Sorcerer.” Then, without warning and in a fluid movement so quick that no one recognized its occurrence, The High Queen grabbed Ann'wn's sword and moved quickly, beheading the High Wizard Sorcerer.

  Kneeling down to the sorcerer's body, she held out her hand, “Force Leader. Your knife."

  Ann'wn was yet in shock from the occurrence, and barely had the moments to even understand that The High Queen had removed her sword from her. Absentmindedly, she unsheathed her knife and placed it in her Queen's hand.

  The High Queen took the knife and moved its tip close to the High Wizard Sorcerer's heart, “I am truly sorry, Shandor'nel. But The Realm has great need of your spells now. I am sorry I could save you not, but we could not risk losing your powers to this Wizard."

  Using Ann'wn's knife, she removed the High Wizard Sorcerer's heart, then stood. Holding the heart in one hand, she softly chanted a spell and brought a glowing white ball of light to the other. Using her great powers, she removed the High Wizard Sorcerer's spells and sorcery and placed them into the waiting ball of light. When done, The High Queen closed her eyes once more, then softly chanted one more spell.

  Sle'nel’ became startled, suddenly sensing a deep quiet about her, then saw that all the guards and had been fully frozen in the moment.

  "What have you don—"

  The High Queen interrupted Sume's question, while rinsing her hands of the blood in the lake, “Quickly. We have much to do. High Priestess, come and kneel upon your knees."

  "Kneel? Before you? Why are yo—"

  "Quickly, High Priestess. Trust Me.” She turned to Sle'nel', “How far will your sorcery transport a body?"

  "Where would you like it?"

  "Deep within the Ancients?"

  Sle'nel’ thought on it, then nodded, “I think this can be accomplished.” She studied her staff for a moment, cited the needed spell as she waved the staff slightly. Within an instant, the High Wizard Sorcerer's body disappeared.

  The High Queen nodded, “Good.” She looked at The Healer and Ann'wn, “Tell no one of what now occurs. Force Leader, have the Singing Bowl and the Crystal Ball brought to Me, and quickly so."

  She then looked down at Sume', who was now on her knees before her. She placed her hand lightly upon her sister's head, “High Priestess. The Realm has great need of you upon this moment."

  "You know I hate to be kept waiting, San'lr'in'. What is it you want from me?"

  The High Queen laughed lightly to herself, and smiled softly at her sister, “Sle'nel’ is destined to become the High Wizard Sorcerer upon some future moment, but not now. Not this moment. And yet The Realm is about to battle against the greatest of all wizards, but cannot do so without the commanding powers of a High Wizard Sorcerer."

  "Get to the point, San'lr'in'."

  "Be The Realm's High Wizard Sorcerer, High Priestess."

  Her response was instantaneous, “Me? I have no such powers. Are you crazed?"

  "Do this for The Realm, High Priestess, and you will have these powers."

  Sume’ began to rise, “How ridiculous is this, San'lr'in'? I am not such as this. I have no such ability. Sle'nel’ is the much better choice."

  San'lr'in’ held her gently down, “Hear Me, High Priestess. Sle'nel’ is indeed a Sorcerer of much strength and ability, but is no Wizard. You are High Priestess, and you have this possibility."

  She crouched down to her sister and brought her hand to her sister's cheek, “I have great need of your abilities, Sume'n'tinel'ti'non. Be The Realm's High Wizard Sorcerer. Be My Council. Take these powers. These are surely your due."

  "You ask much of me, San'lr'in'. I am not even certain I care much for your realm. And now you would have me battle against this Wizard of the Ravens on an even stance with her. And how am I to know of these spells and sorcery?"

  "You will know. I am giving you these spells through her heart. They will be as if you have always known of them."

  Sume’ turned to Sle'nel', “These should be yours, Elf. Tell her of such."

  Sle'nel’ shook her head, “She is correct, Sume'. These should be your powers. Not mine. You are the one who is well prepared for such. I have barely come to know my staff. And I seem to have other duties at these moments."

  Sume’ turned back to her sister, “I will make you pay for this, San'lr'in'. This will cost you. I didn't even want to like you."

  San'lr'in’ smiled, “Do you not recall that you commanded that I give you My powers?"

  "So? Did you take me as serious?"

  The High Queen's eyes twinkled, “Join Me, Sume'n'tinel'ti'non. Come willingly to The Realm, and join Me. I and The Realm have great need of you."

  Sume’ rolled her eyes and sighed, “Go ahead. Do this thing. But I certainly hope that you know what you now do."

  The High Queen stood, brought the ball of light to her, then softly chanted a spell for The Realm. She removed her great red stone from its pouch and held it out in her left hand. Passing her right hand over it lightly, she then waved the ball of light toward it. As the two great powers touched, great sparks emitted from both. Ignoring the continuing sparks, she motioned the ball of light toward Sume's heart, then pushed it gently yet firmly into her.

  "Hold true, High Wizard Sorcerer. Make this pain to disappear from you as it enters."

  Clutching her hand to her heart, Sume’ groaned loudly from the pain as the sorcery entered into her heart. She struggled against the pain, but was fully frozen in the moment. Then suddenly, she knew what to do, moving the pain away from her with her new sorcery.

  "Move into your meditations, High Wizard Sorcerer. Move away from the moment."

  Sume’ struggled again, never having had the ability to move beyond her second meditation, then suddenly moved herself into her fourth meditation. She removed herself away from the moment, finding herself watching the moment, instead of feeling it. Then returned as quickly to The Realm.

  "Take these powers as yours, High Wizard Sorcerer. Chant the spell with Me."

  Sume’ listened to The High Queen for a moment as the spell was chanted, then learned that she knew the spell well. As she chanted it with The High Queen, San'lr'in’ halted her own chanting, allowing Sume’ to complete it.

  Sume’ brought all the former High Wizard Sorcerer's powers into her own, sensed them for a moment, then flinched at their enormous strength. After all her cycles, she was surprised that the very sister she had so hated had given her the true powers of The Realm.

  San'lr'in’ held out the High Wizard Sorcerer's staff, “Take it, and do as you must."

  Sume’ studied her, slightly unsure of the moment, then saw that The High Queen had no hesitation in her. She rose, then brought the staff to her. She held out her arms to the sky, knowing what she must do.

  "Watchers of The Realm. Brand this great sorcery to me. Make these powers flow through me as if they were my very blood."

  Without warning, a great bolt of lightning flew from the empty skies above, directly into Sume's heart. The jolt of the lightning bolt was overwhelming, but Sume’ held true, even as the li
ghtning branded her as the High Wizard Sorcerer. Even as her flesh burned, she held firm, as her sister had commanded of her.

  When it was done, she suddenly felt the weight of The Realm upon her, surprised at its intensity and burden. She looked to her sister, “What have you done to me?"

  San'lr'in’ placed her hand upon Sume's cheek, “I am sorry for this, High Wizard Sorcerer, but I thank you most truly. You honor Me and The Realm greatly with your gift."

  Sume’ felt her chest, feeling the brand upon it.

  San'lr'in’ moved the top of the gown away from Sume's chest, “Behold. The Watchers of The Realm have granted the mark of the true High Wizard Sorcerer to you. We are all honored upon this turn. It has been since Sle'nel's Mother that we have had a High Wizard Sorcerer accepted by The Realm in such a fashion."

  Sume’ looked at it as best she could, but mostly feeling the scorching pain of it. Sle'nel’ touched it lightly, “It is a lightning bolt."

  "Not just this, Queen of the Elves. It is the red fire-bolt of the skies. It is the mark of the true High Wizard Sorcerer."

  "Did Shandor'nel not have this?"

  "No. She was never able to command the skies’ powers, such as you have just called to you."

  Sume’ suddenly looked astonished, “I can feel her, San'lr'in'. The Wizard of the Ravens. She tries to now find the High Wizard Sorcerer."

  She placed her hand on her sister's shoulder, “Guard well against this one, High Wizard Sorcerer.” She waved her hand and released the guards from their frozen state, then turned to Ann'wn, “Have My requests arrived?"

  Ann'wn bowed her head and brought the items to her, “Yes, Highness."

  The High Queen took them, then turned back to Sume', handing them to her, “Long prior, these were the possessions of the High Wizard Sorcerers, but they have been long gone from The Realm. You will be the first to use these in many eons. It is told that The First High Queen hid these from The Realm, and from our Grandmother. These are now yours."

  Sume’ gazed upon them in awe, “The Crystal Ball. I have heard great legends on this."

  * * * *

  May entered into The Highest's bedroom unannounced, “Highest. You must rise. Karan and Keddi await you."