The Realm's Mystics [Mystic Women of The Realm Series Book 3] (52 page)

After many moments, they noticed that they had finally been left alone.

"What is the first lesson on your staff, My Love?"

Sle'nel’ raised it to her, “I cannot see. It is overly dark.” She was disappointed, “We will have to wait until the morn."

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ held out her hand and whispered a few words. In only a moment, a bright ball of light lay upon her hand, “Can you see now?"

Sle'nel’ was surprised, “Are you also a Sorcerer?"

"I have been taught many things, My Desire. Sorcery is only a small part of what I had to learn.” She placed her hand back down to her side, leaving the small ball of light floating in the air.

Sle'nel’ examined her staff, reading the first spell, “It is a spell of lightning."

"Ah. I know this one. But not in Elfin-speak. I wonder if it is the same one I know."

Sle'nel’ spoke the words. Nothing happened.

"What should I do?"

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ thought about it for a moment. She raised her hands to the sky, then uttered the words she knew to conjure up a lightning strike. Within a moment, a great bolt of lightning struck upon the ground across the lake, to where she guided it downwards.

"I have seldom used this spell. It never prior seemed useful to me, but it is rather dramatic. Try raising your hands, but holding your staff."

Sle'nel’ read the spell once more, committing it to memory. She then raised her hands up while yet holding the staff. She spoke the Elfin words aloud. Suddenly, a much larger bolt of lightning than San'lr'in'thel'ineln's blazed across the sky.

The High Queen nodded, “Most impressive. A larger spell than mine. Perhaps your staff adds to its intensity. Now try again, but using your staff to direct the lightning bolt. Show it where you would like it to hit. I quite like the size of your lightning as compared to mine. Your spell could be quite useful."

Sle'nel’ did it again, but on this moment she pointed to a piece of bare ground very close to them as the lightning bolt sprang across the sky. Surprising her, the lightning bolt hit exactly where her aim was directed, creating a hole in the ground and a puff of lingering smoke. The strike had occurred only a few steps from them.

The High Queen raised an eyebrow, but nodded slightly, “Perhaps you might consider keeping the lightning strike just a bit further away from us on the next moment you try this. I am rather fond of you these turns."

Sle'nel’ laughed, “I think you might be correct."

After a few more spells, San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ agreed to one last one for the eve. Sle'nel’ read the spell, smiling, “You will like this spell, my Love."

"What is it?"

"I will just show you."

She once again memorized the words, then holding out her staff, she recited them, pointing the staff to her lover. San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ was a little doubtful about where Sle'nel’ was holding the staff, when she suddenly found herself inside the cottage. She looked around, then with a puff of smoke, Sle'nel’ appeared.

"A neat trick, this one. How far can you move us?"

"I think this is about as far as it can work, but it will do."

"It has some useful potential, unlike some of the others. You will have to bind these spells to memory if they are to be of any use to you. How many have been given to you?"

"No matter how often I clear the old spell, a new one arises. They seem unending."

The High Queen raised her eyebrow again, wondering, “This must be a book of all the spells across the entire Realm.” She was pleased, but then laughed, “You will have to be an excellent student to learn all these, My Desire.” But she remained amazed at the discovery, “It is truly a Sorcerer's book. Now I know why you are to become the High Wizard Sorcerer upon one turn. I look forward to this moment though, as our present one knows even fewer spells than I do. The Realm needs these spells returned through you."

Sle'nel’ stared at her Queen in disbelief, “How am I to learn all these? There must be thousands of them."

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ turned, raising her hand lightly, casting a spell upon the fireplace, creating a small, but warm fire, “Do you know this spell, My Desire?"

Sle'nel’ shook her head in dismay, “All of them, my Queen?"

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ turned back to her, smiling wickedly and nodding her head, “All of them. You are to become the keeper of all the spells and wizardry. Sume'n'tinel'ti'non will be most jealous."

Sle'nel’ just kept shaking her head, “My life in Woden was so simple. What has happened?"

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ laughed, “You will never have another moment with nothing to do, My Desire."

In the early morn, Uthrn, in company with some of the attendants for The High Queen, knocked upon The High Queen's door. Many guards waited just beyond the bridges, ready to accompany The High Queen to the borderlands. Erthrn would also be joining them.

Looking quite puzzled, Uthrn turned to the attendants, “Are you certain they are in there?"

The attendants nodded, “We know this well. They are in there."

Uthrn knocked harder, “High Queen. It is Uthrn.” She looked again at the attendants again, “Go inside and see if she is yet awake."

They shook their heads, “Oh, no. Not us. She will get angry with us. Do it yourself if it be as important as this."

She frowned, not wanting this task, but opened the door a crack and knocked a little harder. Speaking loudly, she said, “High Queen? Your presence is urgently needed. High Queen?"

Sle'nel’ stirred, hearing the noise. Her head was resting on San'lr'in'thel'ineln's stomach, her body was between The High Queen's legs, and they were fully exposed. The High Queen had taught her the spell for fire, and all the eve she practiced the spell, keeping the cottage overly warm, so no covers had been needed.

"High Queen?"

Sle'nel’ got up, her leg extremely painful and stiff, wrapped a cover around her, and placed one over her lover. She took her walking cane and limped to the door.

Uthrn was glad to see her, “Thank you, Elf. I was afraid to—"

"Afraid of The High Queen, Uthrn? Some warrior you are."

Uthrn nodded, “Most so. You are the only one who is not, Elfin Princess."

"Why are you here, Warrior?"

"The High Queen is needed. There has been a slight mishap."

Sle'nel’ saw that Uthrn looked nervous and upset, “Wait here."

She hobbled back to their bed and lay down beside her Queen, “My Love, Uthrn is here. They have need for you at the borderlands."

She was shaking her gently. Suddenly, The High Queen pulled Sle'nel’ to her, kissing her. It was a kiss of more meaning than a simple ‘good morn'. Sle'nel’ enjoyed it for a moment, then pulled away, “They are at the door awaiting your presence."

San'lr'in'thel'ineln opened her eyes, “Will you come?"

"I have little to do with this affair."

"I would like you with Me if you can ride. How are your wounds, My Desire?"

"Worry not about my wounds. They will heal. I will attend if that be your desire."

San'lr'in'thel'ineln rose and wrapped a cover around her, “I will have the attendants enter. Did Uthrn bring our horses?"

When finally prepared, they walked back across the bridges to where Uthrn, Erthrn, and all the guards now waited. Assuming that she was now leaving to the surrender site, San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ was pleased that one phase of their battle was over.

Thank the Mothers. Now all we face are the most capable Mungardies.

Sle'nel’ had brought along her staff and bow and arrows, hoping neither would be necessary, but knew that something was being withheld from her lover.

As they mounted, The High Queen saw her Healer also waiting for her.

Why is My Healer here?

She bowed her head a little, “Good morn, Healer. Why are you here with us for the surrender?"

The Healer just looked at her, saying nothing and looking very solemn—a very strong sign for The High Queen.

She studied the others, thinking that Erthrn should be looking pleased this turn, but saw her looking troubled.

She suddenly frowned, narrowing her eyes, finally sensing that something had gone wrong. She studied Uthrn's, then Erthrn's thoughts. Sle'nel’ saw her face change from pleased to more than angered. She saw her Queen's entire stance change to that of intense rage. The High Queen's horse felt her emotions, becoming agitated. She studied her Healer's thoughts, then glared at Uthrn.

In the soft voice she used only when well angered, she said, “Tell Me.” The Healer was quite glad that tone had never prior been used on her.

Erthrn replied first, “It wasn't expected, my Queen. It was thought the Mungardies would attack the Valley, looking for you. It occurred in the small outlying villages, only. Prior eve."

Uthrn nodded, “Ann'wn is quite upset by this, High Queen."

"
Quite upset
, you say? Then she must be excellent at controlling her emotions, as I am in full rage."

Sle'nel’ saw the nearby guards wince in fear at The High Queen's anger.

Erthrn was visibly shaken from the report Uthrn had given her just prior, “This wasn't revenge for taking the Master, Highness."

The High Queen was angry at Uthrn, but Erthrn had stepped into her rage, “Tell Me something I know
not
, Erthrn.” She looked at Uthrn with narrowed eyes that spoke of cold fury, “Why was I not informed of this prior? How long have you been here waiting for Me, afraid to tell Me of this?"

"My apologies, High Queen, but I wished not to disturb you earlier."

The High Queen stared at Uthrn with a look of barely controlled fury—her eyes narrowed, her face muscles rigid, and her lips clamped tightly together. She all but spat out her words “You call yourself a Force Leader? You had not the courage to face Me on this,
Uthrn
? This should have been prevented. I
warned
you of this possibility."

Uthrn bowed her head in shame, knowing what it meant to have The High Queen call a warrior by their given name while in such a presence, “Yes, High Queen. As did your sister. She told us to be mindful of the villages nearer to the Mungardies."

"My
sister
?” Her horse skittered nervously, feeling the tenseness of the moment, but The High Queen held her effortlessly, “One who knows so little as this of The Realm and the Mungardies, and yet even
she
told you? I am well ashamed of our win against the Dungaras this turn. We have not gained anything,
Uthrn
."

She turned her horse toward the direction they now headed, “Be of some use to Me this turn. Lead us, and say no more. Take Me to these villages."

"But, my Queen—"

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ raised her hand toward Uthrn, sending her immense powers into her. Uthrn was knocked well off her horse with great force, the powers sending her flying back a long distance. She fell hard upon the ground, wrenching her entire body in the shock, while reopening her leg wound.

"Am I yet understood,
Uthrn
? Or would you like to question Me further?"

Uthrn shook her head as she rose from the ground, keeping her head bowed in shame, “My apologies, Highness."

All the guards could tell that Uthrn's body hurt badly from the severe shock of hitting the ground so hard. She mounted slowly and in great pain from her prior wounds, and now from the great jolt The High Queen had just given her.

Erthrn closed her eyes as Uthrn hit the ground, moaning softly to herself at the sound of the hard impact. While well knowing that Uthrn should have known better than to question The High Queen, no warrior could withstand the embarrassment of the moment.

"Can I at least assume that all the other healers have been called for and are now on their way?"

"Yes, Highness.” She then led the way. As San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ followed, she said one thing to Erthrn as she passed her, “We are saddened this turn, Erthrn, because of our warriors’ inability to think."

Erthrn knew that a grave error had occurred, “I am sorry for this, my Queen."

They rode quickly, pushing their horses across the great lands. By midturn, they had reached the borderlands. Uthrn asked The High Queen if she would like to see Ann'wn before going to the now destroyed villages.

As they halted, The High Queen's Healer rode up beside her, “My Queen. May I have a moment to tend to Uthrn's leg? It bleeds quite badly now. Our forced ride was very hard on her, as was the blow you gave her."

Her tone was flat, but left no question as to her feelings, “Leave her."

The Healer saw her Queen's expression and knew not to push the moment. There were few moments when The High Queen was as angry as this, but this was most certainly one of them.

The High Queen dismounted. A guard came to her, kneeling and bowing her head, “High Queen."

"Where is My Force Leader?"

"Another battle against the Mungardies began at the borderlands, Highness. She went to the fight. We sent many of our forces with her."

The High Queen looked to Uthrn, “I will have this one take Me. You remain here. Give Me your sword and other weapons. Send the healers to where they are needed. You are now the center of command until Ann'wn returns.” She turned away from her, looking at Erthrn, “As if any of them know what to do."

Speaking once again to Uthrn, she said, “But prior to our leave, I would like to speak with the leader of the Dungaras."

Uthrn shook her head, more ashamed than she ever remembered. She could now barely speak, “She has been taken, High Queen."

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ was so angry at the statement that she could only see white light in front of her.

"TAKEN?"

She forced herself to some control,
Breathe.

Control your emotions.

She closed her eyes for a moment.

Breathe.

She took a deep breath, held it, then released it. It didn't help. All she could see were the charred remains of the villages that Uthrn held in her head.

She breathed in deeply once more, then opened her eyes. Softly, trying to remain somewhat in control of her emotions, “Explain your meaning."