The High Queen's Vow [The Mystic Women of The Realm Series Book IV] (72 page)

The meeting began again, while she kept turning the Wizard's words over and over in her mind. Suddenly, she raised an eyebrow, thought for a moment, then stood, “Yes. We have it. I have finally placed it together. This is what we will do."

She detailed the plan at great length, omitting her part in it, then said, “Force Leader. Bring the sorcerers to Me, and quickly so, and ensure that the High Wizard Sorcerer comes. I need them here within three turns. In the meanwhile, gather all your forces and weapons together. Prepare well. We leave in five turns."

After The High Queen finally adjourned the War Council, she visited with Krl'lnn. She had posted Krl'lnn to her own Healer's care, so as to ensure a quick and full recovery.

As she entered, Krl'lnn threw herself to the ground upon her knees, in spite of great many wounds, “High Queen. I beg your forgiveness. Never would I attempt as such. I lay my life before you. A true Master would never do as such. Please, my Queen. Please punish me for such a deed as this."

San'lr'in’ bent down to Krl'lnn's level, “Apprentice Master. Look at Me."

Krl'lnn shook her head, “I am overly ashamed, Highness."

"I command it as so, Krl'lnn. Look at your High Queen."

Krl'lnn did as such, truly ashamed for having tried to kill The High Queen, “My Queen, I—"

"Listen well to Me, Krl'lnn. You are not to blame for this attempt on My life. There is another much more powerful than you, and she used you well."

"Let me know of who this is, M'Lady, and I will dispatch her."

San'lr'in’ laughed lightly, somewhat amused at Krl'lnn's stance, “I am quite able to tend to this affair, Young Master."

Krl'lnn blushed, “Oh, Highness. I meant not that you are unable to—"

San'lr'in’ rose and made Krl'lnn do the same, “I know your meaning, Young Master. Worry not over this. Come. Place yourself back in your bed or you will have to protect Me from My own Healer, as she will be most angry at Me for allowing you out of your bed."

Krl'lnn climbed quickly back into her bed, even given the painful wounds that had been inflicted upon her, “I will not tell her of such, my Queen. But my Queen, I am most truly sorry for my actions. As a Master, I should have been able to resist as such. I owe you beyond my life, itself."

The Healer entered just as Krl'lnn had returned to her bed, “Ah, High One. Here you are. I have been looking for you. I must check on your heart."

"Your heart, M'Lady? I threw the knife into your heart?"

San'lr'in’ smiled softly, “It would seem that you have a most excellent aim, Young Master, and from a long distance, as well. I am pleased that your services to The Realm will be most excellent."

Krl'lnn shook her head, “Please say this be not so, my Queen. I wish to serve only you. The Realm has forfeited my services, but my services are solely in your hands, Highness. Until my dying day. Of this I vow to you, from this moment on. I am nothing but a weak and pitiful excuse for a Master."

The Healer laughed, “Halt, Krl'lnn. The High Queen hears as such upon almost every turn. Tell her something fresh and entertaining. She knows full well of your allegiance to her. She questioned your part in this assassination attempt long prior to any other."

San'lr'in’ smiled at her Healer and placed her hand upon her arm. They exchanged knowing glances, then both looked at Krl'lnn, “You seem to be recovering quickly, Krl'lnn. What now gives you the most pain?"

Krl'lnn glanced down to her tightly bound left elbow, “The break in the elbow is quite painful as yet, but my fingers move more easily upon every turn."

The Healer unbound the elbow and examined it, “It heals slowly, but well. Use it not, Krl'lnn until the bone is finished with its healing. You will regain full use of this, and you are lucky in this regard.” She turned to San'lr'in', “We must tend to your health, High One."

San'lr'in’ rose, “I am pleased that you are returned to The Realm, Young Master. We have great need of your services. I look forward to you teaching new ones to become Masters. For the moment, though, you need only rest so as to return your strength to you. Do you have any requests that I might make as so, Young One?"

"I have one, M'Lady."

"Tell Me."

"I wish to fight with you against this Wizard."

San'lr'in’ placed her hand softly on Krl'lnn's head, “This is not your battle, Young Apprentice-Master. There will be many more battles to come, and you will fight these for The Realm and your High Queen. I must take My leave now."

"But, my Quee—"

She had turned to leave, but turned back, “Consider it as a command, Young Master."

Krl'lnn blushed again and bowed her head, “Yes, my Queen."

She turned to The Healer, “Let us depart so that you may inflict your tortures upon Me, Healer."

The Healer walked with her Queen, seeing that she was being led to a forest's path that led to a yet smaller lake. Their walk had been in silence, and as they reached the lake's shores, The High Queen looked out to the mountains across the lake.

She sighed deeply, “A beautiful setting."

"It is astonishing, in truth.” She knew to allow the moments her Queen needed to say her thoughts.

"Healer. There is little reason for you to continue with My healing."

"Your heart is not yet fully recovered, High One."

"There is little point to its healing, Healer. It is in a weakened moment, yet I must fight against a most powerful wizard. Even with a well heart, My chances will not be good. I have felt her strength."

"She could be using a spell to make her strength look as such, Highness."

"Healer ... you know well My meaning in this."

"You have thought as such, prior, San'lr'in'thel'ineln'. And it came not to be as so."

Seldom did The Healer use The High Queen's name, but when she did, The High Queen knew well its meaning, “You alone know of My lack of strength at this moment. In all The Realm, only you know fully of what I now must face. Shr'dler'in, you know this to be so."

The Healer felt saddened in the moment, “You must face this differently, San'lr'in'. You cannot enter this moment expecting to die."

"In truth, Healer, I expect to win. But it will, in most likely truth, take My life to do as such, and this you well know. And I tell you this for good reasons. First, Healer, I have great need that you know how much you have meant to Me. While I have ever been saddened that our moments as lovers became overly difficult, I never halted in My love for you."

The Healer gulped, “I know hardly what to say, Highness. But perhaps—"

"Just listen, Healer. Second, you among all others know My heart, and you among all others have the most interesting way of winning your arguments. If I must leave this Realm, guide the next High Queen well, Healer. Mil'der'in is an excellent High Counselor, but she, as Queen of the Valley, will need your strength and great intelligence."

"My Queen, you must know that it will be eons prior to another High Queen such as you."

She ignored the statement, “Third, Healer, you must ensure that The High Queen is of The High Queen's line. This must be so or all will be lost. Mil'der'in will be with you on this, as will Erthrn and all the Deep Mystics. This will not be an easy task, but of all others, Sume'n'tinel'ti'non will lead this argument, as must be. Then last, Healer, take good care of My great love. I command you to her, when this is over."

"And Ann'wn? You think also that she will die in this battle?"

The High Queen finally turned her gaze away from the mountains, to The Healer, “Of all our battles prior, Healer, none were such as this, combined. Very few of us will return from this battle. But the important moment is that this Wizard lose, and I will ensure of this."

"But you have the best forces in all The Rea—"

"...that have been ravaged and weakened by overly many fights against the Dungaras and the Mungardies. We have had no moments to prepare as needed for this battle."

As The High Queen embraced her, The Healer cried softly on her Queen's shoulders for a moment, then pulled back, “I cannot accept this as so, High One. I know you well, and I know that should you desire, you will survive this battle. You must see this as so."

San'lr'in’ took hold of her Healer's hands, “I will try, Healer. I most certainly have no desire to die, as yet. But I must prepare for this possibility. And Healer, should this occur, you alone know the location of My last desires. I have placed them in script. At least, Healer, give Me the assurance that I need not worry over these issues, as well."

"Never, my Queen. Just worry over that I wish for your return. Only this."

"I will give every effort, Healer, but My first duty is to rid The Realm of this Wizard.” But even as she said it, Roen's words kept coming back to her:
The Wizard of the Ravens is not what you will be led to believe, Highness. She is more, yet less, in all things
.

San'lr'in’ entered into her deepest of meditations for the next two turns, restoring her powers to her and healing herself to the fullest moment possible.

When the High Wizard Sorcerer and all the others finally arrived, Ann'wn came to her, “My Queen."

"Tell Me."

The High Wizard Sorcerer has arrived, along with many of the other sorcerers."

"We will have to deal with the sorcerers at another moment. But we will have to deal with the High Wizard Sorcerer now, and in complete silence. The Realm must remain unaware of what we must now do."

Ann'wn had the High Wizard Sorcerer wait in a clearing, informing her that The High Queen wished to train at that location. As they arrived, San'lr'in’ blocked her mind from all sensing, so that the High Wizard Sorcerer would remain unaware.

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.