The High Queen's Vow [The Mystic Women of The Realm Series Book IV] (79 page)

"The Wizard will be most anxious to see you when she rises, High Queen."

"Are there any events for the turn?"

"A banquet and a celebration, in your honor."

"Who is to attend?"

"You, M'Lady. Only you."

"I am tired, yet we must travel more quickly. We must arrive sooner."

Ann'wn shook her head, “The horses cannot travel more in a turn, Queen Erthrn. They need to rest."

"We leave as soon as they are rested, then."

Sle'nel’ observed all those about her, standing well apart at the edge of the forest. She struggled against her feelings, fighting against the desperation of the moment. She knew that her lover was now with the Wizard, and knew well what that meant, yet while also understanding the reason for it.

"She is a rare leader to make such a sacrifice."

She turned her head to the voice, having not heard her approach, “She saw no other option, Healer."

The Healer sat at the ground and leaned against a tree, “It was the one thing that came between us, when we were lovers."

"The sacrifices she makes for The Realm?"

She nodded, “I couldn't control my worry over her, and it made many arguments between us. While I loved her greatly, I knew that I couldn't place such pressure on our High Queen. Ann'wn is well crazed in the moment. She feels helpless."

Sle'nel’ looked up into the sky, seeking any sign of the ravens, “I understand."

The Healer observed her for a moment, seeing her become the exact drawing of her mother, “Does she think she will defeat this Wizard, Elfin Queen?"

Sle'nel’ thought the use of the titles was ridiculous, especially in light of the upcoming battle, but ignored it, “Yes."

"But per her usual, she doesn't expect to survive the battle."

Sle'nel’ closed her eyes for a moment, feeling overly burdened at the statement, “Would you?"

"And now you must carry the burden of what The High Queen must do to protect our realm."

Sle'nel’ sighed, acknowledging the truth in the statement, but having no response to it.

The Healer looked down upon the ground, “I know not how you carry this burden. I can barely understand the moment, myself, and yet I do. It drives me as insane as if I were yet her lover."

"My Mother told both of us that there must be a reason for the Wizard returning to The Realm."

"What do you think may be this reason?"

"San'lr'in’ and I both believe that The Realm needs this Wizard's powers."

"But doesn't need the Wizard. So The High Queen needs to collect the Wizard's powers, for The Realm."

Sle'nel’ nodded, turning slightly away, deeply troubled in the moment.

Sele’ came up to them, bowing her head, “Birth-Mother. Healer."

Sle'nel’ saw that Sele’ was also troubled. She sat upon the ground near The Healer, and beckoned Sele’ to her lap, “What is it, our overly young Future Supreme Sovereign?"

"I understand this moment not at all. Why did she leave you? Us?"

Sle'nel’ drew her close, holding her.

The Healer absently fixed Sele's hair, using her hand, “She didn't leave us in the way you think, Young One. She did as such to save us. Merely this."

"Then why am I so sad in the moment?"

"Because you miss her, Sele'. We all miss her."

"How far must we yet travel, Master?"

"Overly far. We are a few turns from the Keep, yet even if we rode with few riders, we could not travel any more quickly."

"Master?"

She looked at Andren, “Speak your mind."

"I was wondering if there were any male masters."

"You are interested in becoming a Master, Andren?"

"Yes, Master. You would find me a most willing student."

She looked up into the sky for any sign of the ravens, then looked back to Andren, “We shall see, Andren. The battle will determine much."

"I understand, Master."

She looked at him, “It is a rare moment for me to speak as such with a male. It is not as usual in the realm I come from, but in Woden..."

He nodded his understanding, then left her to tend to her meditations. As she exited from them, her mood was anything but calmed and controlled.

"Has the battle yet begun?"

She turned and saw Sam sitting on the ground, waiting for her, “Not as yet, but soon. The High Queen has departed to the Wizard's Keep."

"Without Ann'wn?"

"Sorcery."

"The Wizard stole her away?"

"No. She went willingly."

"Willingly? Why would she but do as such?"

U'Aine’ sighed, wishing she could travel more quickly, “I can think of one reason only, but it is also of much risk. She has said to all that The Realm will not exit this battle as we enter it."

U'Aine looked at Sam, knowing that this journey could well be their last moments together, “You must now know that she was most correct in this, Highest. The Dungaras were a most difficult opponent, and the Mungardies are even more so. But the Wizard of the Ravens is the most difficult The Realm's forces of this era will ever face."

San'lr'in’ hadn't seen the Wizard throughout the turn, but was now being prepared for the eve's celebration. New garments had been given to her, and she was slightly amused, yet displeased that they had been modeled after her gowns in the Valley. She knew the Wizard's lusty intentions for the late eve, and while she had come to the Keep knowing of such, she was finding it overly difficult to accept the certainty of it. She removed the thoughts from her mind and firmly placed in the thoughts meant only for the Wizard.

She was escorted into the great banquet room, “My Wizard. I present to you your guest for the eve."

San'lr'in’ bowed her head as she removed her arm from the guard's, “Good eve, Wizard."

The Wizard turned from the fireplace where she had been standing and waiting. She smiled warmly as she saw The High Queen, “My San'lr'in'thel'ineln'.” She held out her hands to her, fully pleased in the moment. San'lr'in’ went to her and placed her hands into the Wizard's, smiling slightly.

"You are a vision well worth any wait, my curious one. Come. Join me at the fire while we learn more of each other."

San'lr'in’ felt the Wizard probe into her thoughts. She knew that the Wizard would only sense her as curious and desirous of her, as planned. The Wizard took but a short moment to sense into her mind, becoming even more pleased as she did so, sensing the feelings she had well hoped.

The Wizard turned suddenly to her, pulling her into an embrace. Without a word or warning, she kissed The High Queen fully, making clear her intentions. After the kiss, she ran her fingernail down between San'lr'in's breast, then slowly removed the gown away from it, yet only slightly so. Closing her eyes, San'lr'in’ made herself to focus only on the feeling of the moment.

"I love the way your body responds to me, my San'lr'in'thel'ineln'. I can barely wait for the eve's moments."

The Wizard gently pinched San'lr'in's breast, then bent and kissed and teased it for a moment with her tongue, greatly pleased in hearing San'lr'in's quiet moans of desire.

San'lr'in’ took the Wizard's hand into her own and smiled at her, “You are as eager as a young girl, Wizard. But we shouldn't rush the moment."

"You are correct, my curious one. I sensed into your thoughts. Are you aware of this?"

San'lr'in’ was startled at the naïveté of the question, but was pleased that she had prepared her own thoughts for such, “And what did you find, Wizard?"

The Wizard placed her hand on San'lr'in's breast again, holding it tightly, then kissed her neck, “That you want to learn more about me, and that you desire me. You really think me beautiful, High Queen?"

San'lr'in’ played into the moment, running her finger across the Wizard's lips, “Who could not, Wizard? In truth, you are beautiful."

"You are the first of my cravings to say as such."

"Did Jre'nec'rn’ not think you beautiful?"

San'lr'in’ became intrigued at the Wizard's response to her question, as she saw the Wizard's temper flare at the thought, “That idiot? No. Of course not. She was blinded in her lust of others."

She watched as the Wizard struggled to control her temper. “I was unaware that you knew of this story. What have you been told in this regard?"

San'lr'in’ saw no reason to hide The Realm's tale of such, and told her the full story as she had been told. She watched, again curious as to the Wizard's reaction, but saw that the Wizard merely listened with full attention.

When she had completed telling the story, she said, “This is the tale told to Me by a long-line of storytellers."

San'lr'in’ was slightly startled to see that the tale had little effect on the Wizard, “An interesting account. And somewhat true in its interpretation, but Jre'nec'rn’ wasn't solely bound to one lover. She took many, but never me. She married me only for my titles and holdings."

"Married? I know not this term. Is it a term from your era?"

"Marriage? You know this not? How very odd. Marriage is a union. Let me see ... ah ... I think you call it a partnership."

"A union, or partnership. Some call it a companionship."

She laughed slightly, “And Jre'nec'rn’ wasn't as strong as in this tale. It took her and three wizards to place me in my long sleep. Even then, they didn't manage it very well, did they? But are you not hungry, High Queen? Our food awaits."

As she led San'lr'in’ to the table, The High Queen asked, “You sent me an image of other Realms, Wizard. Would I offend you if I asked you to tell me more of these realms, and your vast knowledge of them?"

The Wizard helped San'lr'in’ to sit, then bent over and kissed her. The kiss was deeply passionate, “I love to kiss you, my red-haired one. And I can feel that you also like my kisses. I think I have chosen well in you.” She held San'lr'in's chin in her hand, and moved close once again. As she kissed her, she moved her hand underneath the gown, slowly but aggressively exploring San'lr'in's breast. The High Queen didn't desire the feeling, but as she had to allow, her body responded fully.

The Wizard kissed her on her neck, then behind her ear, and then finally rose, “You are as dessert to me, my San'lr'in'thel'ineln'."

"Dessert?"

"This is quite entertaining, High Queen. I knew not that such words don't exist in this era. Dessert. The ending course. The sweets. The best course of all."

"Ah. Sweets. Of course. Then I am pleased, Wizard."

The Wizard described The Realms that she had allowed San'lr'in’ to view, enjoying the moment to speak with another. The High Queen saw that the Wizard was indeed lonely, and quite eager for company, even if she did have only one desire on her mind. Throughout the eve, they lingered slowly over their meal as the Wizard touched and fondled every enticing available part of San'lr'in'.

Throughout the extended eve, they spoke together of many things, and San'lr'in’ found herself surprised in her growing interest in this great Wizard.

She gazed into her eyes, “You know, Wizard, that you are not as I expected."

The Wizard smiled, fully pleased, “Tell me more, my intelligent one.” She ran her fingers across San'lr'in's brows, then her breasts.

"The Realm thinks you merely as evil, but you are a great, great mind. I find your thinking most compelling, and your beauty is well beyond all the stories of such. Was such beauty as yours as normal in your era, or was Jre'nec'rn’ as stupid as this?"

The Wizard laughed fully, enjoying the moment with her new soon-to-be lover. The eve was a deeply felt one for both of them, and while the Wizard continued her forward physical explorations in anticipation of their coming together, San'lr'in’ became confused as she found herself truly enjoying the Wizard's company. She had found few others in The Realm that truly understood the burdens of the powers they held, but here, sitting next to her, was the greatest power of them all, and a most knowing and perhaps loving one. And one she was beginning to truly desire.

San'lr'in’ thought the physical moment together inevitable and braced herself for such, but just as the Wizard was beginning to provide even more urgent desirous touches and physical demands, the Wizard's advisor entered the room and bowed before her.

"Wizard. I apologize for this interruption."

The Wizard slapped her as she turned to her. She had been kissing and fully exploring her desired lover and was angered at the interruption.

The advisor picked herself up off the floor, “Wizard.” She bowed her head deeply.

Her response was an angry hiss, “What is it?"

"For your ears only, Wizard. It is most urgent."

The Wizard turned to San'lr'in', trying to regain the moment, “I will only be a moment, and then we can begin where we were rudely interrupted."

She turned and left the room with the advisor. San'lr'in’ sensed lightly into the Wizard's mind as she left the room, and also into that of the advisor's, curious as to the urgency. She smiled to herself as she gained the advisor's thoughts.

After a few moments, her attendant came to her, “High Queen."

"Rise and tell Me, Attendant."

"The Most Honored Wizard begs your forgiveness, High Queen, but she has been called to a most urgent need. She regrets that she will not be able to spend the eve with you."

If the attendant had known The High Queen well, she would have seen a sparkle in The High Queen's eyes.

"We begin the battle from here."

Erthrn bowed her head slightly, “I will follow your lead, Force Leader of The High Queen. Give the signal, and we will begin with all our might."

Ann'wn looked at Sume', “You know what you must do, High Wizard Sorcerer?"

"Of course. Have we not gone over this enough?"

Ann'wn bowed her head, then turned to Sele', looking down at her, “And you, Future Supreme Sovereign?"

Sele’ bowed her head in return and clasped her tiny fist to her heart, “Yes, Force Leader. I am prepared."

"Good.” Then she looked to Sle'nel', “Elfin Queen? Are you prepared?"

She bowed her head, “I have received a report from R'lodin'lindor’ and the returned Elves. All are prepared."