The High Queen's Vow [The Mystic Women of The Realm Series Book IV] (39 page)

"Is all well, Highness?"

She smiled, “It would seem so, for a change. We have had overly little of the good reports, of late."

"If this be so, then you might find the eve's entertainment and meal most amusing, Highness."

San'lr'in’ raised her eyebrows in surprise and looked at Sam, “Entertainment?"

Sam nodded, “Your Black Guards have put together a short play, in your honor."

"A play?"

"And your Private Guard have prepared the eve's meal."

"The Private Guard cook?"

Sle'nel’ took her Queen's arm into hers, wrapping her arms around it, “Come. Let us prepare you for the festivities. Your garments look as tired as you must be."

As they walked away, Sle'nel’ called back to them, “We will arrive soon.

Sle'nel’ was yet limping because of her knee, so San'lr'in’ walked slowly beside her, enjoying the feeling of her arm linked within her lover's. She breathed in deeply, taking pleasure in the still and calm of the moment.

"How long has our journey been, My Desire"

"Overly long."

"Indeed. It will seem as strange to return to the every-turn affairs of the Valley and The Realm. I have almost forgotten what it is like to not live upon the dirt at every moment. But El'fs'nd'lle will be worth this tortured journey."

"There seems to be much resistance to the Elfin-kind return."

"They were intensely intelligent, and this created much envy. Envy is most harsh at even the best of moments. Do the memories given to you contain moments in El'fs'nd'lle'?

"I know not. My memories seem returned to me only as the event or the need arises. Most peculiar."

San'lr'in’ noticed that Sle'nel’ was fully present, but providing little in way of communication, “Are you with much pain?"

"No. The Healer tends well to me. In truth, the pain subsides greatly from where it once stood."

"Do you worry over El'fs'nd'lle?"

"No. Some, perhaps, but to no great concern."

The High Queen sensed into Sle'nel's thoughts for a brief moment, finding that she yet had remaining anguish from what the Dark Sorcerer had done to her. She knew that Sle'nel’ would find her way out of these eventually, but decided to distract her for the moment.

"Did I ever tell you about the moment when Mor'inl’ was upset with Me?"

She saw that Sle'nel’ was surprised and interested, “Mor'inl’ was upset with you? I thought she did nothing but love you."

The High Queen laughed, “She did, but didn't always approve of My actions. Just prior to Me becoming Queen of the Valley, I ran from My teachers in a rage, riding Mor'inl’ hard. After a turn, I finally allowed her to rest, but she decided not to forgive Me as easily as this. I had dismounted to allow her to rest and get a drink, but when I tried to re-mount her, she moved away. For the entire return, as I tried to go to her, she would move just slightly ahead of Me. We walked the entire path back to the Valley. It took Me two full turns. By the moment we had almost achieved the return, I began to laugh at her stubbornness and My foolishness, and she finally saw that I had learned My lesson. She was perhaps one of My better teachers."

Sle'nel’ laughed at the story, imagining it fully, “She knows you well."

"Certainly better than My prior teachers, and My present counselors. My Desire, have I ever prior cooked for you?"

"You know how to cook?"

She pretended to frown, “I am deeply offended. I cook many fine meals, Elf."

Sle'nel’ wasn't certain if her Queen was in truth, or jesting, “And what is an example of these great meals you are able to prepare, oh Queen of Many Talents?"

"I can give you many examples. I can prepare fried bugs. Very tasty. I can boil the pan of water. I can make a cup of tea. I can even burn a piece of bread over the fire. But My specialty is buttered bread."

"I am most certain that if you prepared a meal for me, I would be most pleased to eat it."

San'lr'in’ studied her, as if assessing her. She looked most serious, “Perhaps you are the one that should be High Queen, My most diplomatic one."

Sle'nel’ laughed, “Oh yes. That is certainly me. The Diplomat."

The High Queen and Sle'nel’ were seated at yet another makeshift table, then treated to a most wonderful meal, “I wonder how they have managed such a meal as this."

"And I am most grateful for it. I have grown overly tired of our camp food."

Sle'nel’ nodded, looking around, “It would seem that all have, as it seems that all have become quite thin on our journey."

"I feel mostly to blame, as this journey has extended itself beyond imagination."

"How long will El'fs'nd'lle hold us?"

"I know not. That is up to you, but once there, I will release most our guards back to their duties."

"Many new unions were begun on this journey, so this will be an interesting moment."

"They have?"

Sle'nel’ laughed and nodded, “Many. Ask Ann'wn. She was commenting on how many of her guards have finally placed themselves into a union."

The High Queen laughed quietly, “The journey has made us all closer, it would seem."

After The High Queen had completed her meal, Sam approached the table, “With your leave, my Queen, we would like to begin our play for you."

Interested, the High Queen's eyebrows raised, “Of course, Highest of Woden. What is the story of this play?"

"You will see, my Queen."

A small stage was drawn upon the ground. Sam began the introduction, “Our happy little play contains two guards, one narrator, a host of unseen characters, and one musician. We hope you enjoy our play."

The whistle player began playing some light and airy music.

Narrator: “Long prior in a far-off land, there lived a most dedicated group of Mystics and humans. They lived together amiably ... perhaps a little overly amiably ... as they fought and rode together to rid their land of evil and to restore peace to The Realm. As our play opens, our amiable band is traveling across their great lands in search for the Great-Unknown Mystery. One guard has just received a message from a passing small group of Deep Mystics who would like to meet with someone in-charge, and approaches the second guard."

"Where is The High Queen?"

"She is with the Elf."

"With the Elf? How do you mean? Is she busy?"

"You know.
With
the Elf."

"Ah.” She pauses, “Then where is our Force Leader?"

"She is with The Healer."

"Ah.” She pauses again, “Then where is our High Counselor? Perhaps she could help us."

"She is with the High Master."

"Ah.” Another, longer pause, “The Warrior Woman?"

"With her Caitha."

"Hmmm...” Yet another pause, “The Highest?"

"With Uthrn."

"So, we should do this thing ourselves?"

"Well, there is An'ther'on."

"No. She is with ... well, you know. She is detained."

"Ah.” The second guard pauses, “But we need to supply an answer."

"Have them wait. Feed them."

The Narrator had been watching the two characters, then returned her glance back to the audience as the musician continued her happy tune, “They feed the visiting Deep Mystics while they await their Queen. The eve passes, then the morn comes upon them. The Deep Mystics rise, and the guards feed them once again. At last, The High Queen rises while the guards speak to each other."

"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."

"Ah."

The Narrator once again returned her look to the audience, as the musician began her music, “The happy and amiable band of travelers leave, now taking the visiting Deep Mystics with them. They travel for two turns, then halt. The guards attempt once again to tell one of their leaders of the Deep Mystics, but also of the new visitors, five Counselors from the Valley."

"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."