The High Queen's Vow [The Mystic Women of The Realm Series Book IV] (56 page)

Sume’ had also come to wish her youngest sister farewell, “Leave it to The High Queen to turn every event into a solemn and boring one."

San'lr'in’ laughed lightly and easily, no longer taking Sume's words as the real intent. She merely shook her head while smiling, and said nothing.

"Has our useless middle sister provided you with enough guards?"

"Yes, High Priestess."

"Has she prepared you with enough provisions?"

"She has, but Woden is not that far distant, High Priestess. We will travel quickly."

"And Sele'?"

Sam looked around, “I thought she would be here to say her farewells, as well."

"I am here, Mother. I come.” Sele’ had been running ahead of Ern'seln'.

Sam bent down, letting Sele’ run into her arms. She gave her a long hug, “I want you to do as all your teachers tell you, Sele'. Make me proud of you. And make but certain that your High Queen brings you to Woden to see me. All of Woden waits for you, Daughter. They knew you prior to your birth."

Sele's head bounced up and down in its excitement, “I recall Woden, Mother. I recall all those who were near you prior to my birth. Birth-Mother would inform me of whoever she spoke to, and I recall them well."

"And Tadan is returning from Fornaith to see you once again. He has missed you, and wishes he could be near you."

Sele’ acted as if she were whispering, but spoke loud enough for all to hear, “I will work on High Queen, Mother, so that she sees Tadan as great worth to The Realm."

Sam hugged her again, kissed her on her forehead, then placed her on the ground, “Learn your lessons well, Sele'. And know that I will miss you most deeply."

"I know, Mother. I will miss you even more than this. But prepare Woden for us, as I am most excited at this visit."

Sume’ hugged Sam briefly, “You have grown in your wisdom since our first meeting, Highest. I hope we meet again soon."

Sam touched her hand to Sume's shoulder, “Remain in the Valley until our Sister comes to Woden, then attend with her. I would like you to see Woden."

Sume’ hesitated for a moment, “Perhaps. I will speak with San'lr'in’ in this regard. And Sele’ could use me on the journey, so...” She let the thought drift off by itself.

Meera had searched about her, but hadn't seen who she now sought, “Uthrn is not traveling with you, Highest?"

Sam shook her head, “No longer."

Sam mounted the new horse her sister had given to her, and The High Queen petted the horse's nose, “You must name your horse soon, Highest of Woden."

"Woden attends not to this practice. Why is this done, Highness?"

To name a thing is to give it life."

Sam nodded, now sitting astride her most beautiful and mystical horse, “Then it shall be done, as well as with the others."

Sam would finally be traveling to Woden. From the Valley she would travel with a few guards, the scholars, the sorcerers, and those who no longer wished to be trained as Masters. With the new horses in tow, she turned her horse toward those she was to journey with, showing no visible signs of her hesitation or regret.

Sam had rid herself of Uthrn, and although she found Uthrn an exciting lover, she knew that it wouldn't be wise to have to fight against Uthrn while in Woden. And after spending the eve's entertainment with U'Aine, she realized that her interests lay in those more quiet than Uthrn could manage. Neither she nor U'Aine had moved the eve to any other than friends, but Sam had enjoyed the eve in U'Aine's company, yet finding herself slightly shivering when her thoughts moved to her. She had woken to the memory of looking all the eve into U'Aine's intense yet kind eyes.

Suddenly, she turned back to Meera and the others, looking down at them from astride her horse, “I will see you in one moon. All of Woden will celebrate your arrival. Until then, be well."

Ann'wn had also arrived so as to say her farewells, “I will see you in one moon, Highest. You have our most excellent guards riding with you on your journey to Woden. Remain safe."

Ann'wn had gone up to Sam and held out her hand and arm. Sam placed her hand on Ann'wn's arm, grasping it with her hand, as custom in warrior-to-warrior gestures. They looked at each other for a moment, then Sam let go the embrace and began to turn to her journey, when suddenly, another rider arrived.

U'Aine jumped off her horse and went to San'lr'in', kneeling and bowing her head before her, “M'Lady."

"Second Master. Tell Me of your need."

"I would like to travel with the guards and The Highest to Woden. When word reaches that you travel to Woden, I will return to make the journey with you."

San'lr'in’ smiled and placed her hand on U'Aine's head,
As you desire, U'Aine. I know you will remain vigilant in our Realm. Enjoy your rest. You have well earned this moment.
She then removed her hand, “Journey in peace."

U'Aine rose and nodded her head to her Queen, then turned to Sam, “Highest of Woden. Would you grant me the permission to view your Woden? Your tales of it have compelled me to see it for myself. I will not be a disturbance for you during this journey."

Smiling to herself, Sle'nel’ thought that perhaps it would disturb Sam, but not in the fashion that U'Aine was thinking.

Sam nodded her head once, well surprised that U'Aine desired as such, “The journey is made all the more pleasurable with your presence, Master."

As U'Aine re-mounted her horse, Sam waved, then turned and made her horse to begin their journey. While she knew she would miss all those she now left behind, she looked forward to returning to Woden, with even greater interest in the journey now that U'Aine was accompanying her. She patted her horse, “Come, Brechea. It is the moment for you to see your new home. You will like Woden, as it is most beautiful."

All watched for a moment as Sam and U'Aine rode away, each keeping their own thoughts to themselves, except Sele', who had begun to cry, “This doesn't feel good. I want her here."

Sume’ bent down and picked her up, “Of course you do, Little Queen. But it is the way of The Realm.” She began to walk off with Sele’ in her arms, “Have I told you the tale of how I came to be in Sansthera?"

Sle'nel’ turned her head to first watch Sele’ departing with Sume', noticing how quickly Sele’ was growing, then turned her head to Sam, seeing all the things she had loved about her, but mostly marveling at Sam's beauty as she sat as an assured warrior and Highest upon her horse. Silently, she hoped that all would be safe, and that Sam and U'Aine might find their way together.

San'lr'in’ heard Sle'nel’ quietly say to herself only, “Farewell, Highest of Woden."

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Following Sam's departure, Sle'nel’ had gone to meet with the newly-returned Elves. San'lr'in’ hadn't wished to tend to the details of the Elves’ lives, and had other issues that were troubling her. She had woken to her concerns over El'fs'nd'lle, the arriving humans, her sisters, Sansthera, the Mungardies, her move to Rns'deln', who should teach Ly'strl'n to be queen, the loyalty of Krl'lnn', and many of the other issues that came with an expanding and changing realm. But mostly, a dark and uneasy feeling had woken her, as had occurred for many prior turns.

Now focusing on her main concern of the dark feeling, she walked silently through the paths of El'fs'nd'lle, with her hands folded together behind her back, her eyes looking nowhere in particular. For the first moment upon many, she didn't feel the need to keep her senses on full alert while she remained inside the safe borders of El'fs'nd'lle.

"May I walk with you in your concerns, Student?"

San'lr'in’ smiled to herself. She had heard the voice upon many moments in her past, and knew it well, “It is a most comforting feeling that you do as such, Teacher. It has been overly long since you have walked with Me."

"Even at your third cycle, you walked in this same fashion—with your hands folded together behind you."

"This cannot be truth."

She heard light laughter, “It is truth, Highness. It was as if you were born an old and wise one."

"I was yet young when you left, but I enjoyed the few moments we had in such a manner."

"You were indeed overly young, High Queen. And your reign has been a most difficult one. But you were well prepared and trained. We chose you wisely."

San'lr'in’ raised an eyebrow while walking, “You were long gone prior to The Realm's choosing of Me, Teacher."

"Really? This you believe as so?” She heard a soft laugh, “I ... no, we all saw it in you by the moment of your fourth cycle, Highness, and began training only you for this role. Do you recall what you did at your fourth cycle?"

She shook her head, “No."

"Two occurrences let us know of your determination. You rose early on the morn of your fourth cycle, excited that we were going on a long journey. But you wished not to ride with another, so climbed upon the most stubborn, largest, quickest and least trained of The High Queen's horses, and rode her out of the stables all on your own. By the moment of your Teachers’ arrival, you had her well-trained."

San'lr'in’ laughed lightly, “I had to ride her bareback and lead her by her mane, as she was overly large for me to secure the bridle or saddle. And none other helped."

"Then one of the others told you to get your weapons. I had to restrain from laughing at the look upon your face as you looked back to the stable, seeing your weapons upon the ground."

"Did I manage to retrieve them? I recall this not."

"You did, but I was laughing well by this moment, as were most the others. You jumped down off your horse, landing hard upon the ground, yet refusing to show your pain. You then retrieved your weapons and fastened them securely to your back, moved the horse to the side of the railings, and climbed back on. Do you recall what else you did upon that turn, Highness?"

San'lr'in’ had never prior been able to see herself from her Teachers’ perspective, learning that she was as overly stubborn as she had thought her teachers to be, and was surprised to learn that they had laughed. She never thought they had such ability, “I recall little of this."

"As we were beginning to look for a site in which to place our eve's camp, the first Master asked you, ‘What will you eat for your eve's meal? Did you bring your food with you?’”

Ll'strin'll.
The High Queen knew to not speak the name of a dead one, but nodded, “I recall that she called Me as Stupid One upon every moment."

"She was a mean one, and most disturbed that we hadn't chosen her to become as High Queen. But she served you well as a Teacher, as she helped to make you strong and fiercely independent. I recall your expression vividly. You looked at her with defiance, brought your spear to the ready, then let it fly, killing a hare on the first throw. You must have seen it prior, but it surprised us. You then jumped off your horse to retrieve it."

San'lr'in’ laughed, “And then I had to walk the remainder of the journey to the camp, as I couldn't find a way to climb back onto the horse."

"At least you ate that eve."

San'lr'in’ recalled the moment, but quickly cast the memory aside. She never liked recalling her younger turns for the harshness of them, but she also had the deep issue that had now begun to consume her thinking.

After a few moments, she heard the High Wizard Sorcerer's voice once again, “You worry overly on these concerns of yours."

"Perhaps, Teacher."

"The Realm is changing, High Queen, and you have helped this to occur."

"It is not this, High Wizard Sorcerer. I am well pleased for this change. Indeed, one of My Sacred Vows to The Realm and to the Deep Mystics has been fully achieved. Prior to meeting Sle'nel', I never thought this possible."

"Yet I feel your heaviness of thought. Perhaps you are concerned over the humans, then?"

To San'lr'in’ it felt like the voice walked next to her like upon the many moments long prior, and she sensed comfort in the feeling. She shook her head, “Not overly. We will deal with them upon their arrival."

"You sense something else, then?"

She thought about her answer for a moment, examining the dark feeling, “Yes. Something far different."

"You sense an uneasiness."

San'lr'in’ shook her head again, halting her walking, “Not this, but a darkness. In The Realm. Its sensing has touched Me.” She thought about the words she used, then said, “No, this is not correct. Sought is more as it feels. It has sought Me out."

"Tell me of what you sense, Highness."

"Strong. Silent. A darkness with no need of urgency. An assuredness. Far more intelligent than the others I have had to battle. And patient. Overly patient. It examines My strength."

"But it becomes known to you."

She nodded, “It lives, most certainly, and can touch Me through the sorcery powers. It is apparent in that I know of it, but not apparent in that it makes no move to show itself. It simply waits and learns."

San'lr'in’ felt the weight of the long hesitation, but finally her Teacher answered, “Yes. I saw this as you touched Sle'nel's staff. I felt you shiver. This has not occurred to you since far long prior. Has this Dark Power begun to call to you?"

"No. Not this. It watches Me. It waits."

"It is not the Mungardies?"

"No.” She was certain of her answer, “Not them. Far deeper in its darkness. Far more intense in its ability.” She had a guess as to its source, but kept it apart for the moment.

"Be mindful of this power, and watch it carefully. But this is not unknown to you, and you are well prepared to face whatever it may be."

"It makes it not the easier, however. Nor does your statement soften the unease of it."

"Do you know this dark one's identity?"

"I have a guess, but thought it not possible."

"Do you wish to tell me of this?"

She hesitated for a long moment, then halted as she said it, “The Wizard of The Ravens. She has opened her eyes."

She heard a slight gasp as she had spoken her guess, then silence for a long moment, “I also thought this not possible, but perhaps there is a reason. Forget this not, my student, as there is usually a reason for dark moments such as this. You will need to trust more in Sle'nel's powers as High Sorcerer. She will soon be able to sense more of the Wizard than even you, given that the Wizard seems to be living through the spells instead of the Deep Powers."