The High Queen's Vow [The Mystic Women of The Realm Series Book IV] (71 page)

The Mungardies woman bowed her head slightly. Her answer was softly spoken but harsh in its delivery, “Until a moment prior, I had thought your Force Leaders as incapable. But I see that you think as I do. Perhaps the next turn will bring us further to where we need be against this Wizard that plagues all of our communities. I will hold my own thoughts until then, High Queen."

"Your thoughts are welcome whenever you wish to provide them, Force Leader."

The High Queen looked to Ann'wn, Erthrn and Fon'elnn', “This is a good beginning, but we must do much more. As Force Leader Nor'onth has said, we must offer the sheer force against the Keep, as well as the unexpected, but endlessly. Get creative, Force Leaders, as nothing that is common will work against this Wizard. Nothing. She long prior defeated a hundred fold more forces than we have."

"But she hasn't the numbers as she did prior, my Queen."

The High Queen raised an eyebrow, then sighed, as she turned back to Ge'vin, “No? Tell Me, Ge'vin, why do you think as such?"

Ge'vin gulped, “There are not this many across all our realm, Highness."

Fon'elnn’ laughed sarcastically, “The Wizard using not those in The Realm, Ge'vin."

"Then who does she use?"

Fon'elnn’ looked to her High Queen, “Would you caring for me to answer, Highness?"

She nodded.

"She stepping through the OuterRealm, Ge'vin. She having this power and ability. Her forces not being as strong as ours, but they outnumbering ours by many."

"How do you know this?"

Ann'wn looked at Ge'vin, exasperated by her, “Have you not been listening, Ge'vin? The High Queen's Black Guard have been scouting the Keep. We have been informed that there are eighty to our one. It is why Nor'onth has suggested that we remain as distant until the numbers have been more evened."

"What about the Ravens?"

San'lr'in’ kept her Force Leaders at the meeting all throughout the turn, and then again the next turn. As had been hoped, the older Force Leaders began to silence themselves as the younger Force Leaders brought forward all their new and more creative plans. Even the Mungardies’ Force Leader provided a few of her thoughts, for which The High Queen had been pleased.

"We have come much further in our plans this turn, but yet have much further to move. Draw out your battle plans this eve, and bring them in the morn. We begin at the morn meal. We must have more backup plans, and well-coordinated ordered efforts. You have My leave. Ann'wn, Erthrn and Fon'elnn'. I have need of you."

Ann'wn bowed her head, “Highness?"

"Have you received the report I have requested from our traitor?"

Erthrn nodded, “Her tale changes, Highness. She has provided four differing tales. She has told us that she did as such for the prior First Master. Then she told us that she did the Wizard's bidding. Upon a third moment, she said that she did it for The Realm on her own accord. Then, early this morn, she informed the guards, after a little persuading on their part, that there is a large group of displeased warriors who seek a new High Queen."

The High Queen raised an eyebrow, “She is this strong? Pity that she has been called to the dark powers. We could use such strength about us. Take Me to her."

They walked well into the forest, finally arriving upon a small meadowed clearing. The High Queen sensed that many of Ann'wn's forces were present, and saw that Krl'lnn’ was tied up to a stripped tree which had been made into a pole. She noted that Krl'lnn’ looked as if death would be a most welcomed friend.

Ann'wn called to her guards, “Bring her down. Bind her arms and legs well."

The guards wasted no care in bringing Krl'lnn’ to the ground, letting her drop heavily. Krl'lnn’ screamed her pain, no longer able to withstand it in silence. But San'lr'in’ saw that Krl'lnn's eyes remained as fiercely resolute in their stance, regardless of the pain she had endured.

"You need waste no moments on feeling sympathy for this one, Highness. She has been raised with hate in her heart."

San'lr'in’ responded to the voice without moving her gaze away from Krl'lnn, “She has had little choice in her stance, Queen Erthrn. She is ignorant of what she does. Her mind has been twisted to this act. She did this not of her free will."

"Perhaps this is so, my Queen, but it matters not. She attempted to take your life. A cycle of torture is overly short for this one."

She looked at Erthrn for a moment, “If you and I take not a softer stance to a wasted life, Erthrn, then who will? Our forces? Her life was ravaged long prior to her own understanding, and this is no fault of hers. She is overly young for this much hate. And she would have made a fine Master had she not been used in such a fashion."

Erthrn met her Queen's eyes, ever longing to belong to her, “Perhaps you speak truth, my friend, and is why you were chosen as High Queen. But it cannot make the moment softer for her."

"A harsher truth, Erthrn. It is as you say, and she has suffered for her act."

The Healer had come up to her Queen, “You cannot do this alone, High One. You have much in front of you to use up on this one."

The High Queen raised an eyebrow, curious, “You wish to deal with this one, Healer? Are you prepared for this?"

"I care not for her, only for your health, High One. Someone must tend to it, as you don't do as such."

"She is readied for you, my Queen."

She walked up to the well-tied Krl'lnn, seeing the desperate look in her eyes. San'lr'in’ could sense the immense pain within her, and felt saddened by it. She placed her hand softly on Krl'lnn's head, then reached deep into her thoughts. She closed her eyes as she sensed into Krl'lnn's past, searching deeply for the real traitors to The Realm. As she did as such, she felt The Healer's hand come to rest lightly upon her own head.

The moment was more difficult than San'lr'in’ had prior experienced, finding Krl'lnn's mind a maze of secrets well hidden by the real traitors. She probed more deeply, discovering a path through Krl'lnn's mind that greatly troubled San'lr'in'.

Don't enter there, my Queen.

She ignored the thought that was sent to her, even in her unawareness of who sent it, moving deeper into Krl'lnn's mind. After many moments, she found that Krl'lnn's mind had been taken over many moons prior, used merely as a vessel to complete the task. She became troubled that she couldn't find the source. She removed herself from the process for a moment.

She turned to Erthrn, “It is as I had thought. Her mind has been well twisted. This has been no fault of hers. But I cannot yet find whose deed she carried. I must enter her mind through My meditations."

"You cannot do as such, High One. You cannot risk this much."

She looked at her Healer and spoke softly, “Perhaps you recall that a High Queen must make sacrifices upon every turn, Healer? This is one of those moments."

Without waiting for an answer, she entered into her meditations, moving quickly to the desired one, then as quickly, she re-entered Krl'lnn's mind, interacting directly with it.

She walked through Krl'lnn's mind as if walking through a forest's path, taking first one turn, then another, as she struggled to find the one responsible for the attempted assassination. But it was as she had first found, the paths leading nowhere, as if in a maze. She moved further into her meditations, and further into, yet removed from Krl'lnn's mind. As she moved slightly apart from the sensing, she finally found the location of the source. Rather than moving directly to uncover it, she moved around it, observing it fully, so as to remain unidentified to the source.

She had guessed that whoever had supplied the directive to Krl'lnn had done so without her knowledge. And she had guessed that the source had supplied traps within Krl'lnn's mind so as to signal detection if discovered. She maneuvered further around the source, trying to identify it without signaling her presence. When she found it, she mentally backed away, knowing that she now had to contain it within Krl'lnn's mind, but apart from it, all without detection.

The Healer felt The High Queen begin to return from her meditations, “Slowly, San'lr'in'thel'ineln'. Come to my voice. Slowly."

When The High Queen had returned, she saw that Krl'lnn was now even further in pain. She looked to her Healer, “How long have I been in Krl'lnn's mind?"

"Many moments, High One."

She looked up to the sky, seeing that the moon was now overhead, “I must re-enter into her mind but from another direction. I will need your assistance, Healer."

"You have it, my Queen."

She placed her hand on Krl'lnn's head, removing some of her pain, “Remain strong, Young Master. Your mind will be at peace in a few moments."

She turned to her Healer, “Connect to Me, Healer. There is need of your strength."

When she was certain that she could use The Healer's strength, she returned her sensing into Krl'lnn, now seeking to confine the source of the assassination attempt securely without its awareness of such. She used her powers to build a wall around it, and used her spells to trick the source into thinking that all was as usual. When she was done building the secure trap, she looked within it so as to finally identify the source.

The shock was so surprising that her heart jumped at the sudden awareness, causing great pain. In spite of it, she knew that she needed to remove Krl'lnn's mind from the source's hold, also without the source's awareness. Once again, she used both her powers and spells to do as such, trying to move herself away her heart's pain.

When she was done, she used The Healer's strength to return herself to The Realm, falling upon her knees as she returned.

"My Queen!"

She was having difficulty breathing, but said, “Untie her."

"She is a traitor, Highness. She tried to kill you."

Yet in pain, she stood, looking with narrowed eyes, “I gave a command, Force Leader."

"My Queen, we must tend to your heart."

"Not at this moment, Healer."

She turned to Krl'lnn, who was yet strongly bound and gagged, “Remove her bindings.” She turned to her Healer, “Help Me. She is with great pain, and is not responsible for this assassination attempt. Help Me save her, Healer."

The Healer nodded, moving to Krl'lnn. She worked quickly to remove some of her greatest pains, then began to bandage her more injured limbs and areas.

The High Queen bent down to Krl'lnn, who was now lying upon the ground, “Can you hear Me, Krl'lnn?"

Krl'lnn was no longer controlled by the source, but was in enormous pain. She spoke with great effort, “Yes, Highness."

She touched Krl'lnn's face gently, “Rest. We will speak later.” She touched Krl'lnn's forehead, sending her into a deep sleep, “She will rest comfortably now, Healer. Do as you can. Have them move her to a room within the lodge."

The Healer nodded as The High Queen turned to Erthrn and Ann'wn. She spoke softly, “Bring the High Wizard Sorcerer to Me, with all haste. Tell her I have great need of her to help Me with My powers."

"Yes, my Queen."

Erthrn was surprised, “The High Wizard Sorcerer, San'lr'in'thel'ineln'?"

She nodded, “It is so."

"But I have heard tales that she allowed you within her thoughts."

"All is not what it seems, Erthrn."

Mil'der'in had come earlier, hearing that The High Queen was questioning Krl'lnn, “This will be a most unwelcomed report throughout The Realm, Highness."

She turned to Ann'wn, “Tell no one of this. Inform the guards that they remain here until the High Wizard Sorcerer's arrival. This must remain quiet until we can complete this task."

"Yes, my Queen. As you say. I will dispatch a messenger and some guards now, Highness. She will be arrived within a few turns."

"We will deal with her prior to our leaving for the Wizard. I will provide a general statement saying of My need of the High Wizard Sorcerer, so that all can hear. She must not become aware of our intent."

As Krl'lnn was being carefully moved to the lodge, Ann'wn looked at her Queen, “She is not guilty, Highness? We have done as such to her, and she is innocent?"

The High Queen knew the difficulty in such decisions. She placed her hand upon Ann'wn's shoulder, “We cannot always know truth, Ann'wn. She is alive, and will be well treated from this moment. You moved forward from the knowledge we knew. She threw the knife, and all saw this as truth. You cannot blame yourself. It was meant for us to think as such."

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The meeting on the third turn was long and intense. Everyone tried to create a battle plan that would please The High Queen, but she had been displeased in the efforts. Mostly, though, she had been displeased that she hadn't come up with her own plan to rid The Realm of this great wizard.

During one moment of rest, The High Queen entered into her second meditation to help remove herself from The Realm. Once again, the Wizard of the Ravens entered easily.

I have been waiting for you. I find that I like being in your thoughts, High Queen.

San'lr'in’ sensed the Wizard's truth. The Wizard was enjoying the moment.

I admire strength, and you are strong. You have done well through my trials. I am well pleased. From this moment, you will only experience my pleasure, as I now seek you to me. Think on this, High Queen. I desire you to stand with me.

While surprised at the statement, San'lr'in’ needed to learn more about her. But something in the statement made her wonder,
Perhaps her desire could be used...

And you are strong even in your silence. All others would have long prior given in to me. You resist, yet you are curious. You learn by listening.

San'lr'in’ thought to herself that the Wizard liked to overly control the moments.

I will find a way to bring you to me, High Queen. And while you think of me as evil, rethink this, my curious one, as I have many gifts I can offer one such as you.

San'lr'in’ removed herself from the Wizard's thoughts, and stood quietly thinking on what she had learned of the Wizard of the Ravens, once again wondering in what fashion could she use the Wizard's desire of her, against her. She recalled Roen's vision:
The Wizard of the Ravens is not what you will be led to believe, Highness. She is more, yet less, in all things
. She thought it as an unsettling vision, wondering if the Wizard was ‘
more evil, or less so? Could this be truth?