The Realm's Mystics [Mystic Women of The Realm Series Book 3] (20 page)

"Considering the damage the Spirits of the Falls have done, I wish to ban them from Woden."

"If I did that, I would be no better than them. And perhaps I have enough experience to know that no matter what they have done, much good will come of it in spite of them. That, plus they are integral to the mystical aspects, as you will come to know. We cannot lose anymore Mystics in this realm.” She knew that Sam wouldn't be able to understand that, at this moment.

"You said that your teachers gave you their powers. How be this possible?"

"Much like Sle'nel’ and her Birth-Mother. Some Mystics are able to give their knowledge, skills and abilities to another as they die. Sle'nel’ inherited the Elfin language, the great Elfin weapon skills, and some of the memories. I inherited some powers that I wouldn't otherwise have been able to obtain. When such is done, it is considered as a great, great gift. For, like with Sle'nel', it provides us with something that could have been lost to The Realm."

"I will not have such powers, then."

"You inherited powers upon your birth, as did I. As you move forward with your powers, the Sorcerer Women will give you a few others that have been waiting for you. Other powers are often given along the way, and perhaps it will become so with you."

Sam nodded, then began to turn away. She was beginning to like her sister highly, but knew it wasn't returned, so didn't wish to impose. San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ sensed Sam's thoughts, surprised.

"My sister, I am sorry I disappoint you."

Sam looked back at her, also surprised. Surprised that her sister even cared about her feelings, “You disappoint me not. It is just frustrating in that our relationship is but highly strained."

"It will improve. Give Me more moments, Highest. Think of it as a lesson I teach you.” She laughed, “When in truth, I am the one with no patience."

Sam laughed, but said nothing. She was, however, grateful for the moment.

Hoping to avoid the rain from the oncoming clouds, they rose early for their return journey back to the Valley. Ann'wn and Meera had packed the horses and prepared the journey, while the High Wizard Sorcerer left prior to them, having decided to return directly to her mountains.

Sle'nel’ looked forward to the return journey, knowing that they soon would be traveling to her Elfin home. After saying their farewells, San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ mounted, then turned to Ann'wn, who was now awaiting The High Queen's leave to begin the journey.

"Force Leader. The journey is yours."

Ann'wn nodded, turned her horse toward the great sea, then led them back toward home. The High Queen traveled quietly, per her usual, thinking on all that had occurred during their visit to the Spirits of the Valley. She wondered how she was to return the Elves to The Realm, per her sacred vow, but decided to leave that problem until her visit to El'fs'nd'lle. She was pleased in learning that a great flying horse was attached to each Elf, but chastised herself lightly for never having thought of such. She thought that Sle'nel's meeting with Sume'n'tinel'ti'non had been worrisome, but that it had provided some hope. And while she was greatly pleased over the events during their stay at the Sacred Isle, she frowned, knowing that all was not yet as was needed, and much was yet hidden.

They are yet able to hold their thoughts from me. But how?

They crossed the great sea, finally arriving upon their own landmass. Ann'wn had them rest their horses for a few moments prior to the remainder of the journey, giving the horses a chance to regain their land-legs. They dismounted, stretching from the ride, while Ann'wn, Meera and the guard watched the skies for enemies. Suddenly at the same moment that Sle'nel’ smelled and heard them, The High Queen sensed some Dungaras within the forest.

Without yet having seen them, she turned to Ann'wn, saying in a hushed tone, “Dungaras. In the forest."

Ann'wn looked quickly about, regretting they had halted in this spot, seeing that they now stood on open land with no defense about them. After quickly withdrawing their weapons from their horses, The High Queen sent them away from potential harm, telling them she would call them back when needed. Sle'nel’ removed her sword and sheath from Mor'inl', attaching it to her belt as the others also tried to look like they were not aiming for a fight. Sam had observed that Ann'wn was preparing, so did as well, also searching for the signs of their enemies.

"They are over there, my Queen, in the forest."

"Do you see them, My Love?"

"No, but I hear and smell them."

Ann'wn had been listening to their hushed conversation, “How many do you hear, Elfin Princess?"

"I know not for certain, but many. Perhaps two-hundred. Perhaps more."

Ann'wn was angry with herself for halting in this spot, “Two-hundred?” She saw that they had no good land to use for defense, and were well outnumbered. Her heart fell heavily in her chest as she began to feel that she had failed her High Queen.

"My Queen, perhaps you would entertain leaving us here for this fight while you remove yourself from it. You must not risk yourself. The Realm has great need of you."

The High Queen raised an eyebrow, narrowing her eyes, “You think a Master ever runs from a fight, Force Leader?"

As The High Queen spoke, the Dungaras force moved out from the dense forest, encasing them in a full half circle. The High Queen turned her head around, sensing more Dungaras in back of them, seeing that they were now fully encircled, “How many are there?"

Ann'wn did a quick count, “Well over two-hundred-fifty. We are well outnumbered."

She turned to Ann'wn, her eyes twinkling, “Oh? Why, Ann'wn, I thought a warrior like you never gave up. Only two-hundred-fifty or so? Where is your sense of adventure? It seems like a good turn to see if this number is our undoing."

Sle'nel’ smiled at her Queen, “Yes, my Queen. When with you, it always be a good turn to face such a challenge. Back-to-back, my Queen."

The High Queen looked upon her Elf, “I love you, My Elf."

To Ann'wn she said, “Remember your swift moves, Ann'wn. And remember that true warriors never give up. The Realm needs you as well, Ann'wn. I command you not to die this turn."

Ann'wn bowed her head, “Yes, my Queen,” but wondered how she would be able to hold to this vow as she saw the Dungaras forces well armed.

She turned to Sam, “My Sister, remember your eyes.” Sam merely nodded, thankful for the reminder, seeing why legions were so loyal to this Queen—she never gave in to overwhelming and impossible odds. Ann'wn went quickly to Meera and Sam, arranging them in the best ways possible, back-to-back as Sle'nel’ had said to The High Queen. Sle'nel’ placed Caitha between her and The High Queen for better protection. She gave her as many throwing knives as she could gather between them.

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ looked about them, studying the situation. While she had a passing thought that they were, as Ann'wn’ had said, very clearly outnumbered and outdone, all her training took over, providing her a warrior's instinct of challenge in the face of overwhelming odds. And like a true Master, she was taught to face the gravest challenges as if they were nothing more than a contest at a festival.

The leader of the Dungaras stepped hesitantly forward, “Queen. We only want Yyeoiraa and baby. You go free if get them. If not, you die."

The High Queen took the moment to attempt some negotiation, as well as to provide more moments for preparation, “Why? Is this baby not proof that our races can live together peacefully and productively?"

"No. No such child occur. Is wrong."

"Tell Me why."

"Will change Dungaras ways."

"For the better, only. You have become overly violent. No. I will not give them up.” She used the moments of speaking to her benefit, giving herself the moments needed to bring her powers fully to her.

"Then we fight. Tell Elf to move away. We want not to fight Elf."

Sle'nel’ spoke in her Elfin language, which she knew the Dungaras understood, “If you fight against The High Queen, you fight against me. Go not to this task of yours. It be not worth it. The High Queen has saved this Dungaras. It is of your race. Does this mean nothing to you? I also wish not to fight against you, but this union can be good for The Realm."

"We sorry to you, Elfin Faiere. Must do so."

Sle'nel’ nodded and said in The High Queen's language, “So be it, then. You fight me as well."

The High Queen spoke softly to her Elf, “Perhaps, Elf, should we survive this, you might teach Me this language of yours."

"Consider it a vow then, my Queen."

"One thing, Elf. As we fight?"

"Yes, my Queen."

"Remember Me."

"To our stars, my Queen."

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ took a quick look up into the skies, giving one soft whistle as she did, hoping it was heard. She raised her sword, “So it is, Dungaras. I am sorry you did not bring more warriors with you, as you are now well outnumbered."

As she spoke, The High Queen drew on her powers of fog and mist. Within a quick instant, a great cloud of fog hung over all of them. No one could see anything. She then drew on another power, making hundreds of arrows to fly into the Dungaras. The Dungaras were well trained against such powers as the arrows, but couldn't see the arrows through the fog, so many Dungaras were instantly killed. As this occurred, she quickly cast a spell upon the ground, causing a great chasm to open. Many more Dungaras fell into the chasm just prior to it closing in on them. As the fog began to lift, she sent a round of spears into the Dungaras, and then said to Sam, “Use your eyes, Sam'r'in'thel'ineln'."

The Dungaras leader looked confused, but raised Its sword as the fog lifted. The one-to-one battle began, the Valley's eight battling furiously against the remaining Dungaras. As the Dungaras made the first move, The High Queen used her powers once more, preventing two from moving their swords, sending flying rocks upon a few others, and taking the moment to send one slamming into a tree. As some of the less experienced Dungaras warriors used their knives, spears or arrows against the small band of the Valley, The High Queen would instantly turn those weapons back upon them, killing some and injuring others with their own weapons.

Sam used her eyes to ignite many of the trees in back of the Dungaras, causing them to fall upon a few of them. She then sent her power to her sword, battling urgently against two of the Dungaras, also remembering what her sister had taught to Meera and Ann'wn.

Ann'wn, in her anger at herself for allowing her Queen to be placed in jeopardy, began fighting with a fury, remembering what her Queen had just taught her about swiftness. Three of the Dungaras had begun to fight Ann'wn, not caring about fairness. Ann'wn fought valiantly, taking some injury, but killing one soon, then battling the other two for many moments.

As the fight had begun, Caitha threw a knife into one of the Dungaras with a deadly aim. Another Dungaran threw a knife at Caitha that The High Queen hadn't seen, and it went squarely into her shoulder. Without thinking of the pain, Caitha pulled the knife out, and in the same movement, threw the knife back square into the chest of the Dungaras. She felt grateful for the training she had received from Meera, while in Woden.

Like Ann'wn, Meera was also trying to hold off three of the Dungaras, but without any of the powers that the others had. She used her short, quick moves The High Queen had been teaching her, able to undo one of the Dungaras, but struggling against the other two. During the struggle, Meera took many blows, causing some injury.

The two guards also were besieged against the Dungaras, holding off at least two each. One of the guards had been seriously injured in the first moments of the battle, but continued to fight like a true warrior. The other fought for her life, seeing that more of the battle would fall to her, due to her injured partner.

Sle'nel’ was fighting against four of them, keeping them well busy against her Elfin sword abilities. But these Dungaras were well-trained, and in their past had trained with some of the prior Elfin masters. So they knew her abilities well. Yet, the Dungaras didn't wish to kill the last Elf in all The Realm, making moves to only injure her, even at the cost of their own lives. She managed to seriously injure one of them, placing it out of the battle, but faced her match against the other three. One placed a sword move against her, injuring her arm, as the other two rallied their swords at the same moment. Fighting with only one good arm, Sle'nel’ fought for her Queen's life, becoming wild in her moves against them.

The High Queen continued to use her powers as she wielded her sword. Fighting many at one moment, she couldn't keep watch upon her companions. The Dungaras knew that if they managed to kill The High Queen, much of their fight in The Realm would be over. Because of such, The High Queen now faced at least ten of the Dungaras directly. She used her power to burn the hands of one of the Dungaras so that It couldn't use any weapon. She used her Master sword skills against them, surprising them, for they hadn't seen these skills for many cycles. At one moment, while six used their swords against her, one managed to fix a well-placed injury across her side. She felt the pain, but instantly displaced it for later. In her rage, she slashed out at the Dungaras, killing It instantly, while she kept her sword moving to the next.

The small band fought desperately against the Dungaras, knowing the odds well against them. By the middle of the battle, each of them had blood streaming from various parts of their bodies, injured and overwhelmed. But each of them had been raised in a very violent and harsh realm, learning their fighting abilities and attitudes toward danger and death from their youth.

To give up was to die.

Both Sam and Meera were always prepared to fight to the death, never giving up no matter the odds. Ann'wn was prepared to fight beyond death, knowing her Queen's life was at risk if she didn't. Caitha, while not raised to be a warrior, was desperate to help, not wishing to lose any of her friends in battle, having lost overly many during Woden's long violent past. The two guards fought gallantly, wishing to prove themselves to their leader, and also to live. As an Elf, Sle'nel’ now faced violence as a sad reality of The Realm, but fighting against it, hoping for an eventual ending of it. Also as an Elf, never would she give up, fighting until her last breath.