The Realm's Mystics [Mystic Women of The Realm Series Book 3] (49 page)

"But, my Queen—"

"NO! Others will do it better. I have already answered your question."

It was just after midmorn when The High Queen finally saw what she had been so anxiously looking for all the morn. R'lodin'lindor was flying her lover home. As San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ looked up, focusing upon the great unicorn, all could see that she finally saw the return of her lover. They all stood, waiting and watching as R'lodin'lindor flew closer. She circled over the arena, seeing the middle open to her, then landed. The horse was a mess, covered with blood, looking exhausted, and an arrow yet sticking out from her side. The moment she landed, chaos reigned over the arena.

The High Queen saw the blood upon the horse just prior to landing, “Call for My Healer. Quickly!"

She saw the arrows sticking out of Uthrn and her own Elf, and became concerned. Then she saw an unclothed woman underneath Uthrn. As the horse landed, Uthrn slid off, grimaced from the pain, but stood her place. All were surprised to see her without her shirt on. Several guards ran to her as she pointed to the unclothed woman.

Sle'nel’ hadn't yet moved, looking to her Queen, holding out her arm to her. The High Queen did the same, and she heard Sle'nel’ send her a message,
Here is the Master you seek, my Love. We return at midmorn, as vowed.

The High Queen went to her, entering the arena, running to her lover. She helped her down, and then looked upon her wounds. Sle'nel’ smiled at her, “It is good to be returned, my Queen. Worry not. I am not seriously wounded. Just more scars upon this Elfin body."

Sle'nel’ was having difficulty standing, being exhausted and well-wounded, but fought the urge to lie down. She saw that the guards had finally removed the Master from the horse and had laid her upon the ground. San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ was fully surprised as it was indeed the Master, but she wondered as to why she was unclothed.

As did all the others.

Sle'nel’ saw her Queen's expression and began to laugh. She looked at Uthrn, who looked back and also began to laugh. The High Queen stared at Sle'nel', partly in anger for being injured, partly wondering as to why she was laughing, and partly well pleased at their successful mission.

Sle'nel’ tried to control her laughter, “I am sorry, my Love, but it is a most humorous story. We flew over a lake and saw two lovers.” She pointed to the Master. “She had her garments on at that moment, but by the moment we landed so as to capture her, she was, well ... otherwise engaged, and fully unclothed. It was hardly the moment to ask her to place her clothes back on."

The High Queen's Healer had come running, but when she arrived, she also was caught by surprise. She saw that Sle'nel’ was wounded, as was Uthrn, yet they stood laughing, pointing to the seriously wounded and unclothed woman.

When The Healer gathered her senses, she went to Sle'nel', “You have gotten yourself injured once again, Elf. Are you so attracted to pain?"

Sle'nel’ was yet trying to control her laughter, giddy from their success and from her loss of blood, and quite uncontrolled from her exhaustion, “I apologize, Healer. If I had my choice, the arrows would have flown elsewhere, but they are not deep. See?” She took hold of the one arrow sticking out from her side, pulled it out, then fainted.

As she woke, she vaguely remembered Ann'wn carrying her to The High Queen's chambers, and The Healer fussing over her, but little else. When she opened her eyes, her lover was sitting next to her, looking somewhat displeased.

"Are you angry with me, my Queen?"

The words startled The High Queen, as she hadn't seen Sle'nel’ waking. She was indeed angry. But, as she had often told Sle'nel', she was Sle'nel's lover, not her Queen, so she found herself at odds against this anger.

"Angry, My Love? Why would I be angry? Would I be angry that you are wounded? Or that R'lodin'lindor is wounded? Or perhaps Uthrn, as well? Would I be angry that you went to
find
the Master, but instead, decided to capture her? Angry, My Love? Me? Or perhaps that you find this all so amusing?"

Sle'nel’ smiled, holding out her hand to her, not fearing her temper, “I love you, my Queen. I sensed your concern and knew how important this Master is to you. And an opportunity arose. I think we did quite well.” She thought about her one concern for a moment, “But I do wonder if we should also have brought the Master's lover with us."

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ stood, frustrated, “And quite obviously I love you, which is what is making Me half-crazed. I wish you not to take such risks as these."

Sle'nel’ sat up, wincing from the pain, but knew well that she wasn't gravely wounded. She sat at the side of the bed looking at her Queen, “I am sorry, my Queen, but you would have done the same. And you would have been angered if another hadn't done the same. It was a rare opportunity."

The High Queen looked away, toward the fireplace. Sle'nel’ saw that her shoulders were moving slightly, as if she were crying. Sle'nel’ rose and hopped over to her on her good leg, feeling the wound in her side with each movement.

She wondered if she had pushed her overly far, “What is it, my Queen?"

She expected to see tears upon The High Queen's face. What she saw was that San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ was laughing.

The warrior knocked upon The High Queen's door.

"Enter."

She did so, kneeling and bowing her head, “My Queen."

"Ah. Warrior of the Sword. I need you to help Our Elf to the eve's meal. We will then hear Ann'wn's report on this newly-obtained Master of ours."

The warrior nodded, going to Sle'nel'. She bowed her head to her, “It would be easier if I were to just carry you. Would you permit this?"

"I can hop, or I can use my staff to lean upon. I am not overly wounded."

The warrior shook her head, “Allow me to carry you, my Elf. Perhaps on your return, you might do otherwise."

"Where do we head?"

"To the main dining hall. It is overly far for you to walk."

She nodded. The High Queen called for the attendants, who by now were well afraid to enter her quarters. They prepared Sle'nel’ for the eve's meal. When done, the warrior picked her up as if she weighed less than a child. The High Queen was feeling much improved, knowing that her lover was well enough, and she was now anxious to hear Ann'wn's report on the Master.

Uthrn was also there, having been aided by her own guards, looking much improved from the adventure. She was quite pleased with their success and was being hailed as a hero, along with Sle'nel'. The High Queen could see that Sle'nel’ was also quite pleased with her success, but saw that she kept questioning one of her decisions.

Ann'wn and Meera had been charged to extract information from the Master. The High Queen knew of this Master, but had never been taught by her. She also knew that this Master had just become a Master when the break in the ranks had occurred, and that this one was considered at the lowest of the ranks, far beneath her own abilities as such.

Meera was good at torture when needed, but was surprised at Ann'wn's ability to remain distant from the screams of the pain she had inflicted upon the Master. In truth, Meera thought the Master succumbed quite easily to the torture, having nothing to gain by remaining silent. Meera watched as Ann'wn had the guards use the arrow wound that Sle'nel’ had given upon the Master, as the main source of torture. It worked well, even if it did enlarge the wound a bit.

When Ann'wn had obtained what she needed, she looked at the guards, “Have a healer bandage her up, and keep her well guarded. The High Queen may wish to speak with her later. And make sure that she lives. Know that she will try to kill herself so that we cannot obtain any further information. Bind her hands well. And legs."

Ann'wn and Meera prepared themselves for the eve's meal quickly, knowing that their Queen was waiting for their report. On their way to the dining hall, Ann'wn looked at Meera, “You seem to tolerate torture quite well."

"Sadly, I have had great need to use it overly often."

Ann'wn nodded, understanding the statement well. As they walked, she spoke to Meera about the Elf, “Sle'nel’ did well, but she will not be pleased with this report."

Meera nodded, “Indeed. But how were they to know?"

Ann'wn just shook her head, “None of us would. It was inconceivable."

They entered into the dining hall, going directly to the table. Before sitting, they went up to their Queen, knelt and bowed their heads, “High Queen."

The High Queen placed her hands upon each of their heads, knowing what dreadful enterprise they had just come from, “Rise. Please sit, then offer us your report. And keep in mind that we are at a dining table. The details of your practice will be unnecessary."

They sat, both staring at their meal, which now only resembled the body parts of the Master that they tortured throughout the after midturn. Neither felt much like eating, but vowed to remain as a warrior.

Ann'wn looked at her Queen, who nodded at her. Ann'wn gave her report, “There is some surprising information, Highness. Because of Sle'nel’ and Uthrn's great success, we now know where the leader of the Mungardies lives, we know who this Master is, we know the largeness of their forces, where they are located, and their warriors’ skills and abilities."

The High Queen was pleased, “Where is the leader of the Mungardies?"

Ann'wn gulped, trying to breathe, “She was close by, my Queen, and lives in the same town as the Master."

"Do we know what she looks like?"

"We do. Quite well, Highness."

Meera was wondering if Ann'wn would get away without actually saying what they had found out from the Master.

Sle'nel’ asked, “Did you ask about her lover, Warrior?"

Meera nodded, “We did. It was her lover of a long span. It would seem she is the reason that the Master went to the Mungardies in the first place."

Sle'nel’ nodded, “Was she anyone special?"

Neither Ann'wn nor Meera spoke. The High Queen looked at them, studying them, wondering why they were remaining so cautious. She sensed their thoughts, and remembered Sle'nel's passing thought in the chambers just moments prior.

Suddenly, she began to laugh. Sle'nel’ looked at her Queen, as did all the others. After The High Queen's foul mood throughout the turn, no one was willing to ask her why she was now laughing. Ann'wn guessed that The High Queen had sensed her thoughts, but couldn't figure out why it made The High Queen laugh so.

After she regained herself, yet smiling and shaking her head, she said, “For one who can provide such exquisite tortures, My Warrior, you are a coward with words. Tell all, Ann'wn. Tell us who this lover was that Sle'nel’ has wondered about since she left her upon the beach by the lake."

Ann'wn cleared her throat, looking down at the table. Softly, she said, “She was the Queen of the Mungardies, Highness."

The High Queen began laughing again, and all those around the table gasped in disbelief.

Sle'nel’ was in shock, thinking,
The Mungardies Queen? So close. Why did we not bring her as well?

Uthrn suddenly remembered Sle'nel's question to her,
Who is her lover?
She now felt as a failure, knowing they had selected the wrong one with which to return.

Erthrn was confused, “My Queen? Why do you laugh?"

The High Queen tried to control herself from laughing further. She wiped the tears from her eyes, “Because it is so absurd, Erthrn. Imagine what the Mungardies must be thinking at this moment. That we purposefully wounded the leader, but left her, opting to return with the Master instead."

A small laugh escaped from Erthrn, and Mil'der'in also began laughing, but Sle'nel’ just sat, displeased with her actions. She looked at Uthrn, thinking,
We were so close.

The High Queen rose and began pacing as she thought aloud, while looking upon the floor, “But all is not lost. Indeed, if this Master has been their leader's lover for a long while, then perhaps the Master can be as important to us as the leader.” She raised her head, looking at Erthrn, “Perhaps they will wish her returned to them. And we will be most pleased to comply, for a fee."

Erthrn nodded, agreeing with The High Queen, “A good plan, my Queen. Perhaps this is not the humorous mishap that it first appeared."

The High Queen kept pacing, “Erthrn. Have a small delegation sent."

"To tell them that the Master yet lives, my Queen?"

"Yes, and that we would be most pleased to return her to their esteemed leader."

"What is our demand for this one's return, my Queen?"

"Let them tell us how important this one is to them."

"They think you are in the Valley, my Queen. Perhaps we should send a messenger to your forces, preparing them for possible revenge?"

"Agreed."

Sam provided her insight, “They are certain to move their leader to another location, now, my Queen."

Yet pacing, San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ nodded her agreement, “Yes. You are most certainly correct. Ann'wn, find out from our prisoner where they might move their leader."

She turned to Sle'nel', yet laughing somewhat, “What a happy accident, My Desire. I could have not planned this better had I wanted it so.” She turned, yet pacing and laughing, “What must they be thinking!"

"Do they think us stupid, my Queen, because of my error?"

The High Queen turned to her lover, “No. I believe this not to be so. The two of you acted as if you knew exactly what you were doing, and who you were taking. But they are now wondering why you took the Master instead of their leader.” She thought about it a moment, then asked, “My Desire, where did you aim your arrow upon the leader?"

"Her right shoulder."

"And was she fully unclothed as well?"

Sle'nel’ nodded.

"So, perhaps they are thinking that we show them of our capabilities. Perhaps they now think that we simply try to frighten them."

Sam agreed, “It is as I would think. Yet, how we proceed now will either but instill this thinking, or let them see it was an accident, only."

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ looked at her sister, “What would you now suggest we do?"