The Realm's Mystics [Mystic Women of The Realm Series Book 3] (53 page)

Uthrn nodded, “Yes, Most Honored and Great High Queen. By the Mungardies."

The guard spoke, “Forgive my interruption, High Queen, but it is why Ann'wn goes to fight. We know where the leader of the Dungaras is, and we fight the Mungardies that now hold her."

She looked down at the kneeling guard, “What is your name, warrior?"

"Thern'nin, my Queen.

"Lead us there."

Uthrn bowed her head even further, “My Queen, I beg you."

The High Queen knew she had been hard on Uthrn, as Uthrn had to take all her wrath while Ann'wn was off fighting, but her anger was beyond control, “Speak, before I am moved to cut out your tongue."

Sle'nel’ winced, never having heard her lover use such harsh images.

Erthrn also winced, well knowing that The High Queen was capable of such, if pushed to the moment. She hoped Uthrn would be more cautious.

"I beg you, my Queen. Please let me fight against these Mungardies. Please let me begin to make correct that which I wronged."

San'lr'in'thel'ineln was about to respond when her Healer interrupted, “She is overly injured to fight, my Queen."

San'lr'in'thel'ineln looked at Uthrn, ignoring her Healer, speaking softly but with immense anger, “It is easier to die in battle than face a Queen's wrath, is it not?"

"I will not do so, my Queen. Please let me make it correct. I plead of you."

"And you believe you can recapture the leader of the Dungaras as easily as this?"

"It is my duty, my Queen. I beg you."

"VOW, Uthrn! Vow to Me that you will not take the easy path and die in battle."

Uthrn bent low, placing her lips upon The High Queen's boots, kissing them, “I vow this to you, my Queen."

"But if you fail this mission, Uthrn, I will be the one to have your life."

"My life is important only if you so choose it so, my Queen."

"Then rise, and lead us."

They mounted and headed out, with San'lr'in'thel'ineln turning to her Elf, “We head into battle, My Desire. Are you prepared?"

Sle'nel’ merely nodded, fingering the number of arrows she had brought with her to see if there were enough. As they approached the battle site, The High Queen could see that Ann'wn was fighting with all her force, but was well outnumbered by the Mungardies.

"Remember our stars, My Desire."

Sle'nel’ prepared her bow and arrows as she saw her Queen take out her sword, “To our stars, my Queen."

Sle'nel’ dismounted and sent her horse away, while The High Queen rode hers straight into battle, as did all the remaining warriors. Sle'nel’ could see her Queen using her powers as she rode into the center. Taking swift aim, Sle'nel’ shot one arrow after another from a great distance. She was careful to make each arrow count, seeing that they were indeed well outnumbered.

Uthrn had prepared what remained of her warriors, mounting a strong aggressive front. They sought to regain their pride and were fighting in their own rage. Sle'nel’ saw Sam fighting courageously with Meera beside her. As Sam and Meera were being overtaken, they saw that well-placed arrows were helping to even their odds. Looking back over her shoulder quickly, Sam saw her former lover, who briefly nodded to her. With the momentary assistance, Meera and Sam were able to take back the control of their battle. Sle'nel’ then looked for her Queen, having lost sight of her.

She found Uthrn battling mightily against four Mungardies. Sle'nel’ took aim, shot an arrow, then another. She then kept searching for her Queen, hoping that Uthrn could handle the two remaining Mungardies. Then she found her. Many Mungardies, all with swords, surrounded her Queen. San'lr'in'thel'ineln was fighting them desperately, using her powers, using her sword, but tiring. One Mungardies was about to take The High Queen from behind, her sword raised above her head.

Sle'nel’ shot an arrow. Then another. And another, moving closer each moment. Connecting and killing a Mungardies with each. Shooting her arrows so quickly that the Mungardies couldn't tell where the enemy was coming from. The High Queen could sense that her lover was behind her, helping. But Sle'nel’ had run out of arrows. She picked up a sword from one of the dead Mungardies, feeling its intense weight. She hoped she could wield such a heavy weapon, wishing for more arrows.

The High Queen was no longer encircled, but was yet well outnumbered. The Mungardies had been taught well by their Master, but fortunately, not well enough. She used many of her fighting powers, assailing the Mungardies with balls of fire, flying stones, a small dust storm, all the while raging with her sword, showing herself a far better Master than the one who had taught them.

Then suddenly, she sensed her lover directly behind her. Sle'nel’ said, “Watch your back, my Queen."

The High Queen stole one quick glance at her lover, and saw her sword. While fighting, she asked, “Can you even lift that sword, My Desire?"

"I will have to. I ran out of arrows."

The battle had begun long prior to The High Queen's arrival with a number of five-to-one, in the Mungardies favor. Ann'wn and her warriors had done well just to hold them. When The High Queen and Uthrn arrived with their reinforcements, the battle turned against the Mungardies. As soon as Uthrn saw that her warriors could manage the remainder of the battle, she set out to re-capture the leader of the Dungaras. She moved quickly through the buildings, searching. After much long searching, she finally found her. Seven Mungardies were placing the Dungaran leader upon a horse so as to take her away into the Mungardies’ lands. Uthrn knew that they hadn't yet seen her. She ran swiftly toward them, making no sound, ignoring the screaming inflamed pain of her leg. Ignoring her ripped apart muscles that were rebelling against her. Ignoring the blood that was flowing freely from her leg.

They saw her when she got close. She was coming so quickly that they knew they would have to fight her if they were to get away from the battle. Seven-to-one, and Uthrn was already well wounded. Uthrn wouldn't be able to recall her battle against the seven, but another warrior described it, having seen it from a distance.

"Uthrn ran at them so quickly that she ran straight into one of them, knocking her down, then stabbing her with no wasted effort. Pulling her sword, she swung it fiercely, surprising two more and killing them. All within the snap of a twig. Facing the remaining four, she screamed like a huge injured animal, and as if she were a crazed woman, threw herself upon them. As they all went to the ground, she used the hilt of her sword, smashing in one's face, then raising it in a swing, connecting to another's leg, and stood yet again. She faced the two squarely, then screamed again as if a banshee, into the air. When the other two saw this mad crazy warrior, blood streaming down her leg, and blood now streaming down her face wounds, they ran into the forest. A most astonishing sight, as I have never prior seen any Mungardies run from battle."

Uthrn staggered back to the others, leading the horse that the Dungaran leader was tied upon. She limped in great searing pain, barely able to see out of her right eye. Her arm had a large gash upon it, and blood flowed down it quickly, dripping from her fingertips. Her face and neck were smeared with blood and mud. Her sword was also dripping with blood, and her feet sloshed in the blood now inside her boots. By the moment she arrived back to the others, she no longer remembered who or where she was. But when she saw The High Queen, she gave the reigns of the horse to another warrior, fell to her knees, bowed her head, then began to cry in body-wracking sobs.

The High Queen had a few gashes of her own, but none overly serious. With her expression displaying anger from the battle and all the mishaps, she stared at this most pitiful and sad of warriors. Her eyes remained fearsomely cold and detached, as if the warrior before her was the most loathsome one in all The Realm. She took out her sword and raised it. Sle'nel's eyes opened widely in disbelief, seeing that The High Queen was about to behead Uthrn. Ann'wn bowed her own head, thinking that she might be next.

The High Queen's Healer came up to her, “My Queen, don't do thi—"

The High Queen raised her hand to her healer, looking to her briefly, angered at the interruption, “This is not your affair, Healer. Remain well away from it."

She then looked back to Uthrn. For a moment, she closed her eyes. When she re-opened them, she gripped her sword with both hands. Resting it lightly upon Uthrn's head, she then touched it to each of Uthrn's shoulders, “Warrior Uthrn. Force Leader of Queen Erthrn and Rns'deln'. In the name of The Realm, and as High Queen, and in front of all these witnesses, I pronounce you as a Black Guard in full stead and with all due privileges of The High Queen's Black Guard. Vow your oath, Black Uthrn."

Uthrn was fully surprised but kissed her High Queen's boots, “As Black Uthrn, I vow my allegiance to only you, High Queen. My life is yours."

"Stand before your Queen, Black Uthrn. You are now a Black Guard of The High Queen of The Realm."

She moved back a step so as to allow Uthrn the room she needed to haul herself back into an upright position. Uthrn looked up at her Queen in total confusion, and mustering all the final energy and reserve she had, she stood, bowing her head to her Queen, tears streaming down her face.

"My Only Queen. I pledge you my undying allegiance."

"You have done as vowed, Black Uthrn.” The High Queen held out her sword to Uthrn, “The High Queen's battle sword is rightfully yours, Black Uthrn. You have well earned it."

With tears yet streaming down what could be seen of her bloodied and dirty face, Uthrn tried to speak, “My High Queen, I—"

In spite of knowing how gravely injured Uthrn was, The High Queen knew that she had to give Uthrn back her respect, “Black Uthrn. Take Me through the Dungaran villages that the Mungardies have destroyed."

The Healer, seeing that Uthrn needed to be tended to, began to approach her Queen, but The High Queen just shook her head, dismissing her. She looked to one of the guards, “Untie the leader of the Dungaras. Guard her well but bring her with us."

Defying her wounds, Uthrn led them through the burned-out and completely destroyed town. The voices of the dead rose in The High Queen's sensing as she walked through what remained of the village. Sle'nel’ walked beside her, as did the Dungaran leader. Everywhere they looked, remnants of prior lives were all that remained. Many Dungaras had been tortured, ripped apart by the Mungardies in payment for not following the Mungardies’ orders. All the Dungaran children were also dead; also tortured. The High Queen walked slowly through the village, looking upon the horrors of burned Dungaran remains, of violent deaths, and of terror upon their now silenced faces. The High Queen walked slowly, her heart aching for this senseless slaughter. She guessed that this was one of the villages that A'lon'lden had spoken of—a peaceful Dungaran village. One she had never thought possible in the Dungaras’ realm, but one that was now gone as a testament to the violence that ruled her realm. As she continued to walk through the village, she saw no sign of weapons, no sign of defense of any sort.

Her mind pleaded to itself,
Please tell Me that this is not one of the peaceful villages.

But she knew that it was.

Her heart cried out to the loss of these most special Dungaras.
These peaceful Dungaras that may have helped to change the course of The Realm. These that simply loved.
And her heart grew angrier once again. She well knew that The Realm fought against the Dungaras for untold cycles, but she also knew that these particular Dungaras were peaceful only, and without weapons. They were slaves within their own society, forced to give pleasure to the warrior Dungaras. And the only hope for peace.

She became enraged ever further at the Mungardies, as well as at the Dungaras warriors, for this massive and senseless destruction. While the Dungaras had taken many of The Realm's lives, this village had been a peaceful one, only. No matter what she thought of the Dungaras warriors, these in this village didn't deserve this death. The High Queen was in full internal rage against the Mungardies who had shown their evil strength against such innocent ones. To her, this went against every warrior vow in all The Realm. As she walked silently, slowly, her heart screamed in its rage at the Mungardies.

Burn it! Burn it all into your memory. This is why you are High Queen. This is why you must do what you do. Burn it well into your mind so that you become not soft.

The High Queen looked at the Dungaras Leader with anger, “Such could have been prevented, but you have been overly weak to stand against the ones you should have. We are all punished this turn for your weaknesses. Never should these peaceful Dungaras have died. You should be ashamed of what occurred here, as you surely caused this torment the moment you entered into agreement with the Mungardies. Your punishment is the death of all these lives. I am fully shamed for you."

At the end of the first village, The High Queen turned, taking a last look at the town.

Uthrn bowed her head, “Is it enough, my Queen?"

With burning rage, yet softly, she replied, “No. Show Me the others. I will burn this into My mind so that I might
never
forget what the Mungardies do this turn."

"My High Queen. It is the same. All the villages are the same as this."

"SHOW ME, so that we may never forget!"

They went to all the villages, one-by-one, witnessing the remains of the Mungardies heartlessness. All the villages were, as Uthrn had said, the same. Each one had been one of the Dungaras’ peaceful villages, except one. San'lr'in'thel'ineln's heart broke and the voices of the innocents and tortured rose greater into her mind. The voices surrounded her, crying to her of all the evils in the world. It was as if a great choir was in her head, singing to her all the mourning of hundreds of innocents.

After seeing the remaining villages, she raised her head to the sky, “By the Spirits, there was not one weapon amongst all these towns!"

She saw a child. A child who was barely old enough to walk. Burned and tortured. Its eyes ripped from its sockets. Taking hold of the child, she fell to her knees and cradled it closely to her. She looked upon it, stroking its cheek.