The Realm's Mystics [Mystic Women of The Realm Series Book 3] (57 page)

An'ther'on removed one of her knives to prove her point.

The High Queen continued, “Deliver this package to your leader. If you do this not, she will be lacking the information she seeks. Tell her that The High Queen of The Realm delivers her lover back to her. Kill no more Dungaras, or on the next moment, this will be her heart."

The Mungardies warrior took the bundle, opening it slightly with her fingers of her one remaining hand. She gasped as she saw the heart. In disbelief, she asked, “You killed our leader's lover? You killed the Master? And you are High Queen of The Realm?"

The High Queen ignored the questions. Turning to An'ther'on, she said, “Prepare a sling for her so that she can carry it safely."

The Mungardies warrior now knew who she spoke to. She knelt, “High Queen of The Realm. Please allow me to take our children with me."

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ turned back to her, having no single thought of softening toward this one, “Ah, yes. I forget part of the message. Tell your leader that we have taken five Mungardies children. We will have them raised by ... well, an unusual partnership, and one that she knows of. Tell her that these five Mungardies will be raised by a Dungaras and Mystic pairing, along with their own child."

The Mungardies warrior looked at her in surprise, seeing that pleading was worthless, “You lie. No Dungaras can mate with a Mystic."

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ raised an eyebrow, “Think what you wish. But I would warn you not to withhold information from your leader, as she knows well of this union. None of us thought prior that such a union could occur, but I have seen the child and know it to be truth."

"You would have the likes of a Dungaras raise five Mungardies children? That is worse than death."

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ drew her sword, “Hold out her other arm."

The warrior became frightened, “NO! Please, High Queen. NO! I will deliver the message, as you say."

"And tell your leader that I vow for every innocent the Mungardies slaughter, The Realm will now take five Mungardies innocents in return."

The High Queen's Private Guard was the first to return to the camp, bringing the five Mungardies children with them. San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ had five of her Private Guard take the children to where they would now be raised, knowing they would get them there safely.

Although their mission was successful, none of them enjoyed the massacre, having done it only to halt more of the same by the Mungardies. The High Queen didn't think the Mungardies would halt their fighting, but hoped that they wouldn't fight against the Dungaras any further. She had called forth her most violent of responses, yet feared it wouldn't suffice.

When they returned to camp, San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ changed back into her other garments, relieved to be rid of this most appalling of warrior duties. She hadn't wanted to kill innocents, but did so to make a point, hoping that the leader of the Mungardies would now refrain from doing so further.

Throughout the remainder of the turn, Sle'nel’ watched for the others to return, as The High Queen stood meditating and reflecting on her decisions. Her arms were slightly out from her side as she stood facing a large mountain. She remained motionless, trying to distance from the voices in her head, from the sounds of death and dying, from the horrors of war, from the sounds of innocents being murdered.

Long prior, when one of her teachers had died in battle, a mournful requiem had been sung for her. It was a haunting melody sung by the most crystal of voices, sung in the Elfin tongue. Since then, whenever San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ was haunted by the voices of death, of torture, of war, she would hear the song come to her, offering its peace. She could now hear the song as if the singer stood next to her, comforting her in the loneliness of being High Queen. And whenever she heard the song, it allowed her the moment to breathe, and to cry silently to herself.

Watching as her lover silently cried inside her meditations, Sle'nel’ wondered if her staff had any spell of relief from such a desperation. She searched through it, asking it if there were a spell to relieve her Queen's suffering. She saw words appear. She read them, seeing that they were written in Elfin, but not in a dialect she knew. Knowing how to say the words, but not knowing their meaning, she decided to trust her Mother's staff. She read them aloud.

As Sle'nel’ spoke the words, the staff sang the song. Softly, the voice sang with haunting crystal-like beauty. Gently, the song sung by the staff replaced the song in San'lr'in'thel'ineln's mind. She opened her eyes, realizing her song was there in the camp, with her. She turned, seeing her Elf reading the spell, but hearing the staff sing the song. She stood motionless, listening, comforted by it. She closed her eyes, allowing the song to remove her from the cares of the living, allowing it to take her into the hands of eternal peace, far away from The Realm. While San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ couldn't understand the words of the song, she knew the message, and she breathed in the peace of eternity.

Of the others left to return, the Black Guard returned first with their captured leaders, a Mungardies High Counselor and the leader of a town.

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ looked upon the captured women, speaking only to the leader of her Black Guard, “Tie them to stakes."

After the Black Guard returned, San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ said to the leader of the Black Guards, “I have another task for you.” She motioned to the Mungardies’ High Counselor. “Remove this captive's tongue and whichever hand she holds a sword with. Then let her go. She can walk. Give her no horse. When you are done with that, take the other,” she motioned to the Mungardies’ town leader, “and do the same."

"Yes, my Queen."

When it was done, San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ spoke to the Mungardies’ leaders, “Take a message to your leader. All this damage to you and your towns has been done this turn in revenge for your killing of the Dungaras’ innocents. Tell your leader that every innocent you kill from this moment on, we take five of yours. And tell your leader that we have taken five of your children to be raised by the Dungaras."

They were released, well-bloodied and quite disabled, but San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ thought that they would return to their Mungardies leader without further incident.

After their return to the camp, and as the sun began its descent in the sky, San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ returned to the site of D'klr'dil's cavernous hole. She raised her arms, chanting her spell, returning D'klr'dil to her. After many moments of waiting, she finally heard D'klr'dil's roar of return. Using more chants, she guided D'klr'dil back into her cavern, praising her for her obedience. When she could see no more of her, she chanted her last spell, closing the great rift, locking the hideous monster back into her underground dwelling. She could only guess as to the damage and terror D'klr'dil had inflicted on the Mungardies, but from the blood upon her mouth and front feet, she guessed it had been considerable.

She had her Private Guard and Black Guard units wait for Ann'wn's return so that they could all listen to the events of the turn. Until then, the success of the campaign was mostly unknown. The Black Guard had sustained only one injury, and her Private Guard had lost one of their own to the battle.

Ann'wn, Erthrn, and their units returned after sun's set. They had lost a few to the battle, but not as many as expected. A great fire was built, and all sat around it. San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ listened as each leader told the story of their campaign. All had been successful, and much chaos and grief were given to the Mungardies for their acts against the Dungaras innocents. The High Queen could tell that it would take the Mungardies many moons to regroup, as she had hoped. All the warriors celebrated this eve, as The High Queen allowed and gave her leave for, but she stood on the sidelines, listening to their merriment, unsatisfied.

They are halted, but only for a short moment. There must be a way toward peace. There must be!

She heard the discordant voices once again in her head. The tortured sounds of life unresolved, leaving The Realm shrouded in dissonance.

After the celebration, the warriors went to their rest while San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ remained sitting near the fire, watching as it burned. She was exhausted but needed the quiet moment to think over the past few turns and her decisions, as well as think on what now faced The Realm. She had learned long prior that while her Counselors were well committed to The Realm, they were not farsighted or imaginative enough in their thinking to rely on overly.

"May I sit with you, Highness?"

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ looked to the voice, surprised, nodding, “Of course, Sister."

Sam sat, also watching the fire. After a few moments, she said, “You walk a lonely path.” She picked up a stick and started to draw designs in the dirt near her feet, “You keep yourself well separated from your warriors and your Realm."

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ looked at her, not knowing how to respond. She thought about the statement for a moment, “Is this an observation, or do you have an objection to how I interpret My position?"

Sam saw that she her statement had aggravated her sister, “I but admire your strength. Only this. To walk so singularly as you requires much strength. I have examined myself as Highest of Woden and compared it to you and your reign. I but need and seek more advice, while you stand alone, well knowing what to do and how to accomplish it."

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ stared back into the fire, thinking Sam tedious, their conversations forced. She sighed, knowing she lacked the patience she should have with her, “I have ruled far longer than you. Experience is a quick and harsh teacher."

"Will the Mungardies return the revenge?"

"Perhaps. But not for a few moons. Our response to their attack on the Dungaras was a complex one, instilling fear, disease, death, annihilation, and seizure. We caused much damage. But mostly, we surprised them with our strength and abilities. It is this they will have to think on."

There was silence between them for a few moments, then Sam asked, “When you made Uthrn a member of your Black Guard, all in camp but thought you were going to behead her."

This surprised San'lr'in'thel'ineln'. She looked at her sister, laughing lightly, “In truth?"

Sam nodded, not looking at her, “This be truth. Why did you make her a member of your Black Guard?"

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ shrugged lightly, “She earned it. She placed The Realm first over her fears. It is not easy for a warrior such as Uthrn or Ann'wn to face the wrath of their queen. I have seen warriors drop their swords in battle, dying there rather than face the punishment of their queen. To earn The High Queen's displeasure is to be humiliated in front of all the forces. Warriors are women of action and know not how to handle such emotional shame as this. Uthrn overcame her humiliation and shame. It is the most difficult moment of a warrior's life. Her loyalty and dedication to her Queen and The Realm are now without question."

"All think that you are now going to punish Ann'wn."

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ chose not to respond openly to her statement, “You are a Highest. A leader of many women. What would you have Me do?"

"She made an error of judgment only. She wasn't disloyal, nor was she disobedient."

Sle'nel’ was standing in the forest, hidden in the darkness of its cover. She had been going to her queen, but saw Sam do as well. She listened, not wishing to interfere in their conversation. When Sam asked the question about Ann'wn's possible punishment, Sle'nel’ also wondered as to her Queen's response, knowing that the same question had taken wings, carrying itself by the winds into each warrior's mind. All the warriors sought her favor, but in its opposite, all the warriors well feared her disfavor. And all assumed that Ann'wn was now in her disfavor.

"You believe that that no great disservice was given, then?"

"Could we have known that they would have attacked as many villages as this? Even if Ann'wn had prepared her forces for such an attack, no defense could have included this many villages. We might have saved one or two, but I believe not that anyone could have predicted which villages, or how many. Not even you. And while several Dungaras’ villages were but destroyed, they were your enemies. That, and you have won much over the Mungardies this turn."

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ sensed Sam's anger, “Do you assume I am to punish her, Highest? You sound most angry with Me, and yet I have given no voice to the issue."

"I am slightly angry, Highness, and I beg your patience with this, but Ann'wn will not come to her own defense. I have asked her to speak with you, but she says she will not, and to leave the issue as it stands."

"She cannot speak to Me of this. It is not allowed."

Sam objected, “She but serves you well."

"Yes. I am aware that she gives great effort.” She remained silent for a moment, then answered, “You think Me overly hard, My Sister, but I am High Queen of The Realm. I cannot afford the cost of errors. It is My duty and My vow. Many serve Me with all their effort, but effort is different than realization. We must succeed, or The Realm loses. I serve more than a village, Sam'r'in'thel'ineln'. I serve the entire Realm. I have not the eras and resources necessary to favor effort over accomplishments."

"So, you will punish her."

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ laughed softly, “You try to force My answer. And you overly assume, My Sister.” She laughed softly again, “What rules Woden, Sam'r'in'thel'ineln', your heart or your knowledge of Woden's needs? For a warrior, your heart is gentle. I hadn't sensed this in you. A most admirable trait, though. Something I lack, I think, gentleness. Woden's women are most lucky to have you as their Highest. A gentle leader is a rarity."

"You mock me."

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ shook her head, wearied from the forced conversation, “No. I envy you this trait. Gentleness. It simply means you wouldn't punish Ann'wn, while I might. While I have been called a strong queen, I think I have never been called a gentle queen.” She stared at the fire for a moment, then looked over to Sam, “And please recall that it was you who began this conversation. If you like not its direction, you have only yourself to blame."