The Realm's Mystics [Mystic Women of The Realm Series Book 3] (70 page)

"In truth? Such as this? Tell me, Ann'wn. Is this what you desire, as well?"

Ann'wn blushed once again, “I think not, Highness."

"Is there another, Ann'wn?"

"There has been for many, many moons, but is not so for the other, so it is of little use. In the meanwhile, I will entertain the High Counselor. She will tire of me soon enough, I think."

The High Queen thought Ann'wn correct in her assessment of Mil'der'in, “Go, Force Leader, and enjoy your eve. My new Warrior Woman of The High Queen will serve and protect Me well this eve."

Ann'wn bowed her head, “Thank you, my Queen."

As Ann'wn left, San'lr'in’ leaned back into her the corner of her chair, stretching out her long legs. She, Sle'nel', Caitha and Meera all ate and drank, hungry from their long turn.

"Caitha, My Storyteller. Tell Me a story of The Realm."

The dancing music in the background set the tale for Caitha, as she selected a tale in which she thought The High Queen might be interested, and one she thought The High Queen needed to know.

"Once, long, long prior were Mystics whose powers were far beyond the Mystics of the present era. They lived in a realm of all Mystics; a realm of much peace and beauty. But as in all things, nothing can remain in peace forever. As the eons passed, the Mystics grew wise, but weak in their powers, as the powers were seldom needed or used. This satisfied all the Mystics, except one. This one Mystic was different in mind and thought than all the rest. She was unsatisfied that their powers were diminishing, and tried to warn them against their loss. Refusing to listen to her worries, she instead asked and demanded for the powers through her cycles."

San'lr'in’ enjoyed Caitha's storytelling, so was captured into listening to the changing tones of her voice. But she was well tired from the transfer of powers, and began to drift away from the turn. Sle'nel’ saw that San'lr'in’ had closed her eyes, then watched as her Queen's breathing took on a more even and calm pattern.

"Hold, Caitha. I think she has fallen asleep."

The High Queen opened her eyes slightly, “No. I remain awake, My Elf. Caitha, please continue. I have not heard this tale. And please forgive My rudeness."

She sat up a bit so as to prevent herself from falling asleep, then nodded to Caitha.

"She was called by Bres'nin'diln', and after many cycles, her name invoked fear in all those who heard it. She grew strong in her powers but always demanded more, yet trying to save the powers from eternal loss. In truth, she became the most powerful of all the Mystics who had ever-prior lived, able to transport herself halfway across The Realm in mere moments, and able to make herself invisible for many turns. But to gain a power, she paid for it by exchanging her beauty for the power, being one of the most beautiful of all the Mystics. As her strength grew, the less beautiful she became, until finally she began to grow ugly and far removed from her once noted beauty."

Being interested in the story, The High Queen fought to remain awake, “I know this name. Go on, Caitha. You have captured my attention. Who was this Bres'nin'diln'?"

"In truth, my Queen, you know her well. But I will continue. Even as she grew ugly and deformed, she demanded and received more powers, giving up more of her physical traits for each new power gained. Slowly, she began to look other than a Mystic. Her fingers had turned into great claws, and her once beautiful golden hair was now only a dark hide across her entire body. Yet she demanded more powers, trying to recapture all of them for The Realm. And as her strength grew, so did her size, until she became a hideously deformed and overly large creature, now walking on all fours.

"After many, many cycles of constant decay, she could barely use her powers, as her mind and hands could no longer recall or command the powers easily. In her desperation to keep the powers fully protected into one location, she thought long and hard on what to do, knowing she could no longer trust even herself in the knowing of them. She thought....

...and thought...

...and thought.

Since she had taken most of the powers of The Realm, there was no one left to help her in this consideration. And, in truth, her ugliness was so hideous that no one would dare look at her."

The High Queen smiled, “I can now guess who this is, but is this in truth the legend?"

Caitha bowed her head slightly, “Yes, M'Love. Many storytellers all tell the same tale."

San'lr'in’ nodded, “Interesting. Please continue."

"After many long cycles of desperation and of worrying her mind into a crazed state, she finally determined to place all her great powers into one place. Into something that she could keep near her for the long eons she would now live, as when she had gained the powers, she had also gained an eternity of life cycles. After many more cycles, and after much loss of ability for good thought, she finally came upon the idea to place what was now remaining of her powers into a strong piece of wood that could be easily carried about."

Sle'nel’ gasped, “The staff."

Caitha smiled, but continued, “It took her many cycles to place her powers into this piece of wood, but no longer knew that her great powers had long prior diminished, much like the other Mystics’ had long prior, for lack of use. When she was finally done with transferring her powers to the piece of wood, she looked upon it, pleased with her work. But she had neglected to protect herself, forgetting about all the meanness she had bestowed upon all the other Mystics, and of all the powers she had in truth, stolen from them. And she was now so hideous and ugly that no one in all The Realm wanted her living among them. So all the great Mystics banded together, and using what few powers they had remaining to them, placed them all into one Mystic, giving this one leader the power to banish Bres'nin'diln’ forever from the known realm.

"They decided that they were not able to kill her, as that was not a fitting or just punishment, as she had killed none of them. So, they decided to banish her to the UnderRealm forever, to live with herself in her decayed and hideous self. Since Bres'nin'diln’ was no longer a fitting name for her—"

Sle'nel’ translated the name, “Strong one of the Ages."

Caitha nodded, “—they renamed her."

San'lr'in’ smiled again, “D'klr'dil. Beast of the UnderRealm."

Caitha smiled, “Yes. Both of you are correct ... they renamed her and banished her forever to the UnderRealm, only to be called back to The Realm under a great power. But the Mystics had not seen her staff, so the staff went with her to the UnderRealm. Useless to D'klr'dil except for comfort, the staff became unused for many, many long eons until the Elves came into The Realm. D'klr'dil could feel that their powers of love and battle were strong, and desired to meet with the Elves. Trapped forever in the UnderRealm, she sent her thoughts to them, cycle by cycle, but the Elves knew not of her and could understand not the messages.

"Finally, after even many more long cycles, one Elf bonded with a strong Mystic, and in this union produced a half-Elf/half-Mystic child who could hear D'klr'dil. She spoke to her for many cycles, giving D'klr'dil the long sought-after companionship she had missed. In truth, D'klr'dil came to love this half-Elf/half-Mystic and would have given anything to be able to be near her; to see her."

"As with all children, the half-Elf/half-Mystic grew. She became a woman of great stature and importance in The Realm, but even in this, she never forgot her loyal friend, D'klr'dil, who had through the long cycles always sent her thoughts of love and stories of The Realm from long prior. After one lonely moment in her life, the half-Elf/half-Mystic went to the Great Plains and called for her friend, ‘D'klr'dil. Come to me. We must meet. I need my friend.’ For eons, D'klr'dil had longed for just this moment, but was now afraid. She became paralyzed in her fear. But the half-Elf/half-Mystic needed her friend, so helped her by opening the ground for her, allowing her easy access back into The Realm. And slowly, great paw by great paw, D'klr'dil came out into The Realm for the first moment in an eternity of eons."

San'lr'in’ shook her head, “I never knew of this. How truly sad."

"D'klr'dil knew well how hideous, decayed and smelly she was, so was well afraid that the only friend she had ever known through her entire life would become afraid and leave her. But the half-Elf/half-Mystic had sensed long prior this fear in her friend and stood firm, smiling at her as D'klr'dil breathed her first fresh air in eons. As D'klr'dil stood rigidly still, fearing her friend would run from her, the half-Elf/half-Mystic did just the opposite. She went up to her and touched her upon her great paw. D'klr'dil had never known such kindness, and was grateful for the touch.

"Every moon, the half-Elf/half-Mystic would come to the Great Plains and call D'klr'dil, always bringing something for her, and telling her of The Realm. But The Realm grew in its harshness, and within a few cycles, D'klr'dil could see that her friend grew weary of fighting against The Realm's troubles. Even though D'klr'dil had long prior grown weak in her thinking, she could sense that her friend was a great leader, but also a great leader in need of the long-prior, and now-gone powers that she had collected for The Realm. Moon after moon, no matter the heaviness wearing upon her heart, D'klr'dil's friend came and spoke with her, until finally on one moon, her friend came, but with such a heavy heart that she could not find the strength to speak of The Realm. It took D'klr'dil many moments to determine what to do, but did so, holding out her staff of powers to her friend. The half-Elf/half-Mystic took it, holding it, examining it.

'D'klr'dil, my friend. I know from the legends what this must be. But I cannot accept this from you. It will cause you to diminish your mind greatly, and become only a large and violent beast. Nothing in The Realm is worthy of this. The sacrifice is overly much. I cannot allow you to do this.'

"They spoke of this for many moons, with D'klr'dil always offering the staff out to her, and with the half-Elf/half-Mystic always declining it. And moon after moon, D'klr'dil saw the weight of The Realm grow heavier and heavier upon her friend. ‘You must take this staff from me, my Friend, or you will die. I would rather you live for a while longer, and for me to diminish into a mere beast than for me to witness your weariness consume you, and for The Realm to lose its fight. Please take my staff, or never again return to me.'

"So D'klr'dil stood on all four of her great paws, and held the staff out to her friend with firm resolve. The half-Elf/half-Mystic was crying, knowing that she would either lose her friend, or The Realm. ‘This is not fair. You are the only friend I have ever known. And now I either lose you, or I lose The Realm.’ D'klr'dil was saddened to see her friend cry, so said, ‘If you lose The Realm, you will lose me anyway, as you will most likely die. So, either way, we are lost to each other. Take it, my Friend. Allow me one true act of kindness in my most miserable of life. It will be a blessing for my mind to finally be removed from this body.’ With her heart wrenching from her, D'klr'dil's friend knew the statement to be of truth. She held out her hand to the staff, and slowly took it from D'klr'dil. ‘Thank you, my dear friend. You have saved The Realm in this act. I will not allow The Realm to forget your great deed. Whenever we look upon you for the eons to come, I will make certain that this great act of sacrifice is recalled. Goodbye, my Friend. I love you well.'

"With that, D'klr'dil returned to the UnderRealm, and the half-Elf/half-Mystic returned to her reign as High Queen, bringing back the powers of the sorcerers, which was enough at that moment to bring The Realm back into an age of peace. For the remainder of the High Queen's life, she returned to the Great Plains, moon after moon, bringing food for D'klr'dil and calling her to her. But sadly, D'klr'dil never again showed any sign of recognition, having turned finally and fully into a beast."

San'lr'in’ nodded slowly, saddened by the story, “The first High Queen. A sad story, Caitha, but one I am most grateful for, in the hearing of it. Thank you for your bravery in telling this to Me. I should have been told this long prior."

Caitha nodded, “Perhaps you will look differently upon D'klr'dil now."

San'lr'in’ nodded again, “It is strange though, as she allows only a High Queen to call her to The Realm. I wonder if she really recalls not...” She allowed the remainder of her thought to remain unspoken, thinking on all the instances she had called D'klr'dil to her.

"Either that was the saddest story of all moments, or you are the best storyteller in all The Realm, Caitha.” Sle'nel’ had been both fascinated and deeply saddened in the story, recognizing the greatness of Caitha's artistry. “We should have more recognized your ability in Woden."

San'lr'in’ rose, smiling at Caitha, “I sensed this greatness in her upon our first meeting. She is a master storyteller.” She went to Caitha and hugged her, “Thank you, My Storyteller. I am well pleased that I can say that you are now The High Queen's Storyteller."

Caitha blushed, “Thank you, M'Love. It is nice to be appreciated. But know that many storytellers know of this story, but have always been fearful to tell it to you."

"They would have not told it so greatly as you, and this is why they have longed fear to tell me of it. While the stories are interesting, their telling of them leaves much to be desired. Perhaps you can give them some helpful pointers. From this moment on, Caitha, you will be known as the official storyteller to The High Queen."

Caitha bowed her head, “I am honored, High Queen."

"Perhaps while she yet remains with us, you would be good enough to teach My Sister more of The Realm's past through your stories. She has much to learn."

Caitha nodded, “I will consider it as my duty, M'Love."

San'lr'in’ looked at both Meera and Caitha, “Go and enjoy the celebration. There are enough guards about this eve."

San'lr'in’ turned to Sle'nel', “We are finally alone, once—” Just as she was speaking, many Shrd'ilker'ins young ones came running out from a door, headed directly to Sle'nel', squealing in their excitement, “Elf! Elf! Here we are, Elf!"