The Realm's Mystics [Mystic Women of The Realm Series Book 3] (76 page)

"They cover that route, as well."

Ann'wn's heart sank, “We are surrounded."

The High Queen thought to herself,
So it would seem. They have planned well
.

Uthrn heard the report, “How many, High Queen?"

"Many more than we just prior faced.” The High Queen began thinking to herself, “Yet, they come not to where we now stand. Why is this so? Why do they await our arrival rather than come to us, as they did just prior?” She turned around, looking at the scenery, “Where are we?"

Ann'wn felt useless, not knowing where they were, and unable to solve The High Queen's puzzle. The High Queen kept wondering, “Why do they not come to fight us, given their greater numbers? What land do we stand in that they might fear?"

She called the sorcerers, Sele', her Healer, Caitha, and Mil'der'in to her, “Think inside all your teachings and learnings. Where is it in The Realm that the evil sorcerers and Mystics cannot move upon?"

"The land of ‘dre'g'rans'?

The High Queen thought about it a moment, then, shaking her head, said, “No. That would halt them not from coming to us."

"The birthplace of the R'kin'dles?"

"No. That would just give them more power."

Sele’ looked up at The High Queen, “Is it not the site of the First Sorcerer?"

San'lr'in’ looked down at her, thinking, then smiling, “Of course. You must be correct, Young One. It must be the sacred site of the first sorcerer, where all sorcery is banned."

Ann'wn looked stunned, “You have no powers here, my Queen?"

"No, Ann'wn.
Sorcerers
have no power upon this land. It is why they remain away from us and await us at its borders.” She tried a small power, and found it not available to her, “My sorcerer powers are not with Me, but My mystic powers are yet available to us."

"But what good is this, my Queen?” Uthrn was skeptical that any advantage was to be had from this knowledge.

San'lr'in’ was quickly thinking through all the possibilities that remained open to them, “That depends on how strong My powers are and how far I can send them. We must now use what we have.” She turned to the others, searching for her Elf, “Where is Sle'nel'?"

Ann'wn pointed, “She is listening for them with her Elfin ears."

"Good.” She went to her, “Tell Me what you hear."

Sle'nel’ listened for a moment longer, then looked at her Queen, “I think the closest to us are directly west of here, just at a forest's edge."

Sam was amazed, “How do you know they are at a forest's edge?"

"I heard one of the eve birds that live only in the forests. There is a fire. I cannot see the fire, but I can hear it."

San'lr'in’ nodded, pleased at the report, “Good. Can you hear where the next closest group to them might be waiting?"

Sle'nel’ nodded, “I think so, but am uncertain. I heard a group far north of them. It would take them many long moments at great horse speed to reach them. The group south of them is not as far away, but yet not within a moment's reach."

"How large do you estimate those groups to be?"

"I know not, as I cannot hear them well, but the same amount. Most of these groups seem to be mostly sorcerers."

The High Queen nodded, “Of course. They must be. If they were Mystics, they would have attacked us already. So the Mystics are not their main numbers. This is a good thing to know. Come. We move forward until the Elf can see them."

They mounted, and then slowly moved toward the closest group of enemies, The High Queen planning her attack as they went. Sle'nel’ searched carefully for them, taking many moments before she finally saw their campfires.

Uthrn remained uncertain, “Why would they build fires, my Queen? Would this not be a trick? In truth, they must be smarter than this. Any warrior knows not to build a fire when waiting for an enemy. It will lead their enemy directly to them."

"A sorcerer's trick, you think? And they cast their voices so as to fool us?"

"I know not, my Queen, but it is not usual to build fires unless they are used as a trap."

The High Queen nodded, “We will know in a few moments, and they yet cannot know that we approach. Without being able to use their sorcerer powers within the land we now stand upon, the Mystics will not be able to sense us this far away. The Elf has the greatest sense of this amongst all of us, in this regard."

Ann'wn nodded, seeing the logic in it, but gladdened that they would be mindful of any sorcerer tricks.

Meera added, “And since they are not warriors, perhaps they know not the tricks of warriors."

Uthrn seemed surprised, “But this one trick surely everyone must know."

Ann'wn thought the same, “But we should assume not they do or no. We must be able to win this battle."

As Sle'nel’ saw the campfires, they moved forward just a bit more, then finally halted, dismounting. Sele’ toddled up to her High Queen, “Highness. I have a few powers that were born with me that are now quite strong. I can throw a sound at them, from the rear of their camp, and then Birth-Mother would be able to know if their sounds are true, or sorcery."

"You were born with this power?"

Sele’ nodded, “I was told that it is not a useful power.” Sele’ looked over to the sorcerers, who now looked somewhat embarrassed. The High Queen laughed lightly, but said nothing. She was amused that the Young One thought of her teachers as she had done of her own, so many cycles prior.

"Are you able to do this without capturing their attention at the unusualness of it? You would need to make it sound natural."

Sele’ looked disgusted, “Of course, Highness. I said that I wa—"

Sle'nel’ looked down at her, narrowing her eyes, not liking that she took such a tone with The High Queen. Sele’ saw her Birth-Mother's look, then broke off from the remainder of her statement, thinking better of it.

San'lr'in’ thought about it for a moment. She looked at Sle'nel', “Would this be useful to you?"

"Is it not worth the attempt?"

The High Queen looked down at Sele', then nodded.

Sele’ focused her power of sound, sending a sound that appeared as if it were behind the encampment. If the sorcerers were indeed in the camp, Sle'nel’ would be able to hear their surprise at the sound.

Sele’ sent the sound while Sle'nel’ listened for any startled sounds from the sorcerers and Mystics. None occurred.

Sle'nel’ shook her head, “It is as Uthrn warns. They are not there."

The High Queen looked at Sle'nel', then Sele', “Continue this pattern, moving slightly north, then south, until they are found. It should take not long. If they lay such a trap, then they must be close by, prepared to surprise us."

She turned to the others, “Prepare your bow and arrows, only. We will combine them with My powers and give them a surprise attack from the sky.” She turned to Ann'wn, “Whether they can use them or not, give out whatever bow and arrows we have. My powers will direct the arrows, and will join in with the arrows you send. We will supply our enemies with a trick of our own."

Within a few moments, Sle'nel’ reported back, “We have found them, but they are combined with yet another group. We guess that there may be three-hundred or more. We also found the next nearest groups, and they are overly far away to be concerned over. They would need to race for a good portion of the eve to arrive at the moment for assistance."

The High Queen turned to Ann'wn, “Force Leader, while battles are your domain, I must take this one over, as it must be controlled through My powers."

Ann'wn bowed her head, “I understand, my Queen."

The High Queen placed a hand on Sle'nel's head, “Show Me how far, in your mind, they are from us."

Sle'nel’ looked in the direction of their enemies, knowing where they were by their last startled sounds.

The High Queen smiled slightly, “Now, we surprise them. Elf, release your arrow when you see the light I now send over them. The remainder of you, release your arrows immediately after our Elf, in the same direction. Worry not over your aim or strength. Then prepare instantly and follow the same pattern three more moments. When your fourth arrow is finally released, mount your horses and be prepared to ride at My command."

She looked back down at Sele', “Have you learned to command any of the weapons’ powers?"

She shook her head, “They tell me that I am yet overly young to play with weapons."

"Pity.” She thought for a moment, “Wind?"

Sele’ nodded, “Wind I can do. How much would you like?"

"As much as you can give, immediately after the arrows. A windstorm?"

"I can do as such, Highness."

"With dirt and dust in it?"

Sele’ looked up at her, “Really? You will let me do this?"

The High Queen nodded, “Lots of dirt and dust. But hurt not the forest trees, if possible."

The High Queen looked around, checking their preparation, “Once begun, the attack will be quick, and then we travel even more quickly. Be well prepared."

The High Queen closed her eyes for a moment, gathering all her powers to her. When she was ready, she began preparing her first power, creating a small ball of light. From the direction she had learned from Sle'nel', she sent the light floating into the air toward their enemies. As if having a mind of its own, it grew larger and larger as it neared the enemies, lighting the sky over their hiding place. Suddenly, Sle'nel’ could see them well, as could Sam and a few of the others. And the light now blinded their enemies, as The High Queen had planned. She nodded to Sle'nel', and suddenly the arrow attack began. As their first round of arrows was released, The High Queen added her own powers of weaponry, guiding all the arrows and making a thousand-fold more arrows travel with their own, as if they had a force of thousands. Upon four moments, the thousands of arrows pierced into the enemy sorcerers and Mystics. Sele’ counted the four arrow attacks carefully, then began and sent her windstorm.

As Sele’ provided her windstorm, The High Queen prepared her next power, chanting over a small stone she had picked up earlier. She finished drawing the power to her, then as quickly as she could, she released it by opening the palm of her hand, allowing the small stone to throw itself into the windstorm. The moment the small stone was released, many other stones, all larger, also threw themselves into the windstorm, becoming forceful weapons against their enemies.

As she released her power, she turned quickly to her horse, picked up Sele', and mounted, “Ride. Quickly. Prepare your weapons. Remain directly behind the wind, Force Leader."

They rode as if part of little Sele's windstorm, remaining directly behind it. As they neared their enemies, they saw that what remained of their enemies ran around in confusion. The High Queen's guards fought those near them, as The High Queen remained vigilant against any Mystical attack or sorcery.

Without realizing it, she held Sele’ tightly to her, “Aunt High Queen, you are crushing me."

Ann'wn rode up to her, replacing her sword, “We can find no more alive, Highness. Should we ride on?"

"Have Sle'nel’ listen with her Elfin ears once again. Then we continue."

She whistled softly once more for her raptor. After several moments, she held out her arm, sensing it coming to her. It landed quietly upon her arm as Sele’ looked on in amazement, wishing she could pet the great bird. The High Queen petted and scratched the back of its head as it gave its report to her. She lifted her arm lightly, and the great bird flew off once more.

Ann'wn and Sle'nel’ had returned, “I only hear the noises from the others, overly far off. They begin to come, though."

The High Queen nodded, “Then we leave."

They rode as quickly as they could through the forest, The High Queen knowing that they had evaded the remainder of their enemies. To them, she thought,
We will meet again upon another turn.

It was now well late after late-eve, having spent the remainder of the late-eve in battle. They rode on, tired, but no longer as concerned, knowing that they were now close. Mor'inl’ had to lead the way, as even The High Queen no longer knew the direction to the Skr'kinges. The closer they got to the Skr'kinges, the slower they had to travel, the forest becoming denser upon every moment.

As they first began to ride after their battle, The High Queen asked Sele', “Grumpy? You think Me as grumpy?"

Sele’ giggled softly, “Not as grumpy as my teachers, though."

San'lr'in’ laughed to herself, silently, “You did well with the windstorm. Tell your teachers that I wish you now to learn your powers of weaponry, and quickly so."

Sele’ looked up and back at her, “Really, Great High Queen? Thank you. I can now play with the powers of weaponry. Personally, Great High Queen, I think they are afraid that I will turn these weapons against them."

The High Queen laughed softly, “If I were them, I would fear as much Myself. You are quick with your opinions."

Sele’ had fallen asleep in her High Queen's arms by the moment they arrived to the Skr'kinges. As they arrived, all saw that many of the Skr'kinges guards were waiting for them.

One came up to The High Queen,
Welcome. We feared our enemies caught you. We are glad to see that you are arrived, and safe. We have your rooms prepared for you.

With little fanfare or introduction, given the lateness of their arrival, all were quickly escorted to their individual rooms. The High Queen handed the sleeping Sele’ to the sorcerers, then went to meet with Queen Lrn'drn', the Queen of the Skr'kinges.

Queen Lrn'drn'. Thank you for meeting us upon our late arrival. We had a little difficulty in our journey, or would have arrived much sooner.

We heard of your battles, and are glad to see you safe, my Queen. As well as your Elf. Have you suffered any injuries?

No. We are all safe and well.

Then let us save our merriment until the late morn so that you may rest. Come. I will show you to your rooms. You will be safe here and well guarded, so you need have no worries over this.

Throughout the eve, Sle'nel’ held her lover close to her, hearing her Queen's deep moans of great pain yet left from the installation of the great powers.