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

Sam looked upon Jandra, smiling sweetly, “I have to admit, Jandra. When I make a mistake, I but make a big one."

Jandra smiled, graciously, “Never mind, Sam. From what we learned this midturn, it wasn't meant to be."

"But I will always miss you.” She looked to her sister, “May I take her from you for one dance only, my sister?"

The High Queen nodded, “But the final word is from her."

Sam looked to Jandra, raising only an eyebrow. Jandra nodded, and they went to the dance floor arm on arm, as Sam had seen Jandra do with The High Queen.

Jandra spoke to Sam softly, “I thought you didn't like to dance, Highest."

"How could I not with such as you? You are the most beautiful in the entire Realm. Woden cries at its loss."

"I am nothing special to Woden, Sam, and this is truth. In many ways, I am glad that I was raised to be as any other."

They danced, Sam taking the lead but taking care not to step on Jandra's feet, “Are you happy with her?"

"I have never known such peace as this."

"Do you suppose it has something to do with you being of the Elfin Fairies?"

"You sister has said as much also, just prior."

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ watched with interest while her sister and Jandra danced as if they were long lost lovers. She could see the tenderness in Jandra's eyes, and Sam's ever smiling eyes twinkling back at Jandra. She thought them a beautiful couple, saddened by the idea somehow. But she could also sense that they were coming to terms between themselves. The High Queen knew she could slip easily into jealousy, but also felt she could well trust Jandra. The Elfin Faeries never lied to another, and never betrayed. She now knew why Jandra had taken Sam's betrayal so harshly.

Sam and Jandra quit speaking, dancing only to the music, looking upon each other. By the end of the dance, Sam's eyes, while yet hinting of her smiling face, shone of tears within them. She bowed deeply to Jandra at the close of the dance. Rising, she said, “You were correct, Jandra. Do you but remember? You told me that our paths would cross throughout the remainder of our cycles."

Jandra placed her hand upon Sam's cheek, “Become who you were meant to be, Highest. I would have only stood in your way."

Sam kissed Jandra lightly upon her cheek and walked her back to San'lr'in'thel'ineln', offering her arm to Jandra, “Thank you for preparing Woden for the loss of you. They have forgiven me, but only because of you. You are most gracious."

"It would seem the fates have pushed us into our roles, regardless of our happiness in Woden. Thank you for the dance, Sam."

Sam took Jandra's hand and brought it to her mouth. She gave Jandra's hand the sweetest and gentlest of kisses, “Remain safe and well, Jandra."

She gave Jandra's hand to San'lr'in'thel'ineln', “Take good care of her, my sister."

Just as San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ was going to say something in return, a figure appeared in a cloud in the middle of the dance floor. San'lr'in'thel'ineln', yet holding Jandra's hand, held it tighter now, turning her head to the cloud. She softly said to both Sam and Jandra, “It would appear she arrives."

The High Queen raised her eyebrow, waiting. As the smoke disappeared, Sume'n'tinel'ti'non appeared before them. She looked around the room, pleased to see she had frightened and surprised all those in attendance. She walked around, examining the room, tasting the food, touching those she thought seductively interesting until she finally arrived closer to San'lr'in'thel'ineln', Jandra and Sam. Ann'wn looked to her guards, seeing them prepared. The High Wizard Sorcerer came close by, but hid herself within the crowd.

"Are you not going to introduce me to your little gathering, Sister?"

The word ‘sister’ rolled off her tongue with sheer disgust and hate. San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ found her sister's tone as expected—grating, irritating, and demanding. She raised her hand toward Sume'n'tinel'ti'non, but remained unsmiling.

"We give a gracious welcome to My newly-returned eldest sister, Sume'n'tinel'ti'non, from Sansthera. Welcome, High Priestess. We welcome you to our Valley."

Jandra and Caitha both saw that this High Priestess had many of the same features as Sam and The High Queen, but were not set as well upon her body as on the other two. She had long brown hair, but without any character to it. Her face could have been pleasant had she not been frowning, her ill-defined eyebrows and brown eyes glowering their disgust and mistrust. She was the shortest of the three sisters, and her stance was far removed from any regal or warrior bearing. Jandra didn't find her ugly, but neither was she pretty.

"Ha! You wish me here as much as you would wish a dead butchered horse upon this dance floor."

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ lowered her hand from Jandra's, letting it go gently. As she heard her sister's words, she winced slightly at the truth of them, but also at their bitterness. She moved slightly forward, “I lie not, My sister. I welcome you with an open heart, as I am as curious as you about each other."

She hissed at her, “Are you not well afraid of me, my queenly sister with such queenly manners?"

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ folded her hands together in front of her, silently letting go of her wish for an amiable meeting. She saw that it wasn't meant to be.

"No. You are merely a sorcerer. My powers are far greater than yours."

Sume'n'tinel'ti'non looked angrily upon her, “And those powers were meant for me, only. You
stole
them from me!” She was well angry, but changed her tone for a moment when she saw Sam, “But who is this beside you? Be this my baby sister?"

Sam let The High Queen control the talk as needed, so said nothing. The High Queen looked over to Sam, “I present you, Sam'r'in'thel'ineln', our youngest sister. She also is no sorcerer."

"Our baby sister. Humph! She looks young and naïve. Of little use to me."

She suddenly saw Jandra, in all her beauty. She became well interested, wanting her for herself, “Who stands behind you, Sister? Could this be your lover? The one you stole from your own sister?” She began to reach out to her, “She is stunning. I would offer a high price for such as this one. Perhaps peace, if she could but love me."

The High Queen ignored the statement, while halting Sume'n'tinel'ti'non from touching Jandra. But she took quick notice that the High Priestess seemed to focus on her need for love. She waited to see what would occur next. Sume'n'tinel'ti'non came closer, studying carefully the gown Jandra now wore, “What do you wear upon you, Jandra of Woden? Be that a gown of the Fairies?"

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ kept an eye upon her sister. She felt all of them safe enough knowing that Ann'wn was present, as was the High Wizard Sorcerer, “Forgive Me for not introducing her. This is Sle'nel’ Ni Riain, last Princess of the Elfin Fairies, and Birth-Mother of Sele'm'tinel'ti'non'n, the long awaited Future Supreme Sovereign of The Realm."

Suddenly, Sume'n'tinel'ti'non shrieked in rage, turning the room to fear at her fury, moving quickly away from Jandra with a hiss, “What is this you tell me? Be this some evil trick? Sele'm'tinel'ti'non'n is from the Elfin Fairies? This is impossible! YOU LIE! Where is Far'lin'ter'il? She will tell me the truth in this."

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ laughed scoffingly, “That be a jest, only. She has never told the truth. She has lied to Sam'r'in'thel'ineln’ and Me through our entire lives, as well as to Sle'nel'. Only this turn have we learned some of the truths that have remained long hidden from us. Whatever you know, know it to be only a lie, as Far'lin'ter'il knew not how to tell the truth."

Her eyes were narrowed, but it was clear to The High Queen that she had placed doubt into her thoughts. Sume'n'tinel'ti'non was not easily convinced, though, “What have you done with her?"

"I am taking her to the Spirits of the Valley in the morn. She will live out the remainder of her life among them, powerless, as she should have always been."

"You lie! Bring her to me,
now
!"

"It is not proper to be so demanding of the celebration's hostess, Sister, even if you are the eldest of us."

Sume'n'tinel'ti'non turned to the attendees, “Look how she denies me. Look how evil she is. And she claims she wants peace in The Realm. I have offered her peace, at one price only, yet she denies me."

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ began slowly circling Sume'n'tinel'ti'non, trying to take some control of the meeting between them, “Your offer is but a ruse. Tell us, High Priestess, why the Deep Mystics gave Me the powers instead of you?"

The High Queen circled around her sister's back, not waiting for an answer from her, “Tell us, Sister, why you offer peace, yet seek only to gain more power."

Moving to her side, The High Queen added, “Tell us why you ask Me to relinquish Sle'nel’ in your offer for peace."

"And yet, as you request her, tell us of how you desperately desire to kill Sle'nel', your sworn enemy."

She looked away from Sume'n'tinel'ti'non into the audience, “And tell us all of how an unprotected touch from Sle'nel', an Elfin Faiere Princess, would provide you with burns upon your skin. Then tell us how this all equates to your peaceful endeavors, High Priestess.” Turning suddenly back to her, she said, “But you lie to us. I know well why you come, and what you want."

"You stole my powers from me. They are MINE!"

"You allow yourself to think only as a R'kin'dles would, with bitterness. You allow your thinking to be as twisted. They didn't used to be as such, long prior."

She was shocked to learn that San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ knew of her background, “Who told you of this? Who told you I am of the R'kin'dles?"

Softly, San'lr'in'thel'ineln', “Your beloved Far'lin'ter'il."

Her voice now wavered in uncertainty, “But she told me that she would never tell you of such."

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ hoped that there would come one moment that would soften her sister's heart, and she now tried her negotiation. She placed her hands together, her arms lowered, in a softened approach. “All three of us have been lied to. But let us forget this and let us place all our powers and forces together for one common goal. Join Me. Join us, so that we can restore peace to The Realm."

Sam'r'in'thel'ineln’ came up beside The High Queen, also offering her peace. “San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ speaks truth. We should be together, as we are sisters. We have spent our lives apart, unknown to each other. Now let us spend but the remainder of our lives together, for us and for the good of The Realm. Surely we belong together."

Sume'n'tinel'ti'non returned to the center of the dance floor, pacing while raging at The High Queen, “What have you done to our youngest? She sounds like some ridiculous naïve one. Restore my powers to me, San'lr'in'thel'ineln', and I will join you. I know well that you are able to do this thing. Your crown is my birth-right."

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ sighed, deeply, “While I am able, My Sister, I cannot do this. It is My vow as High Queen to The Realm. And you know as well as I that My crown was not positioned by birth-right, but through council."

"I know you can give me these powers, and they are mine in spite of your thoughts."

"And you would only use them to control and rule in anger and bitterness. But I plead to you—join us, and use your sorcerer powers for The Realm. You are strong and intelligent, and The Realm could use such on its side."

For a brief moment Sume'n'tinel'ti'non dropped the dramatics and spoke to San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ with her true thoughts, “Perhaps I should have spoken with you when you were young, but now I see it overly late. Hear me well, my sister. There is no Realm as you think of it. There is only yourself. And myself. We are all here alone, and we must make the most of it, for ourselves alone. You must grab all the glory and possessions you can while you are able. Another will come and take it all away when you grow weakened in your old cycles. As we speak, our young progeny Sele'm'tinel'ti'non'n gains her powers and will overtake your rule. Are you prepared to give up your rule over The Realm, San'lr'in'thel'ineln'? You are well used to being in control. Will you be prepared to take your orders from another? It will not be as easy as you believe. Think long and well on this."

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ shook her head, “It is not so, High Priestess. The Others will return one turn soon, and I alone am unable to halt them. We need Sele'm'tinel'ti'non'n joined with us to halt them from returning. Even all of us now without Sele'm'tinel'ti'non'n, standing together on that turn, will not have enough powers to do so. All of our powers will be needed for many cycles and eons to come. Sele'm'tinel'ti'non'n's powers will be great, but alone will also not be enough.

"I have little concern about her taking My role, but she will not have the moments to do so. Those who follow Me, and I, will yet be needed, apart from Sele'm'tinel'ti'non'n. Her moments will be consumed in the larger endeavors of The Realm. This is the sad truth of it. Yet we truly have need of what you know, and will make you most welcomed into our lives, if you would join us."

"We will all be long dead by the Others’ return."

The High Queen shook her head, “This is not so. You live in Sansthera, so you know this not to be truth. As we speak, they prepare to return. I can sense this as certain. Have you not seen the signs in Sansthera?"

"Signs? What signs do you speak of?"

"Their energies have reawakened. I have felt them, as has The Realm. Heed My words, High Priestess. They most assuredly come. Their voices have reawakened throughout The Realm."

The High Priestess moved close to her—close enough to touch her. Ann'wn moved closer, letting her know that The High Queen was well guarded. The High Priestess examined Ann'wn for a brief moment, then ignored her. She turned back to The High Queen, “Think on what I have said to you, Sister. Remain not as naïve as you sound. But I do see some hope for you. You are not as controlling as I had been told. I go now, but we will meet again soon, I think."

With that, a small sudden explosion occurred, and by way of the mysterious cloud, Sume'n'tinel'ti'non was gone.

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ sighed deeply, truly saddened that no negotiation could be found, but was somewhat gladdened that they had at least spoken with open hearts to one another, no matter how far apart their hearts were. She looked upon the room, noting that all were stunned at the event.