The Realm's Mystics [Mystic Women of The Realm Series Book 3] (43 page)

Uthrn was overly skilled to let Hensaln's words upset her, and like a true warrior, showed no display of emotion, “Call me what you wish, but you waste our moments."

Uthrn turned to the Dungaras, “Fight against her now, or you will be removed and tortured for many turns, with the most painful of tortures, as we showed you prior."

Uthrn had indeed prepared the Dungaras to understand this to be truth. She had them shown the tortures they would endure if they didn't provide a strong and courageous fight against this Mungardies. They had chosen a sword and were now moving toward her with little hope of winning.

The Mungardies woman stood perfectly still, moving only her eyes. She raised her hand slightly, in the same motion Sam had seen her sister do prior. The Dungaras shook their heads, trying to rid themselves of her mind-bending efforts.

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ could see that this wouldn't be a productive fight, and that she or Erthrn would have to fight against this one in order to learn if they had the skills of the Masters.

The mind block Uthrn had provided worked briefly, and just enough for the Dungaras to begin earnestly fighting against the woman. The Mungardies raised her sword, resenting the effort, but fought them with great skill. Even with all the Dungaras’ sword skills, the woman showed no strain in fighting against two Dungaras force leaders. Sam watched with interest, having seen her own sister's skills prior, and knowing what to look for.

This one would give even my sister a bad moment
.

In her head, she heard a reply,
You think so, My Sister? Perhaps you will be able to see if this is true for yourself.

Sam looked over to her sister,
She has many abilities.

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ nodded,
You speak truly, but see her arrogance? She tries to display that she is nothing but usual, but in truth, she is a most highly skilled Mungardies. She must be a very high force leader, perhaps one of the highest.

Is their high leader better than this?

This, no one knows.

Will you fight her?

Erthrn would like the privilege and knows enough of the Masters’ ways.

The woman moved her hand again, trying to twist the Dungaras’ mind to her, then, as they were trying to clear their heads of her spell, she raised her sword and quickly killed both of them.

Erthrn laughed, speaking to the Mungardies woman as the now-dead Dungaras were being removed, “You seem bored, Hensaln. Care to fight against a real warrior?"

The woman didn't laugh, nor did she change her expression, “It would seem I must. But if I win...” She turned to San'lr'in'thel'ineln', “...I fight you."

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ didn't change her expression, refusing to give this Mungardies any pleasure. Nor did she give any sign of interest or acknowledgment in what the woman said.

Erthrn went to the front row, then jumped into the arena, sword in hand, “You step out of your place, Hensaln. You have no leave to speak to The High Queen.” Then Erthrn laughed, “But come to think on such, you have no leave to speak to me, either."

Erthrn began moving about the arena, speaking to the Mungardies as she did so, “Are you going to waste your efforts trying to use your mind-bending tricks on me, Hensaln? If so, let me know when you did, as I wouldn't wish to disappoint you in your useless efforts. I could at least pretend, for you."

The woman watched Erthrn carefully, narrowing her eyes, “You chatter overly. Your speaking noise offends my ears. Or is talking how you plan to torture me?"

"Yet trying to control The Realm, Mungardies? I recall not making you leader of The Realm."

Erthrn kept moving around with sword readied, waiting until the woman made the first move. Erthrn didn't see it as proper to make the first move against a captive when the intent was death, anyway.

"Are you so stupid to think that I know not why you wish me to fight?"

Erthrn laughed again, “Your arrogance is astounding, Hensaln. But tell me, for the sake of hearing you speak. Why do you think we wish to see you fight?"

The woman answered with her sword, instead, making a quick, but strong move against Erthrn. Erthrn countered quickly, expecting as such. It was all San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ needed to see.

To herself she thought,
So, they have learned from a Master. But not one of the great ones, and I don't think even Bro'gadich'in'. But who?

The woman made a few more sword moves against Erthrn, then held her sword down, “Why should I fight if I must die anyway? How senseless is this?"

Erthrn was prepared for any move the woman might make, knowing that the Mungardies woman would use any trick to win the battle. Erthrn said nothing, but stood readied. The woman readied her sword once again, moving around the arena, positioning herself to her liking, closer to the High Queen. She used all her might suddenly against Erthrn, sending Erthrn back a distance. In the same movement, she quickly turned to San'lr'in'thel'ineln', facing her but a soft voice away and one tier lower. In the same motion, she made a move to kill The High Queen.

The movement occurred so rapidly that no one seemed prepared for it. But at almost the same moment, an arrow shot into the woman's sword arm with such force that it caused the woman to fall with a great cry of pain to the floor of the arena. Erthrn and the guards were upon her immediately, but the entire event had arisen so swiftly that San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ hadn't even the moment to let down her guard.

She and Erthrn had guessed prior that the Mungardies woman might make such a move against her, so she was prepared for such. She looked up toward the arrow's path, expecting to see a quick-thinking Rns'deln’ warrior. Instead, she saw Sle'nel’ standing at the top of the arena, ready with another arrow aimed toward the woman. The High Queen smiled at Sle'nel's Elfin image, finding it striking and ever surprising.

Erthrn saw The High Queen smiling at someone, so looked up in the same direction, wondering where the arrow had come from. Erthrn also had expected to see one of her own guards, so was quite amazed to look upon Sle'nel', yet at the ready. She saw her as silhouetted against the sun, standing firmly erect and assured, yet slender for such strength it took to get the arrow this far so accurately.

Erthrn looked back to her Queen, “Did you prepare her to protect you this turn?"

The High Queen yet stared at Sle'nel', smiling, but shook her head, softly saying, “No. She had no knowledge of this plan."

Ann'wn was standing next to Sle'nel', also looking amazed. They had just returned from their bow and arrow practice in the nearby forest, and were entering the arena in order to watch the match between the Dungaras and the Mungardies woman. As they entered at the top-tier, Sle'nel’ had seen the move against her Queen and had readied and shot her arrow within an eye's blink.

Shaking her head in amazement, Ann'wn said, “Keddi would be proud of you, my Elf. That was a perfectly aimed shot. And from such a distance as this."

Sle'nel’ had quickly taken out another arrow and prepared it in case it became needed, but said, “I think not. I aimed for her heart."

Ann'wn laughed, yet not knowing if or when their Elf jested. Sle'nel’ didn't realize it, but she was becoming more Elfin-like in her stance upon every turn. Except when the Elves were light-hearted and playful, their demeanor was observant, with no hint as to their inner emotions. She was even beginning to hold her body in the more Elfin-like fashion, displaying assuredness and intelligence, yet without arrogance.

The Mungardies woman had also wondered who had shot the arrow. As they led her away, with the arrow completely through her arm, back-to-front, she looked up to Sle'nel'. From a brief glimpse, she knew she saw something different than one of the Warriors of the Sword or any of The High Queen's guards, but couldn't place it. Her instinct told her that, in that woman, there stood the race that would know how to bring the Mungardies toward peace. She wailed like a wounded animal as they led her off, knowing that she would take this knowledge to her death rather than be able to tell her leader about this one.

As they began to walk down the stairs toward their Queen, Ann'wn kept talking, “In truth, Elfin Princess, you aimed for the arm, did you not?"

Sle'nel’ just gave Ann'wn a sideways’ glance, but said nothing. She gave the bow and arrow to Ann'wn, and then took the stairs lightly toward her Queen.

The High Queen had risen, moving toward her as she came. When Sle'nel’ had arrived, San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ held out her hands to her.

Sle'nel’ placed her hands into her Queen's, “You are now safe, my Queen?"

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ gazed into Sle'nel's eyes. She was smiling softly, fully amazed at her Elf. Quietly and slowly, she said, “You came out of nowhere, My Desire."

Sle'nel’ flinched at the words, then also smiled slightly, “As you did for me, my Queen, in the forest."

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ laughed lightly at her words, “Now I know what that must have seemed like to you. How did you know she was about to make this move against me?"

Sle'nel’ shook her head, “I knew not. We had just returned from practicing."

"I wasn't aware that you had such bow and arrow abilities as this."

Sle'nel’ smiled mischievously, “Nor was I."

Ann'wn had finally reached her Queen. She knelt and bowed her head, “Rise, Ann'wn. Thank you for guarding My Elf this turn."

"In truth, my Queen, she needs little protection. My Queen, please tell me, did she aim for the Mungardies’ arm, or no?"

The High Queen looked back to her lover, “She will have to tell you that, My Warrior. All I know is that I have seen none better with this weapon."

Meera had also had been amazed at Sle'nel's skills, “Did you learn these abilities in Woden when we but prepared against Fornaith? I recall that you did well with a bow and arrow, but I recall no ability such as this."

Sle'nel’ looked to her friend, smiling, “Some. Not all. But you taught me well, Meera."

Erthrn yet looked stunned, “A masterful aim, Elf. My Warriors could learn much from you. The Mungardies woman is quite frustrated that she couldn't see you clearly. She knows not that the Elves yet live in The Realm."

Sam had come over to the now-collected group, also amazed over Sle'nel's well-placed arrow, “Quite a shot. Meera should be proud of her teachings."

Sle'nel’ looked at her and just smiled, looking back to Meera, “She is a good teacher, Sam. But I think it mostly a lucky shot.” Then she looked back to her Queen, “But I now believe that Queen Erthrn and my Queen were prepared for the woman's surprise attack. So I think my arrow was needed not."

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ looked to Erthrn, “Perhaps this would be a good moment to end the proceedings for this turn?"

Erthrn nodded, then made the announcement that the proceedings would begin again in the morn, and would end at midturn with a banquet, “This eve, Rns'deln’ has prepared a celebration for all of you, this eve. Fun, food and good entertainment will be provided for all, and all are welcome."

Sam looked to her sister, “What now becomes of the Mungardies women?"

As San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ looked at Sam, she saw the marks upon her neck from her eve's entertainment. Ignoring them, she replied, “They are already dead."

Sam gasped softly, but San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ heard it, “Does this surprise you?"

Sam shook her head, “I know not why it did, as Meera would have done the same, but it did."

"It is a good sign that it did so. We should never be casual about killing. But we have learned from overly many deaths that we shouldn't wait a moment to kill them."

Sam nodded slightly, “I understand, but can we not attempt a negotiation?"

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ laughed gently, “We attempt this once every moon, to the same result. But we will continue our efforts. At some point when we are winning, they will listen. In the meanwhile, we have the Dungaras to think on first. We must end our battle with them before we can take on the whole of the Mungardies’ empire."

Surprising everyone and slipping by all the guards without being seen, a messenger had arrived, kneeling and bowing to The High Queen, but saying nothing.

Erthrn was outraged over the interruption of The High Queen while in Rns'deln', “How dare you interrupt The High Queen, Messenger. Who sent you? And what insolence is this? No one comes directly to The High Queen unless the messenger has been searched.” Erthrn looked for Uthrn.

Bellowing at the top of her lungs, she called for her, “UTHRN!"

Uthrn came running, along with a few other guards. As she arrived, she knelt and bowed her head, “My Queen. High Queen."

Erthrn was well angered, “How has this messenger come to The High Queen without going through our guards prior?"

Uthrn made a movement to take the messenger into custody, but The High Queen motioned her away. She had been studying the messenger since her arrival, “Unless I am mistaken, this is a child of the Shrd'ilker'ins."

She gently placed her hand on the woman's/child's face, “Rise, My child. It has been long since your kin have graced The Realm with your presence."

The woman/child stood, looking innocent but unafraid.

Erthrn looked surprised, “The Women of the Trees? But they have not been seen or heard from in almost a lifespan."

San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ was looking around, as if looking for someone, “They were closely connected to the Elves and went into seclusion when the Elves left The Realm."

Erthrn looked at the messenger, “A child you say? She looks as a full grown woman, only much shorter."

"She is not. And she passed through your guards without notice, as she was shrouded to them."

Uthrn, Meera, Ann'wn, and all of Uthrn's guards had their weapons drawn. San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ told Erthrn, “Have the guards place down their weapons."

"My Queen..."

She raised an eyebrow ever so slightly to Erthrn, slightly annoyed. Quietly, with steady patience, she responded to her long-prior friend, placing her hand upon Erthrn's arm, “I know what I do, Erthrn."

Erthrn bowed her head deeply, seeing that she shouldn't have questioned her High Queen, “I beg your forgiveness, High Queen."