The Realm's Mystics [Mystic Women of The Realm Series Book 3] (84 page)

"How is she?"

The Healer bowed her head, “Improved, Highness. But I would like to remove more of her pain."

San'lr'in’ saw another in the room, guessing it her to be her sister's own healer, “Is there a problem with this?"

"Her Healer objects."

"She wants her to remain in pain?"

"She trusts me not. Or you."

"I came not this far out of our way so that I can argue with My own sis—"

"Come to me."

San'lr'in’ closed her eyes and sighed deeply at the sound of the voice, “Forgive Me, Healer. She beckons."

She stood, looking down at her sister, guessing that she was in great pain, “Can your Healer remove your pain from you?"

"No. She knows not this trick of yours."

"Is she a Mystic?"

"She is a human."

"Would you allow us to do this for you?"

She nodded, the pain so intense that she was having difficulty even thinking.

"High Priestess. I trust not these Mystics. They will harm you further."

San'lr'in’ turned to her, “We will help her, only. If you cannot accept this, then leave this room. Otherwise, remain silent and observe.” She turned to her own Healer, “I will follow your lead, Healer."

The Healer touched Sume'n'tinel'ti'non's head softly, “You need only relax and breathe. Do you know the meditations?"

Sume'n'tinel'ti'non looked deeply pained, “Only the first three."

The Healer smiled down at her, trying to reassure her, “This will do fine. Begin your first meditation, and then allow me to guide you into your second and third one. Nothing will occur until we reach your third meditation. At that moment, The High Queen and I will work to remove your greatest of pains. You will know what we do as we do this, but will feel no pain. Once we are done with this, I will guide you safely back out of your meditations. Then The High Queen and I will work on the locations of your specific injuries. But nothing that we do will hurt, so you should have no fear of this."

The High Priestess looked at her sister, “Is your Healer always this tedious with detail?"

San'lr'in’ smiled, but then nodded to her Healer to begin. The process took many moments and was most tiring for both The Healer and The High Queen. When they were done, both of them closed their eyes for a few moments, re-centering and refocusing their energies.

"Breathe, my Queen."

She felt her Healer touch her head softly, “Focus."

San'lr'in’ opened her eyes, seeing her Healer standing directly in front of her, “How is it that you are always able to help Me, yet never need any for yourself?"

"She is a great Healer, as you said."

San'lr'in’ raised her eyebrow at the voice, unaccustomed to its friendliness. She looked down at her sister, “You are feeling improved, then?"

"Sle'nel'!"

The High Queen saw her sister smiling to her Elf. She turned, and also smiled at her, “The animals and children followed you not?"

Sle'nel’ laughed. She hugged her Queen, then sat on the side of Sume'n'tinel'ti'non's bed, “This is a beautiful dwelling, High Priestess.

The High Priestess’ Healer came over to Shr'dler'in, “How did you do this? She looks much improved."

The High Queen's Healer took the other Healer by the arm, leading her away, “It is the mystery of Mystics only, unfortunately. But come. Let us go discuss our healing ways and share our secrets.” She looked back to her High Queen, “I will do as such again this late eve so that she will sleep well through the eve. Then again in the morn. At that moment, she will be able to walk some, without pain."

To Sle'nel', the High Priestess asked, “You like my dwelling?"

"In truth, it is magnificent."

"I am pleased.” She looked at her sister, “I have been told that you look through my forces for more traitors."

San'lr'in’ nodded, “As a precaution. We do not take over your town. We just ensure your safety until you can tend to it yourself."

She began to try to rise, “I must show you th—"

San'lr'in’ placed her hand gently on her sister's shoulder, “Not now. You must rest or the spells will not hold. You will be well soon enough, and there is no hurry in this, but we have given many of our energies so that you will heal quickly. Is there anything you would like from My forces while we are here?"

"Rid me of all the traitors. And be mindful of the Mungardies."

"They will not come while I am here."

"Tell Caithryn to give our youngest sister the diaries."

"She is arranging a short tour for us this after midturn. Next turn, you can show Me the reason for our long journey here."

"Elf. Please find Caithryn for me."

Sle'nel’ left, knowing that Sume'n'tinel'ti'non needed some privacy with her sister.

As the door closed, Sume'n'tinel'ti'non commanded, “Sit. I have need to say a few words to you."

San'lr'in’ looked around for a chair that she could bring close to the bed, “Just sit on the bed next to me. Why do you remain so distant?"

"Distant? You would have Me killed, then ask Me why I remain distant? I am not as foolish as this."

Sume'n'tinel'ti'non shook her head and sighed, “I will try not to test your patience, if you will try not to act as a High Queen. You can be such a bore."

San'lr'in’ sat, scoffing at the statement, “Whatever. What is it you wish from Me, now that you have emptied the room?"

"I find myself unprepared to like you, to respect you, or to even be nice to you, for I have hated you my entire lifespan. But you have saved me, treated me with gentleness, and given my life back to me. I cannot help but be suspicious of your motives, however. Tell me what it is that you want from me. I must know, or I will not know how to treat you."

She sighed, thought about it for a moment, then said, “You seem to be part of the collective."

She stared at her for a moment, “How do you know of this?"

"It is Elfin lore."

"So you saved me for this reason. Yet, you say nothing in this regard. You give me no expectations, nor say that I now owe you."

She rose, feeling frustrated. The High Queen didn't like this type of interaction, “I cannot make you do this. I can only ask when it is the moment."

"But you are also part sorcerer. You have no need of my magic."

San'lr'in’ looked at her, not wanting to tell her more.

"I frustrate you."

"Yes."

"Are you never a real person?"

She stood, ready to leave, “Real? How do you think I was raised, Sister? Do you think I was raised with love and tenderness? Do you think I know what this word ‘real’ means? I was raised to be the slave of The Realm. Only this. Yet you think I have stolen your very life from you. If I had a choice when I was born, I would have given you My path."

"It would appear I have hit on a tender spot within you. Temper, sister. It was only a word."

"I am tired of your bitterness and sarcasm."

"Sit. I have something I am trying to tell you. Have some patience."

She sighed, looked at her sister, then sat, “What then? I can take little more of you. If it had not been for My Healer, I would have given you a deep sleeping spell to take you through the rest of the eve and well into the morn."

She laughed, “Good. You can be real. I find myself at an embarrassing moment with you. I have long hated you, this is truth, yet at this moment, I am grateful to you."

"Grateful? You know of this word?"

"Now who is being bitter? Thank you for bringing me home. And thank you for tending to my town until I am well."

San'lr'in’ put her hand on her sister's forehead.

"What are you doing?"

"I am checking to see if you are with fever. You sound not like yourself."

Sume'n'tinel'ti'non slapped at her sister's arm, “Halt this."

San'lr'in’ laughed, and then so did her sister.

"Are you hungry?"

"I am tired."

San'lr'in’ placed her hand on her sister's head, gently, “I am going to give you a sleeping spell. It will last only until the eve, but will help you to sleep better. I will have one of My attendants remain with you. When you awaken, you should eat."

"I have need of your storyteller this eve. And bring your Elf, and our other sister. And I suppose you should come also."

"Gracious of you. Can you feel the sleeping spell yet?"

Sume'n'tinel'ti'non closed her eyes and nodded, “I..."

San'lr'in’ quietly left the room, feeling both frustrated yet pleased with the small progress between her and her sister.

Caithryn was waiting outside the door. She knelt and bowed when she saw The High Queen, “Great High Queen."

"Rise, Caithryn of Sansthera."

"We are ready to give you the tour you requested. Your party of travelers awaits you outside. It is my privilege to guide you."

San'lr'in’ motioned with her hand, “Lead on, then."

Caithryn led them while one of the town's lesser leaders spoke about the various buildings and dwellings, “And this is one of the First One's living quarters. It was constructed to hold all of them, initially. We no longer use it as it decays, but we don't know how to repair as such. All the fabrics are but strange to us. The journals tell us that it soon became what they referred to as their greenhouse, where they grew the plants they brought with them. Long prior to now, the later dwellers of this town replanted the plants all around this area. They have long prior incorporated themselves into the nature, and no longer can we tell their plants from ours.

"I understand that Woden is similar in design to Sansthera, Highest of Woden. This doesn't surprise me, as the women and men that but left here had also built this town. We will be giving you the journals of the First Ones after our tour, Highest. The High Priestess has bid it so.

"The first domed buildings lasted only a short while. They rebuilt these five big ones, keeping the same frame structure. It is a metal of some sort, but nothing we can reproduce, and it has lasted all these eons. And over here is something they used to ride in, instead of horses. It ran on the sun's energy source, but we know not more than this, except that it used four wheels. Here. Look at this wheel. See how flexible it is? It is of another material we know not of, but never seems to decay."

San'lr'in’ cared little about the details of the First Ones. She was just anxious over her sister's urgency, wanting to see how she now knew that the humans were returning. She looked around, ignoring the chattering of the human guide, seeing that whoever the First Ones were had selected their site well. It was secluded, in a valley, easily protected, near the sea, with fresh water, and with much forest around them.

So, it seems that they were intelligent.

"You are not listening to the guide.” Sle'nel’ had wrapped her arm through her Queen's, whispering to her.

The High Queen smiled at her, “Nor are you."

"Sam is. And so is Caitha."

They began to walk away from the group, closer to the long building, “Did Caitha speak yet with Caithryn?"

Sle'nel’ pulled her Queen's arm to her more tightly, “She did. It would appear it is the same line, as you must have been thinking. Like long-lost sisters. Something you should know well of."

"Sisters! They frustrate Me."

"How is it you have learned to be so closely connected to me, my Queen?"

"What is your meaning, Elf?"

"You have never prior been connected to anyone for any great length of moments."

"So?"

"So. You have never had to work through any relationship issues. And I am an Elf. I give you not the same issues as the others do."

"Perhaps this is why I am so attracted to you."

"Perhaps."

The High Queen halted and pulled Sle'nel’ into an embrace, kissing her. She moved her against the door of the long building, moving closely into her, wanting her. She kissed her again, missing her touch.

After a short moment, she heard a voice, “Great High Queen?

San'lr'in’ sighed, shaking her head to Sle'nel', “I am sorry, My Desire. We have been missed.” She looked around at the tedious lecturer.

"Great High Queen? Please allow me to show you to your quarters so that you may be prepared for the eve meal."

San'lr'in’ nodded to Caithryn.

They were taken to their rooms, The High Queen saying nothing during their return. As she entered the beautiful room, she looked at her Elf, thinking she had neglected her. She was disappointed to find that her attendants were waiting for her, “Oh, my Queen. You are arrived. We were just selecting your gown for the eve."

"How long do we have until the meal?"

"Soon. Would you like to rest for a short while prior to us preparing you, Highness?"

"Yes. Thank you."

"One of us will be waiting, along with a guard, outside your door."

As they left, she said, “I am sorry that I am such an overly demanding lover, My Desire."

"What brought this on, my Queen?” Sle'nel’ was startled by her lover's statement.

"You pointed out to Me that I am not very good with working through the issues involved in relationships."

Sle'nel’ laughed, “Is that all?"

"What do you mean by this?"

"I was just suggesting that perhaps you should give a little more ... well ... patience in regard to your sisters. The three of you share many similar characteristics, you know."

"Such as?” The High Queen wasn't certain she wanted to hear this, but was curious.

"You are all demanding. But then, you are all used to being in control. You are all extremely solitary in your quiet moments. You are all regarded as requiring much need of physical intimacies. All three of you have been rather unsuccessful in long-term relationships. You and Sume'n'tinel'ti'non share many of the same physical behaviors, such as waving your hands about as you dismiss an idea or person. And all three of you sigh deeply as if you were tested to the ends of your patience."

Sle'nel’ was laughing by now, enjoying the comparison. The High Queen looked at her in dismay, recognizing herself in these statements, but not wishing to be connected to her sisters in these fashions. She had thought herself more unique in these regards.