Read Online The High Queen's Vow [The Mystic Women of The Realm Series Book IV] by Robbie Collins - Free Book Online Page A

“Perhaps it best I know not."
    "She knows. As do you. You just deny its presence. But I will hold this tear for you. Should you ever desire a Birth-daughter of all our line, call Me to you once more. I will come for such, as one is greatly needed."
    "A Birth-daughter? Me? With the Elf?"
    Drn'rn'thel'ineln’ looked over at Sle'nel', “It is strange to think of her as the only Elf remaining in The Realm. There were so many during My reign. Take good care of her, My daughter. I also wished for the love of an Elf, but it was meant not for Me, even though I was half Elfin. There is no better love than this. But no, My daughter. This Birth-daughter would be of our line, in the great part. Of the Elves only a little."
    "You loved an Elf?"
    "I did. For a short moment only. She died in the tunnels, along with overly many of the others."
    "You risked much as High Queen and lost all the ones you loved. The story of the great beast of the UnderRealm is truly sad."
    "It was so, but I loved well enough.” She smiled lightly, “Perhaps not all the stories survived, as I did manage to maintain one great love for a short moment, as you do now. And yours will be for far longer."
    Having heard enough, San'lr'in’ knelt and bowed her head deeply, “Greatest of All First High Queen. High Queens."
    Drn'rn'thel'ineln’ looked sadly upon her, “Think us no better than you, San'lr'in'thel'ineln', as we were not. You are perhaps the greatest of us, as you hold more true to your path than any of us managed, but you have much yet before you. All of us made our way the best we could. None no more than this. Each of us had to cut our own path. In truth, your path has been most difficult as The Realm meets a great crossroad in your reign, and for this I am sorry. I also faced as such, and it required much of Me. Overly much, at moments. Deep sadness seems to be a constant across us all, as we have all lost much more than we ever gained for ourselves, but we all gained much for The Realm, and that was our path and our purpose."
    "But many of you gave your lives overly soon to The Realm."
    And at such moments, it was often the easier path, to die overly soon. At least the burden was no more. As you said, the burden is great. It was for all of us. Each in their own way."
    The long-prior, long-dead High Queens each looked at San'lr'in’ for a moment, knowing well what she now went through. They then all turned and walked off, disappearing into a mist. San'lr'in’ looked down upon the ground, seeing that The First High Queen's sword waited for her.
    A great gift.
    She walked to it and picked it up, So many cycles prior, and yet here it is. The sword that began the Era of High Queens.
    She examined it, noticing its lack of refinement as compared to her own, in the present era, but admired its strength. She was slightly surprised to feel how correct it felt in her hand, pleased at its weight and balance. Even this old, the sword shone in its magnificence, and the red stones remained as shiny and beautiful as her own. She walked back to her forces, beginning to feel the exhaustion from her use of powers. Each step began to feel heavier than the last. She was so exhausted that she didn't realize the turn had passed and that it was now early eve.
    "Force Leader."
    If it were possible, Ann'wn and all her forces were now in even more awe of their High Queen. As The High Queen had spoken with the long-prior, long-dead High Queens, Ann'wn and her forces had been busy fighting against those that had escaped through the fog.
    She knelt and bowed her head, “Great High Queen."
    San'lr'in’ sighed, suspecting that the burden had been even greater for Drn'rn'thel'ineln', “Did you see the final lightning strike?"
    "Yes, Great High Queen."
    "On the next morn, after we bury our Master, we go to where it struck the ground."
    "Yes, High Queen. My Queen?"
    She looked down at her kneeling Force Leader, “Not now, Ann'wn. I can do no more this turn. I must rest.”