She went to their shelter, but didn't find San'lr'in'. She looked outside the shelter, and at the fire ring, but couldn't find her. She looked about, trying to find her boot prints, but couldn't see through the darkness to separate them out from the others. She looked for many moments longer, then began again from the fire ring, guessing that The High Queen had first left the fire ring, going in the direction toward their shelter.
Ann'wn approached her, “I am looking for The High Queen, Elf. Have you seen her?"
"No. I do as well. She is not in our shelter or at the fire ring."
Ann'wn instantly called for more guards, becoming concerned over The High Queen's whereabouts. Sle'nel’ was going to tell Ann'wn about her own search, but hadn't been given the moment, so she continued on alone.
With the help of a small torch, she finally found her boot prints. She followed those to just prior their shelter, then saw that they turned and headed off in another direction. Meera had seen Sle'nel’ examining the ground, wondering why she did so.
"Sle'nel'. What do you look for?"
Quietly, she responded, “The High Queen. I cannot find her."
"I will go alert Ann'wn."
"No, Meera. Ann'wn is already gathering many guards to her. She knows that The High Queen is missing. But you and I can find her. I have her boot prints just in front of me."
"Perhaps she is in danger though."
"Give me just a few moments, Meera. Come. Help me track her."
Meera was a superb tracker, the best in Woden, and now the best in all of these guards now about her. And Sle'nel', having been trained by the Sorcerer Women of the Mountain, was also an excellent tracker. Together they followed The High Queen's tracks with great skill, both ensuring they didn't lose them. After many moments, and far longer than Meera had patience for, they saw a large trap door opening into the ground and guessed it to be the entrance to the Grandmother's dwelling.
"She shouldn't have entered alone."
"She assumes that others follow her. A safe assumption in that they always do, except at this moment."
"She could be in danger."
"Meera, the guards lost her. They should have followed her better. When she is used to being followed about at all the moments, then she would assume as such at this moment, as well."
Neither spoke as they descended under the vast lands. Sle'nel’ was amazed at the largeness of the tunnel, seeing that it could fully allow horses to travel down into it, guessing that such was made so as to deliver any supplies that were necessary. As they went lower into the tunnel, they noticed the air becoming cooler around them. Upon two occasions, Sle'nel’ saw that the tunnel broke off into other paths, but followed San'lr'in's boot tracks that kept traveling down what looked like the main one. After many moments, they came to another door that had been left opened. They looked into a very lit dwelling, and into what looked like a large receiving hall.
They were in the first room, but yet didn't see San'lr'in', so moved into the next room. Sle'nel’ could see that it was the first real room of the dwelling, being a sort of sitting room. The room contained richly colored woven carpets, some soft chairs, and some assorted-sized tables. There were also many cases filled with alchemy testings, books, journals, notes, artifacts from The Realm, assorted weapons, dead and stuffed animals, jars filled with a liquid and animal parts, mortars and pestles, a long table with benches on each side of it, and other such relics.
"I will keep looking for her, Elf."
"I hear her voice. She is speaking to someone."
"My greatest fear. Quickly. Lead me to her."
Sle'nel’ led them to the next room, a sort of bedroom, down a long hall and through another room, then, almost running by now down some stairs and into another room where they finally found The High Queen. With great relief, Meera and Sle'nel’ were surprised to see that The High Queen was speaking to a young woman, perhaps of seventeen cycles, who was standing in a corner, shackled by her wrists to large rings in the rock wall. Except for a small waist and hip covering, she was unclothed. Meera and Sle'nel’ saw that she had a large ring placed through each breast, another smaller ring placed in her nose, and many scars across her legs and arms. Her face was tattooed on one cheek, her head was shaven clean, and two of her right-hand fingers were gone, apparently painfully removed as indicated by the rawness of the scabbing. Sle'nel’ winced as she saw a puddle of blood at the young girl's feet. When she looked to its cause, she saw the inside of the girl's legs caked with dried blood.
Sle'nel's attention was drawn away from the tortured scene upwards to the young girl's face as she heard the young girl murmuring and talking to herself, wild in her fear. Sle'nel’ could tell that this one had many emotional issues embedded deeply within. The High Queen sensed someone's presence and turned her head slightly around, “Warrior Woman. Good, you come. Call The Healer to Me. Her services are needed."
Sle'nel’ responded, “Ann'wn is looking for you. I would guess that she will bring The Healer with her."
The High Queen looked back to the young woman, “We are here to free you. You have no need to fear us. We would only like to remove you from these chains, give you some clothes and food, and tend to your needs.” Sle'nel’ saw the girl's eyes wild, but deeply sunken, almost blackened looking.
The young girl grew hysterical, whimpering in her fear, shaking her head back and forth endlessly.
Meera came forward, “I will bring help, and then we will look for the key to release her from these shackles, my Queen."
She looked at Meera, “There is no key, Warrior Woman. It is a spell. I will release her in a moment. Be prepared, as she fears us greatly. Grandmother beat great fear into this one."
She looked back to the young girl, “I can take away your pain, Young One. You need have no fear of us. The Grandmother is dead."
The girl whispered, “Please touch me not. She will torture me again."
"Wouldn't you like to be removed from these chains?"
"She will torture me again. Please go away.” Her eyes darted around the room, looking in fear for her torturer.
The High Queen shook her head, “Grandmother is dead. She has been killed."
In a whisper, the girl said, “No one can kill that one. And now she will hurt me for speaking to you. Please leave."
"She is dead, Young One. I saw her die. She died by the hand of this warrior woman."
The High Queen continued to talk to the young girl until Ann'wn came, accompanied by The Healer and many guards. Saying nothing to Ann'wn, San'lr'in’ turned to her Healer, “Help Me?"
"Of course, High One."
The High Queen moved closer and spoke softly, “I also hung by those shackles long prior, Frightened One. But I broke free of her powers and left. Now I am returned to free you from them, but you must make Me a vow. You must vow that you will not try to run. We only wish to help you."
"Please touch me not. She will torture me even more."
All those present were saddened for the young girl, but none knew what to think when their High Queen informed the girl that she also had hung from these shackles. Sam heard the statement and became more astounded at her sister. Sle'nel’ began to grow even further in her distrust of The High Queen's former teachers, in learning they had allowed as such to occur.
The Healer just looked at her Queen, “You were tortured, my Queen? Here?"
The High Queen returned her Healer's stare for a brief moment, but said nothing. She turned back to the young girl, and began to slowly approach her, “The Grandmother is dead, and we cannot leave you here as you will die hanging from these chains. We are going to help you, Frightened One. With all your might, you must try to be brave. I am going to place My hand upon your head, but you will feel no pain. Are you ready to have Me do this? And then we are going to remove your shackles from you for always. Never again will you feel such pain as has been inflicted upon you."
The girl was becoming more hysterical, so San'lr'in’ decided to hurry rather than try to reason with her. She and The Healer placed their hands on the girl's head, sending her into a slight state of unconsciousness so that she would no longer worry, and then The High Queen waved her hand at the shackles, making them to open. Meera and Ann'wn's guards lowered the girl to a small carrier and began to try to clean her some, while The Healer examined her wounds.
The Healer looked quickly over her shoulder to her Queen, “Tell me of what you know of her wounds, High One."
She looked to Ann'wn, “Remove the guards."
Ann'wn told them to wait in the entry room, while San'lr'in’ went closer to The Healer, “This must remain between us only, Healer."
The Healer heard the concern in her Queen's voice and nodded, “It shall be as you say, High One."
"First we must determine if she is with child. I will then show you her injuries. Her mind and body have been as tortured as A'lon'lden's, but the tortures are in different places."
The High Queen placed her hand gently on the young girl's womb, and The Healer followed her example. They took only a moment, then looked at each other knowingly.
"Do you sense this child, Healer?"
"I do, my Queen. It is as you feared, and as you were told. One of the Dark Sorcerer's children. But the child no longer lives. It is dead, Highness."
The High Queen nodded, then moved her hand to another location, silently showing The Healer all the damage that had been inflicted on the young girl. As they moved around the girl's body, Sle'nel’ watched, observing that The Healer would often flinch after she had learned of the damage.
When they were done with the examination, The Healer shook her head, “Death must be welcomed by this one, my Queen. As you have shown me, I have seen only such damage once prior. I now understand your upbringing a bit more, my Queen."
The High Queen leaned into The Healer some, and from there they spoke only in whispers so that no others could hear, except Sle'nel'. The High Queen had forgotten about Sle'nel's exceptional Elfin hearing, or not cared she overheard. And as they whispered, even Sle'nel’ was as shocked as The Healer to learn more of The High Queen's earlier cycles. She remained silent, deciding to speak to her lover later about such, and watched as San'lr'in’ and Shr'dler'in worked together to remove some of the young girl's pains from the tortures that had been inflicted upon her.
The High Queen spoke quietly to The Healer, “Tend well to this one, Healer. I have great need of her, if she is of the culture I think her to be."
When they could do no more, The Healer informed the guards to take the young girl back to camp. San'lr'in’ and her close traveling companions remained behind to examine the dwelling. The High Queen returned to the first room, examining some notes and some alchemy. She looked up, searching for something, “Healer? Can you tell Me what she was testing?"
Shr'dler'in examined the notes, then the potion that had been made. She stirred the ingredients for a while, then re-examined the notes, “She made good notes, but had little ability as to what ingredients to use. These ingredients react not to each other. All of these ingredients are dormant only. From the notes it appears she was trying to make a sleeping potion. A simple enough potion, but I suppose she wasn't trained."
"Sleeping potion. And this one?” The High Queen pointed to some more notes.
The Healer examined them for a moment, then did the same with the bowl that contained some of the ingredients, “She took excellent notes of the reactions of the ingredients, but knew little of the alchemy needed to cause the reactions necessary. This one looks as if she were trying to create a magic potion to create disappearance. All these ingredients would do, though, is to create a very small explosion, but nothing that would harm anything."
"A sleeping potion, and a small explosion. I wonder...” The High Queen let her thoughts drift away. She looked at one more, “And this one, Healer?"
The Healer read the notes, examined the potions nearby, then shook her head, “These go not together, High One. Her notes speak to a spell, with no potion needed. She was trying to create a spell from a potion, a spell to remove powers from another."
"Or, Healer, perhaps a spell to break a sleeping potion?"
The Healer stared at The High Queen for a moment, then nodded, “Of one placed in a deep sleep? From a potion? Perhaps. I see your thinking in this, and it could be so. But why would as such be important to her?"
San'lr'in’ looked at her for a moment in deep thought, but said nothing, as if in fear of the possible answer, “Examine the other notes, Healer, if you would. See if any of this fits together into something larger than we are presently seeing. Sle'nel', go through her journals to see if there is any sign of what she was thinking."
The High Queen looked around the room further, then left Sle'nel’ and The Healer to finish it, “Sister, come with Me. Ann'wn and Warrior Woman, you also. Let us look in her bedroom."
"What do we look for, Highness?"
"I know not. I just know that long prior, well prior to our lives, something was removed from The Realm. Something that is well needed but has gone missing all these many cycles."
"How long prior?"
"During The First High Queen's reign. Each High Queen has searched for it, and now it is My turn to do as such. I doubt it to be here, though, or they would have found it."
"I am helping searching, my Queen?"
The High Queen turned to Fon'elnn', “We can use your assistance, Master. Tell Me, what do you recall from your era that your High Queen did here?"
"This being The High Queen's Grandmother's dwelling, Highness?"
She nodded.
"She coming here without me, my Queen. I know not the reason. But it was rumoring that some long-lost powers also being hidden here."
"Interesting. I had not thought this remotely possible. Look around. Force Leader, have The First High Queen's sword brought to Me. I have need of it."
The dwelling was large, containing many rooms that were each filled with accumulations throughout untold cycles. The High Queen began in the Grandmother's main bedroom, while Fon'elnn’ began in another den-type of room filled with many more experiments and books. The late-eve passed without anyone finding anything of importance, with The High Queen feeling somewhat frustrated.
"It cannot be here. There is no other place she could have placed as such."
The High Queen was speaking to herself when Ann'wn came to her, “Your sword, my Queen."
"I think this a wasted effort, Force Leader, but I will attempt as such, anyway."
She held her sword out in front of her with her right hand, then sent a small spell to it with her left, making it to stand alone in mid-air, tip facing toward the ground. With both hands now free, she closed her eyes, moving her hands slightly as she chanted. Both Ann'wn and Sam watched, amazed as they saw the red stones begin to glow. Suddenly, the sword turned on its side, the tip now facing the far wall, as a red beam grew slowly from it, making its way across the room.
The High Queen opened her eyes and watched where the beam headed, intrigued in the possibility, “Follow it. It takes us somewhere, but I know not where. Look! Through the next room."
They entered into the next room and saw that the beam had gone through the wall and was now making its way across this room.
Ann'wn pointed, “It continues into the next room."
They opened another door and entered the room, but saw that the beam yet kept moving. Although there was no door, the beam continued slowly through the wall.
"There is something behind that wall, Force Leader. Find the entrance."
Only Meera and Ann'wn were with The High Queen, as Sam and the long-prior Master were now looking through the other rooms. They searched the wall for many moments, but saw nothing. Both Meera and Ann'wn began testing every section of the wall where the beam led them, yet found nothing. San'lr'in’ began feeling frustrated and turned away from the wall. As she did so, she saw a small wrinkle in the wall next to the one they had been examining.
"Of course. The door is hidden on a different wall. Force Leader. Warrior Woman. Examine this wall. See? There is a slight crease."
"Allow me to get more guards, my Queen?"
"No, Force Leader. Not at this moment."
Meera had begun to feel the wall, now seeing its small distortion, “There is something here. Force Leader. Help me. Use your knife and help me."
Using the tips of their knives, they followed the slight seam upward and downward, then to the sides. After a few moments, they cold see the outline of a door.
When it was done, Ann'wn used her knife to try to pry it open, “It will not open, Highness."
She moved her hands a little, using a spell to see if it would work. Nothing. She tried another one. Yet nothing. She suddenly smiled, “How stupid of Me."
She tried again, and the door opened inward, “I was using the wrong spell, thinking the door would open toward us."
Ann'wn peeked in, “I will get a torch."
"No need.” The High Queen brought her hands together in a cupped-shaped fashion, and called the ball of light to her. She then sent it into the room, where it grew until the hallway was well lit. They followed the long hallway for many moments, to its end, finding that at its end, it looked out onto an enormous cavern. They also saw that a stairway worked its long way down in spirals around the cavern's edges.
Meera's eyes were wide with wonder, “I have never seen such a place as this."
The High Queen laughed quietly, “Nor have I, Warrior Woman. I have never prior even heard of such a place as this. The First High Queen appears to have had quite a busy reign."
Ann'wn was also stunned, “This is amazing. I wonder how far down it goes."
Meera stood at the end of the hall's tunnel, leaning out from the stairway, dropping a small stone. When she heard its landing far below, she looked back to The High Queen, “A long way, it would seem, but it will be a most difficult journey on the return back up."
The High Queen looked over the stairway's ledge, “I wonder if there is another exit from down below."
She began the stairs, but Ann'wn halted her, “I must insist, my Queen. Please allow me to send a few warriors to ensure the safety of the stairs."
The High Queen nodded, knowing it was useless to argue. After seven guards had descended one full circle of the stairway, they began their descent down to the cavern's floor, The High Queen wondering what they would find. The guards lit the torches already set into the walls as they descended, and The High Queen examined the intermittent drawings on the walls of the cavern. She found it odd that the others hadn't seemed to notice the drawings. One very hard-to-see drawing showed a door knocker, but nothing else.
A door knocker? Surely this is here for some reason, but what?
The next drawing showed the destruction of a room, with a door knocker on the ground. The High Queen was intrigued, Clues! But to what?
The next drawing showed a picture of crown—a High Queen's crown. She reached up to her crown, wondering which one she wore this turn. Sighing lightly with relief, she felt what she hoped she would—a red stone in her small circlet crown. She often wore the small crown without the red stone, absently wondering how her attendants chose which of the crowns she would wear on which turns.
As she descended down another round of stairs, she saw the next drawing was of The First High Queen's sword—her sword. She looked down over the stairs, searching for her Force Leader.
"Force Leader."
Ann'wn looked up toward her, “Highness?"
"Do you now carry The First High Queen's sword?"
She nodded, “We have it, my Queen."
She brushed the next drawing lightly with her fingers, its picture long-prior covered by the dust of the cavern. She gasped lightly as the drawing revealed itself, her hand yet at the drawings side. Her red-stoned ring on her own finger was identical to the red-stoned ring on someone's hand, in the drawing. In the bottom right of the drawing, she saw a symbol, at first thinking it the artist's name, but then seeing it was a phrase. She dusted it off carefully, then squinted, trying to make out the small letters.
...n ... he wal...
What could this mean?
She blew lightly on the drawing, then carefully dusted it off again.
In the wal...
"In the wall?"
She examined the drawing again, trying to find any clue as to what might be in the wall. She looked up at the long ascent, hoping she hadn't missed any clue in the other drawings. As she descended to the final tier, the last drawing displayed the red stones in the ring, crown and sword emitting a red beam of power toward the top of the cavern.
She spoke only to herself, “Most fascinating."
When they finally reached the bottom of the cavern, Meera looked about them, seeing only one door, “All this for one door, Highness?"
One of the guards laughed, beginning to open the door, “Well, I suppose it is obvious that this must be for what The High Queen searches."
As the guard's hand reached toward the door, The High Queen's mind brought forth the image of one of the drawings—the image of the door knocker on the floor, with the room destroyed. Her mind was quick to place the puzzle together.
Her command was urgent and without question, “HALT!"
They all turned to The High Queen, seeing that she yet continued to examine the cavern's walls, “As you stated, Warrior Woman, it surely cannot be this simple. Allow me a moment."
Meera's eyes opened wide once again, guessing as to what might occur at the wrong move on their parts. She looked up toward the top of the cavern, knowing that there would certainly be no escape.
The High Queen walked around the bottom of the cavern for several moments, examining the walls, looking back up toward where they had entered, then looking back to the walls. Meera watched her carefully, seeing that The High Queen also examined the floor of the cavern, moving the sand away upon occasion.
As The High Queen crouched down in the middle of the room, brushing the sand and dirt away from the floor, Ann'wn could no longer contain her curiosity, “My Queen, why should we not open the door?"
The High Queen continued her task as she calmly stated, “The cavern would cave in on us, Force Leader."
The guard who had almost opened the door now stepped back from it, her eyes bulging as she stared at the near miss with the door knocker.
Meera began brushing the dust away from the walls, helping in The High Queen's search, even though she knew not for that which they searched.
Ann'wn was yet stunned, “Cave in on us, Highness?"
The High Queen moved back to the sides of the cavern, beginning to search lower on the walls, “It would most certain be a quick death, Force Leader."
Ann'wn looked up to the top of the cavern, nodding absently, “Most certain, Highness."
Meera touched something, “Highness? I have found something."
San'lr'in’ hurried over, seeing a small round indentation, “Ah! Good, Warrior Woman. Now we search for two others.” She looked around, beginning to wonder, “Perhaps they form a triangle."
"They, Highness?” Ann'wn knew not what to think.
"The stones, Force Leader."
Ann'wn remained confused, but Meera began to piece the puzzle together, “Your sword is one, Highness?"
She nodded, “And the ring."
"And your crown, Highness?"
Ann'wn examined the small round indentation in the wall, “What should we do with this, my Queen?"
San'lr'in’ studied it for a moment, recalled the cryptic message, In the wall, then seeing no other choice, she pressed it. Suddenly, an ominous sound of rock sliding against rock startled them, and a small ledge-like shelf appeared. The High Queen examined it, then dusted it off, seeing a round circled-engraving, made as if for a resting place for The High Queen's crown. She reached up and removed her crown, then placed it over the etched circle, examining the size, but not yet setting it down upon it.
"A perfect fit, Highness."
She looked at Meera, wondering, “You think so, Warrior Woman?"
Meera eyed the crown, then the carved-out circle, “So it must be."
The High Queen laughed quietly, looked up toward their far-away exit, then back to the small shelf. She wondered briefly how the designer of this hidden cavern had known that she would be wearing her small red-stoned crown this turn. With no further hesitation, she lowered her crown onto the shelf.
She exhaled quietly, unaware that she had held her breath, but now relieved that nothing of consequence had occurred, when suddenly more sounds of rock sliding against rock occurred.
"What happens, Highness?"
Ignoring Ann'wn's question, The High Queen spun around toward the noise, hoping the noise wasn't her greatest fear of the cavern falling in around them.
"Look! Over on that wall, Highness."
She looked at Meera, then quickly to where she was pointing. Another shelf had opened from the wall, from nearly opposite them, but lower. The High Queen crossed the room to it, then brushed it lightly.
"It must hold your sword, my Queen."
She held out her hand, “My sword, Force Leader."
When Ann'wn handed it to her, she placed its tip gently into the carved-out section made just for the tip of her sword. As the sword stood firmly upright, another sound of rock sliding against rock occurred, and she looked over to her left, guessing that the stones were indeed forming a triangle, and saw her expectation—another small shelf had emerged from the wall.
"For your ring, Highness."
Like on the shelf for her crown, a small indentation had been carved-out—just the size of her ring. To herself, she muttered, “Amazing."
She removed her ring and placed it on the shelf, wondering what would then occur.
Nothing.
Then she saw it—her ring had begun to pulse its powers. She motioned to Meera, “Stand aside, Warrior Woman. We stand in the way of the powers."
Sle'nel’ and The Healer had begun their downward journey on the stairs when they suddenly saw an enormous red-beam shoot from the bottom of the cavern to its roof, surprising them. The Healer fell against the side of the wall as she stared at it.
"What is that?"
Sle'nel’ shook her head, “San'lr'in’ is up to something, would be my guess."
"If I knew not any better, I would think she is trying to kill me."
And as suddenly, the entire cavern was awash from top to bottom in streams of light running fully along three sides of the walls, as in a fountain of moving, liquid radiance.
The Healer looked at her small torch, then hung it on the wall, “I don't suppose we need this any further.
As the beam of light shot up to the cavern's ceiling, a large cracking sound also occurred, and The High Queen felt the ground shake. For one moment of self-doubt, she wondered if the cavern were falling in on them, when she saw part of the wall begin to slide open, providing an entrance into a well-sealed room.
"You seem to have found where The First High Queen hid The Realm's treasures, Highness."
She examined the stream of energy that her stones had created, seeing that they had indeed acted as a triangle, channeling their energy together.
"Most amazing, in truth."
"My Queen?"
She turned to Ann'wn, smiling softly, “We seem to have finally arrived to our destination, Force Leader. Would you care to lead the way?"
Ann'wn motioned to her guards to first secure the room, then The High Queen entered, hearing the surprised sounds from her forces.
San'lr'in’ gave a small gasp as she saw the contents of the large room unfold before her. Row upon row of artifacts were laid out on shelves and rock ledges, beyond counting, “By the mothers, the legends are correct."
She wandered deeper into the room, seeing treasures she had only heard of but never believed their existence to be truth. She touched one object, familiar with its story, but never prior thinking she would ever see such a thing.
"What is that, Highness?” Meera was following her, acting as her personal guard.
The High Queen turned it over, examining it, fingering its inscriptions, “It is said to be the Great Seal of One Yet to Come. The Seal of Legends. And I always thought it to be nothing more than a story."
"My Queen?"
"The legends tell that somewhere far beyond our era, Warrior Woman, when all the powers are finally emerged and The Realm begins a new era, a new leader will become known."
"A new leader, Highness? In a new era? There will be no more High Queens, Highness?"
She felt the coolness of the Great Seal, finding it strangely comforting. For one brief moment, she thought she saw it shimmer, then wondered if her eyes had caught too much of the great stream of light when the red-stoned powers had burst forth.
She turned to Meera and handed her the seal, “Keep this safe, Warrior Woman. We will keep it safe with the crowns until we can think of a better way to store it."
She turned back to her task, once again speaking to herself, “I wonder how far distant from our era this One of Legends will come from."
The High Queen suddenly returned to the moment, “Force Leader. Remove the guards, and bring the Elf and The Healer to Me. And bring the scholars and the sorcerers."
As she waited for Sle'nel’ and The Healer, The High Queen continued to examine the room's unexplainable number of artifacts. She studied the cases of books and long-lost relics for many moments, seeing the most ancient of all documents before her.
She shook her head in full disbelief, Here on these shelves, so far removed from The Realm, are some of the oldest tellings of the ancient sorcery and Mystics.
As she moved around the room, three wooden boxes upon a shelf caught her eye. She picked up the smallest one and felt its weight. She could hold the box easily in one hand, but thought it quite heavy for its size. She removed the lid and looked inside, gasping lightly at its contents.
Meera saw her eyes widen, “What is it, my Queen?"
San'lr'in’ hesitantly placed her fingers on the object and slowly removed it from its long hidden container, wide-eyed at the object, “It is the long-lost sorcerer's Stone of Power. It is the greatest stone across all The Realm and all the eras, and holds more power than all My stones combined. The legend of it tells that it was thrown into the great seas, never to been seen again."
Meera also gasped as she saw the stone The High Queen was holding in her hand. It was the largest bright blood-red stone Meera had ever seen, and was fully the size as San'lr'in's palm. They stared at it, watching it as it sent its own beam of light now directly to San'lr'in', as if offering its own welcome to her.
"Look at its perfect shape, Warrior Woman. A triangle. A perfectly formed triangle. Contained within this triangle are many of the old powers long-gone from The Realm."
Meera looked at her High Queen, amazed, “And now they are yours to command, my Queen."
She looked back at Meera, “I will have to think fully on this, Warrior Woman. A deep challenge, indeed. What would you suggest be done with such as this?"
"It is where it belongs, my Queen. With you. It even responds to you, as if it has finally come home."
San'lr'in’ placed the stone in the small cloth pouch, and then attached it to her belt. Noticing that she felt much stronger than just prior, she acknowledged the stone's quiet and constant strength, amazed at its inert abilities. She wondered what it would feel like to bring this stone to life.
She then moved to the next box, bringing it down from the shelf, “Take off the lid, Warrior Woman."
Meera removed the lid, but all they could see was a cloth covering. The High Queen handed the box to Meera, and then removed the cloth. She couldn't believe what she was looking at as she did so. Meera saw the object, but didn't know what it was. She looked at San'lr'in', and saw that she was as shocked as she had ever seen her.
"My Queen?"
"It is the crystal ball from the long-prior sorcerers. I wonder why Grandmother didn't give this to the Dark Sorcerer."
"Are you certain that she knew it was here, my Queen?"
The High Queen looked at her, thinking, “No. I am not certain of this, Warrior Woman. It is a good question, as she most certainly would have delighted in these powers. But why would someone hide these objects here, right near the Grandmother?"
"There is a saying in Woden that no one looks right under their nose for that which is lost, Highness."
"Hmmm ... perhaps.” She looked around the room, “But all of this? Why would someone hide all of this from The Realm?"
"To keep the evil ones from obtaining as such, my Queen?"
She looked back to Meera, yet thinking. Then her face brightened, “Of course. You are correct, Warrior Woman. I recall this moment from our past. Just prior to The First High Queen, the sorcerers tried to remove the powers from The Realm, as you say—to keep the evil ones from obtaining them. They had fewer powers than those with evil, so rather than lose the powers to the Dark Sorcerers, they removed them, knowing they wouldn't be able to keep them."
She looked around again at all the artifacts in the room, “So, The First High Queen must have concealed this room from the Grandmother, yet wanting to keep all these powers hidden. But she did as such right under, as you say, the nose of the Grandmother, where she would never think of searching for them. How amusing this is."
San'lr'in’ reached for the third box, handed it to Meera, who had placed the second box at her feet for safe-keeping. The High Queen removed the lid, opening it slowly, wondering as to what more they could possibly find. She looked upon the metal bowl, then began to remove it. As she brought it out of the box, she once again stood amazed.
Meera thought it looked as any other well-crafted bowl, “My Queen?"
The High Queen rubbed her hand lightly around the bowl's lip, causing it to produce soft musical sounds, “Unless I am mistaken, this is the long-prior Sorcery Singing Bowl. The legends say that the long-prior Sorcerers often used this bowl to help strengthen their spells many-fold. Similar to what I am able to do so with My stones. I have no knowledge of how this must have been done, but its tone is quite pleasing."
San'lr'in’ felt a strange vibrating from the small pouch attached to her belt. She untied it and brought out the Stone of Power. As she brought it close to the Singing Bowl, she watched amazed as the stone changed from one brilliant color to another as the bowl produced its magical music sounds.
She placed the stone back into its pouch, closing it firmly, “Later, My Stone. Now is not the moment to become alive."
She replaced the bowl back into the box, covering it, “Keep these objects safe, Warrior Woman. Allow the sorcerers to see not these items. You and Ann'wn will need to find a safe place to carry these objects with us. I will keep the stone with Me."
The Healer and Sle'nel’ were the first to arrive, and looked around in the room for anything of value or interest. In a short while, the sorcerers and the scholars also came. After many moments of finding little else of interest to her, The High Queen approached her Healer, “Healer. I must leave. My back begins to return its pain to Me."
The Healer nodded, “Yes, Highness. And we are all well-exhausted from your find. Are you able to return to your shelter, my Queen?"
The High Queen looked up to the top of the cavern, “Perhaps we should just sleep here, Healer. That is a long way up."
The Healer laughed, “One of your scholars counted the stairs, Highness. The good report is that they say it is less than eighteen stories from top to bottom."
"And the bad report, Healer?"
She laughed again, “That it is just less than eighteen stories from the bottom to the top, High One."
Sle'nel', The Healer, Ann'wn, Meera, and Sam all returned with The High Queen to the camp, leaving the scholars and the sorcerers to find the remaining artifacts of interest. As they returned slowly to the camp, San'lr'in’ gave her orders.
"Healer? Did you bring the journals of her alchemy?"
"Yes, Highness. I wish not the sorcerers to see as such. Her journals, and all her notes."
"Well done. They are yours to tend to, Healer. Report to Me anything of interest."
"Yes, High One."
"Force Leader. We will need to remain yet one more turn so that the sorcerers and scholars gain an idea of the measure and span of the artifacts prior to our departure."
"Yes, my Queen."
"And have the sorcerers and scholars carefully watched, Force Leader, so that nothing is stolen from The Realm. This must not occur again. You will also need to guard well the dwelling until our departure. I will then place a spell upon it as we leave so that no other can enter."
The High Queen had given her orders, but had forgotten to dismiss everyone. Sle'nel’ had become impatient as everyone remained around. She turned to them, “The High Queen will be available in the late morn. Until then, good eve. Healer, let us place the potion on her back."
The Healer and Sle'nel’ removed The High Queen's garments, then helped her to lay upon their camp-style bed so that The Healer could apply her back potion.
"How long were you with this Grandmother, High One?"
"It seemed forever to My young mind, but it was less than six moons, I think."
"Why were you in shackles, High One?"
The High Queen sighed deeply, then finally responded, “The Grandmother had a bent penchant for slow torture and physical perversion onto young girls."
"Then that is why you cannot—"
She interrupted, “Yes, Healer, but say no more. The memories are not My favorite."
"How did you manage to escape, given all your wounds, Highness?"
"All I recall feeling are hate and anger. While the pain was great, My anger and hate were far greater. I vowed then that should I ever gain any power, I would remove such from The Realm. Now I see that I failed Myself in My own vow. Pity. I should never forget this lesson."
"How did you escape from such as this?"
She sighed again, not liking the memory, “I felt I had nothing to lose. I either faced slow, but well hidden tortures and perversions, death, or escape. In My anger, I chose the latter and made it to occur. Death was the next option as I could no longer accept her touches."
"Your anger was a good weapon, San'lr'in'. I now understand why you have chosen to remain strongly connected to this anger.” She turned to The Healer, “Healer. May I apply the remainder of this potion?"
The Healer nodded knowingly, gave her the remainder of the needed potion, then left. Sle'nel’ sat next to her lover and rubbed in the potion, removing San'lr'in’ away from the concerns of the turn.
The journey's path to El'fs'nd'lle began early late-eve as the temperature began to cool, two turns later, and as the sun began its downward journey. Just prior to their departure, The High Queen placed an unbreakable spell upon the Grandmother's dwelling so that none could enter. They knew that they would have to begin their journey through the Sorcerer's Forest at first light if they had any chance of making it through the worst part in one turn, so hurried the horses through the eve.
As they rode closer toward it, all began to try to see the feared forest. For much of their ride, they saw the sporadic lightning occur across the forest, although there were no clouds in the sky. Even closer, they began to see the twisted trees whose branches reached eerily out toward them. And as they neared the forest's boundary even more closely, they could hear the high-pitched blood-curdling sounds that emanated from deep within it.
Ann'wn rode back to her High Queen, bowing her head, “Is there no way around this, my Queen?"
The High Queen gazed at the forest now directly ahead of her, wishing they had gone another way to El'fs'nd'lle. She turned her head slowly toward Ann'wn, sighing deeply, “There is, Force Leader. It is six turns around it with no water. This is the far shortest path.” She looked back to the forest, wondering if any of her powers could contain the wayward spells.
"Can we not cross through it during the eve, Highness?"
"The sun's light will be the only directional available to us. If we cross it during the eve, we will surely lose our way. And I doubt that any of us wish to remain forever lost in this forest."
Ann'wn felt defeated, “We will camp here, Highness."
The High Queen nodded.
They made camp and awaited the morn. All were ready to leave in a hurried fashion, having barely unpacked, more than anxious to be completed with this portion of their journey. Few slept during the remainder of the eve, their nerves tense from the forests’ sounds.
Sam jerked awake, “What was that?"
Uthrn placed an arm around her, “Another noise from within the forest. Try to get some rest."
"Rest? With such screaming? It is as if someone were being tortured."
Uthrn hadn't been able to sleep at all, “You speak truth. It sounds like they are being slowly ripped apart."
The High Queen stood at the boundary to the forest, safe from its sorcery, but hearing and seeing everything within its limits. She entered her meditations, careful to avoid moving into the boundary, but remaining close enough so that she could experiment with some of her powers against the wayward sorcerer's spells. She tried using a few of her powers against the forest, and while some worked briefly, she could feel that it would take all her combined powers to break the long-lost sorcery. She exited from her meditations, unwilling to take the risk. She knew that she could move the long-lost sorcery to within her own powers, but also knew that it would cause her great weakness for a few turns to do so.
Perhaps, Forest, I can return you to your peace on another turn.
While in her meditations, she had sensed that the Dark Sorcerer awaited her on the other side of the Sorcerer's Forest, so took no risk in over-extending her powers. She also sensed that he counted on her using her powers to go safely through this forest, then being in a weakened state as they met.
A good guess, on his part, but also a great risk ... unless he has another plan.
She stood looking at the forest, thinking aloud, well frustrated in the moment, “Why must nothing be simple?"
"Highness?"
She turned and saw her Healer, “Ah, Healer. It is you.” She sighed, returning herself to The Realm, “Prepare yourself. You must heed no sound, and you must not remove your blindfold. I wish you to go through this forest safely. No sound, Healer. Even that of your lover."
As the sun's rise began to think of occurring, Ann'wn had everyone prepare. At first light, The High Queen provided a protective spell upon them to help them travel more safely through the forest. It took her many moments, but when she completed the chant, she felt that her traveling companions were now somewhat removed from their fears and from the sounds that would compel them to remove their blindfolds.
She then nodded to her Force Leader, and Ann'wn gave her signal to Meera and Caitha. All were hooked together by short ropes from horse-to-horse, and all were blindfolded.
Just prior to their departure, The High Queen took Meera aside, “Warrior Woman. Take heed of My words."
"Yes, my Queen."
"I sense you are no longer entirely of the human background. I have seen that your meditations occur overly easily for such, and I am led to believe that as humans have prolonged contact with Mystics, they become partly as such. If this is so, you will be unable to cross through this forest without a blindfold. Prepare yourself, as if you begin to see the forest as the Mystics do, you must forcefully close your eyes against it."
Meera had at first thought her Queen to be in error, but knowing her Queen to be seldom wrong, she nodded and accepted the statement as truth, “I will also prepare Caitha for such, Highness. What if Caitha is effected as well? Who will lead us then, Highness?"
"I will. Have no fear in this regard.” But even as she said as such, she wondered if she could make it occur.
The High Queen had warned Ann'wn that in every group there seemed to be always one or two who would test their courage and determination against the forest, “But know this, Force Leader. You are not to remove your blindfold under any condition, no matter who or what you believe you hear. Even if you think you hear a cry for help from your lover, any other, or Me. Under no circumstances must you break your resolve, or you will forever become part of the forest. I will be unable to save you from this fate."
Ann'wn nodded, believing every word her Queen spoke, “It will be most difficult, my Queen, but I will remain fast to your command."
As soon as The High Queen entered into her eighth meditation, a place where sensory perception was all there was with no judgment of any kind, Caitha, Meera and The High Queen began leading their trek through the forest, with Caitha seeing or hearing nothing but ordinary forest sounds. Meera remained in alert for whatever might come her way, a blindfold readied if needed.
The High Queen followed Meera, who followed Caitha, and their journey began easily enough. But as they entered into the deepest segments of the forest, The High Queen began sensing the sounds of the forest, knowing that they were eating away at her warriors’ resolve. Since she was in her eighth meditation, there was nothing she could do to help them persevere through the forest's sorcery. She heard their cries of surprise, hoping they could remain steadfast to their journey.
San'lr'in’ sensed the smells of the spells, knowing them to be offensive, but passing no judgement on them. She could hear the chilling sounds caused by the sorcerer spells upon the forest, but felt no emotion regarding them. The sounds neither frightened nor pleased her in any fashion—they simply were, to her. The sights that the sorcerer spells used to try to terrify her were merely observed by her.
The others were not as fortunate. As they traveled more deeply into the forest, the sorcerer spells sought out each individual's fears, continually preying upon them.
Ern'seln’ began to feel the chill of her fears directly around her, hearing the sounds she most feared, Snakes. I hate snakes.
Blindfolded, she couldn't see them, but the spells sent to her were of the sounds of snakes. She shivered as she heard hundreds of snakes ready to strike. She sensed their presence on the ground and hanging from the trees, and felt herself shaking in her own fear. She sensed their wriggling in tight throngs, all angry and hissing; all after her, and her mind had great difficulty moving away from such an image. But being trained in the ways of the great masters, she knew to ignore her imaginings for what they were, but the challenge was great.
"Arrrggghhh!” She blindly beat at a snake that first brushed against her head, then bit her on the neck as it hung from a tree.
"It is not real!"
"It is not real!"
She tried to convince herself the snake bite wasn't real, even as she felt the sharp pain of the bite, her heart racing in terror as she felt the blood oozing down her neck. Fighting against her steadily consuming fear, she tried to move herself away from her emotions, forcing herself to distance from the moment.
Ann'wn's most intense emotion was now love and fear of its loss, so the sorcerer's spells fed greedily on her fears of losing her lover. While she also could see nothing through her blindfold, she well heard The Healer screaming in pain, “Ann'wn. Help me.” Moment after moment, she heard her lover scream from tortures, as the spells endlessly haunted her mind, “Ann'wn. Help me. Please hear me. I am not of the sorcery. I need your help."
Being an Elf, and thus more sensitive to the mystical realm than even the Mystics, San'lr'in’ had placed Sle'nel’ in a deep trance-like state so the forest couldn't affect her. She had heard many stories long prior that no Elf could make it through this forest unaided, and was unwilling to take such a risk with her lover. So, while Sle'nel’ was somewhat awake for the ride through the forest, she was even further removed from the effects of the forest than The High Queen. Because of her trance-like state, Sle'nel’ wasn't truly aware of any of her senses, so San'lr'in’ didn't worry over her.
And The High Queen had also done as such to both the young girl they had found in the grandmother's dwelling as well as to Sele', knowing of their inability to protect themselves from the mental tortures.
As they entered into the beginning of the deepest part of the forest, Meera began to see and hear strange movements and noises. Rather than wait, she heeded her Queen's warnings quickly and placed on her blindfold. It was now up to Caitha and San'lr'in', but even at that, Caitha was now the main leader of the travelers. Prior to the journey through the forest, San'lr'in’ had told Caitha of how to maintain a straight path through the forest, and had prepared Caitha in case she also had begun to turn part Mystical. The High Queen had seen Meera place on her blindfold, now knowing that Meera was indeed becoming part Mystical in her own right, but also leaving Caitha as their main leader. Yet, as they reached the middle of the forest where the strongest of the spells occurred in an ever more rapid and intense fashion, even Caitha was forced to place on her blindfold.
Now somewhere between her eighth and seventh meditations, The High Queen moved her horse to the front of the line and began to lead them away from the forest's center. When Caitha no longer heard or sensed strange occurrences, she removed her blindfold and continued her guiding of the group. Sensing the sun's set, The High Queen began to back herself out of her meditations, leaving herself in her second meditation. In this meditation, she remained slightly away from The Realm to avoid the direct impact of the sorcerers’ spells, yet alert enough to remain wary of the Dark Sorcerer, should he be waiting. She also sensed that they had lost three of her Private Guard warriors, and two of her Black Guard warriors to the forest's spells.
By the final moment of the sun's departure, they were finally finished with their long trek through the Sorcerer's Forest. With the exception of the five lost warriors, all the others had made it through. What The High Queen hadn't informed them of was that the worst part of the journey through the forest was often the eve after.
"Healer. Your services will be well needed this eve. Many will recall their fears throughout the remainder of this eve."
"You knew of this, my Queen?"
"Was it not enough to first obtain the forest, Healer?"
She nodded, “Yes, my Queen. But many are now in mental discomfort. And they appear to be quite damaged by this journey."
The High Queen raised her eyebrow and looked directly into her Healer's eyes, “You will recall, Healer, that it was your lover who chose this route to El'fs'nd'lle.” She lowered her eyebrow, then looked more softly at her Healer, “But perhaps it will be for the best, as El'fs'nd'lle is not the best place to face the Dark Sorcerer."
"Will you or the Elf need my services this eve, High One?"
"There is no need. Would you like Me to check you, Healer?"
"No, High One. You protected me well, but it was quite the journey."
"Indeed. You seem to be the master of understatement, Healer. I wish you well in your healing practices this eve. Give Me your report in the morn. I would also like a report then on our newest member of our journey."