The High Queen's Vow [The Mystic Women of The Realm Series Book IV] by Robbie Collins Page B

lowered their swords and waited.
    The enemy was almost upon them. Standing nearby, Sam watched as the lightning finally halted, and saw her sister draw in a big breath, then lower her head. San'lr'in’ then looked up, and for the first moment since her arrival, looked about her, seeing all her forces prepared and waiting her command. She made eye contact with Ann'wn.
    As if there were no concern or hurry, she raised an eyebrow and gave a mischievous grin, “Trust Me, Force Leader?"
    Ann'wn bowed her head, unable to smile, “Always, my Queen."
    The High Queen turned to Sam, “Trust Me, Highest?"
    "With my life, my Queen."
    "The pain will be great."
    "I do as you need."
    San'lr'in’ sent an unspoken message to her sister. Now knowing what was needed of her, Sam followed her sister's lead. Together, they raised their swords to each other, crashing them together and holding them as if joined. The impact was astounding, but the force of The High Queen's power flooded through Sam's sword, almost knocking her to the ground, but, while in great pain from the energy flowing directly into her, she held fast. The long-prior, long-dead High Queens did the same, making a sound of an earthquake when their swords came together. A giant arc of red lightning suddenly formed between them, San'lr'in’ and Sam.
    "NOW, HIGHEST!"
    Sam followed her sister's commands, using all her strength to remove her sword from the vibrating and humming red arc, striking it solidly into the ground, holding tightly onto it. The enemy was upon them and Ann'wn thought they would now have to fight. Any more moments, and they would surely die.
    Abruptly, the enemy forces halted just in front of them, forced to do so by the strength of the spell Sam now held tightly to her, through her sword. The High Queen stepped in front of Sam, addressing their enemy, “I am San'lr'in'thel'ineln', High Queen of All The Realm. You belong not in our Realm. Our long-dead leaders have come to lead you home. Bow now before Me, or live forever in the eternity of torment."
    Sam saw that her own sword's powers served as the force field that was now holding the enemy forces away from them, while the long-prior, long-dead High Queens and her sister's connection of the red arc had begun to silently spread over the enemies. The long-dead enemy forces looked between San'lr'in’ and the long-prior, long-dead High Queens. But none moved to bow to her.
    One of the long-prior, long-dead High Queens stepped slightly forward and held up her sword. As an example to the enemy forces, a bolt of lightning attacked a small portion of the enemy forces. When the lightning bolt had disappeared, so had those enemy forces.
    "I am Drn'rn'thel'ineln', First High Queen of All The Realm. Return with Me or be tortured throughout eternity. This is not our Realm. We no longer belong in it."
    Sle'nel’ gasped, “The First High Queen."
    She knelt down on her knee and bowed her head, as did all of San'lr'in's forces. All were in shock, The First High Queen.
    San'lr'in’ turned back to her enemy, “Bow before Me, or never die. Bow, NOW, or suffer an eternity of torture."
    Slowly, many of the skeleton enemies dismounted and bowed before her, as did their horses. Without hesitating or allowing any more moments, San'lr'in’ moved her sword to a horizontal position over the bowed enemies’ heads. A red lightning bolt flashed in a blinding flurry over the enemy before her. Each enemy who had bowed before her was suddenly consumed in a spark of fire, finally, after all these long cycles being returned to their mothers.
    Ann'wn was horrified at the entire event, not knowing what to think of any of it, and now, up to half of their enemy were fully disappeared. And yet the other half yet faced them, more than ready to fight.
    "Now, Highest! Let go of your sword."
    Without hesitation, as their enemy was upon them, Sam followed her sister's command and let go her tight grasp on the sword. As she did, a great fog began