Free The Realm's Mystics [Mystic Women of The Realm Series Book 3] by Robbie Collins Page A

Join us."
    Sle'nel’ looked toward her Queen, “What say you, my Queen? Be these more fair odds? If I win against the two of them, then Ann'wn cannot bow to me again?"
    The High Queen smiled back at her, seeing her become the Elf she had so long been denied. The High Queen was truly enjoying the moment. She laughed, “No. I don't, My Love. Perhaps I should help them as well?"
    Sle'nel’ laughed in return, “Three against one Elf? No. Yet not correct. Where be Sam? That would even the odds a bit better, I think."
    The High Queen had no sword, so just gladly watched as Sle'nel’ played with both Meera and Ann'wn, dancing around their skills, showing no tiredness or strain throughout the swordplay. Sam finally walked over, wondering what the commotion was about. She saw Sle'nel's sword skills and was impressed. She had never seen Meera so strained as this, even given that Ann'wn was fighting with her against Sle'nel'.
    She stood next to her sister, saying to Meera, “You have grown weak in your old cycles, my Friend."
    Meera halted briefly, panting, looking at Sam, “A lot of help you are. Where be your sword?"
    Ann'wn turned to Sam, “Your turn, Highest. We are exhausted and she is not even yet tired."
    Ann'wn tossed her sword to Sam. She caught it gracefully, examined it a moment, and decided to enter the play. She moved around Sle'nel', encircling her between Meera and herself. Sle'nel’ was yet laughing, making them come after her, making them work together to win.
    As they moved to corner her, she looked at her Queen, “My Queen. I am hungry. Toss me a roll. I might as well eat while I wait for them to lose."
    San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ laughed. Ann'wn was now standing beside her, “How did she come into this ability, my Queen?"
    While San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ watched Sle'nel’ tire out Sam and Meera, she noticed a familiarity in Sle'nel's sword-play. She wondered about the memory, frustrated in not being able to recall the moment.
    Her sword skills remind Me of another. But whose?
    She kept watching Sle'nel's new Elfin movements, but finally responded to Ann'wn's question, “As her Birth-Mother died, she gave her memories to our sprightly Elf. My guess is that within some of the memories were powers from her Elfin Mother. She made you look like a first-moment sword user, My Ann'wn."
    San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ was trying to tease Ann'wn back into the swordplay. It worked, “My Queen. I take that as a challenge.” She picked up another sword.
    "Have you another?"
    Ann'wn handed The High Queen yet another sword, and The High Queen walked down to join in the swordplay. As Meera and Ann'wn were now engaged against their Elf, Sam looked to her sister, “Care for a contest, my Queen?"
    "I was just going to spar lightly with this sprightly Elf of ours."
    "Afraid I might win?"
    The High Queen raised an eyebrow, knowing well she had just been challenged. She nodded and prepared herself. She hadn't wanted to have any such contest with her sister, but could see it was now meant to be. She touched her sword to Sam's, and the contest began. Ann'wn, Meera and Sle'nel’ all halted so as to watch this battle of the wills.
    The High Queen and Sam were fully engaged in the fight. While San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ had engaged Meera in swordplay, she hadn't shown her true abilities, wanting to see Meera's moves, only. After a few moments of fighting, San'lr'in'thel'ineln’ had seen all she cared to see of her sister's fighting abilities. She focused upon her opponent's sword, no longer thinking of her sister, but only the sword she now fought against. She mentally blocked out all else around her, bringing up a few of her long unused abilities. She heard her long prior teacher's words to her, Focus only on the sword, but keep your eyes on the one behind it.
    She made a swift, close move from one direction, then within a blink, the same from another direction. Sam saw that she wasn't quick enough in return, when San'lr'in'thel'ineln’