(from Chapter One)

The High Queen read the words on the display screen: 

Who are you? Why do you call yourselves the Mystic Women of the Realm? Aren’t you the descendants of Sansthera I, from Earth?

She wasn’t pleased. “They have sent another message.” 

She read it to them.

There was silence for a moment, then Sam spoke, “They think we are humans, from their realm.”

“Some of us are, remember?”

“Earth. They call their realm Earth.”

“Are you going to respond?”

“They seem like they wish to speak more with us.”

The High Queen ignored their cacophony, already responding. She pressed the buttons that allowed her to spell out the message she wished to send. When she was done, she looked up at them. “I have sent one final message prior to our departure to El’fs’nd’lle. I have said:

We are not your descendants. We are not humans. We are the Mystic Women of The Realm. You are not welcomed on our Realm. Return to your Earth. This Realm is already inhabited. Do not come here.

“They will respond again, Highness.”

“Yes, Force Leader. I am aware of this. If they return not to their home, I will respond to them at a later moment, prior to their arrival.”

“Perhaps they will be unable to return home, my Queen.”

“Perhaps, Black Uthrn. I have thought of this possibility. But it is overly soon to be concerned. We will consider them later, if need arises. Now we must depart to El’fs’nd’lle. Force Leader. Is all in preparation?”

Ann’wn slightly bowed her head, “Yes, my Queen. We will begin our journey as one group, but will separate so as to create a diversion, if we must. We have also decided to take the longer route, Highness, with your leave.”

San’lr’in’ breathed deeply, closing her eyes in hopes of restoring her patience. She re-opened them and stared at her Force Leader. Sighing, and knowing her patience was failing her, she said, “Our never-ending journey becomes even longer, then. What is your plan?”

Ann’wn heard the frustration of their journey’s length in her Queen’s voice, but also knew that it wasn’t her privilege to respond to it, “We will ride west by many turns into the great expanse, then north, my Queen. Once well north, we will travel east, arriving well north of El’fs’nd’lle. They will not be expecting us to come to El’fs’nd’lle from this direction.”

“Nor was I.”

“My Queen?”

The High Queen knew that their journey to El’fs’nd’lle was, no matter the route, to be a dangerous one, filled with their enemies lying in wait for them. While her powers were now strong and longing to be used, the using of the great powers yet left her weakened. El’fs’nd’lle was, at its shortest and quickest route from Sansthera, a full five-turn ride. From what her Force Leader had told her, she now knew that their journey was to be at least twice more the already long ride.

She took one last look at all the technology of the humans, wondering what the humans did if their machines broke. As she turned to leave the long building, she sensed that her message would do nothing to deter the humans’ arrival.
 

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