Silvertree Chronicles Bk. 01 Ch. 12

Eldar looked at Charlemagne, "What do you think now?"

She smiled at Eldar and nodded, "You got a feel for talent."

He shook his head, "Something she told me, made me know she should come with us."

He found Jessup, "The bodies are ready to burn; we're expecting an Elven associate of ours, Jarron, to ride through in the next couple of days. We want him to see what we encountered before you set a torch to them. If you have not seen anyone in 3 days go ahead and torch them the 3rd night. He will slow when he smells the death, it would not be in his nature to not notice."

Eldar turned to the two humans, "Keyno and Tiger, you have skills that require a lot of aptitude and dedication; my apprenticeship was 30 years long. I merge magic with sword skills, acrobatics, strategy, and tactics. All of these require a level of dedication. We also have a code of conduct. Those rings I was handed the other day were for 25 of my fallen brothers and sisters. My code is to the good of all Elves, and thereby to our association to the good of our allies. I hope our association extends beyond the wedding and we become true friends."

They nodded at him as he mounted up.

He looked at the group, "Eagle-eye I would like you and Skinner to backtrack that raiding party for a couple of hours. If feasible obscure the trail, if not hightail it back. We will move forward and Hunter and I will split the guard shifts."

Charlemagne nodded, "Do it, and determine if they were wandering or set on a destination. Jarron will want to know."

The day went by with no major incidents and just after midday the next day they saw the signs of the river and just beyond the Elven Woods. "Tranosa, grab the white horse; that's the river I was talking about. Keyno, sling your bow.

You and your brother should ride between the first and second wagons. We're entering Wood Elf territories and we want them to know you're with us and are following our direction. This is their home."

They nodded and moved in-between the first 2 wagons. Toward the end of the day, they approached the crossroads. He looked to Charlemagne, "Your call, stop here or press on to your village, less than 10 miles and they should be expecting us."

Charlie nodded, "Press on there is the old 'inn' we need to move away for the night for Annette's sake."

He mounted up and rode up to Eagle-eye, "Go ahead another 200 yards look for a turn-off. We're going east at the crossroad to head to Porzcosa they should be expecting us but wait at the turn-off for us to get there."

He grabbed Hunter; "Grab your horse and split the distance between Eagle-eye and me. Keyno and Tiger, I do not care if an arrow misses you by inches and sticks in the back of a wagon; these Elves know these woods and are just as deadly as Keyno. If they want to hit you, they would. With this many Elves and Half-Elves that should not happen."

They nodded. Eldar got to the lead wagon, "Annette we're passing the crossroads send me a message if you're having an issue, I'm going to spread the scouts out before it gets too dark to find the turn-off. But I will be just ahead..." She nodded rapidly as she focused on her breathing. "Think horse shit and piss inside it."

She smirked and nodded. He headed forward 100 yards and told Hunter, "Move to Eagle-eye's location and then have her move another 200 yards up unless you find the turn-off sooner." An hour later we saw Eagle-eye come to a stop and Hunter joined her. Eldar joined them and waited for the wagons to arrive. He looked at Charlemagne, "I will ride slowly ahead."

An hour down this road and 2 arrows land in the road in front of him forming a perfect cross.

He stopped, dismounted, walked up to the 2 arrows, and pulled them up to wait. A couple of riders came from the woods and they lit torches. He got back onto his horse and turned at an angle as Hunter and Eagle-eye approached from behind just ahead of the first wagon. A voice rang out, "State your business!"

Eldar smiled, "We're expected. Charlemagne and Annette Silver are with us. I'm Master Blade Singer Eldar Silvertree, my mother was Elara Strong Oak. I spent the first half of my childhood in these woods. Would you like your arrows back?"

He commented, "You're facing the wrong way you should have those in your right hand."

Eldar nodded to them, "Grand Master Yetto said it was to show that my weapon hand is occupied, I'm ambidextrous and my sword is set to fight left-handed."

He turned his horse to demonstrate his point. Then turned back with the arrows pointing side-by-side and the riders came forward. They took the arrows, "You have been briefed well on our customs."

Eldar shook his head, "Not really. Our customs. I spent over 35 years in these woods. I knew the customs. Grand Master Yetto just told me with my weapon set to left-handed I should make this change in the approach and explain if it ever occurred. If he arrived before me, he would have warned you to expect me to do this."

They smiled, "He is waiting for you at his father's home, Charlemagne's home is ready and waiting for you. How many travelers are with you?"

He sighed, "We have 12 with us with more expected; I do not know how many escorts they may have. We have food prepared that we will need to cook. We rode through the evening meal to get here. Hunting was good, Hunter brought down 2 deer on the first shift. We hunt, skin, clean, and prepare the game on the move.

The wagons stop in the morning and the evening unless there is trouble. Care to lead us in, we have 2 humans with us 2 Half-Elves and the rest are Elves of many types. I know you're cautious but I counted 7 on my left and 6 on my right, not counting you 2. The others hid better."

They laughed at him and started riding, "You only missed 3 not bad for someone out of the woods so long."

Eldar laughed, "Grand Master Yetto was very demanding in maintaining observation skills."

They nodded, "He is very proud of you, he has his new apprentice with him. He said you're the only 4-time champion ever."

Eldar smiled, "Grand Master Yetto is setting new standards. How is John Silver?"

They hesitate, "His health is not great. It would be best to wait until morning."

Eldar fell back, "Annette, link us together with Charlemagne."

Annette, "What is it?"

Charlemagne, "Something wrong?"

Eldar, "They want us to wait until morning to see your father. They have us set up at your home with Grand Master Yetto and his apprentice. Your father's health is not great. If either of you has any objections let me know."

Charlemagne, "I want to see him."

Annette, "Same."

Eldar, "Will let them know."

He rode back up, "Annette, Charlemagne and I will see John Smith tonight. The others can be taken to Grand Master Yetto. This is a message from both daughters I spoke with them using magical telepathy."

They nodded, "We will follow the wishes of the daughters."

Eldar sighed, "Might as well get this out front. I would like a meeting with your village elders in the morning."

They looked at him, "Unusual request. Can we ask why?"

Eldar looked at them, "Many items on the agenda from the wedding to a threat assessment on what we encountered."

One asked, "Threat assessment?"

Eldar nodded, "With the Elders tomorrow."

They made it into the village and saw Grand Master Yetto in front of the first house they approached, "Greetings...cousin."

Grand Master Yetto smiled, "Not your typical greeting but understandable this time."

He got off of his horse and went to the first wagon and pulled out a long package, and brought it to him. "I know you're a collector of rare swords and this came from far away but was found just a couple of days ago."

He handed him the long thin-bladed sword and he audibly gasped, "A katana! A very rare weapon in these parts. I had a distant ancestor who passed on his training for generations all the way down to my mother. My mother to me, and from me onto you.

Then my father taught me to be a Blade Singer and I merged them. Part of the reason you fight well is the training methods I learned. I incorporated those methods into your training with our style of weapons and Blade Song.

Remember them as you will be only 1 of 2 apprentices I will have. The job to train them will fall to you soon enough and for much longer. As my first son in the art when I pass my collection will belong to you. You will see this again someday. As to apprentices, I have a surprise.

I brought my new one with me. The testing you witnessed went well but the student did not have the dedication and left my training. I had more candidates sent and one was a repeat. I found it surprising, but he did much better with the sword than he did the first time around. This is my apprentice Elios'vasius Silvertree."

Eldar was floored but happy. He walked over to him and he bowed to Eldar and Eldar asked him, "You know who I am?"

He nodded, "You're Master Eldar Silvertree, I witnessed your last 2 tournaments at the school."

Eldar took his gloves off, and extended his hand to him, "You can call me that or you can call me brother. I witnessed your first trial and am glad to see things have improved for you."

Elios nodded, "I had a visit from my, or should I say our, father a couple of weeks ago. We talked about my performance and why I did not do well. You're very observant of my...I mean our father says. When Grand Master Yetto returned I volunteered to go back and get re-tested. Mother did not hear of it until after I had already accepted."

Eldar nodded, "Undoubtedly she blames my influence on your decision..." He smiled. "I assume for peace in your home you left father's visit out of the discussion?"

He nodded and then sighed, "She's such a bitch to everyone; any advice on that?"

Then it was Eldar's turn to laugh, "Yes, as a matter of fact, you can tell our father it might be time he flipped her over and banged her in her nether-hole until she knows who's in charge of the family."

Now he had several people laughing. Elios shook his head, "I do not think I could have that conversation with him."

Eldar patted him on the shoulder, "Do not worry about it. I will when he arrives. You got my advice that no parent can live your life for you?"

He nodded, "It was good to hear and it was good to talk with him for a change. He seemed much different than the last time I spoke with him, but I guess a lot can happen in 10 years."

Eldar smiled at him, "I had my first conversation with him in 50 years at my graduation. Then another a couple of weeks later telling him I was getting married; that conversation was a lot longer.

I'm glad he has gone in search of who he is, he could not describe himself to me. I spent time describing who I was to him. You're in luck if you're here long enough, there is a chance you could be observing history.

I have come here for many reasons that could change the history of our people if we're successful. It is not the number of years that makes you, it's what you do with them. Speaking of which, are you having to undergo all those protocol and heraldry classes?"

Elios nodded.

Eldar smiled, "I understand given who your mother is, it is highly improbable that you can get out of those. I would not interfere given your mother's lineage but I also do not want you to ever be competing against what I have done. I had more time available to train because I said to hell with those courses and spent time working acrobatics and fighting with either hand."

He smiled, "That last fight was the talk of the campus for days how did you fight her so long?"

Eldar looked at him, "Eight hours a day every day of sword practice and sparring for an hour at a time. I would say not to do this, but with the way things are headed, you may be putting those skills to the test sooner rather than later.

Learn but never compete against my accomplishments at the Academy. My focus in life was a lot different in not having a family for support. I also started later than you did. Now witness a sad part of our responsibility."

He nodded as Eldar moved to Grand Master Yetto, "Grand Master Yetto, did you receive the 5 rings I sent you." Grand Master Yetto sighed and nodded. "I sadly have more."

Eldar opened a pouch and withdrew the belt of rings. "Again, I do not know how they died but my men helped to pull this off the body of an Ogre Magi we defeated who was wearing it as a belt." He let the belt fall to its full length and draped it across both hands to give it over to his cousin. "Will you see they are returned to the council."

He bowed with shaky hands. Eldar had never seen him shakey, "I will get this back to the council so the families will have closure."

Eldar's brother asked, "What is with the rings?"

Eldar held out his hand, "Everyone was a Grand Master or Master Blade Singer. It holds 7 Grand Masters and 18 Master Blade Singers on that belt."

Grand Master Yetto corrected Eldar, "When recovered in this manner they are simply known as Spirit Master's being returned home. Their titles in life do not carry forward, they are all now Spirit Masters. You have returned more with the first 5 than most do in a lifetime. This does not bode well for the order if we're losing so many."

Eldar nodded, "Teaching needs to change to reflect the realities of our time. Now I have 2 special guests. A couple of humans who could tell you more about that sword; Keyno and Tiger. I want Keyno to put on an archery demonstration that's on par with your teaching with the sword. Her brother is amazingly fast with unarmed and light arms combat and splits logs without the use of an ax, only the side edge of his hand."

He looked to Keyno and Tiger, "This is the Grand Master who trained me, Grand Master Yetto."

They bowed before him and Keyno spoke, "Yetto is a strong family name in our lands! Both ninja assassins and Samurai are known to have Yetto family in them. We're honored to meet you!"

Eldar looked to the Grand Master, "Please watch over them until I return. I'm taking the sisters to see their father."

He nodded and Eldar departed with Annette and Charlemagne.

They walked over in silence, passed the 2 'guards' as the sisters knew the way and Eldar followed. They entered the house and their father was sitting in a chair with a healer nearby. He smiled at seeing both his daughters then looked at them, "I knew one was coming home but to have you both here is a true blessing. This fellow must be the one I have been hearing about. Your husband to be."

Eldar nodded. Then Charlemagne turned to him, "This is Eldar and we're expecting twin girls as well."

This got a smile from him, "You love him."

To Eldar's shock, both of them were nodding. He did not think the meaning was lost on him and Charlemagne had realized her sister's confession.

He asks his healer, "Give us some time alone." He motioned Eldar to take the healer's previous seat. He looked at them, "My dreams are true, you love them both."

Charlemagne looked up in shock and then to her sister who had not looked up after realizing what she did.

Eldar started to answer but Charlemagne cut him off, "Yes father, though you're the only one who knows it."

Eldar shook his head, "I think our team suspects they just have not said anything. It is not like we have been getting separate rooms."

John smiled at Eldar, "If my dream holds you will be marrying them both at Silent Falls by the Lady of Dreams. She has been coming to me in my dreams letting me know this would be a good thing for your future. That you will bring happiness to my girls and change to these lands. I will support you when the time comes."

Eldar nodded. John Silver was Half-Elven like his deceased wife, "The Lady has been visiting our dreams as well. We have not had that vision, only other pieces of things we need to do."

He smiled again, "Then you believe me?! Others think I'm losing my mind and calling me sick."

Eldar smiled back, "If you're losing your mind, we are riding in the same wagon together."

John laughed, "It will be an exciting ride then."

Eldar nodded, "I do not want to bring the mood down but there are a couple of matters that Annette needs to address with you. Can you speak Annette?"

She sighed, "Yes, two things really, and one is a revelation to you. I'm psionic. Telepathic and empathic that we have discovered so far. It is part of the reason I left as the first mind I inadvertently read was yours the day after the attack on me. I saw what happened to the attacker."

John looked shocked, ashamed, and nodded in understanding, "I did not handle that time well for either of us."

Eldar looked at her, "Tell him what you're wanting."

Annette looked at him, "I want the land where the inn is at, by Elven law, it should be mine in reparations."

He looked shocked and angry, "You want that inn?!"

Eldar looked at him, "No, not really, we want that stable. It's a hook we need to effect change in the community. Do you want the whole picture?"

He looked around at them and nodded, "This sounds big."

Eldar smiled, "Charlemagne, you want to let them know to bring food over to us when it's ready and tell that healer we will be watching over your father tonight."

She smiled and left. Eldar looked at him and laid out the whole plan, all of the pieces and what they already had waiting in the wings if they pulled this off.

They ate and John looked over at Eldar, "Your children will have some brains in their heads, big ideas, and even bigger shoes to fill. I will support your claim, it's the law. If you can do what you're wanting to do it's in the best interest of all of the Elven people. You have many supporters?"

Eldar nodded, "Many and one more who shares our dreams."

John chuckled at that last comment, "My daughters have chosen well it seems."

Eldar nodded and smirked, "So we have your blessing then?"

Everyone laughed as John nodded, "With every fiber of my being."

They cleaned up and grabbed some sleep.

---

Corellon looked at the Lady of Dreams, "I never said anything about sending dreams to John Silver."

She smiled, "No, not every dream I send is for you either. I wanted him to know that his daughters would signal a change in things to come. They would both marry the same elf at the same time. That it would be permitted, legal, and blessed by the Gods.

Nothing more. He mentioned it to a couple of other Elders and they thought his mind was going. It sets the stage for what is coming. They made it there and he suspects, as does Charlie, that the attack was no coincidence. They have gathered the proof that there are problems in your Academy to be addressed as well."

Corellon nodded, "True, not every dream you send is by my direction. Be prepared to send them as waking dreams during the wedding. I want the Royal family shaking in their bed. This further decline into decadence will stop one way or another. I am getting sick of the term 'High Elf.'"