Silvertree Chronicles Bk. 01 Ch. 21

He looks at Eldar, "650, firm."

Eldar nodded, "You throw in the reigns then." He nodded. "On my account."

He nodded again. He looked at Keyno, "Tie your horse off and take off the saddle and blanket." She nodded. "You got the apples?"

She nodded again. He smiled, "First thing's first, what do you feel from her you see her,"

She thought and smiled, "Majestic Star."

He nodded, "Of the elven phrase for that would be 'V'strasius as a name. The horse is judging more than your words but your intent. The first commands you will need to master are 'unta' which means come. Then vita which means to stop or stay. To go forward No kicking Biana. Faster is Filarna and then the big one which I will show you outside the city gates is Biatus Evanill Aisiaon. You want to find out if you can shoot at that speed! The first thing is coming to an agreement."

He walked her through the process of using the apples and then left her in the corral with the horse to make her bargain. She was very sweet toward the mare and had the name down in no time. She lured the horse over giving her an apple as she puts on each piece of equipment.

He looked at her, "Start with biana and then vita." She did this once she was seated. He looked at her again, "Are the reigns how you need them to keep from losing them?"

She tied it off so it sat even but higher on the horse's neck. Once she has those two down, He released her from the corral and gets up onto T'suras. He asked her, "You ready?'' She looks a little nervous.

He moved away from her, "Do your swing and back up. She did it while the horse was still and the horse did not lift a hoof. She smiled with a little more enthusiasm. "Let us leave the city for a minute. Bring your bow as I have some targets out there. She nodded. They headed to the gate and the guard let them past. I smiled, "The most complex command you have is the one we will start with next.

'Biatus Evanill Aisiaon.' I want you to give that a try and head down the road. I will be right behind you. Remember vita, but pulling back on the reigns is allowed to slow down some."

She nodded and gave the command and the horse was off like a shooting star. Eldar followed suit and caught up with her as she came to a stop. He looked over at her, "Can you shoot going that fast?"

She smiled and then nodded. He pointed, "That target has the center blown out of it. Ride 200 feet past it and shoot the target."

He rode out to the 200-foot spot to mark the fire line. He signaled her.

She went flying up and to the left side of the target. She swung down at about 150 feet and fires just past 200 feet. He rode over to the target and waited. The arrow was stuck in the side of the hole in the middle.

He looked at her, "Is that why you went so far left?"

She smiled and nodded. He looked at her, "Do you believe me now about your horses for the future?"

She nodded quickly. He rode over toward her. She reached over and hugged him, "Thank you for this."

He looked at her, "T'suras will have her carrying about the time you have to stop riding. Might even have a second before you are back in the saddle."

She laughed. "You are probably right, but I will stay active to keep in shape."

He nodded and laughed, "With this group, we will always keep you running. Leave the arrow. I want you to show that to your arcane archers this afternoon when you are riding this beauty. Let us go and get mid-day meals and then we can return to all this fun."

She smiled and we rode back to the city. They rode back in and he saw Hunter, "At a hundred and one now."

He laughed and she smiled. They stopped outside the little inn the team liked to stay at and she followed the commands. They went inside with the others and had a pleasant lunch. Hunter confirmed the rooms and had started assigning recruits to different common rooms. After lunch, the wagon rolled in with Charlemagne and Karra riding in the back with all the packs.

He looked at Hunter, "Let's get our gear upstairs, Tranosa give me a hand with Charlemagne."

They walked out and he leaned in, "She loves that horse."

He nodded, "Let me know when you are ready for yours."

He looked at Eldar and nodded. They got Charlemagne and the 3 packs and Kara's small bundle of clothes upstairs and settled. Then headed back down and he ran into Doc, "We have our 6 clerics and they have another 10 that will be here the morning of our departure. We got 4 more from Narilis, 4 from Aerdria and one each from Vandria, and Rillifane."

He smiled, "Good mix and how did things go with your superiors?"

He smiled, "They are giving me leadership over the new Church, they could think of no better candidate than the priest who identified the mothers of the preordained priests and was married by the Lady of Dreams."

He looked at the 6 they had, "Once the inn is up will have a makeshift hospital in the inn across from where the church will be built. Now how many of you have experience doing a multi-child birth?"

One hand went up, "I am Triana Silvertree. I have delivered a set of twins."

Eldar nodded, "A relative of mine?"

She nodded, "Your Aunt, but like you, I am not in the inner circle of the family."

He walked over to her and extended his hand, "I am happy to meet you and I am glad you are joining us. You are the new head of our mother and child ward. We will have a lot of deliveries upcoming with multiple sets of twins, one set of triplets, and a woman with quadruplets."

Her mouth hung open, "All around the same time?"

He nodded, "Within months at best, at worst all at once."

She shook her head, "How many of these are yours?"

He chuckled, "I have two sets of twins. One with each of my twin wives. The quadruplets are in an elf-blood. They are two sets of twins but it is still four children. The triples are in a human and she is carrying the champion of Vandria so the priest of Vandria will want to be involved. The father is a Moon-elf and my Captain. As such they will be the first delivered as they are elf-blooded.

The priest of Corellon Larethian will want to be involved with the Queen's delivery and the mother who has quadruplets. They are all four battlemages."

He got a raised eyebrow. The priest looked at Eldar, "That must be a strong magical couple."

He smiled, "The father is a battle mage, sorcerer to be specific, the mother was never tested. We believe she is a dormant sorceress who will need to be trained for her own protection."

She nodded rapidly, "She would have to have a strong tie to magic for that."

Eldar concurred, "She is also an elf blooded. A half-elf whose last name we do not truly know, as her mother died with nothing to identify them shortly after the child was born. She is unaware of her condition. I would like you to be present when we talk to her. One of the reasons we asked you down here today."

He looked over at Doc, "We need to ensure this new church has a place for delivering children because there will be a lot of them. The city will be in a panic in a few months as the infertility stuff stops working. Or completely reversing. As in the case of our woman with two sets of twins. Alchemy vs divinity and divinity will win every time!"

That reminded him as he saw a Guard Captain he needed to speak with. He headed outside, "Guard Captain, you need my assistance?"

She got off of her horse, "I do not know how you do what you are doing but it scares the shit out of me."

He nodded, "It is a double-edged sword because you know things that nobody should know, like the death of one of your wives and you can do nothing to stop it."

She sighed, "I never thought of that. You said you could help me?"

He nodded, "I will." He pulled out a piece of parchment and wrote.

Your Majesty,

I regret to inform you that Eravan is active in the city, just like at my wedding. One infertility potion has resulted in quadruplets in an elf blooded woman. Your guard captain can point to another incident in which a cock ring failed. This is a chance to save mother and child.

I hope you can help her. I have the quadruplets leaving the city with me. Soon chaos will hit the city in regards to these failures. You should address this sooner rather than later. I know I ask a lot of you, but I do so to help protect you and your children.

KC Eldar Silvertree, Grand Master Blade Singer

He looked to the Captain, "You have one shot to fix this. Declare your love for the lieutenant with the Queen. Let her know that your husband is infertile and this can be easily verified. Let her know you wish to take advantage of the plural marriages to resolve this. You need her assistance as your husband is your superior and all parties are in her Royal Guard.

When your husband finds out without intervention you and your children, you have twins, by the way, are likely to die. If she asked how do you know this? Tell her, because I told you about this course of action to save your life. I see the threat. This letter is your key to getting to the Queen and getting a private audience to discuss the matter."

She looked at me, "Why are you doing this for me? I have not exactly treated you nicely."

He nodded, "I am a Blade Singer sworn to protect the Elven people; even from each other. Just like I saved the two mothers with your other guard captain. He would have walked in while they were all asleep and killed them all; there was a chance the male wood-elf would have lived if the Captain rode faster. He did not and caught the wood-elf male as he turned with his sword. Then he castrated the elf which killed him.

I am trying to save lives which is why I told you. You have to end it with the married officer. He is infertile as well but your husband and lover would not approve. I think you have someplace to get to now. Best of luck with the Queen. She is a good lady and has a lot going on right now. These decrees will have to start soon if she wants to avoid chaos."

The Guard Captain nodded to him, "Thank you, I will let you know what she says."

Eldar smiled as she mounts up and rode away. He walked back inside, "Aunt Triana could I see you upstairs in my room please."

She nodded. As he walked he asked her, "Did you volunteer for this?"

She smiled, "Yes, I did. Especially when I heard a Silvertree was at the heart of it all. Outside the family circle even."

They arrive at his room. He saw Karra and Annette. He looked at Karra, "Could you go downstairs and get some wine, cheese, and fruit. Have it billed to the room, please?"

She nodded and headed off. He looked at his wives, "This is Charlemagne and Annette my wives. Charlemagne is carrying the preordained for the Lady of Dreams—a girl. This is Triana Silvertree, a priest and my aunt." They both looked at him in shock. "I thought you should meet her. She is the only priest we have who has done a multi-birth pregnancy. She volunteered to go with us."

Annette got up, "Welcome!"

Charlemagne waved and smiled. He looked at his aunt, "She is not well at the moment, and we moved her here recently. I wanted the 3 of you to meet for another reason. Those visions I have been having. They have given me some disturbing news without details.

As we have an open and honest relationship with no secrets, I have to tell you 2. You will each deliver 3 sets of twins in the next 10 years, after which something will occur. No more children.

The really disturbing part is that between that time and before the war starts one of you will die. I do not know who. I only know I cannot prevent it from happening. We need to live every day as though it is our last. I will be crushed to lose either of you. I know your long-held bond as twins will take a toll on the one who survives.

You know I hope I am wrong on this but I could not keep this from you without violating your trust. You are in shock over this so I thought my Aunt could talk with you for a while and help you make peace with what will come. Her being a cleric for the Lady of Dreams, she might understand this better."

Charlemagne sat up now. Annette sat back down. "So, you can either hate me for telling you or be glad I kept my promise to you."

Charlemagne nodded, "I prefer the trust."

Annette looks over, "This is what you wanted to talk about earlier, what was weighing you down?"

He nodded, "I also know half our team will not make it through the War. I do not know who. Annette finally got up and hugged him."

He sighed, "I pray to the Gods that they limit the prophecy stuff to things that I have a chance to change. Leave all this other garbage out."

Annette hugged him, "I prefer the trust. Thank you for telling us. We would love to talk to your Aunt."

He nodded, "I will let our city planner know you will be delayed. I will check how things are progressing. Aunt Triana, what can you tell me of this inner circle?"

She shrugged, "A lot of vipers in that nest, your father is a good man just misguided in his priority toward his children."

Eldar nodded, "Thank you."

He left the room as Karra entered. He grabbed a couple of slices of cheese and some apple slices and headed outside. He downed the cheese and ate one of the apple slices as He walked out to T'suras and fed him the others. He mounted up and went to see the City Planner, "How goes the manpower hunt?"

He shook his head, "I was able to squeeze another 12 carpenters and 3 journeyman leather workers and another 60 laborers." We are still short about 150 hands."

Eldar nodded to him, "Can you go around the guild? Attract some talent to move there?"

He smiled, "I like how you think; I will be back in a while."

Eldar traveled down and through the gate passing Keyno on her new horse. He looked at her, "Did you stable the other one?"

She nodded. He continued riding forward, to the gate, "Is Fireball on the other side?" The guard nodded. "I need to go through then."

He opened the gate. He rode through to the sounds of explosions. He found Fireball and smiled, "So how is the talent playing out?"

He smiles, "The only big standout is Blaze."

Eldar nodded, "I liked him too, where is he?"

Fireball thought, "The inn, at the bar, last I saw him."

Eldar nodded, "Thanks."

He headed over to the gate and headed back through. He stopped at the inn and headed to the bar, "Give me an Elven ale. I have not had one in a while." Eldar looked at him, "Blaze, we want to bring you on as a provisional lieutenant. That is a lieutenant we are considering to be a Captain."

He looks at me, "I would be working for you?"

Eldar nodded, "Also my wife Charlemagne, she is the other Commander, she is sick at the moment. We do have a snag. All pay comes in as an even split between 3 governments. That means it goes into an account here that you can draw upon. To have an account you are going to have to give us a name for pay purposes, the only one who will know is Charlemagne Tranosa, and myself. Can you work with that?"

He chuckled, "The 3 governments are splitting the cost of our pay?"

Eldar nodded, "Two are splitting land and one is providing labor; dwarven labor. Great for things like garrisons and watchtowers. Foundations for buildings. The good stuff."

He smiled, "Talius'vae Goldeagle."

Eldar held his head down, "I now know why you wanted to keep it secret. You should know we have Blade Singer Apprentice Goldeagle traveling with us on this trip, is that a problem?"

He sucked in the air for a second, "It might be a problem, when will he be here and for how long?"

Eldar looked at him, "Just a week or two and we have two towns and a large area to patrol but that means getting some of these wagons moving tomorrow. I will see what I can arrange. He comes in the day after tomorrow. But I have to know why us and now?"

He smiled, "You are not the only one who cares about this fucked up place. I have seen the impact you have had on this city in just days. I want to watch the ride and be in the middle of it."

Eldar laughed, "One more question. Should we be expecting anyone searching for you or have they cut ties either way?"

He shrugged, "Someone might come looking for me. They cannot do anything but they might try."

He nodded, "I may have just found an adjunct garrison commander for the second garrison closer to the front lines of what we are patrolling. By the way, come with me. We can get you entered. One other person probably will know but that is my other wife Annette.

They are twins and each is carrying twins. If anyone can hold a secret it is her. He shook his head, "Life is never dull for you is it?"

He shook his head, "No. Are you interested in an Ironclad contract? To help keep you in our service?"

He chuckled, How long?" Eldar shrugged, "50 years, or a hundred up to you."

He laughed, "Why 50?"

Eldar sighed, "We will likely be neck-deep in shit by then. That garrison will become a prime target. Full out war."

He sighed. "You sure?"

Eldar looked at him, "Forty-one years and eight months. Give or take a month. Not to be shared. Based on a prophecy. The same one that predicted me, the arrival of the second hero, the seven preordained grand clerics, and the Queen is carrying one of them. She is expecting twins. I hope it stays that way.

My wife another.... the list goes on but I know where all of them are and where all of them will likely be born. Minus the Queen. Sound solid?"

He nodded, "Yeah that sounds pretty solid."

Eldar glared at him, "Our work is to keep it back until then. Weaken it. Ensure it does not last as long."

He looked at me, "Why did you say hopes too for the Queen?"

Eldar sighed, "A threat the goddess made about getting changes implemented quickly. Turning the kingdom into a theocracy that would only happen if one of them dies and the other assumes both roles. Head of the church and country. Did you hear my talk at the Academy?"

He shook his head. "I went over a lot of shit. Apprentice Goldeagle is coming out to be a part of a ritual to reactivate a dead Moon Blade. One of 3 we recovered. There will be 3 others who have family swords to claim. Four current blade holders performing the ritual; that takes us from 4 active blades to 10 active Moon Blades. It is a big deal."

He nodded, "That is a good choice for a candidate. Who chose him?"

Eldar smiled, "The Queen and King did with my input on what the criteria should be. I have sparred with him over the years but do not know him well."

He nodded, "My younger brother."

Eldar smirked, "Now I know where you sit. I definitely want you out with the first load. You got a horse?" He shook his head. "Follow me."

As they walked outside "T'suras Unta. T'suras we need to get this lieutenant a horse that is not skittish about fire going off from the saddle and knows how to get to safety if needed. Does that sound about right?"

Blaze laughed at me, "You're talking to your horse?"

Eldar sighed, "Highly intelligent. Knows a good set of commands. Fearless but not foolish."

T'suras walked over to the stables and around the corner, "He has a mare in mind. He followed him around the corner. There was a beautiful white and black mare like a diagonal line has been cut through and the white and dark was a split. He looked at Blaze. "I have known T'suras for 3 days, and I know 14 commands like this one T'suras Kata.

T'suras bowed to us, He looked at Blaze, "Look at the back-left hindquarter. Tell me what you see. T'suras Ota." Blaze comes back to look. "Night I was born, the night of my wedding." He pulls off his gloves. "My wedding ring and Grand Master ring. My armor, my cloak, and a birthmark on the back of my head. Add in what the goddess did..." He pulled out his Moon Blade.

"She stripped this from my father. She had him present it to me, Silvertree on one side, and double Crescent. When I see that horse in the middle of that holding yard with none of them able to get near it?! I knew. I walked in with a few apples and had him saddled and out in less than 30 minutes. T'suras, has two mares he has impregnated and six others lined up.