Silvertree Chronicles Bk. 01 Ch. 21

Eldar moved up to 600 feet. He raised his sword. They all hit about the same at 500 feet.

Eldar got back on T'suras and headed back up, "'A' spells in memory,"

He listened to his list, 'B', and 'C' his was pretty standard. While 'D' his list at least included one exotic. Favorite spell, magic missile for the A, B, C. While D said 'snowball swarm.'"

He told him "Cast it downrange." He had it over the 500 feet marker. "You can see where the five hundred and seven-hundred-foot range. He looked at the lightning sorcerer, "What kind of distance can you get on a lightning bolt?"

He smiled, "800 feet."

Eldar looked at him, "Grab targets and follow me out; they rolled targets down the road. He got to the seven-hundred-foot mark and waited for him. He told him, "Follow me. We got the targets scattered at each of the ranges. They all headed back. "Mister snow, be ready to reset the targets after he cast. I like spells, like a lightning bolt. Cast when you are ready."

He let it fly. He clipped the front target, clips the second, and misses the third as he did not target the far target. Eldar looked over, "Snow, go set them up and then step off to the side of the road." He looked nervous on that last one as he stepped away and slightly behind a tree. Eldar smiled, "Been a while since I have thrown one of these, let me see how I do."

He pulled out his sword, got into Blade Song, and got focused on the center of the third target. He whipped his sword into an arc over his head, pushed his right hand out from underneath, and extended it toward the third target and there was a loud crack and all three targets fell over. "Let's go see how they lined up." The first target was low just outside the circle. The second entered the circle, it was on the bottom ring of the white. While the 3rd target and the center had been blown out of it.

He looked at mister lightning; "You never compete against me. You compete against yourself. You get a 2 Mr. snowball. You get a 2. The other wizards are at a 4." He rode back up. "Those who got a 6 go home and practice. those who got a 5 from me would put into training those who came in at 4 would start as privates until their skills increase. Those who are 3 would be sergeants. Those who are 2 would become lieutenants and 1 is a possible captain. Morning numbers have to be figured into afternoon numbers...so these numbers are not final. Go grab a mid-day meal."

He got on his horse, and rode up, "Tranosa, when you got a second."

Tranosa came over. "How did New Moon do? Compared to you."

He smiled, "Would make the team easily."

Eldar nodded, "Where would you place him beside you, right below, or another step-down?"

He thought about it, "Probably right below me, he gets in some field experience he could make a good Captain."

Eldar nodded, "How are the fighters checking out?"

He shrugged, "A couple of good ones mostly grunts none that I would throwback."

Eldar nodded, "Send over New Moon and a couple of possible candidates."

He looked at New Moon, "Where do you think you fit in right now? Tranosa is a Captain so compared to him."

He thought about it, "I do not have as much field experience as your guys. I would say right below him."

Eldar nodded, "We all 3 agree on that...for now. I want to get you some tactics and work on your combat against left-handed fighters. I know your weaknesses. Mine is a 400-pound bear crushing me."

He chuckled "That story is true?"

Eldar nodded, "Every story I told was true. Some details might have been omitted for security or personal reasons. You know how the palace is and sometimes cargo can be the same. The question is do you want the job?"

New Moon nodded, "It is time for a change."

Eldar nodded, "Let me watch you spar with these 2 that are incoming. We can see how they do. Then check you out on judging horseflesh other than your own."

He watched the sparing with the two fighters; one was still a grunt but number two could be a sergeant.

He asked New Moon and he agreed. He looked at Tranosa, "One is a grunt still while two could be a sergeant. He has some instinct."

He saw Fireball, "How are you holding up?"

Fireball nodded, "Better now, thanks for the time to think."

Eldar looked at him "What did you decide?"

He laughed, "Besides my needing a drink? I cannot talk to her at the inn."

Eldar nodded, "She will not be there much longer. Hunter worked rooms for us in the market. She will have her own room. You will have a group coming back after the midday meal. There is only one sorcerer who I labeled only a 'one' of all the casters as exceptionally talented, goes by 'Blaze.'

Get their numbers, start with the lowest number first you decide if they stay the same move up or move down. Five means they go directly to training not ready for fieldwork.

A four is your private while a three is a sergeant. A two is a Lieutenant and one is a captain possible. I won't add another captain until I have them in the field myself in combat.

I want to put all the possible captains in my personal detail to evaluate them before they assume responsibility as a lieutenant if possible. I need to go see New Moon. I have a couple of things for the new lieutenant."

Fireball chuckled, "Stealing from the Queen's guard?"

Eldar shrugged, "Only an underutilized talent going to waste."

He rode up to the front. "New Moon, walk with me. You have seen how I have known things and sent people to take care of a problem before it was a problem. You have some command skills and I want to see you as a captain soon. For now, I got something for you. They accidentally made an extra one of these."

He pulled out the cloak, "Now if you have not resigned from your position you should do so before putting this on."

He smiled, "Thank you."

Eldar shook his head, "Do not thank me yet. You remember that mass murder I sent Moon Blade after?"

He nodded.

He pulled the last sword from his bag, "Do you have the commitment and courage to try and activate this Moon Blade for your family?"

Eldar looked at New Moon who stared at Eldar as if he had gut-punched him.

New Moon Finally spoke to him, "I thought you gave that to the Queen's nephew."

Eldar shook his head, "That was one of two we got from another escapade we fell into. This one is number 3. The last one I have in hand right now. I have another source looking for others. You did not answer my question?"

He looked at Eldar, "Yes, I do."

Eldar nodded, "The blade looks like it needs work but do not be fooled it will look like a newly minted platinum piece when we are done. It is dead at the moment but in less than a week it should be talking to you. How soon until you resign?"

He chuckled, "As soon as I get back!"

Eldar nodded, "How are you fixed for gear?"

He sighed, "I have weapons and armor. I will need a horse and the gear to go with it."

Eldar nodded, "Tomorrow morning or this afternoon. You need to go see your black-haired Raven now. If you want children with her then you best get to her before she starts work. Take her standing with her left leg on your shoulder, she is flexible. stay inside her. Lay her down on the floor and do her again.

Now before you go crazy on me, every person I have given instruction this detailed to has had a pregnancy occur because of it. If you consider every female Officer is pregnant with twins but one and she has triplets. You would be wise to just go with it. I don't have much control over what I see.

Tell her to quit her job effective tomorrow night because you are taking her away from the city. You will need heirs for that blade to survive beyond your life. Go see, you 2 decide together."

New Moon smirked, "I will see you later this evening or first thing in the morning."

Eldar nodded, "Doc, will be waiting to see her."

Eldar jumped on his horse and went to Keyno. He did not have to travel too far. He looked at her and she mumbled, "They have skill with the bow. Riding, not much."

He nodded, "Simple answer to that, every waking hour for the next 3 weeks in a saddle. Now, to you, do you have any special commands that you use to keep your horse in a straight line?"

She shook her head, "Just reigns in a certain place so I can get to them again. Tied together."

He looked at her, "Follow me. T'suras we need to find her a warhorse that will not have issues with sudden weight shifts, can run like the wind when commanded, knows Biatus Evanill Aisiaon, Biana, Filarna, Kita, Unta, and Vita already. She is a human but elf friend so we need an accepting horse as well."

Keyno watched, "Your horse will find me a horse?"

Eldar nodded to her, "He is a good judge of horseflesh. Do you use spurs, kicks, crops, or bitted harnesses?"

She nodded, "No spurs or crops."

He continued, "Kicks to get moving, and a bitted harness needs to go away!! These are majestic creatures, they are not broken, they are not beat into submission, and they will not take a bit. You can guess what you will not be making."

She chuckled, "So how do I control the horse?"

Eldar shook his head, "You do not control it, you come to an understanding with it, and you have to come up with a name. Find it in you as you come to terms with her. He took us to the mares."

A beautiful black horse with a single white star-shaped pattern on the forehead. He looked at her, "Go to the general store, get a dozen apples, Go into the stable master office, grab a set of reins no bit and bring them here."

About ten minutes went by and the Stable Master was back, "You going to be doing this often?"

Eldar shrugged, "Only for the next couple of days. In 4 years, these will have had 3 offspring each; then the next stud will breed all of those females and we will be back for another 18 females with 12 going to another stud and the other 6 for T'suras as he will breed his successors.

After that time, he will be in the pasture to continue with the first set of females. In 20 years, I hope to be around 1,000 trained warhorses. We might bring a few new ones with us for trade; like an extra male stud or two. We will see. They would know from 4-12 commands initially but they will never be broken. They will never take a bit, spurs, and will attack anyone trying to use a riding crop on them. It might be too much trouble for you. So how much?"

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 establishing an agreement with her."

Eldar 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 put 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 had those two down, He released her from the corral and got 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."

Keyno nodded. They headed to the gate and the guard let them past. Eldar 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 fired 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."

Eldar 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 our mid-day meals and then we can return to all this fun."

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

He laughed and Keyno 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.

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

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

Eldar 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 who smiled, "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."

Eldar looked at the 6 they had, "Once the inn is up we 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?"

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

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

Eldar chuckled, "I have two sets of twins. One with each of my twin wives. The quadruplets are in an Elf-blooded Moon Elf origin. They are two sets of twins but it is still 4 children. The triplets 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 4 Battle Mages."

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

Eldar 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 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 and her mother seemed to be hiding her past origin before she died. 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 2 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."

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

Eldar 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.