Silvertree Chronicles Bk. 01 Ch. 23

He rode into the village and the Elders were assembled. He waited for Charlemagne to come forward. He saw Annette and Greentree in the crowd. He hopped down, "I would like to introduce Chalius'Vesa, Goldeagle nephew of the Queen, and the chosen sword-bearer for a dead Moon Blade. If everything goes as planned the 4 Moon Blade wielders will increase that number to 10.

One of those working this ritual is a descendant of the original creator of these legendary weapons. Weaponsmith Gatrius Moon Blade. I call him out as he has been instrumental in my research and efforts to find blades that are dormant or dead. With his efforts, we are going to work on 6 blades instead of 2. I wish to thank him for his efforts in this."

The elders stepped forward and bowed to the Queen's nephew. Then shook hands with Gatrius. "The day after tomorrow we will work this ritual and we ask that everyone stay away from Silent Falls. The ritual could blind anyone who is not supposed to be there. Think of my wedding only 100 times brighter and lasting longer. I would like to meet with the elders at midday tomorrow at Silent Falls. We will discuss my visit to the City.

The impact from the Queen to my own family. Now for my other purpose. How many candidates do we have?"

Two half-elf and four elves stepped forward. He stepped up to them, "How many of you already have magical abilities and how many are lacking it. As the first test is a demonstration of magical ability."

He was suddenly down to two half-elf and two elves. "First thing, show me what spells you have in memory, your favorite spell only. Starting with the oldest, what is the spell." He got three magic missiles and one mirror image. He looked at her "Cast a mirror image. The other three go grab your spellbooks." She got two images. He asked her, "Is that you're only casting of that?" She nodded. "Go grab your spellbook."

The guys came back with one book that all of them are using. He looked at them, "Who wrote this book?" They all shrugged. The girl came back. He took a look at the book. There was one and a half second-tier spells in the book. He looked at the girl, "Who wrote this."

She spoke, "I did, my father was teaching me before he died." He pulled out three wooden swords.

He took two of the elves and had them face off. "I will do this in a round-robin fashion where everyone fights everyone." He had one winner. He took the two swords and handed one to the girl. He let the other two elves know they were dismissed. He pulled the two out to the middle.

He had them face off in swords they were pretty even. She took her time and studied her opponent's matches but he was slightly better. He turned his back to them and looked at his guest Silver Moon, "Son could you give me your name. He chimes in Falcius Maple Leaf. He walked over to Silver Moon and extended his hand. She went to grab it and he grabbed her arm.

He asked the girl, "Young Lady, What is your name?"

She responded, "Teresa Moon Ray."

He felt her hand clench and the shock hit her. He nodded, "Young Lady, you are my second apprentice. Please step forward."

He was still holding her arm as she had a death grip on his as the girl approached. "This is Dame Silver Moon, I never got around to asking your first name."

She stuttered, "Teresana'Via Silver Moon."

He smiled, "If I am not mistaken your father chose your name and named you in honor of this lady."

The little girl looked at her, "You knew my father?"

Dame Silver Moon started to collapse and he pulled her toward him and whispered, "Remember what I told you. You were brought here to heal in a way you would not expect. Start healing."

He asked the girl, "How did your father die?"

The girl sighed, "He was doing caravan protection and the entire caravan was wiped out by some raiders is what I was told."

He nodded, "Do you know the date his caravan left?"

She shrugged, "Sometime in Mia of this year. Word of his death came to us a couple of weeks before you arrived for your wedding.

My mother died a few years ago. She fell from a ledge and broke her neck."

He nodded, "Who is looking after you?"

She shrugged, "The village keeps an eye on me."

He shook his head, "The wrong answer. You should say Grand Master Silvertree. Charlemagne, can you get our guests settled in while Dame Silver Moon helps me with my apprentice for a few minutes. Can you show us your home please and give me your age Apprentice Moon Ray?"

She looked at him, "I am fifteen, Grand Master. My home is over here."

He looked back at T'suras, "Keep an eye on the colt T'suras Unta."

They walked behind the girl to her house and she saw the two horses following him. She opened the door that was in slight disrepair as it stuck a bit but the house was filled with books.

He scanned the titles and he pulled one book down because of the binding, "Do you know how your father got this book?"

She looked at that book, "My father read that one to me a lot at bedtime. I have read it a few times over the years. It is one of my favorites, I think he got it when a friend of his who died in the other village."

Eldar nodded to her, "You mind if I keep this book. The lady he got it from was my mother."

She looked up, "Sure you can have it, Grand Master. It is about the Saatorixx Knights."

He smiled, "I know, it was one my mother read to me on several occasions. I have not read it in almost 60 years and I wanted to refresh my memory as it is a good book."

He looked at the massive library, "You read all of these books?"

She shook her head, "Only those on the bottom five rows."

He looked at our guest, "Dame Silver Moon, did you want some time alone with her?"

She looked at Eldar and nodded, "How did you know?"

He looked at her, "I told you. You are here for more than 1 reason. I was told you would lead me to my second apprentice in this village and it would help you to heal. Just like saving your life."

He looked at her, "There is just a couple of things I need her to do first, outside apprentice follow me. Dame Silver Moon is going to spend the evening with you but you are both invited to my wives' home for the evening meal."

They stepped outside, "Do you know the wood-elf ritual with bonding with an animal?"

She nodded, "I have seen it done."

He looked over at the colt. He opened his bag. He pulled out six apples, the sword, and the cape. "Did your father ever get you any armor?"

She shook her head. He pulled out his old mithril chain mail. He handed the armor to her and he pulled out his necklace, "It helped to protect me from the grizzly that gave me these scars"

He showed her the claws. "It broke my right arm and broke several ribs when it pounced onto me.

But my right arm is still attached thanks to that armor, and my left only got badly bruised and not ripped open. It is battle-tested. No crops, whip, spurs, or kicking. The horse responds to voice commands in elven name first then the command. unta, vita, and biana are the commands it knows the best.

I have brushes, bring him to my home. Just look for T'suras out front. Never tie it down, think from your heart and you will find the name. I will give you your cloak when you show up to eat."

He smiled at her, "You can show Dame Silver Moon where it is and you can think about what you want to do with the library your father built. I am a collector of books; some I have and some I do not. In fact, I have an entire library in this bag.

Raw theories for learning and writing spells all the way up to the seventh tier. He reached in and pulled out the level one and two spellbooks. Your knowledge of spells will grow quickly and your sword skills will get a complete switch up when I teach you to fight left-handed as well as right-handed."

He put them away, "Would you say your fathers' books are worth 10,000 gold pieces?"

She shrugged and he pulled forth the sword, "This is worth 30,000 gold pieces for your home with the books. Would that be a fair trade? What do you think?"

She looks at the sword, "What does the sword do?"

He pulled it and activated the first command word and stuck the end into a bucket of water and she watched it freeze. He pulled it back pointing the sword, "If that is not fast enough he used the second command word and froze the water and bucket solid and sheathed the sword."

She nodded, "I think it would be worth it, Grand Master."

He smiled, "The good news is when we are here this will be your home along with my other apprentice. I am going to turn your home into a barracks for two. A place to study, a library to expand your minds, spell list, sword skills, tactics, bows, acrobatics, and a lot of other things."

He looked to Dame Silver Moon, "I will discuss the ritual tonight as well so I will see you later. T'suras unta."

He walked across the courtyard and the girl worked the ritual with the colt in front of Dame Silver Moon. He looked for the guards and they were all over at his father-in-law's home. He headed over. He knocked on the door and Annette answered and pulled him inside, "They all have a bed here. Hunter brought in a couple of deer and said to save him some."

He nodded, "Where are Charlemagne and Greentree?"

She pointed, "Greentree is staying in the one open room we have. Charlemagne is with him."

He nodded toward the door and he walked toward home quickly. He walked in and collapsed into a chair and closed his eyes. Annette looked at me, "Are you alright?"

He sighed, "Get Charlemagne and send Greentree to your fathers for a few minutes." She went and got her and sent Greentree over. He looked her in the eye, "That girl is a legacy, she should not have even been here. I bought her home."

They look at Eldar, "You what?"

He stared at them, "I bought her home. It needs some repairs but the big thing it has is a massive library. I want to use it as a shelter for my apprentices, their dorm, with the library, and a place to learn. I traded her a sword for her home; which she gets to continue to use. You want to see what he got from a friend of his in the next village after they died?"

He handed Charlemagne the book, she opened it up and her eyes went wide. "He was killed when his caravan was attacked which just happens to coincide with the attack on ours. Two others wiped out. Losing people left and right."

Charlemagne nodded, "I think you are right. She was never picked up because the entire team got wiped out."

He nodded, "Well we have my cousin and now a legacy to raise. With me training them. I will send the girl to Jarron when she is done training. I told Jarron I would find that book! I looked at that library and pulled that nondescript gray bound book from the shelf, the only book I touched."

He got up, "I need Dusk Moon and New Moon here with their swords. I am going to go and find them. I will be back soon."

He stormed out of the house and jumped up T'suras "T'suras Biatus Evanill Aisiaon." We shot down the road at full speed and he did not even pull back when he made the turn. He continued at breakneck speed right into the crossroads. Straight at the 100 wagons. He slowed just before getting to the crowded section.

He saw Eagle-eye, "Where is Tranosa and New Moon?"

She pointed, "Down by the river I think."

He wheeled around, "T'suras Biatus Evanill Aisiaon."

I headed off toward the river weaving through wagons parked every which way. He rode all the way down to the river and found Tranosa and New Moon with a squad of men and the surveyors. He thundered to a stop, "You about done here?"

They shook their heads. Tranosa looked at Eldar, "They want to get the farms surveyed out tonight."

He nodded, "When is the wedding?"

Tranosa sighed, "We have not set an exact date yet but we will probably in a couple of weeks."

Eldar nodded, "I hope we are back and have not gone out again. The day after tomorrow for the swords at night. If you are busy, I need those swords to take back with me."

They pulled the swords and sheaths. He stored them, "I have to get all three dead ones prepared. You need to be out of the field and at my house by evening meal tomorrow. Do the surveyors have the plans for the inn?"

He shook his head. "Bring one over."

Tranosa returns with one of the surveyors. "We will have an inn back at the crossroads that will be built; not the structure that will be turned into a barn."

The guy nodded, "We measured it out already."

Eldar smirked, "Will your measurements hold this?"

He pulled out the plans and showed them to him. He looks at the numbers, "This is huge. No, it will not fit in what we measured out, we just did a standard inn."

Eldar nodded, "You might want to ask as there are a few things that are not standard; like this sawmill, the inn, and two different sized homes. Write down the dimensions you need. I will need the plans for the builders. The entire fourth floor will be my family home. It saves ground."

He shook his head, "We will adjust it first thing in the morning. That is almost twice the standard lot of ground."

He nodded, "It will also serve as temporary shelter for say surveyors, craftsman, officers and enlisted who are on break from patrol. At least until the Garrison is done. Do not even ask about the dimensions for that Garrison, church, or academy yet. Until I talk with the dwarves directly and have designs for the Academy made, I will not know them. The Church is being handled by the Council of Grand Clerics."

The surveyor nodded, "I will mark those areas out of bounds for the moment other than getting general dimensions for this huge town of yours. You said this sawmill is not standard?"

He looked to Tranosa and turned as he pulled out the mill plans. Eldar rode off at this point in just as much of a hurry as he was before. He cut the corner at the crossroads going through the woods to bypass most of the wagons and got back to the house about an hour before the evening meal.

Charlemagne came out and hugged me, "I am glad you are back, you had us worried."

He gave her a kiss on the forehead and hugged her back, "Was not my intent. Just frustrated by some of this prophecy stuff. How much I discover versus what I know or have been shown. I need you to find the master leather-smith and meet us at your father's house. I need to talk with Annette and Greentree to go over some things as well."

He walked over to her father's house with T'suras following and he realized he had not released the reins.

Eldar released the reins and said nothing just nodded to T'suras who bowed to him and stood back up on his own accord. Perplexed, Eldar walked inside to gather the sword bearers and activators together. Once everyone was assembled, He pulled out the other two blades.

He unsheathed them and placed them on the table. He extended his hand to Young Goldeagle and he handed me the sword and unsheathed it. He looked at the master leather-smith, "I need you to build new sheathes for these three blades to start. This blade is being claimed by Young Goldeagle, nephew to the Queen. He is one of the swordbearers who we are looking to create a new sheath."

The master leather-smith bowed to the nephew. I took his sword out and laid it out in his arms. "They all are one of a kind so the measurements will all be slightly different especially for the bastard-sword."

He nodded, "I can fill your request, anything special to consider?"

Eldar nodded, "They need to be switchable from right to left-hand draw. Each one should have the house symbol on it. Mine is more complex as I want the Silvertree logo on the front and on the back the list of house symbols in this order on the back. All house symbols colored appropriately." He pulled his sheath and handed it to him so he could look at it. He looked at me, "The first three will be easy, why the extra symbols?"

He smiled, "Because it will reflect every house doing this ritual. On the front, I want a double crescent moon in the fashion of the back of my cloak. He nodded, "Very ornate." He nodded as he dropped a diamond on his table, "They have to last for centuries, they have to be works of art, and they have to meet a time deadline. That is why we are here with you."

He nodded, "This is a lot more than what they would cost."

Eldar nodded, "I want the best right down to the colors."

He smiled, "Very well you will have your sheaths, I have my measurements."

He sheathed his sword and gave the one back to young Goldeagle while storing the other two for now. "This was the only safe time you could touch them because once they are active the sword could and would kill you if you tried to handle it. One of my relatives back in the city tested this theory.

I watched the sword suck the life out of him before impaling the victim through the table. I had stuck the blade into the table when I entered. For those that do not know, which is most in this room, Silvertree House laws tie leadership of the house to the wielder of the sword. Some were trying a coup. I gave anyone who challenged the authenticity of the sword an attempt to claim it; if they thought it was broken or a fake.

Only one attempted to claim the blade. I am the head of House Silvertree. Not by choice but I am. I have left my father to deal with the day-to-day matters but not before dealing with the coup organizers."

I looked at the leather-smith, "Black leather is the customary color. If you have a different color in mind please let him know. Young Goldeagle?"

He shook his head, "Just soft, sturdy, and good guards for the blade."

Eldar smiled at him, "That is why I brought in a master to do this work. He will be the only living leather-smith to have touched a blade and gotten measurements and made at least 4 new sheaths for Moon Blades. Everyone else is invited to do the same before I take you back to the city.

He can, as he did with mine, get the measurements from the sheaths. At the ritual, there will be ten of us. Each of you is allowed to invite one guest. The exception being myself; both my wives will be present. They are my twin moons; they were both vital to my wedding in more ways than you know.

Annette is the only one present who was physically touched by the Lady of Dreams. Their attendance is mandatory. I know Moon Blade, New Moon, and Dusk Moon have significant others that will be attending. I have a good idea as to who Dame Silver Moon is inviting so that leaves five invitations. Does anyone have a preference?"

The other five shook their heads. "Then I would like to extend one of those invitations to my other apprentice. In 600 years, he would probably be the only living person who will be able to testify to the events that occurred at the ritual. The other four I would like to extend to 2 elders from each of the two villages that border Silent Falls. Does that work for everyone?"

Everyone nodded and there were no objections. "The rest I will go over the night of the ritual. One other thing, I have another source searching for more lost, damaged, or dormant blades. We retrieve those then this ritual will be repeated in the future but we will only require four of the ten blades to be used. Provided everyone follows instructions tomorrow night. Any questions?"

Goldeagle raised his hand, "Why are you getting your sheath redone?"

He smiled, "Mine is missing the double crescent above and to the left of the tree. That is what is on the outside of the sheath, on the backside of the sheath will be images of all ten house seals used during the ritual. Leaving room for a few more in the future. To show the birth and the rebirth of so many blades.

I also want the front of the sheath to always face out even if a right-handed wielding instead of left-handed. I use either so it will require a special sheath. Besides he can make it easier to switch from a right to left-handed draw."