Silvertree Chronicles Bk. 01 Ch. 24

Eldar thought for a second, "I would recommend some wall of force scrolls as well; if it gets to a new body it buys the group time to destroy the others and locate the phylactery."

---

The Silver Queen finally smiled, "I am liking this champion. That is an excellent idea. It would lose its spells in memory after being destroyed once and this buys us time to destroy this abomination. He is putting an awful lot of information together.

I am going to have to look at our archives to see how much Dragonblood fell into that family line in the 5th age. We may need a psionic read of him at some point. We have a small group of neutrals who are looking for talented minds."

Jarron nodded, "One of his sons from his wife Annette is supposed to be a psionic as well. If he has Eldar's mind."

The Silver Queen nodded, "We bring him into the Order of Dragons his wife, Annette, we would want to get her a psionic Dragon to do this with and be a trainer to her. It would allow us to look at his son as well."

Jaron nodded, "I am finding them, Psions, to be an incredible but unpredictable asset, as many would fear her. She is the only one I have. I know she is telepathic and can command people. I don't know what other talents she has."

The Silver Queen sighed, "First things first. This mission. He could eventually replace you when you retire with the talent he has. Being a Champion might not make him the best candidate, but one of his children might follow that road."

Jarron nodded, "This training center and this war are his goals. This threat is a part of it. We discussed regional generals. It might be a good fit for a champion."

The Silver Queen nodded, "I agree. He pulls this off for us and we will owe him a great debt."

---

The link went quiet then a voice that was not Jarron spoke to me, "That is a good and strong suggestion we will look to bring some of those as well. Already, you are impressive even from that far away. We will question them more when we arrive, get your team together.

You are right we would have to bring them in if we have a Half-dragon possibility. The only way we can ensure that this remains contained. Your father will talk with the Queen. You need to gather your team."

Eldar looked over at his father, "I will go with my father things are kind of in chaos at House Silvertree so we should travel together for that. I will send a messenger to House Silver Moon. Request Dame Silver Moon of the Gray Blades to get to House Silvertree or the palace as soon as possible to get in contact with me. I want to talk with the ladies to get the treasure caches that our assassins have set up. The gear could come in handy for my troops."

Jarron responded, "Good thinking, get Charlemagne and Annette on that right away. We do not want to go to any enchanter shops and start any speculation."

Eldar smiled, "Let me go down and talk with the ladies you have fun drinking your tea."

Jarron asked, "How do you know I am drinking tea?"

Eldar did not answer him as he walked in to find Charlemagne and Annette still writing things down.

---

Heliar chuckled, "Either a vision or he heard it. No telling as he left the room to get to work."

Jarron sighed, "Alright, these visions, prophecies, and Champions scare the hell out of me. The Knights never addressed having a Champion in the mix."

Jarron let the crystal go dark and turned to the Silver Queen, "I will return to the base and get those sapper assets together through King Fire Axe. We only have the 2 sapper agents for special projects."

She nodded, "I know and he will want to know why. Tell him we are doing a Knights mission behind enemy lines and we are striking their leadership while cutting off the horde from the area. That is if the intelligence is confirmed as we have not examined it yet, you are preparing. Just in case.

That we may have a back way in, thanks to Eldar Silvertree. He deserves the credit. This is us living up to the mandate to make big conflicts small. No mention of the Draco-lich at this point. Not until it is destroyed. Not to anyone, including the Council."

Jarron left her and she went to see the Gold Dragon King in his quarters. She removed any listening wards in the room, checked sealed it from scrying, sound, and teleportation entry. She pointed, "I need a book from the archives. I want to know how much Dragon Blood is in this Silvertree line. I want to know how much is with this Champion."

The Gold King went to the door and they both did their incantations and hit the locks with a few drops of their blood. She looked at the library of books and pulled out the one for Silvertree.

She opened it up to the first page and gasped, "First Champion on the field in the 5th age was Tallion Silvertree. She pointed and they read the entry together and both of them gasped at different times. They poured through the book and saw where the line nearly ended generations later.

The Gold Dragon King looked at everything, "Tallion was the only champion in the 5th Age from that line. This one ancestor generations later is the seed for every member of that house. Look at this list on him. No telling how many more have bred into that house since then.

All Royal lines for the Metallics and Gemstone dragons and hundreds of others. Buried in the revisionist history that the Elves have in regards to the 5th Age. This family is something we should watch over. Now the First Champion in the 6th Age. Checking this now was a good call."

The Silver Queen nodded, "He found us a back-door into an area of concern, nothing I want to take to the Council yet. Not until we review the evidence and take action if needed. We may have a way to minimize our exposure and strike at a rogue asset directly, potentially. Again I have not confirmed what he has provided from this latest spy he captured.

Unlike the Champion of Tiamat that has killed 34 Champions of Bahamut so far in this Era, that we know about. Eldar and his wives help us pull this off, I am going to move to bring him into the Order of Dragons."

The Gold Dragon King nodded, "They should all have different sponsors if you do that. It will be tough to get them through the confirmation. We would have to shift all of the Neutrals to support it. I would take on this champion if you did.

As much Dragonblood as he has, I want it outside of the Silver Dragons who oversee the Knights and provide an 'independent oversight and direction on this champion.' You said one of his wives is psionic, the Amethyst Queen would be good to garner additional support with the neutrals.

If it is enough to convince all 3 of them, only time will tell. Then you take her sister onboard as her sponsor. To show a division. If he helps us with a rogue asset and proves to be that valuable, as valuable as you think he will be."

The Silver Dragon Queen nodded, "I have to determine who is involved and if this will work. A lot of what-if issues at the moment. Why I do not want to go to the council yet."

He closed the book and put it back into the archive while they both sealed it.

---

Eldar looked at Charlemagne, "Give me a hand."

He pulled out a set of manacles and attached them to one wrist. He undid her restraints on the hand and held her fingers together and he got the second one attached.

He removed the gag from the lady, "Annette, make her answer any questions the three of us put forward and obey our commands. As long as it will not trigger a geas or kill them."

He went over to the male and repeated the steps and nodded to Annette. He looked at them, "The first question is all your stuff cached together, or do you have private stashes?

The male spoke, "We share some, and we have some that are private."

The lady nodded.

Eldar smiled, "We are looking for weapons, armor, and jewelry that is magical. I also want a count of how many Blade Singers you have killed and where we can find those non-magical rings."

The lady laughed, "The last count I think it was 81 Blade Singers; their rings are in one stash along with some of the magical jewelry I have."

Eldar looked at the male and worked to contain his rage. He frowned, "I have another 11 they are in my private cache."

He looked at Charlemagne, "Get the details of what they have in each stash. Annette, you do the same with the other we have to equip all of the forces we have in town for a covert mission. I want all the money turned over to the Royal Palace to help expedite some of our requests. Can you give us a rough gold piece amount of what you each have?"

The male prisoner looked over, "A little over 5 billion gold pieces."

The female prisoner looked at him, "72 billion gold pieces."

Eldar looked at the ladies, "Gear first, down to what has been identified."

He looked at the two assassins, "Have you tagged your items for easy cataloging?"

They both nodded, "Give the location to the catalogs as well. List all traps, wards, and guardians we would encounter for each cache. Those in the city first. Working your way out. I got to go see the Queen, King, and our men. Annette, find time to pull the funds for the farmers."

She nodded. He sighed as he walked away, "Long day ladies, I will get the guards to bring in food and drink for all of you."

He walked out to his father and the guards, "I need food and drink brought in for everyone. The good stuff, not prison food. Also, for you. The Queen is about to be very happy with us."

Eldar walked to the main chamber and walked up next to the people that would be going next to speak with the Queen. She finished and he smiled at her.

She stood and everyone bowed, "I have an urgent matter to attend to. I will be back shortly. Sir Silvertree please follow me."

He walked in behind her and he waved his father forward and he shook his head. Eldar walked into a side room. She looked at him and seemed upset, "I assume this is important?"

Eldar nodded, "Is this room secure?"

She walked over and had diplomatic crystals and looked at him, Eldar sighed, "We need you to have the palace send requests to Sir Moon Blade, Sir Moon Bow, and Dame Silver Moon to be here this evening for a 4-day conference. It is a ruse; it is for a covert mission. I will be bringing in my entire group in town.

Jarron's friends are putting together a strike force. We will go behind enemy lines with the same people who took your first 2 spies. We learned there is a permanent teleportation circle to Lord Barimus's lair. Probably the only spot in the lair where teleportation works. We have been asked to guard the exit.

They will arrive tomorrow to go over the details and confirm our findings. We will either go in tomorrow night or the day after. I have the ladies getting these two assassins to spill everything on their treasure troves. I want the gear for my men and this mission. I told them I wanted the coin to go to the kingdom. That is roughly 77 billion gold pieces."

Queen Goldeagle's eyes went big at that number as he continued, "We are going to have to indoctrinate my entire detail into the Knights. The second in command of the enemy forces is a Red Ogre Half-Dragon. A son of the Ancient. Your friends are going after him. They will be bringing in a couple of dwarven sappers. Explosives, to cut off reinforcements.

Our group will likely have to take on this Half-dragon and his bodyguards if we are lucky, maybe more. That is why we want so many Moon Blades on this mission. We will cut the head off of this snake and buy 20-30 years just off of this action. We are looking at killing those who hired assassins against the crown, and myself. The bad news. These assassins say they have 92 Blade Singer rings."

She started to fall backward and Eldar grabbed her, "I know it is a lot, I wanted to run them through but we need the information out of them so I ordered good food to be sent in; they have my manacles on which prevents spell casting. My ladies are in there and have them compliant as puppies in a box, Your Majesty."

Queen Goldeagle nodded, "Yes very important. I was going to give you a talk about court etiquette and interrupting but you seem to have a handle on when to interrupt. Thank you for the update. Once this is complete, I will be talking with you again about your future."

Eldar nodded, "Yes, Your Majesty."

Eldar opened the door for her and she returned to her throne and he left the way he came.

Heliar looked at Eldar, "She looked pissed going in."

Eldar nodded, "The whole court etiquette thing but when I told her what I found out she agreed it was right for me to interrupt."

He looked at Eldar, "What did you tell her?"

Eldar sighed, "We can talk about that while we ride, we need to find Master Trainer Yetto and Apprentice Silvertree. Then head to the Silvertree Estate."

He walked out to the groom, "I want you to show me to your stables. Our stay has been extended a few days. Get knighted, stop a couple of assassins and suddenly you are the prisoner at the palace."

Heliar chuckled, the groom tried not to. Eldar smiled at the groom, "If I say something funny it is alright to laugh. I am an impure bastard elf a year ago that few knew. I was not raised with money. In fact, I give a lot of it away. What, billions of gold just today."

The groom looked at Eldar, "Who did you give it to?"

Eldar smiled, "The palace, we have a war coming and anything they can do to get troops ready will cost money."

Eldar looked at his Father, "How hard did they hit house Silverbar on their finances?" Heliar sighed, "About half their assets, two billion gold pieces."

Eldar nodded, "Well that is a lot of field rations for the soldiers."

The groom snickered and Eldar smiled, "They would have given me all of House Silverbar assets if I wanted. It was not what I wanted. It just got pruned deeply. They told me I had to decide on something to do with part of that money. I have them building an Arcane Academy for the Wood Elves, Elf-blooded, all Elves really, and the Humans in the town I am building.

That way they do not have to leave their homes to attend. People like myself and my wives would have or did have a hard time at the Academy in the Capital. I had some money set aside to have orphans in the city tested for abilities that would put them into an Academy.

I have found some raw talent since I left the Academy. I have tried to find all of those talenets trainers and places to be. Your archery training is progressing nicely but if you plan on being an Arcane archer you need to work on your magic more."

The groom stared at Eldar and Heliar looked at the groom while Eldar saddled up T'suras. They went without the barding today. Heliar, whispers to the kid, "He does that to a lot of people but his advice has always been sound."

Eldar looked down at the boy, "Speak with your Aunt she does not practice anymore but she is an Academy-trained battlemage, a lot of the lower-level spells overlap. When I see you again tomorrow you can let me know how the conversation went. Make sure she has books you can borrow and recommendations on spells to put into your book."

Eldar looked at his father, "I am ready you got your horse?"

He looked at the groom, "Would you have them feed and water the other two I will bring this one back to this stall tonight. When my wives come out, tell them I said to take the wagon. They will think about it then agree."

He laughed as he walked over and got his father's horse. They started heading out at a slow pace and his father caught up, "That groom is in shock after talking with you."

Eldar nodded, "They will deny his admission claiming they are full, I will tell him to attend our Academy. He will be a good trick rider Arcane Archer if not one of the best. The Academy looks at family name first, skill second. I will fix that when we start outperforming them. I am starting to see some of my future after the war.

It will be bittersweet; I will be down to one wife before the war begins. I will lose the second sometime after the youngest children become adults. So less than 40 and around 80 years between the two of them. I know I cannot prevent those deaths. I just have to live on when they come."

Heliar looked at him, "I wish I had prevented your mother's death. I wasted a lot of time away from my children searching for her."

Eldar nodded, "This is a good start."

Heliar smiled, "Off to the Academy."

---

The Lady of Dreams sighed, "He is still pulling this in and this time he was not enraged. I am not detecting the source of it all. It is all true and most likely, without dragon interference. He is right about that boy."

Corellon sighed, "Nothing damaging. If it is another God, I may have to go to The One to get answers if it presents a problem. We will see."

---

They rode quickly but quietly through the city. They got to the Academy and Heliar and Eldar knew right where they would be training. Master Trainer Yetto nodded, "Good to see you again."

Eldar nodded and dismounted and held out a hand to him with a ring. He looked over at his brother, "Here brother."

He held out one to him as well. He looked at the two of them, "I took leadership of the house. I disowned 8 branches of the family yesterday. I am inviting back 5 previously disowned branches because of who they married. Your status will reflect being claimed Master Trainer, even though I know you will keep your Mother's name.

I will have them form a governing council and while the blade holder will hold a position on the council, they will never rule the council in 100 years. I warned them about assassination attempts; they failed to take heed. These rings have the house insignia, and they are powerful rings of resistance.

Master Trainer Yetto looked at him, "If you are leading the family for the next 100 years that is beyond my lifetime. I will send this back to you when I die. I thank you for thinking of me in this."

Eldar nodded, "I wanted them in worthy hands. Not to scare you brother or you Master, but you were both on the kill list as one of them wanted to wipe out fathers whole branch, and one just seemed to hate you training both of my father's sons."

His brother turned white, "Where is this person?"

Eldar smiled, "In the Royal dungeon, they also put a contract out on the King and Queen. We can prove it. We caught the assassin and their journal going back 142 years. I asked the question, Grand Master. They assassinated 92 Blade Singers. I am working on reclaiming the rings. Our work is more important than ever."

Master Trainer Yetto bowed his head, "Let me know when you have them, I will set up a meeting with the new Head of the Council to take the rings, that is too much for me to bear dealing with."

Eldar nodded," I will send a messenger, I will meet them at the judging ground when I come. Let them know I am not the harbinger of death. I am the reminder of why this next generation is so important, and the generations following. Higher standards must be achieved.

I need an enchanter and a couple of apprentices, poke around and see what you can find. I can employ them for the next 50 years steady. From an influx of mundane to exotic items needing enchantment."

Eldar mounted up and rode off in a hurry for House Silvertree. He had to slow to keep pace with his father. Heliar looks at Eldar, "In a hurry?"

Eldar nodded, "Yes, but your nag cannot keep pace. We need to get you a new horse. Speaking of new, did you find out what that new long sword does?"

He smiled, "Yes it has some interesting enchantments, things to improve my diplomacy and persuasion. It is able to read any language and a warning on danger. Which is handy. It also gives some good bonuses in combat if I must."

Eldar nodded, "Sounds like the sword of a diplomat alright. The Moon Blade has a danger warning, helps with assassins. Will come in handy when we get to the house and have to deal with all the firstborn offspring who are waiting. "