Silvertree Chronicles Bk. 01 Ch. 24

He nodded, "Yes, your Majesty." He looked at the men. "Any other questions Knights of the Court?" They both sighed, looked at each other, and shook their heads. He smiled, "Be back here by midday tomorrow, Your Majesty I would love it if we could have one of your conference rooms.

About twice the size or larger than the dining room we shared with the clerics. I would need a war table and lots of chairs of course."

She smiled, "We have a few rooms that could be used that meet that description. We will have one ready for you at midday tomorrow including food and drink." He bowed to the Queen, "Anything else?"

She shook her head, "You bring enough entertainment that I do not need to ask for anything else."

That got everyone laughing. He nodded and bowed to the Queen as they left. He got them to the entrance, "Tomorrow then?"

They both grimaced and nodded. Moon Bow looks at Eldar, "What we get for being Knighted?"

Eldar smiled and nodded, "A promise to the people not unlike the sword you carry."

He nodded back and the two of them left together as his wives walked in laughing. Charlemagne walked up and smacked his ass, "You are being bad. Annette came up and kissed him and smiled, "That is when he is usually at his best!"

Charlemagne laughed and nodded in agreement. The nobles in the room just kind of looked at the three of them strangely. He sighed, "We have work to do."

They nodded, "It is already started, the location of the caches has been given to the men. There is a couple of those sites you want to go to personally. Why don't you ride along with us in the wagon?"

He shook his head, "If these are the locations I am thinking of, I will want my horse afterward."

They both nodded. He went around to the stable and there were two freshly fucked mares sitting there and he pulled T'suras by the reins over, "We will need to think about picking a few more mares while we are back. Maybe a blonde and redhead for you."

He chuckled and got up into the saddle after closing the gate. "Let's get going stud, my ladies are waiting."

They met out front and they gave him the address, "Royal Guards are supposed to be onsite and waiting."

They headed out and made their way through the city. They pull up to an unassuming house and the ladies open the door and walked inside. Little more than a hovel, one room for everything. They walked over and grab the table and lifted to show a set of stairs going down.

They were in a much larger room a good 50 feet underground. There were six vault doors and the ladies walked over and unlocked all six. Some held coins, other gems, another was magical research material, and one an alchemy lab with bottles everywhere. The last was a trophy room. The items that they kept from their kills, the big prizes they were proud of. The room was a good 100 foot squared with chests, armor, weapons, and rings.

They walked through the trove. It looked like the lady took to weaving the Blade Singer rings together to make some erotic underwear. There was a bottom piece that left nothing to the imagination; in fact, the entire section covering the cunt and nether-hole were exposed. The second piece looked to be designed to cover the female breasts. He sighed, "The 81 rings."

They nodded and Annette sighed, "Our men will be here in a few minutes to start pulling together some gear."

The ladies stopped and picked up a few select items. They went into the alchemy lab and backed out. Annette walks up to me, "We need an Alchemist to pack that lab. Just check this item." He held the item up and identify it. The item was an amulet in platinum with heart-shaped ruby coiled by a dragon with blue sapphire eyes.

He looked at her, "Amulet of health, major version."

She nodded, "Now put it on, your other amulet is not magical so you can wear them both."

He nodded and draped the amulet around his neck. That high-pitched sound they heard before at the bar the night of the first visions was back. He looked down and the new amulet was gone.

The blue sapphires crescent moon necklace he picked up now pulsed as if it had a heartbeat. It emits a dim moonlight glow and it had adhered to his chest. The cord and claws were gone. He detected magic and the amulet that was not magical was now magical. He looked at the ladies, "The amulet you gave me is gone and this one is now magical and pulsing. It is now an amulet of health, major with a regenerative property."

I look at them, "I have never heard of an item like this. I might ask our guests about items that absorb other like items. Being attached like that is usually the result of a curse but I did not detect any curse." He pulled his shirt and armor down and continued up the stairs.

He looked at the Royal Guards, "You will be taking the coins and gems to the palace?"

The man shook his head, "No, a member of the Goldbar family is coming to effect the transfer to the royal treasury."

Eldar smiled for a second as he looked at Goldbar ride around the corner and he looked slack-jawed at Eldar. He waited for him to come to a stop. "What are your orders?"

He addressed me, "I am here to pick up some treasure."

Eldar nodded, "You will be hitting several caches across town. Coins and gems only while the rest of the gear goes to my men. I told the Queen and King they could have the coins and such as it will be needed in the upcoming war."

He nodded, "How are you involved in this?"

Eldar reached into his bag and showed him the silver cylinder. He looked shocked.

Eldar nodded, "Yes, I am Knighted Protector of the Elven Kingdom. My wives are dames as well. We caught three assassins in two days. two of them collected this treasure. The numbers we were given by the prisoner is around 77 billion in coins and jewels."

He looked at Eldar, "You are joking?"

Eldar sighed, "You alone, follow me."

He took him below to the vaults and pointed, "Those two vaults only. They were nice and organized right down to a ledger of every assassination they committed in the last 142 years."

He looked at me, "Ledger, what does the ledger show?"

Eldar shook his head, "That information is classified by the crown, not that I would know as it was coded. But I have two family members in the royal dungeon from that book. Also disowned 60% of the Silvertree family. A previous assassin was hired by the Silvebar family. They exist now as a single branch."

He nodded, "I handled the funds for that, they normally go to the victim."

Eldar nodded, "There are things I value more than gold and holdings. Friend, trusted allies, a community of tolerance to name a few. Gold leads to greed, to me it is a means to an end only. To outfitting my troops, build a town, to have a school of Magic built. These are but a few of my favorite things. Things that protect those who protect the masses and a place for the masses to learn their craft."

His men started coming down the stairs. They turn to see him. Eldar looked at them, "These two vaults. Goldbar here is going to have men come in to carry stuff out. Please push those doors almost closed. Those have valuables. One room has an alchemy lab.

I need one to ride to the nearest alchemy lab and get someone who can set it for safe transport. I will pay for their time but we have an alchemist in our unit and that gear could go a long way in supporting us in the field." The Lieutenant yelled up for hands. "Next thing is once they are done with the vault there, we have to clear the other vaults.

Send four men to the market, have them get the larger wagons they have forty-foot and under, with teams. Tell the owner I will be by to settle the account and confirm the merchandise; I have been doing a lot of business with him. Pick good horses. I need two of your horses so we can go to another location and the market. We will leave the wagon out there for you to get started.

Alchemy equipment first packed for transport. They have an issue have them contact my father at House Silvertree."

She nodded, "We will wait until the coins and gems are gone except for the alchemy stuff, get it packed right and on the wagon out front."

He nodded, "Right down to the potions already made. Then we pack up the rest of it."

Charlemagne had come back down, "There is a journal with what each item is and there are tags identifying lot numbers. Each room has one under the first table. Each vault should be packed up separately. You can use the extra space in the first wagon to start loading armor and weapons, continue that until all of it is out.

Take it all to House Silvertree. Ensure it is all stored in different rooms except for the alchemy stuff. Leave that on the wagon. Less movement with that stuff the better."

Eldar nodded, "You heard the Commander."

She smiled as he headed back upstairs, the ladies grabbed two mounts and they find the entire unit was out front.

He looked at one of the privates, "Private Farmer, you ride with me when we get back to the palace you will need to take these horses back to the group. We will travel to the market, back to the palace to switch out horses, and then he can follow us to the second location and wait with the Royal Guards posted outside." He nodded and his Sergeant saw Eldar and nodded.

He got mounted up and they headed to the market, they had four new 20 wagons. He looked at Charlemagne, "You check wagon's, I will check horses." He rode around the pen, "Ok, need sixteen good workhorses for pulling wagons to downed trees through the forest. I know you do not normally do them but if you do, I will reward you.

We can go over and you find 7 more warhorse mares to take back with us. T'suras walked over and had 16 workhorses and seven mares waiting, "You are such a stud." He went inside. The owner shook his head, "You had some men say to expect you."

Eldar nodded, "I want all 4 twenty-foot wagons, the sixteen workhorses, and seven mares lined up and waiting for you at the back.

I need tack for all of the workhorses as those need to get rolling now. The seven warhorse mares I will pick up on our way out along with seven sets of reins without bits. How are your saddles?"

The guy laughed, "We have a three-week wait for those, we have another fifty on order." Eldar asked him, "Have you sold them yet?" He shook his head, "Not yet."

He nodded, "Consider them bought, soft blankets, and bit-less bridles to go with them. I will have people returning to claim them. Captain New Moon or Captain Dusk Moon can pick them up. Figure it up, give a total to my men before they leave, and charge it all to my account. If I have an issue I know where to find you.

The man shook his head, "I will get an order placed for another fifty saddles."

Eldar shook my head, "Make it another hundred and I will buy half of that shipment."

He nodded, "Alright, add it to the Bill?"

Eldar shook his head, "Not until we come to pick them up. Unless you plan to deliver them?"

He thought about that, "I will do that, I will bring those fifty to you. I would like to see what you are doing in this new town."

Eldar nodded, "Then make it a 100, and whatever you need for your shop to have stock." He laughed, "Alright then, adding them to the bill now, with the second half delivered."

Eldar nodded, "Thank you, let me know about those goat hair blankets when you can get information back on them."

He walked out and got up on his horse and started riding, toward the palace,

Annette, "I need to tell you something; you are not going to like."

Eldar, "What is it, Annette?"

Charlemagne, "We had her show us all the Blade Singer deaths in the log. Barimus ordered the attacks on all but 21. Those all came in the last 80 years from one-man Grand Master Golden Weave."

Eldar, "The Youngest two-time champion, are you sure?"

Annette, "I checked it 3 times against the cipher."

Eldar, "Thank you for telling me."

He started riding faster as they headed to the palace. He soon had T'suras at full speed and he blew through the gates without so much as a whimper of a complaint. He pulled up out front, "I need a messenger sent. Get one to meet me in the stables."

He got to the stables and got the wives' horses saddled and a young man came out, "You need a messenger?"

Eldar sighed, "Yes. Master Trainer Yetto at the Academy, assemble the council. I also demand Grand Master Golden Weave and the Master Trainer be present tonight, at the time for evening meal concerning rings. Same message to my father at House Silvertree, except add the words demand, and demands. To the end of it."

He rode up toward the palace gate and the ladies arrived on the other 2 horses with the private behind him. He stopped at the ladies as the messenger went out. The ladies looked at him and knew he was pissed. Eldar looked at them, "We need to get to the next site, I need those other rings."

The ladies shook their heads, "Mid-day meal first."

He sighed and nodded, "Private Farmer, the meal is on Commander Charlie today."

She laughed and nodded. They headed to the inn they had stayed at as guests of the Queen. They got inside. The innkeeper audibly groaned.

Eldar smiled, "We are passing through and thought we would stop for food, four specials, wine, water, bread, and fruit."

He seems to be in better spirits now as they found a table. They ate and nobody talked. They noticed he was only drinking water. Annette looked at him, "Something wrong with the wine?"

He shook his head, "I like to be clear-headed before going into battle."

Annette looked at him, "What do you mean by that?"

He looked at her, "Code of conduct, I have to dispatch a rogue Blade Singer. Especially one that cannot be redeemed."

Charlemagne sighed, "I figured that after reading your journal, I was hoping that was not the case. So when will you do this?"

He looked at her, "Before the evening meal, I set the meeting for the evening meal. Which is why I am eating well now; to have my energy reserve."

Annette looked at him, "Can you not simply have him arrested?"

Eldar shook his head, "Code of conduct requires us to hunt down rogue Blade Singers and claim their rings after beating them in combat. Failure to follow the code will result in loss of your abilities; I cannot have that going into the mission."

Annette nodded, "So you take no joy in this?"

He shook his head, "I take no joy, I am angered to the core. The last time I was even close was Grand Falls. This is way past that. That was frustration, this is bordering on rage. A very focused rage. This will not be a 30-minute contest, it will be over in under 30 seconds."

Annette looks at him, "If it was not focused?"

He looked at her, "I would cut him into twenty-one pieces and the last one would be the blow to take his life." Private Farmer looked pale. "You never have to fear that if you never send an assassin after your own people or mine."

He nodded. Annette looked at Eldar, "I do not want to watch this."

He nodded, "I figured I would leave you with the private after we get the next set of rings. You work on cataloging and overseeing what gets packed. I know your thoughts on vengeance for vengeance's sake. You have to realize I do not have the names. I am acting strictly out of duty, not personal vengeance.

My job is to defend and defeat the enemy of the elven people. You verified it 3 times. If anyone had a doubt about it that would be you. I will be able to find out simply by seeing if he can activate any Blade Singer ability. The Gods will have stripped him of those abilities after the first one. It would explain why he has never had an apprentice while I was at the Academy.

He finished up and headed for the door, "I will wait for you because I do not know where we are going next. Before you ask, not getting the second set of rings would not change this course of action. I am armed with the information and the other rings. I would just have to make two trips."

He walked outside and got mounted up and started riding toward the gate slowly.

The others caught him easily and Annette nodded, "I understand. I do not like it, but I understand duty and honor drive you."

He gave her a half-smile, "One of the biggest drawbacks to becoming a Blade Singer. I thought I wanted to get away from here. Instead, I am working to effect needed changes here. I am raising a family here. Traveling to the other side of the world is what I would advise our daughter to do after the war."

Charlemagne looks at Eldar, "Why send her away?"

He smiled, "I said advise. Not put her on the first wagon out of town as my father did. She is to have a great destiny of her own, it cannot be in my shadow. My fight will not be one war, it will exist until I die."

Charlemagne groaned, "That is not what your father did."

He looked at her, "If I had walked out the gate what were your orders?"

She huffed, "Alright, I was supposed to pick you up but he did not force you out of town."

Eldar smirked, "He did not invite me home either. Parenting from a distance is not parenting. He cannot take credit for somethings. If I had known Grand Master Yetto was sent by my father I would have walked out of the testing or turned him down flat. It has nothing to do whether or not I earned the right to be his student; history has proven that I earned that right. It had to do with my mindset at the time."

She growled, "Things are better now?"

He nodded, "All I had to do was agree to join yet another restricting group, be hand-selected by the Gods to defend the people, and take over the family blade and by default control of the house to get his marriage nullified. You, of course, saw all of that coming."

She looked at Eldar, "What brought that on?"

He shrugged, "Our talk about what our daughter should do. My destiny is so defined now that I can never escape it; like my father and his house. His duty. The big difference is I married for love; I do not covet wealth. My family is a priority to me and only enough power to effect change; not rule the world. I know who I am and my father is having to discover that. I want my daughter to be able to choose for herself. I want that for all of my children."

Charlemagne nodded, "I can see how this is frustrating you and I have not thought about what her future will be like."

He smiled. "It will not be the champion to a god, just a great warrior with a great destiny. Not mother, not a vigilant protector of the elven people who cannot stray far from home. If we had not gotten involved, I would never have joined the Knights.

Not knowing my father was a part of it. Things happen for a reason. You helped to drive my life more than my own father has. You brought my father back into my life for what it is, Annette into our lives."

Annette looked over, "We are here."

He sighed and saw the Royal Guards outside of the house. They got down as did Charlemagne.

Annette looked down at me, "I do not know where I would be right now."

He nodded, "Neither do I. We can try and guess but it is better to be happy with our path and hope our children find their own paths in life, Not be stuck in our shadows. Or obligated to feel they have to do things a certain way because it is required of them."

Annette got down, "I can see that view. I can say it is lonely."

He shook his head, "It was only lonely because you felt you could not return. Our children will have the option."

They walked into this home. It was bigger than the last one but only because it had a loft bedroom. He looked at the ladies and they went to the table. He chuckled, "Same interior designer."

They chuckled and they went down a ladder. This one only had two rooms on either side of the ladder.

He looked at them and they opened one and it looks like a sex torture shop with a decomposing body in a corner. A sex rack on the wall, and a bed with cum, blood, and shit-stained sheets that needed to be burned as they were well beyond washing. They closed the door and opened the other one. It has a few suits of armor, weapons, and half a dozen chests. On one wall is what looks like a fake cock and Charlemagne grimaces as she pulls it off the wall and it smells of shit and blood.