Silvertree Chronicles Bk. 01 Ch. 24

She held down the leather and he saw rings. She looked at me, "The guy has a twig for a cock; so, he used this. Eldar looked at her, "He came all over the rings."

She sighed, "It is worse."

She pours it out and it still has his seed inside of it. He looked at her, "Take that thing upstairs please and dismantle it and wash it in the basin. Then boil some water and stick it in the boiling water and lay it out to cool."

She nodded, He looked at Annette, "What are you not telling me?"

She looked at him, "He only used it on Blade Singers alive or dead did not matter to him. He was captured by a couple of family Blade Singers who refused to be bribed. He failed early on in the training to become one, becoming a mage assassin instead.

There are only ten in that thing, the eleventh one is in the other room; Traylar'sune Goldensong. The last one killed by the Grand Master. He told me he was pissed at her for losing to you. It cost him a fortune in bets. They tortured her and let her starve to death and continued to abuse her body after that."

Eldar looked at her, "You know you just put a face on those dead Blade Singers."

She nodded, "I know. Are you still going to make it quick?

He nodded, "I might be 45 seconds instead of 30, but it will be quick."

He walked into the next room and found the poor girl; what was left of her.

He carefully lifted her partially mummified hand up and slid her ring off. It came free with some skin. He said a simple prayer over her, "Watch over her, she did not deserve this."

He found her pendant on the floor in the room. He picked it up and handed it to Annette, "This was that psionic battery I told you about. Only someone with talent can use it. I only know of one person."

He placed it in her hand and he climbed the ladder.

Charlemagne had just got the water started to boil and he threw the ring into the pot. She looks at me, "One more?"

He looked at her, "Traylar'sune Goldensong's corpse." She went white. "They tortured her to death and raped her. For failure to beat me in my last tournament."

Annette made it to the top of the ladder, "That was part of the contract; he wanted her to suffer."

Eldar looked at her, "He will not suffer nearly that much but he will feel pain. How long did they have her?"

She sighed, "A few days after you left the city."

He stood there and watched the pot until it boiled. He stuck his hands into the boiling water in and pulled the rings out and placed them on the towel and wrapped them up after he pulled her ring. He stuck her ring in a pouch pocket. He looked at Annette, "I have made you a promise. I will keep it even if I do not get him to confess, they can divine the information from his own ring."

He got out to T'sarus and Charlemagne was fast on his heels. He turned his horse for the Academy at a normal speed. Then a little faster and faster yet again. He rode across the field and headed out to the training area where Grand Master Yetto was located. He looked at Eldar, "You have about an hour yet."

Eldar nodded, "I will ask for the doors to be closed and the field set to level two."

He looked at Eldar, "What is wrong?"

Eldar looked at him, "You do not want to know. You will find out at the meeting. The young Apprentice should skip this event, my suggestion, but it is your call Master Trainer. Will you honor my request?"

He nodded, "You have your reasons."

Eldar nodded, "I do."

He turned his horse and his brother called out, "I will be there, it is my choice to attend such ceremonies."

He nodded, "You are not versed in the darker side of the responsibilities but it is your choice. Father and Charlemagne will be there, stand with them. Provided father responds to my demand for him to be there."

They rode around the grounds for about an hour. He had come full circle to the proving ground in the center of the courtyard. The courtyard was an 80-foot square.

With a table at one end with the grand council filed in. Grand Master Golden Weave walked in and Eldar signaled him to his left. He was oblivious that his life was measured in minutes. Master Trainer Yetto stood at the doors, Eldar looked to him, "Seal the doors and set the field to level two." The Council looked confused. Eldar drew his sword.

He called out, "Moon Fire on."

He drew a circle on the ground. He then cut two lines in a 'V; shape facing Grand Master Golden Weave, he looked at Eldar, "A challenge match allows the one challenged to set the field conditions."

Eldar carved the third line turning the 'V' into a triangle. He looked at him, "This is not a challenge match, this is a trial by combat. You are hereby charged with hiring an assassin to kill Blade Singers.

The day before yesterday I captured two assassins in the Palace. They kept detailed records and all of the rings. I will retract the challenge only if you can demonstrate you have a Blade Singer ability you can use. I believe they have been stripped from you for some time now."

He looked to be contemplating his options. He could not teleport out or cast any area of effect spells that would take out the council.

His only option was to drop to his knees and beg or as soon as he flinched without drawing his sword first, and he would be dead. It did not take him long to decide. He drew his sword. Eldar got into a battle stance. He lifts his sword and whispers, "You played this well."

Eldar waited for the new leader of the order to issue the go command. He drew back his breath and he heard it. The Grand Master began to cast. Eldar closed the 50-foot gap and brought his sword down on his sword arm as he hit Eldar with a scorching ray that did no damage. He swung and severed his hand at the wrist. He twisted around as He went to grab his burnt arm and he brought his blade around and severed the other wrist.

He was completely defenseless.

He thought, "Karti'Ros Moon Fire off."

He held his sword up to his nose while holding him by the throat, "You have 10 seconds to confess to the exact number of Blade Singers you had assassinated. The right answer will ensure a quick death, a wrong answer means they will divine the truth but only after listening to your death screams!"

He looks at Eldar, "I will not beg for leniency you impure bastard!"

Eldar squeezed and thought, "Karti'Ros Moon Fire on."

He cut through the bridge of his nose as he screamed. He then continued through his head just below the eyes until It passed thru the back of his head. He sheathed his sword after cleaning it on the body. After his body and half of his head hit the ground to be joined by his already present hands. He drew his blade again, performed his blade song for a minute, and sheathed it again. He nodded to Master Trainer Yetto who shut off the field.

He pulled out the two-piece 'outfit' from the lady. He set the roll of intertwined rings from the man next to them. He looked at the Grand Masters, "Before you are 91 rings I present for return." He withdrew the one ring from his pouch, "Plus this one." Which he put back into his pouch. He returned to the body.

He took his sword and sheath he had used, his bracers, another quick detect magic reveals an amulet and boots which Eldar also pulled off. He put his personal effects into his bag and placed the dead elf's Grand Master ring on the table with a smack and held it into place. He glared, "Have a divination spell cast if you wish, you will find he had 21 of those Blade Singers killed."

He put his hand over the pouch, "Including this one. This is the ring of Traylar'sune Goldensong, her 'crime' with the Grand Master was losing to me. She was taken a few days after I left the city. She was tortured, raped, starved to death and her body defiled by the assassins before and after she died. The 10 wired together were used as a sheath for the man's twig of a cock as a torture device to use on Blade Singers, something he failed at in the past.

My wife cleaned and boiled these eleven rings. The other eighty-one, you can see what the woman did with those. They have been killing for 142 years that we know of. The Palace has the evidence. They are alive because they hold important information to the Palace or I would have taken their heads already. This ring I will return this evening to her family."

He turned to walk away and the new head of the Grand Masters looks at Eldar, "I would have made him suffer more."

Eldar turned back, "I made a promise that it would be over in less than 30 seconds. I kept that promise. I want his name removed from being any record holder, head of the council, and any position of honor. Only that he was a traitor and exactly what I did to a traitor of the order. I would do IT again in a heartbeat!

I want any assets he might still have left turned over to the Goldensong family and the other 20 families."

He looked at his brother who was white as a sheet, "You now know why I did not want you at this ceremony. If someone that I held as dear as you or anyone I loved I would not be so generous in the amount of time they suffer."

His brother asked, "Why the Blade Song after the fight?"

He looked at Master Trainer Yetto who looked confused by the gesture as well, "I wanted to prove the Gods had not stripped me of my powers for my actions. You will note he used no Blade Singer abilities, I used two."

He walked past him and Heliar looked at Eldar, "I am glad I never got you that mad."

Eldar smirked at him, "There is still time."

He walked away while Heliar shook his head. Charlemagne was at his side. The new Head Grand Master, Grand Master Golden Hair yelled out, "Was there a purpose to the killing blow? I ask for our records?"

Eldar looked back at him, "Unlike the 21 he had killed he got to see it coming, he knew exactly who took his life, and why." Eldar bowed. "For the record, my name should reflect the following: Knight Champion of Corellon Larethian, Knight Protector of the Elven people, Grand Master Eldar Sivertree, Commander of the Gray Blades mercenary company."

He nodded back to him, "Word of you being knighted reached us this morning."

Eldar turned around and picked up his conversation as they walked out. "I know she will ask and I will tell her the truth. I kept my promise and even gave him a few seconds to confess. I still finished in under 30 seconds."

She sighed, "Why are you going to tell her?"

He got up on his horse, "Open and honest. She would hear about regardless and what she hears might be a fabrication or exaggeration of what happened. This way she gets the truth."

She nodded, "Even when it will hurt. She will be glad you gave him the chance at least. What did he say to you on the field?"

Eldar took a deep breath, "Something untrue. He said 'You played this well.' I did not correct him, as I was not playing."

They rode back to the last home and Annette had worked with the troops getting stuff onto wagons, she saw him approach. He looked over, "The Lieutenant here?"

She nodded, "Yes she is. I will go and get her."

She returned shortly. Eldar looked at the lieutenant, "The coins are gone from this location?" She nodded. He sighed, "Each of the troops can have one weapon, two rings, and either an amulet or boots. I want this to be about the need, not greed. If they cannot use it then it is not up for grabs. I want some of this gear to make it back to the others in the field.

Casters can have two wands if they are available in addition to the other stuff. I want them to be arsenals. Annette will deal with any potion distribution tomorrow morning. Will we have enough wagons to get to this stuff back?"

She shrugged, "Depends on how much is in the other caches."

He looked at Charlemagne "How many more?"

She cringed, "12 more. We have not given the other locations out yet. Some are larger, these 2 had a good assortment and the rings you collected."

He held up his hand, "Do not give out any more locations until after the mission is done. We have a meeting at midday-meal tomorrow at the Palace, food is being provided by the Royal Family. Something about giving them billions in coins gets you a free meal here and there."

There were a few chuckles from the guys working. "Clear this site tonight, distribute in the morning. Wands the casters can figure it out but any chain lightning would be appreciated to keep one for me."

She nodded, "I think we can swing a wand for you, sir. Something about outfitting everyone with magical gear earns you a wand every now and then."

That got the ladies to laugh. He just smiled at her, "Now we are starting to understand each other."

Eldar rode off with the ladies and Annette asks, "How long?"

He sighed, "Under 30 seconds. I gave him time to confess for leniency via a less painful death. He refused immediately."

She sighed, "I am almost afraid to ask but I will hear about it so what did you do?"

He lowered his head, "The fight involved me cutting off both of his hands.

When I offered him leniency, I had the sword off and pressed against the bridge of his nose. Then he refused. I lit the sword up. I pushed it through the other side. I was actually questioned as to why I did not make him suffer more."

She nodded, "Why that location?"

He looked at her, "I was asked that question too. Symbolic. The Blade Singers did not see it coming, the assassins. He got to watch it until he could no longer see. He knew who was doing it and why."

She nodded, "Alright, was not painless but it was his choice. I appreciate you giving him the chance."

He nodded, "That is the man you married. I am still here now. Before we go to the palace, we have one stop to make, House Goldensong."

They got to the palace district and got directions to House Goldensong. He sped things up because it was getting later than he liked. He came up hard on the groomsman and stopped. The groomsman approached and he waved him off, "We will not be staying long. I need to see the patron, let them know it is the head of House Silvertree."

He walked to the door with his wives and groomsman headed for the horses again, "They are trained to attack. They will stand there until we return." The door was opened and we were shown to a waiting room. About ten minutes went by and the door opened and a man looked at Eldar, "You are the head of House Silvertree?"

He sighed, "Yes I carry my family's Moon Blade which makes me the head of the household. The two ladies are my wives, Dame Silvertree and Dame Silvertree. The three of us were knighted at the palace the other night. Now please let your patron know I must see him."

The man left and came back, Eldar pushed past him, "If he will not come to me, I will go to him. Lead on, or do you need to do it at the end of a sword?"

He walks down to a study and he looked in, "Sir, they are quite insistent to see you."

Eldar moved the man out of his way and walked in, "I am, Knight Protector of the Elven people, Grand Master Eldar Silvertree. I am here on official business from the Academy, Blade Singer Grand Council."

He seemed to have the man's attention and this was not her father but that was probably for the best.

He looks at Eldar, "Go on."

He walked over to his desk and placed the ring on it. "Earlier this evening we discovered the body of Traylar'sune Goldensong in an Assassin's layer. The assassins are in royal custody We identified who hired her killer. As of an hour ago he is dead by my hand."

He looked up sad and somewhat emotional, "Did she suffer?"

He nodded, "A public funeral would not be recommended given the state of the body. The Royal Guards will be in contact with you concerning her remains."

He looked at Eldar, "Who was it? Why? Why did you kill him?"

He looked at him, "Grand Master Golden Weave, money he lost betting on her to beat me in the tournament. She was one of 21 Blade Singers he had killed. He was a rogue Blade Singer. It was my duty as a part of our code of conduct. I was the one who found her and the details about what he did; the responsibility to see he met his death fell to me.

It was a trial by combat, I cut off both of his hands, gave him a chance for a painless death if he confessed to the murders. He refused. I activated my sword's ability and I slowly pushed it through his nose right under his watching eyes until it passed out of the back of his skull. She was a rival on the field but it did not mean I did not respect or even care about her."

He walked over to his fireplace and grabbed a piece of wood from the fireplace, summoned his sword, cut through it, and left the two pieces for him to see as he sheath his blade. "I know her father does not like me much. I will leave it to you to inform the parents that her killers are in custody and one is dead. On behalf of the Silvertree family and the Honorable Grand Masters who watched his death; including the entire Council, we are sorry for your loss.

The Grand Council will be in touch with the 21 families affected by him in the coming days in regards to compensation. I am sorry for my impatience but as you can imagine it has been a long day. I have to get back to the palace and deal with more of the fallout of these assassins we captured in the palace."

He looks at me, "One more question, Why that location?"

He explained it to him. He nodded, "From past dealings The Grand Council normally does this."

Eldar nodded, "I did not give them a choice for this one. I knew her. In some ways better than most. Her death was tied to the tournaments and specifically against losing to me. I cannot say they will not visit. Since leaving the Academy I have returned over a 130 Blade Singer Rings. 92 tonight alone from these assassins.

Not counting the one and only rogue Blade Singer I have had to kill. All true Blade Singer Rings I have returned were recovered on the field of battle or this assassin. In the next few days, I hope to have things in place to go after the contracting killer of the other 71."

He nodded, "I will tell her parents. You take care of this business."

Eldar nodded and left the room. His wives were in the hall. He walked toward the front door when he saw her father. He looked at Eldar, "What are you doing here?"

Eldar looked at him, "I had a matter to discuss with the patron of your house as the patron of mine. Feel free to talk to him. I am the farthest thing from an enemy. I have to return to the palace. Goodbye."

He turned and walked away from him and he was irritated that Eldar would not tell him anything. Then he heard the patron call to her father as he walked out the door. They rode back to the palace and found an empty stall and unsaddle the horses and did a quick brush down.