Silvertree Chronicles Bk. 01 Ch. 24

He nodded, "I did, but I have to leave it to Jarron to take care of the other two without destroying our alliances. If I am forced to take on Dwarven Royalty I need a way to keep the peace."

She looks at me, "How bad is this dwarven threat?"

He sighed, "The traitor would be ruling the dwarven kingdom bad."

She shook her head, "I did not want to know that."

He sighed, "While I have given you that much the other is the maker of the rings the spies here were using. He is the top mage next to the human King. I told your husband about him previously but we agreed not to act at that point. This escalation has changed things."

She groaned, "I need a few minutes. Wait here."

They waited there and the Queen retreats to her private chamber.

About an hour later she stepped out. "I have direct private communication with both Kings. I warned them of the threat and that the information is highly reliable. I gave them the name of Lord Barimus for the enemy and they are taking precautions."

Eldar looked at his father, "You want to contact Jarron with this update. If he captures them on behalf of our alliance or as Knights then he is aware the Kings are ready for this?"

He nodded, "It might change his plans, let me get him on the crystal." He called Jarron and brought him up to speed. He wanted to yell at Eldar, "What on earth are you thinking by divulging that information?"

He sighed, "Conflict between my code of conduct and your directives. Combined with the Queen knighting me as a protector of the elven people. If the first son gets the same compulsion that the General received? I could be forced into direct conflict with a member of the Dwarven Royal Family. Our treaties would not stop him from passing unmolested through our territory all the way to the Elven palace.

If I fought and killed him for any reason it would destroy the alliance. If he killed me then he would not necessarily destroy the alliance until he usurped his father. Then you have lost a protector and an ally is in enemy hands. Again, a conflict. The wizard is also a threat because he could assume any form and has the ability to teleport here.

Again, a conflict in your directives and my code occurred. I warned you when I signed on if an order ran counter to my code of Conduct, I will follow my code. The elven King already knew of the wizard but the time to hold this back has passed."

Jarron sighed, "Alright I at least know the two Kings have the information from the Queen so they can make some preparations. Keep Annette at your side to try and neutralize the threats without killing if they show."

He nodded, "I will be staying out of the way of normal channels. I will find a hotel we have not stayed at before without the Royal Guard. Between my sword and my wives if I have to take on one of these two while here then we will be enough. We have threat detection. I will change out a spell or two in the process."

The Queen shook her head, "No we have a room you and your wives can use this evening. It prevents divination and teleportation. We shall go and eat together and send others away afterward."

He nodded, "Yes, your Majesty."

They went off and had dinner together at a miniature celebration. The documents outline the Dame and Knighthood got presented to them in silver cases.

The Queen looked over, "The laws for multiple spouse marriage, marriage for love, and outlawing of the sale or creation of infertility devices go into effect in just a few days. We also sent out a warning that existing ones have been failing as we have had over 50 reports concerning the failure of the devices.

We also issued mandatory fertility screening for all marriages so the couples are informed beforehand, marriage for a second partner you love and is fertile is encouraged. Not unlike a Captain, you know, who got married to her second husband yesterday. Private ceremony but as you helped to make it happen, I thought you should know."

He nodded, "I knew if anyone could help her it was you, Your Majesty."

She smiled and they finished dinner. She looked as he started to head outdoors, "Where are you going?"

He smiled, "Our warhorses need to have their gear taken off, brushed and fed. They will attack anyone who they do not know who tries to handle them."

She nodded, "Very well, I want a few of my guards out front with you."

He nodded to her as he headed out with his wives close behind.

Eldar had the gear off and brushed down T'suras when his sword alerted him.

Karti'Ros, "Danger is approaching; slowly."

He walked between the horses and got to Annette. He whispered, "Connect."

Annette, "What is it?"

Eldar, "Connect in Charlemagne danger is approaching. Keep working until I can find it."

Charlemagne, "She already did."

He walked out past the end of the wagon and looked back at the guards, "I try to get an hour of sword practice a day."

Eldar, "Karti'Ros is the danger still in the area, or have I moved away from it?"

All while he drew his sword.

Karti'Ros, "It is moving in and out. It is speeding up."

He moved out another 100 feet.

Eldar, "Ladies the danger is following me."

Eldar gave it a few more seconds and then started his practice. Then he started his blade song all while listening because whoever approached was invisible. He had cast up a mirror image and got four images.

He continued with his song and listened. He heard something approaching behind him. He threw a fireball right at his feet, and he heard the scream right behind him as he swung at the direction of the sound and they had backed off out of his sword range. He listened and heard the mumbling of a spell.

Eldar, "Karti'Ros Moon Fire."

He heard the guards and the ladies running when the cold of cone hit him. It injured him but he knew where the person was. He did a flying leap at the spell's origin. Whatever was there has moved but they were not silent about it. He cast Fire shield warm. The guards and the ladies heading toward him. The caster used something or had cast improved invisibility as they tried to sneak up upon him.

He figured it was an item in use and some assassin mage he was dealing with. A melee attack took out one of my images. He knew where he hit from. He launched another fireball. Five feet in front of him. The voice screamed out again. He lunged at the scream and made contact with the enemy and he just kept swinging and hitting the target until he heard it drop to the ground. He ran his sword through the dust cloud and held it with no sound coming from the assailant.

Eldar, "Karti'Ros any more danger?"

Karti'Ros, "No."

He held up a hand out to the guards, "The assailant is dead. Charlemagne, would you search the invisible corpse? Start with rings and worn gloves.

Annette, "You alright?

Eldar, "A little on the cold side."

Charlemagne, "It is a dwarf."

He looked over at the guards, "You need to secure the palace, get every court wizard looking for illusions and invisibility."

He waited a minute and the image of the dwarven prisoner came into view; poison dagger in one hand, a wand in the other, and no armor. He used arcane sight on the dagger and it was not magical. From the looks of it, it was mechanical in nature with a poison vial that went into the handle. This one was charged.

He grabbed the dagger from the ground. He looked at them, "No rings and that is a wand. It has three charges left, cone of cold. This guy was no rogue. The fireballs hit him every time and he could not move silently for shit. My guess is an artificer. But these items had to have been given to him and someone had to release him."

He headed back to the palace entrance and the guards tried to challenge him, "You got a sheath for this thing? It is designed to inject poison; this wand was on the dwarf and he WAS a prisoner in YOUR dungeon. You can let us go and look around to find the person who did this. I guess you can stand there and look cute because I was the one who told the guards to secure the palace!"

He pushed past the guard with his wives as the other guard moved out of the way. He looked around and yelled, "Where is the Queen and where is the Captain of the Guard?"

One of the guards looks at me, "The Captain is searching the palace. I do not know the location of the Queen."

He nodded, "I need an immediate escort to your dungeon. The attacker escaped from there somehow and had help." One of the guards started leading the way.

Eldar, "You still connected."

Annette, "Yes we all are."

Eldar, "I need you reading the surface thoughts of everyone I talk to."

Annette, "You certain?"

Charlemagne, "Yes, we are looking for a traitor."

They walked down to the dungeon and he looked at the long hallway and the one guard in it. He walked up to him, "How long have you been on duty?"

The Guard cleared his throat, "Almost 3-hour hours. About 30 minutes after you arrived."

He glared at him, "How do you know when I arrived?"

The guard looked confused, "I was on duty down here when the prisoners arrived."

He nodded, "Has anyone been here except you?"

The guard shook his head, "All quiet."

He looked at him, "Did anyone give you or pay you to give the prisoners anything?"

The guard shook his head.

Annette, "He is lying. He has 1,500 platinum pieces in his footlocker."

He looked at the guard, "I bet you do not make 15,000 gold pieces in a year. How do you have that much in your footlocker in platinum pieces?"

He fired back, "How would you know what is in my footlocker?"

Eldar smiled, "The same way I know you are going to piss yourself when you hear the number 3. 1, 2, 3!"

The guard starts pissing his own pants, "I think it is time you answered my questions honestly."

He sighed, "A woman told me a friend of hers, a dwarf, was falsely accused of a crime. She knew he could not be released but she asked me to take a bag to him."

Eldar nodded, "So you brought him the tools and the means to escape from here, GO OPEN HIS FUCKING CELL!"

The guard moved down the hall to find the door cracked open.

Eldar backed away as he opened the door and there was an explosion. The guard was alive but badly hurt. He looked in the room and saw a piece of paper burning and he went over and stomped it out. Over half the page was missing but then I could read the following:

**************************p

*********************ilvertree

*************************oll

*****************

***********rimus

Just enough detail to know he was the target, Lord Barimus sent him after him. That and the city had another spy in it. He walked out, "Show me the other prisoner's cell."

We walked down the hall a little further and the door was cracked. He looked at Annette, can your sword knock that door open further?"

She nodded and used the telekinesis from her blade. The cracked door opened with another explosion. He looked in the room and the General was dead from a single knife wound to the chest. It appeared to show signs of poison.

He looked at the wounded guard and our escort who was white as a sheet, "You need to arrest this guard for aiding in the escape of a prisoner of the crown who assassinated one prisoner and tried to kill me as well. Search his footlocker and bring all the valuables to the main chamber. Your captain is going to tell you the same so you can just hold onto him until he shows back up."

They headed for the stairs and made it to the top as some other guards arrived, "You are a little late."

As he walked past them with his sword still in hand. He finally decided to sheath his sword and the ladies did the same.

He looked at the extra guards, "Find your Captain and tell him we found who aided the assassin and have him down here."

They took off and pursued different floors. About 10 minutes later he returned. The Captain started to walk forward and Eldar grabbed the one guard thrusting him forward with his leg blocking him. The guard went sliding onto the floor.

He looked at the Captain, "There are 1,500 platinum pieces in his footlocker. The money he took for delivering a package to a prisoner in the dungeon. That prisoner killed the other prisoner, set at least two traps, and attempted to kill me. This guy should be arrested for aiding in the escape. The Queen will want to see me soon, someone needs to locate her. We need to let her know what we found out."

The Captain looked annoyed but left them in search of the Queen. About an hour went by and he returns with another 6 guards. He looks at Eldar, "You will need to sheath that dagger."

He nodded, "Good idea, you have a dagger sheath I can put this extremely dangerous dagger into?"

Charlemagne looked at him, "Hand it to me, I will store it in mine and the guard can hold my dagger for now." He handed her the dagger and they headed off to see the Queen in her Audience Chamber.

She looked at Eldar, "You look badly injured."

He nodded, "Our clerics are in the new village. I was hit with a cone of cold from this wand. The dwarven prisoner was using it."

The Queen looked at Eldar, "A Dwarf using magic?"

He nodded, "I believe he was an Artificer. He did not have the skills of a true rogue but appears to have used tools to unlock his cell, the other prisoner's cell, and set two explosive traps. The other prisoner was killed by a poisoned dagger which we found on the dwarf. He attempted to approach me with improved invisibility.

My sword warned me of the danger. I moved off from the others and the danger followed me. My perception has increased dramatically since being touched by Corellon Larethian. When he got close, I threw a fireball at my feet. After that, I was able to isolate his location and kill him. My sword makes me immune to fire damage. The cell he was in it had a note, most of it was burned."

He showed the Queen the note, "I can make enough to know I was at least one of the targets as he did not go after my wives. The last line is missing letters but it looks like Barimus was involved. Your guard took money to deliver the package. 1,500 platinum pieces.

I do not know if this is the only time he has failed you or spied on you. He told us the money and package were given to him by a lady outside of the Palace district. That means Lord Barimus has another spy in the city."

The Queen sighed, "A Spy that is currently not in the Palace or the palace district."

He nodded, "For the moment unless they passed into the district invisible or flew in. I would suggest guards at every gate be given an item that provides true seeing. The palace should be swept from top to bottom to be sure. If this is a traitor then that would be another matter. Get a good description from the Guard. Annette could help in that regard.

As to the money, use it to pay for the testing of orphans in the city to get them into the appropriate schools. We are going to need that army. I would like a cryptic note sent to my father to return to the Palace. That I was attacked with a poisoned dagger. No other details. In case the assassin is at House Silvertree I want them to feel that they might have succeeded, your Majesty."

She nodded, "A reasonable and logical suggestion, both of them. Send a messenger. With just those details; no other status is to be given. In the meantime, one of my personal healers will tend to your wounds. Guards take him and his wives to a secure room and have my healer dispatched there at once."

He nodded and then stopped, "Could you send a request tomorrow? To have the head of House Silver Moon come by for a private audience? I would like to have a meeting with them and you to discuss another matter, Your Majesty."

She nodded, "I can arrange this, your meetings always serve some purpose. At the very least they are entertaining."

He nodded, bowed, and left her for the night. He looked at Charlemagne, "We still need the horses stabled." She nodded and took care of that quickly while they waited. He got to the room and laid down sore from all the cold damage. He looked at wives who worked to get him out of his armor but he was soon asleep after the healer arrived. The morning came quickly.

His wake-up call was from his father. His wives were lying naked on either side of him as they had stripped him out of his clothes and they were all under the blanket when he came rushing in. He looked at Eldar, "What happened?!"

Eldar looked at him, "Another spy and or traitor is in the city working for Lord Barimus. He tried using one of our prisoners to kill me. They succeeded in breaking the prisoner out by bribing a guard. The general was killed by the mason. We need to get a status from Jarron. Tell him if his friends are waiting for Barimus bones to age further they are waiting too long."

Heliar shook his heads, "You know that will not do any good."

Eldar glared up at him, "It gives me a chance to vent! Step outside I will get dressed and meet you as soon as I study up some spells, I might have to add one or two to my spellbook for the coming challenges."

Eldar looked at his wives who started to stir, "Sorry my ladies, today is all business." They nodded as they knew he was pissed and trying to get it under control. He dug into his library.

He spent several hours adding a couple more spells to his spellbook. Then memorizing them. Once he was set and the supplies were put away, He went to join everyone who had left him in peace. The guard looked at Eldar, "The Queen is waiting for you in her chamber, she has for a couple of hours now but we were told you were making some preparations for battle and to wait, Sir Silvertree."

He nodded, "Lead on." He walked them down the hall and down to the main level and the Queen was in the main chamber dealing with business.

Karti'Ros, "Danger is present."

He stopped dead in his tracks, "Intruder in the palace you will want to secure the doors and get the King and Queen to safety."

Eldar, "Karti'Ros left hand Moon Fire"

He held the sword in the air at the back of the room so the King and Queen could even see it. Her Guards sprang into action as drawing a weapon in the main court was not allowed. He yelled out to the Queen, "There is an intruder in this room you should get to safety, send for my wives, and seal the room until we find them, Your Majesty."

The Queen yelled out, "Seal the room guards stand your ground." A magical dampening field was deployed; low-level spells would work, but nothing major would work. She and her husband left the room quickly as battle mages deployed. There were about 30 people nearby. He looked at the group, "I would like the men to move to the left side of the room and ladies to the right. The room was rather large so he paced around the room.

Eldar, "Karti'Ros Let me know the second danger disappears."

He walked to within 10 feet of the men.

Karti'Ros, "Danger is out of my range."

He looked at the guards, "Take these men to a room for further questioning." There were six women left. He looked across the room, "We are awaiting the arrival of my wives. Then I will bring you over one at a time for questioning. Once I am done with the ladies you will be free to go and we can move on to the men in holding."

His ladies arrived and they saw he had his sword drawn and they followed suit. He nodded to Annette, "You know my THOUGHTS on this matter, I hate questioning ladies!"

Annette, "What is going on?"

Eldar, "We have another guest."

He walked to the middle of the room and confirmed the intruder was on that side of the room, "Would all of the ladies now move to the other side of the room, please. He waited for them to pass and he went to the opposite corner to confirm that the ladies had the traitor.