Silvertree Chronicles Bk. 01 Ch. 25

He nodded, "Jarron, can you bring my troops in? They are wearing and wielding some. Just the lieutenant and sergeants for the moment. They stepped in and the lady walked over to them and waves her hand over them and the others looked on as the elves saw nothing. She walked back over and nodded, "They can leave again."

The door closed and he could tell she was upset, "You have found treasure taken from the Royal Horde for the Kingdom. Over 400 billion in coins and other items were taken."

Eldar nodded, "That means it is safe to assume it is divided into caches into four areas. The Dwarven Kingdom, the human Kingdom, the Elven Kingdom, and the Draco-liches' treasure if I had to guess. Not counting what he has equipped his troops with."

He looked to the Queen, "This much coin alone could cripple any ally if all of the resources were purchased during a time of war, food, ore, chemicals for potions. It is devastation money in the wrong hands."

He looked to the two ladies, "The question is how would you like to handle this?"

The lady responded first, "Our initial reaction was to ask for everything back but that presents a lot of problems."

Eldar nodded and looked to the Queen and she seemed to be at a loss for words. He stepped back so he could see both ladies clearly, "I would like to throw out an initial idea in which to build upon. First, we need to complete this mission and discover how much of the treasure is in the horde and not distributed. We can assume that the lion's share is in the dragon's horde.

The lion's share of the gear would be in the hands of his troops, in what is recovered, or the troop commanders for equipping the Horde armed forces."

They both nodded, "Let us consider this point settled."

They sighed and nodded, "We hit the dragon's horde, and you reclaim everything. Tell us how much in coins was recovered from that location, including the location for the other caches.

If we can reclaim it from the other two kingdoms based on information at the horde then dragons and Knights can work to pull all the coins and artifacts from the two kingdoms. Now after this is said and done, we find 18 billion is still in our enemies' hands. The dragons leave six billion with each of the other three allies as a reserve.

The elven Kingdom returns anything above 6 billion that we pulled. Bring the field into balance." They both nodded. "The Knights can then make the cache locations known to the two Kings to collect the gear once those two spies are gone. You have no method of pulling it from enemy troops. That is a given. Now, I am going to shift back to gear, we will allow you access to the gear as we pull it out; all gear will be taken by wagon to House Silvertree; all coins to the Royal Treasury.

Anything that is an elven artifact or a dwarven artifact has to remain if found in dwarven or elven territories. We have treaty stipulations with the dwarves on the return of artifacts. All gear would have to remain, except for select relics. We will call this point two option one; the best-case scenario. Are you two in agreement with that idea?"

They nodded, "I am no diplomat but I do know a thing or two about fair play. I will leave it to the diplomats to discuss options if this does not occur but we have a framework on which to proceed with this mission. To include the other two spies, they have to be captured and not killed which might change who is involved, Dragon direct involvement possibly to recover their own ass'ets."

The pun was another double entente that was not lost on the group and he heard some laughs and a couple of groans. "Also, the recovery of caches behind enemy lines, that could reduce how much we hold in reserve even further. This would have to be a strictly Dragon matter unless we are engaged in full conflict and by that time the data might not be any good.

As we are short on time right now, I would propose we table the discussion further until we know if there is a solution. I would also suggest we get our hands on every scroll of stone wall we can get. Unless the dragons have a better spell to ensure that once the tunnel is collapsed it does not get opened before you get everything out. You will have to address it in our planning meeting.

Also, we are expecting the Second and his bodyguards. We can deal with them as agreed. We need to make it clear their gear is not up for grabs and the Second's office might hold information on the cache locations so we have to stay out of it. Your assets are going to have to clear any ward, pull any gear, and collect the intelligence.

I would insist that any intelligence found on spies, caches, troop numbers, sizes, commanders, etc. should be shared with us. The Knights for the caches, the Gray Blades, and our allies on all of it that is relevant to us on the front lines if you will. This gives our support team no reason to enter that office area to look for this information."

The Lady nodded, "We will incorporate the ideas we feel will be needed into the plan. We will go over this with your team when ready."

He looked to the Queen, "I will have our Knights hold all gear at House Silvertree until we have a chance to go through it. I will have Charlemagne return with Annette to oversee what we have. Any gear deemed excess gear by my people will be turned over to you to distribute to the Army of the Elven Kingdom. Our men are fighting, and dying, now.

We are holding the line to give time for preparations and establish fortification that will aid the army when you are ready to deploy. For all of our allies to deploy, Your Majesty."

The Queen nodded, "You might not be a diplomat but I still see some of your father in you in that regard."

Eldar smiled and nodded, "If you say so, Your Majesty."

Jarron looked at Eldar, "When did you come up with this?"

Eldar looked at him, "Do you remember me walking in with changes to how the team did stuff when I first came on board. That was from the walk across the compound. That was when I mentioned I might have an idea when I have a chance to speak at your meeting. Downstairs I mentioned the amount of gold and what they would have to charge.

You commented on my 'wild conspiracies.' That was when I started thinking this could have been from the dragon's private horde. Then I ask the question of 5 billion and would that seem large. Between those 2 questions and the announcement of the 400 billion being stolen."

He looked at the Lady, "I have a really good memory. I read a lot of information including all of the treaties with our allies. Including the terms of the Dragon War Peace treaty. I negotiated the information on the spies and Draco-lich direct involvement to get Moon Blades back. I have now confirmed what you have suspected.

The Draco-lich was either directly involved or allies of his within your kingdom aided in this theft, like his son on the council. You might discover this information within the horde, or he might have it all in his head. Regardless, once I knew what we found could not possibly be one dragon's private horde I was obligated as a Knight and ally to inform you of our discovery. I was not withholding information. I was just unaware of your theft. I had no reason to know. I was hoping the items would have been traced back to the Draco-lich's allies in your kingdom.

If the marks you looked for led to a specific dragon or dragons. This is still something to check with each item we pull before deploying anything further."

He looked at Jarron, "This changes our approach. The Knight we have on this mission will have to stay in the city. The extra squads I sent in will do external security at House Silvertree but kept in the dark as they are not Knights.

All they need to know is we captured treasure and we are determining what goes to our troops and what will go to the army. That gives a reason for the Gray Blades to have a presence in the city. I will leave Captain New Moon to oversee perimeter security; he would be a good liaison as he used to be a Royal Guard.

Any Royal Guards sent need to take direction from Captain New Moon in this matter. Commander and Dame Silvertree will be in overall charge of this operation. As Dame Annette will deal with any more questioning of the prisoner and she has been cataloging all of this data she should be involved in this 'administrative role.' I will get Greentree to send any questions he has to her."

He looked at his father, "You will have to split Silvertree resources between guard duty of our prisoners, the property in general, and the seizing of Silvertree assets from the disowned."

The Lady looked at Eldar, "You seem to be a force of nature."

He nodded, "I am head of House Silvertree. My father is the proxy in dealing with those matters. I am the Leader of the Gray Blades which has grown and will shrink. I am a Commander with the Knights, which means these troops on the mission I will lose most of them to Jarron. They are already aware of that possibility once this mission is finished.

That leaves being Knight Protector of the Elven Kingdom meaning doing what is best for the elven people. Which overlaps with being a Grand Master Blade Singer in terms of responsibility. Then there are the personal issues of building a town, loving two voraciously sexually challenging wives, and two sets of twins on the way. I am spread a little thin."

The Lady started to giggle at him and Charlemagne interjects, "He neglected his wives are on the top of his list." This got a laugh from everyone as he simply nodded rapidly, "Family is very important to me. I want them to have a place to grow up, thrive, learn, and make their own way in the world. I want them to know tolerance, hence the town name. Those things can only occur if I am doing the other jobs."

The lady nodded and then nodded at Jarron in some unseen communication. Jarron smirked and nodded back to her. Eldar looked at them, "I will get the others to get this meeting started if you like."

He pulled out the book, "My mother had this and I recently recovered it. I plan on making 1,000 copies. would you like one?"

She looked at the book, opened the cover, and smiled. She closed it and handed it back to him, "I would love one when you get them made."

Jarron shook his head. Eldar walked off to get the guys and the Queen followed him and she sighed, "Quite a quagmire we find ourselves in."

Eldar nodded, "Yes, but the company is lovely, Your Majesty."

She laughed as he got the door for her. She left and he waved everyone back into the room. They walked back into the room and the Lady smiled. He looked at his troops, "I need you to line up for inspection, they want to ensure you are adequately equipped for this mission as this is your first mission into enemy territory. Speaking of which, I need to show you something but it will require me to take my shirt off as the item is attached to me."

The lady smiled and nodded. He pulled off the top of his armor with the ladies held and his shirt. "An item from the first cache was a major amulet of health, my wives gave it to me and when it crossed this non-magical amulet the other disappeared.

This one is now magical and is also providing a regeneration effect as well. It also pulses like it has its own heartbeat and has attached itself to me. I told the ladies I would have you take a look at it. You might as well examine it along with the rest of the gear everyone is wearing. It is the only item from the cache that I took and that was at my wives' insistence. Apparently, they want me to have more virility."

This got a laugh from everyone including Jarron. The Lady looked at it, "I have only seen this on rare occasions usually involving a holy symbol of a deity with a champion."

He sighed and nodded, "I mentioned that on our first visit. I am also the Knight Champion for Corellon Larethian which falls in line with everything I do for the elves and being a Grand Master Blade Singer."

She nodded, "It might have been accidental but it is all you and bound to you. That was a good choice for a necklace. A very good choice."

That got more laughter. He nodded to the Lady, "Thank you for that I will let you inspect the men and women. I will get dressed now before my wives start to attack me again."

That got another round of laughter. He got his clothes back on and the lady came back, "Thank you for that, they seem to be well equipped for this mission."

Eldar nodded, "Thank you, Lady."

The lady walked over to Eldar's wives, "That was a good choice, after a time he will be able to go twice as long in bed, maybe longer. It will likely never taper off."

He smiled as his wives groaned. Annette looked over, "He is a handful in bed already and you are telling us he could double his ability?"

The lady shook her head, "I said he WILL, not that he could and at least double. Maybe even more."

That got the guys clapping and the ladies turning red. Eldar looked at them, "Something tells me a dozen children are not out of the question with you two."

That got more laughs. The Lady looked at Eldar, "Did I miss something?"

Eldar nodded, "Our wedding was performed by Sehanine Moonbow, she informed me of being Knight Champion to her husband initially, I have seen him twice since then. I told her she was being sneaky for adding a line into my vows about finding love again. She then whispered in my ear, 'I am sneakier than you think. All of your children will be twins.'"

The lady chuckled, and the guys laughed. Eldar continued. "She went into a long dialog with the guests at the wedding. One line that caught my attention from her. 'If you can afford to have a dozen children then have a dozen children.' Much was said that was cryptic but I have been putting pieces together to help others as well. My first conversation with Corellon Larethian, the one thing he said that I did that surprised him in a really good way was asking you for the return of the other Moon Blades."

She smiled, "Good to know all of your creativity is not divine."

Eldar shook his head, "My wives will tell you I can be a bit devious in bed at times."

That got a laugh and his wives turned red. Jarron enjoyed this show, Charlemagne just nodded rapidly as well. Then Annette started nodding.

Eldar looked at Jarron, "The wives were talking about spanking me tonight for giving you a hard time, I told them you would just think it was foreplay. Now I have given them their own reasons to follow through on the threat."

That got another round of laughter. Annette spoke up, "No threat, promise!"

He looked at them, "Well then you better keep track of all my transgressions."

That generated more laughter and Jarron piped up, "I will give you a list!"

Which got one final laugh before the Lady brought things back to order.

She waved her hands around, "You have a self-deprecating sense of humor on top of being mischievous."

He nodded, "I reserve the mischievous to those I care about and battle."

She nodded and looked at Jarron who rolled his eyes as he had no out for that comment. She smiled, "Onto the mission, we will enter through this portal, I need someone with a good sense for Danger to lead the first wave."

Eldar raised his hand, "My Moon Blade has excellent danger sense. My perception is otherworldly. I took down an elk at night, in a forest, with my eyes closed at 125 feet on a frontal shot because I heard and tracked its heartbeat. It was a 7x7."

She looked at Eldar, "I think you just volunteered."

Which got a laugh. Eldar nodded to her, "I will not give a dangerous role to one of my men that I would not do myself unless he was better suited to it and agreed by the same 'volunteer' method."

She nodded, "You will take point followed by the three of my men and then three of your team."

Eldar nodded, "My lieutenant in the last wave I would like my wife Commander Silvertree leading in the second. I want Captain Silver Moon and my wife Dame Annette with me. The men are not aware of her abilities but they will likely come into play if we have a one-off situation."

She nodded, "We will have four waves. I will take the other two Moon Blades one in each of the last two waves. My people will lead waves three and four to secure the inner chamber. The crack in the wall is narrow but long we should be able to get everyone through. One of mine in the second wave will have a crystal for communication. They will let us know to send wave three. Move into the crevice as quickly and quietly as possible.

My people will disable wards if we find any. Eldar, as you can detect magic you are on point, put three fingers in the back of your head for the symbol of a ward. A fist to show hold. Just move if you are ready to move. We will hold at the crossroad. My men will set up sentry spells to monitor the two pathways. We have a couple of wards to take down.

Once the charges are set it is up to you to hold the intersection when our attack force heads into the main tunnel; blow the charges when you see forces approaching from the outside of the Second's tunnel has an alarm set off. Eldar, thoughts on holding the intersection."

He nodded, "Do we need to buy you more time to collect a horde? If so we need to be able to blow that tunnel in three sections then reinforce with walls of stone unless you have something."

The dwarves looked up, "We will drop an eighty-foot section mountain into that pass with our charges."

Eldar nodded, "We need to put a wall of force across the bottom of that passage to protect vs passwall." He nodded at the idea. He looked around, "I want to hold the fight in the intersection; there are only a few ways to do that.

Have all our troops in the crevice and come out and attack from behind they could run right into the main chamber. Stay in the intersection they could run back to the Second's office. I would suggest a split option; it buys us some leeway. Have Annette, Charlemagne, Captain Silver Moon, Moon Blade, and Moon Bow in the crevice.

That puts the rest of us partway down the tunnel plus the two sappers; I would like to put one on either side if they think that is best." They nodded. "That is a five to ten split. We will not know where the second will come from with his bodyguards. The main attack force might encounter and take them out in which case we just have to hold the reinforcement line.

If they come from the Second's office, I want to move our team of ten about 100-120 feet down the dragon tunnel, is that safe enough?" They nodded. "As the 7+ enemies come toward us our 5 can work their way out and block retreat. If they come from the main tunnel heading for The Seconds office then we have ten there and five that can reinforce.

We want to keep them out of a fight in the Second's office. We do not know what wards are that way and we do not want to destroy any intelligence. We do not pursue it if they run. We use walls of force or stone to block their movement. Which takes me to Moon Bow we need you to set and hold the wall of force at the explosion.

Silver Moon, same but the open passage leading to the Second's office after the enemy has passed toward us to block retreat. Moon Blade you have fighter skills that make you the tank on the backside. Once the group enters the intersection I will yell out 'ONE.' I want chain lightning cast into the group.

The Second is going to have cold resistance items because he is vulnerable. The bodyguards if they have an ounce of brains have a fire-resistance item because of the boss and the Second frying their asses. After lightening, you can try cold spells, fire is a no-go in this battle; leave that to the sappers to try and damage them with explosives.

Before the main group moves, I want the sappers to evaluate the crevice to ensure that it will still be open after the explosion; it does us no good to blow our escape route. Reinforce with stone meld scrolls, wall of force, wall scrolls, and chain lightning wands for those who are mages but cannot cast it. Blade Singers. Defensive spells, chain lightning if you have it; we cut them down.