Silvertree Chronicles Bk. 01 Ch. 28

She sighed, "You are not being monitored but the room is."

Eldar looked at her, "That is a treaty violation."

She sighed, "Some here may try to harm you, we monitored for additional draconic presences."

Eldar looked at her, "Who was doing the monitoring? I want names to file a formal complaint."

Jarron looked at him, "Calm down you do not have to take it that far."

Eldar looked at him, "Then why am I here under guard? Not being monitored but monitored."

She looked at him, "Only dragons live here. Nobody who is not a dragon that you would be worried about."

Eldar nodded, "How exactly do you monitor an area for only something that is not there?"

The Lady sighed, "Please come with me and we will get you your answers."

She knew she had been watching it all, any monitoring for any outside divination. She set 7 different teams out to find nobody at those locations as they had already left or they were from outside elven and Dragon lands.

They walked to the horseshoe-shaped room.

Eldar stopped, "They plan on placing us in another cell in the middle of this room again?"

She sighed, "It is more for your protection than theirs."

Eldar nodded, "I think I will decline. I have had enough cells for one visit. Thank you."

She looked at Eldar, "Give me a moment."

She walked into the room and communicated back via psionics, "The proposed sponsors will meet with them in private. We have 12 attempts at divination on the quarters he was in, some from outside of dragon lands, one by a Blue Dragon in the room who was brought in for questioning and killed in his cell moments later.

No other divination lasted longer than a few seconds. They blocked it this morning and we will not have them intimidated further from those who voted against them. Would the Gold King and Amethyst Queen join us, only them."

The Lady walked back out.

"Follow me, we will go to a conference room."

He followed her and they walked into a room. She looked around.

She sat down and spoke, "Please have a seat. The Saatorixx Knights are one stage of your organization. There is another group which you have been considered for membership, due to your deeds. It is the Order of Dragons. These are non-dragons who have done great services for the Dragon Kingdom."

Eldar looked at her, "This some award? Another set of responsibilities in service to the Dragons?"

The Silver Queen nodded, "Both."

Eldar nodded, "The ladies are free to make their own choices but I would be inclined to refuse. The Knights work to keep the balance, I can make that work with my Blade Singer Code and responsibilities to the Elven Empire. Being made Duke and Field Marshal, Fine I can make that work.

Working directly for Dragons, I could never put your affairs above those of my other responsibilities to the Elven people. Can you honestly tell me that this will not conflict? I am a Grand Master Blade Singer and my code of conduct is strict. I have already run into one conflict and Jarron was not happy when I told him that given the conflict the Elven people came first."

She nodded, "I can understand your concerns. We have never had a Blade Singer in our ranks. I do not know if this is the reason or it has not come up. Let me get your proposed sponsor, I would be the sponsor for Charlemagne while one of our truly gifted psionic Dragons would be a sponsor for Annette. Maybe your sponsor can answer your questions directly."

She sighed, "Give me a moment. Jarron will wait with you and the door will remain open."

He nodded and looked at Jarron, "What they want me for, I have no idea. Charlemagne and Annette do not have my Blade Singer Code to live by. This is a great opportunity for them."

Jarron nodded, "I know you have your principles and your code and this is not in direct conflict with that. I can see your concern but I am not the best to address your specific concerns."

Eldar nodded, "I still have a traitorous Wizard in our ally ranks that has yet to be addressed. They may be armed to the teeth with who knows how many artifacts. Taken from the Dragon Royal Vaults. I see they have a conflict. They have to choose. It is not easy for them. Taking no action is still a choice. I take action when others sit on their hands. You said you had assets to deal with him but he is still in play."

Eldar heard a voice from the door, "You make a lot of good arguments but are you ready for another Dragon War?"

Eldar looked directly at 'the elf in gold armor,' "That is why I have done the things I have done. Keep conflicts small, and protect the Elven people."

The Gold Dragon King had a different image of himself up and nodded at Eldar, "You have gone way beyond that. You have helped to recover stolen Dragon assets. Identify a rogue dragon gone undead. Captured his half-dragon son. The ancient's son has lost his council seat and is under arrest.

We have strong support to get him executed for his part in these crimes. You are shaking up this community like you have your own. We want you to be a General in the order, Like Jarron but very different. Your job includes nothing more than what you are already doing.

When it involves potential exposure of dragons that could lead to another war. Like you have been doing then we would expect you to advise us and search for a solution to our problem like you have countless others.

We are discovering a global command structure is not working. Your ideas are fresh, enlightening, and have been of great importance to us. You would be the first in a set of regional Generals. You are already in the role.

Dealing with the same allies and the treaties you know so well. Even better than some of our scholars. Charlemagne would have the same role. She would be working on the evaluation and division of assets out of your group. Assets going to the global arm of the Knights, to Jarron.

Annette would provide the same level of intelligence that she does now. Her work has been extraordinary and your work with her to hone her abilities is not unnoticed. We would get her a proper psionic trainer to help determine what her abilities are. What she knows and what she does not know but is capable of bringing to the table."

Eldar nodded, "That would be a benefit to our son."

He looks at Eldar and played dumb again because of Jaron's report covering this, "Your son?"

Eldar nodded, "He will be a Moon-elf psionic. The next in a line of Elven psionics. They are rare but they will not be as rare soon enough. My question to you. Does the Queen know why we are here? What specifically are you asking me to do?"

He looks at Jarron and Jarron looks at Eldar, "We approached her with this idea and she has embraced it. Especially after the string of success, you have pulled off. That was one of the reasons I came along. I wanted to see how you did what you did. The way you stayed in the fight, directed Annette, adapted to the changes on the field as more wards popped up than was expected.

The traps with the giant, the cutting off of communication, ensuring the information flowed, and still willing to face down a dragon's breath weapon and attack to get that information in play. You flow over a battlefield. That was why I was smiling. You brought your team back safe and even helped to save a young adult Silver Dragon from death without even knowing it."

Eldar looked at him, "My popularity on the council is not unanimous, the blue and the black fear or wish me dead which is why the field. Also, the reason you restricted our movement."

The Gold King nodded, "It is not unanimous, and yes those are two of the biggest dissenters to this change. You want to know what is in it for you?"

Eldar shook his head, "No I want to know how this helps to save lives with the troops I have in harm's way? I know you will not directly intervene so I am trying to figure out what does this bring, if anything, to the field to aid the Elven people?"

The Gold Dragon King stopped and thought, "You have your role protecting your people this does not change that. What this does is give you direct command over the assets in your region. It gives you a direct way to communicate and see us when the need arises. It takes Jarron and the delays out of the loop which saves you the time you are so worried about."

Eldar shook his head, "Two previous statements given conflict with that statement. You would be putting Annette under someone else and having Charlemagne divide out the troops based upon the needs of the Knights. Not the needs of the southern border or the Elven people. Who works to resolve those conflicts? Who determines what roles those being sent to you will take? I send you a field officer. I am sending one Lieutenant Silver Bow while ALSO losing one in that last battle.

Grunts are one thing provided the global arm is sending us some potential candidates. Ficka that we have not had ANY candidates sent to us yet for evaluation. Field officers are harder to come by. Finding talent and getting them to be field officers is another thing. I am saying it is hard to send you forged steel if you are not sending any iron. I gave suggestions on how to fix that."

The Gold Dragon King looks perplexed, "Which suggestion?"

Eldar looked at Jarron, "Taking an 8-man unit and dividing them into 4 mercenary company leaders. Let them recruit from the field. They find raw talent that is ready for the next level then send them to us. We can train them and send them back.

I have no problem sending assets so long as we have someone else coming to take their place. Right now, pulling 11 out of my 176 after losing 4 in the field is a 9-10% reduction at a time when we are only at a quarter of our strength."

The Gold Dragon King looked at Jarron, "What were your thoughts on this idea?"

Jarron looks over, "In every 8-man unit there are 2 who are leadership material and the others are very talented. The other 6 we would be hard-pressed to do that with."

Eldar looked at him, "That is bullshit Jarron. You had Hunter in as her second who did not want the job, but he had the skill. Tranosa has stepped up as a Captain and is working logistics while being our strong Right arm in the Gray Blades.

He was just never challenged and now he is a Moon Blade wielder, instead of an Elf with no extended family until he married. You had 3 good officers in that group. The problem is, you do not see it. You did not see it with me until you went to the field with me.

I can prove it to you. Send me the 6 existing Knights and let me see if we can make leaders out of these talented individuals while the 2 leaders look for forming a larger group and keeping the cream of the crop."

Jarron sighed, "Alright, I will give you that, but there is a difference between skill and desire. It is worth testing out. I will look to send you 6 low-level Knight to try and train to be officers in the Knights."

Eldar nodded, "I did not desire to be Corellon's Champion, but I am. Sometimes difficult positions are thrusted on people and they step up. Like you have, being in your position. I am fairly certain it was not your first choice in careers."

Jarron shook his head, "Another vision?

Eldar shook his head, "No, just observations about you. I have a vision of something about you, and you will know. I will tell you. Maybe not everything. But enough. That is one problem down. Charlemagne can make determinations as to who the best candidates are.

I, however, need to have a say over which assets are safe to pull until I have a replacement available to take over for them. I have control of the assets in my region. Times between wars this is less of an issue, building up for one it is an issue. This must carry on to those who hold these positions next.

Assets that come in as Knights but are training are not the issue here. I will have them training with full knowledge that I will be replacing them soon. This is less of an issue now as Charlemagne and I are married. The next person you want to put in that role might not be my wife or me."

The Gold Dragon King heard from the Silver Dragon Queen, "We are not allowed to directly interfere with the Knights activity. Guide and mentor. Not control as you see it."

The Gold Dragon King did not like that but knew there was truth to that statement because she had used it many times and referred back to the Alliance who let them use a Dragon Advisor to deal with Dragon issues. She and her predecessor had expanded the level of 'control' since the reformation. The Elven Queen as the longest-lived of the 3 races held them in check if they crossed a line.

He finally responded, "Your concern is valid. Pulling assets going forward have to be coordinated through you. During times of relative peace?"

Eldar nodded, "I expect once the War is done, I will be sitting on about 60-70% percent of my remaining force. I am comfortable going as low as 55% percent. We will be recruiting young talent to get specialized training in-between and then shipping them off. We get to capacity, we can cull some out before then.

Especially young and talented humans who blend in better in other environments. While we are building up for this war with all of this Dragon magical gear on the field, I will restrict the numbers. Field experience with the occasional cross-border or bandit raid.

Troops tied to protecting the Duchy are out of bounds unless they move over to become a Gray Blade first. The training is not as intense and the threats for what they are doing are not as severe, once we have our forces in place."

The Gold Dragon King looked at Jarron, "That makes sense."

Eldar looked at them, "This would make Annette my asset as she is operating in my area. The information she obtains I can feedback or get Charlemagne to feedback depending on which of us is available."

Jarron sighed, "I might require her on occasion."

Eldar nodded, "Interrogations, places where we, and I mean WE, can come in by teleportation are fine. Having her sit in an inn on the other side of the world, no. Things she can get done in a day or two, like getting Jarron's cock sucked by a prisoner."

Jarron turned red and the two Dragons chuckled. Eldar looked at him, "He was actually under orders himself. I am not the only one who thinks Jarron needs his brains fucked out now and then. Have a life besides only work."

The Lady smiled, "Sounds like an interesting story. I had already seen this first-hand in that prisoner's memories."

Jarron now held his forehead.

Eldar smiled, "Also the reason why Jarron wants me to have a separate command is so I can stop giving him a hard time."

Jarron nodded, "That would be a benefit."

Eldar shook his head, "I would still send you the occasional gift from the adult shop unless you finally have a wife by then. In which case I will send you 2."

His ladies laughed.

Jarron sighed, "Moving on! As to Annette, I can agree to those terms. You start picking up more than one asset. I expect you to share the wealth."

Eldar nodded, "If they are my family and I have recruited them then yes. If I have not recruited them then they are off-limits."

Jarron smiled, "A loophole?"

Eldar shook his head, "If they are not providing intelligence to me or do not have those particular abilities then they are of little use to you. Until I know how best to explore their potential for fitting into the organization. Remember I brought Annette to you!

I am the one who judged her potential. I am the one who twisted your arm in letting her prove her worth. They are in general lousy frontline troops and not very stealthy. But if they can have a guy drop his pants and stand there and jack himself for 20 minutes then there is at least entertainment value in that."

The Gold Dragon King looked at Eldar, "Have you done that?"

Eldar shook his head, "We have wiped spells and innate abilities from memory, given up spellcasting for a short time, had your current prisoner strip naked during the battle, and be total servants to someone who needed to question them.

The abilities have aided in bypassing geases. Have we reached an agreement on the recruitment of my family members? If I do not think they are right or ready they are off-limits. These are my children and my children's children.

I am asking for two generations until the talent they have can be spread out and will exist into the future."

The Dragons nodded. Jarron nodded with a sigh.

Eldar looked at the dragon with no name, "Annette's trainer will need to relocate to our town or have the ability to train from afar. She would be missed for any length of time."

He looked at Eldar, "Having a psionic dragon in your town would be hard to hide."

Eldar nodded, "Annette being gone for months at a time would be hard to hide. I would think this is not the first time one of your dragons has trained another psionic. Bring in that non-dragon to help train locally. When my son gets old enough, I could send him to 'school' with your dragon trainers. Exactly like I will be doing for my daughter who is going to become a Grand Cleric.

It would be safer at that point to have them training out of the town when war hits. Except for one who will be training with me. Also, any training at the Arcane Academy that is being built. Any forces that try to take on a tower filled with casters are dead before they hit the doorstep."

The Gold Dragon King sighed, "There might be one or two out there. We would have to talk to them. I would like to have her alone for a week with our psionic trainer."

Eldar sighed, "You mean living in a room that is a cell that she cannot even move in?"

He shook his head, "No. She would not be here, she would be brought directly to an area that is full of psionic casters. Her being there would not be discussed with any of the council until she has already returned. They could evaluate what talents she can grow into and which ones are off the table."

Eldar asked, "Is this room shielded from scrying?"

He nodded, "Yes, it is enchanted that way. Why it was chosen."

Eldar looked at Annette, "Being gone for a week would be tough on you and us. But of the 3 of us, you could get away with it if you so choose. It is an opportunity to find those things that I have not even thought to test you for."

She nodded, "After the briefing, it would be easy to slip away for 1 week so long as I am not caged and I am allowed to move around outside."

The Gold Dragon King nodded, "We can make that work for you."

Eldar looked at him, "What does a sponsor do, and how many on the council know who is being sponsored? I still have safety concerns. When the whole council is informed of Annette's status while she is here."

He nodded, "The existing members of the council would know, they do know you are being approached. The fact of who her sponsor will be is known, When and where this evaluation would be made will not be given until after she is back with you."

Eldar looked at Annette and she nodded, Eldar looked at them, "I am trusting you with the 6 most precious things in my life. My wives and unborn children. What of the other 2 sponsors, what does that entail?"

He smiled, "We are your liaisons. We do not need to provide you with training, you are already doing the job."

Eldar looked at him, "You are the sponsor, who is the leader?"

The Gold Dragon King smiled, "Officially, there is no leader. Unofficially, the head Silver Dragon on the Council. That is why the Order does not exist outside of these lands. You would be on the same level as Jarron, your father, your wives, and a few others around the world. Elves and Dwarfs are more long-lived."

Eldar nodded, "The order is mostly Silver dragons then, why the Council of Nine involvement?"

He sighed, "Draconic politics is complicated. Our group interacts with the outside world so the council has to be made aware. The vote on bringing the 3 of you into the fold of the order was a 5-3 split. Nothing is ever unanimous. With the red out of the picture and his seat vacant a 5-3 vote carries. That is why the security was so tight.