Silvertree Chronicles Bk. 01 Ch. 29

It was not my intent to interfere as I had no way to know it would cause that effect on an Elven Champion. I had been hoping to find a psion champion in another race to wear that necklace to help my people form that perfect mind.

Eldar's is not perfect, close but he is missing crucial pieces. He cannot study spells from memory, for example, but that is not the only thing...others would be able to do so in the future. The elves are different. They retain Metallic Dragon Bloodlines throughout the ages.

Eldar has all 5 Royal Gemstone Bloodlines in this world as I allowed them to carry on this world in the Elves during the 5th Age. You, Annette, hold one Royal Bloodline from the 1st age, from an Obsidian Gemstone Dragon as does your twin sister. Those will be inherited into the Elven people as a gift as it was passed from your human heritage and held within them.

They have none of their evil nature which came later, this was before they turned from me and fell to corruption. They worked hybrid dragons with other Evil-aligned Dragon races. Which I had barred them from doing with any dragon species including other Gemstone Dragons.

I destroyed them for that affront to my authority. But I did not destroy the 4 Half-dragon Half-Humans they bore centuries before and seeded psionics into the humans. I kept those bloodlines going. Of those, only you and your sister survived. Bahamut set it so they carried forward in elves in perpetuity in every world.

I was waiting for the right one to come along as a human and changed the course to be an Elf after the events of the 5th age instead. In Annette's son and the children, he spawns in the future this additional bloodline will follow. This is true of your sister as well.

My premonition skills are far better than the Lady of Dreams as I have Draconic Balance in Clarity. Yes, I used that link to Annette's and Charlemagne's undocumented Human Draconic Dragonblood from their Half-Elven mother to influence the choice of the amulet.

I had not predicted it getting stolen, but I also hid most of its nature. This ensured it ended up in the hands of the champion. One who had all 5 Royal lines from me that carried forward. Done by my own volition on this one world for the Elves in the 5th age.

I lost faith in AO and his playing both extremes during the 2nd Age as he failed to keep a balance. His peoples' short-sightedness kept reappearing and turned to corruption far too easily on this world and repeatedly.

One day your son, though he will be born attracted to males, will find love with a female for the rest of his days. A female Dragon you are holding hands with Annette. She will have many children from that mating, mostly girls most likely to spread the Bloodlines into other Elven Houses.

To return to House Silvertree generations from now. When that occurs, the 13 bloodlines of 7 Metallic Royal Dragons and 6 Gemstone Royal Dragon Bloodlines will work to create that perfect mind. Not counting any Diety influences from the First Age and into the future.

The first in a non-psion to prove the value, and the second and third in elven Psions. I knew the treaty was flawed and would be unfair. I knew what would happen. I set that relic up to be a safety valve.

To let the world balance out again for the Elven people to take that challenge. I hope that a Psion with this mind will be trained by one of my Dragons eventually. They will get that mind's structure into my people.

Remember, I won't let them mix races to try and do that. That is why I used outside races to work that from. Your Elven Gods can stop it but it is another key to saving your people as well. I did not want Bahamut knowing I took this action or Tiamat.

Your Elven people suffered the most in the 5th Age under Tiamat's reign of terror as he targeted you as a proxy of Bahamut. My people expanded their fertility and I have taken that to other worlds. I was trapped to deal with the situation.

Bahamut's Metallic Dragons on this world bent too easily on key issues that my Neutrals were opposed to. I foresaw this. This led to violent swings from chaos to order and back into chaos. Corellon and the Lady of Dreams will eventually see that I worked to keep a stable balance but had to protect my followers.

I did not abandon them or the Alliance of old as the Elven Gods thought. I did what I did in honor of Tallion, a noble champion who respected my followers. I merely moved off the field to show the chaos and the corruption that is to come.

What would happen when I was being ignored, for good or evil's sake. I would not let the blame fall on my followers for others not listening. They could blame me instead. In the 5th Age, we sided with the Alliance as we got trapped in the world.

In the 6th Age, we sided with the Accords and I sent most of my population off World. We let both sides corrupt the Accord as they saw fit as they did not want true peace. It was forced upon them just like the truces in the Dragon Wars.

We tried to keep the peace. Too many Greater Deities, Like AO, and IO play the spectrum for their people, good, neutral, and evil. The elves are always toward one extreme, good. Those who fall join Loth's side or perish on different worlds.

This world only has Loth. You try to live 'good lives' that is your Race's goal. My hope is you find your goals for the Elven people in moving them to another world eventually."

Amy Tryst was shaken by all of this. She thought, "We will continue this tomorrow. That was a lot to take in. You will remain connected and near us. We shall eat, sleep, and meditate together."

---

The Lady of Dreams held this and showed it only to Corellon. He reflected on the events of the 5th Age and what transpired. He heard from The One. "Now you know why I came down so hard on Sartior.

He always played by the rules and sought a balance. Then he lashed out for not being heard when 2 extremes were facing each other. You have to decide if the gift he offers is worth it in the end."

Corellon looked at the Lady of Dreams, "Pretend you did not get that, that we are dealing with the amulet as Bahamut stated. I will think about this matter for a long time before reaching a decision. For now, let it play out."

---

Eldar awoke early again. While he would like to have spent the morning in bed, he had two apprentices. He got dressed after cleaning up.

He walked over and kissed Charlemagne, "I have two apprentices to get started on a full day of work so we can leave tomorrow. You have to head back after checking in with Greentree. Tell him to come by here at midday-meal so I can talk about the Garrison Keep with him and he can direct the surveyors. Bring a couple of the stonecutters with any designs they have so we can get that settled. Then after midday, you can head back to the city, take your horse with you.

She nodded, "Bring your apprentices for the mid-day meal. I will make sure Cook has something for us all."

Eldar left the room and passed the sleeping couple on the floor as he opened the door. Silver Moon looks over, "I heard you had the patron of my house at the Palace."

Eldar nodded, "To discuss the changing laws and the fact that our houses should be setting the example on marriages that produce mixed race and Elf-blooded children. Marriage for love and all of that. The Grand Cleric is from your house and it was his deity that ordered the changes.

As a Patron, there is a responsibility. The Queen concurred with me. The process of disowning based on marriage to a human or Elf-blooded member would violate the new laws."

She smiled at him, "You did that for us. I finally laid everything out about my departure from here. What she did to hurt me. What I was doing to heal. I told her the next move was hers because I was already pregnant and loved the man. She was not stopping me from having a loving partner of my choosing.

I think it broke her heart to hear how much of a hold she had over me. The fact that hold was gone as soon as the sword was cleansed. She cannot disown me. Corellon told me at the ceremony privately. He told me he thought I found a good match with Tiger, a human. You went the extra distance though and ensured she knew it in front of the Queen. For us."

Eldar smiled, "I did it for all of us, but especially for you two. I restored branches that were cut off, and now she is having to do the same. Else justify it to the Queen."

She smiled at him as he left the house. He again enjoyed the silence away from the city as he walked toward the home of his apprentices who sounded like they just started sword practice. He walked into the house and they looked at each other and followed. He went upstairs to look at their rooms.

He walked back down, "You need to straighten your rooms, put your clothes that need washing into a pile. This place will be kept neat. Just as your appearance should always be neat. Unless you just finished combat. When your rooms are done come downstairs and I will give you the cantrips you must know to begin with."

He went downstairs and waited for them to finish. He looked at them both, "You will need to have three sets of clean clothes ready to go including what you are wearing. Else you will need to do laundry after the evening meal. This should hopefully be one of the last times you ever have to hand wash clothes as the clean cantrip or as it is better known the prestidigitation cantrip is on the list."

He gave them a list of 10 cantrips, 4 more 1st-tier spells, and 3-2nd-tier spells."

He looked at them, "I know Apprentice Strong Oak 2nd-tier spell is a scorcher or scorching ray as some call it. What would you like Moon Ray? For your first and second spells that are not on the list, I gave you?"

She thought, "Acid arrow for the second, and witch bolt."

Eldar nodded, "Not bad choices. Get started on your cantrip list." He looked at Strong Oak, "Your 1st-tier spell?"

He thought, "You gave us a magic missile, detect magic, feather fall, and identify. You gave us one offensive spell so I would add another, Thunder Wave."

Eldar nodded, "It is always good to have a mix of elements in your spells. Mirror image, feather fall, magic missile, and your signature spells are what you shall carry in memory for this trip. Any extra 2nd-tier spells you might have should be another mirror image. Any additional 1st-tier spells should be your magic missile."

He paused and looked at them, "Any spell you are missing?" Apprentice Moon ray spoke first, "Shield spell, Grand Master."

Eldar nodded, "Add that to your 1st-tier spell list. You should never find yourself in combat in the field. If you do and you are dealing with a caster get a shield up and get as much distance from the group and keep a distance from each other. Your spells and swords are for a creature that breaks through the lines or if we get hit at night. Out there you will grow up fast and see things that cannot be unseen.

Set your mind straight. In a couple of weeks when we get back you will have your ritual to activate Moon Blades. Yes, I got them and they are in the hands of the Queen. Get your mind focused on your code of conduct and purging any demons you have about protecting all of the Elven people and you will do fine.

I will sit back here if you have any issues. Keep at least 14 blank pages between your first and second-tier spells. Room to add more in as we go along in the coming months and years. You both get points for your spell selections. When the day is done your old spellbooks will go in the fire. Midday-meal will be at my home today then it will be back to writing.

You will bring your spellbooks and supplies with you as you can continue there. Dame Silver Moon will be at my house now when I am away. You will know where to find her and of course, you know where to find Elder Strong Oak."

They nodded and bent heads over books and got through the cantrips and were working first-tier spells. They were having an issue with who could flip to what page. He got up and pulled a captured spellbook out of my bag and found a thunder wave spell.

He set it down, "You can copy that from here instead and she can copy from the other book."

They nodded and finished up first-tier spells and they packed everything up. They headed to his home with books and packs in hand. He finished the first etiquette book during this break.

He got home and found Silver Moon was present, "Could you be so kind as to use a little magic to clean up their clothes? To save them some time tomorrow?"

She smiled and nodded. He looked over at the dwarven stone cutters, "Welcome to our home. At least temporarily until you build the new one. Did you have some designs for me to look at?"

The stonecutter he met before nodded, "Yes, we have several garrison designs."

Eldar smiled "How many with a keep and how many front-line forts with forty-foot walls?"

They looked at him, "Three of the first, we might have a design or two we can adapt to get a 40-foot wall, but why so high?"

Eldar smiled, "We had an incursion with over 200 dead enemies the other day. I want to build a fort in that location that can see farther, and have the height to have giants looking up at us. I am figuring at least ten feet thick on the outside for this fort. Show me what you got."

They flipped through the designs and He found a keep and garrison he liked but they were not on the same design. Eldar looked at him, "I want this keep with this garrison instead of this courtyard."

He looks at it, 'We can make that work, the floors are the same height, the keep is narrower but we can center that. We can make it work."

Eldar sighed, "Something tells me we will need more room. Instead of centering it, widen the keep. Can that be done?"

He sighed and nodded, "Always something."

Eldar chuckled, "You can thank your Dwarven King for part of this headache. He is one of the conspirators that made me a Duke and Field Marshal."

He chuckled and nodded. Eldar looked at the fort design and found one that would house up to 200 humans comfortably. It had 8 towers including one massive one over the main gate with a double portcullis with oil traps and murder holes for the archers to shoot anything that got between the gates.

Eldar looked at him, "I need them both built in less than 20 years. Then I need the watchtowers across here, every ten miles on these hills. I need all of this completed in less than 30 years.

The Stonecutter looks at Eldar, "That is quite a workforce we will have to bring forward."

Eldar nodded and smiled, "We will have war in 40 years and I want to get your workers out of there well before then."

He nodded and sighed, "You will have to talk with the Dwarven King. Let him know you will need about 30% of our stone craftsman and masons working on this for 20 years."

Eldar nodded, "I can do that. He knows I am coming. The Human King, Dwarven King, and the Elven Queen made me a Duke over this area on top of everything else so this provides a front-line fort for when the armies are brought in for the commanders to meet at and disperse orders. We want to keep them south of the trade route."

The stone smith smiled, "Well that is a lot of coins to be spending."

Eldar smiled, "I know this is also a place where trade caravans can seek a safe harbor if being attacked. The site is near where the first dwarf to die in this conflict perished. A merchant."

He nodded, "The sooner the better, then!"

Eldar nodded, "We leave in the morning. Now before you leave this gentleman is a surveyor so he will need dimensions. I want a corral with trees able to support 400 horses next to it.

On the other side of the corral is where that tavern will go. I want trees in the middle of the garrison and the corral area. Now this section over here is where the new Arcane Academy is going. Same dimension as the new tower in the city.

Add 40 feet to each side and 20 feet across the front as an open area. You have the site location for the new church already correct? Marked off given the dimensions provided by the church?"

He nodded, 'We have the location but it is not marked yet as it is right next to your Keep so that will require some adjustments."

Eldar shook his head, "The church should be on the other side of the road from the garrison. The road headed south. That was by my design. It provides towers for casters on that side.

An Arcane Academy at the other end of the road will cause trouble for anything that makes it this far. Which hopefully will be none when the fortifications are in place on this front. The crown is working the Academy and the Churches are working the new church."

Eldar looked at the dwarves who were listening to this, "Some of your designs for the keep and garrison are humanly inspired, built by dwarves, and in Elven lands. Nothing is more symbolic of the town."

They chuckled. Eldar smiled, "That is all I had for you today."

Tranosa and Eagle-eye show up for the midday meal and he brought them over to look at the map. He showed them where things were going to be.

He pointed to the location for the bar, "Eagle-eye this is the location. Have you come up with a name for the tavern yet?"

She shook her head, "I had not given it much thought, but you have?"

Eldar nodded, "It is right next to a corral and garrison and just down the street from the stable and inn. Here is what I pictured. I sign with a horse tied to a post out front with a rider having one foot in a stir-up and lying flat on his back. Call the place 'Dismount.'"

That got a few chuckles even from the dwarves. Eagle-eye looked at him, "I like it, lets the guys know this is a place to unwind. Not be so serious all the time."

Eldar smiled, "Up to you but I thought I would throw that out to you. It will be up sooner given the funds we have set aside in our discretionary account for building things faster. We will need homes built before that but a small crew getting started on that at the same time should not be a problem. It will help with morale. While we are on the subject of not so serious. Did Charlemagne give you the items for the ladies?"

Eagle-eye shook her head. "Go see her in the room before she goes, she may have forgotten."

They sat and finished lunch and his apprentices had picked up where they left off. Charlemagne kissed him before she left, "See you when you get back. Thanks for the reminder. Eagle-eye loves them. I gave her the warning to pass along."

Eldar nodded, He found one of the two special second-tier spells from a captured spellbook. He set it down beside them so no issue with who got to copy first. He checked their work as they went. He read in-between checks.

Eldar looked at them, "Make sure you have everything for the trip, bedrolls, clothes, spellbook, set your old spellbook down on the table. Once you have all of that bring your colts up here. All of your gear as well. You will be spending the night on the floor here. For when we leave."

Silver Moon was back and gave him a message she did not understand, "Queen Goldeagle liked both books and will get you 30 copies made and translated."

Eldar smiled, "Tiger's book and another book dealing with Saatorixx Knights my mother had."

Silver Moon turned red, "The Queen?"

Eldar nodded, "She has access to the best scribes in the city. I am sure extra copies of Tiger's book will be made by the scribes for their use."

She chuckled, "It will hit the bookstores I am sure!"

Eldar looked at her, "You can have my room tonight, I am staying down here with my apprentices. Please get on the carpenters to repair the other house while I am gone."