Silvertree Chronicles Bk. 01 Ch. 35

He then threw a wrapped pouch into the fire and the smoke turned thin and gray and seemed to go straight up.

Eldar looked at his apprentices, "Horses and mount up. Did you clean off your swords?"

They nodded and Moon Ray answered, "Wiped clean on the bodies of the fallen enemy, Grand Master."

Eldar nodded, "Officers watch over the fire then head back. That is a signal to the enemy to go fuck themselves. The Gray Blades have taken care of this issue. You 2 will become reserve privates to the Gray Blades. That means even a private outranks you. It also means you will collect half pay for a private.

See Charlemagne when you get back and let her know no cloaks. First, gather Apprentices. We are going to the Academy. Do not clean up or tend to wounds. I want them to see you as you are. Keep swords sheathed in town. I am taking us directly to the Academy. Memorize the location as much as you can.

You will be able to teleport there in the future if needed. We will likely be doing this a lot so examine it every time until you get the spell. Officers, tend to the fire."

He cast the teleportation circle and entered the arena where a sparring match was taking place. A fighter versus a Blade singer using practice swords. He would guess he was a five-year Blade Singer. Getting some sword practice.

Someone yells out, "STOP!"

The two of them stopped the match and a Grand Master walks around and looked at them. This one he did not recognize.

He walks over toward Eldar, "Who are you?"

Eldar looked at the fighter and he was one of the ones who got knocked out at his ring ceremony. Eldar looked at the fighter, "Ask him?"

The fighter looked toward Eldar, "He is Grand Master Eldar Silvertree. I heard he was made a Duke over the southern borderland."

Eldar looked at the fighter, "Can you find the head Grand Master for me? Tell him I have another first."

He looked at his apprentices, "Be sure to use WE in your explanation. Strong Oak you will talk. You need to work in that area."

He nodded, "Yes, Grandmaster."

He looked at the apprentice, "What year?"

He looked at Eldar, "The sixth year."

He looked at his 2, "Apprentices What year?" They both yelled, "First, Grand Master."

He looked at them as he pulled away "Strong Oak left side, Moon Ray right side forward dismount." They came to their feet facing each other.

He looked at them. "Stand in the center facing the long table 3 feet away."

He did a triple flip dismount and stood right behind the Grand Master. He extended his hand to him, "I did not get your name."

He looked at Eldar, "I am Grand Master Golden Spear."

Eldar shook his hand and looked at him, "They are first years but are in their first month of training."

He walked past him, "You might want to observe this and have your apprentice do the same."

He walked up behind his apprentices. The Head Grand Master came and stood at the table. Eldar motioned for him to take a seat. He looked at the Grand Master, "I would like to introduce you to my two apprentices. Strong Oak and Moon Ray. Moon Ray present."

She set the ring on the table. The Grand Master looked at him, "You took them into battle?"

Eldar nodded, "I am General of a Mercenary Company and a Duke of the southern border. Of course, I take them with me. They have even been to the Dwarven Kingdom, King's throne room. Traveled by horse. Strong Oak explain your activities this morning."

He cleared his throat, "We engaged a party of 22 orcs with 4 officers and the 2 of us. We did acrobatic dismounts from our horse and we both cast mirror image. I hit my first orc at range with a scorching ray. He was dead by the time he got to me. The second orc I went into sword combat against after he hit me a couple of times, I cast another mirror image and dispatched him."

Eldar put his hand on his shoulder, "Moon Ray pick it up from the mirror image." She looked at the Grand Master, "I hit the first one with an acid arrow. When he fell, I hit the second one with a magic missile then engaged in swords and dispatched him. Strong Oak was closer. I attacked with Magic. The last orc was facing our Grand Master trying to figure out what to do. I threw a witch's bolt.

This caused him to turn toward me as Strong Oak had done a leaping tumble and came up under the right arm and ran his sword into the orc's heart. That Orc had the ring, WE killed it together."

He sat back in his chair and looked at Eldar, "Why would you put them in harm's way?"

Eldar looked at him, "They needed to remove any doubt about what they are signing up to do as Blade Singers."

He pulled out the Two swords and handed them the ones they chose, "They were also chosen to be Moon Blade wielders which will be activated at a ceremony tomorrow. A blooded warrior who may be younger than most who take on those blades. Apprentices. Draw the Moon Blades and set them on the table."

Eldar, "Karti'Ros left hand"

He set his blade between the two. "The next time you see these blades they will have runes like mine and the moonstones will be encased with their house symbol. Mine is different," He flipped it over. "As it has a holy symbol of Corellon Larethian for reasons you already know."

Eldar, "Karti'Ros left hand"

He sheathed the sword. "Apprentices Sheath your Moon Blades and attach them to your weapon belt left side as you have earned the right to carry them until the ceremony tomorrow. Then for the rest of your lives. I would like the record to reflect that two Blade Singer Apprentices Strong Oak and Moon Ray killed the Orc carrying that ring."

The Head Grand Master picked up the ring and fumbled it. He then dropped it on the table. He looked at Eldar, "The ring is my sons. On behalf of the family, we thank you for returning this to us. We knew he was presumed dead guarding a dwarven caravan heading home from here. Fresh out of the Academy 70 years ago."

He picked up the ring and walked out. Eldar looked down, "I did not know it was his son's ring. I did not remove it or read it. Mount up. We are headed back."

He looked at the other Grand Master, "I have returned over 140 rings. For once the burden was not mine."

He looked shocked. Eldar mounted up, "We will likely see you in just over 4 years for the tournament." He cast teleportation Circle and they appear outside his home, "Feed and water them then come inside." T'suras went over to his feed barrel and ate.

He has a water barrel right next to it. When he finishes eating, he put a cover over his feed barrel. Eldar looked at them, "Smells like rain is coming." He undid his saddle and blanket and barding and stored it all including his reigns. "Go graze my friend." His apprentices did the same with their horses. They stepped inside the house. He looked around and nobody was there. Then they heard a horse pull up out front.

Rachel steps into the house, "Your back."

He nodded, "I did not read that ring. It belonged to the son of the Head Grand Master, lost 70 years ago. My apprentices have done what I did for a classmate of mine. They returned it personally after ensuring the council knew it belonged to and the circumstances of the death. Word will spread. We will get more Blade Singers in the next 5 years now.

They will be shamed into doing it when 2 apprentices have returned more rings than they have. Nobody keeps score, it is a grim and solemn duty. Nobody likes to report the death of another in the Order.

Yet they know these forces have likely killed hundreds of our Blade Singers. Can you get Doc next door at the Silver house? Tell him I know I am interrupting yet again but I have two wounded apprentices. They take priority."

She nodded and went outside. "Now while we are waiting. Let us go over your reading from last night."

He got a 10-minute summary from both of them. "Keep up on your reading. Do you notice anything odd?"

Moon Ray pointed, "The massive stack of books."

Eldar nodded, "Those are all spellbooks I have captured from other wizards. Some they had captured from yet other wizards."

Rachel walked in with Doc as Eldar shook his head, "Just had to finish I hear."

Rachel laughed. Doc looked at his apprentices, "These look like sword wounds."

Eldar nodded, "They have been blooded in battle. Each killing 2 and working together to kill a third. Orcs. What was the body count?"

Moon Ray looked up, "22, Grand Master."

Eldar looked at Rachel, "Did you know one of the reasons Staria went to town today affects you, Rachel?"

She looked at him, "Why me?"

Eldar smiled, "You remember the sword I ordered for you?"

She smiled, "Yes. What about the Sword?"

He sighed, "One of the spellbooks I went through did not do much for me, but for an enchanter, it was an interesting spell. Dealt with changing the color of light effects on an enchanted item."

She looked at him, "The BLACK LIGHTNING!"

He smiled, "Seeing as she is going to be this guy's first apprentice and his Masters status revolves around your sword doing what was requested. It helps her with him, him with his Master, you as the customer, and me for being such an observant guy.

How about putting together a little something for the five of us to eat. I can hear Doc's stomach from here. I can also hear Cook complain about her Nether-hole for some reason."

He walked upstairs and came back and handed two tubes to Doc.

"Just a couple of drops, 4 at most. You all will be happier."

Doc looked at the printing on the bottles, shoved them into a pouch.

Eldar looked at his apprentices, "One at a time, lower bedroom, repair your clothing and clean them."

Strong Oak headed in first. They ate and Moon Ray went in after Strong Oak came out. Moon Ray came back. He looked at them. "You do not fight with the Moon Blades today.

In fact, no sparing, swimming, or acrobatics. You get some extra time to work on your sword practice, just maneuvers with both hands and reading. Use your Moon Blade for the sword practice. The weight is lighter, and it will be lighter still when it becomes magical again. That makes it a bit quicker. I have no idea as to what abilities it will have; it usually has one unique ability like my Moon Fire.

Then another ability like orc bane, wizard bane, or like the ability to appear in my hand. All blades are intelligent. Some even believe they have a gender that they identify with. That has not been proven. Your swords also will have an ability that is not known to the blade. You can only try and figure it out in combat.

The rain has stopped. Brush down your horses and walk them home. They are young and we moved pretty fast today. Tell your Elder about your day. You made some history. Tomorrow you make more. I will be here catching up on a stack of spellbooks I need to clear."

Eldar looked at Rachel, "I will be in the room reading. Let anyone who shows know I am not to be disturbed unless it is an emergency that cannot wait until the officer's meeting. That goes for you ladies as well. I have water, fruit, and a chamber pot."