Silvertree Chronicles Bk. 01 Ch. 35

"Then I need a heraldry sash with my house symbol upon it. I am marrying 4 more ladies."

She looked at Eldar, "Wow!"

He laughed, "That was my thought when the Lady of Dreams dropped that on my current wives."

She looked at Eldar, "You saw her?"

He nodded, "You marry yet?" She shook her head. "There is a mass marriage ceremony occurring on the twelfth after the sword ceremony to activate and claim 3 more Moon Blades. That is an invitation-only event. Stay away from the sword ceremony. An hour after that the Lady of Dreams will be there to perform our marriage and anyone who wishes to get married. Interested get to House Silvertree by mid-day to teleport to the village we will stage people there." They looked at each other and nodded. He smiled at them. "We do not want the entire city there but I helped you two."

They smiled and he spoke, "That helped more than you know."

He looked at Dorothy, "If you are going to be able to trick ride, we will have to move to lighter armor."

She nodded, "I can accept that." he looked back at the group of enchanters, "One set of elven chainmail, one elven full plate, sized that magically adjusts for size and sex. Both high enchantments. Two sets of bracers high enchantment.

One Calvary style Elven shield of high enchantment. I want all of them to have the same house design that is on my armor. The bracers and shield to be entirely the same background color except for the outer edges."

He looked at Annette, "Now I think we are done."

Charlemagne looked at her, "Should have waited until he said he was done."

The ladies laughed. Annette gave him the account number, "What good is the coin when it can be protecting the ones you love."

He looked at the salesgirl, "Bring the cloaks and any of the stuff I just gave you that is finished with you. Gives you a purpose for being so far away. Delivering of specialty goods to Duke Silvertree, Call me Eldar. I save the titles for when they are needed."

She nodded and laughed, "I remember."

They walked out and he looked at them. He activated the Princess's crystal, "Yes Eldar how are you doing."

He replied "Shopping for wedding dresses for a pair of twins you might know. Is the Duke around?"

He heard some noise, "You got them to agree? Thank the gods!"

He smiled, "I gave you the date already. If you wish to attend the mass of marriages. The Goddess the Lady of Dreams will perform them. Including mine to four more ladies. You need to let me know so I can pick up your party personally. With over 800 mercenaries and 10, soon to be 13, active Moon Blades our Security is very tight."

He heard some muffled discussions and the Princess replied back on the crystal, "I will join the Duke on his trip. I would like to bring one bodyguard that should be within the bounds of your circle."

Eldar smiled, "Yes Princess, your military adviser is more than welcome to accompany you."

She laughed loudly. "You are correct! I will see you on the twelfth in the ambassador quarters at the evening meal."

He smiled, "That time works, Princess."

The crystal went quiet and he put it away. "That leads us over to the merchant section to find rings."

Everybody mounted up.

They got into the jeweler's section and this was his first time visiting this shop. He walked in with his group a lady behind the counter looked over, "Can I help you?"

He looked at her and he did not want any big issues. He decided title here, "I am Duke Eldar Silvertree. I am looking for four wedding bands."

She looked over "4?"

He walked over and grabbed Annette's hand and held it softly, "Yes, 4 like this. If you do not have that then four in the metal of these bands."

She looked at the bands, "Those are beautiful, who did the rings?"

He smiled, "The Lady of Dreams when she married me to these ladies. Now I need to add 4 more wives as the advice from the Lady of Dreams to my wives."

She looked at them and they nodded. She looked at the rings, "I do not even know what this metal is."

He sighed, "What do you have that is four identical bands?"

She checked, "I have platinum rings that have four medium diamonds set in them. They are 14,000 each with your discount."

Charlemagne looks over, "We will take them, the Lady of Dreams will likely change them here is my account number."

The ladies laughed and the sales lady was in shock. He looked at Charlemagne, "Finish up here and head to House Silvertree. I need to meet my brother there."

She nodded. He went out and rode quickly to House Silvertree. His brother was waiting with Victria. He walked over and the two of them each removed the seals from his bedroom. He went to his desk and opened the drawers in it and found the file with his will.

He pulled it out, "He left it to the two of us, his account numbers and everything is here." He showed it to Victria, "Everything in order?"

She nodded, "He says to sons and calls you out by name."

He nodded, "We want half of that money set up for you and my brothers. A third to each of you from that half. Money to ensure you can raise them comfortably. That should not be a problem as the profits are set you will get a share of that as well, half of what my father would have gotten. The other half being sent to my brother and me.

I need you to draw up the paperwork to make that happen. Evaluate how profits are being distributed overall and help to finish that paperwork to reorganize the house. I will need to set up a couple of proxies to handle things in case of my death. My Brother would Head the House next until the time of the first House election.

Also, be the Blade Holder Proxy as a Blade Singer. While Victria will be the Elder for our branch. Once we get a headcount for each of the branches we will know where we sit in terms of size. Finances, I believe profits are distributed to the branch Elders. I have mine divided into different accounts.

I will need to add Victria to that breakout, taking father's spot. I divide it evenly across five accounts now so it will change to eleven accounts. I am marrying four more wives and two accounts to be held in trust for our unborn brothers. Please go over the account numbers and let me know if there is a problem.

Let our accountant know I want a full report on Silvertree assets, accounts, and profitability. I also want to know which branches are overseeing these assets. I will get you the other four account numbers for the brides after my wedding on the twelfth. Staria and Astria are two of them."

Victria smiled, "I like Staria and Astria. It will kill their house. I can help with absorbing whatever assets they have. I will talk with them but it would normally fall into your lap but they are such a small house. I can put it into their accounts for what we liquidate. If parts are profitable then we will keep them going."

He looked at his brother, "Please go through his office and bedroom. Store any valuables and any personal items we can discuss. Any letters he left behind for us should be to whom it is addressed. You are invited to the wedding. Extend an invitation to Master Trainer Yetto to come as well. He knows how to teleport you to the village. Evening meal."

He nodded, "You are handling a lot, I can handle this task."

Victria smiled, "I can get those together for you before the wedding and show you where everything is going. I need to see the ladies."

He smiled, "They are behind you. I am going to go see my grandmother in the garden. She said the tree we planted is growing way faster than normal."

He got up and left the ladies to talk and grabbed his horse and went to the garden. He saw his grandmother looking at the tree it had quadrupled in girth and added another six feet since he left her. He looked at her, "Your thoughts?"

She smiled, "You somehow enchanted it. I would not be surprised if it does not follow the rules and die in 40 years it might be the largest Silvertree ever. Within days it will consume the entire section under the tree that you had him plant grass seed.

The branches will extend over the walkway. The effect is being seen in the nearby trees as well, they are growing another 5 times faster. I told your gardener to plant three more rows of those trees giving them distance. The entire garden will be a small forest soon enough. It is anchored enough that the guards would not be needed."

Eldar nodded, "So long as someone does not try to cut it down or set it on fire."

She smiled, "Then I would have them patrol the garden."

He looked at the guards, "Inform your Captain you are relieved from standing guard. I want an hourly walk through patrol every hour and not just the garden. The entire estate. Vary the pattern and have two patrols with random nights having a third. Plus, sentries at each of the major exterior doors and entrance to the Estate."

He got all the ladies gathered as it was getting close to meeting time at his home and he took them all to Elder Strong Oak's home. He let her down, "Next time I see the Lady of Dreams I will have to ask her about the tree."

She smiled as she went into her home and they rode to their home. The gathering of officers was large. They had no Captains in the field at the moment. This was the first time since their founding that they were all present. He walked into the home and it was standing room only except at the couch which had been kept clear for our return. Cook was ready with food for all of us. They sat and ate. He had his two elven brides sitting on his knees because of how crowded the room was currently.

He looked around, "As we have so many officers here today, I would like all lieutenants not assigned to my detail or my training officers to wait with the sergeants." Once the crowd cleared. "I want to start to use the inn as a barracks. I know I said this before but as soon as the dining table is in place at the Inn these meetings will be held there. Cook and Skinner get a room at the inn right next to the kitchen.

Will help for feeding a crowd of this size. I want all Commanders and Captains to have a ground floor room. Fireball's wife can start taking care of keeping rooms straight. Lieutenant on the second floor. Greentree can stay with John Silver. The spare bedroom in this house is for guests. Which right now is Captain Silver Moon and Tiger starting next week. In the short term displace apprentice Strong Oak.

Have him rest at my Grandmother's house. She will enjoy having him around. When the fourth floor of the Inn is completed and furnished, we will move into that area. Then Silver Moon and Tiger can take over the Master bedroom keeping the downstairs bedroom always open for Master Trainer Yetto. He grew up in this home and it will be his when he retires from the field. When that occurs, we will address the arrangements.

I would hope your new home would be built by then. Lieutenant Silversong, your future husband has been given the projects to finish his master's training. I requested the work on swords for two of my brides to be done by him. They are not easy tasks but I feel comfortable that when applying himself to this he will succeed. You know of the mass wedding. If the ladies are wondering what to wear take them to the city.

I have informed the lady that owns the shop that any of my officers who come in and tell them that Duke Eldar Silvertree sent them to get you squared away. This goes for those with non-blade male spouses who need apparel for the wedding. Mass wedding, I expect those on the fence OR WHO HAVE YET TO ASK HUNTER, to get on the ball and get this taken care of quickly.

Commanders, please revise the squads to blend in the dwarven elements except for the Sapper unit under my Sapper Lieutenant. He will be switched to report to Captain Rachel Walder. Soon to be Captain Rachel Silvertree. Her Sister will become the Captain of the town portion of our protection forces. She will be the default person for the other three captains to coordinate with on issues.

One other is our Centaur captain who is busy working tracking down trappers. I have sent Wood Elves over to help locate them. We find them they will be killed or put to work doing hard labor. Commander Tranosa who will be in charge of the prisoners. Assign to work hard labor.

They will be out on the plains pulling rocks, planting trees, or pulling in logs to the sawmill. Lieutenant Walder will after next week be assigned to the Dwarven Captain who I stole his flask of spirits from. He is my brother-in-law or will be. Keep him in line. Like you, he likes big heavy weapons and armor."

That got a few chuckles. "I want an arcane lieutenant, do not care which type to be assigned to each of the dwarven captains. With squads. I want the Dwarven lieutenants to fill the holes.

The remaining Dwarven lieutenant will report to my human sword and shield wife. Both of these two new human officers were evaluated independently of me. I asked for honest assessments. Do not think I would throw any of my family into a meat grinder if they could not do the job. Astria will get evaluated for battle mage duty as work on her spellbook is done. She may become a Lieutenant in the Blades.

Staria is going a different route, she will become an apprentice to Lieutenant Silversong's husband when he gets his master's status. As both he and my wife will be employed by the Blades they will have effective ranks of Captain and Lieutenant accordingly. Just like our Alchemist. Assigned out of the training facility. Eventually, they will set up shop at the Academy. I want at least one training officer at the distant crossroads.

We will start getting humans coming to join after my address at their King's funeral and the Princess telling her people to support us. Those with cool heads could be moved to the town protection force under soon to be Captain Dorothy Silvertree. As homes are completed, I want them going to officers first then work your way down. Any single soldier will be doubled up in a room.

I want a temporary barracks for single soldiers to build on the human side of the border. Charlemagne can you see to getting the plans with Staria. Annette, place it at the top of the housing queue. The sooner the inn is completed the better. I want the Tavern 'Dismount' finished sooner rather than later to give our guys a place to unwind. I want a second Barracks to be built near the fort for the protection forces.

To provide extra bunks for the Gray Blades and Academy. I have been given a timeline of 16 years maybe longer before the Keep is finished. When it is the fourth floor of the inn will be a child care center for soldiers who are out on patrol as well as a play area for the very young. Doc I want clerics to help oversee that. Keep Dorothy in the loop as she is interested in the delivery of future generations.

Rachel wants a hands-on role with the horse breeding efforts. The sooner the pasture for the horses becomes available the better. Please get it fenced in as once before the first foals start dropping, we are going to want a place for them to get big and strong. I have 50 more saddles on order from town. We have 40 left and you can assign those out as needed Tranosa.

These will be the last ones ordered. Keyno and the leather-smith should be able to keep up with demand. Doc when we get done here, I want you to stick around. Hunter, what is your task when you leave here?"

He looked over at Eldar, "Ask a certain cleric Trisna Silvertree to marry me before her nephew drives me nuts!"

Eldar nodded, "Also get her to town to get a wedding dress, the cost is already covered. Because I am such a pain in the ass. Ask Jarron. Speaking of him." He pulled out a crystal and activated it.

"Jarron, your presence is demanded on the twelfth for a whole slew of weddings following another sword ceremony. Including four more brides for me. I expect you to tell me you will be there. Else I will get the Queen to tell you."

Jarron laughed, "I will be there. Four more wives. I want to hear about that but I am in the middle of something."

The crystal went dark, "To our dwarven members, if you have any married couples on the field then let us know. Annette can work with Greentree to accommodate the change in height for counters and such in a home that is built for them. Please get with us on numbers." They nodded at him. "As you can tell we have a difficult time telling dwarven males from females unless we stripped them naked to check."

Several laughed. One of the Dwarven Captains looked at him, "A lot of dwarves think all elves are females unless they see them stand to piss."

Several chuckled at his comment. Eldar smiled back, "I am sure Dwarven females could stand and piss farther than some of your men. So that test does not work for us."

They chuckled back as it had some truth to it. "I would like the Dwarven Captains to take teams out two days apart. The first one leaving tomorrow. I do not like leaving the front without any captains or Commanders in the area. Once this ceremony is finished things will return to normal. Whatever normal is for us."

That got a few chuckles. "You two go outside and arm-wrestle over which of you goes out first. The winner gets to be the first Dwarven Captain onto the front." They nodded at that. "Anything I need to know about since yesterday?"

Tranosa looked over, "The Centaurs found another 20 traps and have found nothing thus far."

Eldar nodded, "I will take a ride out after this meeting with a detail and travel that section of road. We will see if I hear anything."

Tranosa laughed, "You would hear an ant fart."

Everyone rolled laughing.

Eldar smiled, "If that is all, you can take off and get your troops in order, Lieutenant Walder and Silversong wait outside and get mounted up."

He looked at Doc, "This is to remain a secret until two days after the wedding. I want you to check my four brides take them to the master bedroom. I do not need details unless there is something unusual. If so let them know and they can tell us."

He nodded. "Charlemagne and Annette ride with me."

He stepped outside, "Captain Silver Moon get my apprentices mounted up and over we are going on a patrol."

She smiled and rode off. He looked at Hunter, "When you have finished with that task, I want you to join my patrol."

He shook his head, "Jarron was right you are a pain in the ass."

Eldar smiled, "Sounds like someone needs a jar of anal beads."

That got the troops laughing. Hunter rode off with a smile on his face. He knew if he came back with a comment, Eldar would present him with a jar in front of all the men like he did Jarron.

Eldar got mounted up and the 7 of them started riding. "Charlemagne and you have been on my mind lately."

Annette, "Need Something?"

Eldar, "When Hunter gets here, I want you to get him in with Silver Moon. Not everyone is in the know and I may pick up something I do not want to speak aloud."

Silver Moon, "What the hell?"

Eldar, "Annette is using her psionics for silent talking. Just think what you want to say and we will hear it."

Silver Moon, "Good to know. Better than hand signals."

Hunter, "You got this going again?"

Eldar, "With my heightened senses there might be something I find that I do not want to speak. We are doing this with just captains and above. Those who know it is a Secret of the Kingdom and riding with us. But only when I request it. Like a night patrol looking for a poacher."

They rode along the road and headed along the forest headed west for a change past the inn. Eldar kept his ears open. He signaled a stop and pulled out his bow.

Eldar, "We got a problem. I am sensing a grizzly about 150 feet out that has an increased heart rate. I think he wants our horses. 20 feet into the woods and 80 feet down the road someone is setting a trap. I heard the scraping of metal and I heard the metal click in place. Their heart rate quickened when I stopped the group. The heart for them is beating faster and they have not moved. As soon as I fire an arrow the other is going to move.