Silvertree Chronicles Bk. 02 Pt. 01

She looked at Brannar and pulled the Crystal out. "Your Majesty, how are the negotiations progressing?"

She laughed, "How did you know I was in negotiations?"

Brannar smiled, "I just spoke to my sister. During that conversation, I asked that she keep John there. To tell his two 'dragon friends' to return without him. I also let it be known that I have a spell that would allow anyone who cast it to see through the ring being used by Lady Amy Tryst. Any other such rings created or captured by the dragons would be useless.

This is not a bluff. It was one of the spells my father researched and in his book of rare spells. I am ready to make it available to our Wizard Academies and that of our human allies around the world! Do I have their attention now, Your Majesty?"

The Queen was quiet for several moments, "You would risk exposing them?"

Brannar smiled, "More like revealing them. I request that negotiations be suspended for one week. We would be in port in the next 3-4 days. The weather has been sporadic and I cannot push two ships at once. I have other requests that I would like to discuss in private, Your Majesty."

She sighed, "I will call you back in just a moment I have to deal with this firestorm of a revelation then call this meeting for today."

Brannar sighed, "Your Majesty! If you want to clear them out quickly and quietly ask them to contemplate the importance of the 14. To be ready to discuss it in a week."

There was silence on the other end, "They have decided this should best be resumed when you can be present in a week. They ask that you do not distribute that spell."

Brannar smiled with a wicked grin, "I would ask they see that all elven assets within dragon lands be returned in the next 2 days until this is resolved! including Jarron. All communication to be routed through Jarron at the Palace and vetted with you before committing any support, Your Majesty."

She sighed, "I don't like this and I hope you will explain this to me in private once we are off."

Brannar nodded to himself, "Yes Your Majesty, but I would ask that it is just the two of us here and you. Not even Jarron, you can decide on what you wish to share with him on what I am going to reveal to you."

It was quiet for several seconds, "The room is cleared, I am alone in my audience chamber. Now please explain."

He looked at the crystal, "Does Jarron have a title on the Elven Court, and what is it if he does, Your Majesty?"

She replied, "He is a Count on the court but that is classified."

Brannar nodded, "Consider making him a Duke with cross-border treaties in the dwarven and human kingdom in which to maintain Knight assets separate from the Dragons. Like you did for my father. This is why. I have spent the last 3 days without sleep going through all of the journals on this ship. This is the kind of data they try to keep from us.

The obscure reference to elven blood also there is a reference in here about using dwarven blood and body parts. We can guess they are getting them through the deep roads. The 14 are a fairly benign group in that they work on getting food supplies for the growing dragon population. Except for 4 of them, they are involved in the slave trade and piracy to capture breeding stock in oceans and lands around the world.

I found a couple of notes in this journal that calls out, "Poor selection a couple might be used for breeding the rest should be consumed before wasting any supplies on them."

Brannar pointed to the reference in the book. Silver Moon looks at it, "Your Majesty, I am looking at the book, it calls out numbers, races, and ships taken or destroyed."

Brannar flipped to the back to a much older entry.

He looked at Silver Moon, "Read the date and the entry in this journal."

She looked at the journal and then gasped, "Year 4745, Hunting of the Sea Elves in the great sea appear to show they are either extinct or fled into the plane of water. Too bad they were so tasty."

Brannar looked at the crystal, "There are hundreds of entries in these journals mostly dealing with humans. The reference dealing with the killing of 2 of my siblings and taking the bodies to what he called the 'Grave island'. It says dozens of dragons have attempted to undergo the ritual since the last time and they believe they are close to having a working solution based on the last set of results. The half-dragons personal Journal.

They are tweaking the formula and ritual to attempt three ancients who are waiting for a successful result. Apparently, according to my father's notes, he disposed of some artifacts they used the last time. They have been working to recreate the original process. That way they can craft new artifacts to make this repeatable in the future. They figure that would take a couple of centuries at least."

Brannar paused. "Is that enough reason to push them out a week on negotiations? I hope to be back in 4-5 days if not sooner. If you are agreeable bringing our allies into a meeting to discuss this information. I am not suggesting a Dragon's war. I am suggesting separating the Knights from Dragon oversight as they are not looking after our wellbeing. We need to enforce the treaty from our side without them. At least let us determine what is 'Dragon Business,' Your Majesty."

The Queen was quiet for several minutes, "I need to think this through. You keep all of that information secured!"

Brannar nodded, "Yes, Your Majesty. I do not know how secure these communications are based on some data from my father's journal. I will not go into specifics of where, when, or how much more information I have gathered. I have troves of data here. Did I overstep with my sister in sending his 'companions' away?"

She laughed, "No, that was prudent. We will talk about your efforts in more detail upon your return."

Brannar cleared his throat, "Your Majesty, I would like to open formal negotiations with the humans in this region to acquire several of their warships to operate in this ocean. The ship we captured is geared for cargo hauling and a large complement of crew. The warships are smaller and faster geared more toward hunting of pirates. Especially outside of the bordering waters that they do protect. I can finance these myself and could be negotiated into another cross-culture mercenary company out here."

She was quiet, "Get 2 and keep the option open for us to procure more for pirate hunting and as a gesture to opening up a long-distance trade route as we have a market in magical gear that might interest them if we can come to some terms, we could open that up to them in exchange."

Brannar smiled, "Might I also suggest we look at offering to evaluate any promising young magical talent. Training them at our Academy, Your Majesty?"

She laughed, "Your grandfather would have laughed at how much alike the two of you are when he was your age. The idealist working the angles in diplomacy. Yes, put that on the table as well. I have to go for now and think this over and decide on what I want to do with Jarron."

The Crystal went quiet. He looked at Silver Moon, "Are we good now? About my concerns? Why I do not trust them?"

She looked at Brannar and nodded.

Brannar reached into his bag, "Start wearing these. I will wear these."

He handed her a pair of earrings. He had a pair of glasses. "Staria enchanted these for my father in secret, they have that new version of true seeing embedded in them. The earrings have a second enchantment you will find useful if you see their lips moving but hear nothing. Then you know they are lying to you, but only if they are talking to you, not to others."

She laughed, "I can think of a few places where that would be useful. Like the bedroom."

He laughed at her and then stared, "No matter what, we have to work together on this as the fight is going to be out here. For us anyway."

She nodded, "Partners in this fight. Your father would be proud of you."

They shook hands on this and headed out of the office after he secured all of the data into his bags of holding and secured those inside his pants. They came out on the deck and the lieutenants were waiting for them. Silver Rose grabbed his hand and took him back into his quarters, "First what is with the glasses?"

Brannar smiled, "They help me to see the truth of the world."

She looked at him, "You need sleep. We all agreed you need rest as you look like hell."

Brannar sighed, "You going to hold me down to do it?"

She looked at him, "If that is what it takes."

He held her hand and moved over to the bunk, "You do not have to hold me down. You holding me would be a good way to settle my mind to get some rest but that is your call."

He climbed into the bunk and she looked at him. She felt bad for all the pain she caused him. Whatever he had been doing in here had only added to it. She slid up next to him and spooned in behind him, "Thank you again for saving me."

They fell asleep with her arms holding him.

---

Lady Silver Hair looked over at Lord Regal as she stormed into his office. She threw several sheets of parchment onto his desk. "He called out the 14. He also has information on the Deep Sea elves being exterminated! He stated he had troves of data and he did not trust crystal communication to relay additional data. They have documentation on the four who bring their races into underground markets to breed and consume their people.

Mostly humans but every race. In short, he has enough information to pull the Knights from our oversight and deem the treaties invalid. Queen Goldeagle is weighing her option on this matter. Then there is the new true seeing spell, any dragon assets we have that have those rings are in jeopardy if he releases it. I have orders going out to return all elven knight assets to the Elven Kingdom. This will stop over 1000 active missions but we have no choice in the matter."

The Gold King looked over, "Short of killing him."

She shook her head, "You sound more like a Red Council Member every day when you say that. Where is the 'good' in that? Pursuing our allies. Everything the Knights stand for would be hypocrisy. Let alone your own oath to the Metallics in our land."

She picked up the pages. "The Knights are my call and this will have to be addressed. The Chromatics would like nothing more than for them to fail. Now you want them to fail as well. He can teleport out at any given time and take that information back. He said the Lady of Dreams talked with him about taking up the sword and going after this lich.

You make the call to pursue him and he is likely to be one step ahead of you because of her and have them in Queen Goldeagle's hands. Then the destruction of those ships, any and all witnesses. You would never get away with it without exposure. You refused to go after the wizard when he was injured.

Barred us from pursuing it directly because of exposure, you are talking exposure at an even greater level! If we are going to stop this perversion from continuing then we have to be ready for them to go it on their own to protect their people.

Remember what Bahamut told us, we are weakening them and now that they know it, they will push back. Even us if it comes down to it because we have not been forthcoming. We have not been good allies.

They have no choice as your policies and those of your ancestors have led us to this junction. He suspects we can listen in on their conversations over crystals. We can and you know it with our monitoring system. We know where they are at because we can pick up the magic of the two relics on that ship.

You want to pursue that ship and try and stop them from reporting what they know. Go ahead. I will call a Metallic conclave for a vote of no-confidence in your 'leadership' of our races. I will see you at a minimum stripped from heading the Council of Nine if not removed and replaced entirely for going rogue if you do. That will take your family down with you.

Knights rules, we do not attack our allies, we work to make big conflicts small. You are failing to look at the big conflict coming. You have blinders on when it comes to the Chromatics and even Bahamut has turned from us for the failed leadership found in your family for generations. He said this is the bed we made and now we have to lay in it."

He sighed, "I know what I said and I know it was wrong to say it, but others on the council will say it to keep the status quo. Your threat is not needed as I would not pursue that course of action. The Chromatics would like nothing more than the treaty to fail and the Knights to be disbanded. I don't see how that is going to be stopped. The son destroying the work of the father is what I see. I find it infuriating."

She shook her head, "You had your issues with Eldar. You have flat out refused, even after his death, until this very second to acknowledge the work he did in bringing in thousands of new agents into the group. Brannar is up to something. He wants Jarron to be made a Duke like his father to keep the Knights going without our input or advice.

Let them decide what is 'Dragon Business.' What that they need to contact us about as we have not been forthcoming on the rogue element inside our own society! Think about that while you are infuriated."

She stormed out of his office leaving it a whirling mess of black onyx being thrown back at him as she blasted her way out of there in anger. He cast the spells to even out the flooring again and clear his office of the dust. He sighed and thought, 'I fucking deserved that.'

---

Several hours later Brannar and Silver Rose were awoken by Silver Moon who came straight in.

She laughed, "Cute, but things work better with your clothes off."

He awoke and glared at her, "She was helping me rest not exercise. Did you need something?"

Silver Rose stood and he sat up. "The lookout has spotted a warship in the far-off distance. They are in our current travel path."

Brannar nodded. "Good, let me get some spells prepped and I will check it out. I may attempt to teleport over to get instructions and make introductions."

He grabbed the ship banner and placed it inside a bag of holding, "I will be diplomatic."

She smiled, "I believe that for some reason."

Brannar smiled at her and shook his head as she wore the new earrings. He got his spells together. He headed out and flew up to the crow's nest. He looked in the direction the lookout pointed. Brannar could make out the stern of the ship. It appeared to be anchored with sails down at the moment; perfect. Brannar teleported above and behind the stern of the ship while he flew.

He said in common, "Permission to come aboard, please."

He followed up the request in each of the local languages he knew.

Finally, the guy at the wheel responded in one of the dialects, "Captain, we have a visitor requesting permission to come aboard."

He heard from below, "How did the ship get that close without us seeing it?!"

Brannar yelled down in the same dialect, "My apologies Captain! The ship I am with is still some distance off. I teleported and am currently flying to the rear of your stern. I am here to provide information. Also, to seek guidance on bringing in the captured Pirate ship 'Bloodbath.'"

The Captain hurried up on deck now and looks at Brannar, "Permission granted."

He flew down to the main deck and landed. He pulled out the banner for the Blood Bath. A giant skeletal figure squeezing the Blood out of a Heart. He looked at Brannar and waved off his men who were armed to lower their weapons.

He looked at Brannar, "Who are you and how did you do this?"

Brannar looked at him, "Can you speak common?"

He nodded, "This will make things much easier. My associate and I along with an entourage of physical security took passage on the cargo ship approaching. The Blood Bath set pursuit on us. My Associate is Dame Silver Moon. She has been Knighted in the Elven Court and in one of the Warlord's Courts out here.

She taught me the languages. I am Sir Brannar'Lortan 'Storm Wraith' Silvertree. I have a brother, Valita Silvertree, in this region who is a Bard, and I have 6 missing siblings. We found evidence on the ship that they were captured or killed and taken to another location. As to how." He handed him his tube with the papers inside, "I teleported over much in the same manner with my associate, but we came in on the crow's nest.

She imprisoned the Captain while I laid waste to the undead crew. We then eliminated the Captain through our combined efforts. Sahuagin attacked the cargo ship at the same time, the Captain lost 7 crew. We lost 5 on our security detail. I returned to the other ship when I saw it under attack and provided assistance in repelling the attack."

He finished reading and handed Brannar his paperwork back. "If you wish to inspect the ship, I can take a group over to do so now. I can also return them safely. We would like to speak with the leaders of this province as soon as possible about our presence in this region, our intentions, and to discuss potential trade agreements. I can communicate with my Sister who is a Duchess.

My associate has a crystal that will allow her to speak with the Elven Queen directly. The Queen has authorized us to speak on her behalf. How would you like to proceed, Captain?"

The Captain motioned for Brannar to follow him. He picked up a crystal and spoke to someone onshore. Relaying the circumstances.

Brannar heard a voice. Another military officer from the sounds of it, "Take him up on his offer. Send your first officer and a couple of men to escort him. Then escort the ship in if it checks out. I will locate this Bard. I believe he has performed for several Warlords in the area. As well as my favorite tavern. I believe he is an honored guest of Warlord Sun currently."

Brannar smiled at that and the Captain seemed to relax a bit. He looked at Brannar, "Storm Wraith?"

Brannar looked at him, "A name the dwarves gave me after that encounter. I am a Storm Born Battle Mage. Also, why the cargo ship made such excellent time on this run."

Brannar turned and left his office with the Captain trailing. They moved up to the side of the ship. He pointed out the two ships that were now easier to see.

He nodded. "Interesting talent for boarding a ship."

Brannar stepped to the side and saw his first officer and two men with swords. He called forth his staff and tapped each of them. "Grab my arm."

They did and he took them flying and then teleported them closer to the ship. He took down to the deck.

Brannar looked at them, "IF you try to fly you will for several more minutes but the fall can be dangerous."

Brannar looked at Silver Moon, "Dame Silver Moon, Captain, you want to show them around the ship. I can take the wheel. They wish to inspect the ship. If you wish you can teleport them back when we get close enough."

She smiled, "I will and present my papers to the Captain of the ship Sir Silvertree."

He nodded at her. She took them around the ship. The warship was set to pull along their side when they were in range. They finished walking and inspecting the ship. She teleported them back and a few minutes later flew back by herself.

She looked at Brannar, "They are suitably impressed with what we have done. They will escort us in. Once we get to the harbor, we do what the ship in front will do. Bring down mainsails and coast in on the forward sales only. They have cleared a dock for us and the cargo ship."

Brannar nodded. "You got the helm then Captain."

She laughed. "We will have to get that figured out."

Brannar smiled, "Destroying or capturing ships I can do. Running a ship, we will have to learn together. We will likely have 2, to begin with."

She smiled, "One for each of us."

Brannar chuckled at her comment, "But I know who is older."