Silvertree Chronicles Bk. 03 Pt. 02

For the Captain of the other two ships. At this moment you are all that remains of the Elven fleet in these waters. They are in negotiations to build more ships. I will commandeer any warship we capture as well. Set it adrift to be found by you. I have the right to hold 6 ships. I have four dwarven sappers that will be here shortly with more supplies. The same men who freed the forge and they volunteered for this mission. You will see action under my flag."

He saw no movement. He looked at the captains, "Your crews full?"

Captain Silver Moon, the younger one, shook his head, "We could use 80 bodies to fill the crew."

Travious nodded, "I will have 100 riders and horses."

He sighed, "Then make it 20 bodies."

Travious looked over, "We only have spots for 20 more who wish to join this hunt."

He looked over and they got 12 volunteers. Some had markings from being held in slavery. He nodded at them. He looked at them, "I already fired the opening salvo against them.

I sunk 23 out of 24 of the vessels in port. Two of them had their crew aboard as they were slave ships. I freed the slaves, gave them all the cargo. I damaged the one ship to slow it. They left the harbor this morning with nothing in their hold. No gold in their pockets."

He looked at the other two ship Captains. "As soon as night falls contact the King and he will likely instruct you to head in a direction. Before you depart, all of your casters should join us for a private meeting."

The casters came over and he took them into the office with the Magister. He looked at her, "They all need the new true seeing spell if they are mages. If you are sorcerers, I am sorry. Maybe you can get your mages to generate up some scrolls for you. It will let you see those rings.

Before you rescue anyone on your way back you should cast it as we had 6 dragons show up in Quatarsia and the embassy, like the rings we found here. One changed in each location. We had fights occurring on opposite sides of the world to put them down. I managed to kill five. The one at the Embassy I was not there for and we lost a lot of good people and Elven Warhorses."

The others started arriving. He looked at them, "All new arrivals need to strip down. We have already cleared everyone on this ship including myself. Those of you who went the first time if you can go again and get back to get more do so. If you have the fly spell and teleport then just take yourself back and bring the next group.

They nodded and all five got down and teleported away individually. They came back with another group as the silvers surfaced and came on the deck, "They had tracking runes on the bottom of the ships they attached them to the barnacles. We set alarms so they will alert us if they try it again.

He nodded, "More to check out."

They went through all of them as they boarded, "They found four and two on mounts, both mares. All removed."

Travious nodded, "Can you go to our embassy and speak with Jarron. Have his mare gather all of the other horses and check all of them out as well?"

They nodded, "We can do that before heading home."

Travious nodded and looked at them, "If they raised a hand near you then you have been exposed to a dragon in disguise at some point. While you slept, they placed that rune. All of the members who had it were with the army?"

He saw a bunch of nodding heads.

He sighed and pulled the crystal to the King, "Your Majesty sorry to wake you."

He responded to the crystal and laughed, "I got up ten minutes ago as I went to sleep early."

Travious smiled, "You secure."

He sighed, "I am now. Speak freely Champion."

Travious looked around, "They found tracking runes on every ship, listening runes on eight of the crew and team. Four from the army and two of their horses had the listening runes on them as well. Has the army gotten the new spell and cleared yet?"

The King sighed, "Not yet as I do not know who to trust."

Travious nodded at the crystal, "How about the Academy?"

He sighed again, "Not yet."

Travious thought, "Get my Aunt to work on clearing the Academy. Expand your pool from there and check all locations. You can double-check her as she was fine when I left a few hours ago. You can always ask her how long her first pregnancy went."

The King chuckled, "Good security question for her. I will contact her. How did things go with the Warlord?"

Travious chuckled, "Fine for me. I got two berths. I can flag six ships but only dock two at a time. In case I commandeer a few for my use."

The King chuckled, "You have all of your people aboard?"

He smiled, "Yes they are aboard and the other two ship captains are awaiting orders. They should move because of the tracking runes. I would suggest due south for now. The negotiations with the Ambassador and Jarron did not go very long. They had a military matter come up.

I do not know if it is related to our presence or not but I thought you should know. We are awaiting our dwarves and the Countess should clear them. I am sure it will give her a thrill checking naked dwarves."

The King broke out laughing. Travious smiled, "Your Majesty, once they are aboard, we will hopefully be quiet with you. Contacting the silvers to clear any ship we capture. We will head South East as soon as everyone is on board."

The Countess came on board, "The Countess has arrived. they have the first load of explosives, Your Majesty."

He looked at her, "Did you check them for runes?"

She groaned, "I will check the cargo and check them when we get back." He let the crystal to the King go dark. She sighed. The dwarves looked at Travious and one asked, "What is she going to check us for?"

Travious smiled, "To figure out which one of you has the largest and most impressive package. Epic bragging rights!"

They laughed and she looked at the barrels, "This lot is clean."

They unloaded and stored it on the other ship. She took them back after shaking her head at Travious.

He looked out, "Gia, Silverleaf, Gold Star, and Goldeagle. Work on dividing the two groups up onto each ship. Silver Moon brothers in the Captain's office please."

He looked at them, "Here are two crystals. One to me and one to each other. We will not use royal crystals unless we receive a call for help.

Hand me the ones for the other ships. I have non-detection on so they cannot trace me as easily. We get a location, the problem, and end the transmission. The same goes for the King. Hand me those crystals."

They handed them to him. There was a knock at the door. The countess was back. She looked at Travious, "One of them had a listening rune on his sack! You can guess where the tracking rune was! He now thinks I am attracted to him."

Travious looked at her and chuckled, "Bring him here."

He walked in all smiles. Travious glared at him, "Besides yourself how many have been handling your sack and package?! You had a draconic listening rune on it and a tracking rune on your cock!"

He sighed, "I did visit our red-light district. I got service for free by12 or more since we returned and we got labeled heroes."

Travious nodded and pulled the crystal to the King, "Your Majesty, I do not have direct contact with the Dwarven King. we have an issue for him."

The King sighed, "Just a moment. I am in a secure room and have his crystal on."

Travious heard them talking about the hour. Travious sighed, "Your Majesty, you still have some uninvited guests in your kingdom. One of the dwarven sappers visited your 'red-light district' as he called it. Said he got a lot of services. Anyway, during that, someone put a draconic listening rune on his sack! A tracking one on his cock!"

Travious heard a groan. Travious thought, "Your Majesty, once my Aunt has cleared the two academies out there, they could send a few of them to the Army and the other two kingdoms? You should sweep your court as well. You might want to consider moving up the announcement after you have them check everyone in court including the guards, your Majesty."

The King groaned out, "These rings are a major pain in the ass. Now we got listening and tracking runes."

Travious chuckled, "Yes they are, your Majesty. But we captured four more Dragons in them. As to the runes, only the dragons can find and remove them from what I have been told, Your Majesties."

King Goldeagle sighed, "I will see what I can do and find out where our royal enchanters are on getting more of these glasses ready for what we can do."

Travious nodded and sighed, "I will proceed on the mission, now that they are on board. I have all ship communication crystals going out as I cannot be tracked easily. I got a non-detection cloak last time I was there."

The King chuckled, "Maybe it will help you to get close enough to your targets."

Travious asked, "One last question: what do you know of House Silver Bowl?"

The King chuckled, "A dead house, almost 300 years as far as we know why?"

Travious sighed, "We got an elf-blood from your army. Divination reveals her father who ran off was a Silver Bowl. It also revealed he was dead. There had been at least one running around and breeding elf-blooded children everywhere."

The King sighed, "Not much I can do then if she was not claimed by the father. Was not a large house even then. Smaller than Silverleaf when Jarron inherited it. But historically it is a good find. I will make a note of it. What is her name?"

He looked at the Crystal, "Angel Carpenter. She is a stunning beauty. We all had to strip to be checked for tracking and listening runes. She is extremely top-heavy. You should get yourself checked out as well as they can be applied while you sleep, your Majesties."

The Kings both groaned on that note. The crystal went dark.

"Countess, Before you go. I would like all of your ladies working to get about 2,500 of the mares at the Embassy to Quatarsia. We don't have that large of an elven population out her and many are expecting foals. We will need the expanded herd for the armies for the return. Shi'Drakon left word with them to take direction from Amy Silvertree as she could hear them all. I was uncertain if you could."

She sighed, 'I will work with the ones with teleportation circle to start transferring some. I will send Amy out once to get them to listen to Staria and get the first set transferred. She cannot teleport and we can get more by not having her along. I might even help if I get a few days of rest here and there."

He chuckled, "I will do my best. We lost close to 6,000 due to that fight and those horses flew in and worked to kick the fucker to death."

She nodded, "Understood." She teleported away.

Travious looked across the room, "Get us to this point on the map, to begin with. Let me know of any ships approaching."

Captain Silver Moon nodded, "You kicking me out of my Quarters?"

Travious smiled, "You have a wife on board?"

He smiled, "No, I will take over my first officer's quarters."

Travious nodded, "Thank you all for your help with this."

Travious went out, "Gia, are they divided?"

She nodded, "Even with the number of clerics on each ship, we only brought 6 here. Two are still working through the horses left behind. That will be days of work still."

Travious nodded, "Get these two ships underway." He looked at the other Captains. "I would head due south for a while and contact the King on the way. Find out where he wants you to head toward. With your tracking runes off you want to leave this location." They looked at each other and nodded.

They got underway. He got Shi'Drakon unsaddled. He looked at him, "I will not lock the stall gates down here. I got the countess to agree to work on moving some of the mares back to elven land."

He went up on deck, "Captain, make sure your crew knows not to lock the stall gates for the horses. Silverleaf, get the men to lay out food for the horses on both ships. Fly supplies over if needed. Divide it out."

He nodded, "They have a hole over there."

Travious nodded, "The dwarves had one for moving the explosives. To my sappers. I want the Ballistas rigged with exploding shots. See if you can increase the arc and angle on them as well." They smiled and went to work.

He headed into his cabin and pulled a crystal but it did not activate. He sighed, "She is in the room with it." He undressed and got some sleep and Gia joined him sometime later. He woke to the sound of her getting sick. He looked at her, "It should pass."

She nodded, "Do not know if it is morning sickness or the ocean."

He smiled, "Get up on your horse and go for a ride. If it goes away it is the ocean. If not, it is morning sickness."

She nodded, "Maybe later."

He went ahead and prayed to the gods. He walked out and happened to look up.

He saw someone in the crows' nest using a crystal. He flew up with his sword drawn and He heard a man's voice in a different dialect speaking, "Let me know if they change direction."

He landed behind the man and had the sword pointed right at his back. "Who did you communicate with about our position? Lie to me and I will run you through."

He looked at Travious, "Warlord Kan Tri. His communications person anyway nobody talks to the Warlord directly."

He asked him, "Why does he care?"

He shrugged, "I was just asked to get on the eleven crew and keep tabs on them. He was mad that you got the forge out so fast."

He nodded and ran him through. He looked him in the eyes, "Spies of the enemy!"

He tossed him down to the deck. He saw people gathered down and he flew down. He looked at them, "Captain!" He showed up. Travious looked at him and showed him the crystal, "Search the ship for any more!" If you can tie them to a crew member then bring them before me.

He called over to the other ship, "Search the ship for communication crystals be prepared for a course change once you are finished." An hour later and they found another on the other ship in the guy's hand. They teleported him over and Travious looked at him, "Reporting the same direction we are headed to Kan Tri or someone else?"

He looked at Travious, "Warlord Sun."

He activated the crystal and held it in front of him, "Warlord Sun, they are pointing a sword at me and wish to speak with you."

He heard a sigh, "He was an operative put into place under my brother. I was not aware of him being on your ship until he contacted me."

He looked at the Captains, "All stop. I need one arcane with his mount ready to go."

He looked at the crystal, "What did I look like the first time you met me?"

The man chuckled, "I saw a very large red dragon and waited for you to change back before entering the room."

Travious asked, "What items did I ask you to find?"

He sighed, "Glasses, a ring of poison detection, and a bag of holding. Which I found."

Travious sighed, "I will have your man returned to the embassy. The one I found reporting to Kan Tri on the other hand just got dumped into the water. With the crystal in his gut from the hole I created. I recommend if you have one on the other two ships that they report to the captain for immediate evacuation because I will be contacting them."

The warlord sighed, "Understood. Jarron is standing here with a smile on his face. He said your response is well measured."

Travious chuckled, "Rule 40."

The Warlord chuckled, "Diplomacy."

Now Jarron laughed. "Jarron said something about your grandfather refusing to be the diplomat even when he was good at it and did it anyway."

Travious nodded, "Your peace treaty resolved yet?"

Warlord Sun chuckled, "We just got started today. We had a rogue commander who was loyal to my brother who I dealt with."

Travious nodded to himself, He looked over and Angel was standing there, "Take this man to the embassy and come straight back. Cast fly to account for drift or take your horse."

She nodded. "Will do."

He handed the man his crystal, "Get that off my ship."

He nodded. She left with him and returned in a split second but fell onto his desk from the drift. He looked at her, "Might want to get a little more height next time. Out on the deck."

She nodded, "Good idea."

She sat up and was holding her side and Gia checked her out, "She broke a rib."

He nodded, "You will go over and talk with the casters on the other ship about what occurred and how to avoid it. Then do the same with the casters here. Gia, fix her up first. I want them to learn from that misstep."

She nodded, "Understood."

He contacted the other Captain while looking at his Captains, "Take us due south."

He pulled the crystal and to the other two captains. "Good morning."

He heard chuckling. One of them spoke, "Let me guess you are contacting us about a man who is wishing to get off of our ship who works for Sun."

Travious smiled, "Yes, and no. Get him to the embassy. Do a ship-wide search for other communication crystals. I caught a man in the crows' nest with one to Kan Tri the Slave trader. Giving the bearing of our ships. I can assume your ships are talking. We are changing our course now. Advise the same for you."

The captains laughed, "We will come to a stop and do a ship-wide search including the crow's nest. We are together. I invited the other one over. We will drop sail and deal with it. Thank you for letting us know."

The crystals went dark. The next two days were quiet. Gia got her evening and morning exercise in and filled her stomach from his cock every day as well. He got an alert from Captain Silver Moon, "Ship spotted being pursued by two other ships. It looks like Kan Tri's ships are chasing one of the ships for the warlord you are wanting to talk with."

Travious nodded, "Let me try and handle this first part alone. Get riders mounted. I am going to bring the two chasing ships to a halt."

Captain Silver Moon smiled, "How?"

Travious looked at him, "Cut through the sails."

He looked at Travious, "They will fire bows at you."

Travious nodded, "Unless they are enchanted, they will do no good."

Travious went below and Got Shi'Drakon saddled and up on deck.

He looked at Travious, "They saw us and have turned to intercept us."

Travious nodded, "I have a crystal to the other captain if he fires his ballista at the lead ship you do the same."

Captain Silver Moon nodded, "Understood."

He went out on his horse and approached from high up. Arrows came up and he flew in and cut through the sail of the ship. He went to the next ship and did the same thing. Except for a man from the crows' nest who attempted to jump on him. Travious turned his blade and held him in place until he sent him to the deck, where he broke into two pieces.

He yelled down, "Strike your colors and surrender or I will blow you out of the water!"

They still fired bows at him. He pulled out the crystal, "Unleash the dwarves' handy work."

Two ballista bolts went into the lead ship's bow and exploded. Water started pouring in. The second ship quickly struck its colors. The other ship threw off its launches. He flew over, "Both ships toss your weapons in the water. If they are magical then toss them on the deck. Prepare to be boarded! Launches go to your surviving ship. All crew gathered around the center mast."

He used his crystals, "Teleport aboard on the stern. Get a ship on either side of this ship."

Travious's troops teleported aboard the ship. He landed, "All slaves on this ship. Front and center!"

There were six of them. He looked at them, "Are there others?"

One nodded, "Below deck. About 100. They probably died on the other ship unless they were working."

He nodded, "Get the keys and free them and bring them up on deck. To the launches, I want all slaves on the center deck. If you have any in the launches bring them forward. He looked over, "I want the Captain to both ships up here!"