Silvertree Chronicles Bk. 03 Pt. 02

He got a buzz from the other crystal. "The ship being pursued is signaling us wanting to know who we are."

He answered him in elven. "The Shadow Riders mercenary company. Request permission to come aboard."

He laughed, "They are getting guidance from shore it looks like."

The slaves came up, "Unshackle that orc, elf, and that elf-blooded and bring them up here. They brought the three of them up and quickly decapitated the orc and had him tossed overboard, "Enemy of my people. No mercy for them. He looked at the elf and elf blooded, and asked in elven" Names?"

The one looked at Travious, "Jediar Moon Bow."

Travious asked him, "Relation of Eagle-eye?"

He looked at Travious, "She would be an Aunt of mine. You know her?"

He nodded. Travious looked at the other and asked in common, "Name?"

She looked at Travious, "Gretchen Cottonwood half-elf abomination."

Travious looked at her, "You are elf-blooded like my mother and some of my crew. You are no abomination. What can you tell me of these guys?"

Moon Bow looked at Travious, "Fucking bastards."

Travious pulled out his crystal, "Aunt I need you to go to the church NOW!"

She piped back up, "Why?"

Travious sighed, "I need to speak with Eagle-eye. I have a Jediar Moon Bow in front of me from a ship I just captured."

She yelled, "Fuck, I am on my way give me a minute and I will contact you back."

Travious looked at him, "How long have you been bound?"

He shook his head, "A few weeks. Long enough."

He nodded and looked at the slaves, "Take the keys and undo your shackles.

Attach them to the crew behind you. He saw a slave come up the side and he thought, "Fuck! What are the rules on this? He looks to be half wood elf and half-drow. Also, very old. Guidance Lady of Dreams the rules do not cover this conflict."

Travious waved him forward, "Name?"

He looked at Travious, "Gretzzar Son of Elara Strong Oak."

He thought. "Goddess, this conflicts with the information given at my Grandfather's wedding."

He finally heard her, "She lived long enough to give birth to him. He has had his sack removed and is enfeebled by age. He has months to live. He has no place in the elven community."

Travious thought, "Longer, she would have had a hand in raising him if he knows who his mother is."

The Lady did not respond immediately as she dealt with the spirit of an irate Eldar at this revelation.

---

Eldar look a the Lady of Dreams, "How did this happen? Why did you lie to us?"

Heliar and Elara appeared near him. Elara spoke, "I was ashamed of what happened to me. I did not want to relive it over and over again. I had preferred that it was never known. That will not be the case. Let them speculate or get the answers from the living on how long I lived as I died in my heart the day I was captured.

I died long before your wedding and I watched you grow with pride. Heliar did not know until a few seconds ago, this is history and I prefer to keep it in the past. Know you were the only child I had born from love. He was born from rape, and like you, he had no chance of choosing his parents or the circumstances of his parents. Something you fought to ensure elven society worked to improve.

I did not want you running into the Underdark to seek revenge. That was your father's failing. Travious has gotten that for many with the destruction he unleashed with the Dragon Queen. Let your anger go. I know it will take time, but know I made the request of the Lady of Dreams on what to say at your wedding.

I wanted it to be less painful for you and your father while you were alive. It would have been all but forgotten when he died and the champion would not have found that ship most likely if not for how well he is doing, your grandson has gotten more than a pound of flesh in retribution.

For those, he lost personally, and those of his ancestors that died in the past. That is all I have to say on the matter my son, his spirit will not come here when he dies. I instilled no faith into our gods into him or theirs. Now the truth will be known, but I still see no reason to give dates. That will only fuel unneeded anger that you will have to work to let go of. That the living will have to come to terms with." Soon the Lady of Dreams sent all three of them away. Heliar still held her hand through it all.

He looked at him, "How did you end up in slavery?"

He looked at me, "Born into it. Sold from the drow to this lot a few months back."

He looked at him, "I am in conflict over you. How long did you know your mother and did she die? Drow are the enemy of my people. You are also wood-elf which I am not supposed to harm. Because of your drow blood, you would not find acceptance in society. Yet you are up in years and infertile according to the goddess."

He looked at Travious, "My mother died when I was 19, she could barely stand to look at me. Died trying to escape. Which goddess?"

Travious looked at him, "The Lady of Dreams, the messenger."

He looked at Travious, "What does she say to do with me?"

Travious thought, "You have given me no guidance on if I should strike him down, leave him, anything other than do not take him back."

The lady responded, "His survival and your meeting was not expected. You are correct there is a conflict with this one."

Travious thought, "Put him to work aboard this ship until he dies? A paid but free Elf?"

Moon Bow looked at Travious, "He should be cut down!"

Travious looked at him, "You do not know the whole story! I am talking with the Lady of Dreams so be silent!"

The lady responded. "That solution would be allowed for this conflict. He would technically be your great uncle."

Travious looked at the mixed-elf old man and then Moon Bow, "Listen."

The crystal buzzed and his Aunt sighed out, "Eagle-eye knows him."

Eagle-eye yawned, "Thank you for finding him Knight Paladin."

Moon Bow looked at Travious, "You are the champion Silvertree?"

Travious nodded, "Aunt I need you to go to the Strong Oak household and find our cousin immediately! I will talk when the two of you are together."

Travious let the crystal go dark. Moon Bow looked at him, "You have a cousin who is a Wood Elf?"

Travious looked at him. "My grandfather was half wood-elf and half Moon-elf. Born to Elara Strong Oak. The last champion's mother. The man before me is technically my Great uncle. My Aunt is a Duchess. Strong Oak is a Moon Blade Wielder and Grand Master Blade Singer with 11 children. He just lost three of his wives to Drow assassins."

Moon Bow shook his head, "Damn that is a fucked-up position to be in."

Travious nodded, "Remove his bonds for now."

Travious looked at the elf, "I have been given two options for you. One would be to kill you. The other is to set you free and make you a paid member of the crew on this captured ship. You are the product of the rape of my great-great-Grandmother. You did not choose your parentage and that was something my grandfather struggled with being born of two types of elves."

A crystal buzzed and it was the other ship, "They will entertain a visit from the one who brought down the two warships."

Travious sighed, "Are all of the crew shackled together."

They nodded, Travious pointed, "Over the side with them."

They were aghast. They watched the slaves shove them over the edge. After the first the other as soon as the first fell they went quickly. Some landed in the launch. It punched a hole in the launch below. He looked at the casters, "After I get to the other ship, I want you to cast fireball. No wands. At all of the launches in the water."

They looked at Travious like he was crazy for a second, "No mercy for slavers. This one is a conflict because he is elven which I am supposed to protect and drow which I am supposed to destroy."

Travious looked at the crystal, "Let them know I will be over after dealing with one matter on this ship."

Travious looked at the slaves, "If you know where the spare sail is for this vessel then find it."

Travious looked at the old man, "Sit and wait."

He flew across toward the other ship on Shi'Drakon and yelled down, "Permission to come aboard."

He looked at Travious, "Granted."

Travious landed on the stern, "I am a Knight Paladin in service to my god. Do you own any slaves?"

They looked at Travious and shook their heads, "No, we have a couple of prisoners but no slaves."

He nodded, "Here are my papers."

He pulled them out and looked at them. His eyes went big. He looked at Travious, "I wish to contact my Warlord."

Travious looked at him, "I wish for a few of my men to confirm you have no slaves. I am not allowed to work with the enemy of my gods."

He nodded, "Let me talk with my Warlord for guidance."

Travious nodded, "No negotiation until we have confirmed you have no slaves."

At that point, they saw the launches hit by fireballs. They looked over open-mouthed. Travious looked at them, "They had slaves. We already knew they did. We knew we could not save them all. We saved what we could."

They nodded and spoke in another dialect that Travious knew as he listened in. Finally, they came back, "You may bring aboard three to search our ship, our first officer will be willing to show them around."

Travious nodded and used a crystal, "Captain Silver Moon, Two Blade Singers, and a battle Mage on me."

They looked startled when they appeared on the deck next to him. He looked at them and in Elven, "This ship has four levels, not three. Let the man know when he tries to steer you back up. Check out the fourth level."

They nodded. They followed the man down. He looked at the Captain, "I should tell you I am fluent in three regional dialects. I told my men to be sure to examine the fourth deck. I know you do not have slaves there. You have something you do not want us to know about. As we are revealing secrets to each other it would make little sense to deny what I already know."

The man sighed, "The wives of the Warlord are on that deck. They are not to be seen by men."

He nodded and pulled out a crystal, "Send over three female battle mages."

Three appeared on deck and he was surprised. He looked at them, "Find our three below deck and let them know you are here to replace them to examine the fourth deck. To keep with local customs."

They nodded and went and found the others. They came back up on deck and teleported back. His Aunt responded, "I am with our cousin. What is going on with you today?"

He laughed nervously and spoke in elven, "Elara Strong Oak had another son. He is old and enfeebled but aboard the ship I captured."

His Aunt shouted, "WHAT?!"

He sighed, "He is half-drow. I spoke with the Lady of Dreams. He can live out his days a free man working aboard the ship I captured. He cannot return to the elven kingdom. It was a conflict in the code. I thought you should know she lived more than mere days. She lived for at least two years. 21 years or longer as he knew her until she tried to escape when he was 19 years old. No telling exactly when she got pregnant from being raped by them."

Aunt Zaria groaned, "That explains your actions tonight. I don't know how I would have reacted to finding that out directly."

Travious sighed, "Given recent events for my cousin I wanted to ensure he understood this. Like my grandfather and himself he had no choice in who his parents were or the circumstances around his birth. He has lived in slavery his whole life. I will get him checked out when I contact the Countess, I will want her to do it personally."

Grand Master Strong Oak responded, "I am just as conflicted as you. The solution sounds like the only real choice. I grew up that way in some respects."

The crystal went dark. He got another crystal buzzing.

Captain Silvermoon spoke, "Three more ships approaching and it looks like a red just jumped off the ship. Travious smiled and pulled out both crystals, "Get ready to deploy, black and blue units on my mark. Three, two, one, Deploy. Deploy red units and take out the sails on the incoming ships...now."

He looked at the Captain, "Watch this."

He watched dragons deploy off of his ships.

They went after the red dragon that was inbound. They met over open water. After eight breath weapons, the one red fell into the water. Two of them went down with claws and ensured he was dead. The sails of the other three ships were on fire. He looked at his people coming to the top deck. They looked at Travious, "All clear."

Travious looked at the Captain, "Would you like to visit our ship?"

He nodded, He waved those three battle mages over, "Stern of the Rose."

He looked over, "Moon Bow you are in charge. See if they know how to get that sail up."

He laughed, "I do not know their language."

He yelled out, "If you speak common please raise your hand. Two hands went up. Travious looked at him, "Your first and second mates at the moment. Get them cracking. Please get Strong Oak double checked for any poisons. Keep him on the deck and unharmed if possible."

He nodded. They headed off with the Silver Moon toward the three ships.

They were scrambling to get their sails in place, "Boarding parties. Three, three-man teams. Crows nest entry. Secure those ships!" They teleported onto those ships. The other Captain watched and he looked at Travious, "How long have you been at sea?"

Travious looked at him, "Less than a week."

He watched the chain lightning fly until the crew finally surrendered. He looked at them, "Tie us off. We need to board and have them tie the three ships together."

He looked at the other captain, "My father was the seaman. He found the Eternal Forge. He and my mother lead that effort."

He looked at Travious, "Then your parents are heroes to my people. The siege weapons came in handy during the Dragon War."

Travious nodded, "They will again when it continues in 75-85 years. We reclaimed the forge. Weapons will start rolling again in the upcoming years."

He looked at Travious, "How?"

Travious smiled, "That is a discussion I would love to have with your Warlord in a secure environment."

He nodded, "Understood."

They got them to finish fixing their sails, had them turn them over their communication crystals. They freed all of the slaves from below deck and sent the crew into the water chained together. He called out for experienced sailors. He had a few hands go up.

He looked at Silver Moon, "Pass another officer to them to act as a captain. A couple of your more experienced crew and let us get all five of these ships back to the other captured ship."

He nodded and they got them all together. Travious handed a communication crystal to the foreign Captain, "When your Warlord wishes to have a face-to-face meeting let me know. I am going to take these five ships and turn them into twenty-five over the next few days. Then sixty inside of a week. That is the plan."

He chuckled, "Then what?"

Travious shrugged, "I have a good imagination. I will think of something creatively destructive."

He chuckled, "You are going to be a popular man in my province."

Travious smiled, "My Paladin order does not allow me to have relations outside of marriage. Only with elven and elf-blooded wives. The elven diplomatic code prevents relations among those we are in negotiations with. Even if you got in contact with the elven Empire. You know of the regional embassy that was established. They would be the ones you would want to talk to about trade. I am here to kill slavers and free slaves."

He nodded, "Good to know. Can our Warlord hire you?"

Travious sighed, "I work for the elven Gods and people. The best he could do is allow me to work out of his area and we see if we can align on targets but we must maintain our independence. A few things for him to think over. We might attract far more intention than he would want, given the waves, I will be making. Being associated with me would be very dangerous."

He nodded, "I will talk with my Warlord and let you know what he says. Thank you for respecting our customs."

Travious got handed a stack of documents. He sighed and placed his hands over the top and bottom and he watched the ink move on them. The visiting captain looked at Travious, "What are you doing?"

Travious looked at him, "Revealing the truth. I can break any encryption I have encountered thus far. By touch."

He showed the captain a page of the documents. He looked angry. Travious asked him, "What is wrong?"

He looked at Travious, "My first officer was in league with these men in capturing my ship to get the Warlord's wives!"

Travious nodded, "I need a caster who still has two teleport circles left, Angel, Gia, and one of the Blade Singers. Come with me."

They gathered and got back onto the ship. Travious looked over, "Can you assemble your crew?"

Travious pulled a crystal, "Captain Silver Moon can you join me over here."

He came over. They walked forward and the captain called the first officer over to report.

While he did that Travious called out, "Alpha."

Captain New Moon and Travious both struck and killed two of his crew members. He looked back, "Captain, have your men stay their weapons. Captain Silver Moon loan him your glasses for a moment."

He walked over to him after putting away his weapon and he looked, "Two dragons?"

Travious nodded, "I told you I am the revealer of truth. Evil dragons are also an enemy of my Gods. They identified and pulled the gear off of those 2 dead bodies.

He looked at Angel, "Try this one. She walked to the edge, slid it on and jumped into the air and a white dragon soared away and she came back and pulled the ring before landing with a thud. He took the ring from her, "The black is more powerful."

He handed it to her. She put it on and jumped off. She flew out and back and landed with a little more grace and changed in the process. She nodded. "More practice."

He nodded, "You hang onto that one as you do not have one yet." She smiled and nodded. He looked at the warlord's Captain, "Only arcane casters who know how to polymorph can fully use the dragon body now trapped in that ring. My dragons are elven casters who have that ability."

He nodded in shock. Travious walked over to the first officer, "You just want to go up top and hang yourself now from the yardarm? He could kill you here based on the intelligence we found that implicates you in a plot to have the Warlords wives captured?"

The Captain looked at the man who hung his head. Travious looked at the warlord's Captain, "Thank you for assembling your crew."

He nodded, "I now understand why you asked."

They went back to their newly acquired ships and got underway. He looked at the old man, "What are you good at?"

He shrugged, "These days nothing. They used me as a consort for the women to fuck me in the ass until I bled. When that did not kill me, they cut off my balls. Finally, they just had me farming underground. I know nothing about the ocean and do not really want to. I am in no hurry to die but I cannot do much."

Travious nodded, "Would you like to just have a home where you could rest by a waterfall, eat as much as you wanted and be away from the rest of the world?"

He laughed, "Yes."

Travious smiled. It was getting late which means early. He pulled out crystals, "All stop. Countess can you join us with Staria please."

The two of them appeared on the ship, he looked at Staria, "I need you to put up one of my permanent shelters here in a second. First, can you check all the crew and ships we captured for marks?" She nodded and they went about and got everyone stripped down and dressed. They checked the ships out, "We cleared 14 wards."