Silvertree Chronicles Bk. 03 Pt. 02

I want the other five to get everyone there. Wake the ambassador to get quarters assigned temporarily. Take off. Bree, we got to get our saddles and then we will be ready."

She nodded. He went into the Captain's office and pulled his gear. The Guard Captain shook his head as they left with it. They saddled up and got them gathered. They made the rendezvous point and they had a military guard. He looked and there was one dragon in the ranks but he was not in charge.

He had gauntlets on. Travious looked at the reception. "I am Knight Paladin Silvertree. I am expected."

He nodded, "Said you would be getting into trouble."

Travious nodded and pulled out his bow. "Shall we ride?"

He nodded. He got up to just behind the dragon, drew back, and fired into the guard. The guard fell over dead."

He looked at his boss. "Look through these glasses. You will get your answer."

He rode over and looked at the man, "Bree find the ring. Move back to the rendezvous point and show the others."

The captain passed the glasses around. "You did not have these on?"

He nodded, "Correct. I am a champion of my god and I see things as they are. I reveal and destroy them. She put the ring on it was a young adult green."

She put it in a pouch. "We will be destroying that in the future. My Goddess said it destroys or blocks the souls or spirits from passing on. We are going to see if we cannot release them when the time is right."

He looked at Travious, "How many have you encountered?"

Travious looked at him, "We have 12 now. You can see how I might draw some attention here."

He nodded. They rode on as 2 stayed and tended to the body. Travious looked at the captain, "Anyone we kill may have a communication crystal back to one of two dragon factions that are forming. It would be good to know for sure which dragon faction they were working for.

I have a task to clean them out of certain areas and to get rid of any threat near the forge and secure the forge in place. I cleared four of our ships the other day. Each one had at least one."

They rode away from the main city and headed deep underground. All was quiet on the way. He broke the silence, "Only attack the targets I have identified. Sometimes they are in groups. I will walk around and shake hands with the targets and you sorcerers unload non-area of effect spell.

Count off, sorcerers." They did. "That is the order you target. If I only get to three then I want four, five, and six back them up. I will call out ALPHA in my conversation that is the point to attack. If the target does not go down then the others should hit in the same order. Silverleaf you back by the horses when we stop. Captain, could you pass the glasses to me."

He passed them to Travious and he handed them to Silverleaf. "You watch the backside on this one. Bree, you are 8 and if I call out 9 then you are back in the game Silverleaf."

He chuckled. An hour later and several spirals down they had entered the forge area. He looks around. "Captain if your group could move to the rear. I am counting 7. I will take one so the 6 sorcerers need to be spot on. Bree and Silverleaf. You hit whatever is standing if they do not go down. I pat someone on the shoulder ignore them."

They stopped. He left the horses and walked toward the dwarf with his shield on his arm. The one he assumed was the Paragon. He looked across at his 'apprentice the dragon.'

Travious stopped. "I am Knight Paladin Silvertree. I oversaw the final stage of getting this forge freed. I asked your sappers if they wanted a bit of glory. I told them what they were blasting free."

The guys chuckled. He went around and shook hands with the enemy while patting the shoulders of those who were to be guarded or protected. He got to the apprentice, "Are you the Apprentice?"

He nodded. "The new alpha."

He ran his sword up through him, killing him. He turned around and one was standing. He got his ring off. Travious looked at him, "Hello ugly."

Travious went into a charge as the red Dragon went to breathe fire. Travious flew into its mouth and used his shield to block it in the throat. The Dragon opened wider and Travious slid down further. He jammed his sword up through the Dragon's spinal cord as Travious flew further in. Travious changed direction and cut himself a six-foot hole in the back of the neck and exited by flying out of the red dragon's corpse.

Travious dropped down, "You can see the other reason for my visit!"

He sheathed his sword after cleaning it off and walked over toward his troops. He looked at Silverleaf, "The glasses. Hand them here."

He looked at the dwarf across from him, "You are the Paragon?" He nodded. "Did you meet my grandfather, the previous champion?"

The Paragon nodded. "Yes, I did."

Travious smiled, "He respected your knowledge of elven weapons. These glasses are a gift to you."

He took them and looked around, "They are all dragons. The dead."

Travious nodded, "All chromatic dragons. That is the first one I have slain in dragon form. I am immune to fire from my family blade."

He nodded, "You kept us from getting roasted. Kept ME from getting roasted!"

Travious nodded. "You are an ally. Bree clear all the rings. Identify them." He had one dragon who had a ring for a communication crystal. "I am betting the one who turned got hit by a cold spell. He had a ring on to protect him when he was in dragon form. Am I correct?"

One of the sorcerers nodded. He pulled the crystal for the Countess, "Killed 8 in the dwarven lands. One turned. A red I got into his mouth and blocked his breath weapon with my shield. Then he tried to swallow me. I used my fly ability in my armor to jam my sword into his spine. Right near the head. Then cut my way out. If Staria has not prepared spells for the day make sure she has one to get this forge through the opening."

The Countess laughed. "We already discussed that when you came up with the plan. We are on our way."

She appeared. He looked at the Paragon, "The Silver Queen and activator of the forge. She fought alongside my parents to reclaim it for us."

He nodded, "I met her but did not see her like this."

Travious chuckled, "I told the paragon they are a gift. That takes us to 19 captured in the rings and 2 taken down afterward. This time I got to do more than lob arrows at it. Have you gotten all of the dimensions on the forge that you need?"

He looked at Travious, "Yes. Why?"

Travious looked at Staria, "Just a cave."

She cast up the portal. "This is an extradimensional space and she is going to make it permanent. It will never leave your side but it will be secured."

Travious looked at her, "Just yourself, and the three royal dragons who can activate the forge. They are the only ones who can access it."

Staria nodded, "You are making it so it is out of reach, but still here."

He nodded, "Yes. Add the leading silver and gold. Just in case something happens and we cannot restart it until the return. I am just concerned about any chance of a rogue."

The Countess nodded, "We will keep it to four, and if all the Kings are present from the allies. One of those conditions."

Travious nodded, "I like that idea."

She looked over, "I will need help moving this in."

He looked at the dwarves. "It will stay open while we are here. Lady Staria, come inside please."

The dwarves picked up the shrunken forge and put it in the cave and looked around. He looked at them, "It can only be accessed from here with those conditions met." The Paragon nodded. "Anyone asks other than your King. It has been moved to a secure cave until needed."

The dwarves chuckled as the portal closed up. He looked at Travious, "An interesting solution."

Travious nodded, "I have no Magical talent. I am a Paladin. Divine magic."

He nodded, "You are the third to carry your blade since it was cleansed."

Travious nodded, "Yes."

He sighed, "I liked your grandfather, he was respectful and liked our dwarven sapper."

Travious smiled, "My father respected them as well on the ocean. I used their explosives in the orc valley that we now control. Wait until you hear the request I am going to make on your King."

He chuckled. 15 minutes later and the dwarven King rode in and looked at the body of the red dragon.

"My guards say you saved our paragon and then killed that dragon."

Travious nodded, "I severed his spine a few casters got it with spells as well. I flew into his mouth to block his breath weapon. I cut the spine when he tried to swallow me whole. I gave a gift of glasses to your Paragon. To have an extra set of eyes down here."

He looked at Staria. "Show the King the forge." She walked toward the portal and it opened for her. "The portal will open for her because she created it. It is permanent. We have three royals who could activate the forge that we trust. They can open it. For you to open it requires all three Kings to be present to open the portal. The best vault I could give you. While keeping the promise of it residing in the dwarven kingdom, Your Majesty."

Travious looked at Bree and Silverleaf, "Remember this as a teleport location. In case I need to get back here and take down another dragon. You had 8 in this area. One was in the guard and 7 were here. The answer is, and it is truthful. The forge has been moved into a secure cave until you are ready to install it. I made sure the Paragon had all of his measurements that he needed, Your Majesty."

He nodded, "Another Silvertree thinker."

Travious smiled, "Always looking for the loophole that will fix the problem, Your Majesty"

He pulled out the crystal to King Goldeagle, "Your Majesty, are you free to talk about my assignment with the dwarves?"

King Goldeagle chuckled, "Having an early midday meal with the Queen Mother."

He smiled, "We encountered 8 here." He explained about how he killed the red dragon with the aid of the casters. "We collected another 7 of those rings. The forge is in its secure cave until they are ready to actually install it. They got the measurements, Your Majesty."

He chuckled, "Now I can call you a slayer of dragons."

Travious smiled, "I suppose if you put it that way but I am a Knight Paladin. The paragon was happy with my efforts as him and I were the targets of the breath weapon. The Dwarven King is here as well. We showed him the measures we have taken. I gave my glasses to the Paragon here.

He can see the truth of things while he works far from the throne room. We only took rings off of the bodies. We did not search them leaving that to our allies here. If you find something encrypted before I leave, hand it to me. I can read it, Your Majesty."

He reached into a pouch, "A letter from your King that I have not had time to have decrypted yet."

He held the page and he watched the ink move. Then the text was nice and clear.

Travious smiled, "It deals with me and my code, Your Majesty."

He handed him the paper and he read it and chuckled. "One of the gifts from the gods?"

Travious nodded, "I also have the new true seeing ability all the time. I can see the ring wearers. The true seeing on dragons cannot see them, Your Majesty."

He nodded, "You are a revealer of secrets."

Travious smiled, "I seek the truth, Your Majesty."

He chuckled, "Very good work. I cannot knight you. I can give you an award for bravery, heroism, and tactical leadership. Like your Grandfather."

Travious smiled, "I do have a request. I am commandeering two ships from the Royal Navy. I would like the 4 sappers we send back to be a part of my mercenary company and loaded with twice what they would normally have on 2 ships. I have plans on them using it away from ships. Also going to get them riding as we are an aerial unit. Shi'Drakon, give him a small demonstration in this cave."

The dwarven king watched the horse make a circle around the area and land beside him and bowed to the King.

Travious looked at him and explained how that came to pass over generations.

King Fireaxe nodded.

Travious looked at the crystal, "He fucked all of the horses at the Palace and may have wandered and fucked a few others, Your Majesty."

The Queen Mother laughed, "Like that uncle of yours."

The King sighed, "I have to work on the laws to deal with the paladin code and the disenfranchised. That code is driving a lot of change."

Travious smiled, "Carrying on a family tradition, Your Majesty."

He heard laughter from everywhere on that one. Travious smiled, "I am heading to see my Aunt next because Doc and Eagle-eye were not out in front of the Palace when we left, Your Majesty."

He laughed, "They showed up 15 minutes ago and we sent them back so you can catch them there."

He smiled, "Time to see how many assassins are hunting me there, Your Majesty."

He replied, "Keep me informed of the attempts. The first 4 ships will arrive in 2 days. You have some time to decide your plans and make your arrangements with the local warlord."

The Dwarven King looked at him, "You are taking them into battle?"

Travious nodded, "Going after slavers, Your Majesty. They take all kinds and who knows where they send to, for what experiments, or who they feed them too."

He nodded, "Very well. I am sure they will have some more war stories from the Silvertree family. I am setting aside some money. Sending it to your account. For clearing this out, protecting the forge, and our paragon with your own life. Will send your medal to your King so he can present it to you on your next visit."

Travious nodded, "Thank you, Your Majesty. If you recover any more of those rings; especially with the dragon bodies in them, send them our way. They can only be used by an arcane who knows polymorph in order to use all of the dragon's abilities. We are going to use them in the Gray Blades area for a few more surprises, Your Majesty."

He nodded, "I will send those rings to you via a courier."

Travious nodded and mounted up, "Off to get shot at, your Majesty. As always."

He chuckled and the crystal went dark. King Fireaxe looked at Travious, "Who is sending assassins after you?"

Travious looked at him, "The Ogre Magi I killed and another champion but with the drow over in the war. Which is way down on the list of things the Gods want me to attend to first."

He delayed poison on everyone in the group and their mounts. He looked at King Fireaxe who looked at him strangely, "I can also delay poison by touch because of this amulet, Your Majesty. Just in case bolts fly in before we get 5 feet."

He loaded up his bow and nodded to Bree, "By the tack shop."

They arrived, "Gia we need 100 saddles, bridals, and blankets. See what we can get."

She nodded as Travious looked at the others, "Everyone, wait here. Give me a good 50 feet."

They waited while he rode ahead and thought, "All Quiet Karti' Ros."

Karti'Ros chuckled. "No, they are at the edge of my range but I believe there is more than one."

Travious nodded and waited for the crossroads to be clear. He entered them headed for the Keep, Karti'Ros alerted, "Danger."

He thought, "Shi'Drakon let's go aerial here. I am being targeted. I want to land on top of the Keep."

Shi'Drakon chuckled and took Travious up.

The first bolt went wide because of the climb. He got a rough fix that he was high up and on the roof of the stable. Then Travious's eyes reveal him. He pulled back and launched an arrow and hit him in the groin. That enemy screamed out in pain, dropped down, and then rolled off of the roof. He looked around and there was one on the tower of the church. He sighed, "Church towers now, we have another shooter. I need to confirm."

He got about halfway up and he saw the bolt and dodged it.

Travious launched an arrow at him and hit him in the throat. He thought, "Danger?"

He heard Karti'Ros chuckle, "Yes, but they appear to be moving off."

He flew down to a guard, "Let my Aunt the Duchess know that we have more assassins and I have killed or injured two. One was on top of the barn. I know he is injured but he was invisible and caught the arrow in the groin."

Travious flew over to the barn and that one was alive and unconscious. He removed the rings and it was a female drow.

He neutralized poison on her and took her to the inn after he manacled her. He went to John's home, "Got another prisoner for you to mind fry Uncle John. Get everything out of her mind you can. Especially how many came with her."

John looked at her, "Bow?"

He nodded, "One got it in the neck."

Travious slid one ring on and it turns into his mother-in-law. He groaned and cursed, "I will be right back!"

He went down to the inn door. "Everyone to the inn!"

His group rode over and dismounts and came inside. He took them to the fourth floor and pulled Melia to him and held her. "We captured a drow spy. She had one of those rings and an invisibility ring that is improved. The form she assumed was your mother. She killed your mother." Melia started to cry into him. "The spy is alive and John is working over her mind right now."

She looked at him as she sobbed and spoke enraged, "I want to watch this!"

He held her shoulder as she went into the room. She saw her mother's image with a groin shot. He looked at the lady and pulled the ring off of her. His Uncle was being none too gentle in getting what he wanted out of her. "There are 18 more of them in the village! Another 20 in the city!"

He looked at the ladies, "Stay with her. I am going to the other body. That was a neck shot."

He went out with a bow in hand and flew up to the tower on his own. He landed and got the rings off.

He put them on one at a time and it was one of his Aunt's bed partners. He pulled out the Crystal to his Aunt. "Top of crescent tower NOW!"

She responded, "What is wrong?"

He replied. "Assassin's rings. They are using locals. There are 18 more of them here. One was my mother-in-law. This one is one of your bed partners."

She gasped, "I am on my way!"

He waved to her from the tower so she knew which one. She flew up herself and dropped and started crying, "We had sex just an hour ago. I sent her to get Doc for you."

Travious looked at her, "You may have had sex with her." He put the ring on. He went with drastic measures. "Did you have your glasses on?"

She shook her head. "I will wear them all the time now. Gods what have I done. The drow body is stuck in that ring now?"

He nodded, "With no mind." He gave her delay poison, "You can hunt them. Time for drastic measures."

He flew down to the bottom. He thought, "Shi'Drakon! Bring all of the horses from the pasture. A column of two. I need to find them to find the strongest poison and kita, all of them. I will hold my hands out and neutralize the poison on all of them!

As they pass hunt in groups. There are 18 of them out there. Assassins who are killing the locals and families. We need your help."

His Aunt watched as the horse came down and got neutralize poison on all of them. She looked at him like he was nuts for a second until she remembered Shi'Drakon was the head of the herd. A thousand horses or more passed him and took off into the woods in every direction. He went to the stable.

He pulled out the Crystal to the King. "There are 20 assassins here. Another 20 in the city. I captured one still alive and she is being interrogated. They are using the rings on locals. My mother-in-law is dead as is one of my Aunt's lovers."

The King groaned, "You going to find them?"

Travious growled a bit, "With some help, your Majesty. I had Shi'Drakon pull every horse from the pasture to search and kill them. I am riding to the other village in case the horses manage to track to a house. I will contact you again in a couple of hours. See where we are at, Your Majesty. I am going hunting. Ficka the druids if they get upset about me using this bow."