Silvertree Chronicles Bk. 04

The lady sighed with a smile, "Yes. Now you have the foundation of a code Second or third. As alluded to, you will have two pregnancies and they should be completed and you back into fighting shape within a few months of having them. You will be infertile at that point."

Jazzia looked at her, "Sometime after my birthday 6 years from now."

She shook her head, "No, a little longer than that. However, that would be a safe guess as we don't have an exact date or time. Each set will produce at least one gestalt that is a candidate for the sword. They will not be a champion just the next wielder and the potential parent of the next champion. Your travels will keep you busy and you will have to trust those who will raise your children."

Jazzia looked at her, "Why all of these gestalts? What happened to 10-12 candidates to choose from and then letting them prove their worth to be a champion? Letting them form there own ideas for you to choose the path forward like Eldar. Eldar was not a gestault."

She sighed, "Because the other gods started doing it with their champions to get an advantage. We had to adapt. Eldar was the one we hoped would become the new champion of that age, we guided him at key points. In a way he was, he was just never trained in all of the aspects of his rouge mother.

He capitalized on acrobatics and he even managed to dodge an attack here or there. He never put it together as he was never formally trained in the second class. His ideas and beliefs we adopted, but we did not want him to become just a spy like his mother. We saw him as the tree of change, as the tree his father's ashes were consumed by."

Jazzia looked at her, "I have agreed to nothing on this code you want to stick me with. We are just defined what the criteria would be, nothing more. It is a trap. To get the one I am interested in. I have to have 'a code' to allow it to happen. It is another form of control to be placed upon me. This 'code' would need to be known by the Church and the King. To allow my children to retain their names."

She nodded, "It is a very good match as well. He has his eyes on a first wife already."

She nodded, "A rather attractive enchantress I will admit it. I would not mind spending a little quality time with her. Just like her sister who wants the same quality time when she becomes an adult. Her sister rubs me the wrong way though, I can barely stand her attitude of things."

The Lady of Dreams chuckled, "She will develop feelings for one of your brothers and his wife; if your destiny holds true."

Jazzia groaned, "I wish Melia could watch over any children I have. I do not see a need to marry. She is at least good at that."

The Lady of Dreams sighed, "Eldar explained his opinion on bastard children. She is not long for this world. Her next pregnancy will kill her. She is already expecting."

Jazzia looked at her, "She knows she will die?"

She sighed and nodded, "She has known since she got pregnant. She never told the man. He died a few weeks later. Her children have their own destinies. You have a husband and a wife at home they could watch over your children and hers. You could see about returning the favor."

Jazzia groaned out, "Way to lay on the guilt. She has her own children who could do this as well unless they are not long for this world as well."

She sighed, "You are stubborn like your grandfather. I warned my husband that a female champion can be more stubborn."

Jazzia looked at her, "Glad I am living up to your expectations. Next, you are going to tell me I have to have a mate in the field as well?"

She shook her head, "No, you can go home with a teleportation circle at a moment's notice and take care of that. Even if something happens to him, his first would still be responsible for raising the children even if she found a new husband. You could take a lover when and if that happens."

Jazzia sighed, "No to this code, the paladin code in general sucks on a champion for having any life. There is nothing in the Blade Singer code about reproducing. You had me take this sword up as the condition of my father's will. Not my own free will.

My job is to protect the elven people and that is as a trainer. Even following his direction to pass it on to another, which I will do to be reverent. I find it humorous, strange not 'haha funny', that you felt all champions need to have an oversexed sex life.

If I need to have children then I can look to do so after this war of the return happens. When I can take time to actually be a mother. Unless I am not long for this world. Then what is the point? Using Melia dying on me is underhanded, but it is your domain to deal with death."

The Lady of Dreams groaned, "Why are you being so difficult?"

Jazzia looked at her, "Not an adult and you are asking adult decisions using traps and guilt on me. Reminds me of everyone trying to 'control' Brannar from the journal. You could have done this 30 years ago by setting it in the Blade Singer code, but then it would apply to every Blade Singer.

You did not do that and that option was available to you. Instead, you want an additional set of rules on just me after I was chosen without a say in the matter. Given what happened to my father's brother and sister, you will select one for the blade and the others will likely die.

You set precedence in death claiming any who do not take up the blade. Then again taking up the blade leads to a shorter life. I did not have my parents and you are asking me to do the same for my children. Speaking for children everywhere, that sucks.

I can protect the elven people or I can stay back and raise children. You want me to give up being a mother and force sterility upon me after 2 sets of children to keep me on the field for however long it takes me to die.

You don't want me waiting because I am likely to not make it to be 100 years old. Something tells me 90 will be pushing it. Your husband gives different champions different talents. Did you ever think I am this way and see these things because your husband made it so I could see them?"

The Lady of Dreams sighed, "Any time we are dealing with dragons being involved there is a high degree of uncertainty in a champions future. Your father found this out and future champions may have the same issues. Since their departure, we are only able to see so far before permutations occur.

The champions' actions caused more of them. Not just our champions. Sometimes, as in the case of your father, he took on so much so fast he died way younger than we had initially foreseen. He did it though taking out a great enemy to the elven people. Please don't make light of his sacrifice to save the people."

Jazzia rolled her eyes again, "Fine he died because he chose to protect our people from a greater threat. I get that and I admire that. He chose this for me because Corellon requested it of him. He chose me to be that champion, not my father. That is an illusion and we should be fair when we talk about what was done to get me to this point.

My father's 'choice' was not a choice at all but his obedience regarding his code. That is why I don't want his fucked up code with spouses and crap. Because he was denied the choice in order to stay within his code."

The lady sighed as she was frustrated with this young female champion, "I will not argue that point, you are correct, yet you worship him and follow the Blade Singers code. If he asked this of you would you be as difficult?"

Jazzia rolled her eyes, "It is not a part of the Blade Singers code and if it is good for the female champion and 'Master Trainer' then it should be good enough for the men and women who are masters and Grand Masters. ALL of them! It is not the same code. If they were the same, we would all be paladins."

Jazzia was frustrated enough that she wanted this argument to end, "You want a code? Fine I will give you a code. I will marry and submit to two sets of children to be raised by others. If I have no hand in raising them through adulthood, then you will not pull this crap with me. Asking me to talk to a distant relative who I only know of because of a book. You had 3 virtual STRANGERS try and talk with me.

I knew of their historically relevant deeds, but that does not mean they know me! That I have felt them in my life. I haven't! I also reserve the right to tell you, I told you so! I am not happy about this code crap. Anything happens I will bring up this was forced upon me. Repeatedly.

Especially when you start killing off my children when they are young like you did my father's siblings! I am challenging you to prove me wrong and let them live a full measure of life. That is the code in its entirety. I might add another piece here or there if the need arises, but that would be my choice."

The Lady of Dreams looked at Jazzia like she ignored her entire tirade after '2 sets of children.', "You have brought much to the Blade Singers. Namely your ability to track multiple targets and not be flanked in combat when focused. The piece you have been adding.

As to your remaining concerns with things going on that you have observed. Voice them to the King. Let him decide what to do. Yes, we are testing him again. Your first focus on the war will be with your father's mercenary company, the Shadow Riders."

She woke feeling energized for the first time in days, yet still frustrated with her ancestors and now the Lady of Dreams.

---

Corellon Larethian entered the Falls area with his wife. "I did make her observant of the traps and pitfalls she would encounter. She sees what you have done in the past and she is challenging you to not do it in the future as you did with her father's siblings.

I understood the one, to bind the horses. Once the Paladin was selected one of the two should have lived longer, far longer. It should have been his sister who would have married into another house. With his brother's children living, instead, it was the end of two branches from Brannar.

With his brother falling in that valley instead of the Underdark. You are setting up yourself as a harbinger of death in the eyes of champions. You are narrowing the field of what I want for this family. You always hate when I select a female champion. You get jealous of that and it reflects in your actions. Try and work with this one. Her statement in her code stands if it proves to be true...again."

---

Jazzia stopped at her brother's room, "Get moving and get started on your morning drills. Take the other two with you. You practice together today. Two on one combat drills. Till midday. Then acrobatics after lunch. Followed by two hours of swimming training. Work those forward dismounts and the aerial strike dismounts."

He groaned. "What will you be doing?"

She rolled her eyes, "What the Lady of Dreams directed me to look into starting today."

He came to the door, "She finally contacted you?"

Jazzia nodded, "As did the last three Blade wielders. To offer their advice to me on love, of all things. Also, to go and find 'myself.' They want another 'code' on me as well. Another term for a leash." She rolled her eyes again. "How to not focus on everything but the task I am asked to complete. To know who my best student is when they follow my damned directions!"

He chuckled, "Alright, I will get moving and get the other two moving."

She finished getting geared up and headed outside. The trainer for the Knight Paladin was out with his troops. He nodded to Jazzia, "When are you going to spar with me?"

She sighed and thought 'not again.' Then she thought with a wicked grin, 'A way to work out my frustrations of last night', "To get you to stop asking? Get off your horse and we will do it here and now."

He stopped with his men. She looked at them, "To make it fair you might want your students involved in this little exercise."

He looked at her, "Your father was arrogant with Blade Singers. You are trying to turn the blade?"

She drew her sword and looked at him, "Your call, you issued this challenge, yet again. This upcoming humiliation is of your own making."

He hopped down. "One on one. Master Trainer to Master Trainer."

She nodded as she watched his men dismount. She knew they would enter the fight. The nature of 'their fucked code'.

They faced off and his men held drawing their weapon for the moment. She looked at him to make the first move and he tried to rush her with his shield. She backflipped out of the way. He looked at her, "You will have to engage at some point."

She nodded. She rolled off to the left and he countered. He came in for an overhead strike and she hit him with a thunder wave and sent him flying across the street.

His men drew their swords and three of the four fell into the quickened pit she created. As the master trainer worked to get up. She went after his student who was still standing. He braced for her strike. At the last minute she flipped over and mule kicked him into the hole with the other students and rolled back the way she came. He looked at Jazzia, "You only delayed the fight with them."

She nodded, "Until you yield."

He came at her with a pair of strikes and one connected the other one she dodged as she brought him to the ground with a tripping maneuver and stepped over his back with her blade pointed in his back.

He laughed, "You are sneaky like your father with more powerful spells."

Jazzia smiled and cast telekinesis on him and moved him above the hole, "Yield?"

He laughed, "I yield."

She released the spell and he fell into the hole on top of his trainees. She ended the hole and they were all piled together on the surface of the road. Her students stopped and clapped. She looked at them and yelled, "GET TO TRAINING!"

They bowed, "Yes, Master Trainer!" They took off for the stables while the men on the streets unwound themselves. The Knight Paladin looked at Jazzia, "Why did you drop me after I yielded?"

She smiled, "I did not drop you. I released you. Then your men who were NOT going to enter the combat. If you had yielded when my sword was in your back, I would not have had to cast that spell. Your indecision to admit the daughter of your trainer had you beat caused the situation. You thought I would not have the skill to face you. Your overabundance of arrogance cost you that bit of humiliation. As I had warned you it would."

He nodded, "I can see your father in you. He would beat a Blade Singer Champion and then help to fix their wounds."

She nodded, "Mine will heal. From one Master to another, you should teach them about flanking and spreading out when dealing with a caster."

He nodded, "Sounds like a good exercise for today."

She smiled, "You find my trainees you could try a five on three with them. They will kick your asses, all of them."

He chuckled, "These guys need more practice before that. Your apprentices have more than 10 years' experience and 30-40 years in age.

She nodded, "I just gave them a lesson for free that I have done to my own students. As to age, you have more than 100 years on me and I still kicked your ass."

He laughed, "Your students have that problem?"

She shook her head, "Only got one who fell into the pit and he flew out of it."

They laughed, mounted up, and nodded to her. The others on the street looked shocked but went about their business. She walked down to the Academy to see the enchanters walking around the outside of the building. She looked at them and spotted one of her sisters, Visha.

Visha smiled, "We are trying to figure out how to get the academy to levitate."

Jazzia nodded, "You have a problem as all the extradimensional spaces would not move with it."

She frowned at her, "What would you do?"

The enchanters gathered around. She looked at them. "Remove the extra-dimensional spaces and then fly it higher. Leave a teleporter on ground level but move it up and then rebuild the extra-dimensional spaces." She looked at the others and they looked back at her. One Vivia Full Moon nodded, "Not a bad suggestion."

Jazzia looked at her with a smile, "I have another for you. Join me for a mid-day meal. You can tell me what other challenges you have and I could give my thoughts on the matter."

All the ladies turned to her. She was an adult almost five years older than her while Jazzia was not an adult yet.

Vivia looked at her, "You are not old enough for me."

Jazzia smiled, "To answer questions, eat, and give more ideas? I would think I am capable of that. You are not that much older than me and I am a Master Trainer already and a tier 9 dragon blooded sorceress. Mid-day at the inn?"

She smiled, "Very well. To talk. But I will bring my sister who is your age along."

Jazzia shrugged, "She is a bit annoying, but you can bring her if you want. Not that I am interested in her."

The ladies chuckled. Jazzia smiled, "I plan to extend the same invitation to Grandaxxa Silverbar as well to talk about some Dragon Rider business."

Her eyes lit up, "Alright. We can meet."

She left the enchanters to gossip and Visha came up to Jazzia, "You starting to look for a mate?"

Jazzia looked at her, "Something you want to say?"

Visha smiled, "Rumor has it her younger sister is waiting to join her in bed as soon as she is an adult. Only attracted to women."

Jazzia nodded, "I have ears. Heard the same. I have others to talk to yet."

She smiled, "Did the lady finally contact you?"

Jazzia looked at Visha, "As did the three previous blade wielders."

She stopped, "What did they say? What did father say?"

Jazzia smiled and left her wondering. Jazzia thought, "Was not about to say nothing I wanted to hear."

Karti'Ros responded, "They may not tell you what you want to hear, but you are a champion. Also, a Blade Singer. You should try to heed their advice."

She thought to Karti'Ros, "Did you hear their advice? They addressed none of my concerns, Except Brannar who said to stop trying to fit in a box and actually sided with me in the uncertainty around having children. To just accept myself for who and what I am. The other two were a wasted conversation because they talked to me like a child and not as an adult. Yet they wanted me to make adult decisions about my future in one night's dreams.

I frustrated the hell out of the Lady of Dreams. She did the same thing. She could only approach me with guilt and guile. Instead of just talking with me like the adult she wanted me to be. I am a champion like those that came before me and I will have my own ideas on things. It is expected."

Karti'Ros responded, "No, I did not hear the advice. Brannar I spent the least amount of time with him and I can see a lot of him in you. The anger about your parents, in your case, both parents."

She thought back, "They want me to be a mother, but not to be a mother as I have my children raised by others for when I die on the field. They want me to turn the band over to a student in a year to another and stop being the Master Trainer. They want me in the field. I will do those two things as it is being reverent and deals with the Blade Singer code.

They wanted to saddle me with another code so I gave her one. It included what she wanted but it included what I wanted to say about it. Her domain is death and dreams. She could have killed me in my sleep and covered them both to me last night. I am sure that thought crossed her mind once or twice."

She headed into the stable and got Brika mounted. A mare who was a few months out from delivering but she could still handle the occasional stroll. She thought to her, "Have you thought about a substitute for while you are out of commission?"

She laughed, "I will not be returning to you when I leave. I will be breeding. You will have to choose another one. A Stallion. All the mares who can carry are leaving the field to try and deliver before war strikes."