Silvertree Chronicles Bk. 04

The man drew back a bow at her and Jazzia looked at him, "You wish to lose that hand then pull that bow. The hole in that log was from my father's bow. My Sister carries it and she is right behind me.

Sisha put an arrow into the log and the guy aimed downward. As he saw it burn away. All of the Pegasus in the air came down and landed. Then they all bow toward Jazzia.

Jazzia looked at him, "Even your own mounts have more common sense at the moment than you do. You believe a test of a warrior is in battle then I will challenge one of you to battle. If that is what it takes."

He laughed, "You said you are a sorcerer."

She nodded, "Also a Blade Singer. Unless your paladins are not up for the challenge. Is your God not all-seeing and all-knowing? Or do they only watch over this island and are simply a local ruler?"

He grew angry. "Choose someone then?"

She looked over, "That young man is but a boy. Not ready for such a contest. Besides. He knows who I am as I know who he is. Now the man three-horses behind you on the tan Pegasus is another matter. Does he have the guts?"

He went to get off of his mount, "No in the air. We should start where you are comfortable before I bring you crashing back down to earth. His pegasus stood and Jazzia took off into the air and he gave chase.

Jazzia thought, "Let the Pegasus know his rider has a necromantic aura to him and is likely a dragon in disguise."

The Pegasus closed and then flipped and threw the rider Jazzia dove off after him.

He was falling rapidly, he stabbed himself through the heart and turned into a massive blue. She cast dimension door and appeared in his mouth. She ran her sword up into the roof of his mouth. As he tried to close it. She grew into a huge silver and ripped his jaw completely off and glided away as it fell on the beach.

She came back down and changed back. "How many people have gone missing? How many partially eaten remains have you found? This is at least one culprit. Free the young man I pointed out earlier. She summoned and cleaned off her sword as he rode over. Wendia went over and healed her up from the crushing damage of the dragon's jaw she snapped off.

Jazzia looked at him, "Hello Champion. Yes, I can see your divine aura. I had to get your patrol leader mad enough to let me take this one out. I hope you understand. I know a paladin's pride. That can sometimes blind them to truth; if they are not careful. Release all the mounts."

She walked back over to her mount who was waiting for her.

"Good job my friend. Now would someone like to see my papers and introduce me to your King or Queen? I am also Countess Silvertree. You can see why."

One of them flew off. The boy looked at Jazzia, "The gods have not told me I am a champion."

She reached into her bag. "This is a necklace I got for another Paladin but he passed on it. He never got an answer from his god on if he should accept it.

If you wear your holy symbol of your god and put this amulet on it will likely fuse your holy symbol into your chest. This one has poison immunity and a strength bonus to it. Try it. Do not believe me?"

She pulled off the top of my armor which shocked them but then the man saw her symbol fused into her chest. She put her armor back on. He put it on and she heard the familiar high-pitched sound and looked over.

He took off the top of his armor and his holy symbol was fused into his chest. She looked at him, "A gift from one champion to another. Knight Paladin Dusk Moon is my Brother-in-law married to my sister. As I said my father was a Knight Paladin. My brother the half-dragon holds a dragon lance. Forged off the eternal forge."

She pulled a crystal, "Countess we have a massively blue problem here. Can you return please."

She was back beside her and looked, "The King of the Blue Dragons! Your father killed the Queen in the elven palace!"

Jazzia nodded, "I knew about her. I was just not sure who he was."

Jazzia looked at the Champion, "I call her Countess but she is, in fact, the Queen of the Silver Dragons. She is the dragon that Traxxa; who is a sovereign Prince in the elven empire, rides into battle against creatures like this one.

She also helped to reclaim and restart the forge to get us dragon lances. What is the name of your deity?"

He looked at Jazzia, "Helnar."

Jazzia asked him, "Who is Trastsar to you?"

He looked at Jazzia, "He was the last arcane and a hero to the people."

Jazzia smiled, "Let me guess. His fame centered around making your island invisible."

He nodded, "You know of him?"

Jazzia smiled, "I know he was the creator of an object known as Trastsar's prism. A prism bends light."

The Countess looked at Jazzia, "Of course!"

Jazzia looked at him, "If he alerted his people of my presence, they will come here looking for that prism. If they have not already suspected and have more than one agent on this island. They are looking for a powerful relic in which to pervert.

They want to turn dragons like this one into undead dragons. Draco-liches. One is out there with several necromancers searching for objects powerful enough to be used and perverted in such a manner. He was created using the Eternal Forge before it was recaptured.

This was before the dragon kingdom's departure. Now they are less than 5 years from returning. He has hundreds of dead dragon bodies. Making more Draco-liches would give him an undead dragon army that would be virtually unstoppable.

Jazzia hopped down and stripped the dragon's body of gear. She cut off its head. "Do any of you wish to show this to your King and Queen? We should destroy the body."

Another 12 riders came in and looked at the scene as they landed. An older gentleman walked up to her, "I was a young rider when an elf showed up. Said he was a Knight Paladin. Wanted our help training with aerial combat."

Jazzia nodded, "I know. He found it elsewhere from men who were dragon hunters. A hard sell at first, but they walked away with 30 dragon lances for training the first riders. Including my half-brother Traxxa. Your champion can explain what I told him. Here are my papers."

Her brother and the Knight Paladin also presented their papers why the young boy explained what he saw, did, and she gave him. He also told them who the lady was and her role in things. They handed them their papers back. The one-man looked at the dragon, "I do not know that we can help you."

Jazzia looked at him, "You have had people go missing, found partially eaten remains. Odds are they did not send just one enemy here. Countess, Get Vivia, and Staria for me. Tell them we have another shield we have to set-up. Wendia, you will need to return."

They left.

Jazzia looked at him, "You may not trust us. Do you trust the blue on the ground more? I explained what they are looking for and it is here. They get it and it is trouble for the world. We set up a shield for you that blocks teleportation and dragons entering it will go a long way toward helping your people. They could also add one to block necromancy.

The rings and undead walking onto your shores. She picked up the ring off the sand and tossed it up to him, "Detect magic. Your own men watched your guy drive a blade through his own heart. Just to allow the dragon to be freed. The dragon was stored in the ring. The body was a mindless husk or lacked control because of the dragon in the ring.

One of your greatest heroes created an artifact for you to make your island invisible. You know dragons can see through invisibility naturally? That hero was an arcane caster. Now you have arcane casters on your shores trying to help you because your hero could not see this coming. You can ask us to go again. Know it will be bad for the world and likely the end of your people as you become food and breeding stock to the chromatic dragons."

Jazzia heard a voice from the tree line, "I hate to admit it, but the elven Champion is right. They will come if not already here. I was hoping to put this off for another 2 years."

Jazzia looked over and the humans all took a knee and she nodded to him, "You must be Helnar."

He nodded, "I was just talking with your Gods and Bahamut about the problems coming. The fact you drew my attention by calling out the fact that I did not see what was on our own shore. In a rather insolent manner."

Jazzia nodded, "To get your paladin riled up to let me take this one out. I told a Human Queen, sometimes the only way for someone to understand the scope of the situation is to see it. In that case, she wanted to know what authority I had for doing what I was doing. I listen to Gods."

He nodded, "I saw that. I have been watching you closely once you mentioned the prism and searching for it. You did well at keeping them confused. Then you decided to seek it out."

Jazzia nodded, "Because of a Draco-lich and a shadow dragon who hates the light. Trying to find something to aid us in bringing those foes down. What were your thoughts about my father's visit?"

He smiled and nodded, "He commented that my paladins were not very much like paladins. The same could be said about your Gods' paladins."

Jazzia chuckled, "True. Humans tend to have 'A' definition of a paladin and that did not mesh. You saw enough though to put your champion on the field in this case. Something resonated with you in his warning."

He chuckled and nodded, "I suppose that is true. Let them put their shield up and check for other dragons."

Jazzia looked back, "Sister would you take the Knight paladin back and take the other casters. Have them use scrolls and bring me at least 100 Shadow riders here. If a dragon does appear or another fight breaks out our men have the weapons and experience.

Lancers stay with me. Traxxa you want to head back and send some of the Mage Dragon Riders 6-8 or so. It gives us the time to start working the enchantment. Also, send 20 dragon lances with them. Consider it a start in helping their people to protect themselves."

He nodded, "Never dull with you Sister."

They took off. Jazzia looked at Helnar, "A start. Our people can show yours how to deal with the size and weight of a dragon lance. He will not commit the lion's portion of his forces here. Not with him thinking I am luring him away from the true target.

Not without confirming it is here. We should keep this to a diplomatic mission to meet warriors who wish to take these evil dragons out of the air and into a grave. No mention of the prism."

Everyone nodded. Helnar smiled, "You will do well. We will see how this goes. Take them to your King and Queen. Leave 6 on the shores. My champion will pass along my words on this matter."

She rode over to the patrol leader, "If I had told you, 'You had a dragon in your ranks' you would have told me I was crazy. Because you would have noticed their evil aura."

She held up the cord, "Cord of non-detection. Blocked your ability to detect them. I wear a sash with that but for a different reason. To make it harder for the enemy to scry on me and track me."

He nodded. He broke his men in groups. He looked back and the blue dragon body was gone.

She smiled and turned to the Countess and Vivia returned with another four of her unit. Jazzia looked at her, "You will want to come with us. Nobody should ask or talk about the prism."

She looked at Jazzia, "They are alright with me coming?"

Jazzia smiled, "After their God appeared, I think you are safe for now."

Her eyes lit up, "That is news."

They followed their riders into the center of their island and past a few sentries. They were surprised they were getting inside the island interior. They rode through the heavy jungle but the paths were cleared. They wound down through many layers as they entered a valley and past a giant waterfall. They were taken into the main city and it looked to hold a million or so people on this island if not more.

Jazzia sighed, "Lambs to the slaughter."

The Paladin leader looked at her, "What are you hinting at?"

Jazzia looked at him, "My father went to the griffon riders before coming here. By the time our forces were strong enough to return the population of the griffon riders was zero from about this size. They killed all of the griffons and human males and raped the human females to create half-dragons.

Not counting those they brought in on slave shipments. The force we sent had my brother Traxxa on it. Traxxa got the killing blow on their leader. They took out an ancient hybrid red and blue dragon and killed hundreds and lost a good number of great fighters in that battle. We knew they got attacked over 30 years before.

We did not have the forces to take them on at that time. Once their griffons were destroyed and with no magical ability, they were slaughtered. Isolationists like yourselves. He feared that for your people as well. He died before I was born. Five days after marrying my mother. He saw it coming but did not try to avoid his destiny. Not reckless, just an unorthodox risk-taker."

They rode into a more upscale portion of the city and to a palace. They stopped out front. She looked at the men out front, "Our horses are well trained, intelligent war horses who will remain there and wait for us. Anyone tries to move them and we cannot be responsible for injury or death."

The patrol commander looked at him, "Leave them be."

They walked in, "You always this confrontational?"

Jazzia smiled, "No. This is one of my mellower days."

He finally chuckled. They had an open-air courtyard and court was in session. It came to an abrupt halt and she saw at least five more in the audience. She thought to the Countess, "I see at least five others. I am seeing the dragon wards everywhere!" She nodded to Jazzia.

Jazzia looked at their escort, "Danger here."

He looked at Jazzia and motioned her forward.

She bowed, "I am Countess Silvertree with the elven court. We are seeking additional allies in the war with the chromatic dragons. Their homeland will return in less than 5 years. My father came here many years ago and was told to return when it was closer. While on the beach we had an interesting conversation with Helnar.

I would like to ask your permission and indulgence in a private conversation with us, Your Majesty. In my secure home if you are willing."

He looked at Jazzia, "You carry your home with you?"

Jazzia smiled, "A copy of it. It does not allow for teleportation, scrying, or eavesdropping. Would you like to see it, Your Majesty?"

He looked at the patrol leader who nodded.

He sighed, "Very well." Jazzia stepped back.

She cast it all including the defenses. "If you desire a few bodyguards, military advisers, or others we would entertain them at this meeting."

He nodded and they led the way. They got 3 of the 5 that came in with them.

She thought to the Countess, "Great! Three coming in. I am so glad I put the defenses on."

She looked at the King, "This might take a few hours to go over everything. We have food refreshments and everything. I do not know if your court typically waits that long, Your Majesty."

He nodded and cleared the court. They went inside Jazzia thought, "Take the King and Queen to the falls."

Jazzia looked at them, "The Countess wants you to see the falls we have set up in here Your Majesty. Before we begin. It was one of her personal enchanters who did the initial design for this structure and the falls. I call her the Countess because she does not share her true name. She is the Queen of Metallic Silver Dragons."

He followed her back and She sighed and thought, "Let them know what we have out here. Ask them to wait for their own safety.

She looked at the two guards, "You can take a look."

She waved her 'escort' over. Then sighed, "Secure portal. Everyone stand on a white tile." They moved. "Briefing room security activate. The spikes came out. Jazzia moved in with her sword drawn. "Lay face down hands spread out in front of you. I will fireball your asses or disintegrate them."

Her escort looked at Jazzia, "All three of them?"

She shook her head, "There were 5 in the room only 3 came in here. The other 2 are probably reporting about me being here."

He nodded and drew his sword. Two drew their weapons. She hit them with a thunder wave sending two into the wall. The third laid down. She threw up a wall of force blocking those two in, "Manacles, put them on and then bring them here. He put them on with there hands in the back of her.

She reached around and grabbed the three middle fingers and snapped them all. Jazzia dropped the wall and gave him the manacles. "Get the next one and bring them over. They tried to fight him and he ran one through, "Move BACK!" He came running toward Jazzia as the body expanded and crushed the third. Then that body expanded. Jazzia looked at the one survivor, "You might make another day."

She thought, "Bring them out, they will not believe it until they see it." Jazzia put her sword away and they came out.

This human Queen yelled out, "What in the HELLS?!"

Jazzia looked at them, "The one man, tried to fight my escort. When he got killed it freed the dragon trapped in the ring. Then that crushed the other one which freed the other trapped in that ring. Between getting crushed and the spikes, which are a security measure.

Who is this one, Your Majesty?"

The human Queen of this island looked at Jazzia, "My husband's consort."

Jazzia nodded and stripped off her clothes and jewelry except for the one ring. "That ring is the culprit. Your paladins did not pick up on it because they are all wearing this non-detection cord.

Jazzia walked her back to the falls. Jazzia took the ring and put it on and heard, "Kill yourself, fall on your sword."

Jazzia thought back, "Shut the ficka up you are going to die in this ring."

She took it off. The countess looked at Jazzia, "I listened in, Queen of the Green Dragons!"

She sighed, "They have a few variants of those rings, each works differently." Jazzia gave them a breakdown of the types of rings they had encountered thus far. "Necromancy running wild. The young man with you is your God's champion. Helnar met us on the beach after I killed an ancient blue dragon in aerial combat, the King of the Blue dragons. that is a lot of dragon royalty, I think they were close to putting the pieces together."

She described the two people she saw off to the sides. The King sighed, "One is my brother. Next in line for the throne. The other is my sister."

Jazzia smiled, "Invite them to dinner in your quarters with your guests. What kind of relationship do you have with them, Your Majesty?"

The Queen chuckled, "He is a great fuck and she could suck my clit for hours."

The Paladins were shocked by this language from their King and Queen. She looked at Jazzia, "When he went to a consort I went and found my fun elsewhere. I can get them both to my room."

Jazzia looked at the Countess, "The two of us then?" She nodded and took her manacles and stripped the bodies. "I do not know if your consort was a willing participant or not. I leave her to you."

The escort nodded, Jazzia let the Countess disintegrate the two bodies. They went up to the human Queen's room and waited for them to come in one at a time. Jazzia took one down and cuffed them.

She snapped the fingers and gagged him and stowed them out of the way. Then they got the other woman and took her down. She looked at the Countess, "I need you to get Uncle John and Amy. They need to go through these two and figure out what they passed on. Who they got in those rings, and culpability for all three of the wearers."

She nodded, Jazzia took them into the shelter and put them in chairs. Thirty minutes went by. She was back with Amy, Astria, Vivia, and Uncle John.