Silvertree Chronicles Bk. 04

He looked at Jazzia, "Why would you do that?"

Jazzia smiled, "It would not provide any assurance if a mountain rose below the academy or a volcano. I suggested flying instead. The problem you face is the dust storm and winds could knock it out of the sky with either solution.

That led me to seek out your sages who oversaw the research of the island with the eternal forge was found. The shield that was built to protect the island. That would protect against the winds. That needs to be addressed first before deciding on a solution."

He sighed, "They have not had much luck with the documents they recovered."

Jazzia smiled, "Have them bring the research here or take us to them. Part of it was draconic."

He sighed and released the room. He took them to another room with one mage pouring over notes. He had one tome in the middle of the room. They walked over and she looked at him, "How many researchers do you have?"

He looked at Jazzia, "Who are you?"

Jazzia smiled, "The new Knight champion Silvertree, Master Trainer of Blade Singer and a Draconic sorcerer gestault. This is lady Staria who is the best dragon enchantress we have."

He sighed and looked at Jazzia, "I am an academic enchanter and researcher. I have isolated all the spells. I am the lone researcher. The academy sees this as futile and I am about ready to agree. The problem is half of them do not work!"

Jazzia smiled, "Maybe because they are dragon spells?"

Lady Staria looked at him, "Show me the spells not working."

He walked over to a stack of notes. She looked them over. "They are indeed draconic spells. Only a dragon could cast them."

Jazzia smiled, "Or an elf with one of the rings and copies of those spells polymorphed back into an elven form to work inside of here."

She shook her head, "That would likely work but this needs to be done at a distance above the city. Not in a room. The results could be disastrous in a room."

She thought and sighed, "Standing on a wall of force at the right height?"

She shook her head, "No they would have to levitate to the proper height. The spell they would use would keep it a constant distance from that point to the controls. It's not fly or levitate; it is a special anchor when enchanted as it is blocking those other forms of magic. From passing through the barrier. When enchanted and activated. There are many levels of enchantment involved with this."

Jazzia looked at Staria, "Can you get Traxxa to release the silver, white, or a neutral dragon ring to us? To allow us to put an enchanter with him to help with this?"

She nodded, "It will take two to do it. One to set the top of the dome and another to enchant the control mechanisms. It would take a dragon to do the upper piece. Your solution should work."

She pulled out a crystal and had a short discussion in draconic with the Countess. She nodded, "He will release the silver one to you for this effort. The King was glad you came and brought me along. It would have to be enchanted in stages. Separate controls for each ability."

Jazzia nodded, "I am looking for the one to block out the bad weather first. The dust storms. We do not have the reefs but our islands do. Then there is the teleporting or flying through the shield."

She nodded, "That is the last enchantment. The one in the sky would need a ten million gold piece diamond for crafting it."

She nodded, "A trip to the bank or loan me your crystal."

Staria handed her the crystal. She looked at him, "Your name?"

He smiled, "I am instructor Gold Moon."

Jazzia nodded and activated the pearl. "Countess I need to speak with the two Kings and the Queen."

Jazzia heard King Goldeagle, "Champion. You have news?"

She smiled, "Yes the process for the shield requires two enchanters. One draconic or an elf using one of the rings. Which we just got released to me as you might have heard. The material component for the piece that is enchanted by a dragon, high in the sky, is a diamond worth ten million gold pieces. That is for each location we attempt this at.

I recommend we start with one of the out-of-the-way islands as the multiple enchantments that would have to put in place for an island would be the most complex. It also gives us the ability to test away from prying eyes and not scare the citizens."

She heard King Goldeagle as he chuckled, "You would need to get one from the royal vault at the bank. Are you planning on doing this?"

Jazzia smiled, "I am well versed in magic but I know of a couple of enchantresses who would be better suited to it. Besides, I still have three students to finish training. Also, as everyone is fond of pointing out. I am not an adult yet."

Jazzia heard them laughing. King Goldeagle responded, "Take your trainees with you. I want you to oversee this at the northern island. I will send the diamonds back with your half-brother Traxxa. You find this second enchanter."

Jazzia smiled, "I already have one in mind. She is with the other Academy. I will find out if she is capable. Request to steal Instructor, enchanter Golden Moon to work the other half of this enchantment. This is based on his re-engineering what they did all those years ago. Lady Staria reviewed his notes and the spells involved and could advise them on the order of things to try and get it right the first time."

He chuckled again, "Approved."

The crystal went dark. She looked at the instructor, "Hand me all of the research notes you need to take and I will store them. We can lay them out. You can go over everything with our enchantress."

He nodded and handed over the research while he gathered his belongings. They met out front and reappeared in Quatarsia. She rode over to the Academy with Gold Moon. She looked at the guy at the desk, "Who is the top enchanter teaching here?"

He sighed, "We have several why?"

Jazzia looked at him, "On a mission for the King. Is Instructor Vivia Full Moon one of them?"

He nodded, "Probably in the top two. I take it you need her here?"

She smiled, "Please. Tell her I have a monumental enchantment project for her to undertake."

He sighed and called her on a crystal. She came down. Jazzia looked at her, "You can cast tier nine spells? What about mythic spells?"

She sighed, "Yes I can. Mythics are harder to come by but I should be able to cast a couple if I found some. What did you need?"

Jazzia smiled. "You packed. A blank spellbook with lots of ink. Then you will be living in my house until we depart. Separate rooms of course. This is Instructor Golden Moon from the city Academy. He has been working on a project that requires two enchanters. You have been selected by me, which means the King, as he told me to find the second enchanter. See you at my house in an hour."

She groaned, "This better be good."

---

They headed to Jazzia's home. Vivia arrived an hour later. She left them to discuss the project while she got her trainees ready to travel. They left two days later. Two weeks after that the first shield for blocking the weather was installed and tested. It even kept the waves out of the harbors. At least greatly reduced them.

They spent another three months finishing the three islands with all of the enchantments. Followed by another three months doing both the elven Capital and Quatarsia with all of the surrounding villages. Silent Falls fell within the protection zone, as was 90% of the Fay lands patrolled by the Centaur protection force.

The controls were situated in the Duchy Keep. It took a month for Grand Falls, and six weeks for the Dwarven capital. They had to add additional wards underground to protect the teleportation access for them which is why it took longer and required even more resources the Dwarven King had to cough up and it only went down so far. It would help with the Royal secure shelter regardless.

Then they traveled back out to the allies in the Far East. They only set them up the ability to protect against the dust storm when it hit in those locations. It would protect them from the worst of the rough seas over their ports. They returned home after all of this travel just a few days left until Jazzia's 75th birthday.

The King summoned the four of them to the Palace. He Knighted Staria, Vivia, Instructor Gold Moon, and Jazzia for unlocking the ancient magic. For bringing the pieces together and working the plan. Also, for ensuring it worked for them and their allies. The successful completion fixed that stage of her concern as they worked to fly the Academy towers in her absence in Elven lands only.

---

Enemy spies kept track of their efforts and reported back their findings. The Lord of Bone was curious about how they were doing this but security was tight at every location. All security and enchanters were part of a small contingency that traveled together.

Word reached him that the one heading the security was a Champion and the daughter of the Paladin who took out the last dragon champion. She was not even an adult but she was a Blade Singer and a Sorcerer gestalt. The elven Gods had followed the Drow, orcish, dragon, and corrupted human gods in moving to gestalt champions.

He still worked to rebuild and gain the cooperation of the remaining chromatics from the back-to-back losses they had suffered with the champion and with Griffon's peak. His forces had started another series of 'necromancy items' to give his dragons longer lives and make them harder to detect in foreign lands.

All while he worked on alliances inside of each kingdom's territory while this champion was occupied with her feeble attempts to deal with saving people from the return. He wanted this champion to succeed, for now, it would save some food for his chromatics if the worst occurred.

It would also allow him the opportunity to spring his traps to capture the research they were working to protect some of his own assets. He wanted them to believe they were getting away with their efforts undetected while he planned to capitalize on these elven enchanters' efforts.

He knew enough from his spies that the shields would only last a short time after the enchanters' death. That made them a wasted effort in his eyes once he held those enchanters in his grasp. They did not have the draconic means to make them truly permanent, let alone the willingness to make the necessary sacrifices to properly seal them.

Home Again

The clapping died down and the King looked at Jazzia, "I have your cousin monitoring for when your wedding will be."

She smiled, "None of them have agreed to the idea as of yet. I proposed an idea a year ago but nothing more. Our traveling this last year meant I did not see very much of them. I am not listing names because I do not want to put any undue or royal influence into the mix, Your Majesty."

The crowd laughed and the King responded, "I know your family history of getting married on the night of the double crescent. The next one is a few days away on the day of your birth no less."

She smiled, "Another would be just a few days away with our lunar cycles so that is not a guaranteed date. But my birthday is also the day I will release two new Grand Masters and a new Master Trainer. By direction of the Gods, my days instructing will come to an end to prepare for the upcoming war."

The King nodded, "You have that person selected?"

She nodded, "I do. Provided he does not screw up royally in the next few days, Your Majesty."

The King chuckled, "Who have you selected?"

Jazzia smiled, "Cetarn Silvertree. My half-brother who is more gifted than my Aunt who wore the ring. Each Master trainer adds something to the training to make them better combatants. Master Trainer Yetto incorporated his skills from the Far East. My Great, Great, Grandfather added acrobatics, ambidexterity, riding, and tactics. My Aunt reinforced self-dedication to the craft and disarming techniques.

My contribution is tracking multiple hostiles. When I am focused, I will not get flanked. I have added that to my students' skills, Your Majesty. Now my brother will have to figure out what he will bring to improve upon the tradition. For those in the court who are not aware my turning over the Master Trainer ring was by divine direction, but they left me the choice of which of the three students deserved the ring.

The other two would not argue as to who the better of the three are. All are great Grand Masters. Soon. They will receive their rings the morning of the first, Your Majesty."

The King chuckled, "You petitioned for your three students to compete in the city Academy tournament. Which I granted, and they took the top three spots for the last fifteen years. Nobody is questioning your ability or your choice for the position. If they do, they should talk to me."

The audience chuckled as the King smiled.

Jazzia smiled, "I did that to prove a point. When I was named as the Master Trainer there were many on that council who disapproved of 'a child' being selected as the Master Trainer. By bringing my students in I showed them all that when the Gods want the ring on the hand of the Master Trainer it is not wise to challenge it. That those new Blade Singers will benefit from it. That it will be available to future generations that they train, Your Majesty."

Vivia Full Moon took this moment to embarrass her, "Your Majesty, the reason nobody has said yes is that she just proposed the idea of it. The husband in this arrangement, on the other hand, has not asked any of us as of yet."

The King chuckled as did the rest of the court. Jazzia sighed, "I will have to assemble them and see if he has given any thought over this in the last year of our world tour, Your Majesty."

The room laughed at her. "I would keep you apprised but I have no direct way of contacting you, Your Majesty."

The King nodded, "I learned my lesson with your father. If I ever want to get any sleep, I do not give a crystal to a champion."

The room erupted in laughter. He got up and handed her a silver crystal, "Take it through your brother Traxxa first. If you must contact me do so. I would be a fool to dismiss the advice of the appointed champion. You freed up Dame Staria to do her tasking for the other kingdoms. Allowed her to start on her other major project."

Jazzia nodded, "Yes, Your Majesty."

They bowed to the King and left the palace to head home. Vivia pulled up beside her, "Which of us did you approach first?"

Jazzia smiled, "You."

She smiled, "My being gone this last year did have my sister looking for companionship when she became an adult. She is in a strong relationship."

Jazzia nodded, "The Gods are seldom wrong and when they are it is usually, 'they are surprised by our actions.'"

Vivia chuckled and smiled, "Still waiting to be asked."

Jazzia smiled, "Same, but it would be hard for him to do until we are back!"

She laughed. She teleported them to Silent Falls as the shields were currently off. She looked around and smiled. She held her hand as their horses moved closer.

She looked into her eyes, "Dame Full Moon. I have stood by you this last year while you did your work. I had your back during this time. I would love to have us be there for each other in this life and into the next. Would you do me the honor of marrying me here on the evening of my seventy-fifth birthday? To be the caretaker of our children and those of any other wives. Provided we can get this stupid fool to actually ask us?"

She laughed, "I would love that. Yes, I think I would enjoy that very much. If they are interested."

She smiled and kissed her, "Let us check on our cleric and see if she wants to help us corner a certain dragon rider."

She smiled and laughed. Jazzia turned her horse and they rode to town. They stopped at the church and went inside. They found her just as she finished tending to a villager's injury. She looked at them and smiled.

She walked up to them, "If you are here about your proposal, I want to tell you a secret. I got assigned here when you were named Master Trainer and named as the champion. I have watched you with fascination and admiration for years. I would be honored to be a part of this arrangement."

The two of them shared a short but hot kiss. Then she kissed each of the two of them. Slow and soft. Vivia tried to suck Jazzia tongue out of her mouth this time. The two of them giggled at her.

Jazzia looked at them, "That leaves the three of us to corner Grandaxxa."

Wendia looked at her, "He should be at the training grounds. Your brother Traxxa got married to Rizzaxia two months ago."

Jazzia chuckled, "He did not tell me. We should go and see them."

She smiled and followed them out. They mounted up and she pulled Wendia up and behind her. They rode out to where Traxxa was overseeing training.

Jazzia rode up to him, "Got married I hear."

He looked at Jazzia and sighed, "I had been casually pursuing her for almost 10 years. She heard what you were looking to do with Grandaxxa and she finally told me to put up and marry her or she would look to join you, ladies."

Jazzia laughed, "Smart woman."

She came in for a landing and jumped off the silver she was riding. Lady Rachel was who she had been riding. She smiled at Jazzia, "Good to see you again. You have been away most of the last year."

Jazzia nodded, "I got a couple of weeks back here but I was training three and watching over security for two others. Getting the shields in place."

She nodded, "How did things go at the palace today?"

Jazzia smiled, "Lady Staria is now Dame Staria in the elven court. I was made a Dame for pulling it together and overseeing the security, as was Vivia here."

Vivia smiled, "She also provided some helpful advice. I think Golden Moon was going to be ill when he got knighted for his work. He hates being in court. His family is proud of him for getting out of that tower."

Jazzia chuckled, "He was not kicking and screaming but he was not happy about me pulling him to the other side of the world. Multiple times even."

Vivia went to hand the ring back.

Traxxa stopped her, "You may have a few more places to enchant yet. Let me know what the King says. When our children are born, they will be watched over by Majisa. We have three on the way. All divined to be half-gold dragons."

Jazzia nodded, "When is she coming out of the air?"

He looked at her and they stared at each other. Traxxa finally sighed, "Something to talk with the clerics about."

Wendia looked at him, "If she stays out of actual combat then twelve months. Else nine months. Be sure she has a feather fall item."

She sighed, "I have one. I had not thought about time out of the air."

Jazzia smiled, "Congratulations to you both."

Rizzaxia looked at Jazzia, "I was hoping to tell you myself. I applied what you did to Grandaxxa."

Jazzia smiled, "You married a Silvertree but I thought you were interested in women?"

She chuckled, "We are working on Yarla."

Jazzia smiled, "You must be the serious relationship she is pursuing."

Vivia looked at Jazzia, "Yes. She got attracted to Rizzaxia. She is warming up to your brother."

Jazzia nodded and looked at Traxxa, "We still need Grandaxxa to ask us."

She laughed, "He made It sound like it was a done deal. I will go and get him."

Jazzia shook her head, "Leave it to him to think he does not have to ask."

The ladies giggled. Five minutes later and he came in for a landing on lady Charlemange. Jazzia looked at him, "Nothing is a done deal until you go through the formality of asking."

He looked shocked, "I thought we had an agreement already?"

Jazzia smiled, "The three of us came to an agreement a few minutes ago. I proposed an idea. I even told you this and told Staria this, it was an idea and not a proposal. It was just to get people thinking about the idea. You have not asked any of us. Get saddled up and meet me back at my home."