Silvertree Chronicles Bk. 04

Jazzia nodded, "They are using a new ring. Use detect magic and look for a necromancy aura on them. You should dispatch immediately if your King is so inclined. Vivia should check him for runes as well."

The King nodded and he stripped down and she found two on him. And removed them. The King chuckled, "Well that seals it for me. You see a champion then it must be true. I had to confirm as my second eldest 'found' him."

Jazzia nodded, "His second eldest was in league with a Draco-lich. One who is working with the orcs and the drow."

The other champion did not look amused. He sighed, "My fight is supposed to be here with the drow when the war comes."

Jazzia nodded, "Until then you want to be vigilant for these new rings. I am a Master Trainer Blade Singer and Draconic sorceress, but my father was a paladin who died taking out a Dragon champion on the other side of the world. What do you wear for a necklace?"

He looked at her, "My holy symbol."

Jazzia nodded, "Get a poison immunity with mild constitution boost and wear it. See if it merges with your symbol as mine did."

He looked at her and she pulled off the top of her armor and shirt. He gawked at her as she stood there bare-breasted. She got dressed. He looked, "What will that do?"

She smiled, "My father was able to deliver delay poison by touch. If your abilities work the same then it would help you with the drow and the men you lead."

He nodded, "That it might. I will pray on this idea."

Jazzia looked at him, "Your order chaste?"

He nodded. She sighed, "Make it strength then instead of the constitution. Else you will want to fuck like mad but be unable to follow through."

The dwarven King laughed at them.

Jazzia looked at him, "My father had 4 wives. For a mild constitution boost. Mine has a strength and dexterity boost as well." He looked at me, "You have multiple mates?"

Jazzia chuckled, "None yet. I will be an adult in a few days. I have two ladies lined up at the moment. The two with me in fact. Also, a male half-dragon Dragon Rider."

The King chuckled and the paladin was beside himself. Jazzia looked at him, "You talk with your God and if they have a thought on the matter that you are allowed to share, I will help to try and get it for you."

He nodded, "You sure it will work on other race champions?"

Jazzia shrugged, "It worked on two orc champions, a drow champion, and the shadow dragon champion my father killed. A champion with a holy symbol and a magical necklace will merge with that symbol. They are extremely explosive so if you go against another champion have some distance. Get your men cleared.

It took down a mile radius of trees with my great grandfather fought the first orc champion. My father had fewer issues because of learning from that encounter. Your Majesty, we hate to kill and run, but I would like to get back to town this evening if you would let us depart."

He nodded to his man. She pulled a scroll and took them back and it dropped them at the end of the pastures. She thought, "Herd, please let our horses know we could use a ride home."

They started walking. About ten minutes later their horses arrived.

She mounted up and looked at them, "I requested our horses."

Amy chuckled and they doubled up with the three of them and took them to the inn and stabled the horses.

She smiled at the two ladies, "There are rooms in my home for you to stay in."

Jazzia stopped at the Keep on the way out. She looked at the guard on duty, "Would you let my cousin the Duchess know we are back and headed for home."

He nodded. Wendia looked at her, "I will be at the church filing my report and spending the night there. I know we have a couple of days before your birthday."

Jazzia smiled, "Hopefully we can go shopping tomorrow."

She nodded, "I would like that."

Vivia looked at her, "I was thinking of heading back to the tower."

Jazzia shook her head, "You are being hunted. Come with me and I will explain."

She followed her inside and she saw Melia.

She looked at her and waved her over so they could all sit down and eat. She went over the day's events. Melia looked at Jazzia, "Your father burned himself out at times. Take a couple of days and let the others work some of these issues."

Jazzia nodded and got Vivia a room as she was upset by what happened at the other tower. She went to bed and crashed on the bed and was out. For only the second time the goddess was in her dreams.

She looked at Jazzia, "Do not kneel. Just sit with me."

Jazzia sat down and the Lady of Dreams sighed, "You are upset."

Jazzia nodded, "I was supposed to be finding caretaker wives who would be out of harm's way. Vivia is right in the middle of it. I do not know what these other God's champions are doing. You would hope they are guiding them to this dragon presence in their own fucking lands.

I have a theory on why we do not know who the other elven champion is yet. Because you do not want them knowing. They would be just as big of a target as I would be. That and you expect this war to go on for quite some time."

She looked at Jazzia, "Your efforts to protect the people and your allies have frustrated the enemy. You did this sooner than expected and you are right they will be watching for you. The second is keeping a lower profile. Something your family has never done.

It will go longer but we hope it will not go on for a century. It would devastate the population if it went that long. Twenty years could cause major damage. You have the rings for the wedding already."

Jazzia looked at her, "I am dismissed a lot because of my age. Even by my own King. Especially by my own King!"

She sighed and nodded, "My husband has noticed the same thing. He will be talking to him in his sleep this evening. Your brother in charge of the dragon riders is one thing. You should be taking charge of the Shadow Riders. Your father even requested it in his will, he willed the charter to you. It is your by eleven law once you are an adult. They will be traveling as your father did.

Your safeguarding of the forge was well thought out. Saving the Dwarven King was unexpected. We thought the other champion would have taken care of that or corrected it. Your advice was sound but unwelcome I am sure. It might be accepted but you will have to wait and see."

Jazzia looked at her, "If my first front is with the dragons and my second is someplace else, will the shadow riders not be needed on the first front?"

She smiled, "If you do well then no. That part will be over quickly. You will be hunting those that get away from the fight initially, which could take years. Your 'wars' will be all over the world. You will be doing what the Knights should be doing. They will be incapable. I did not say unwilling, just incapable.

They will get recalled to help on the ground locally; except for those with the navy. You helped to secure them for now. They will likely face challenges with the changes in the world. You may be involved in some of that; but not immediately. You will get married and have your two sets of children and train the Shadow Riders.

The measures and issues you found should be enough for a while. If they follow through. That is what my husband is working to address. The King was tested during your father's time. He will be again but this time he will be getting more direct guidance in regards to you."

Jazzia sighed, "Great one more thing about me that bothers the King."

She chuckled, "There is some truth to that. You are not the diplomat or full-bore warrior of your father. You are more like your grandfather and great-grandfather. This does not mean you will not find opportunities to excel with diplomacy. There will be fewer opportunities. The human girl is nice but she turned him down. Another may show eventually."

Jazzia looked at her, "To the best of my knowledge you have never given advice on a particular mate. Why this time?"

She looked at Jazzia, "Because we do not see her living until the start of the war. She is very impulsive and that will likely get her killed. She would have died if you had not intervened. That and your mount."

Jazzia sighed, "Understood. Time for me to take up a less noticeable stance."

She chuckled, "Hardly. You will be challenged during this time."

Jazzia looked at her, "I suspect the other champion is Dusk Moon. Him having five wives."

She looked at Jazzia, "You will not be able to articulate that fact to anyone! You are correct. You can let the King know you know who the second champion is but you are not allowed to reveal him, not yet."

---

King Goldeagle found himself in an unfamiliar environment. Everything was white. Except for the God Corellon who stood a short distance away. King Goldeneagle took a knee. Corellon sighed, "Stand, please. A year ago my champion told you I would be testing you again. This time after your mother's passing as you lost her as an advisor.

In that time you have been dismissive of her, sending her away while discussions are occurring that she could have made her insights known to questions raised. It has not hurt you yet, but it will if you continue this effort. Eventually, she will lead the attack on the Dragon front.

As it stands right now you need to remember, you are required to follow elven law. Traxxa does not own the charter to the Shadow Riders. Jazzia does as soon as she comes of age. It was willed to her, and she needs to train them with her ideas to make them effective.

Traxxa cannot do that, he is a hero and son of the champion, but he is not the elven champion on the field. He is not as invested in the Elven Warhorses as Jazzia will be. She will prove herself and when she does you will need to reverse the roles they hold.

He will be reporting to his younger sister. She has a head full of ideas and you have been working to be dismissive of her because of her age. Every time we do this with one who is not an adult we have had to retrain royalty into listening to what is being said and stop looking at the age of the one saying it. Fresh ideas come from fresh minds."

King Goldeagle looked at him, "I will endeavor to be more open-minded, but she is not like the Knight Paladin."

Corellon nodded, "She does not have a cock and she does not charge into battle without assessing everything around her. She will work tactical strategies that will aid your armies and, your contingencies for your troops, laying out the chessboard if you will, to see where pieces will need to be located.

Kings and Queens will have to get those pieces in place. You will have to be open to listening to her. She will challenge you in other ways, but she is well suited for what is to come. I chose her personally and she knows this as she challenged the Lady of Dreams on her being her father's choice.

She can see the traps and pitfalls. She can see the defensive solutions you need and the holes that remain. She has advised you knowing, that in most cases you are merely tolerating her because of her age. She will be an adult in days and you need to be treating her as one now instead of downplaying her concerns.

She has worked your defenses and got the right talent to get you the shields to survive the dust storms, but the damage coming ...that may not be enough. Free her to work as she needs to. Work to support her. You have your armies to control and she will build you and your allies what they will need.

She is not causing the ripples her father had caused but that ended in a much shorter life for him, yet he did so much. Much is unknown about this return, even to us and the other Gods, good and bad.

She will assess the plan for after the return that will dictate the direction things proceed. She will give you the strategies, it is up to you to decide if those pieces will be in place. If her ideas make sense to you. You are being tested in being able to take advice from my champion."

The King woke and contacted the Duchess Silvertree. "Can you get yourself, Traxxa, and Jazzia to the palace as soon as they are ready for the day. I know they both likely have to get spells ready. Shoot for 2 hours from now."

She responded, "I will take care of that, Your Majesty."

---

Jazzia awoke refreshed but being shaken awake by her cousin the Duchesses. Jazzia looked at her. She sighed, "They want us at the palace."

Jazzia nodded, "I need to prepare spells first. Two rooms down you will find Vivia and she needs to do the same. I will also need Wendia from the church ready to go. Those two will be by my side for the next couple of days until we marry Grandaxxa."

She sighed and nodded, "I will get them going. Meet you out front."

Jazzia added a few more teleport and teleport circles to her list. Then a couple of shelter spells. She opened the door and knocked on her brother's door next door. She looked at him, "Repeat of yesterday except you are the only one taking on the other two with real blades."

He looked at her, "Normally that is something you would do."

Jazzia nodded, "But if I am to turn this Master Trainer ring over to you in two days then you need the practice."

He smiled and went to prepare his spells. Melia stopped her on the way out, "I set your account to be released to you today. You can take care of your purchases without me being there."

Jazzia kissed Melia on the cheek, "Thank you. Are my sisters looking to get married?"

She smiled, Visha is but Sisha found out she is the first known Silvertree to be infertile on this branch. She does not care as she enjoys the company of women only. She is one of the Shadow riders as you know in a Black unit."

Jazzia smiled, "I had not seen her training but I have not been around much. She has our father's bow so that should help. She is in the wrong unit though. A blue, white, or green unit would be better given that bow. Is Visha getting married at the falls?"

Melia shook her head, "In the church. The morning of your ring ceremony for your half-brother."

They left the building and gathered. The Duchess looked at Jazzia, "They are lowering the shields for us."

Jazzia nodded. They got to the conference room and she started taking off her gear. The King looked at her, "What are you doing?"

Jazzia looked at him, "We have all slept and we have not found those who are placing draconic runes onto us. As such we should begin the day getting checked. Then marking which locations were used for sleep, Your Majesty."

The King nodded. They found marks on Wendia and the King. They got dressed. Jazzia looked at him, "My apologies, Your Majesty but it was a precaution."

He nodded, "I will have to have my palace searched from top to bottom."

Jazzia looked at him, "I would suggest using your secure shelter and locking out everyone except your wife and personal guards once they have been cleared. They can monitor your crystals and alert you if needed."

He nodded, "I will have to do something like that. The secure shelter would be more advantageous in that regard."

Traxxa arrived and King Goldeagle looked at him. "I received some divine direction last night. The Shadow Riders should move under your sister. They will be her unit going forward for the work the Gods task her with. There was a line in your father's will concerning that as well. I did not take that as 'divine direction' at the time, but now I see that it was exactly that. It is also in compliance with elven law as well when she becomes an adult here in days. The dragons being the first task for her unit."

Jazzia nodded to the King, "I was contacted last night as well. I expressed my concerns about pulling them away from the homeland in the future. I was told that if all goes well the issue with the dragon's main battle will not last long. That means me training the Shadow Riders to be more than bait for the dragons. Those losses were way too high, there are better ways to use them."

The King nodded, "You will be the Commander of the Shadow Rider reporting to your brother for the dragon war aspect for now."

Jazzia nodded, "We will have to come to an agreement then on how we use the Shadow Riders then."

Traxxa nodded, "We will work with you on this new approach. I will incorporate your ideas."

Jazzia looked to the King, "I will be getting married on the first. After an evening meal with these two ladies at Silent Falls to Grandaxxa. My cousin the Duchess can get you an exact time. Also, ensure security if you plan to attend. One other message from the Lady of Dreams. I guessed who the second champion is but I am not allowed to reveal him. Other than the fact it is a 'him.'"

The King chuckled, "Your observations are confounding the Gods it seems."

Jazzia smiled, "I absorb all that comes in. I look at the pieces and try and make them whole. My father was a revealer of secrets but I am more tactical. I try to reveal their strategies and alliances. The contingencies that we need to consider. I can put most of that forward, but it is up to Kings and Queens to get into place. Some I might tackle if I find the right solution to the problem in the meantime."

The King nodded. Then he smiled, "Now I better understand the Corellon's directions. You will assume command officially on the first. The unit was to become yours on your 75th birthday, but you can start training them immediately.

I will also set them up as another cross-border mercenary group as I did for your father. This time it will have a size of 300 and you will have no borders to cover. I will work on the details. Thank you for your insight."

Jazzia smiled, "We have some shopping to do if there was nothing else, Your Majesty?"

He smiled, "Take care of your business and I will get the Countess here to work on clearing this castle and trying to locate the source. They bowed to him before leaving the room and walking outside of the palace. They teleported to the enchanter's shop. She cast detect magic before going inside.

The sales lady was safe in that aspect. She walked in and looked around. She smiled at Jazzia, "How can I help you Champion?"

Jazzia smiled, "I need full plate armor, bracers, and a clerical shield for Corellon Larethian all highest enchantment. Silverbar cloak for the enchantress bride, highest enchantment. Also, my sash and new armor should be ready for pickup."

She nodded, "Anything else?"

Jazzia smiled, "Ten more sets of manacles that suppress magical ability. Then four-hundred wands with dimension door. A ring with elemental resistance fire, as high as you can get it and resistance. Along with 3 necklaces of proof against poison. Also, this." She gave her a list of bracers with a magus spell in it for weapon wand to be incorporated into bracers. Half on high-end armored bracers. One slot in each bracer. She looked at that, "Those will be expensive."

Jazzia nodded, "I can contact my cousin the Duchess to get the discount applied. I want the Shadow Riders' design on them. They are unit assets."

She shook her head, "We already have the discount on file from Melia. They will still take some time. The wands we can get quicker but 400 of them is a lot. On high-end bracers as well for half of those 300 bracers?!"

Jazzia nodded, "I know." She looked at Jazzia, "The armor and bracers for today. No design?"

Jazzia sighed, "That would be Grandaxxa's call."

She saw Vivia pull out a crystal and contact Grandaxxa.

She walked over, "He does not have the funds for what you are doing but he does not object to house Silverbar being on the gear."

Jazzia nodded, "You heard her. I am retaining my house because of the sword. Add House Silverbar to the designs."

She nodded. "I can have those items sent to the Duchess for you. You can take 2 poison immunity with you. Two of the necklaces we will have to create another for you. Along with the rest of this gear"