Silvertree Chronicles Bk. 06

He smiled, "Good I thought I ruined my chances."

She laughed at him. He pulled a wand and healed everyone back to full health including himself and her. We went through the keep and found the remains of many who were eaten in part or whole. They got to the dungeons and found two royals. A boy and a man. Serius looked at the Guards, "His crime?"

He smiled, "Sex with children and farm animals."

Serius looked at the boy. "His?"

He shook his head, "Too young to rule. He has another two years."

Serius looked at him, "Was he stripped of the title?"

He nodded, "Months ago."

Serius nodded. "Put him back in the cell and bring the boy. Take us back up and find us your books on the laws. Were they done by the same means as Grand Falls?"

He looked at Serius, "What is Grand Falls."

Serius sighed, "Any other Dukes?"

He nodded, "A couple including a brother of the Queen. The other is a Duchess of the dead King. The Queen held the title."

Serius nodded, "Get Duke Rosenthrawl then."

He looked at the Solar, "Why did the fiend's body not go into the ring?"

She shook her head, "Too powerful a being. It returned to its plane. Tieflings were born here."

He nodded and headed back upstairs and waited. An hour later and riders came barreling into the square.

A younger man came in with a sword drawn and saw everyone sitting around with all of the dead Tieflings. Serius looked at him, "Duke Rosenthrawl I assume?"

He nodded. Serius shook his head, "No your Queen was killed, probably some time ago. Your Guard Captain has a set of glasses as do three of the paladins. Would the two junior members of the paladins give the new King to be those glasses? It will take months to clean this place up."

One of them gave him a set which he put on.

He slid the ring on with his dead sister and took it off. "Chromatic dragons and necromancers love these rings. Traps the body for use while storing the spirit or soul in the ring. She is dead. I know the means to purify the rings. I am Knight Champion Serius Silvertree. The 'men' you are seeing are dragons and the tall woman you are seeing is a Solar. She helped to beat down the fiend that wore your sister like a wizard's robe. We killed the Tieflings here.

They found one at the paladin order which was put down quickly. They used a non-detection item. You noticed I have not called you your Grace or anything. I am the heir to my own title to be a Duke in a few years when I am of age to claim it. Your nephew is not old enough to rule so it falls to you.

I do not know if he will be eligible to rule when he gets old enough or how it works for your kingdom. That is a human matter. We encountered a Tiefling in the elven kingdom. With the cold and distant messages, we thought it would be best to investigate here."

Duke Rosenthrawl nodded, "He would rule when he becomes of age. I will look after him and continue his education."

Serius nodded. He pulled out a crystal, "Your Majesties, a Duke Rosenthrawl, the Queen's younger brother is here. He would be the one ruling until the boy we recovered is old enough to rule."

Serius heard the Queen Goldeagle sigh, "Thank you, champion, for finding someone. I will send a delegation there in the morning."

He heard Majisa respond back, "I sent 12 dragons there. They will stay with the two who escorted the champion out and help to provide security until we are certain the infestation is gone for you."

The new King nodded, "It would be appreciated. I will send for the head of the army and his top officers. They can see if we have any more problems."

Serius looked back and the Solar was gone again. He smiled and thought, "She still owes me one."

He heard the lady laughing. He got up and shook hands with Duke Rosenthrawl, "I think I illustrated just how important the alliance is for you, your Grace. I hope you will keep to the terms of the alliance. It has helped us all to work together."

He nodded, "Thank you."

Serius looked around, "You might consider having one of the silver dragons who came in with me go with your men and a couple of others to ensure your own home has not been infiltrated as well."

He nodded, "Good idea. They can travel back with me and be my guest at my home this evening."

Serius nodded. "I am traveling back myself."

He looked at Serius, "Is it safe?"

Serius's uncles giggled and Serius nodded, "I have evaded dragons when I chose too. That is why they are laughing."

He went outside and got up on Regin. Serius teleported them to the Fort Ash side of the shield. They rode inside and teleported them both to the fourth floor. He opened the portal and went inside. "Seal portal no entry or exit except to Moon Blade holders."

Serius led him back to the falls. He stripped down and went for a swim. He came out and checked both caves to be sure nothing was there. Serius went and pulled up food for both of them and brought it back. Serius pulled the cleaned blankets and checked all of the rooms. He went back by the falls and locked himself inside with crystals. He looked at Regin, "Just us, my friend."

Serius took the blankets and put them back behind the falls.

Serius jumped inside. "I will get some rest then we will eat again and decide what we are going to do."

He slept well for a change. No looming issues and no interruptions. He studied up his spells and prayed for the others. He was recharged and went and unsealed the doors. Duke Strong Oak about fell in when the door gave way. Serius sighed, "Need something?"

He smiled, "I got a report of a horse being heard in the inn last night. I came in and did not find you here. Yet the falls were locked off."

He nodded and finished getting dressed. "Was keeping a low profile."

He chuckled, "By bringing your horse up here?"

Serius smiled, "I teleported up here and nobody in town saw me. I left the door open for Moon Blade holders."

He nodded, "Explains why it opened for me."

He smiled, "In case you wanted something besides watching me get dressed." Serius put his armor on and packed up his gear and got his horse ready.

They stopped at the table and ate. The Duke chuckled as he watched the horse ate from the table. He looked at him, "Anyone knows that I am here?"

He shook his head, "Not that I know of. How did your trip go?"

Serius shook his head and groaned, "Worse than the capital."

He groaned, "Really?"

Serius nodded, "Fourteen dragons stayed behind. Nobody on our side died. I did a lot of healing. Tieflings were fucking everywhere. I killed at least 30 of the fuckers. The Solar came. I helped to distract the demonic devil or whatever in the hells it was. After I healed her up. I am sure that pissed that fucker off just as much."

Serius walked down and looked at the image of the hole on the map. He sighed, "Still a long way from being full." He nodded, "I have a few clerics casting storms over the area after seeing what you did. This section further north. Then hit them with earthquakes."

He nodded, "I see. There looks to be a good thirty-foot drop across this area in a half-moon shape."

He nodded, "Forty feet. No drop within that center section. Serius nodded, "Support column. Should see about getting the dwarves to drop explosives on it."

He looked at Serius, "Why?"

Serius smiled. "Would cause this whole section to drop and any drow trying to get to the surface would be killed."

Duke Strong Oak nodded, "I will talk with the Queen about that idea when I go to the Capital today."

Serius walked up and hit him with delay poison. The Duke looked at him, "What did you do?"

Serius smiled, "Delay poison. Knowing my luck and you being up here for who knows how long, some might be waiting."

He chuckled, opened the portal, and stepped out. Serius followed him out. "Seal portal." The Duke moved back and Serius teleported them to the east side of the shield. He rode through and then teleported them to Dragon lands. He looked at the Dragon standing there, "Do I even need to tell you to let Majisa know I am here. Where is my patient?"

He opened the portal and Serius went inside.

Serius checked the room and he was not inside. Serius looked over, "Where is my patient?"

The dragon pointed toward the back, "Would you let him know I am here to check on his progress."

He nodded but said nothing. Serius's uncle came over and his arm had finished. A little paler. Serius looked at him, "You should switch forms and even out that coloring."

He chuckled and nodded, "I will do that."

Serius stepped outside as Majisa arrived. She changed forms and hugged him.

She looked at him, "They had another fight at the Duke's estate. One of the copper dragons died in the exchange and two of the paladins."

Serius sighed, "Who was the infiltrator?"

She looked at Serius, "His wife. The man is a wreck."

Serius nodded, "Anyone checking dwarven lands. They are using these rings. Want to ensure the forge is secured."

She nodded, "Your uncle thought the same and went yesterday with a small group. The forge is secured but they did find three Tieflings.

All killed off in another part of the city. Your Queen is sending another thirty sets of glasses to each of the other two kingdoms. She is also having herself enchanted after the whole Solar issue."

Serius chuckled, "She really helped yesterday. I still have no idea what the creature was. Both looked different and both looked like some kind of twisted hybrid."

She nodded, "They will not be ready for you today after yesterday. Where will you be?"

He pointed. "Shelter 2 right up there."

She nodded, "Nearby but not underfoot."

Serius chuckled, "Easy for me to get squished that way if I stayed underfoot."

She chuckled, "Why not go home?"

He smiled, "Too many hunting me now that they know I am out there. Better to sleep in a different spot every night."

She nodded, "Alright." He went up to the shelter and opened the door and took them inside.

---

He spent that night and several nights over the next 3 years going from shelter to shelter. Staying away from elven lands. The Queen wanted him to come back at one point but he talked her out of it. It was a week after his 75th birthday and he was in the new Knights headquarters underground and alone. He decided to spend the night here for once. He was in a small building when Varus'Nor alerted, "Danger."

Serius rolled under his horse willed his armor on, dropped the blocker, and teleported them to the border of the Elven Capital. He saddled up his horse and rode inside the gate and teleported to House Silvertree. They had a new guard on-duty. Serius looked at him, "Open the entrance to the house."

He looked at Serius, "I cannot do that without permission."

Serius handed him his tube and he looked at it and handed it back, "I still need permission."

Serius looked at him and pulled out a crystal, "Your Majesties, "You awake?"

Serius heard a voice, "I am answering her crystal."

Serius smiled, "Please inform Queen Majisa there is a Violet alert at the headquarters. This cannot wait. I am back at House Silvertree."

The other crystal was another elf, "The Queen has retired for the evening."

Serius sighed, "Would you please wake her. Tell her it is Duke Silvertree and I have a guard here who will not let me into my own estate."

He looked at Serius wide-eyed, "Your papers said, Knight."

He nodded, "Until last week. I have been traveling. I inherited the title."

He got on a crystal and the doors were opened. Serius looked at the one crystal and let it go dark. He rode inside. He stuck a hand and opened the portal, "Deactivate security wall." He rode inside.

Security wall up he rode back to the falls and dismounted. Serius brushed down Regin some and looked at him, "After I see the Queen in the morning, I will take you back to Quatarsia to retire you to pasture. You have been a great friend to me these last 3 years. They have been hard on us both."

Regin brushed his head against him. Serius ordered him up food. He went to his room and got out of his armor and got some sleep. He awoke several hours later and got dressed and went downstairs to the shock of his mother Brima and Zirra who went to mug him.

Serius held them to him. Zirra looked at him, "When did you get back?"

He smiled, "When the new headquarters got invaded and Varus'Nor alerted. I rolled under Regin willed on my armor and teleported us outside the capital. Got his tack on then had to pull teeth on the guard out front to let me inside."

She nodded, "We have lost a few guards to attacks over the last couple of years. House Gold Sword relatives and friends."

He nodded, "Great. Let me see the house books and I will get going to the palace."

Zirra went to get the books and Brima looked at Serius, "Having them sent to dragon territory for the last 3 years was a bit much."

He nodded, "It was not required for me to review them yet. It was something you wanted to draw me home. But I reached my 75th birthday."

Serius went over them and shook his head, "Five out of twelve signed off?"

She nodded, "Yes. They all decided to form a new house. House Silver Spell." He nodded, and looked, "Two of the four eldest called out as potential wielders."

She nodded, "They were not interested in all of the danger you were constantly under. They figured it was safer being a new house."

He nodded, "I respect them for that at least. They know their own hearts."

She nodded. He finished reviewing them and handed them back. She shook her head, "You are old enough to take care of it."

He smiled, "I am not here to watch over it. If I have to keep moving for this job, I will need one of you to continue the day-to-day. At least until all of my younger siblings have signed off or stayed on."

He went and got his horse ready and those 2 decided to join him. As well as 10 younger siblings. They opened the portal. They all stepped out with horses and they got into two groups and nodded to the guard.

He looked at Serius, "Welcome back."

Serius nodded, "Day to claim the title for the house."

He nodded, "Well it has been a long road for you."

He teleported them out and Brima brought the second group. They rode through the palace district.

Serius pulled out a crystal, "Queen Majisa?"

Serius heard her respond back, "Yes. How are you this morning?"

He sighed, "Did you get my message from last night?"

She groaned, "No."

Serius groaned back at her, "I called in a Violet alert at the new headquarters."

She cursed in draconic, "I will have it checked out led by the ass of a son of mine who did not contact me! I will inform him if this crystal goes off again, he better act right away! Else he is going to be pulling it from his own ass."

Serius let the crystal go dark. One of his younger brothers asked, "New headquarters, Violet alert?"

He smiled, "Not yet little brother. Ask me again when you are an adult."

They stopped in front of the palace and walked inside. The Queen looked over and stood. Everyone looked back as he approached. She smiled and waved him forward.

Serius stepped to the line and bowed, "Hello again, Your Majesty."

She smiled, "A guard woke me last night telling me you were back."

Serius nodded, "Yes, one of the guards wanted someone to give him the authorization to let me into my own home, Your Majesty." He heard chuckling. "I have other matters to discuss with you as well. I just finished speaking with Queen Majisa."

She nodded, "Let us get this over with then. Take a knee again please."

He took a knee and she sighed, "Finally Duke Silvertree, also another medal of heroism that you have put off in receiving for 3 years with the attack on the palace. Also, another from the human kingdom for your efforts in finding the issues there. Please stand."

Serius stood up to a lot of clapping. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him, "Welcome back."

Serius smiled at her. She looked at him, "You still managed to grow some more. Especially around the shoulders and a couple more inches in height."

He nodded, "Yes, your Majesty. Eating on the run has kept me trim as well."

She chuckled, "Meet me in the war room. I have a few matters to attend to."

Serius bowed to her and stepped back and walked over to his mother and Zirra who hugged him again. They all went upstairs to the fourth floor. A page stopped him and handed him a tube. "She has had it ready for months, Duke Silvertree."

He nodded and took it. He went into the conference room. A crystal buzzed and he took it out, "Yes, your Majesty,"

She sighed, "Was told all of the structures were destroyed. Whomever it was, they were pissed you escaped. They found your crystals for locking things down shattered. They estimate they sent at least 100 in there. Tracks looked to be booted. Not dragon or fiendish unless they happened to have worn boots. I have them tracking because they came in on foot."

Serius shook his head, "I had scrying blocking on. They should not have found me unless they have been watching. Of course, I had only been there for about 30 minutes or so. Your assets would have caught them then. If you had been altered."

She sighed, "Yes most likely. Just a moment."

She was gone for more than a moment, "They may not have known it was you. They found an orc and ogre war band. They are bringing the intelligence in now. I will have them backtrack as well. Contact me later. I will let you know what they have found out." Thirty minutes later and the Queen walked through the doors. They closed and she hugged him again. The ladies laughed.

She sighed, "I was nearly livid when you did not want to come back sooner. Speak freely."

Serius smiled, "I wanted you to have your nobles do something before I was on that line again. Your words."

She nodded, "I got 27 who made efforts. Another 100 I had their patrons conscripted into the army as privates to work their way up the ranks!"

His crystal went off again. Serius pulled it out, "Yes Majisa, I am here with the Queen." She sighed, "It was no coincidence. One of the ones they took out exploded. Killed a dragon in the process. An orc hybrid they said. They found it when they backtracked. A Magi tried to flee but got cut down by the shock wave."

He sighed, "We need to know which path they took so we can plot it in the war room. It is dangerous for them to be that close to dragon lands without having been picked up sooner."

He heard her sigh, "You are right."

Serius walked back and opened the door, "Brima and your Majesty." They followed him in, "Seal portal. I called a violet alert. I was at the new base last night when my sword alerted." He moved the map around and pointed. "The new base was roughly there."

Queen Goldeagle looked at it, "That is almost inside the shield of dragon lands!"

He nodded, "Far out of the way of their 'normal path' into elven lands. Meaning they were tracking me somehow but came in on foot. Majisa is fit to be tied because that is like the seventh time, she has not gotten my messages.

That was a violet alert which they should have woken her for. With that base destroyed we should be moving here but with the manner of the attack that is questionable now. We need to know the direction. I have been to that site only once. If they have been monitoring my movement on the outer lands then that is a problem."

The Queen nodded and Serius looked over, "Open portal." They stepped out and she did not look happy. Serius opened his crystal to Majisa, "Majisa, I have to ask. Did they come from the direction of the alternate site?"

She sighed, "I am looking over what they have and...yes. It looks like it. I will send a few dragons to explore that location as well. Anything else?"

Serius nodded, "Yes, I have used shelters one through eleven on different nights.