Silvertree Chronicles Bk. 07

Charlus stood and Corellon looked at Charlus, "If they press the matter then go to the Queen. With him, your sister, along with the other mothers. Let him claim the sword. It will kill him. You are right, his mind is filled with hatred. Afterward, claim the sword. IF it comes to this."

Charlus nodded, "When. I am unable to get him to comply or admit to anything. I cannot even get the mothers and grandmother to see the truth of the matter and the Queen knows who did the investigation, not me. I just asked for it, because of the will. Unless I bring in a psion and then my Sister will be known."

Corellon Larethian looked at Charlus, "You know what action to take. A psion is out of the question. You are being awoken."

Charlus sat up to a knock at his door. He opened it and it was his sister Ginnar. She looked at him, "They really want you to take those off."

He sighed, "Tell them if they insist, we will address it in the morning with the Queen, him, you, and me. Along with the 2 mothers and grandmother Zirra. Not before. Keep a set of magic suppressing manacles ready. Correction 2 sets.

1 for him and 1 for me. Then be ready to tell the Queen who you are. As either, he will be coming home in the portable-hole or I will be. You want to take a guess as to who that is likely to be?"

She sighed, "I heard he attacked you but really?"

Charlus looked at her, "He also invested in a business, investigated by the head of the Queen's Diplomatic Service at my request. The Queen gave me his paperwork to start a new house but he refuses to listen or believe me.

If he is free from corruption the sword will select him when he draws it. That is not the case. I will be forced to claim the blade tomorrow ahead of schedule. I have divine direction in this matter. He is forcing the sword selection to begin early.

I am assuming that our father's spirit agreed to this along with grandfathers. I was told if they kept insisting then take it to the Queen in the morning. Do not tell them what the plan is for tomorrow. Just be ready. You have a wall of force and I have a teleport blocker to keep Kora, Zirra, and my mother protected."

She nodded, "I have the spell, it is good against flying dragons."

He stepped back and closed the door and sealed it. He slept.

---

Queen Goldeagle found herself at the falls. The last time she had been here was to watch over Serius's wedding in this area. Soon after he died to keep the fiends from attacking further. She took a knee as the Lady of Dreams appeared.

The Lady of Dreams sighed, "Stand, please. Unforeseen events have come into play. Champions and those around them can cause this at times. Tomorrow it is highly like Charlus will contact you about claiming the sword early. This must be allowed to play out.

Serions is likely to die from this unless he changes his mind. We see only a very small chance of that happening. The family will inform you of the status of the champion early as Charlus will have the blade in hand. Recognize the new champion immediately following this.

This was not what his father wanted but the situation demands a resolution and he has agreed there is no other choice as it would happen in the future if Serions became Duke. Serions would move to disown Charlus from the family.

Then try to take the blade at that point, and potentially make a play for the trust. Likely in that order. Even though he does not have the phrase to get access to the sword, the wills verbiage leaves that option open for someone to attempt it at great risk.

Both would be a nightmare scenario depending on which he pursued first. The blade belongs in Charlus's hands. He will need it for the shelters and many other things. While the champion will lead your armies when out of training."

The Queen sighed, "I will comply of course."

The Queen awoke and got everything ready for the potential showdown within the Silvertree family. She hated it when a blade ended up in the hands of a child. She had to adjust to that possibility.

---

Charlus awoke, and prayed, 'I hope he will see reason.' He studied up his spells and dressed. He wrote a quick will. He walked out to see them at the table already.

He looked across at them, "Did you sign the paperwork?"

He shook his head, "I tore it up, you fuck!"

Charlus nodded, "Zirra, Mothers, Ginnar, and brother with me."

He walked to the door and stopped, "You want to grab a portable hole Zirra."

She went into the library and grabbed a portable hole. They stepped outside and he teleported them to the gate of the palace district as Serions kept his cloak closed. He pulled a crystal, "Your Majesty, I know it is early but could you bring my father's will, the sword, and another copy of that paperwork to the War Room?"

He heard her sigh, "Understood."

He teleported them into the War Room.

He stripped off rings and weapons. He set them to the side. "Sister check me for weapons and then him."

She did so. Charlus watched as she pulled a dozen daggers off of him.

Charlus took his bracers off and set his cloak and bags down with them. Charlus looked at him, "Take his bracers as well, they likely have wands in them."

She took them off and set them to the side along with his cloak. He looked at her, "Put those manacles on him so I can remove my set. She did it. He threw them down with his gear.

Charlus looked at her, "Manacles on me."

She did so. He pulled out his will and handed it to his mother. Charlus looked at him, "My will, I leave everything to you, my brother."

He looked shocked, "Really?"

He pointed and Gia opened it and nodded as she asked, "You setting your will?"

He shook his head, "I do not need one."

Charlus sighed, "Not even to your own mother?"

He shook his head, "That is as good as saying I am going to die."

Charlus sighed, "You go forward with this and you will die. The sword is destined to me for my work. The trust is not yours to pursue. You have those 2 things on your mind along with killing me.

The sword is not going to find you worthy. It will know if you invested in the business as it rips through your mind. You are free to challenge the will of the Gods in this, but it will end badly for you."

He saw the Queen walk in and she opened the portal for the War Room.

Charlus looked at her, "We have an impasse that cannot wait until we are adults. He tore up the paperwork. Last chance to change your mind, brother. I am asking you to not throw your life away."

Serions looked at Charlus, "Fuck you, YET AGAIN!"

He turned to the Queen, "One or both of us are going out of here in that portable hole."

Queen Goldeagle nodded, "I know you know the answer to the challenge question. Even though you cannot say it. Seal portal."

Charlus took the sword by the sheath and walked away from the Queen. "Here is your chance brother. You succeed by some miracle, strike me down for failing the family. Sister wall of force to stop the mothers. Put up my teleport blocker from my gear." She cast one up and turned on the blocker.

Charlus looked at his brother, "The terms are set. I feel sorry for you my brother, I worked to try and save your life. You have forced this particular resolution."

Charlus held the handle of the sword to him. Serions looked at Charlus, "I am going to enjoy killing you after that shit yesterday."

He pulled the sword. His mind was searched and he screamed in pain as it sucked the life out of him. It lifted him into the air and ran him through on the table.

Charlus walked over and grabbed the handle and fell to his knees. The sword searched through his mind for over an hour. Finally, he heard, "Why do you seek the blade?"

Charlus responded back to Varus'Nor, "I wish to take up my father's unfinished destiny. To Rebuild the Knight to protect the elven people and our allies."

Varus'Nor asked him, "You swear to work to keep corruption out of your own house no matter what? Even if it means working to disown or potentially having to kill a family member because of their actions? To face my wrath if you fail to act?"

Charlus thought back to the sword, "I just did it by taking this blade earlier than my father wanted. I swear it."

Varus'Nor responded, "I find you worthy Charlus Silvertree I am Varus'Nor. I have the following abilities locked in over the years. Intelligence, telepathic, and Moon Fire. Built into the blade at the beginning and unchangeable.

Summon to either hand, immunity to mind control. Immunity to fire, electricity, and poison. Evil dragon and undead bane. Spell turning, Dragon vision, Danger telepathic warning, teleportation circle, a lay on hands ability, and a divine non-detection added by your father. All locked by the gods or a former wielder. Also, the God ability added which I do not have access to and cannot confirm.

I know this was hard on you and you have so much inside your mind. That is why it took so long. Massive amounts of information on your entire life."

He thought, "Can I add stupid bane to the sword? No, add paralyze for now."

He heard the sword chuckle, "You gave him every opportunity, and then some, he did invest in that business, your suspicions were not wrong. He wanted to be a silent partner to gain more wealth. He would have gone for the trust and disowned you, likely in that order. Do not blame yourself. I have added your request, Master Spy."

He walked over and picked up the sheath and sheathed the sword. He walked over to his sister and slipped her manacles. He put the sword around himself. They looked shocked at the manacles he took off. Ginnar looked at him, "That took a long time. How did you get out of the manacles?"

He nodded, "It has to go through everything in your mind, every language, sub-dialect, and every book I have ever read included. As I have it all in memory. Along with every conversation I have ever had, weather information for a given day, and you get the idea.

Anything my mind recorded, it had to examine it all. Every day of my life. As to the manacles, given my mind, I could push everything in my mind at the manacles until I strike the right passphrase. Most are from books. I know a lot of books."

He walked over to the mothers and hugged them. "I am sorry it came to this. I tried to get him to reconsider, repeatedly. I tried to get him to set a will and he refused. He rebuffed every effort I gave him to save himself.

The sword confirmed my suspicions and his plans were true for the future. I did not even ask about what-ifs for last night. If I had removed them, those were answers I did not want. Answers I did not need as I knew enough already."

He looked at the Queen and Ginnar. Ginnar looked at the Queen. "I am the champion."

Charlus looked at the Queen, "Officially she is the champion to Corellon Larethian. In actuality I am. She is the champion of Vandria Gilmadrith. I was not a champion until I picked up that blade. She became a champion yesterday. The account, the Knight Paladin title all go to her as would be expected. As I work from the shadows, Your Majesty."

The Queen stood there open-mouthed and sat down quickly.

He leaned over and signed his intention paperwork in front of her, "I should have had you bring two sets of this one, but it might have given it away. I would ask that you release my accounts to me now so I can get gear upgraded, Your Majesty."

The Queen nodded, "Granted."

She looked at them in shock, "Champions."

Charlus looked at the mothers, "I am sorry we could not tell you what the Gods had planned. I did not know there was a second until yesterday. At least not among my siblings. My brother forced this early move.

I could not allow corruption even without the blade knowing that as soon as I got it, I would be forced to kill him. Better the blade did it directly. This way you know that he was headed down a corrupt road.

The sword confirmed he was a silent partner in the business to make money. My job is to restart the Knights. I cannot do that while being hunted. Her job is to be the champion on the field, the vocal champion on the field to draw attention away from me.

I will likely never be revealed. Things may come up and I will work with the Queen to reduce my activity instead of being front and center like past champions. What I said about her being infertile is true. They want her in battle almost immediately when she becomes an adult.

Corellon Larethian told me Serions heart was filled with hatred. I do not know if it was losing all that money, not getting the blade money, getting the blade, or the constraints on the trust. It was my job to protect it since the first day I entered the Academy."

Kora came up and hugged the two of them and cried. They held her to them.

Charlus sighed, "I wish it would have been different. Nobody outside of this room can know. Not even my siblings, the dragons will never know because of the sword's divine non-detection. I get wives I can tell them after they have agreed to marry me. I am sure if there is an issue with a given bride the Gods will be vocal before then."

Gia came over and hugged them both and whispered, "You have rough lives ahead of you. Two champions. The Gods had us all going in circles guessing."

Charlus looked at her, "If I was a champion yesterday, we would both be dead from the drow champion."

Zirra came over and hugged them, "Now your necklaces make sense."

Charlus sighed, "You still cannot tell us?"

She shook her head, "Was told never."

He nodded, "Well you got a lot to do on the enchanting front." The Queen finally unsealed the portal Charlus walked over and got his brother's body. He carried it out and Zirra laid out the hole.

He placed it inside. He folded it up and gave it to Kora, "You decide how you wish to honor him. He was a good kid at one point. I do not know when he went off the trail."

She nodded and leaned against him, "I am sorry he is dead but his last words to you about enjoying killing you haunt me."

Charlus shook his head, "Some choices can only be made by the person, not the parents. The fact he did not leave his money to you, for the other children bothered me. I have access to my accounts and I will transfer a million into your account because I can. Did that figure include the drow who were not there?"

The Queen nodded, "I took care of that first thing this morning in case this happened. I was surprised you did that with your will. I was contacted by the Lady of Dream in case this happened. She seemed certain that it would."

Charlus nodded, "I was hoping to get him to take care of his mother. To reconsider and sign the paperwork and move off to his own house. I was confident I would not die. I did what was required. I took no joy in it. If I wanted to kill him, I could have done it in the house after paralyzing him or just hit him with both blades and watch his shock from the backstabbing damage.

He tore up the paperwork I gave him and tried to hit me with 2 fireballs. I went invisible on him and had to deactivate the crystals in his room. Even after the mother came out for the first one, he still threw the second one."

Charlus got his gear on and stored again. He looked at the Queen, "Your Majesty, you have paperwork to do for her. We do not need to announce to the court yet if you wish to wait."

The Queen nodded, "My direction, from the Lady of Dreams, was to do it today as the sword is out there. She is the champion and you have the blade."

He nodded, "She is infertile and a bow user."

The Queen nodded, "That makes sense then."

They all followed her to her audience chamber and she contacted the bank to set up the account for Ginnar. Charlus looked at her, "Have them transfer a million from mine to Kora while you are at it as well. Saves me a trip, your Majesty."

She nodded. She did that and unlocked his account. Ginnar finished her paperwork.

She looked at the two of them, "Front and center out front."

They got up on the line as she got on her throne. She looked out, "Ginnar Silvertree is the new Champion to Corellon Larethian."

She stood, "Kneel."

She kneeled. "I Knight you as Knight Paladin Champion of Corellon Larethian. I know you still have your training to finish but I have no doubt that will occur. I will give you your paperwork. As the rules of her order allow for infertile females and she is infertile she could not claim the blade.

The Silvertree Moon Blade was to wait until he was an adult but a family rift occurred which accelerated the schedule. The blade rejected Serions Silvertree. With Ginnar a Knight Paladin the next to inherit being Duke is Oliviran Silvertree."

Queen Goldeagle looked at her, "Please rise Knight Paladin. Your account is set. Charlus cleared his throat, "Your Majesty, the account for the Duke needs to be reset."

She nodded, "I will work on that after the mid-day meal."

She looked over, "There is an account for the blade wielder but it is the will of the Blade Wielder and the Gods that this goes to the Champion. As such I have released Charlus's account to him early and set the account as requested for Ginnar. Thank you both."

They bowed to her and there was a round of applause. They worked their way off to the side and to the back. To get with the mothers. Charlus got them outside, "I got this."

He teleported them all to the Palace District gate.

He pulled his crystal, "We are knocking."

He heard, "Door is open." Charlus teleported them inside and he shut it down. He walked inside and they got past the wall. He called out, "Set portal access to the library to Zirra, Gina, Ginnar, Kora, and myself. Remove all access for Serions Silvertree. Add Ginnar and me to security control access."

The others stood there open-mouthed and looked at him. He pulled back his cloak and they saw he had the sword. He looked at them, "You know Serions was in manacles last night. Those were changed at the palace by Ginnar and I was put in them as well.

You heard her and me tell you I was destined to wield the blade. He refused to sign the paperwork after having been caught investing in a business. The same one Silver Stream nearly got destroyed for their activity. He ended up in manacles after trying to kill me.

Today he tried to claim the sword. It killed him. I say this because the Gods changed the time frame because of his actions. He would have been made Duke before I went to claim the blade. He would have disowned me. He would have gone after the trust itself first most likely.

He was pleased as punch when my will called him out as the sole beneficiary. He was power-hungry and greedy. I saw it and because the blade was coming to me, it had to be stopped. I wanted you to know I did not enjoy watching him die.

I gave him every opportunity to change his mind. He was set on killing himself. Oliviran, you are the new heir. Your Duke's account will be reset. I gave the account destined to me over to Ginnar. I got access to my standard account.

I have asked for father's armor and I know Oliviran and Korina have asked about it. I will ask this, is there a reason why you need blacked-out armor? Or is it just the other stuff he had added?"

Oliviran looked at Charlus, "The other stuff." and Korina nodded.

He looked at Zirra, "I would like my fathers' armor and his hat as it goes well with my fighting style. I would ask that you upgrade the other two sets of the celestial chain in the armory to meet what they need. Oliviran can do his own now. Korina's armor I will pay for. This assumes you plan on staying with the house as it has Silvertree heraldry. Think about it but you could start wearing it in the meantime until you decide."

Charlus pulled out his manacles and handed them to Oliviran, "Identify them?'