Silvertree Chronicles Bk. 07

They chuckled and one of the Queen's crystals buzzes as did one of his. They both heard Majisa, "We have a problem!"

He sighed and the Queen looked, "Clear the room, please. Stern and my Spy Master stay with me a moment. The room cleared. Charlus turned his crystal off, "I am with the Queen."

She sighed, "We have 6 geological events that defy explanation. It looks like the top of 6 mountains are flying toward us."

Charlus sighed, "I need to see what she is seeing. I will contact you from my base, Your Majesty."

She nodded. He teleported out to the palace perimeter, stepped through and out again to the main gate, and stepped through, "Can I come to bed?"

He heard a laugh, "The bed is made."

He teleported into Base One. He looked at the Alliance Overwatch displays. He pulled out two crystals to the two Queens, "They are doing what we have done with a tower only with the top half of a mountain. This is years in the planning!"

He sighed, "Your Majesties, I need authority over your forces. I need to ground all dragon flights for the next hour."

He heard the Elven Queen, "You got something for flying mountains?"

Charlus smiled, "I built it for a full circle attack by dragons. Codename 'Lighthouse.' Once it is activated, flying can resume. Just get them to work to stay away from the repulsive dragon bane beams."

Charlus heard Majisa ask, "Will it handle something that size?

He smiled. "Lighthouse is set at 17,000 feet and goes out in all 8 cardinal directions. Until they hit the ground or each other and then they stop.

Well, I need to go to the Lighthouse and let them know they are activated. This was a catchall if we were down on aerial units and we needed to shut down their aerial activity. I need to contact them to get this started. Do I have your permission to issue that direction?"

He heard, "Yes!" From both of them.

He looked at her, "Keep the bed warm for me."

Trilia Moon Ray nodded. He loved the woman but had yet to talk with her about it. They had a lot of playful banter because he was underage yet. He teleported to their Lighthouse location's central tower. He yelled out, "Lighthouse needs to be activated now!"

He had 8 guys look at him. One of them asked, "Which direction?"

He looked at them, "All of them. Get the other 16 inside with you. You have wands and a book with force wall scrolls. I will turn it on via voice when you are all inside, not before."

He pulled out crystals, "Champion and champion, I need all aerial units out of the air in your region in ten minutes." He contacted the human general and Admiral, "I need any aerial units you have grounded in ten minutes or they may die. I have authorization from the Elven and Dragon Queens."

They all acknowledged they had everything locked down. He contacted Majisa, "Distance to the closest one from Quatarsia?" She responded, "Six miles out."

He called out "All shelters activate beams." The Lighthouse lit up with beams going off and banging together about three miles away. "Your Majesties, The Lighthouse is on. Ask all aerial units to avoid the beams."

He pulled out a crystal to his sister, "I need 10-12 dragons flying below the Lighthouse."

He heard her laughing, "When did you build that?"

He smiled, "When I figured they might try an all-direction attack at some point. I should have them all trapped in the air as far back as the horizon or mountains. Then they will have to back all the way out if it will fit.

Then come back even lower. I expect them to throw forces at it. To try and bring it down. He pulled out one crystal. "All shelters activate security, activate walls. You will get attacked. Keep wands and wall of force spells handy."

He chuckled, "These shelters have three one-inch-thick walls of solid diamond. Another eight feet of spikes and this is repeated 3 more times. I got a spiked trap with a double head lopper that works at random intervals in the first section. Then they have a book with force wall scrolls in each one. First time out and they are armed to repel intruders."

He heard Ginnar laugh, "We had 20 volunteers and 12 are on their way flying under your creation."

He activated his crystal, "The bed is still warm?"

She laughed, "For you? Always!"

He teleported back and got the two Queens, "The Lighthouse is active. I do not see them slowing."

He heard Majisa chuckled, "That is impressive."

The closest ship impacted the shield and he connected to Ginnar, "You see the flying mountaintop at the edge of the shield?"

He heard her smiling, "Yes, it is splitting the mountain into two pieces. They have stopped. They are backing it up and half-dragons are pouring out by the hundreds.

He called out, "I have dragons in the area if they have to drop the beam in one direction. The shelters are self-repairing. The device is a good 75-feet inside. They have to run through a killing gauntlet to get to it. The floors are slightly slanted in the front section to let the body parts and blood pour out."

He went and saddled up his horse and brought him out, "Sister, how is it looking?"

She chuckled, "We are seeing blood pouring out and the occasional body part. Their numbers are below half."

He looked at Trilia, "keep the lights on."

She smiled at him, "Always."

He teleported out to the Lighthouse having changed forms to look like a gold elf general. They landed on the wall of force, "Unit six how far are inside are they?"

He heard back, "We have four working on the last set of walls. We have put up our first force wall."

He nodded, "Alright here are your orders. Destroy them quickly, leave the beam on and close the portal if they get to the first force wall. Then decimate and reopen the portal. It should be only seconds with you guys.

He heard him chuckled, "They are down to two half-dragons and one slab of the wall. Charlus called out, "Raise security wall." The first set had been repaired.

Charlus smiled, "Change that, the first set of barriers have been repaired. Just keep repeating, 'activate security and raise walls.'" The guy chuckled, "Two more walls and some spikes traps came back on-line. As did the lopper. These guys are done for. Your design held."

He called up Ginnar and the Queens, "Their first attempt to breach with 1,000 half-dragons failed. They never made it to the casters."

He heard his sister laugh, "Paranoid and killing it!"

He sighed, "Expected an assault if we had to activate. I am going back to the base."

He activated the shelter access crystal. "All shelters keep repeating, 'raise security walls and activate security' if things get damaged. They sent a thousand again 6 and a couple hundred retreated. Be vigilant but take turns getting rest and food. This might take days."

He called her up, "Ready to cuddle?"

He heard her chuckled, "Get over here."

He teleported inside. He set his crystals out in a line on the table on a tray he had built for this purpose.

Charlus activated the one for Majisa, the Queen, the human General, Ginnar, and the Admiral, "Please advise your troops not to fly to close to those beams it will seriously fuck with dragons of all types. I think they are trying to figure out a new plan. Contact Base One crystals for support. I am going to get some rest."

He heard from Majisa, "Well done Enigma! Nice surprise."

He heard from Queen Goldeagle, "This was your 'way to respond in this scenario' you mentioned at the retirement dinner."

Charlus smiled, "At least one of them. Contact me if there is a major push. I will be secure. My people will hear you call and come to get me if needed, but you can contact the base directly and my crystals are lined up here to be heard as needed. They cannot activate them to respond but can get me, your Majesties, and generals."

He let his crystals go dark and went inside and laid down on his bed. She came in a few minutes later. He was still dressed in his armor as was she.

She looked at him, "You like me a lot, don't you?"

Charlus nodded, "Yes. In fact, I love you actually. With this attack going on I am kind of caught up in that but you are gorgeous. I will be an adult in 8 days and able to take on wives."

She looked at Charlus, "How many wives?"

He smiled, "Four, six, eight. Whatever the ladies decide after I fuck them through every level of bliss I know about."

She looked at him, "You thinking of me as a wife?"

He nodded, "Are you able to have children?"

She smiled, "As far as I know."

Charlus looked at her, "You going to catch some sleep?"

She smiled as he moved his arm so she could crawl up on the bed. He spooned in behind her. He was visited for the first time in years by the gods. He took a knee. This time it was the Lady of Dreams. She smiled, "She is a good choice for a wife. She is fertile. This is the first time you have talked about marriage."

He nodded, "My children inherit my natural abilities and they could go far. Especially in service to the crown. I kept the Lighthouse a secret, except for my siblings who enchanted the crystals and helped me God Lock the shelters. Then there were the 24 casters I asked for a covert assignment. Those casters now know they stopped a major invasion."

She smiled, "Your designs and thinking ahead while keeping your identity a secret. You have done well at staying out of the limelight. At least publicly. Trilia Silvertree sounds nice."

He smiled. "It is Moon Ray at the moment. I know she is psionic as well, as her Mother and Grandmother before her were. She cannot read me and she has tried. I just threw encryption ciphers at her in common when she tries. I think she likes trying to figure me out the regular way."

She laughed, "You have built up a stack of rings."

Charlus nodded, "We never stopped to ask if she does that as part of her cover or if I do it with my wives. It would give things away if I do that." She did not want to discuss Ginnar and her status with him. Though she might not have a choice soon.

Corellon wanted her to be direct with the Knight Paladin on the facts. While the Lady of Dreams was still pissed at it not only happening but the fact she did nothing to stop the girl. She knew her dreams and did not stop her from instigating things from going too far. She still needed to address Ginnar's violation of the Paladin Code though she knew she was partially to blame.

She secretly felt as though she had failed, while she still 'publicly' blamed it on it being a female champion, just now it was HER female champion who was in this situation. Thus far she had left Ginnar's paladin abilities intact.

She had stopped short of addressing her romantic feelings before things went too far. With them being at war she had to decide when she would inform her of her need to atone for her actions.

She found she was in-between a rock and a hard place and any decision she made reflected badly on the Lady of Dreams and Ginnar. She had not had a champion of her own in over 10,000 years and that was a mitigating disaster and another female champion she had a rift with. She let Charlus go for now.

She thought for a moment, "We can discuss that on another night. You need to start your day again."

He awoke with her still in his arms. He laid there and memorized his spells. He kissed her cheek. She smiled and looked up at him as he asked. "You want to see a trick?"

She nodded. He let his eyes go and kissed her for everything he was worth. Soft sweet, wanting, and passion. He backed away and she looked into his dragon eyes and then they faded away.

She looked at him, "What is that?"

He smiled, "My sword gives me Dragon Sight. Better than most dragons. The dragon champion has it. He is a relative of mine. A Silvertree by birth."

She looked at Charlus, "How?"

He smiled, "Long story. Will you do me the honor of marrying me?"

She smiled, "I want to say yes...but there are things you need to know."

He nodded, "You are psionic. I am fine with that. My sword had immunity to mind control. I knew every time you tried to reach into my mind and sent you encryption ciphers in ordinary common."

She sighed and smiled, "Then, yes. I will marry you. I was wondering what that was all about!"

He looked at her, "I had to hear you say that before I could tell you a secret."

She smiled, "What?"

He secured the room and looked at her, "My sister is the champion for Vandria Gilmadrith. I am the secret champion of Corellon Larethian to get the Knights rebuilt. As such I will have a ravenous sex drive that one woman would be hard-pressed to keep up with.

Four will find it a challenge. My Grandfather had 4 elven, 1 human who died, a dragon bound to him, and 2 other dragons that created up commanders and field marshals for several conflicts."

She looked shocked and then jumped up in his arms, "That explains so much. Like that memory of yours."

Charlus chuckled, "I had that before being made a champion."

She looked at him, "Really?"

He nodded, "Eldar the first champion had that gift, from family genetics."

He unsealed the room and they walked out. One of the other troops noticed, "Is he not a little young for you?"

She glared at him, "He asked me to marry him."

He looked at Charlus surprised, "Marriage in all of this?"

Charlus nodded, "Got a week yet but wanted to make my feeling for her known. Also, if you forget what you are fighting for then you have already lost."

He nodded, "Alright commander."

He went out and activated the crystal to his sister. "Any change?"

She chuckled, "All quiet since you shut them down. They did another run on a different shelter and did not get very far. After the first 300-400, they backed off."

He looked at the local display.

He refocused it, "You got 24 approaching with those rings on. They are invisible as well. Odds are they are 'kill them and dragon appear' rings. Send the dragons in, in force would be my recommendation."

She sighed, "I am passing the word down the line. I got some dragons in the air already."

He popped the Crystal open to Queen Goldeagle, "There is another engagement starting. The first group but I suspect it will go to air."

He heard her sigh, "In court but thank you for keeping me posted on the Champions activities."

He let the crystal go dark. He checked the other display, "General Rosenthrawl it looks like a group of your ships is being attacked by 6 dragons. They are in the riverway. You got dragon support in town who might want to aid in the effort. Are you going to deploy them?"

He heard back, "I have them being vigilant for the town. The ships can take care of themselves."

He let it go dark and he opened it up to Queen Rosenthrawl who did not like him at all, "Your Majesty, are you in a secure area for a war update?"

She sighed, "Just a minute."

She came back 30 minutes later, "Is this about the ships my general did not send aid to?"

Charlus smiled, "We had 1,200 half-dragons dying in trying to breach the Lighthouse. That is what is putting up those barriers keeping 6 floating mountains from descending upon us with half-dragons and dragons.

The mainline engaged 24 who turned into dragons and decimated them without a loss. Your ten ships were destroyed 5 minutes ago. You had 12 dragons 2 minutes flight from the ships. Before you ask, I do know about the danger of the sea. Brannar Silvertree was my ancestor and he recovered the Eternal Forge.

After putting together an 8-ship armada to take on an island full of dragons, necromancers, and undead. You should have had at least one dragon per ship. Recommendation from the experiences of my ancestors who lost 2 ships from only having four dragons for his 10 ships, that is why he went forward with 8 ships after 2 were destroyed."

Queen Rosenthrawl sighed and said coldly, "I will take it under advisement."

Charlus let her go and used the crystal to Majisa, "Morning update for you in case you missed it."

She sighed, "You mean the 10 ships destroyed along with 2 of my dragons?"

Charlus sighed, "Yes, I warned them over 30 minutes ago. They had 12 dragons on the shore and the General held them back. Queen Rosenthrawl hates my guts and did not like hearing they were 2 minutes away from the fight."

Majisa sighed, "I am not liking this human Queen Rosenthrawl. She is old, very old and General Rosenthrawl is a younger brother by a year."

Charlus sighed, "I request that my Uncle be given field marshal status during this conflict. He has centuries of experience fighting these foes."

Charlus heard Majisa chuckle, "Your Queen and I had that same discussion before this started. Queen Rosenthrawl would have none of it."

Charlus thought to Varus'Nor, "Varus'Nor, I am seeing the only way to fix the problem is a targeted assassination against an ally in a time of war. That is really fucked up. Else invade the area."

He heard back, "None of that is your choice to make."

He nodded. He pulled a crystal to Stern, "You secure?"

He responded back, "I am now. What do you have?"

He sighed, "I do not say this easily. General Rosenthrawl and Queen Rosenthrawl should receive a holiday present. Not my call but that is where we will lose ground. They lost 10 ships they could have saved but refused to allow dragon assets 2 minutes away to aid in the fight. 6 dragons came out of the water...let me check something."

He went over the area and searched underwater. There was a moving landmass under the water.

He sighed, "I see a major fucking problem. I got to get the Three Queens on the line together."

He got Majisa, "You secure?"

She sighed, "Yes."

He groaned, "I need you to confirm. Corner of human lands underwater movement of a large landmass."

He hit the one for Queen Goldeagle, "Your Majesty, we just got some sensitive information from our dragon allies."

She sighed, "Just a moment."

She got into a side room and sealed the door, "Did you just give advice to Queen Rosenthrawl?"

Charlus groaned, "Not that she would take it as her ass is full with her own head. She might not be one in an hour! Majisa is confirming it looks like a landmass like the other but underwater moving toward human lands. The city is shielded but they know about tunneling to get inside. The first one threw a thousand half-dragons at it. Permission when this thing surfaces to activate Bunker 64."

She sighed, "What is Bunker 64?"

Charlus sighed, "An invisible bunker over that section that shoots a shield at the ground to create a bowl. It has a crystal with my voice on it to keep raising shields and activating security. It would be an attempt to capture it. Try and trap this thing. It is experimental. I had to cast a shelter that went up and down.

It was designed to fill a hole in the dragons flying in from that location. It is unmanned over the human border next to the ocean. It makes my watchtower defenses seem like a kid's training course by comparison. It is 10-feet wide and the beam will activate when I contact it. I have a communication crystal floating next to the entrance. Remember I asked for forgiveness when these things occurred."

Charlus heard from Majisa, "Should surface inside the next 20 minutes."

He sighed, "We do this, we need to recall all of the dragons out of human land to keep them from getting ordered in and getting trapped."

The Queen groaned and got Queen Rosenthrawl on her crystal, He yelled out, "Breaking the surface on an area occupied by 20 ships!"

He heard Majisa, "I am pulling them back! They are teleporting away with what they can get off the ships. They will stop in 4 minutes!"

Queen Goldeagle sighed, "The humans are threatening to end their association with us!"

Charlus looked at her crystal, "I will activate 64 to save our people. Ask her to look out an east-facing window when this thing hits the area. She can watch the waterfall of body parts, Your Majesty."