Silvertree Chronicles Bk. 07

Queen Goldeagle groaned, "Do what you can to stop this catastrophe."

Charlus pulled out the crystal and activated it. He watched the display. It was going to be tight. Charlus watched it gaining altitude which was good for him. He heard wings flapping. They might have spotted his invisible crystal. "Open portal."

He called it as it hit the center, "Activate shields!"

The shield showed up on the display and it was captured. His crystal shattered. He sighed, "Majisa confirm with your system and your people please."

Seemed like fucking forever. Majisa spoke, "I sent my champion out to have a heart-to-heart with Queen Rosenthrawl. They are on top of her Keep, watching the body parts fall. She lost 30 out of 50 ships. We saved over half of the last 20 ships' crews."

Charlus smiled, "That was your call, Majisa. I recommended getting your dragons out. It is hard to save people who will not save themselves. By the way, I cannot shut it off because they destroyed my communication crystal."

Charlus heard the two Queens laughing. He sighed, "I did say it was experimental. My uncle, your champion, helped me to build that one. To get the shelter reoriented up and down."

Majisa groaned, "Not just you but my champion as well."

Charlus smiled, "We build a dozen like that after he showed me how to reorient that spell, he is a Silvertree after all. That includes one that could royally fuck with the enemy, Your Majesties."

Queen Goldeagle asked, "What did you do?"

Charlus smiled, "I found a cavern a few feet below their staging area. I took a crew in and we build one like 64 almost dead-center of their camp."

Majisa asked, "How does that help us? It will not go through the ground."

Charlus smiled, "No but the 200,000 blocks we enchanted to fly. Tied into a communication crystal. To take voice-activated commands. That means the dirt and rock will not be there. Again, experimental. I checked while I worked on your system.

This is where they staged their troops the last 5x and they chose the same spot every time. This one was all me and my enchanter brother and sister who set up the controls. The shelter is god locked. If you do not want me to activate my research then I will stop if directed."

His crystals went quiet. Queen Goldeagle asked, "Who knows about this?"

Charlus sighed, "Right now my future wife, who is manning a console here at the base, you two, my brother, and sister who helped with the enchanting aspects. Before you ask, I was waiting for them to be close to capacity. The way I saw it, this is not that different than teleporting explosives on a Drow champion and killing 80,000. If you are worried about my exposure you can have my uncle take credit for working the finer details with my siblings' help. You can leave me completely out of it. I do need to stay in the shadows and the shadows were great in that cavern."

He heard both Queens chuckle.

Finally, Queen Goldeagle sighed, "They have been flying at us from all directions. We should return the favor. Do it."

He smiled. He pulled out two crystals, "Fly high, fast, and straight up." They watched the displays. Once they were a few hundred feet up. "Open portal. Shield activated. Activate security."

The walls went up around the land. He heard Majisa laughing. He let it fly a good 30,000 feet up. "Flip over. Keep flipping." They watched it rotate. The land started falling along with bodies. Charlus smiled, "Fly down as fast as you can."

They watched it descend.

It hit the sides of the shield and then crumbled away to nothing as it rained thousands of blocks on what it threw down already. Charlus shrugged, "Close portal." He watched a group of them run inside a few thousand who started digging. "Fly up." A small piece flew up. He smiled, "Flip and fly left and drop straight down as fast as you can." It slammed down and the fly crystal cracked.

Queen Goldeagle asked, "What do we do now?"

Charlus smiled, "You have an army, Your Majesty. Led by a paladin even."

She got on a crystal, "Cross the bridge and take out what remains of that force."

He heard Ginnar, "About time I thought the enchanters were having all the fun."

He chuckled as did the Queen. Ginnar and her troops routed the enemy still alive over the next 4 hours.

---

Queen Goldeagle paced in her office. She was happy at their ability to stop this enemy, yet she was furious at how much Charlus kept hidden from her. She finally decided that the ground forces had succeeded in routing the enemy on the other end of that bridge for the first time in centuries.

Charlus had done what he said he was going to do. He put together all of these paranoid contingencies and they all, at least most of them came into play and he held the enemy at bay with the creative use of enchanting. Yet she was still pissed at being kept in the dark.

---

Queen Goldeagle contacted Charlus, "My Audience chamber now Enigma."

He let the crystal go dark. He got his horse saddled. "I will be back, keep the bed warm."

She laughed, "Always, my future husband."

He took all of his crystals and teleported to the edge of the city district. He rode in and contacted the Queen, "Your Majesty, did you wish for me to grab the enchanters?"

She sighed, "Good idea, but I want to speak with you privately as well."

He pulled the one for home and put the other away. He called out, "I am knocking."

He heard, "Come in."

Charlus teleported inside and brought the shield down, "I need the two enchanters that I have been keeping busy on secret projects. We are wanted at the palace. Brimium and Zirrian came out and Charlus looked at them, "No need for your horses."

He took them outside. Charlus nodded and he turned the teleport blocker off and they appeared at the gate for the palace district and went through.

He teleported them in front of the palace and went inside with the two of them in tow. They went to the Audience chamber and the door was open. Queen Goldeagle waved them in. She glared at Charlus, "You have been very busy."

Charlus nodded, "Your Majesty, you heard me, on numerous occasions, being referred to as the paranoid one."

She nodded, "Your fears were founded, so not that paranoid. You two, your cavern exploits, you worked with your uncle, the dragon champion, on that and not your brother. We routed their forces. To keep his profile low for his work with the Knights.

You worked on the one with the human Kingdom, number 64 he has got a mountain trapped in it. Dragons and enchanters are the heroes of the day. You two and your uncle. Your brother will be recognized privately for his work, but I need your agreement that this is a state secret."

They looked at each other His brother spoke, "We already told our family about the work he had us doing. But we will tell nobody else, your Majesty."

His sister looked at the Queen, "Yes, Your Majesty."

Charlus looked over, "Your Majesty, they all signed forms to work in service and they have been trusted with other secrets. Most of them. I will talk to them. The Duke, my brother, can drive the point home."

She nodded, "Good enough, I suppose. You two leave me with your brother."

They walked out and she looked at Charlus as she sealed the room, "Why? Why did you hide all of this from me?"

Charlus sighed, "Your Majesty, the biggest obstacle we have had with getting agents in and spread around is that land bridge being a major impediment. For the Knights to get back to normal we had to open that route.

To make it common to see dwarves and elves in that land. To adventure and explore, if you will. That meant breaking the stranglehold over that land bridge to open it back up to gain access to the rest of the world. I did my job."

She sighed and nodded, "Why not tell me about them?"

Charlus sighed, "I never know who is in the next room and you do not always seal the room. When it comes to something that is an experimental project, we never tested it because we did not want to tip our hand. I only brought it into play because they were exploiting contingency we had not publicly planned for. I was concerned and started planning for them.

When I went to the Lighthouse, I appeared as a gold-elf general. Any that looked inside saw elven mages inside. Both times. I have a plan for getting them out as well. It is voice-activated now. Without letting the other in. The shelter design I used over the human side with a long hall will work better. Getting back to your original question.

We should have told you about the one behind the enemy line earlier but if they set up someplace else it was a wasted effort that was a cost I took on with my own funds. I did not wish to get your hopes up that it would work. The one over human land we had no choice but to keep you in the dark.

Better to beg forgiveness than permission when dealing with the incompetent duo Queen Rosenthrawl and General Rosenthrawl the humans have. We cut their losses significantly. I even talked to Stern and my sword about a holiday package for those 2."

She looked like she was going to choke. "NOT without your permission. It is against what the Knights are about but I am also trained as a royal spy. I worked through it and checked the waters after the dragons took down the first 10 ships that their General could have saved.

That was when I saw the landmass coming from below the water. I will take as much or as little credit as you want on these activities. I am known for working communication crystals, we can leave it at that if you wish.

I was the one who planned ahead with the Lighthouse for a large dragon attack in any direction. I saw the hole on the human side and the mountain under the water coming at us.

I saw the opportunity to route the forces bad enough that we could get across that bridge with as little loss of life as possible. Just like the things I did for the city. I worked to save elven lives and stay in the shadows. Behind the consoles, at my base, while others took to the field."

She got up and was still frustrated, "Follow me, I want the three of you on the line. I will note your significant contributions in your personnel file. You are hereby raised to a secret rank of count. You get the Knights network built up we can see about making you a general and a Duke.

You made one hell of a field marshal today. Even when Queen Rosenthrawl did not want it. She saw the light after the fourth time she puked her guts out. I lost count of the commendations I got to put in for you today."

Charlus nodded, "You know I am not driven by titles, commendations, or rank. I am driven by getting results to my goal. Our goal for the Knights."

She nodded, "Like your father and grandfather who did not want a hereditary title."

She walked to her throne and the 3 of them were on the line. She looked around. "There are usually 3 reasons to be in their position. They did something wrong, they have a dispute, or they did something right. I am happy to say these 3 have done a lot of things right. Charlus is the one we often refer to as paranoid around here as one of my diplomats.

He worked with these two enchanters to activate a system he dubbed Lighthouse. It stopped the mountain-sized pieces of land from descending upon us. He also noted the holes on our human side. We captured a seventh coming out of the ocean. He spent a lot of his own money to have this work done, often without my knowledge or permission.

Right now, I am happy he arranged to build them. The main enchanters for these projects are his brother and sister. They fed into his paranoia and worked with the Dragon champion on erecting the one that captured the one over human land. Also, the dragon champion analyzed data from the last 5 wars and the Dragon Overwatch system.

He went exploring and found a cavern. The Dragon champion worked with Brimium and Zirrian on a project that helped to route the enemy from the land bridge. It is open right now for those who wish to brave exploring outside and into the unknown human land. For the first time since the return. It will be hostile so if you do go, go well-armed. All three of you take a knee."

They all took a knee, "I am awarding you all a Silvertree medal for your work. I am knighting you in my court. Doing this for enchanting and paranoia are rare accomplishments. Please stand."

They all stood to laughter and applause. She looked at Charlus, "The three of you can go now. I will have your paperwork next week when two of you have your official signing day."

They left the throne room and Charlus thought, "Varus'Nor, I do not like my mind going to the best option is to kill someone."

He heard Varus'Nor chuckle, "Sometimes it is the only option. To think it and act upon it has been an issue for many wielders."

Charlus thought, "She had no reason to embarrass me in open court."

Varus'Nor sighed, "She is just upset at being kept in the dark. Try and let it go."

They got outside and he mounted up and teleported them back to the gate, stepped through, and called the house crystal, "We are knocking."

He heard, "Come in." They gathered and he took them home. They went inside. He rode back to the falls, "Oats and an apple for my friend here."

He walked out to the mothers and found his brother the new Duke. He looked at him, "Have you found a wife yet?"

He shook his head, "Not attracted to them and I am infertile."

Charlus sighed, "Is that the last of the surprise infertility?"

They nodded. Everyone else was fertile. Charlus looked at everyone, "We are all sworn to secrecy on what we did. Specifically, my involvement. I was still knighted by the court but it was for being 'paranoid and right.' I am also getting married."

They looked at him shocked. Gia asked, "Who?"

Charlus smiled, "Trilia Moon Ray. Cannot get her out of my mind." He liked the hidden play on words.

Gia asked, "No others?"

Charlus smiled, "We have talked about the need but we have not found any candidates or discussed it yet. Those two got it for enchanting and feeding into my 'paranoia' that saved our allies significant losses. It helped to route the enemy on the land bridge.

Paperwork forthcoming. Let me know if my account goes over ten million. I still follow the intent of the will even when the champion and blade are separate. I have spent a lot but do not know what is coming from the dragons or less likely the human's bitch of a Queen."

Duke Silvertree looked at Charlus, "Last time I looked at the books last week you were at eight million and change. Your job for the Queen is lucrative."

Charlus smiled, "It is more about not being seen in what I do. At least not seen as a threat."

Oliviran shook his head, "I know you are deadly."

Charlus smiled, "I got a lady to see and check on how our sister is doing with the army she took across to fight."

Gia sighed, "Be safe and I want to meet her."

Charlus nodded, "You will Mother."

He got his horse and they headed out, "Open the doors. Going to stretch his legs some."

He nodded. Charlus rode out like a shot and he thought, "Someone is in a hurry."

He pulled a crystal, "Sister, how is your activity going?"

She laughed, "You guys really fucked this group over. I found the body of an orog Magi champion and I think a giant champion. It is mostly buried right now."

He smiled, "Well our enchanters and myself got knighted in open court for their enchanting skills and my 'paranoia.'"

She laughed, "You were right, so not so paranoid."

They got to the gate and he put the crystal away. Charlus got outside the gate and pulled one, "Are beautiful eyes waiting for me?"

He heard a laugh, "She is on break. You are free to enter, commander."

Charlus teleported in. He went into his shelter and she sat and ate a mid-day meal. He took his horse in the back and brushed him down. He came out and joined her, "I got knighted for 'paranoia.'"

She chuckled, "Does not matter."

Charlus asked her, "You never gave me your thoughts on other women."

She shrugged, "I never really thought about it. I was thinking one man and one woman but given what you told me. I am thinking about it."

Charlus smiled, "My mother wants to meet you."

She smiled, "Mine does too."

Charlus chuckled. "I have already met her."

She looked at Charlus, "When?"

Charlus smiled, "When I first went into the Diplomatic Service before I got the sword that blocks mind control."

She nodded, "Did she like you?"

Charlus laughed, "She said she never wanted inside my head again. I knocked her out for a week."

She looked at Charlus, "She mentioned she got hit with a psionic overload once. I did not know it was you!"

Charlus smiled, "Go out and tell her."

They walked out and she got on a crystal as the other guy went back inside the shelter, "Mother I have some news for you. You have met him already."

Her mother asked, "When?"

Trilia laughed, "You did a compulsion on him and he knocked you out for a week."

Charlus heard her, "OH Gods! Stay out of his mind."

Charlus smiled, "I have my family blade which makes me immune to mind control now. I knew she was trying but never said anything, I just sent her encryption ciphers in common. I had a dragon who wanted to test me knowing the risk, the dragon champion in fact.

He just asked if I heard him and I told him, 'yes.' In every language and subdialect. All in one burst. He went to a bedroom and puked his guts out. The Dragon Queen had wanted to talk with me mentally and I warned her off."

She replied, "Why did the dragons want to talk with you?"

Charlus chuckled, "Which occasion? She is a distant relative as she was married to the Knight Paladin. Before the return."

She sighed, "Majisa has good skills for a gold dragon but so do many silvers. The Amethysts are the strongest ones, closely followed by the crystal dragons. If you had that effect on him with a word answer it was good you warned her off."

Charlus sighed, "I do not have that issue with the horse or the sword. I think the horse is because he does not speak. I do not know."

She laughed, "No they listen to surface thoughts. When you answer you are formulating it in every language and somewhere along the line it comes out of your mouth as one language. That is when it comes to the surface in a single language. When you got hit with a compulsion you did not filter for language and just blurted it all out."

Charlus smiled, "I am over 34,000 books now."

She laughed, "What is the number?"

He smiled, "211."

She sighed, "In case you didn't know my dear daughter, he has that many books memorize."

She looked at Charlus, "Seriously?"

Charlus nodded, "Yes. Think of what talented children you could have with me."

She laughed, "A psion who 'mind blasts' everyone in a conversation."

Her mother laughed. He held her to him, "Anything pressing?"

The guy on the other side of the room shook his head, "No movement on the mountains."

Charlus sighed, "Keep an eye on the water around the humans as well."

He nodded. He saddled up and grabbed his mount. "Let me out. I am taking this one home with me. I have been running ragged for weeks and I have a family that wants to meet her."

He nodded, "You are cleared."

He tried home and made it. He sighed and activated a crystal, "Your Majesty, I thought you should know I just teleported straight to my home from outside the city."

She laughed, "Majisa is here. Come to the fourth floor, it is open."

He took them both to the fourth floor with his horse. The Queen looked at him, "I did not know you had company."

He smiled, "My bride to be. She is also the daughter of the lady I knocked unconscious for a week during my training. You remember the mental conversation, Your Majesty. I spoke to my sister and she said we made a mess of them. She thinks two champions are among the dead. A giant and an orog champion."