Silvertree Chronicles Bk. 07

He watched the force wall go up and Charlus looked at him, "The one securing the forge there has been a disaster out here now move your asses!"

They came out and he called in, "Activate all security walls. Activate all security! Seal portal!"

He looked at Charlus, "You must be Silvertree."

He nodded, Charlus set a relay crystal down in a crack outside the forge wall outside and across. He pulled out his crystal, "Forge is secure we are pulling refugees from this level and any who come up into the shelter here. This link goes dead do not think the worst. I can secure this place down, get some rest, and disintegrate our way out of here if needed."

Charlus heard her reply. "Stay in the shelter. Levels are crashing more rapidly."

Charlus looked at the dwarves. He cast a force wall over the ceiling and held it. He waited for the last of them to get in and he cast one in front of the portal and made it permanent. "Seal portal!" He looked around at the 700 hundred dwarves in the room, "This room and the next two will feed most of you. I just had to check you over before opening the access to the forge. That will keep us all fed. Find a spot and get comfortable."

Charlus walked back, "Open portal deactivate security blades."

Charlus looked at them, "Leave the forge lever alone. The force wall is keeping the gasses out of the forge. Until I get most of you to the surface and the paragon gives me a list of those who will be staying, those security measures will remain. No forging while we are this crowded."

He nodded. He looked around, "Thank you for coming."

Charlus nodded, "Was the only one who could get through the defenses here. My ancestors built this place and my sword is a master key tied to my family. Dangerous for anyone to touch as it will destroy them and the dwarves have suffered enough this day."

He nodded and spoke in dwarven, "He is an elf but show him respect."

Charlus nodded to him and spoke in dwarven, "Also a diplomat who also speaks your language fluently."

A few of them chuckled at the Paragon. Charlus looked over, "Open portal."

He looked at Charlus, "What are you doing?"

Charlus smiled, "I put a wall of force up to create a window."

He pulled a crystal, "You hearing me Base 1?"

He heard her laugh, "Yes. I started to get worried. Everything below level 3 collapsed."

Charlus nodded. "I will contact you later but let King Fireaxe know there is 727 in the forge area secure, counting myself. I have a wall of force up to act as a window. Keep an eye on lava levels. Let me know where we stand."

She sighed, "Levels eight and below are in the furnace according to the dragons. They pulled about 2,000 out of the lower areas we lost 2 casters in the effort. Rescue is suspended as of right now. Those numbers will please the Dwarven King and that we have access to the forge."

Charlus nodded, "The only things I will let them craft if needed are shovels and picks. I have the forge locked down and people are getting rested. I will secure an opening in the morning after I get my spells back. I did not study this morning when I woke. I ate instead."

She chuckled, "Good! We got a wedding to get to tomorrow night. OURS!"

He chuckled as did the dwarves. He smiled, "I will keep this open for now contact me if you need too."

She asked, "You put out a directional repeater crystal, didn't you?"

He smiled, "Of course. I just wanted to make sure it did not get damaged when the roof came down."

She sighed, "If you had died down there, I would have dug my way down. Then I would have killed you myself, AGAIN. Majisa is going to contact you."

He let the crystal go quiet and pulled out another, "Queen Majisa, the forge is secured."

He heard her sigh, "The lava is still rising slowly now."

He nodded, "I will contact you in the morning. I will build a force cube down here in the morning. Then we can affect an evacuation and secure the shelter until this area cools enough. The forge is secure and I will turn those security measures back-on full force."

She laughed, "Orders from King Fireaxe. No heroics! The Paragon is to be with the first group out. He said to secure before you leave."

He nodded, "Will do. All casters coming in need to be vetted. No fucking ring surprises."

She laughed, "Understood and King Fireaxe agrees. He is staging in Quatarsia at the Duke's keep at the moment. We will have all the casters who will go gather there. They are to be vetted before giving them the coordinates."

Her tone turned serious, "Preliminary numbers show they lost 50% of their population, just over technically. With what you are reporting that leaves them with 38,924 dwarves remaining. Mostly females and the elderly. He is examining his actions in this war, or inactions in regards to those rings.

Your Uncle found the other champion wearing a dwarven ring from what has been reported. He got it off but he had the army force cut-off from returning toward the surface.

A few magical mercenaries escaped via teleportation and that is what they reported. They pulled out thirty or so of the dwarven military, including the general in charge of that front. Not an argument I fully understood, but enough to know they both blamed each other for the losses suffered. No room to move and 2 dragon champions dying there sealed their fate.

Charlus sighed, "I tried to get them to address infiltration, I spoke with Queen Goldeagle repeatedly about that. Anyone who tries to get in here is in for a rude awakening as the repeater is buried and there is no way they are getting through the wall of force I have in place to get access. You get some rest. I will do the same after getting some food. Everything alright in the Palace?"

He heard her sigh, "The left-wing all but collapsed this time. The staircase has ceiling all over and through it. Good job of getting her out of there. The throne room and the residential wing appears secured. Stern was working the crews and security that are coming into place. He wanted me to thank you for opening the shelters and giving your mother the keys if you will."

Charlus nodded, "I am a bit buried in my work at the moment. He will have to do it without me."

He heard her laughing. She caught her breath, "Alright funny guy. Get some sleep."

He ate and found a spot to grab some sleep. He awoke several hours later. He stood in front of the wall while dwarves watched him for an hour with his eyes closed.

He opened his eyes and opened a crystal to Majisa, "Status on lava?"

She sighed, "Good timing. It is on the level below you it will get warm."

He sighed out, "Will contact you back in case I destroy the repeater in the process. I will set a prototype up before I leave here."

He let the crystal go dead. He walked back, "Clear out of the forge access controls to return to Paragon in one day all security measures on. Seal portal lock portal for two days to all but me." He looked at the Paragon. "You have your orders."

Charlus disintegrated the wall then disintegrated an opening into the area Charlus looked around, no repeater. He walked out. "Seal portal." He disintegrated in the other direction. He used his sword for light and set the wall behind the portal and made it permanent. Then did the ceiling and two walls and made those permanent. "Open portal"

It opened and he pulled out a couple of scrolls of permanency. He got inside and cast one to create a floor and made it permanent. He walked out, "Seal portal.

He checked the seams. He put up the last force wall and made it permanent. He pulled out a crystal and levitated it up and made it invisible. He made that permanent. He opened the portal with the crystal hidden in a corner behind the portal. "Open portal."

He looked inside, "First group! Paragon, you are with me." He got 18 dwarves around. One looked at Charlus, "You can do this many?"

He pulled out the rod. He took 18 of them to the Keep.

He looked around. "I need 20 casters ready to go. Get around me."

He checked them over and took them back inside. He let them take them up 12 at a time and return for a second load. They brought back more and got them out of the area. He cleared the side rooms, "Seal portal for two days and return access controls to the Paragon."

He did this on both sides. They got down to 17. He called up, "I will bring the rest out."

He got them all out with his sword for light, "Seal portal for two days. Return access control to paragon at that time."

He got them gathered. He took them out and pulled out a crystal, "Activate."

He looked at a caster, "Try to teleport into the cube."

He looked at Charlus, "I cannot get in."

Charlus nodded and held the crystal. Charlus looked over at King Fireaxe who welcomed the new arrivals as he came down from the Duke's office,

Charlus bowed, "This crystal is set so Majisa, myself, or Queen Goldeagle can unlock teleport access into the cube. Before you ask, I asked for some blood from you on several occasions. You turned me down. That is what allows them to access it and not you, Your Majesty."

He nodded his understanding, King Fireaxe just lost half of his dwarven population, where his champion and the two dragon champions were located, it was probably significantly more than he would admit to his allies even as it did not count non-military bodies in that area. The King had been asked to look to seal off that location and had refused to do so.

Charlus looked around, "Secured, evacuated and they cannot even teleport into the cube without permission from one of the two Queens. I am taking this to Majisa."

She called out, "Behind you."

He turned and smiled and handed her the crystal she looked at it, "Another security crystal prototype. What brought this design on?"

He smiled, "Securing a base with nobody inside, Your Majesty."

She nodded, "That makes sense."

He pulled out a crystal, "Is the bed turned down?"

She laughed, "Yes and I am the only one here beside our 2 horses which are saddled."

He nodded, "On my way."

He looked at Majisa, "Case in point."

She laughed. He stepped out and teleported to her. He set a crystal down. She looked at Charlus, "One of the guys will be here in an hour."

He pointed, "Mount up."

He looked over, "Secure portal to all but me and my wives or descendants."

He walked over to the other, "Secure portal for two days."

He teleported them out to the edge of town. "Activate. Contact whoever is coming in and have them go to base 2. Base 1 is locked down."

She contacted them. As they rode into the city. He pulled the crystal, "Stern, how goes the efforts."

He sighed, "Slow but thanks again for the shelters. The Queen said if you have not contacted her, she wants to see you at the palace."

He sighed, "I am supposed to be getting married today."

He laughed, "Her request."

He contacted House Silvertree, "Please inform my family I am on my way to the palace...again."

They rode into the palace district after getting stopped at the gate. He handed him his paperwork. "I am getting married this evening and I was told the Queen wanted to see me."

He nodded, "You are free to proceed. Everyone gets vetted coming into the palace district."

Charlus nodded, "As it should be." They rode forward. He teleported to the camps. He unmounted and walked inside. The court was not in session but a guard captain with 12 battle mages was in the throne room.

Charlus looked at him, "The Queen is wanting to see me?"

He nodded, "She said alone."

Charlus nodded, "Then please inform her it will have to wait a few days as I am getting married to her in a few hours and will be unreachable."

He got on a crystal. He turned back, "She cleared you."

Charlus walked back and around the corner to another 12 battle mages.

They walked inside and she sealed the room. She looked over, "Not exactly in the shadows but nothing unexpected for the wielder of that blade."

Charlus nodded, "I did what I could, Your Majesty."

She nodded, "Nobody is blaming you. King Fireaxe is reeling over his losses. The palace took a beating. No influx of dragon forces and no signs of necromancy in the kingdom except for these. She handed him another bag, "From the other champion was recovered worn or in the gear of others. Before he went into dwarven lands."

Charlus nodded, "Base 1 is unmanned and secured and the force cube is in place with a teleport blocker activated at the forge, Your Majesty."

Queen Goldeagle looked at Charlus, "Another experiment?"

He nodded, "I made a couple. I gave one to Majisa to the forge. The one to base 1 I am hanging onto as I will keep it locked out but be there in private for a few days. I will set up a repeater after a day or two and you can contact me if needed."

She looked around. "The builders want to take the other wing down to the foundation and rebuild."

He nodded, "You should let them. Do it and make some upgrades. Like towers large enough for the bigger dragon ballistas. Also, better roof supports. Just keep that fourth-floor conference room available for your War Room."

She nodded. "I do not want to lose that. That room has saved my life more times than I care to say. I should say champions have saved my life with that room many times."

Charlus asked her, "Was the rings all, your Majesty?"

She walked over and hugged him and then her. "With all this, it is not recommended for me to leave the palace until this is resolved. They are talking a few years at least."

Charlus chuckled. She looked at him, "What is so funny?"

Charlus looked at her, "The issues with my father being locked away by your direction, Your Majesty."

She groaned, "He was a handful but evasive. I can see why you see the humor in that. I was floored the day I found out there were 2 champion siblings."

Charlus nodded, "I found out about her the day the symbols receded. I knew when I went into the Academy. The night of the visit by our father. I was not supposed to get the blade until tomorrow."

The Queen nodded, "While I regret your brother throwing his life away, I am happy you have had that sword. All the work you have done for the Alliance would not have been the same without it."

He looked at her, "What has divination shown on our new human King Rosenthrawl, Your Majesty?"

She looked at Charlus, "That he is an illegitimate bastard of the dead Queen and her dead younger General brother. Infertile from birth and the last heir to the line if not for his 'wonder' children. The only wonder is who is the father. Rumor has it that one of them belonged to the dead brother or his only son from his wife. Apparently doing what his nephew or cousin could not do. The other is believed to be sired from a house guard. The elder is like his grandmother. The other is a weasel of a child known for petty theft. We are considering our options."

Charlus smiled, "Trilia should be in the Service."

She looked at her, "Oh?"

He nodded, "She has skills like her mother."

She sighed, "That would prove useful."

He smiled, "We need to get going. We have a barrel to buy."

She chuckled, "A barrel?"

He nodded, "To purify all of those fucking rings, Your Majesty."

She sighed. "I will leave that to you. The dwarves want to know what you want for saving their collective asses."

He smiled, "The border wall and fort. That needs to be done. They are going to be on the surface for a while anyway."

She laughed at him as he walked out. Trilia looked at Charlus, "Why did you tell her?"

Charlus smiled, "My ancestors are some of your ancestors. Annette Silvertree was an elf-blooded like you in skill, the Knight paladin had a wife with your skills. Amy Tryst who you are descended from was married to My great generations ago uncle who was the son of Eldar and Annette.

You are skilled and it comes from at least two different sources over generations. Going back to Eldar to bring new skills to the elven people. Your skills. Besides she trusts me and she has to trust you. She trusts your mother explicitly."

She sighed, "She will be afraid of me taking over her mind."

Charlus shook his head, "She wears a mind-control blocking item."

She laughed, "Alright."

He looked at her, "Your mother helped to put the pieces together during my grandfather's and father's time. Corruption was like water. Everyone seemed to be drinking it. She helped to right the ship if you will and she has gotten respect for it ever since. What did your mother say about the money?"

She laughed, "She said she has more than that several times over she just does not advertise it because it corrupts people. It made for an interesting conversation. She respects you for pushing it away. She got me a care package for the wedding night. Stuff from the adult store. Said if what is said about Silvertree's is true having a cleric in the group will be needed."

He laughed, "A lot of clerics in the group over the years."

They got mounted up and rode out of the palace district. He asked her, "You got everything?"

She nodded, "Except a barrel." He rode into the market and stopped at a general store. Charlus nodded at the clerk, "A small empty barrel."

He rolled out that went up to his knees and was empty. He nodded, "That will work."

He paid for it and they left, "We are a knocking."

He heard, "Welcome home."

They teleported in and rode inside and back to the back leaving the barrel.

They brushed down the horses and fed them. Charlus went to his room and got dressed. He looked at the rings on the bed and picked them up. He walked out and gave the rings to his mother, "They give away a champion. She will have to come up with something different."

She smiled, "Hang onto them and talk with her."

He went and found Trilia, "We have a few things to look over."

She looked at him, "Seen the house rules, your mother showed me."

He nodded, "What did you want to do on vows?"

She looked at Charlus, "We will talk with her."

He walked downstairs and wrote up a simple will leaving half of his estate to his wife or wives. The rest to return to the trust. He gave it to Zirra, "For now, you hold it."

She nodded. They got gathered and walked outside. He contacted Stern, "Need access to Silent Falls from home."

He chuckled, "Been expecting this one. You have open doors. He took the barrel and filled it a foot from the top.

Charlus poured in every ring that they had accumulated. Strong Oak arrived and tossed him another bag of the fuckers. Her family arrived minutes later. He walked over and hugged Moyra. It was a small crowd with the given hostilities. They took a knee as did the others. The lady appeared over the middle of the water and waved the two of them toward her. She then enveloped them in the smoky white sphere he had heard about and read about.

The Lady of Dreams sighed, "This has been a hard time for the people and for you. A lot of death and destruction. People are talking about blazing trails and checking out the world. Keep Base 1 for you and your family. Use base 2 for the operations. The two of you can travel if you wish."

Charlus sighed, "We are leaving our options open but that is why I built that crystal to Base 1. No guards. I do not know what the Queen has in store for us. She seemed on the verge of breaking. With all of the death and destruction. We simply wish to get married. My mother gave me her rings. They are the rings for the champion. They are too identifying."

She looked at Charlus, "What do you want to do about the rings? He held out a hand and gave her the rings. "No holy symbols, emerald bands instead of sapphire and the material recognizable. Gold or platinum would be even better."

She looked at him, "There will be a symbol inside."

He shook his head, "No holy symbols or symbols. They live on in us, my father's children, even the two who died. They do not provide a level of protection for a longer life. They are markers for the enemy to find us. Letting us know something happened to the other sure. But that is it."