Silvertree Chronicles Bk. 07

The number of languages I know is classified. He went flying backward and went into a side room and puked his guts out. I had been tested for my ability to resist compulsion. I put the lady unconscious for a week. Thing is, I answered her.

I am a rogue duelist like Eldar's mother. I am not a champion. If I had been, we would have been dead. My abilities are like Eldar's abilities. Before he became champion. Combined with gifts similar to what the Knight Paladin got, except I do them in my head and have to write them out.

When I was asked to join the service, it was through a piece of paper. When I answered him that I would accept and told him the book associated with the substitution cipher he told me to pack. I have a mission to restart the Knights.

Finish what our father could not because he was hunted. THAT is why I have the Moon Blade coming to me. I am ready to give Serions the answer to the challenge question so he can try and claim it. I am extremely concerned about corruption with him.

I was told you could not get answers about what he is doing? I know he wants money, fathers' armor, and about anything that he can get his hands on. That worries me. With that blade, if I have to kill him because of corruption it will be heart-breaking. Yet, I would be forced to do it.

I am getting answers before then. I told Zirra to give the armor to Korina or Oliviran. It is suited to everything I need but I will pay to have another set of the celestial armor upgraded to match it. What he needs with the blacked-out celestial chain I do not know. I was fucking paralyzed when I came off that roof."

Zirra looked at him, "What did you get those first two deposits for?"

He looked at her, "The shadow half-dragon and the 3 full up dragons I killed. You will never hear about those kills or the ones in the outer courtyard. The dead guards you will hear about but how they died is another matter."

Zirra looked at Charlus, "How did you kill 3 full up dragons with nobody knowing?"

He sighed, "I got on a crystal and got the teleportation dropped for the palace and city. I dropped them in the volcano with a still spell teleportation circle. Then I went straight to the Queen's Audience Chamber, followed by some healing as I had never done that before and I got a little singed.

The half-dragon was standing in front of the Guard Captain. His glasses had been altered. My new glasses had not been altered. It went for its ring. I ran both blades up and through its back. I then handed my glasses to the Guard Captain.

I had one witness for those 4 and one for what occurred outside in the name of my sister. Back to my brother, If I find something out I will talk to you Kora because you know what the sword will require. Now you know what I am capable of doing."

Kora sighed, "What if you find something?"

Charlus looked at her, "I would bring him his papers home early so he can join or create his own house. He will not become Duke if he is involved in prohibited activities. His unwillingness to talk with the 3 of you is concerning. I will know more tomorrow. Getting him to start his own house should be the first option, the blade is the final option."

He unsealed the room and someone knocked. They opened the door and it was his brother Serions who gawked at his wounds. "The guards said he is wanted at the palace. That was 15 minutes ago. I can see why. Who fucked you up?"

Charlus pointed at Ginnar and he laughed. She rolled her eyes and walked out. Charlus looked over and got his armor back on.

Charlus looked at him, "Could you saddle up one of the house horses for me or at least get one of the guards to do it?"

Serions chuckled, "You can take care of your own efforts. Bad enough I am forced to deliver messages to you."

He walked away.

Charlus looked at Zirra, "I want the library sealed off. They have to ask you for permission to access it."

She looked at him, "Why?"

He glared at her, "If he is desperate for money, he could start selling off the armory."

She got up and went to the library. He packed up his gear. He walked out front, "I need a horse saddled up."

Ginnar walked out, "Wait. I will take him."

Charlus nodded, "Probably best if you do go."

She nodded. They rode through the city to the palace. They walked inside and the Queen pointed with her eyes and they walked. He stumbled somewhat and Ginnar helped him. They got to the door as the Queen got to them and her door was opened. They got inside and his instructor was waiting. She looked at Ginnar, "Thank you we will get him home."

Charlus looked over, "Wait, your Majesty. She caught the end of the fight so she saw what was out there."

The Queen nodded, "There was nothing out their paladin."

Ginnar was about to object and he waved her out. She left. Queen Goldeagle sealed the room, "Sit, what in the nine hells happened?"

He handed the first unencrypted document to the Master Spy, "The 17 drow I killed included one champion."

She looked wide-eyed, "Why did it not blow up the neighborhood?"

Charlus sighed, "I learned when I was named to get the sword how my father exploded when he died, Jazzia, the champion Tri-Moon, and others all died differently. This champion did not explode because I killed it. I have no champion skills. I am not a champion."

She looked at Charlus, "You are to get the sword. I guessed that. It is the key to the shelters."

He nodded. She looked at Charlus, "How did you know?"

He smiled, "I cannot tell you who, but the champion was revealed to the family this morning. Not to be revealed until they are an adult; then you will know. They told the others who the sword was going to and why. You looked at my grandfather's will, he calls out the 80th clause. Correct?"

She nodded. He told her, "Look at it. Do not tell me anything or say anything just read it."

She went to the will. She broke the seal and looked at the question and the answer. She put it away. "Alright, I believe you."

Charlus nodded, "Depending on what happens with what I requested from my instructor. I am scared to death I will be forced to use it on my brother, beforehand."

The Spy Master looked at him, "He invested the money in a failed business. The one that took down most of the Silver Stream family. That mysterious infusion of funds into the Silver Stream business account. We now know the source."

Charlus nodded, "He was not old enough to buy into a business."

The Spy Master nodded, "But he transferred the money to the elder a couple of weeks before to hold them over until the will was read. It went into a business account. My contact got with the representative who handled the transaction.

Serions asked, 'Please act like you are putting it on the counter.' Then Millium said 'Please act like you are taking it from the counter and put it in my business account.'

She has since been suspended for failing to log the transfer properly, falsifying bank records. Just a 2-week suspension because she confessed in not recording the transaction properly and it was part of a conspiracy against the Queen eventually."

Charlus shook his head, "Your Majesty, I need the paperwork for starting a new house. If he does not bring this to you, I will give him that answer and let the sword take him out directly. He wants the blade, my fathers' armor, and I would bet he would make a move on the trust.

He is older by days, he knows the sword is coming to me and he could become the Duke, disown me, make a play for the trust, and then a play for the sword. He was upset when I told him the money I would get from the blade, would go to the champion instead.

It also explains his concern for the Silver Stream House. He shows no concern for anybody else but himself in the last 20-30 years, even his own mother. Then he did for Silver Stream at the will reading while claiming he was worried about you.

Covering his own tracks as he knew that money was gone with your decision. I will get the rest of this decrypted and if you can come to the house tomorrow you can take it directly. I am still badly wounded. I got hit by my sister's bow.

That bow of hers fucking hurts. She showed up at the end. The mothers know of course. You do not walk into a house bleeding and falling over without drawing attention, Your Majesty."

Queen Goldeagle shook her head, "Seventeen and not the champion. Without the family blade. Here is the paperwork. I look forward to signing it as I know the terms of your Grandfather's will better than anyone alive, except maybe the sword."

Charlus nodded, "Well trained. I burned through all of my healing potions and I downed my proof against poison before spending the time taking them out. Without drawing the attention of anybody on the street until my sister arrived home. I had 13 dead at that point. The second to last one, the champion hit me with a paralyzing bolt.

The glasses helped or I would have been dead. Like the house guards, I am sure. I rolled off the roof and between that and the impact the bolt got dislodged. Else I would be dead, your Majesty. The last guy got his communication crystal open and they asked about the champion. I had just cut out his throat.

I whispered in drow like I was dying that both champions died and dropped the crystal. It cracked as did all of the others. 18 dead if you count the drow spider when I pulled all the written correspondence. The Mothers now know that I am very deadly, Your Majesty."

Charlus's instructor the Spy Master nodded, "Taking this on at your age. It would be expected that your Mothers would need to know given the state of your body."

Charlus nodded. The Queen looked at Charlus, "Well, I will have the guards resupply you and add a couple more commendations to your file. One for taking them all out, one for not blowing up the city and sending that message. As well as a secret entry denoting you as a Knight in my court."

Charlus nodded to her. He went to stand on unsteady legs. She looked at him, "Show me."

He pulled up the back of his armor and she saw the hole and about puked. Charlus nodded, "Only because you asked, Your Majesty."

She got a crystal, "Send in my personal cleric!"

He arrived in seconds and she pointed, "Just hit him with a heal and ask no questions. Whatever your biggest healing spell is. TWICE!"

The cleric walked up and healed him. Then he smiled and shook his head as he left. Charlus chuckled, "You said something like that the last time, Your Majesty."

She smiled and they left. The Master Spy walked him out. They grabbed supplies on the way. He pulled the crystal for home, "I am knocking." The Spy Master teleported them to the palace district gate, the voice came back, "Door is open."

The Spy Master nodded to the gate guards. He then teleported Charlus's home having been there before. He looked at them as he walked inside. He went to his brother's room. He opened the door. He walked in and closed it and locked his room down. He looked at Charlus, "This is my room."

Charlus nodded, "This is your paperwork to start your own house."

He laughed, "I am going to be the Duke of this house."

Charlus looked at him. "You think so after investing in a business. Even one that failed."

He looked at Charlus, "There is no proof I ever invested in a business!"

Charlus thought, "Please tell me I can give him the passphrase to the blade."

He heard nothing. Charlus sighed, "Let me guess 'Please act like you are putting it on the counter.' Then Millium Silver Stream said 'Please act like you are taking it from the counter and put it in my business account.' You think she would risk her job for you?"

Serions turned white. Charlus pointed, "Fill it out, the Queen gave that to me for you."

Serions shook his head. Charlus unsealed the room. He walked down the hall to Kora's room and knocked. She did not answer. He walked over to the master bedroom and knocked. There was no answer. Charlus went to go to the falls and the door was locked. He went upstairs to an unused room and it was locked. Charlus looked at him, "You think you can keep me from talking?"

Serions nodded, "If you wish to live, you will keep your fucking mouth shut. Else I could just kill you now."

Charlus put on the ring of improved invisibility he had palmed in his hand. He snuck off to the side. Serions went looking for Charlus. Charlus snuck into his brother's room. He slid his blades out and undid his crystals. He grabbed his teleportation crystal and took it with him under his cloak. He deactivated the other two. He used telekinesis to open the doors to the falls. Serions turned and launched a fireball at the doors. He heard Zirra, Kora, and Gia as they came out. Charlus dropped down.

Charlus turned off the house teleport crystal. He dimension doored over by the training area. He set the crystal down while leaving it off. Zirra shouted, "What in the 9 hells is going on?"

Charlus moved away, "You are slow brother." Charlus dimension doored behind him as he hit the barrier with another fireball. Charlus stabbed him in the foot with his paralyzing sword. He fell over. Stiff as a wooden board. Charlus manacled his hands together and took the improved invisibility ring off.

He looked at the mothers and grandmother, "Other than him trying to kill me? Before you ask it is because I know he invested in the failed business that brought down Silver Stream; at least most of them. He will be a second as I hit him with the paralyzing sword.

I could have killed him. I asked him to fill out his paperwork to create his own house, Kora. The paperwork sent by the Queen. He refused. Said 'There is no proof I ever invested in a business.'

I then gave him the verbatim conversation he had. Followed by him sealing off the house and threatening me, 'If you wish to live, you will keep your fucking mouth shut. Else I could just kill you now.'

I guess I should have led with, 'The Queen already knows as does the head of the Diplomatic Service who did the investigation into the matter.' I did tell him the Queen gave me the paperwork to give to him.

She is ready to sign it as she knows the terms of that will better than anyone in this house! He knows the sword is coming to me and that means I would have to kill him. Unless he disowned me once he was Duke. Always a possibility to get the sword he craves to possess.

Though he does not know the answer to the challenge question. Then the trust he would seek to circumvent it if I had to guess. You should know those manacles do not have a command word. The locks on each wrist are encrypted triple-tier with a triple-tier substitution cipher. Each hand is different. I am the only one who takes those off of you short of cutting your hands off."

Charlus walked down and turned on the teleportation blocker. Kora got Serions to a table. The mothers sat there and grilled him about investing in a business. Kora walked down to Charlus's room an hour later, "He said he did not invest in a business. He loaned family money."

Charlus looked at her, "They were no longer part of this House. It did not go to the family but into a business account. They hid the transaction to hide his activity. Millium was under investigation before the will reading, as the Queen knew they were in trouble.

It was to hold them over to keep their heads above water. Who led the charge to their defense as the will reading? When has he done anything in years to help another in this house? Yet he rushed to their defense and played the Queen about being concerned for her safety?

I had hoped he was growing up, now I know better. Did he explain casting two fireballs at me? Threatening to kill me beforehand? You know my memory and I have no reason to lie. Contact the palace if you want. I am trying to save his life and those in this house. He knew I had been hurt already. Before I went to the Palace from Ginnar's bow.

He secretly invested in a business and he needs to establish his own house. He is corrupted and needs to move on. The Queen knows as she gave me the paperwork for him. I did not investigate this, the head of her Diplomatic Service did. I told you they would Kora when we spoke earlier. I am giving him the easy way out short of having to kill him with that sword."

She sighed, "I will be right back."

He went back and finished the drow documents. They painted a grizzly picture of how bad things were in their world. They came across the land bridge and walked invisibly and came through an existing tunnel into the market district.

It outlined 3 of the tunnels that belonged to them and those in the Kingdom involved with their creation. He packed it away. He walked out and listened to the shouting. He sighed, "I am getting some rest."

His mother, Gia, shouted over, "We want these manacles off."

Charlus looked over, "I want him to start telling the truth. We see how well he is cooperating in that department."

Charlus walked away and he heard her grumbling. He got to his room as she came inside in a huff. He looked at her, "Tell me he will not try again? That was two fireballs."

She sighed, "He promised he will not try again."

Charlus laughed, "I cannot trust a promise he makes when he continues to lie about the facts. We will talk in the morning. Zirra is free to take them off if she can get them off. A rod of disjunction will do it, or a strong dispel magic might work. Unless I accounted for that."

She sighed, "How could you possibly account for that?"

He looked at her, "The original cuffs are two inches around. They were then set to auto-adjust. It will crush his wrists. Cutting them off would be less painful. Before you think I am joking."

He pulled out a set of cuffs from a drawer and tossed them to her, "Have not enchanted those yet. I got them from my instructor. He gave me two to enchant, he is wearing the first set."

She looked at him wide-eyed, "This is just sick!"

Charlus laughed, "I was told they were brilliant. Designed for taking rings off of half-dragons or dragons. If they break them, they are really fucked."

Gia shook her head. He sighed, "Mother, you know if he does not sign that paperwork. The first thing he will do is disown me to keep me from claiming the sword. The Queen already knows the blade is coming to me.

She already knows he is in violation and it was reported by the head of her Diplomatic Service. I told her what the will said and what clause it referenced. I told her not to speak a word just to look at the clause.

She opened it and put it away and told me, 'I believe you.' I had to explain why that champion did not explode without telling her who the champion was. Have Zirra come to talk with me. Maybe she can convince me."

She walked out. Ten minutes later and Zirra came in. He looked at her, "I fear for everyone's safety IF I release him. When he cannot get to me, he would likely kill another and blame me for it. You want them off. I move out and all library control is turned over to me only."

She looked shocked, "I walked through and did an inventory. Everything was in place and the library is sealed."

Charlus nodded, "I have given you my terms."

She looked at Charlus, "You have given me an ultimatum."

Charlus looked at her, "You cannot guarantee my safety if I take those off. I cannot guarantee he will not take gear to sell and run. That he will not attack me or another to blame me. You are giving me the ultimatum.

Have the champion come and see me. I want her thoughts on it when she gets home. You obviously identified them and confirmed I did not lie, you cannot remove them and it would crush his hands if you tried."

She sighed and left his room. He laid back and went to sleep with the room secure but audio open. He appeared at the falls and he took a knee. Corellon Larethian looked at Charlus, "Brave thing you did for the champion. Stand."