Silvertree Chronicles Bk. 08

Constant remove curse, disease, and healing. This could take days to resolve. Get Strong Oak to contact the Queen or contact House Silvertree. Get Zirra to do it. If there is a way of defeating the sword it is in that book."

They nodded and he was out.

---

Queen Goldeagle found herself at the falls with the Lady of Dreams and she had been in open court. The Lady held up a hand, "The champion is in trouble in Quatarsia. He has likely identified the right item used to attack him. Zirra will find the information."

Naralis Analor appeared, "She is correct and it will take extraordinary measures to keep him alive. My Grand Cleric is being informed. You will have to make arrangements to get him away from the elven Kingdom by ship with my clerics and no magic ANYWHERE. The Gods will have to intercede to cut some ties.

Even from the blade for a while. This will be expensive and time-consuming. If he dies, he will explode as the damage is from another champion. He will need my clerics to live and we cannot tell you how long this will take." Naralis Analor disappeared.

The Lady of Dreams looked over, "You have arrangements to make, I will confess this to you...why this is so important to me. My reputation has suffered for years with champions and them dying so young. Many have died prematurely in a manner I could not stop.

Charlus has a chance and I need this one to live. You have the ability to succeed in doing this. He is destined to have many more children and the champion we see replacing him is centuries away from being born.

I need you to save this one, but only you can expend the time and resources needed to keep him alive. He must not know I played a hand in keeping him alive. It is against my portfolio but I do represent many Gods here in regards to champions, including my husband. You cannot discuss this meeting with anyone."

Queen Goldeagle snapped out of it and left her throne with two royals in mid-argument and went back to her office to make contact with Zirra and Duke Strong Oak to find out more in order to make arrangements. She did not have enough information on what he was fighting from that exchange.

---

Charlus awoke at the falls with the Lady watching over him. She looked at him, "Naralis Analor has been here. Corellon Larethian can be nowhere near you yet. We had to suppress your holy symbol and get your wives to store the blade away. Cutting your ties temporarily.

You were moved off to a tower in the Duke's Keep and it was evacuated of everyone and everything magical and it was not enough. You were taken back to a ship several miles from elven lands. Nobody has any magic, not even communication crystals.

It was a refitted ship captured from the humans that had not been enchanted yet. Your wives had to be kept away because of the unborn magical talent inside of them. Your mind had to be purged of all active known spells.

You will wake soon free of the effects of that accursed sword. Once you grab up your sword again your amulet will reactivate. We kept a divine non-detection on you during all of this and will continue to do so until that day.

That sword was a mage's nightmare. It is more effective against those who wield magic. Feeding off of it to spawn a new disease on the one it hit. You have undergone a series or amputations to remove the worse of it and then regeneration.

Divine magic is not the same. We could not even bring you here until now. You pointed them at the right book and identified the weapon. It gave them the information to formulate a treatment. You will be weakened for weeks if not many months.

This last state required you to heal naturally. You were kept unconscious most of the time, except when you were delusional and they had to force food into you. The other champion had a divine non-detection like you.

You guessed correctly he was not accustomed to prolonged combat. Your hours of training on a daily basis made you more than a match for him. The training you forced upon yourself because of my actions."

Charlus looked at her, "You are telling me a lot, but not how long. How long?"

She sighed, "Just over 2 years. If they have not figured out you are a champion by now; then they are fools. In short, the people know or strongly suspect as Queen Goldeagle has refused to confirm it thus far. Your human Queen Thatcher has done well with your Butterfly guiding her. You did well in saving that part of the Alliance."

He looked at her, "Memory?"

She nodded, "Intact, yet we cut off access to your multiple spellbooks during that time and they will be restored soon enough; like your holy symbol. When you are strong enough the Queen will make an announcement in open court.

That is another year off yet most likely. Your book on the defenses by region had come in handy a year ago, Trilia dealt with that in your absence as you had the book passed to her. About 200 dragons tried to make an attack on the elven capital.

Old defenses, new defenses, and the improved weapon brought a quick end to it; none escaped. He sighed, "The Knights?"

She nodded, "Growing and vetted constantly."

He looked at her, "Wives and children?"

She smiled, "All well. Looking forward to getting you home. Your horse was sent back to the herd to cut that magical connection."

He looked at her, "How bad were the amputations?"

She stood and walked away and then back. Then looked at him, "Every limb and your genitalia at least 8 times. Your lungs had to be replaced 4 times, one at a time during this period and then the other as soon as the new one regenerated.

Some, like your hands and feet...those occurred on a weekly or monthly basis. Often delayed while they dealt with other issues. The genitals were the low end of that number, 8 times over 2 years, would have been worse but they left them off for a year. A couple of months at a time, until regeneration was required for something else and it worked to fix them again. Naralis Analor clerics, 40 of them have been seeing to your care at all hours."

He looked at her, "Functional?"

She nodded, "Yes fertile and your stamina will take time to build back up. You should be at full speed well before your appearance in court as you work to regain your strength and body mass you lost. That is when you will return to work."

Charlus looked at her, "My mother?"

She nodded, "Passed on six months ago. She is pleased to see you return home. Once your ship docks you will be taken straight to Silvertree Estates by teleport to recover. Your estate is a veritable fortress and under constant monitoring."

---

Charlus woke as the ship brushed against the side of the dock. Charlus looked up at the clerics. "Be sure you are paid well. This sea voyage sucked."

The cleric smiled and nodded. "You are a very lucky elf."

Charlus looked at him, "We both know better than that."

He nodded, "Yes champion, the only reason you survived."

Charlus looked at him, Naralis Analor clerics."

He nodded, "Even Corellon Larethian's clerics could not be around you. The ship is full of Naralis Analor clerics with the exception of a few sailors. All for one elf."

Charlus shook his head, "This would not have been done for one elf, one champion yes. Not one elf."

He nodded, "True, it was a huge expenditure of resources. Your divine non-detection remained according to our god. That is what kept you from being found while you healed."

Charlus chuckled, "You mean while I was being butchered over and over again to keep me alive."

He nodded, "True. We had to wait for you to heal naturally after the last round of amputations before we could do the regeneration again. Be well, champion. I hear your detail is coming to take you home. We were happy to assist in keeping you around for everything you have done for our people."

Epilogue

Charlus arrived home within hours. All 5 major appendages still regenerating over a month later. Three months after that and he had his swords back in hand but was still too weak to use them. That reactivated his amulet which rose to the surface at this point, with the addition of the symbol of Erevan Ilesere added to the cluster. He spent hours with his children, swimming, and worked to get back into combat form.

Hours a day crafting new manacles, crystals, repeaters, eating, and training to regain muscle mass and his dexterity. Ten months after his return he was an expecting father again with three sets of twins on the way. Trilia went to Quatarsia to get him another strong stealthy stallion suitable for a champion.

That allowed him to build up his riding and riding based acrobatic skills. The night before his return to elven society he found himself at the falls yet again. He took a knee.

---

Corellon Larethian called out, "Rise my champion. Your ordeal was heartbreaking to watch but you are stronger for it."

Charlus nodded, "Still a touch slower, still not getting to those last two targets."

He smiled, "No not slower. Less rage because of your ladies. If anything, you are faster and more focused without the rage."

Charlus nodded, "How many diseases did I run through?"

He looked at Charlus, "All of them; including a few even we did not know existed. You are effectively immune to diseases now."

Charlus nodded, "Then that is what I will add to the sword. No wielder should have to undergo that again."

He nodded, "True. It is a good...correction...very good and wise choice. You will find some difficulty being in the light upon your return."

Charlus nodded, "I can still change forms and fall into the shadows."

He smiled, "Yes champion, you can at that. Mystra wanted me to let you know. The other champion was asking questions about your Butterfly. He was preparing to hunt her. You bought her more time in this world and she knows it. She has another set of twins on the way.

Still early and she is still flying right now, but she knows that you saved her from this foe hunting her. Mystra was pleased by that as it gives her more options for the future. She appreciated all of your efforts and your honesty with her."

Charlus looked at him, "The Gods bought me more time on this world, along with a team of clerics to keep me alive. This is not lost upon me."

He nodded, "You have saved our people by the thousands. A lot is going to be said tomorrow. You are not accustomed to being praised, especially public praise."

Charlus sighed, "Praised for being kept alive."

He shook his head, "No, for everything you have done. Being kept alive was because you gave them the means to figure out how to do it. That weapon is off the material plane for 1,000 years due to your efforts.

Your brother, sister, and their mother were impressed with your battle with that champion. The Solar mother. Your ancestors were also proud From Eldar on down and others you have read about, but have no history about them, outside of the Diplomatic Service Archives."

Charlus nodded, "My father made it sound like he loved her. I do not doubt it."

He nodded, "They loved each other. They took what they could and were happy to have it. I like the name of your new stallion. Shi'Mija, Shadow Magic. He likes it as well."

Charlus smiled, "I believe I am ready."

Corellon nodded, "You are."

---

Charlus awoke early and dressed having all of his spells already prepared.

He got his horse saddled along with those of his wives. He thought, "Varus'Nor set my gift to the sword to have my disease immunity. I never want them having to go through what I had to endure."

Varus'Nor responded, "We endured. Felt like centuries of silence being cut off from you in that bag of holding. I am glad you are well and prospering. An excellent choice and it is set."

Charlus went into the dining room and ate with his children. They laughed and made jokes about their exploits. As the ladies came down dressed for court. They smiled. Zirra looked at him, "I am staying with the children. Things will be hectic enough at the palace. Royal guards should be here in about an hour."

Charlus shook his head, "They can meet us on the way. I do not wait on royal guards."

She smiled, "I told the Queen that and she said it was an order."

Charlus smiled, "One she knows I will not follow. I will not be coddled. It is a test of things and if she asks why I did not listen to her I will simply tell her the truth of the matter."

She smiled at him as he got up and they mounted up. He took them out of the house and secured it. He looked at the guard, "Unlock the doors." He looked at Charlus and shook his head, "Orders."

Charlus looked at him, "You wish to still have a job?"

He nodded and unlocked the door.

They rode out in a thunder but did not get too far before running into royal guards. The Guard Captain looked at him, "She told us to leave early as you would not wait."

Charlus nodded, "I stopped to eat with my children or I would have met you at the Palace door. If I had teleported I could have passed you, but I wanted to be outside for a while."

He nodded and Charlus set the pace at a double-time speed. Fast enough without it being dangerous. A guard at the gate was on a crystal to the place as they passed through. They rode the entire way. He did not want to shorten the ride out in nature. Not after his long isolation. He shot out in front as they approached the front of the palace.

He did a triple twisting dismount and landed straight up on his feet. Shi'Mija came back over to him. The guards out front merely nodded at him. He waited for the ladies to be dismounted and they walked inside together to a very full court.

He walked straight to the line, "Your Majesty, after my ordeal and recovery I am back to resume my work."

She smiled, "Duke Silvertree has done well to remain hidden from the center of attention for over 40 years, his whole life really. Not an easy task for the Champion of Corellon Larethian."

That drew a few murmurs as suspicions were confirmed. Charlus nodded, "Yes your Majesty, a plan that was to have me claim the sword as an adult failed to occur. This was accelerated by a brother and heir to be the Duke wanting the sword and power.

This forced me to claim the blade earlier than planned. Forced the acceleration of my sister being revealed as the champion. She was the champion of Vandria Gilmadrith, the recognized champion of Corellon Larethian in order to provide cover for my work.

My father's work which haunted him until his death; only days into adulthood before being petrified for a year and a half and then killed. He faced off with a God-like fiend. The titan we killed was his champion. Cutoff from his god because of my father's sacrifice.

I spent just under 2 years as an adult traveling in many forms through human lands after the war in search of governments in which to make contact with. I did this alone, most often. I found a world in chaos. The area deemed safe by the dragons was, in fact, a chromatic dragon stronghold where they played at being Warlords.

They consumed humans by the thousands. I acted. I became what they called the 'Stealth Butcher. Or Butchers gang.' I was that one-man gang, who used many forms to rain the wrath of our Gods upon slavers, as our paladins would do, but I did it from stealth. Killing thousands of half-dragons and slavers and freeing over 20,000 for a time. They were eventually recaptured or they might have slipped away.

I did get 10 to safety and recruited several agents into the Knights to monitor things. I then returned home, Your Majesty."

She nodded, "You started becoming an expert in communications and encryption before you were an adult. You build our Overwatch watch system, tapping into draconic and elven mythic magic at an early age.

You upgraded the Dragons Overwatch systems and worked to build the Alliance Overwatch system that we used during that war. You also built a lot of surprises you sprang upon me. I called you paranoid at the time.

You reminded me about listening to the words of the champions. We played a game of courtly politics. You reminding me that you acted off of your instincts. The instincts of a champion while focusing the credit toward your sister and the dragon champion.

The dragon champion did help with the implementation of some items but it was your efforts at the army staging area that brought a quick end to the war and killed two champions on the field, two others at your estate before the local Overwatch was fully in place and before you were an adult. Then another at the new human capital a few years ago.

That champion almost killed you several times over from the report I got. Hundreds of amputations to deal with constantly changing and evolving diseases that were focused on you by the opposing champion's weapon.

We did not just stumble upon a cure for you. You pointed your wives, and grandmother to the reference they needed as you identified it as a relic. A sword of pestilence. You sent it back to the hells then went through it for 2 years.

Then another year recovering your strength and abilities to be back in front of us now. Most will note that we were attacked during this time. A weapon was deployed in addition to our defenses. The prototype of that weapon captured our naval fleet.

It was used to drive and kill off the chromatics out of the Far East. A series of shields built over that land to give them a chance to rebuild without our influence or that of chromatic dragons. All while weeding out the corruption of our human ally; twice.

He installed a new Queen with a human hero. A girl from the Far East he saved, got into the academy and onto the back of a dragon. Where she flies today guarding over the human people. Our human ally is at its strongest point than in the last several centuries.

As people earn their way onto the human court by service. I bring that up because it is a bedrock principle instilled by his grandfather. Written into his house laws. He is a Duke through a hereditary title, he was a knight in open court.

He had a classified file where he held the title of Count; which he earned for shortening the war considerably and destroying that titan. I told him it would become Duke when he got the Knights working again. He has done that.

While he became a hereditary Duke he would have become one through his actions in my Diplomatic Service. This included expanded treaties with a number of neutral dragons he helped to find with his new system. Creating the mythic spells needed in some cases to get the level of detail he wanted.

New governments have been slow to form but they are forming according to our dragon allies. Some were seeded by human Knights who stepped up to form a solid government. Some are still going while some have fallen. The turmoil in human lands continues but has slowed greatly.

Word reached us there is a rift between the drow, orc, ogres, and giants that are keeping them at odds. Different chromatic species backing different groups. In short, they are fracturing as an organized power for now. I am not saying that attacks are done. If anything, they will be more desperate attacks to try and weaken us. Attacking as separate entities."

Charlus nodded, "Your Majesty, I was asked once why all of the different Overwatch systems. I built the one for the Kingdom to prove I could build it and to protect the elven people. This scared our dragon allies. I explained what I wanted for the Alliance, for the Knights. The subset of data we needed in order to keep me from building and deploying a full-up system to rival the dragon's system.

I then took the steps to upgrade all of the communication and expand the capability of the Dragon's Overwatch system, it gave the Alliance Overwatch system better capability. The question was 'Why do the dragons need a better system than the elves?' I will put it into context. Humans rarely see beyond 10 years in regards to conflicts.