Silvertree Chronicles Bk. 08

Charlus saw one flying toward them. Charlus stayed low as he came in behind him. He hit the dragon with a force web and it slowed him.

Charlus hit him with a second and he dropped to the ground. Charlus got one of the rings he picked up and pulled the one ring and put on the other and then put my manacles on the 'elf' in front of him. He broke the finger and hand on both hands.

Varus'Nor alerted, "Danger."

Charlus cast a wall of force above him and the dragon slammed into it and slid off and crashed in the area. Charlus ran over and pulled his ring as it faded in power. Charlus put another ring on him.

Charlus manacled this 'elf's body' came to Charlus snapped back all of his fingers and listened to him scream. He got over to my two prisoners. Charlus thought, "Tell them I am taking two prisoners to dragon lands for interrogation."

Charlus saw the one dragon as it tried to flee and failed. It fell from an extreme height.

Charlus thought, "Tell them if this is the first kill wait, I am going in to capture."

He watched it hit the ground. He found the dying ring and slid the third ring he picked up on.

Charlus got him manacled and snapped all of his fingers as he awoke. He thought, "Gerona, tell them we have three prisoners. Going to the entrance of the Dragon Palace."

Charlus saw them flying back and took them all and tied them together as they struggled. Charlus teleported into the entrance and waited for Majisa who came with the guards.

Charlus looked at her, "I want to know what they find. I am going with them. They were headed straight to my base."

She sighed and she stood next to him and took them into the neutral's conclave. Soon he had three dragons near them and Majisa talked with them mentally. He had one try to probe into his mind and looked at the dragon, "You might want to stop."

They did not answer and continued. Charlus thought, "You, brought this on yourself." The dragoon went reeling backward and was out cold. The other two looked shocked.

"Connecting to my mind is dangerous. I warned Majisa about it after I learned about it. I knocked a psionic out for a week by answering mentally. I did ask them twice to stop trying to poke around in my brain."

The dragon looked at Charlus, "Do you have something to hide?"

Charlus looked at them, "I do not know if you have clearance for the secrets in my head. They did not ask my permission even. That was just plain rude."

Charlus heard the Lady of Dreams, "Let him try. He might learn much."

He thought back, "Why would I want him to learn anything? Why should I trust what you are saying?"

She sighed, "Just do it as Corellon Larethian messenger. Don't question it."

He walked forward and stuck out his hand, "I will give you permission to try."

He looked at Charlus, "What about secrets?"

Charlus smiled, "You will figure that out but I would ask that you brace yourself and take it very slowly."

He looked at Charlus, "You know of Psionics?"

Charlus nodded, "I had a great uncle John who tried to get information from Brannar Silvertree and he forced it and got sick."

He nodded, "The name is known to us. You are a Silvertree. Remove your shirt. Charlus took the top of his armor off and his shirt. He looked at Charlus, "You wear no magical amulet."

Charlus nodded, "No just a holy symbol for Erevan Ilesere. None of my siblings do. They attached when we were young and they all sunk into us. Except for my sister, the champion."

He looked at Majisa who warned him mentally, "He is the champion I warned you about, be prepared Sanity."

The Crystal dragon continued. He had a hell of a grip on Charlus and his whole body shook.

Majisa looked at Charlus, "I cannot connect with him."

Charlus nodded, "The Lady of Dreams gave permission. I was not in favor of this idea at all."

Almost 8 hours later and he released Charlus's very bruised arm. Majisa looked at it and Charlus used the ability from the sword. Twenty minutes later and the dragon got his wits about him. Charlus was healed up at that point.

He looked at Charlus, "A hidden champion. Enigma is right as your actions are chaotic but you follow your people's laws. You have such rage and aggression in you that you have a hard time releasing. You are at odds with one of your Gods."

Charlus looked over and there were 3 behind him going through the prisoner's minds. Charlus looked at them, "Putting them back into elven bodies helps to make it easier to go through their minds."

He nodded, "You knew this though. You forget nothing. You are a collector. All kinds of information. You could give the time of a breeze that went across your arm that made your skin crawl if you wanted. He records everything and can cross-reference it. All of his sense, not just what he reads and hears.

He wants to build a shield weapon. Using the dragon's bane and essentially obliterate any dragon inside the area. Impressive design but he wants to use fly on the crystal instead of levitating. He wants to limit the bane on it to evil dragon bane.

He wants to free the Far East from the dragon oppressors. He wants to capture these ships that will bring half-dragons by the thousands."

He looked at Charlus, "A cone within a cone with a shield on the side that would be attacked. He worries because it is a genocide weapon while he wants to do the two things, he does not want to be like the dragons that killed the Deep-Sea elves.

He is torn by his moral compass. He plans to build two. One for the Alliance and one for the Far East. He wants to leave that one running. See if society can rebuild itself without dragon interference. He wanted to talk with you about this Majisa.

He is concerned about your opinion of him for even thinking of such a device. He has been told of how to release his rage but has not done it. Instead, focusing it into ever-increasing powerful strikes and combat skills."

Majisa looked at Charlus, "As much as your people have suffered, I understand the thoughts on this. IF we do this, I want dragon enchanters involved in the dragon's bane aspect of it. It has other uses we could use."

Charlus nodded, "I was going to request it be a joint project. I normally build something and then reveal it but not this. You are family. Amy was family. Did we figure out how they are tracking us?"

She nodded, "They have a tie into the older portion of the system.

Just one so far but they are working on others."

Charlus nodded, "They have to connect into your system. Using one of your crystals that they know the encryption too."

She sighed, "How do I fix that?"

Charlus smiled, "Base One emergency shutdown. Shutdown all systems." Charlus looked at her. "We go up to the Overwatch and have them shut down. We find which crystal or crystals they are tied into. Then we send them a dwarven care package. Or I send an assault team behind enemy lines."

She sighed, "What do we do when they do it again?"

Charlus smiled, "Once I have identified those crystals then we replace them. I have newer crystal and diamonds ready for if we ever expand. Time has come to add the other 24 diamonds and destroy the uplink to the original twenty-four. With the improved encryption, they will never get through."

She nodded, "They would have to deploy their own diamonds and we have been watching for that eventuality. Else connect directly into the older system."

Charlus looked at the one who went through his mind. "Any other insight you wish to share. The Lady of Dreams said you might even discover something."

He nodded, "I took my time collecting the information in your mind. The way his brain works is incredible. He is using massive portions of his brain at any one time. Even when asleep. He has a psion child then they would need to come here. To train. He can even keep parts of his mind encrypted!"

Charlus looked at him, "I will consider it when you tell me the rest of it."

He smiled, "Perceptive as well. Very well, you may die in a fight but if you live a full measure of life you could ascend into something greater. Possibly even a deity."

Charlus smiled, "Deity of stealth, assassination, diplomacy, secrets, encryption, knowledge, luck, and smart-ass comments."

Majisa looked at him, "You forgot magic."

Charlus shook his head, "Maybe an aspect of magic but magic is solidly under Corellon Larethian that would be completely blasphemous to say as his champion."

She nodded, "You wear a symbol that is visible for Erevan Ilesere. Is that not odd?"

Charlus shook his head, "Given my skills in stealth and being a rogue if you will even if I am a specialist as a dualist."

They gathered and she teleported them into the control center. She looked around and passed direction. Charlus walked over to a master panel and the dragon there reluctantly opened it. He placed his hands on the crystal, "There are four in use which means two stations are operational."

Majisa sighed as Charlus continued. "Those four are over this area. You asked me once if I would not build this system. What would it take? The thing is I did build it. I just never deployed it; you did. I see the age of elves who get a full measure of life and wonder what if?

With what this system can do, would it be right in their hands? Especially when dragons live so much longer and with our Alliance. You are more likely to strike without telling us about it. Dragon business."

She smiled, "You built it for us and to get a more focused view for the Alliance."

Charlus looked at her and nodded, "We find we need to add something, it is something we can discuss. Currently, we have everything. Mostly. I want to build another console. One with 6 two-dimensional displays."

She looked at him, "What for?"

He looked at her, "I want to be able to set them for a repeated scan and alert if it finds something. One over the palace district, the capital as a whole, Quatarsia, dwarven Kingdom, and the human areas. Both of them."

She nodded, "I will consider that as we would have the capacity with the changes you did. We seem to be constantly chasing an outbreak. As to going straight to a diamond, we would pick that up easily enough. This way the connection up is always us."

Charlus looked at her, "Bring one station up at the moment and see if you can isolate the location or the region of these two other stations. They tracked us. I will stand over here away from the display."

She waved him over. She looked at the signal, "It is bouncing all over the place."

Charlus nodded, "They are using random repeaters to mask their location They probably have the room, hole or whatever they placed it in heavily warded. How many are you seeing?

She looked at Charlus, "16."

Charlus asked her, "Locations inhabited?"

She nodded, "One appears to be at the elven palace, then a couple of others. In the current human lands. He nodded, "We will need people on the ground for those.

We can try and send in noise maker markers. That would let our people know where they are at. We can narrow it down."

She looked at Charlus, "How?"

He walked over and pulled four of the older crystals." The dragon at the console, "They are using these four locations for those two. He put two in and took the first two out. They repeat this process until they had an active map. They put them all back in and went back into operation. He pulled the crystal to Base One, "Turn all systems back on. We got what we wanted."

Charlus looked at her, "You want to shut them down? Then we pull those crystals now. A repeater is not strong enough to hit one of the diamonds. At least none I have built. You want to shut them down, then WE need a strike team to go to a repeater site. From there I can isolate the encryption they are using. We can send a package or strike team to the other end."

Majisa shook her head, "I want the old network shutdown. You will need to shut down half of your terminals until I get all of these deployed. Then you would have to replace the crystals in your console."

Charlus shook his head, "All of mine come in through these crystals here. We connect to the main system. Not into the uplinks. Ours is more powerful for what we search for but your system is faster on all of the stuff you check for. By limiting what we search for those stations are focused on a smaller load than yours.

You could do it the way you have it but you are focused on the bigger picture issues while we are focused on the defensive aspects. For certain areas."

She looked at Charlus, "The only crystals here that need to be replaced are our consoles and the uplinks."

Charlus nodded, "Then the diamonds. They should go up first. You could send out twenty-four dragons or forty-eighty if you want protection and put up those twenty-four.

We remove your old uplink crystal and install the new ones and they are forced to go straight to the old diamonds. We have the repeater locations and we can connect to it from an old crystal."

She nodded, "They probably have the location blocked for teleportation and scrying."

Charlus nodded, "Use your system to look for sites where teleportation is blocked."

She looked at me, Charlus, "The scrying would block that out."

Charlus sighed, "Look for abjuration on one display. On the other display check each location. You can tell where scrying is blocked. Then you can look for places where it is just blocking teleportation. You could scry on those with your system."

She sighed, "I find it unnerving that you know so much about my system. Even more than me in some areas."

Charlus smiled, "With all of the changes, it is our system because all of your communication crystals are mine. You just have control over it."

She chuckled, "Alright you have been very giving in your knowledge of encryption and enchanting them for us."

She looked at Charlus, "Did you transcribe the Dragon magic books?"

He shook his head, "Not in its entirety just select spells and cautionary entries of course."

She looked at Charlus, "You could do it."

He nodded, "Without the necromancy stuff. I did not have my encryption abilities to read that thankfully."

She looked at Charlus, "Would you?"

Charlus shrugged, "Depends on what the gods direct."

She sighed and nodded. They walked out as he mounted up. Charlus looked over at her, "The gods would let me know if I am crossing the line."

Charlus could not tell her they already had him do that years ago and it was secured away so a blade wielder could find it. He knew something would happen in the future but not what. The neutral that scanned his mind had to know. He would have also known he did it by divine direction. He did mention parts of his mind were encrypted though, something the Gods might have done. He teleported out to the main gate.

He rode in and headed to the bank before it closed for the day. He walked up to the counter, "Balance on my account."

She looked at and wrote down. Just over twenty-seven million. Charlus looked at her, "Transfer everything above ten million to the family trust. I want this account set to be capped at ten million. I am missing a gold piece, add it but the rest goes into the trust."

She looked, "I can set that up for you can I ask why? You keep coming over the years and pushed money to the family trust."

Charlus nodded, "Clause in the family will for a Moon Blade wielder to keep your personal accounts at no more than 10 million. I am just getting tired of doing it so often."

She nodded, "You could set up a shadow account."

Charlus smiled, "No. As the blade wielder, it is my job to work against those issues. Any shadow accounts associated with House Silvertree?"

She looked at him, "I cannot release that information."

Charlus pulled a crystal, "Your Majesty, I have an issue at the bank."

She sighed, "What is the issue?"

Charlus smiled, "I was just offered the option to set up a shadow account in order to hide funds. While not illegal in some sense I asked her for a list of House Silvertree members who have these accounts. They would not show up on the books the Duke and I would review. She has refused my request.

I do not wish to threaten her and then follow through on it by taking her life. I want that list and balances in accordance with the terms of my grandfather's will."

The Queen groaned. "I want a compromise here. You can get a list of names but not balances. Try not to kill them without getting the whole story."

Charlus looked at her, "List."

She looked nervous and nodded. She went through and gave Charlus a list of 8 names. 6 of whom were in Silvertree but not a voting member. They had opted out of any future trusts and went their own way. Charlus walked out of the bank.

He thought, Varus'Nor "Does having a shadow account become a disowning offense?"

Charlus heard a reply, "You can give them an option to come clean, or start their own house. Killing them should be last on the list unless it is a crime you witnessed."

Charlus sighed and thought, "Thank the Gods."

Charlus got to the house and pulled the crystal, "Need the door opened."

They opened up and he passed through all of the house security and found his brother. "I need a family meeting with those 8 the mothers and the uncle who held the title until you came of age."

He nodded. "When?"

Charlus looked at him, "Tonight. In an hour."

He sighed, "I take it is important?"

Charlus nodded, "Deals with all of them, including you, having a shadow account at the bank. They offered me the service today.

I told them no and I wanted names and balances. The Queen told her to give me names. I will need a letter to the bank to let them know I am to be given access to balances, or they need to look at creating their own house. Else I will be in their business.

I have the resources to find out where the income is coming from if I have to go that route. I will ask for transfer histories as well so moving funds out to another person's account will not work. You know I have made gifts of money to the mothers and my wife once each. Taken care of failed wills twice. That was in the open and those were gifts. I do not access their accounts.

I got them to cap that account so anything that comes in it will cap at 10 million and the rest will go into the trust. I wish I had known about that sooner. You know what the meeting is about now. I will give everyone on that list 3 days to make a decision on what they want to do."

He nodded and looked at Charlus, "I will talk with them myself."

Charlus nodded, "Thank you. I know it is unpleasant but I have the obligation."

Charlus went back to his room. Trilia smiled, "Busy 2 days?"

He chuckled, "You have to know some of it."

She nodded, "Your mothers and grandmother came in with my mother who was a bit shaken and she told me why. They told me you went into full diplomatic mode on the new guy after he killed the King."

Charlus nodded. "I killed 2 in the human court. One was the military adviser the other was the Queen after the children were identified as bastard children in open court. I made sure I only had the one challenger. I told him his body would leave in three pieces. It did. I cut him from the groin up with Varus'Nor and came back with the other sword which is a vorpal blade and took off his head.

The Queen I just beheaded after she spat on me. My danger sense went off as soon as I said all of the Queen's children would have their paternity divined. Turned them over to the paladins." Charlus started getting undressed and he looked at Moyra, "You do not have to leave, my pants will remain on."

She nodded and sat back down. "Then we found out Base Two's location was compromised. The Chromatics taped into the Dragon Overwatch system using the older crystals. I gave her the materials to fix it. I already had it built. Shit. Be right back."