Silvertree Chronicles Bk. 09

My opinion on that matter. Get some rest. You will have chaos coming and 'The Tempest' that is Mercian will help to bring it to a close faster if you only open up your mind to listening to him. Instead of trying to control him. He gets direction from the Gods first, just as I did in life."

---

Mercian got up the next morning and went looking for his mother. He looked over, "Where is my mother?"

The Patron sighed, "She went to her shop. Left an hour ago."

He sighed and shook his head, "She knew of the danger. I cannot protect everyone in this house. Make sure everyone knows of the risks right now."

He nodded, "I sent 6 guards with her."

Mercian nodded, and got his horse and mounted up. He rode out, "Those guards that left with my mother back?"

One of them nodded, "Said your mother had 6 customers waiting."

Mercian shook his head, "Tell the Patron she has likely been taken as a hostage or killed."

He looked at Mercian. Mercian nodded and he undid the door. Mercian rode out and thought, "Take me to her horse."

He heard back, "I do not sense her horse."

He teleported them to the backside of her shop and found her dead mount.

They stripped the gear. He went invisible and went into her shop. No sign of her but a note that read, "Roc District. Come alone, Mercian."

He pulled a crystal, "I am knocking." He stepped out next to his horse, "Door is open." He went inside and unsaddled Anama'Losgadh, "Her horse is dead. Saddle and bridle were gone. With this note."

Patron Silvertree shook his head, "She is likely already dead."

Mercian nodded, "I know. I know what she told me if something like this ever occurred. They do not know what she told me."

The Patron looked at Mercian, "What?"

Mercian sighed, "Stay alive and make them pay!"

He went to the armory and pulled out a stack of wands. He looked at Mercian, "You doing this alone?"

Mercian smiled, "I have someone to contact."

Mercian walked out and nodded to the guy. He switched forms and teleported into the enchanter's district. The girl behind the counter looked at him, "I can sense you are hiding your appearance, but I cannot see it for some reason."

Mercian stopped and wrote out what he wanted. She went and got it while he put gold out for the supplies. She looked at him, "That is a lot of healing."

He nodded. and walked out, "Deactivate." He teleported into the area and left the door open. He waited and she showed up in hiding. He looked at her, "Hello Lucian."

She looked over, "What is going on?"

Mercian looked at her, "Silvertree saddles are abjuration. One is in the Roc District. I need a location. My mother was taken this morning. I know you can track it after what I turned on. I cannot go up there and check. But you have been following me and that would be the likely method to do so short of having someone tailing me. With my teleport capability, that would be hard to do and there are a lot of those saddles."

She smiled, "Alright. Let me see what I can find."

She contacted overwatch to do the search.

Mercian left the field down and loaded up his belt. She gave him coordinates. "It is in the middle of the street in the Roc District. It looks like it is on a horse."

He nodded, "Not for much longer. You will want to depart."

She sighed, "I will see the King in person and let him know you are on the hunt for a reason."

Mercian nodded and went invisible, "I am knocking."

He heard, "Door is open."

Mercian teleported into the square. Next to the horse and teleported the horse and rider into Silvertree estates. Mercian threw him off his horse. "Activate." Mercian pulled him inside and stripped the horse of the saddle and reins. Mercia looked at the Patron, "The first prisoner to interrogate. I want to know the strength, numbers, base location, and status of my mother."

He walked over and started ripping into this guy's head none too gently. He looked at Mercian, "She fought them and they disintegrated her. Here is the information."

Mercia cut the fuckers head off. Mercia looked at the information. 80 thieves and assassins in the building. They were alone. A three-story structure with guards on the roof of 3 nearby and taller buildings across the way.

Teleportation blocked, scrying blocked. True seeing being used. He grabbed a teleport blocker of his own and stuck it into his bag.

Mercian looked at his Patron, "Time to make them pay."

Mercian walked outside and nodded to the guard. He teleported himself and the horse out at 50,000 feet above the building. He drew weapons and switched forms He dove down and went invisible anyway after the horse crashed through the roof. His divine non-detection would make it harder for them to line up any shots with accuracy.

He only had to worry about the area of effect spells mostly. Mercian turned on the teleport blocker. He had and started cutting through the men they threw at him. He unloaded fireball and acid explosions. He popped healing potions left and right as needed.

He counted bodies at 57. He tossed bodies out the windows as he went. He went to the next level of the burning building. He killed 4 more who were looking for him. They found him and died in a whirling set of blades. Their bodies went out of the building in the same unceremonious manner.

He got to the first floor and the door was open. He turned off the blocker and went up to all of the guard positions one at a time and butchered them. That took care of 70 of them. "Deactivate."

He cast up a blizzard over the area to put out the fires from the building. He teleported to the cave and switched forms. She showed up and looked at Mercian, "Hells Mercian! Not very tactical."

Mercian looked at her, "That was very tactical. They had already disintegrated her, had 80 in that base, now they are down to 10."

She shook her head, "The ones that teleported away from the street went to the main gate and north gate then scattered across the kingdom. You put a fucking hurt on them. That is not to say they all teleported away. We counted 6."

Mercian nodded, "I am going home and then going to the Roc District."

She sighed, "I hope you know what you are doing."

Mercian nodded, "I have defenses and a danger sense from the sword. I am meeting their demand to go alone."

She rolled her eyes and disappeared. He called home, "I am knocking."

He heard, "The door is open and the King is calling for you. He teleported up. "Activate."

He grabbed the crystal, "Your Majesty, you wished to speak with me?"

He heard him sigh, "Did you turn the Roc District into a war zone?"

Mercian smiled, "Your Majesty, I just came back from the secret location of the Alliance Overwatch. Something happened in the Roc District?"

He heard him moan and he heard Lucian laughing in the background. He sighed, "I will contact you back after talking with Lucian."

---

Lucian looked at the King, "He was covered in blood and smelled of smoke. We cannot track him, only his horse. He goes invisible and he has that divine non-detection with his blade, we cannot follow him unless he is on a Silvertree horse with those saddles. He knows how we track him.

Also monitoring the site of those stations, he left it open knowing I would come to investigate. He said his patron confirmed they killed his mother, there were 80 in that base, 6 teleported away, and left the Capital. At least 70 of them are dead. He had an extra belt with healing potions on it and half of them were gone.

Now he is planning on riding into the area alone as the kidnapper or murders note asked for. His sword has a danger sense. He is just looking for any he missed. They started this fight with the champion and his house. The champion is working to finish it. The fact he is a champion and could explode if he died did not stop them from attacking him. He is working to remove these corrupting elements from the city, Your Majesty."

The King thought to his sword, "Any thoughts on how to handle this?"

He heard back, from his sword, "He is handling it quite nicely. Support him, as the sword will judge if he crosses the line. You told me about your dream when you awoke. Right now, he is cutting the rot out of your Kingdom as an army of one. He is not in the Diplomatic Service, but he is doing more than they have in removing these threats. Something to consider."

The King started writing, "Get these to the Guard Captain. Arrest warrants for those listed from yesterday, get them to the dungeon in the war room, if they are still alive." He thought, 'I should not have delayed action on bringing those 8 in sooner.'

His sword chuckled, 'That would have been part of what Charlus told you in that dream. Mixed results. Acting sooner when it is time.'

---

Mercian tossed the crystal back to him and went and got his horse after showering the blood off himself and cleaning himself up with the cleaning cantrip. He came out, "Open the door."

He nodded as he extended a hand, "That crystal." He nodded and then shook his head. He went riding for the Roc District. He did not need to worry about repairs because he was in an alternate form the entire time.

He got to the edge of the Roc District and city guards held up a hand, "There was some type of war in the district. It is not safe."

Mercian nodded, "I understand but I have to go. Someone took my mother and I was told to come here alone. The King is aware."

He sighed and let Mercian past after Mercian showed him his papers. It looked like a war zone alright. People stood around and he saw Willow with another woman.

She looked at him as he rode past checking out the damage. No alerts went off. He rode to the other end of the district and back through again. Willow and her lady had disappeared. He left the area and headed back toward home. The crystal went off, "You there Silvertree?"

Mercian smiled, "This Silvertree is here. You were right. The Roc District looked like a war zone. Most of it appeared to be focused on one building. Hard to say how big it was, Your Majesty. The men who left me a note did not attempt to contact me."

The King sighed, "City guard reports 72 bodies. One was crushed by a horse and did not get thrown from the building."

Mercian nodded, "I feel bad for the horse, Your Majesty. It sounds like he was not keeping good company. Any progress on that list on your end?"

Mercian heard the King sigh, "I had 3 workings to make deals to avoid death or the destruction of their houses."

Mercian smiled, "They at the palace, Your Majesty?"

He sighed, "Yes and you know where."

Mercian nodded, "In route to the Palace, Your Majesty."

He let the crystal go dark and rode into the palace district with little trouble. He got off his horse and teleported straight to the fourth floor and went into the war room. Mercian went back to the cells and saw that he did have 2 roommates. Mercian walked around and looked at each man's gear on the floor.

Mercian walked over to one cell. "Rumor has it you lead a gang of thieves and assassins out of the Roc District."

He chuckled, "I would not put too much stock in rumors boy."

Mercian nodded, "My mother's horse was killed and the horse's gear taken. The one man who had it will never be found. Now from what the King just told me the city guards found the bodies of 72 with a dead horse. All in a building in the Roc District.

I rode through there and whomever it was that wanted to talk with me about killing my mother was nowhere to be found. Yes, the one guy told me they disintegrated her in the fight. I was obligated to face those that would mean my family harm.

I rode down there alone as they asked. To find massive destruction. They compared it to a war zone. God's help any who pissed off the force that landed in the Roc District.

I saw you in the court when I was, very loudly, proven to be the champion of Corellon. Imagine what I could do to you and your family in the name of killing enemies of the elven people."

He turned white. Mercian looked at him, "I would recommend you spend some time giving the King the names and locations of your associates. In the city or in the Kingdom if they would have fled like scared mice from that."

He swallowed hard and nodded slowly. Mercian turned and saw Lucian and he walked past her on the way out.

She sighed, "Nobody saw a damned thing there. They did recover some of your mother's gear. Stuff with your house insignia on it. It was taken to your house."

Mercian nodded, "You might want to go and talk to that one asshole. Let him know I am leaving shortly to tend to my mother's arrangement and her will. Then I might take a break from the city for a while and go hunting. Invisibility and divine non-detection are a winning combination together."

She chuckled and went back inside.

She came back a few minutes later, "His 2 associates have safe houses they go to on occasion if things are getting heated. They are both on the northern end of the Kingdom."

Mercian shrugged, "I tend to go to Quatarsia to hunt. Doubt I would be anywhere near there."

She nodded, "My people will find them."

Mercian smiled, "I pray they do. Give the King my best. Tell him what I said about hunting in Quatarsia. I need to get to the woods. I will check back in when I return to the city."

She nodded, "I will know."

Mercian smiled, "IF I choose to let you know. I store my saddle and harness and you won't detect me."

She sighed. Mercian teleported out front and mounted up.

---

Lucian went to the King in his audience chamber, "He had no witnesses to the activity in the Roc district. As I mentioned invisibility and non-detection, the potions were probably for the area of effect spells the others cast at him.

He got one of the prisoners to give up 2 locations to me for finding the missing Duke and his business partner. He did not ask for them, having stepped out. He is going to Quatarsia to hunt after dealing with his mother's will and funeral, Your Majesty."

The King sighed, "Send assets and get those 2 before he tries hunting them down himself."

---

Mercian went to the shop and cleared out her personal belongings and anything of value. He contacted the building owner letting him know he had it on good authority that it was not just her horse who died. The building was his again. He nodded and Mercian left him and rode the rest of the way home.

Mercian saw Willow and her friend out in front of House Silvertree. He stopped as they approached. She looked at Mercian, "I saw you in the Roc District."

Mercian nodded, "Saw you as well. I went there to see those who took my mother, said I should come down there alone. They recovered some of her gear from that destroyed building. From what we gathered and divined they disintegrated her.

That place sure was a mess. The King contacted me before I rode down there to see the damage and to see if the would-be killers would show themselves. They left a note in her shop; you know the shop. The one I took you too.

Asked me to come to the Roc District alone. I did but I did not get approached by any of them. I have to talk to the guards about if they can identify the 6 that were waiting for enchanting this morning. Did you have any information on those who killed or helped them to kill my mother?"

Mercian waved the house guard over, "Take these 2 to see the escort detail my mother had this morning. They might recognize the description of some of those responsible."

The house guard waved them forward. Varus'Nor alerted, "Danger!"

Mercian watched her friend go for a hidden blade on her belt. She swung in and stabbed him as he lifted his hand back. He thought, "Varus'Nor left hand Moon Fire on."

He swung down and severed her hand from the wrist. Willows screamed, "WHY DID YOU ATTACK HER?" He pointed at her severed hand still holding the blade in his leg.

The would-be assassin looked up, "You should be FUCKING DEAD!"

He pulled the blade out as house guards grabbed her, "Anything to add to your confession?"

Willow looked at her, "You worked for THEM!?"

The girl rolled her eyes, "Shut up!"

He cleaned off his blade on her clothes and sheathed the sword as he got down. He took her dagger and jammed it into the stump of her arm and she did not make a sound. Simply fell over dead. Mercian looked at her, "Live by poison; die by poison. Go with the guard. Once the escort clears that you were not involved then we will move on to the next step. Like why you are here?"

She pointed, "She said she wanted to meet you. She felt like you owed me for getting me fired."

Mercian waved her off. He dragged her body to the edge of the property. The guards pointed to the girl on the ground as one of the 6 who was at the shop. He got descriptions of the other 5 and recognized them from the bloodbath. 2 guards and the 3 on the top floor. Merican gave her 1,000 gold pieces. "For my part in getting you fired. I do have to ask you, did she get you the job at that business?"

She nodded, "Said she had a contact at the shop to get me a job."

Mercian nodded, "Thank you."

Mercian picked up the girl's body and rode to the palace district. The guard looked at Mercian, "What in the hells?"

Mercian smiled, "An assassin who stabbed me in the leg with that dagger. Imagine my surprise that she had poisoned the blade."

He nodded, "Where are you going with it?"

Mercian pointed. "That shop. She asked for a lift home before she died."

The guard called over, "I want 2 guards to ride with you."

Mercian nodded. He went into the shop and saw the owner behind the counter. He tossed the body onto the counter. "She was not happy you fired her girlfriend. Not after she worked you so hard to get her a job here."

The owner's wife looked at her husband, "You been fucking around with that?"

The guy shook his head. Mercian walked out as the royal guards worked to keep them separated as she wanted to kill her husband. Mercian got on his horse and went home.

He got a buzzing from the crystal to the palace, "Yes, Your Majesty."

Mercian heard King Goldeagle sigh, "I have royal guards reporting you dropped a dead girl on the counter of that merchants' shop and got the guy's wife riled up at him. They had to disarm her twice to keep her from killing him. They finally brought him to the Palace given the events of the day."

Mercian smiled, "I was told by Willow who showed up with her girlfriend, that her girlfriend got her a job at that shop. Now he was either fucking the dead girl or was in business with the group in the Roc District. She stabbed me with a poisoned blade. I returned the blade to her and her to him to straighten out which was worse.

Was he fucking her or working for them? Why else would a mix-blooded girl from the Roc District with no magical talent have a job in the palace district? Not my job to figure out which is the case, just get the garbage away from the front of Silvertree Estates. My house guards identified the dead girl as one of the 6 waiting for my mother this morning, Your Majesty."

He sighed, "I will bring in someone to get answers from them. Would you let your patron know he is needed at the Palace?"

Mercian smiled, "Yes, Your Majesty. I would be happy to take care of that for you."

Mercian nodded to the guards who opened the door. He handed the crystal to the guard, "The patron will be right out."

He nodded. Mercian rode inside and saw the Patron, "Your presence is requested at the palace. I will not say why. You will figure it out."

He shook his head, "You?"

Mercian shook his head, "No more like he needs a mental evaluation done. Several probably."

Mercian rode in back and unsaddled Anama'Losgadh and brushed her down.

Patron Silvertree saddled up his horse. Mercian looked over, "I cleared out her shop and let the owner know she was dead."