Silvertree Chronicles Bk. 12

That was something they said your Gods would handle in their own way. You have magic and the spells to do it. I was told we could not save everyone in the world. I hope you are able to save yourselves as you are family to me.

Glimmer, (A Descendant of House Silvertree, generations removed from Jazzia who I respected for saving my kind. Thought you should know, as we will be gone when this is found by only those able to enter this space, by Jazzia's design.)"

Brycen sighed and took it with him. He went below and looked at the ground, "Nothing suitable here."

Brycen teleported back to Quatarsia and rode over to the Keep and saw workers digging off the dirt. He went inside and found the bulk of those he left behind.

Brycen looked at Vittra, "How are things looking?"

She nearly jumped into the ceiling. She stuck out a hand and he took a look, "I thought beds were supposed to be on the floor?"

She nodded, "It is, it is just flipped on its side. I will figure it out. It has to do with these crazy dimensions."

Brycen looked at her writing and made an adjustment to what she wrote. She groaned, "I inverted the height and width."

He nodded, "Write it with common or put it all in elven. Your mix is what is messing you up."

She sighed, "Too much time with Lorranu. She won't live to see all of this but she is concerned about what it means for me."

Brycen nodded, "That is why you 2 have not married?"

She smiled, "I enjoy her company but we know we have to find a husband at some point. Sooner for her."

Brycen nodded, "I have to ask you a question and I hope you will take it seriously."

She looked at Brycen, "Go ahead."

Brycen looked at her, "Earlier were you teasing me or flirting with me? Gods are providing no guidance. I really do not want to waste any time pursuing anyone who is truly not interested."

She smiled, "Both really. We are looking for a husband to have children with. We have not settled on anyone or should I say no one has shown interest to both of us. We have been together only since she became of age 2 years ago.

Until today, I thought we had more time for that. We also lowered our options when we took each other's virginities; all of them."

Brycen chuckled at her, "As long as you love each other. Are you as oversexed as some of the others?"

She nodded, "Very. I know your elder sister said she was toned down but she spent a night or 2 with us before she married. She was just as oversexed if not more so than I am. She already consummated with him beforehand. She was trying to decide if another wife was needed."

He nodded, "Instead she got another husband."

She nodded, "Yes that one is infertile. She told us it was fun but not the same as a living cock between her legs. The laws only allow for one to have multiples in one of the sexes of a marriage. He found he liked a cock in his ass. That settled that. She was interested in Lorranu because of her large tits.

I think I was there because I am with Lorranu and that made her approachable. She spent 90% of her time playing with her and her tits. She does not know about all of this yet. I was told not to tell her unless I married her. She won't do that without a husband in the mix."

Brycen sighed, "You both are beautiful. I am surprised you have not had any interest."

She smiled, "Interest yes, just not from the same guy. Then there are 'we are infertile and just want to have a no strings commitment.' I smile and point them at the last guy who used that line and told them, 'You are looking for the same thing.' You should go fuck each other."

He chuckled at her, "You got a third playmate?"

She smiled, "Maybe, she would not want to be known about unless you are pursuing us."

Brycen smiled, "Another who wants in on a marriage?"

She nodded, "Not from our house either. But she is a gestalt, like us and not an enchanter."

Brycen nodded, "Set something up for us to meet after I come of age. Else the whole conversation might prove too tempting for any of us."

She smiled wickedly, "I will talk with them; all 3 of them."

Brycen looked at her, "Another couple?"

She nodded, "Yes, Both gestalts and not of the same house either. Neither is an enchanter. They also have different skills and are fertile."

Brycen nodded, "Note to self, pick up a constitution item."

She went wide-eyed, "Don't you dare!"

He walked away as she shook her head but was smiling. Brycen checked on the others.

He commented back, "If I find I am not keeping up I will craft one. Especially for you."

She smiled and turned red before turning away. He told them to call it a day. They gathered and he teleported them back.

He walked in as the Master Enchanter was coming out, "I cannot enchant the shield. You and another will need to do it for that one. It will ensure it lasts longer."

Brycen sighed, "What about the ones we have to build on the Fortress?"

She nodded, "I am researching something for that."

He sighed, "I will work with Vittra on that if you go to Quatarsia. Get started on getting this moving."

She looked at what he had drawn up and nodded, "This will be massive but doing this in sections so we can tie them together will work. Nice concept. Glad to see you removing that excess dirt between layers. This will be almost 1,000 feet long and 600 feet wide."

Brycen nodded. "Double as we use stone'shape instead of disintegrating to expand across the length and width mostly. Also, a good 100 feet thick with the stone shape reusing stone instead of destroying it, it will be much larger." He took his horse in the back and set him loose in the pasture after getting him brushed down. He ate light and went to bed. He awoke at the falls and looked around. He saw him approaching and asked, "Charlus?"

He nodded, "Yes. I cannot provide any specific guidance but you seem to have ALL of your projects going in the right direction. When you wake, you will find a flat blue sapphire. It will contain me. If you break it, I will be available to help you once in this effort before passing on; here, or along your journey to this other world.

This appears to be what they have kept me around for. Add it to your personal journal but tell nobody, not even your wives. For the next wielder if something happens only. At least until after I have gone. I will also tell you the contract on Champions for House Silvertree ends when this world ends.

Something in the wording of the agreement that was forged. You might very well be the last champion for Corellon Larethian carrying the Silvertree name. Gestalts will fade generations from now but they will be needed for the foreseeable future. Remember only once so use it wisely. Try and stay alive."

He awoke the next morning and started a journal outlining yesterday's events, last night's strange encounter, and the flat blue sapphire being a one-use item to get aid from Charlus. He triple-encrypted the entry and left the method of decrypting it to Nolla'Vasi. He went the next 3 days aiding on the shields and worked the Fortress problems as they were identified, including cracks in the foundation that had to be repaired with stone shaping magic.

Septa 5th 11480

He got up, dressed, prayed, studied, and ate. He saddled up Drakon'Vos. He rode out to find Vittra and Lorranu standing there. They smiled at him like he was the last piece of meat in the butcher's shop.

Vittra smiled, "Mid-day that little market eatery we like to use."

Brycen nodded, "We have work to do first, before that."

She nodded, "Where are you going?"

Brycen looked at her, "The Palace, council, then mid-day unless we get done early. Then I will see you out at Quatarsia first if that happens. Not likely."

She nodded, "No shield work today?"

He shook his head, "Not today or tomorrow most likely. The day after we will resume that project."

Brycen thought, "Best speed to the Palace. Take us in the air."

They blew out the gate and up. They flew over the city with a straight shot at the Palace. While some objected to using the steeds this way within the city Brycen knew better. Brycen would not run anyone down this way. Brycen landed just short of the Palace and rode up as a Royal guard patrol came in and landed.

The Captain looked at Brycen, "You are supposed to go through the gates."

Brycen nodded, "I could have teleported here instead. I start my time on the Council today. Did you want to have the King advise me on what is allowed?"

He looked over and saw the sword. He shook his head, "No we will know you going forward."

Brycen walked inside and went straight to the line. The King arrived a few minutes later. He smiled as Brycen did not keep him waiting. The King looked over, "Today you are Duke Silvertree, Member of the Council."

He handed Brycen his papers, Brycen bowed to him, "Thank you, your Majesty. I do need to convene the Council."

He nodded, "It is your right. They are already expecting you. I will be up momentarily."

He obviously anticipated this request. Brycen went to the fourth floor and he pulled out his display and walked in. He looked over the plains section and found what he wanted. Not granite but should work just as well. Looked like a form of marble. The King walked in, "What did you wish for the Council to take up today?"

Brycen handed him the letter.

He read it and looked at Brycen, "Where did you get this?"

Brycen pointed at the display, "That is the location the dragon land used to be located; at the time of the return. My best guess is they floated a force wall, several interlinked under the area. Above this area are 8 secure shelters used during the return. I checked all 4 of them that I could access to see if there was anything left behind. Anything that might point us to a royal dragon for restarting the forge."

He passed the letter around to the Council. Moon Bow asked, "Who is Glimmer?"

Brycen looked at him, "She was a silver dragon who worked for the Metallic council. A couple of champions called her out in the journal. Lerian put Gods' Eyes online and she was standing in the audience chamber with the Elven King of that time.

Lerian drew down on the Gold King according to the journal. The Gold King was furious until Corellon Larethian and Bahumut showed to voice their opinions. Charlus also knew her; when he built Overwatch, Alliance Overwatch, and fixed their system but he did not give her that name. Lerian did that and the fact she was descended from a Dragon Silvertree line was not known until I found that letter.

Jazzia had 6 dragon offspring. One of them was her ancestor. They, of course, left hundreds of years ago, but they had tried once before to leave. Lighthouse caught them at the start of a war. Mercian Silvertree stopped them during the Eclipse War."

Brycen looked around as some confused faces. Brycen sighed, "Lighthouse was a series of shelters that generated shields going out like beams from a lighthouse. It was used to stop the storm giant bases. Mercian caught the dragons when they tried to leave.

He was after the horde of half-dragon and dragons that came at us. Their home being captured was a bonus. The fact is you wanted another source to say the same thing and now you have it."

King Goldeagle heard from his sword, "You asked and he found another source from a letter written over 2,000 years ago. By a dragon relation to Jazzia Silvertree. Another champion...a descendant of a Dragon champion from that time. Talking about the nova that was coming and giving a similar timeframe of needing to escape. Will you listen now? He is adult enough now?"

The King sighed, "I will authorize your scouting party."

Brycen looked at the Council, "Last time I will ask the question. Does anyone wish to change their previous vote on the expenditure?" He had 8 to 5 which did not carry. Brycen nodded, "I will build it and decide who will be going. I have only selected 2 blade holders so far. Moon Blade for his skills and Moon Eye for the trusted psionic skills.

We still need to know if the dwarves have thoughts about joining. We still need someone to find us a human master craftsman to take with us for the forge. I know, too soon to talk with humans. They do not see that far out."

The King nodded and walked out to speak with the Dwarven 'King.' Brycen looked at Moon Blade, "How goes the search for the raw materials?"

He smiled, "I could fill 40 of them if I had 60 million. Half mithril in bars and half adamantium raw ore; it is a good deal for the amount of metal."

Brycen nodded, "That is your department. I will get you another 30 of those holes and the account will have the funds before the end of the day. Your forge is enchanted? Correct?"

He nodded, "No fuel required for it or the smelter I have. Eldar helped to put that forge in my family's hands."

Brycen smiled, "Good to know. The Keep has a standard enchanted forge already in place as well. It will have to be lowered as we move the dirt off of the granite around the Keep."

It took over an hour before the King returned. He sighed, "They do not want to turn over their forge."

Brycen smiled, "It is not their forge. It belongs to the Alliance. I will make a decision before I depart. We have close to a century worth of enchanting projects to keep us busy."

The King looked at Brycen, "Why would the decision be yours?"

Brycen smiled, "I own the shelters they are housed in. I have security control over the place. They were opened by Nova to give them the tools to build what they need. Not to give it to them in perpetuity.

If I have no way of ensuring the relic will not fall into enemy hands, I would act as the Champion to secure it away. Charlus locked it away once to help reform the Alliance. This is not without precedence. No telling what they would do with it.

I cannot secure it after I leave. Also, if we encounter the dragons and we have the master craftsman we could get it restarted. Having it at the destination working would be more useful in the long run. It would be more useful during the journey after that occurred. Given Glimmer's request, it should be easy to get them to agree once and if we find them."

King Goldeagle looked across at him, "Is this something champions have done before?"

Brycen nodded, "Again, Charlus's death to bring back the alliance. The Knight Paladin working the dragon's security contingent on getting the forge back; which was needed. There are presidencies. Read your family journals on champions."

He sighed, "Many were destroyed under the Dark King. I have the Blade Wielders Journal for the times before that. I will let it go for now. I cannot lock you up for thoughts that are not acted upon."

Brycen nodded, "That would be counterproductive to our goals."

The others chuckled. They covered a couple of formalities associated with joining the Council. They broke for the day in time for the mid-day meal. Brycen rode to the market to meet Vittra, Lorranu, and two mystery ladies. Brycen walked in and appeared to be the last one there. Vittra spotted him and smiled.

Brycen walked over and nodded to her, "The dwarven King held up our departure."

One of the ladies he did not know asked, "I was told you came of age today and you are dealing with the dwarven King?"

Brycen sat down, "I am not dealing with him. If anyone is missing 20 pounds of adamantium ore you need not worry. It is located right between his fucking ears."

They chuckled at him. Brycen sighed, "I am on the Council. Because of the Moon Blade. I did not ask for it but I cannot change that. Introductions?"

Vittra smiled, "This is Pelau Silver Moon and her lady of interest Michia Silver Ring."

Brycen nodded, "Relation to the blade wielders?" Pelau looked at him, "Great-aunt."

Michia sighed, "Father though we are estranged. He does not approve of my choice in partners. No, I am not on the list for the sword nor do I wish to be."

Brycen nodded, "Well divination is shut down. It will be live or die for any to try and use the blade. Your Great Aunt was willing to back my latest enchantment project and your father did not see the need for the crown to take part. That means I am financing it myself."

Mishia asked, "What are you building?"

Brycen looked at her, "You familiar with Nova Base?"

Mishia nodded, "I heard it was sent off a couple of hundred years ago or something. You retrieving it?"

Brycen shook his head, "It was destroyed epically. I am building another, similar but a different Fortress. Also, much larger."

She looked at him, "Seriously?"

Brycen nodded, "Some of what I have been keeping Vittra busy on."

She looked at him, "This a military project. Wait, you said you are paying for it."

Brycen nodded, "Not military. Exploration base."

She nodded, "What do you plan to explore."

Brycen smiled, "That part is guarded information to the family including wives. Also, the Council members. But we have two Master Enchanters right now. First time in a long time for us to be able to do these things."

Pelau looked at him, "Expensive?"

Brycen nodded, "Very. Spent over 2 million for the rights to the Keep in Quatarsia. That is one of the cheap parts."

Pelau choked a bit, "That is cheap?"

Brycen nodded, "It will probably cost more than a billion in gold."

Misha looked at him, "YOU are financing that? How?"

Brycen nodded, "Nova Base had significant treasure. A nice chunk of that was left behind for the next Blade Wielder because Nova Silvertree saw the potential need to expend the resources and she had it available from what she captured. It was left to me for this reason. The sword makes you less likely to get corrupted. You do and the sword will kill you."

They both nodded but Lorranu looked at him, "You are serious? It will kill you?"

Brycen nodded, "Moon Blade wielders on average have shorter lives as it is. At least House Silvertree' Moon Blade wielders. We have had quite a few that held the sword for less than a year to less than ten years. One held it for less than a day on the battlefield claiming when his father fell in battle. A few who lived longer than five centuries. I only know of one that killed an active wielder and that was Moon Ray's sword.

In that case, the sword wielder got their spirit stripped by a necromancy ring. Replaced with an evil dragon or half-dragon the sword killed the new spirit in the body by killing the body."

She looked at him, "Why would you want such a weapon?"

Brycen chuckled, "The Master Enchanter pushed my hand onto the blade to force me to claim it. She grabbed my arm and yanked me toward it to throw me off balance. She knew more than I did. Once it judges you it is bound to you for life, short of a deity getting involved. Fail in the judgment and they are burying your corpse."

She shook her head, "I would have killed her!"

Brycen laughed, "I threatened just that. Told her I should use it on her."

Pelau asked, "What do you think it will take to build it?"

Brycen shrugged, "I will start getting worried when it starts to exceed 3 and a half billion. Then I might have to look at curtailing some things depending on what is left to complete. I can go to 4 billion if needed. A lot of what I will be doing will take massive amounts of time. I know Lorranu is a bard. What about you 2?"

Pelau looked at him, "That is a massive amount of money. I am a ranger battle mage. While she is a ranger sorceress."

Brycen nodded, "Both well suited to exploring. I would say the same of you Lorranu except I will still be crafting this in a century most likely."

Lorranu looked at him, "A century on one project?"

Brycen shook his head, "A whole slew of interlinked projects. You can see one of them in a few weeks."

She pointed at him, "This have anything to do with the large black walls in your house estate?"