Silvertree Chronicles Book One, Chapter 9, The World Awaits (Dragon Wars Enhanced Edition)
Synopsis: The life of Eldar Silvertree from graduation at the prestigious Elven Academy and desires to leave it behind; only to return full circle to shake Elven Society to the core.
***Inspired by multiple fantasy environments. Not endorsed by any of them. © EmotionalStorm April 2021. This story cannot be transferred to any other site besides Literotica.com without the prior authorizations in writing from the author and EmotionalStorm must be credited for this work.
Authors warning: This section contains scenes of incest between sisters.
Authors Note: For those who have not read my bio, please note I write as a form of therapy for a Traumatic Brain Injury. I know the English majors will probably encounter issues that annoy them. If these are your focus, instead of the story itself, then this is not the story for you. I am not and will never be a professional writer.
I do it to tell the story, for those who wish to read them. I originally submitted this story back in mid-2017 to mid-2018. I have worked to try and improve my writing style while struggling with this issue. I have added some editing software and written a few other stories. Now I am revising and editing this earlier work to try and bring it up to a higher standard from what I have managed to learn over the last few years.
Chapter 9
Mind Fucked
The next morning, they all packed up to leave. Bows at the ready with Charlemagne and Annette in the middle of the group. As they walked out, they saw the 2 dopes on a rope still in place. The bouncer smiled at them as they left in the early morning light.
They got to the wagons and Eldar looked at Hunter and Eagle-eye, "Can you two split the first days hunting by horseback? I will be driving the new lead wagon. Charlemagne and Annette need to have a heart-to-heart talk. All about us having to suddenly pull her out of home and town for protection and what plans can they make."
They both nodded.
He got Charlemagne alone for just a few seconds and whispered to her, "Does your sister know about the Knights, and will we be making that stop on the way back?"
She put her knuckles in her mouth, "No, and yes. This will be awkward."
He whispered again, "Any chance we can get her brought on as an operative at a business we have?"
She shrugged, "Possibly. Let us finish our talk today and I will know more."
He gave her a passionate kiss, "I love you and I will be thinking about you. Is Annette good with any weapons? We got the spare light crossbow plus anything she might have."
She nodded, "I'll ask if she has and what she can use. I don't know if she can use the crossbow, but will make sure she is armed just in case."
---
Charlie looked at her sister as they pulled out, "Any weapon skills?"
She sighed, "Dagger or shortsword I could use."
Charlie sighed, "There is a light crossbow under the seat, we will see if you can handle that as well. Good to have weapons out here."
Annette nodded, "I remember, it has just been years since I left."
Charlie could see she was going to have to pull for answers, "Your thoughts on Eldar?"
Annette sighed, "I already approved of him for you. As to me. I will see how it goes on this trip before committing. His actions in the city to protect us and not kill those other 2 men have me liking him. Plus his lovemaking, if you will, was gentle and genuine. He is different from others in the village.
He did work to protect us and he ensured we were both taken care of. Even though his shirt was ripped up from being attacked he looked at our welfare first. I do find that heartwarming. I will stay with you. To hell with it, we will give it a try but you have to be ready for the gossip and looks of disapproval when they figure out what is going on."
Charlie sighed and nodded, "We can face that together if it comes about. Regardless, I am glad to see you say yes to the idea. Now if I could only get him over having bastard children."
Annette rolled her eyes, "I am not even certain I could have children after what happened to me. I don't cycle. At least not normally. I may be infertile. Something we can check on IF we decide to go that route. For now. We leave it alone."
Charlie rubbed her sister's arm in a hug, "I did not know. You had not mentioned that before. At some point, we are going to have to talk with him about what happened."
Annette sighed, "Let me decide when that will happen. It is my past and you don't know everything from that time. You were working on falling in love with your husband and on the road home when that occurred. Your husband could never look me in the eye when he returned. That is why I had issues with him."
Charlie remembered back and her husband's reaction. He had an antiquated view on the matter and wondered what Annette did to get this man's attention. He never directly blamed Annette but she could tell he wondered if she did something to bring it upon herself. Why had she been out alone? She had a better idea now of why she left the village.
---
They could not seem to buy any luck. A few hours out of town and Hunter fired arrows off the left-hand side of the road. He wheeled his horse around and went flying toward the group.
He yelled, "Tiger!"
Eldar readied his sword and pulled the wagon to the left side of the road as Hunter flew down the right with a tiger and two arrows in it. It was 50 yards behind him. Elder did not have a great angle for a bow shot and He feared for the horses. He put on the brake to the wagon and fired off, "Mortana."
The missiles went flying into the cat while his sword came to the ready. He jumped down and moved between the horses and the cat and started his blade song. Hunter had begun his return with Eagle-eye on the back of his horse. Eldar decided being bait was the option and got a mirror image going before the cat got to attack.
It tried to pounce and hit one of two images he had. Eldar slashed it across the front haunches as he turned the cat for the incoming archers, Hunter pulled up. Eagle-eye and Hunter both landed killing shots into the side of the cat. The horses were a bit spooked but Eldar calmed them as he stabbed the cat in the throat just for good measure.
He looked at Hunter, "I see you found dinner for tonight. Thought it was supposed to be dead BEFORE you brought it back to the wagon?"
Hunter and Eagle-eye laughed. Hunter smiled, "It isn't back to the last wagon yet!"
Eldar shook his head at him and waited for them to tie off the kill and drag it out of the way.
He thought it was Charlemagne coming up behind him but it was Annette, she looked at the cat and then at Eldar, "You saved the horses from getting hurt." Eldar nodded as she continued. "I am staying with Charlemagne and you going forward. Both of you. Is it alright, if I ride with you for a while?"
He gave her a kiss on the cheek, "You can ride with me. Does Charlemagne know of your decision?"
She nodded with a smile. He saw she was not carrying a weapon yet. He told her, "Grab the light crossbow and some of the bolts from the second wagon." He gave her his boot dagger, "Out here you have to be armed and the dagger is enchanted."
She smiled, "I will be right back and you can show me how to drive."
He straightened the wagon out and waited for her to arrive then helped her up. He got them started again.
Hunter went shooting by and shouted, "Now I am going to start hunting wood and hope that one doesn't have a friend."
Eldar shouted back at Hunter, "If it does, we will eat well tonight!"
The rest of the day went by and they made camp.
Eldar grabbed Hunter and Eagle-eye, "We will return to the 3 of us pulling scouting tomorrow, I will begin the day in the first Wagon, Hunter will come and replace me and I will return to the second wagon with Charlemagne when Eagle-eye pulls scouting. Annette is the weakest in combat and new to driving a team, Hunter and I will teach her as we go along; splitting that duty."
They both nodded. Hunter smiled, "Sounds like the right thing to do, never want 2 people trying to teach someone at the same time. Instruction should be one-on-one."
Eldar got Skinner, "You got a little free time? Do you think you can work in some target practice with Annette on the light crossbow each night until she has the hang of it? Then I will talk to Charlemagne about hand to hand with daggers."
Skinner volunteered, "I can work both of those into a training program with her to help improve her skills, right now she is helping Cook with getting the meal going. The extra hands help save time in the evening as well."
Eldar smiled, "Thanks for your help. There is no path forward in the first wagon to get to the reigns. I want Annette's in Wagon two with Charlemagne and me at night. No change in guard rotations as we will keep Annette sidelined. She will not likely be with us full time, but we want her to be able to handle her own."
Eldar found Annette, "Skinner is going to handle weapons training with you after dinner and in the morning if needed. We will have you bunk in with Charlemagne and me as you have no path to the front of the first wagon based on how we loaded it in a hurry."
Annette smiled at him, "Clever thinking!" with a slight smirk.
He talked with Charlemagne, "I am going to sleep right after the evening meal. I can get in the time to regain lost spells before we go on at mid-shift. When I do, I want to talk to Annette and you in private in the wagon to discuss our sleeping arrangement in the wagon so everyone is comfortable. Agreed?"
Charlemagne looked at Eldar, "Has anyone told you that you are getting bossy?"
She smiled at him and Eldar whispered to Charlemagne, "Annette and you did not have a problem with me 'being bossy' yesterday afternoon in bed."
She turned red, "True and I truly thank you for that. I think it went a long way in convincing her to stay with us."
Eldar kissed her, "I hoped it would make you both happy going forward. Hopefully, there are no more hurdles between us."