Silvertree Chronicles Book One, The World Awaits, Chapter 25 (Dragon Wars Enhanced Edition)
Synopsis: The life of Eldar Silvertree from graduation at the prestigious Elven Academy and desire 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 25
Playing the Palace, Encore
They got to the entrance and Eldar let the groom know he could put food out for the horses. About that time a rider approached. Traylar's father, "Will the assassins see justice?"
Eldar nodded, "Just as soon as we extract all of the information out of them. Did you have a request?"
He shook his head, "Finish this business. I will get with the Royal Guards tomorrow."
Eldar looked at him, "You could speak with one now if you like, there are a few just inside the door."
He nodded, "Can you send one out to me."
Eldar nodded. He walked in the door and saw the guards," Where is your Captain?"
One of them pointed, "In his office around the corner."
Eldar looked at him, "Show me."
Eldar walked up to the door and this was a Captain he had not met before, "I am Sir Eldar Silvertree. Earlier tonight we discovered the body of a young Blade Singer in the second assassins' home. The father of that Blade Singer is out front. I knew her. Be kind to the father and help him to get his daughter back with as little distress as possible. There will be no open funeral if you catch my meaning."
The Guard Captain sighed and nodded, "I will deal with him."
Eldar nodded, "House Goldensong."
He nodded as he walked for the door. Eldar and his wives headed to their room and to find the guards up there, "Food for three, six bottles of wine."
The guard looked at Eldar, "That is a lot of wine."
Eldar nodded, "A lot of grief to drink through; half of those are for me."
He nodded and sent the request off. Eldar sat down at the table.
Annette came over and started taking off the top of his armor while Charlemagne had started on his boots. He looked at the door and it was open and the Queen entered. He went to stand and she waved him down. "Long day I take it?"
Eldar nodded, "Killing a Grand Master Blade Singer. Then informing a family that a daughter who was a classmate of mine and a rival on the field will never return home. Simply because she did not beat me in a tournament kind of strikes at your gut when you have to do it."
She nodded, "He did something?"
Eldar nodded, "Contracting the assassination of 21 Blade Singers. I returned the 92 rings this evening."
Queen Goldeagle nodded, "I told them to send the wine. I just wanted to know what was going on. It was an unusual request so it got flagged to my handmaiden who brought it to my attention. That brings up to 129 rings you have returned; counting the 7 my nephew showed me. He said he gave those to the Master Trainer."
Eldar nodded, "Plus 1 more for the Elf I had to kill. The first time I had to kill an elf. I delivered one of the rings personally, your son and I both knew her; Goldensong. We also found her body; what was left of it."
Queen Goldeagle nodded, "Eat first, it is not good to drink on an empty stomach."
He nodded and she stopped and turned back and looked, "You are taking this one pretty hard. Did you have a history?"
Eldar nodded, "A long history on the field and a very brief history off the field socially. What is bothering me is she was killed for not beating me in the tournament. The man lost money. Now you see why I give so much of that away. I do not want that kind of wealth for myself or my children. We will continue with the caches after the mission is done, we hit only 2 today.
Your Captain was talking with the woman's father. Could I get a messenger dispatched to my men in Quatarsia? I need another two full squads with 10 empty wagons to retrieve supplies, I also want Captain New Moon to lead them here if available."
Queen Goldeagle nodded, "We can do that given you have probably already filled the wagons you have."
Eldar nodded, "I think so. Including the 4 additional ones, I bought today. House Silvertree is becoming a storage depot."
The Queen chuckled, "The paperwork for all of the disowning hit my desk today; that is a sizable chunk of the family."
Eldar nodded, "They were warned. They ignored it. If I am forced to do it to House Silverbar then I have to be willing to do it to House Silvertree. I am in the process of restoring 6 other branches of the family. All of them disowned for marrying the wrong person."
She looked at Eldar, "I have not seen that paperwork yet."
Eldar smiled, "They want to meet me first. Given the history of the family's attitudes toward them, I can understand their caution and trepidation."
She nodded and walked toward the door. She stopped at the entrance and looked at him again, "When we saw the events of your wedding and all of the changes the Lady of Dreams proposed, it scared the shit out of us. You had so many guards because we did not know if we saw or knew everything. Was the entire thing some elaborate hoax? Were you coming for the crown?
To be some power behind the throne? Then you said something, not a prophecy or demand, a simple statement. 'Trees have to bend; new limbs form, you cannot say the trunk is the tree else you miss the beauty that's the entire tree swaying in the breeze.' I have spent many nights thinking about what has happened and keeps occurring. That simple statement is so eloquent.
Elven families are so focused on a strong and big tree they forget to think about the roots; how much they consume. What room is there for other families? Trimming of a tree to save it. Sometimes it is so rotted you are safer taking the whole thing down. Occasionally the roots are strong enough for the tree to re-emerge; like Silverbar.
You will have more to think about in that regard though you do not know it; like what to do with house Golden Weave. You killed the house patron tonight, word reached me before you even left the Academy.
He would have been brought before me if my guards had found this out instead of a Blade Singer that was obligated to handle the matter. The house would have been destroyed. The fact that as many as 21 houses, probably fewer as some might have more than one victim, I will want your opinion on the matter."
Eldar nodded, "Would you like it now?"
She looked at him, "You have an idea on this? Is this you, or the Gods?"
Eldar chuckled, "Sometimes it is hard to tell. I think in this case it is me. I am all about symbolism. Disown all but the youngest 21 adults. Seize every asset from the disowned except for the clothes on their backs and 21,000 thousand gold pieces each. Take the disowned family name; they are all to be called Gold like they have done to bastard children for centuries. From what is left leave the youngest 21% of the house assets with the rest going to the victim's families.
I would also point out that the book may have more family members called out. I would get a list of all current house Patrons. If their name is in the journal then the discipline against the family should be just as measured. If that patron has had 100 killed then wipe out the house. At any rate; any patron on that list should cost the family 50% of its assets to the victims' families.
If they have no families use it for testing the disenfranchised children for talent. Half of any money collected from this effort should be set aside for those wishing to create a new house and who is in good standing; be they Elf-blooded or Elven. In the case of killing a house patron, the laws are clear but as is the case with House Silverbar, I have shown that sometimes the roots can be saved.
I would get a complete list of the names of the conspirators. If a house is full of rot and causing death then it will give you an indication."
Eldar looked at Charlemagne and Annette, "Do we have any idea as to how many people used their services?
Annette nodded, "Yes, 372 remain spread across twelve families including the Silvertree family.
Only two other names besides the 2 you have already captured are on the list. One was the name of the man that contracted the killing of Yetto's mother, The father of Charlemagne's former husband. He is one of the ones you disowned. The other was a Silvertree woman who had someone killed and then she was killed by the same assassins as the victim. They hired the same assassins to kill each other."
Eldar looked at the Queen, "I would like an arrest warrant issued for the one remaining killer with a Silvertree name, Bring in the eldest and second eldest from that line with him. Hold the paperwork on the assets, I would like a private audience with you and these 2 people. I don't even know their names.
If the second youngest prove themselves to your satisfaction I would like the '50% of that branch assets' rule applied. Else, I will sever the whole branch."
The ladies looked at him before the Queen asked, "Why?"
Eldar nodded, "The father was dead already and could have saved his family but did not by grabbing the sword. The eldest child as the next to inherit the line was given the same choice. I plan on using one of the scrolls I found in that chest, Major illusion, and placing my sword out there for the second eldest to kill himself or herself to save the rest of the family line.