Silvertree Chronicles Bk. 01 Ch. 23

He pulled a Crystal and got a response. He did not speak until the man at the other end spoke. "I am alone and Secure Great Lord." Lord Barimus looked at the crystal. "Order your men to observe but to not engage the enemy. We have a strike force en route to Rambling Rock to destroy it. Under no circumstances are you to engage. Report back on what they see."

He ended the communication.

---

As soon as the water calmed, Eldar got back to his feet.

"Feel free to move now. For those that were not at my wedding you just had an eye-opening experience. Think of any questions you might have. The sheaths thrown in the water were destroyed. I have your new sheaths for those blades."

He got to the shore and pulled himself up. He looked over and Moon Blade sat on the edge of the water. He looked down at the water then over to Eldar. The entire bottom of the area was now covered in moonstones that responded to the light. Silver Moon looked at Eldar, "The significance of the moonstones?"

Moon Blade looked over, "That is a lot of weapons that could be enchanted."

Eldar smiled, "Moon Blade, you decide if it is something worth exploring. I have not been giving any insight one way or another on the matter."

He nodded, "It would seem to be an enchanter's paradise."

Eldar nodded, "We will need to collect them up then. Else people will be clamoring to get to this site to extract them. The Wood Elves would not be happy with that." The ladies joined him with the others. They pulled several hundreds of stones from the bottom of the pool and the glow had stopped.

Eldar looked at the other, "I think we found them all."

He got out of the water and dried them off. Everyone was in shock. He walked over and grabbed his bag of holding and pulled the four sheaths and placed the stones into his bag. All polished of various shapes and sizes the largest was the size of an apricot pit. Nothing to build a weapon from but plenty to be put into jewelry or to decorate a weapon.

"We should split them up and send back half with Moon Blade for the weapons he is building and the other half taken to our Master bow-smith and leather-smith with a few detailed pieces set to the side that I hang onto."

Moon Blade looks at Eldar, "What do you mean by a few select pieces?"

Eldar pulled out a dozen or so that were crescent-shaped.

He smiled, "Alright, I could see where you would want those for something."

Then he laughed at Eldar. Eldar shrugged, "I do not know what yet, but something. I also pulled a few perfect circles and a couple of the bigger ones for magical staves that could be made with Silver wood as well. I thought some kind of headgear in the future."

He removed his old sheath and placed the new sheath around his waist. He used a cantrip to dry himself off from the lake water. Then he put his cloak on and walked to the others. They still held their blades out but stood now. He put the new sheath into their off-hand. He got to Chalius Goldeagle last, he looked at Eldar, "You have been dealing with that since you left the Academy?"

Eldar shook his head, "More like my entire life. I have a double crescent birthmark on the back of my head. Could account for my memory being so good."

Chalius shook his head, "I thought my life was splayed out before me. You, on the other hand, are in the same boat with less room to waver."

Eldar nodded, "I would work to not waver from the course, but find creative solutions, as it protects lives."

Moon Bow walked over to him, "This blade is way more powerful than even my grandfather knew. What is the downside?"

Eldar yelled out, "All existing blade holders come to me, please. I was asked the question of what is the downside? The answer is your spirit will not go to the blade, a fragment will remain to either lock an ability for future generations or replace one of the existing abilities.

You should decide on that now. You can change it later but if a tree falls on you tomorrow that ability will be locked. Now you cannot add an ability unless you have faced or seen the ability.

Eldar, "Karti'Ros left hand Moon Fire."

His sword was in his hand. "I can tell it which hand. It can be sheathed, friendship knotted, or laying in the dirt and it will be back in my hand. I die tomorrow this is the ability I would lock into place for future generations.

Fair warning for new wielders you can list those who can pick up but not use the blade. Anyone who tries to pick up the blade or claim it will be killed in a most horrid manner. I had a family member try to claim the blade. I have no idea what became of his body."

He got a lot of stares, "That was the day I claimed head of the household for House Silvertree. They tried a coup, it failed. I am speaking from experience."

He tossed the sword on the ground, "Annette could you bring that over please."

She went over and picked up the blade and brought it to him. The Moon Fire went off. He looked at them, "Just to prove my point about the list, I would recommend your spouses and any young children. That brings us back to having children. Find love and have children, lots of children. You are now the trunk of the tree for that sword."

Moon Blade looks at Eldar, "What is with the extra rune? What did you do?"

Eldar smiled, "I found another source besides you to try and reclaim more of these blades. That is all I can say on that but there should be another 4 blades coming back including the last of the active family blades. Two of those blades are already assigned to my 2 young apprentices as alluded to by our God.

That leaves one, that one will be revealed at a much later date and is destined by the Gods. We now have 10 active Moon Blades, more now than 5,000 years ago."

Tranosa sighed, "What happens to the new blades, do we add abilities when we pass on?"

Eldar nodded, "Yes, and those that have abilities, mine has eleven that have to be locked or changed. Once those are set, generations from now, it will start adding new abilities again.

There is one judge in your sword, not 12, or 18. The original intelligence of the sword will determine the worthiness based on the code a Blade Singer follows. Any family member who will adhere to it could be judged worthy, but they have to have integrity. Also, fertility. One of the reasons I wanted people who were young and not corrupted by court or house politics. YES, I said that to the Queen and that is how your name came up Apprentice Goldeagle."

Chalius nodded, "I can see that now after talking with the blade. The Queen will be pleased."

Eldar nodded, "I hope you are all pleased with having access to the complete list of abilities of your family blade." They did a lot of head nodding.

Eldar looked over at his apprentices, "I do not know when the blades will arrive but it is your job to be ready to be judged. Keeping your anger and grief in check and looking to protect the Elven people. I selected you but the Gods pointed me to you. There were reasons for you both.

Before you ask Apprentice Strong Oak, I would have selected you as soon as I heard your name. I made your father pay through the nose for his inattention, not for my own sake. His inattention to you. I will be working both your tails off." They looked at each other and then just nodded at him.

He looked at Elder Strong Oak, "Not only will your family survive but it will have a Moon Blade associated with the family name." She still looked in shock from the day's events and finally looked to Eldar, "Had I known."

Eldar cut her off, "Had you known my life would not be where we are standing now. I would not have become a Blade Singer. One of the questions I asked the other day was why show me visions of things I cannot change. The answer is because you cannot change them, it is destiny, do not blame yourself. Do not second guess yourself."

She nodded, "I would have asked the same question."

Eldar sighed, "Just accept the fact that I am back now with a purpose and a mission. I cannot afford to fail. It is not my life. It is the life of our very people. Make up for lost time because like you said. 'You never know when fate will intervene.'"

She smirked, "I hate it when people use my words against me. I have a few things that belonged to your mother, I will send them to your home. Give you a chance to look at them without my interference."

Eldar nodded and began to walk back to the village and he heard someone crying off in the woods. Eldar pointed as he spoke to one of the Elders, "Someone who chose not to heed the warning, you should get them out of the woods."

He continued walking and the elders moved to the edge of the woods, and then into them. They continue back to the house.

Apprentice Goldeagle came up beside him, "Why the bow? Between our magic and our sword, how often will we truly need a bow?"

Eldar smiled as he continued walking, "Depends on how much you like to eat. If trail-rations every day works for you then you will be fine. If you enjoy a good meal then having a bow comes in handy. I like a good meal."

Chalius smiled, "Something High Elves or Gold Elves do not consider so much as we go to a market and get it, or should I say the servants do."

Eldar nodded, "Out here it is self-serve as everyone must do their part, from cooking and cleaning to gutting and skinning. Also, if you have a hundred orcs coming at 10 of us, you will run out of spells quickly.

Being able to pop off a couple of arrows while they are at range. Before switching to your blade and magic. That would be something to consider as well."

He smiled, "You have done some hunting then?"

Eldar nodded, "Some. I have also played bait for a grizzly and a tiger."

Chalius shook his head, "Alright, you win."

Eldar smirked, "We have not won yet, we are just beginning."