To Challenge a Maestro Read online

  Bran motioned with his right arm towards the door. “Come this way, if you please,” he said politely. He was no longer addressing a Talented and his change in attitude was remarkable.

  Daniel put on his shirt and cloak and followed the Chief Aid down the hall and into the shaft. Bran lowered the platform gently to the first floor, a stark contrast to the rapid ascension made earlier. The stares, frowns, and murmurings of the petitioners indicated they were annoyed that a Talented had gone up ahead of them. Bran went to his desk and sat down to endure a chorus of protests.

  The street was filled with Aakacarns passing this way and that, all in their red on black silks, except for Talenteds in their whites. In the wider world they stood out wherever they went but here, the clothing was common place and hardly worth remarking about. The gemstone buildings remained impressive.

  The home of the Aqua Guild looked to be formed out of a giant opal with flashes of green. Daniel walked beyond the beautiful structure and around to Tames Hall. The classes were over for the day so the Talenteds would be either back at the dormitory or onto whatever tasks they might have been assigned. His meeting with Efferin had taken longer than it seemed. The place was quiet, the only sound being that of Daniel’s own footsteps echoing in the hall. It seemed strange to be in the place of learning without seeing and hearing Talenteds of every level moving quickly to their scheduled classes. He entered the training room and smiled, glad that Harmon was not there.

  Tim Dukane stood on the far side of the room mopping the crimson padded floor. He worked quietly without mumbling or voicing a single word of complaint. The guitarn was in its case three paces away from the busy drummer. He failed to realize another person had entered the room, but then Daniel was an experienced hunter and moved with the stealth of a lion on the prowl. “Are you ready to give up this lifestyle?”

  Tim dropped the mop and turned quickly with a broad grin, “More than ready. What happened?”

  Daniel tried to think of a good way to explain what needed to be done without making the task sound impossible. “Efferin needs a special baton to break the link, all I have to do is find the baton, and bring it to him.”

  Tim frowned. “Why do I think there is more you are not telling me?” he asked; the drummer knew him too well.

  “I want you to go home and invite Gina into your cabin. I can fetch the crescendo on my own,” Daniel replied, having no intention of letting his friend get killed in a confrontation with Balen Tamm.

  Tim shook his head, looking doubtful, and kicked the mop handle the way he often kicked stray stones whenever he was disturbed about something. “Where is the baton you need?” he asked, knowing he would not be lied to and that a direct question was the best way to get a straight answer out of his friend; sometimes letting a person get to know you that well can be a disadvantage. A determined set to his brow gave notice he would not settle for less than full disclosure. “It must be some place truly awful or you would not have told me to go back home.”

  Daniel was only trying to save his friend from probable death, so why did he feel guilty? Because, he knew how his friend would respond. Still, it was a fair question. “The crescendo is the Baton of Tarin Conn and is currently in the possession of Balen Tamm.”

  Tim kicked over the bucket and water splashed onto the padded floor. “Blight it all! Your problems just get worse and worse, will there be an end to them?”

  Daniel thought he had felt badly before, now he was miserable. His problems did seem endless. “You didn’t have to come, but I’m glad you did. I tried not to tell you what I have to do because I don’t want you to get hurt.”

  “You aren’t talking about just being hurt,” Tim said while gesturing wildly with his arms. “Balen Tamm will try to recruit you, failing that; he will kill or condemn us both.”

  The thought was not original. Daniel had pondered the possibility many times. “I know. This is why you should go on home and be with Gina. She loves you and she needs you,” he said in the most persuasive voice he could manage.

  Tim kicked the empty bucket and it sailed half way across the room. “I’ll go back to her soon enough. First, you and I are going to fetch the baton. Then, Gina and I will start raising babies in that cabin you gave us.”

  The drummer could be down right mulish at times, bless his loyal heart. He would be wise to head home and leave this waking nightmare behind, but Tim always did what he thought was right even if getting hurt was a high probability. Daniel decided to leave the decision to his friend. “I’m leaving Aakadon right away. If you are set on coming, get your things, and meet me at the horses.”

  Tim nodded his head and quickly walked away, tracking water as he went. The boom of the closing door echoed and the drummer was gone. Daniel cast a wind spell, righted the bucket, drew the water off the floor, and back into the container. He levitated the guitarn to his hand and headed out to the street, leaving Tames Hall behind. Ahead was the dorm and he made his way there quickly.

  Most of the Talenteds were in the cafeteria; no doubt his confrontation with Harmon was one of the topics of conversation. He spotted Sherree eating with Joanna and Charlene. Jerremy and Samuel sat two tables away from her along with Simon and Reginald. The Teki and the Serinian often seemed at odds with each other, but they were always seen together, deep down they must enjoy the rivalry. The urge to go in and say goodbye was difficult to shake, but Daniel walked on through the corridors and up the stairs to the ninth floor. The room was empty and the chrono disk was approaching the seventeenth mark. His attitude had changed a lot since getting up and out earlier in the morning. That was because progress had finally been made, toward life or death, freedom or slavery, he could not know for sure, but it was progress of a sort. He had been thinking like prey rather than predator, which was going to change. Hunting and trapping was his life and he would snare Balen Tamm. The Maestro of the Serpent Guild was now the quarry.

  Daniel unpacked his buckskins and went into the washroom to change. Even though no one was around, he placed the shield on the door, added a Da Capo, stripped off his silks, and then put on his old clothes. The amulet he placed in his pocket and then tucked the baton in his belt. He felt more like himself than at any other time since arriving in Aakadon. To the hunt! He broke the shield and opened the door.

  Four Talenteds stood in the hall, all sad and worried looking. One of them would be in serious trouble if caught on the ninth floor. Simon, Sherree, Samuel and Jerremy were clearly dying to find out what happened after he and Jason went to see the Grand Maestro, and the question was, who would inquire first?

  “You’re leaving,” Sherree said, eyeing his buckskins, making the obvious conclusion. “Did they Silence you? I heard they might have.”

  Evidently, none of them had tried to enter the washroom or they would know he had not been Silenced. Daniel cast the spell Potential, long enough to show his abilities were in no way hampered. The simple action seemed to set their minds at ease. “No. The Grand Maestro has given me a special task.”

  “What?” Samuel asked, his eyebrows came together and he seemed mildly confused.

  No doubt they expected to hear about some horrible punishment being imposed upon him. After all, fighting back against an Instructor is a major breach in conduct. “A special crescendo is required to sever the link. I need to bring it here to the Grand Maestro and then he will do the rest,” he told them, none of the Talenteds needed to know the particulars. Why worry them?

  Jerremy scratched his head and frowned, disappointment registering on his face. “I’d come and help if the Instructors would grant their permission, but my schedule is tight and I’m due to graduate soon.”

  Daniel appreciated the sentiment. “Thanks for the thought; I’ll just have to manage on my own.”

  Simon stepped forward, grinning. “Yes, we’re all going to be Accomplisheds.”

  Sherree let out a sigh. “I have to be going. I’m not supposed to be here,” she said and then glanced up and down t
he corridors. She need not worry so, there was no chance Jason would dare punish her in front of Daniel. “Oh, I wish I could go with you,” she added.

  The beautiful Talented had no idea what she was wishing for but Daniel smiled and was pleased by the sincerity in her voice. “I hope to be back in time to see your graduations to Accomplisheds.”

  “I graduate next month, surely you’ll be back by them,” Simon told him.

  “I plan to be back very soon.”

  Jerremy extended his right hand. “Have a safe and successful journey.”

  Daniel shook hands with each of the Talenteds. When Sherree extended her hand, he took hold, and pulled her in for a hug; just as if he were back on Mount Tannakonna and getting ready for a major hunt. The gesture was as much a wish for success as affection and hope for a swift return. The female Aakacarn felt warm and wonderful and he released her quickly.

  She flushed red and began smoothing out her perfectly laundered and wrinkle free cloak. “You never did learn proper Aakacarn behavior,” she told him in a kindly manner. Her pupils seemed to dilate in order to give her a greater scrutiny of him and that hawk to mouse look appeared in hers eyes. He was beginning to like the way she looked at him; good thing he was leaving. “Goodbye,” she added and then stepped back.

  “I guess I am a slow learner,” he replied and then picked up his guitarn, nodded to the others, and walked away; not being suited to prolonged farewells.

  The walk along the halls and down the stairs gave him time to think about what lay ahead. He had a fairly good notion how to find Balen Tamm, but the doing was not without risk. Like a mongoose after a snake, he had to strike quickly or face a deadly bite.

  Chapter Nine: Time for a Nap

  A cool breeze stirred up a small patch of leaves between the buildings and promised a chilly night. The sun was low in the sky and would be down within a mark. People stared at Daniel as he made his was to the stables, no doubt it was the buckskins that made him stand out, no one spoke to him; even when he passed between them. He bade several of them a good evening but most of them ignored him. He did not need their recognition. If he were to dress according to his station, as Jason once suggested, he would be in the red on black silks with his rank openly displayed for all to see. The respectful greetings would be following in his wake, but he did not need his ego stroked and he agreed with Terroll and the Grand Maestro about keeping his lightning bolts hidden.

  The stables held more horses than he had time to count; enough to field an army was a conservative guess. Tim, clad once again in buckskins, came out leading two handsome equines. He must have changed his clothes in a hurry and come straightway from his basement room. There was a spring in his step that suggested he was eager to leave Aakadon behind, even knowing their destination.

  “Thanks, I didn’t expect Sprinter to be saddled and ready for me,” Daniel told him with a slight smile and a nod of the head.

  He approached the stallion, strapped the guitarn in place behind the saddle, and mounted up. Over his shoulder, the diamond eye stared at him from atop the ruby pyramid; even that great pinnacle of power had its limits. The man in charge, even with all his resources and individual potential, was still only a man. His own Maestros did not tell him everything, only what they thought he needed to know, or only what they wanted him to know. Efferin was likely to keep his word and break the link, but what would he do beyond the agreement? That was the question. The Grand Maestro definitely was a man who knew how to grasp and hold power that much was clear. Daniel had a fairly good notion of what might happen and the pieces of a plan to deal with it were slowly coming together in his mind. He had three major opponents, Tarin Conn, Balen Tamm, and Efferin Tames; each had to be dealt with carefully. How many lesser opponents Daniel had to confront, only the Creator knew, all he could do was set his priorities and arrange chores accordingly, as his father often told him.

  Tim swung up on Tremor in one fluid motion as if born in the saddle, a trait he had in common with most mountaineers. “I figured we would be leaving in a hurry,” he replied while adjusting his straw hat.

  “You figured right,” Daniel told him. “Let’s get out of here,” he added with a grin.

  He heeled Sprinter in the flanks and the stallion broke into a gallop. Tim shouted acceptance of the implied challenge and brought Tremor up to speed. People stepped out of the way, speeding horses have that effect. Not one Accomplished tried to stop them or question what they were doing or where they were going. No doubt word was spreading about what happened in the training room. Whatever the reason, no one interfered with them.

  They passed through the gates, over the massive bridge spanning the mighty Hirus, and Daniel was filled with a sense of freedom. He was glad to be away from the Aakacarns, some of them anyway. He briefly longed to be home before his first spell had been cast, back when Val still wanted to be with him. He abruptly buried the thought under a landslide of reality. Thoughts of Sherree entered his mind and he placed them under the same pile. Maybe he would live out his life as a hermit. He did not belong among ordinary folks, they were afraid of him, and he did not belong among the Aakacarns; what was left? He would, however, be free and that was the point. Tim had summed the danger up well, condemnation or death, that is what they risked. For Daniel, his freedom was worth the effort, but the drummer was by his side out of friendship and had nothing more to be gained, and much to lose. He slowed Sprinter to a steady trot and surveyed the landscape, keeping a sharp eye out for predators. They rode on for three spans and then turned down a side road and traveled on for another seven.

  “Since we exited through the north gate, I had assumed that’s where we are headed,” Tim said while matching pace on Tremor. His tone indicated he wanted to be told his destination rather than be made to figure it out. “You always did jump a trail without telling me why.”

  Daniel glanced to the east. Yellow, orange, and gold flowers dotted the rolling hills. Trees cast long shadows as the sun became a huge amber ball just above the horizon. This was his element in the cool open country and he knew this was where he belonged. He breathed in the fresh air and realized the drummer was right. He did often leave a trail without giving an explanation, yet always managed to track his quarry, which is why Tim usually followed without question. Daniel focused on his friend. “I want us beyond the Tannakonna River before we make camp for the night.”

  “You may not have noticed, but the sun is setting, we have no chance of getting to the river before dark, let alone across it,” Tim replied patiently, as if wondering how far gone Daniel’s tired mind truly was. “Do you have a plan?”

  His quiver was full and in easy reach while his eyes scanned the surroundings, he seemed to be expecting a fight at any moment. He needed assurance before going on with this kind of hunt, and who could blame him?

  “Yes, I have a plan and I will explain it when we arrive on the other side of the Tannakonna. And no, I am not yet out of my mind. I know where I want us to be and I know it will be dark soon,” Daniel told him and maneuvered Sprinter closer to Tremor. He pulled the, ebony, gold-tipped, baton from his belt. “This is a type one, level four, crescendo. I am going to use it to transport you, me, and the horses to the clearing we camped in with the Royal Cavalry.”

  Tim looked at the baton and swallowed hard. “You didn’t fair very well with your first attempt and that was just you and Sprinter.”

  Daniel smiled. “Tarin Conn’s spell requires six bolts of potential. I cast it without the aid of a crescendo, which is why it drained me so. Teleportation is the kind of Melody that requires a specific amount of potential and once performed, it will automatically draw what is required. If the caster does not have enough potential, the spell will draw out the life force, killing him or her, and then collapse.” Daniel explained, and when Tim’s eyes started to gloss over with the look of incomprehension, Daniel stopped the lecture and simply said, “This baton gives me an extra six bolts, so the spell will not cost me much.” />
  “If you say so,” Tim replied. He clearly was not thrilled by the prospect of traveling in the manner suggested, but neither did he back away. “What does it feel like?”

  “We will be in total darkness. You will feel nothing, see nothing, and hear nothing; not me, nor Tremor beneath you. The lack of sensations lasts for about the space of three heart beats and then we will suddenly arrive at our destination,” Daniel replied. “Are you ready?”

  Tim turned and surveyed their surroundings as if locking them in his memory, just in case it was the last thing he would ever see. “I’m ready.”

  Daniel held the baton in his left hand and grabbed Tim’s arm with his right. He played, Teleportation, in his head, summoned and focused the potential through the crescendo, while picturing his destination firmly in mind. They arrived in the clearing, about thirty-seven spans from the Gosian, and well west of the Tannakonna River. The area was broad enough for an army. To the left on a slightly higher elevation was a hard packed dirt road broad enough for six horses to ride abreast. Beyond the road were thick bushes and huge boulders. To his right, trees dotted the hillside. The oak he had zapped stood twenty paces ahead and was still dead, rotted branches lay on the ground around its base; not even the acorns survived.

  “We made it!” Tim shouted and the relief was clear in his voice. “Now tell me the rest of the plan.”

  “I intend to sleep,” Daniel informed him.

  Tim frowned. “Sleep, we’re going to steal the Baton of Tarin Conn from Balen Tamm, and your plan is to sleep?”

  Daniel nodded affirmatively. “Yes, it is a start. When hunting a predator that is stalking me, sometimes I prefer to lay a trap and let the beast come to me,” he said and then watched Tim smile with comprehension.

  “The Serpent Guild wants to recruit you, all we have to do is let them find us,” said the drummer.

  “Exactly,” Daniel replied, feeling pleased with the notion and Tim’s reaction to it.