To Challenge a Maestro Read online

  “I’m exhausted,” Daniel admitted, unable to keep a yawn of his own from escaping. “I don’t dare sleep. Tarin Conn will appear the moment my eyes close.”

  Tim shook his head, flinching as if having received a physical blow. “He’s likely to be in a bad mood. After all, you did cause him to lose a legion of yetis, hundreds of the Condemneds, and only you know how many Accomplisheds of the Serpent guild.”

  The number of enemy Aakacarns killed in the battle was not a secret; the subject simply had not come up. No one asked, and so Daniel never said, but he had no misgivings about sharing the information with his friend. “One died in the first assault, two died in the rockslide, and one got away. I suspect Serin Gell was the survivor, though I believe he was, and is, not in good shape at the moment. You saw how weak I was after using the teleportation spell, whoever escaped had far less Potential than me, so the physiological effect of the casting had to have been much worse.”

  Tim acknowledged with a single shake of his head and then leaned forward grinning. “You were amazing. The blue tornado was great,” he said, and then a wicked smile grew on his face. “I nearly missed my shot when you brought down Binkman’s cliff right under their feet. And here I’d thought the flame throwing you did during the very first attack was awe inspiring, but that was just the warm up compared to the final battle. You out did yourself. Even the way you caused water to gush high in the air to put out the fire was spectacular. I think the fountain went higher than the tallest tree on Tannakonna.”

  Each person on Tannakonna had done the best they could to survive and Daniel figured he owed them his best effort. “I did what was necessary to save everyone. Otherwise, General Tallen and his men would have arrived in time to see the ruins. Besides, it was a joint effort. The Talenteds did their part, you and most every able person who could shoot a bow, also fought, and the Royal Cavalry helped immensely.”

  The drummer arched an eyebrow and had a sly look in his eye. “Are you getting sweet on Sherree?” he asked, his question coming from another stream. He was known to change trails from time to time when on the hunt. It did not matter if the quarry was an animal or information. “You recently had to give up Val. Be careful you don’t get sweet on the first pretty face you see.”

  Coming from anybody else, the switch would have been a surprise, but Daniel took it in stride. “I like Sherree, that’s all,” he said, and then added, “I am not getting sweet on her.”

  Tim chuckled as if he did not believe a word of it. “Really, then why was almost every tune you sang a love song?”

  There were plenty of reason, Daniel just failed to think of one at the moment, that‘s all. “The soldiers wanted to hear,” he began and then stopped, knowing the drummer would not be diverted from his quarry once it was in sight. “Okay, I like her a little more than I should. Nothing will come of it because Aakacarns do not get sweet on each other.”

  Tim licked his lips and shook his head. He did not appear convinced, not knowing the rules and traditions governing the Aakacarns. “Why? Spell casting aside, they are men and women. Getting sweet on each other is only natural.”

  “Aakacarns do not marry. Gender means very little to them. You remember how Val reacted when my ability was revealed, how she feared to even be in a room with me, much less continue our relationship. I accept the facts as they are and know the best I can have in Sherree is a good friend. I’m actually starting to like Samuel and even Jerremy.”

  Tim just sat back and laughed. “It wasn’t Samuel or Jerremy you were looking at while singing those songs. Remember, you gave me the cabin.”

  Daniel sighed. Asking Sherree to share a cabin never entered his mind. His friend had the wrong idea. Apparently, regular folk just could not understand the ways of the Aakacarn. The sigh was also because it had not been long ago that Daniel had been a regular person; he could not pretend to be what he no longer was.

  “I’m an Accomplished. I will not be inviting anyone into the cabin,” Daniel answered, deciding it was time to turn the bow the other way, and shift the conversation away from himself. “What are you going to do about Gina? She loves you.”

  Tim shifted his stare to the fire, looking away so as not to make eye contact, a trait he had whenever speaking of something he felt deeply about. “I was told you performed a healing on her. I really appreciate it. Word is she was burned in the fire. I don’t know how badly and she wouldn’t tell me, so it must have been no minor injury. She seems fine now.”

  Daniel decided to keep the extent of Gina’s injuries to himself, they had been extensive, she was burned over ninety percent of her body, and would have died. As a healer, he felt the obligation to be discreet. She would tell what she wanted known, when, and to whom. “You know she is like a sister to me.”

  “I know,” Tim said, looking up from the fire. “She behaves differently now. Ever since you healed her, she is more energetic, and seems more anxious than ever for me to invite her into the cabin. She has spoken of little else since Val told her you gave it to me.”

  Daniel decided to press the issue. “Are you going to invite her in?”

  Tim grabbed a twig and tossed it into the flames, “Of course, when I get back home, but we need to get your problem fixed first.”

  The drummer was putting his own future on hold for him, Daniel was touched, and felt guilty at the same time; two friends’ lives were on hold. Gina was back on Tannakonna, waiting to be invited into the cabin and become Tim’s wife. “You don’t have to come with me to Aakadon. Go home and marry Gina,” he told him.

  Tim frowned as if insulted. “We’re friends,” he declared. “If it was me captured by Cenni Quen and taken to Kelgotha, what would you do?”

  His friend had a point. Daniel knew full well what he would do; enter the very chamber occupied by Tarin Conn if necessary. “I would come get you,” he admitted.

  Tim’s face could have been carved in stone. “I’ll go home when your link to the Tarin Conn is severed,” he said, with iron resolve in his voice.

  That being the case, Daniel had two responses for his friend. “Thank you. Now go to bed before you fall over,” he said, and then added when it looked like Tim was going to object, “I’m liable to get addle-brained by the time this cursed link is broken. My judgment has already been affected, I was singing love songs to an Aakacarn, heaven help me, I never would‘ve done such a thing before. I must be getting dull witted. So, rest well, one of us has to be clear thinking, and it sure isn’t going to be me.”

  Tim quieted as though weighing what would be best; staying awake in a show of moral support or going to sleep. He stretched his arms, stood up, and said, “You’re right. I’d better get some sleep,” and then went to the tent that had been pitched for the two of them.

  Daniel glanced at the sentries posted around the camp. They would be relieved in a few marks, and then they could get some shut eye. Sleep would overcome him eventually, he was sure. His eyelids were already getting heavy. He yawned and then shook himself in an effort to put off the inevitable. A cool breeze carried the scents of over a score of night blooming flowers, male crickets signaled their whereabouts to the females of their species, and Daniel fell asleep.

  Chapter Three: A Painful Lesson

  Daniel stood once again on a white marble floor in a royal court. Light was provided by a diamond chandelier hanging from a mirrored ceiling. Each precious stone radiated energy of its own, there were no candles, and the light cast an even glow throughout the vast chamber. The crimson carpet still lay two strides ahead and led up the thirteen steps to the raised floor, on which sat the crystal throne.

  Tarin Conn, wearing a blouse of purple silk with red horizontal stripes and white cuffs, was seated upon the sparkling chair with the poise of a royal personage. He was still wearing the broad black belt studded with rubies, emeralds, and sapphires that held up his violet pants, which were tucked into a pair of black shiny boots. The Dark Maestro’s wavy hair was as black as a raven’s feat
hers. His rugged face was light brown, a trait of his Serinian heritage. He seemed unusually calm, given recent events; he normally would have been raging like a bull seeing red. “Congratulations on your victory,” he said, in an almost conciliatory manner. “You can stay in Bashierwood and pretend nothing has changed, I have decided not to send another assault.”

  Daniel hoped the surprise did not show on his face. The evil Aakacarn was ill-informed, clearly knowing nothing about the journey to Aakadon. It was good to know the Dark Maestro was not omniscient. Tarin Conn depended on his guild members to provide him immediate information.

  The statement and the tone in which it had been delivered was inconsistent with the personality traits he had showed on previous encounters, something did not smell right. “Does this mean you’re going to leave me alone?” Daniel asked, knowing a moth had a better chance in a spider’s web.

  A sparkle appeared in Tarin Conn’s eye, he very nearly smiled. “Not at all, we are linked, you and I, and time to win you over is on my side. I can sense how the lack of sleep is affecting you, the look in your eyes, your inability to disguise the fatigue in your own dream, and a hundred other clues to your current state of mind: so I am no where close to being finished with you. I will wear you down. I am giving you advanced notice; on a day you least expect, one of my Accomplisheds will capture you like before, and take you to Balen Tamm. After that, your serving me will only be a question of time. As you are probably aware, I have had much experience in the art of waiting.”

  The Dark Maestro’s words were empty, nothing Daniel was surprised to hear, nor anything that he needed to be told. The sparkle vanished from the eye of the ancient Accomplished. He seemed disappointed; perhaps he believed his threats would have a greater impact on his audience of one. How infuriating it must be for him to be defied by a mountaineer, a backwoods dweller, a young man who, less than a month ago, had zero experience casting spells.

  “How is Serin Gell?” Daniel asked, staring his adversary straight in the eye, unable to keep the smirk from his face, and not trying to hide his pleasure at having defeated the Aakacarn.

  A chuckle irrupted from Tarin Conn, at the question, or the attitude in which it had been asked, Daniel did not know. “Worse off than you after your first teleportation, even with a level three baton, but he will recover. Do not worry, he will be back on his feet and eager to pay you a visit,” the Dark Maestro responded with another threat mixed in.

  Daniel shrugged his shoulders and forced himself to hold the smirk. “He’s the one who should worry and there will never be a day I don’t expect trouble from you.”

  Tarin Conn seemed to ignore the tone in which he had been addressed. The Dark Maestro leaned forward on his throne and said, “You shall serve me one way or another. My preference is that it be of your own free will, although such is not necessary. I taught you the Condemned spell and therefore you know it not only mutates the physical form of its victims, it destroys their free will. They have no choice but to obey the will of the person who cast the spell. You, I, and Balen Tamm are the only Accomplisheds who know the Melody, and he does so enjoy his work. The Sleep spell you learned from Cenni Quen, that and with the Melodies I taught you, means I cannot allow you to walk around uncontrolled with such knowledge in your head.” he said in a matter-of-fact way, rather than as a threat.

  Being Condemned was the only way Daniel would serve, but they would have to catch him first. He had been caught once by Cenni Quen, not again, the Accomplisheds of the Serpent Guild would no longer find him easy prey. The threats were getting tiresome and Daniel shook his head in wonderment. “Haven’t you lost enough? I can’t possibly be worth all this trouble!”

  Tarin Conn’s left eyebrow arched upward and he stated pompously, “You underestimate yourself. Believe me; your potential is worth the price, not just the energy in your life force, but the promise of what you can become under my tutelage. You shall come to me in the end. I will win. I always win.”

  Daniel laughed out loud; not necessarily a good thing to do in present company. The lack of rest was getting to him, lowering his discretion, seriously affecting his judgment, and failing to keep him from saying what was on his mind. “Really, then how did you come to be trapped in the bowels of Kelgotha?”

  All trace of composure vanished from the face of the Dark Maestro, eyes glaring, face contorting in rage, he sprang to his feet and shouted, “You ignorant child, half trained dog, how dare you speak such words to me? Bow before your better!”

  Let the old wind bag rage. Daniel dropped to his knees, and then stretched out on the floor, facing up, with his hands behind his head, and closed his eyes. Maybe he could get some rest. After all, this was only a dream, and the ancient Aakacarn obviously had nothing new to say.

  “Get up!” Tarin Conn shouted at the top of his lungs. The man really should stop dwelling on negative thoughts, they were making him bitter.

  Daniel kept his eyes closed, attempting to ignore the ranting egotist, which was not an easy thing to do. An abrupt pain flared in his left side and he went flying down the steps to a rolling stop on the floor. He landed face up and began to wonder if, perhaps, he had pushed his host a little too far.

  “I’ll not be ignored!” Tarin Conn declared, and then lunged into the air, landing about a hand span from where Daniel lay. “Not now, not ever!” he added, while raising his left foot.

  Daniel found himself staring up at the bottom of a boot and rolled to the side just before it slammed down where his head had been. Enough was enough. He sprang to his feet, punched the Dark Maestro in the mouth, and might as well have struck the wall. The man was hard as stone. Daniel tried to shake off the ache in his hand.

  Tarin Conn laughed, “Fool, I control every aspect of the dream, I can be hard as iron or less substantial than air,” he said, his voice dripping with contempt.

  Daniel backed away, wanting some space for what he was about to do, stronger measures were called for, and he might even break the cursed link; permanently. He summoned the Potential and cast the Death spell. Blue tendrils of light shot from his fingers and struck the evil Accomplished. Nothing happened.

  “You cannot harm me with spells. My body lies in Kelgotha. Conversely, and I cannot harm your body; but I can cause pain.”

  Daniel quickly summoned the potential for a shield. The familiar blue glow surrounded him and he could only hope the Dark Maestro did not have the strength to break through.

  Tarin Conn glowed bright white, twin beams of light shot from his hands, penetrating the defense shield as if it did not exist. Daniel writhed on the floor in agony. Every nerve in his body signaled pain and the assault seemed to go on for ever. He lost concentration and the useless shield vanished. He was helpless as a kitten in the jaws of a wolf.

  “You see, I am in control here, and you are less than a gnat in my presence; a mere annoyance,” Tarin Conn said with an insufferable grin.

  The man needed to be clouted on the side of his head with a big stick, which Daniel would do if he had a stick, and could move. Just when it seemed the torment would never end, a warm sensation filtered through his entire being; relieving him of all pain. Some of his exhaustion faded a way along with Tarin Conn.

  Daniel opened his eyes. Morning had come and Sherree stood leaning over him with her hand on his forehead. Deep concern wrinkled her normally smooth brow. Tim stood beside her with a similar expression on his face. Jerremy and Samuel stood ten paces away; eyeing Daniel the way one would watch a rabid animal. General Tallen and the officers surrounding him, including Lieutenant Benettle, appeared on the verge of ordering a strategic retreat. Five thousand horsemen were on there feet and staring.

  “What happened?” Daniel asked, knowing he must have done something to generate so much fear; even in the three Talenteds.

  “You tell us,” Sherree demanded. “You summoned enough potential even the non-Aakacarns could see the glow, cast a spell, and killed that tree,” she said while pointing to a rotted oa
k eighty paces to the left. “As you can see, all the grass around you within a radius of five paces is dead.”

  “Then you went into convulsions and Sherree tried to help you, but couldn’t because something prevented her from touching you. Everyone was in a panic; not knowing what or who you would zap the life out of next. The blue glow cut off and then Sherree was able to cast that spell she has been using on you,” Tim explained. His voice was quite steady for a person who had only escaped death by sheer luck.

  Daniel sat up. “I’m sorry,” he began, and then said it again louder for Tallen and his men. “Did I hurt anyone?”

  “You scared the blight out of everyone,” Samuel told him, and by the sound of his voice and the wild look in his eye, the Teki included himself.

  Tim nodded his head as if he had just figured something out. “He was in a bad mood.”

  The archer was right on target. Daniel glanced at the dead grass around him and then back at his friend. “Let’s just say, I didn’t improve his temperament.”

  General Tallen stepped up and asked, “Who attacked you?”

  “Tarin Conn,” Jerremy answered, surprisingly. The Talented clearly realized to whom Daniel and Tim were referring. “Our mountaineer was abducted by a member of the Serpent Guild and now the Dark Maestro visits his dreams.”

  Tallen nodded his head affirmatively. “They must have taken him to Kelgotha. What can I do to help?”

  Daniel looked him in the eye. “Get me to Aakadon quickly.”

  “Yes, I can do that. I suggest you eat fast,” he replied with eagerness, and then gave orders to his officers, and not a soul failed to step lively.

  “Agreed,” Sherree said to the general, who nodded and went back to his men. “Let’s go eat. I think he intends to be starting out soon,”