To Be a Maestro Read online

  Daniel thanked the panther and withdrew his awareness from her. There were other animals seeking his attention. Screech, the osprey, showed him three women and two men walking through the forest in southwestern Ducaun, in the direction of Rivertown. Daniel had no idea what Serena and her team were up to, but was sure it would be trouble for him. As the raptor soared, Daniel could see sasquatches trailing behind the five Aakacarns, keeping their distance, no doubt at the insistence of Serena. Daniel wondered if she yet realized she only had thirty-two remaining, the rest were dead, or part of Daniel’s swirl, or about to be when Gurrumble, the largest male linked to him, arrives in a few days with an additional thirty-one. Screech let out a cry and Daniel sent his thanks and withdrew his awareness. He needed to think, the other animals could wait.

  The door opened and in walked Jaim Cutler, seventeen, thin, and full of eagerness to fulfill his duty as keeper of the door. Being clean shaven with his dark hair cut short, and dressed in his blue uniform with the broad silver stripe on his shoulders and pant legs, no one would question his being a soldier. “Are you ready to receive your guests, Sir Daniel?” he asked while standing rigidly and with a touch of nervousness in his voice.

  “I am,” Daniel replied.

  His distinguished guests filed in, read the names placed on the table by Silvia, and took their seats. General Jathem Tallen, possessing few wrinkles, a round face, and a man who Daniel knew for sure was more muscle than fat, having worked a major healing on him in the past, took the nearest chair to the right of his host. The general wore a pair of gold stars on the collar of his light green silk shirt, beneath which was the finest quality chain mail, and four golden hawks on the shoulders of his gold trimmed, slightly darker shade of green jacket. He glanced at Sir Laurence Dugan, seated next to him beside Sir Carlo Bencofer. Dugan had a touch of gray in his hair and yet seemed just as fit as the much younger Knight beside him. Sir Carlo, a man in his late thirties with dark hair and brown eyes, sported a neatly trimmed mustache. In fact everything about him was neat. The Royal Knights of the Realm were all dressed in their field uniforms, identical to Daniel’s, except for house emblems, and his having lightning bolts.

  Seated on down from them were Sir William Bonner, tall and thin with about as much gray as Dugan, and Sir Tomas Zollaf, a rugged man with a weathered face, a man reputed to have a strong sense of duty and contempt for those who did not share it, a gentleman who clearly spent a great deal of time exposed to the elements. Just beyond him sat General Sanfred Malcus, a lean, gray-haired man with a neatly trimmed beard, who was older than Tallen, and wearing a similar uniform.

  To Daniel’s left were Jeremiah Lassiter, Samuel Cresh, Franklin Togan, Jerremy DeSuan, Daria Copa, Martin Varroon, and Simon. The other Accomplisheds were busy working on whatever details were involved with finishing the compound. Daniel wanted Sherree to come but she thought it best to keep her distance from him for awhile, seeing as she could think of no legitimate reason to be in attendance.

  “One is curious as to why we were kept waiting, surely you realized this was not a social call,” Sir Tomas, the oldest Knight present was the first to speak.

  “After learning that I was to host a meeting of you gentlemen, it seemed prudent to gather as many facts as I could from my Seer and scouts in the field. I apologize for not being quicker about it,” Daniel replied smoothly.

  “I received the message you sent early this morning by Lieutenant Benettle informing us that General Kall’s two elite legions were headed west and would reach the border north of us before the end of the day,” General Tallen spoke in his calm and steady manner, almost as if the news was just one more item on his daily checklist. “I was also informed you have declared a Realm Alert, validated by the Queen, and the entire kingdom is to prepare for war.”

  “Could it be you did exactly the opposite of what we discussed in our meeting yesterday? Did you cross the border in the night and declare a Realm Alert this morning after stirring up a hornet’s nest and seeing we were right?” Sir Tomas inquired, starting in a polite tone and then ending with an accusatory edge.

  “Judging by the presence of Accomplished DeSuan at this table, whom you told us was a captive of Serin Gell, it would appear the answer to the questions posed by Sir Tomas is, yes,” General Malcus apparently decided to answer for Daniel. “And it would not surprise me to see Accomplished Jenna walking around somewhere in this new holding of yours.”

  “She is here,” Daniel readily admitted. “My question is why have you gentlemen requested this meeting?”

  Sir Carlo snorted, stifling a laugh. “Because as of half a mark ago those legions you warned us about showed up and have massed not many spans north of where we sit. General Kall is demanding answers about a fallen legion from Los Collins, apparently defeated in Foothills of Pentrosa,” Sir Carlo told him, and then added, taking on a more serious tone. “I thought I.,” he paused and looked towards his fellow knights before returning his attention to his host, “We made it clear that what you do in that uniform is considered to be an official act of the Queen.”

  “I put on this uniform this morning after delivering my message to Lieutenant Benettle,” Daniel responded.

  “A fine distinction,” Sir Laurence began. “I’m sure the diplomats will have a good time arguing the finer points of inter-kingdom law while we deal with the reality of invasion.”

  “Half my legion is still in northeastern Ducaun. I only have two hundred fifty cavalrymen in addition to seventy-five support personnel from the regular army at Fort Casum. My reinforcements will not be here until tomorrow morning and they numbering only a few thousand horsemen, not nearly enough to hold back twenty thousand highly trained Pentrosan cavalrymen with ten thousand infantrymen backing them up,” General Tallen said, his brow wrinkling in concern.

  “And my legion is fifty-two spans east of here and even traveling all night cannot reach us until tomorrow about this time. Even so, an additional ten thousand horsemen and two thousand infantrymen to Jathem’s forces will not be enough. If General Kall invades anytime soon, Fort Casum will be overrun and this nice new facility of yours north of it will be first to fall,” Malcus added his assessment.

  “So you came here to chastise me for rescuing all but two of the Accomplisheds at this table and the vast majority of Ducaunan citizens walking around my holding, built by these same Aakacarns,” Daniel replied, keeping his voice smooth in the face of their growing consternation.

  The Generals and Knights glanced at the Accomplisheds sitting across from them, none of the nobles wanted to insult the spell casters, who would certainly differ with anyone who suggested rescuing them was a bad idea. Their presence produced the restraining effect Daniel hoped for, yet was not the entire reason he had asked them to come.

  “We came not to chastise you, but to ask that you accompany us to the meeting demanded by Kall,” Sir William answered.

  Daniel eyed each of the Generals and his fellow Knights of the Realm. “The demand relayed through Captain Johannan is to see General Tallen, Sir Laurence, and however many Ducaunan Royal Knights of the Realm are with him. The dead and the unconscious cannot speak to Kall. He clearly doesn’t know what happened last night, of General Malcus being here, or how many Royal Knights other than Sir Laurence are in the area. In addition to the huge army, he is entertaining ten Accomplisheds of the serpent Guild,” he informed them of the situation as he understood it.

  Tallen’s eyes widened. “How do you know all of that?”

  Daniel shrugged his shoulders the way his friend Tim Dukane often did. “My scouts are very good at what they do.”

  “You seem to have your scouts positioned well.” Sir Carlo’s comment along with an approving nod of the head was appreciated.

  “Kall’s demand includes you, especially since you are the one with the answers.” Sir Laurence returned to the reason they had come.

  Daniel considered what he had seen through the eyes of his feline and raptor scouts. He made h
is decision, the opposite of what he would normally do, and hoped it was the right one. “No, I will not go.”

  Sir Carlo’s eyes began blinking rapidly and the others seemed just as surprised by the answer.

  “But, you are the one who brought this upon us, why now do you refuse to meet with General Kall, especially if there are Accomplisheds of the Serpent Guild with him?” Malcus demanded, along with Sir Tomas and Sir Laurence.

  Instead of answering the question, Daniel turned to the Senior Soarer sitting at the table in the light blue silks Daniel made for him, like he had for Sherree. “Accomplished Lassiter, would you inform everyone what your mission was upon leaving Aakadon?”

  Jeremiah had taken the time to shave and cut his hair, as did all the male Accomplisheds who had formerly been Condemneds. His skin was the color of ebony yet his facial features were more like those of a person born in Taracopa. “My mission was to track down and apprehend the fugitive Serin Gell. I succeeded in finding him and was overpowered and captured by the renegade. It seems my associate, Samuel Cresh, continued the mission with the help of several others including Accomplished Trenca of the Willow Guild.”

  “Would you have us believe your raid into Pentrosa was sanctioned by Aakadon?” Tallen asked of Daniel.

  “I would have General Kall believe it was a raid by Accomplisheds of Aakadon. It is my proposal, if the Accomplisheds present are willing, that they meet with Kall. You gentlemen are all welcome to stay with me here as my guests,” Daniel replied and leaned back in his chair.

  The Generals and Knights began debating the merits and demerits of his proposal, yet it was the Accomplisheds whose willingness was crucial. “Normally we of Aakadon do not engage in border disputes. However, I, speaking for myself, am willing to attend such a meeting since the reason for the incursion ended in my well being,” Master Togan gave his response, interrupting the debate among the nobles and bringing them to silence.

  “We confronted Accomplisheds of the Serpent Guild while protecting the hill,” Simon spoke up in his unobtrusive way. “We will deal with these as well.”

  The rest of the Accomplisheds agreed with Togan and Simon. “Do you want us to give Kall a detailed report?” Samuel asked.

  Daniel leaned forward. “Heavens no, I don’t mean for you to lie, just leave out things he does not need to know.”

  “You want a judicial trimming of the facts.” Samuel confirmed his understanding of what Daniel had in mind. “I know what to say and I need to borrow a horse. Bio belongs to Senior Soarer Lassiter.”

  Daniel nodded his head. “A horse can be provided for you and those who need one.”

  “Arriving on horseback will give a better impression,” Accomplished Daria Copa explained to him, as if he could not have figured that out for himself. He understood and knew she was only trying to be helpful, so was not insulted.

  None of the nobles objected to the Aakacarns going to the meeting on their behalf, even if dubious over the possible outcome. “What if Kall decides to invade?” General Malcus asked a question that brought everyone to silence and had them staring at their host.

  Daniel took a deep breath and spoke in his most solemn tone, “I am a fully functional seven-bolt Accomplished. If Kall invades, he will not like the outcome of any meeting with me.”

  Chapter Four: Meeting at the Border.

  Accomplished Samuel Cresh had a lot on his mind and was in a hurry to reach the area where the meeting was to take place, but Jeremiah Lassiter, his mentor in the Eagle Guild, set a leisurely pace leading them with a burnished-gold ball of light floating above his head, making it possible for them to see their way through the forest. The respected Senior Soarer had even taken the time to change the color of his silks to scarlet on black before setting out to the border shared between Ducaun and Pentrosa. The man was in no hurry and neither seemed to be his fellow Aakacarns who were taking up the rear. Samuel was scarcely able to restrain Tremor, the horse he borrowed from Tim Dukane. Even the horse wanted to move faster, perhaps sensing his rider’s mood. Samuel managed well enough without his right hand, yet had to admit it was blasted inconvenient, especially while riding on an unfamiliar steed.

  Frogs croaked, crickets chirped, and tiny eyes in the surrounding darkness reflected the light off Lassiter’s sphere. The night was chilly but not unbearably so, still, Samuel felt uncomfortable.

  “Fidgeting will not make a good impression on the Pentrosans,” Simon told him while riding close by on Spud, a black mare.

  “I’m concerned about Daniel,” Samuel admitted, keeping his voice down so the other Accomplisheds could not hear.

  “He handled the meeting well and I think made the right decision in letting us deal with the situation,” Simon replied just as softly. “Far better than last night when he tried to handle the Serin Gell affair alone.”

  “Probably,” Samuel agreed, and then decided to tell his friend what was troubling him. “I’m not comfortable with what he did to Serin Gell.”

  “I heard he defeated him in a duel.” Simon gave the answer everyone who had been in the hill complex had been told by Accomplished Cresh, whose word they took as fact, making Sam feel a little guilty.

  Samuel tried to clear the disturbing image from his mind, having been the only one to witness the duel. “No, Serin Gell surrendered and Daniel ignored it, killing him coldly and cruelly. Our friend was angry over the Condemnation of Sherree and did not trust the Eagle Guild to keep the renegade a prisoner, not that I blame him after the nasty Aakacarn escaped our custody, it is just that our friend is changing and I don’t know if it is to the good or bad.”

  “Daniel is the Chosen Vessel and yes, he is changing, but I don’t believe toward the bad,” Simon replied while patting his mare on the neck. “After killing Serin Gell, as you phrased it, Daniel let himself be vulnerable to attack while we defended the hill, even knowing Accomplisheds of the Serpent Guild were trying to get in along with thousands of Pentrosans. Anyone who would make such an effort to restore commoners to good health at such risk to his own life has to be caring. Although, it would be prudent not to push him too far, a seven-bolt Accomplished is not one to be trifled with.”

  Samuel nodded agreement and decided Simon had made a valid point. Perhaps the Chosen Vessel needs a bit of a cold streak in order to do what must be done. Samuel decided to try and keep an open mind and also make a strong effort to help his Ducaunan friend stay on the good side.

  Behind him rode the rest of the Accomplisheds, Franklin Togan, Jerremy DeSuan, Daria Copa, and Martin Varroon. Each person summoned potential for shields that would be invisible to the eyes of non-Aakacarns, partial domes extending down to about ten finger-widths, half a cubit, from the ground, and added the Da Capos, a degree of protection in the event Accomplisheds of the Serpent Guild Daniel had told them about decided to attack. The shields would fail if hit by a greater potential so it truly was only a degree. Up ahead through the trees, Samuel could see torches lighting the Ducaunan cavalrymen. A few moments more, he and his party were passing the massive trunks and into a clearing where stood a thin-faced Pentrosan Lieutenant.

  “Greetings Accomplisheds,” Captain Johannan called out to them, raising his hands, and peering at the approaching light source. The amount of potential in the sphere was clearly in the non-Aakacarn’s visual range. His eyes seemed to be scanning the distance, as if he expected to see General Tallen and the Royal Knights of the Realm riding up.

  “General Kall did not call for these people. Where are General Tallen and Sir Laurence? What is the meaning of this?” the Pentrosan Lieutenant demanded, growing red in the face.

  Jeremiah Lassiter rode right up to the Lieutenant and stared down at him without bothering to dismount. “A raid was conducted last night against a Serpent Nest, led on my behalf by Accomplished Cresh. I’m sure if you ask him in a respectful manner, he will provide you with the particulars.”

  The Lieutenant opened and closed his mouth several times before words actually came
out. “I, we, thought the Ducaunans crossed the border, taking advantage of Pentrosa while we are mourning the loss of King Jarred. A goodly number of our own Sutton Guard members were killed and a legion of cavalry is even now lying unconscious on the ground along with hundreds of their dead.”

  Samuel took a moment to get over his own surprise, having not expected the Senior Soarer to pass the explanation onto him so quickly. “I and Accomplished Trenca of the Willow Guild,” he began and pointed vaguely in Simon’s direction, “Battled spell to spell against multiple members of the Serpent Guild, one of which was riding with what appeared to be a band of common raiders. Well, you know what happens when commoners involve themselves with Aakacarns, sort of like a single drop of rain trying to put out a forest fire, their lives were the ones extinguished, quickly and with about as much affect on the outcome. We battled the enemy spell casters all night and into the morning and were in the end victorious. Simon, do you have anything to add?”

  The sandy-haired Accomplished of the Willow Guild rode forward, staring down at the Lieutenant, who no longer showed any signs of arrogance. “If you survey the battle area, you will see horse nettles, honeylocust trees, and poppies. I grew them and used those along with other guild specific spells to confound our opponents, which by morning included the clearly misguided legion out of Los Collins.”

  “I launched needle sharp shards of stone at the members of the Serpent Guild, killing at least one along with quite a few commoners who seemed to be fighting on their side.” Daria made her part known.

  “I extinguished flaming balls of fire launched from enemy positions into our protective zone.” Oceanic Varroon offered his part.

  “I made the protective wall from which we defended our position,” Jerremy announced proudly.

  “And I made the stone fort within that perimeter,” Master Artisan Togan stated.

  By this time the Lieutenant was surrounded by mounted Accomplisheds and was clearly intimidated. “But, but, you killed innocent Pentrosans,” he sputtered. “And some of the bodies were killed by pile arrows.”