To Be a Maestro Read online

  “Innocent Pentrosans do not ally themselves and fight side by side with members of the Serpent Guild,” Lassiter stated as if he were pronouncing judgment.

  “Simon and I elicited the aid of a few commoners who had some skill with the bow,” Samuel admitted. “Be careful Pentrosan, my network of Eagle Eyes sees far and wide, do not underestimate my resources,” he added, earning raised eyebrows from his mentor. “Be thankful we were merciful at the last and left the area with the vast majority of that legion unconscious. We believe they came to defend your soil and merely got caught up in a battle between the forces of Aakadon and that of Tarin Conn. We allowed them to live. Do not give us reason to lash out at the forces you have gathered here.”

  “Go back and inform General Kall, who apparently chose not to show up, what we told you. I am sure he has the good sense to back his army away from the border, lest he provoke a war in which Pentrosa is seen as the aggressor. We of Aakadon rarely get involved with border disputes, but this situation is not one of those. It was an Aakacarn affair as Accomplished Cresh and my associates have openly declared, going so far as to share their individual contributions to the effort,” Lassiter’s spell-amplified voice boomed out to where every member of the Sutton Guard could not fail to hear, and then he moved his horse so the Lieutenant could exit the circle and go back to his people.

  “It will be as you say,” the Pentrosan officer replied and then made his way swiftly, about as fast as a man can move short of running, across the border.

  “Eagle Eyes?” the Senior Soarer questioned while focusing his hawk-like stare at his Fledgling of the Eagle Guild.

  Samuel shrugged his shoulders. “My network has only a few Eyes in it, nothing as grand as yours, but they are in Ducaun,” he replied with a smile.

  “In Ducaun, I am impressed,” Lassiter told him.

  Samuel was pleased. It was not easy to impress Jeremiah Lassiter. “We will wait to see if what we did here worked,” his mentor announced.

  “Absolutely, and we also need to see if the members of the Serpent Guild Accomplished Benhannon told us of decide to cause trouble,” Master Togan replied and the other Accomplisheds agreed with him.

  The Pentrosan legions slowly began moving north bearing torches and were out of sight after about half a mark’s time. The enemy spell casters Daniel had warned of apparently chose not to get involved. “I think we can go now,” Lassiter announced.

  Captain Johannan thanked them for defusing the situation and sent a man back to Fort Casum to relieve him, apparently deciding the border needed close watching for awhile longer, and to give a report of what happened. Samuel heard a noise up in the tree above him, summoned potential, and focused an orange beam of light up where the sound came from. A black panther lie on a branch and staring down at him, his or her eyes reflecting in the light. Samuel did not know if it was Dusk, Twi, or Wind, panthers he had met last night, or some other big cat from Daniel’s swirl, but he knew his friend would know every word spoken at the meeting and be aware the moment any force crossed that border. Samuel had witnessed the animals fighting on behalf of the mountain-born Accomplished, knew there was a connection of some sort, and strongly suspected they would just as readily act as scouts. “And Lassiter thought my network of Eagle Eyes was impressive,” Samuel mumbled, and thought inwardly, wait till the Senior Soarer finds out about Daniel’s.

  Chapter Five: Confirmation

  Vance Cummin thought of Serinia, the kingdom of his birth, and the humble life he had as the eighth son of a lowly fisherman on the west coast of the island, before his Potential had been discovered and he was sent to Aakadon. His thoughts went to the day he had been inducted into the Serpent Guild and visited Mount Kelgotha where the great Tarin Conn formed a link to his mind. The past was unimportant and only served as a reminder of how far he had come. Now he was seated in his wood-paneled office and the surface of his desk covered with reports.

  Here in Serpent North, in the heart of Mount Jujus, also called Suteck by the Pentrosans, he wore the black silks with gold braiding only a three-bolt Accomplished and above was permitted to wear. Outside of the Serpent Guild he would be wearing the scarlet on black silks of Aakadon and the medallion of the Eagle Guild.

  Last night he had warned his Master of what Serin Gell was up to and that meeting had gone well. Vance smiled. Later in the night Tarin Conn had visited his dreams a second time and appointed him Maestro of the Serpent Guild. And now, this night, the many minds linked to the Supreme Maestro were being informed of the fact in their sleep, by the Great One himself, and by morning all the people of importance within the guild will know who leads.

  Serin well deserved his fate, with failures so great he was better off dead. The Master believed the fool’s life had been taken by Daniel Benhannon, and Vance was pleased Gell’s plans had blown up in his face. Unfortunately that meant the trumpet of Tarin Conn and the flute of Della Lain were now in the hands of the Ducaunan Accomplished, and adding to the list of things unfortunate, Vance could not get his agent on the scene, Rex Badger, to respond. What came back at him through the amulet could only be described as a mental fog, which usually meant the person you were trying to contact was asleep. Still, all is proceeding according to plan and his network of associates well positioned, ten of which were traveling with General Kall.

  Vance reached into his drawer, chose the appropriate amulet, and placed the amber stone against his forehead. “Phil Nettle, make your report,” he sent through the device.

  “I hear and obey, Maestro,” the one-bolt Accomplished responded immediately. “I investigated the area Serin Gell’s Nest once occupied,” he began ominously. “What is left of Gell is buried under a mound of pebbles that used to be a hill and he is most definitely dead.”

  That was the confirmation Vance wanted to hear, not that he for a moment doubted what the great Tarin Conn had told him. “What is happening with Kall?”

  “He has plans of his own, having demanded a meeting with General Tallen, Daniel Benhannon, Sir Laurence, and any Ducaunan Royal Knights of the Realm that are currently working with the commanding officer,” Nettle replied.

  “To what purpose, surely you warned him about confronting the young Knight?”

  “I did warn him so Kall left Benhannon’s name off the demand he sent to the Ducaunans. The purpose of the meeting was never to negotiate, but to confirm the presence of the Royal Knights and then assassinate them and the General, thus depriving Ducaun of valuable leaders, all the while claiming it was in response to them invading Pentrosa and attacking one of their legions,” Nettle explained.

  It did not seem a bad plan, in that it did not interfere in any way with his plan, Vance considered. “How did it work out for him?”

  A sense of amusement came through the communication link ahead of the words. “The plan fell apart almost immediately. Accomplisheds of Aakadon showed up instead of those Kall demanded. Members of the Eagle, Stone, Aqua, and Willow Guilds informed his Lieutenant that Pentrosan forces merely involved themselves in a raid conducted by Accomplisheds of Aakadon against a Serpent Nest in the Foothills and that the Ducaunans had nothing to do with it. He was also instructed to move his legions away from the border or face the consequences.”

  Could it be true? Did Aakadon launch a secret strike against Gell’s Nest, one that they did not even inform Vance about, a Senior Soarer of the Eagle Guild? Was Daniel involved at all? “Did you see any sign of Benhannon’s presence?” he sent through the device pressed tightly against his forehead.

  “As I said, I have gone over the battle site. What was reported by the Accomplisheds who met with Lieutenant Lymin is consistent with what they claim to have done. Poppy plants, horse nettles and thorny honeylocust trees all seem to have sprouted up over night and grown to maturity. I destroyed the modified poppies because their fumes were causing the men with me to hallucinate. I am standing within a circular wall between a pile of pebbles that used to be Gell’s nest and a pile of gravel that co
uld have been a stone fort as was described by the Accomplisheds of the Stone Guild who claimed responsibility. One of our associates lying within the circle near the south side of the wall has been smashed flat and a pair of branches on a nearby honeylocust is covered in blood and other bodily fluids, thus leading me to believe it was the lethal weapon. Some of the bodies outside the wall have been shot with what looks like needle sharp stone nails. I see nothing here to confirm the presence of Benhannon,” Nettle answered with a sense of bafflement coming through the link.

  Vance has been a member of the Eagle Guild for slightly over a century and a half and could not recall when a strike team included members of the Stone or Willow Guilds. Sun Guild yes, because of their advanced fire and lightning spells, and sometimes members of the Aqua. “It seems the gardeners and stone masons of the Aakacarn world have some thorns and spikes in their repertoires; what a clever and unique use of spells and resources,” he sent and began pondering the ramifications. “The Supreme Maestro seemed certain Daniel Benhannon was involved but it is possible the Ducaunan Accomplished is elsewhere, had nothing to do with the raid, and is not in possession of the flute? I am assigning you the task of locating him. What is General Kall doing now?”

  A sense of abject terror flowed through the link, “Do you want me to confront him?” and there was no question about which person Nettle was referring to.

  “If he can be caught in a vulnerable moment, kill him, although I am not requiring this of you. Your primary responsibility is to locate Benhannon, not fight him,” Vance replied.

  The storm of emotion was replaced by a vast sense of relief. “Kall is making a permanent military installation within these walls, a structure that will take up the entire inner circumference with two levels up to the height of the walls, a third extending up above, and a watch tower on the roof extending an additional thirty-five cubits.”

  It sounded like the general was planning on staying awhile; that will never do. “Tell him it is nearly time to send one of his legions to the Taltin Sea to prepare for an amphibious assault,” Vance instructed.

  “It will be as you say, Maestro,” Nettle promptly replied.

  “What has become of Rex?” Vance wanted to know.

  “I found him lying unconscious beyond some hills to the north among the legion of regulars out of Los Collins. Only six of his team survived, one of the dead I believe is the smashed fellow lying about twenty strides from me. What would you have me do?”

  “Your nine associates can go with the General, you stay with Rex and the surviving members of his team; I will have use for them later. After they awaken, you and the ten Condemneds under your command are to locate Daniel Benhannon, and see if he or the Accomplisheds who participated in the assault on Serin Gell’s Nest are in possession of the flute and the Great Maestro’s trumpet,” Vance decided. He needed to know who has the powerful crescendos. “Tarin Conn is going to teach you a spell that will help you infiltrate Fort Casum and any other installations in the area without being detected visually or by find-spells,” he added and then set down the amulet, ending the communication.

  -------

  Daniel smiled while thinking about the last image viewed through the eyes of his feline watcher. Samuel had seen Dusk in the tree and was no doubt clever enough to recognize the panther as a scout. The team of Accomplisheds seemed to be successful and the elite Sutton Guard moving off. Even so, Daniel’s owls would keep a watch on the Pentrosan army at night while his ospreys and several others of his forest creatures took over the duty during the day. There was still Silvia’s threat looming on the horizon and so his smile did not last long.

  He was back in his office, having excused himself briefly, and the noble guests were in the common room enjoying refreshments prepared by Marge Durayton, who had been recently chosen, unanimously, to serve as Chief of Kitchens for the entire compound. The thirty-one-year-old had skills.

  He stood up to go join his guests and froze when a familiar voice sounded in his head. “Sir Daniel, this is Marcus Bower,” the Captain of the Guard for the Benhannon Estate sent for the first time ever through the amulet given him. This had to be important.

  Daniel sat back down. “I hear you Marcus, what’s the problem?”

  Surges of tension streaming through the connection dropped lower and gradually reduced until reaching a calm sense of relief, “I’m pleased to hear you respond. Two Soarers of the Eagle Guild just finished questioning me and are now in Jared’s office. They wanted to know where you are and seemed concerned you might have died,” Marcus replied, clearly he had the same concern.

  Daniel understood exactly why the Soarers were sent to his estate. “A situation occurred that forced me to break the Silencing placed by the Grand Maestro. Efferin had to feel the spell cease and there are only two ways it can happen, my death or being in the focal point of an overwhelming potential.”

  “They cast a spell on me, compelling the truth, and I told them everything they asked of me,” he sent with a sense of shame.

  “It is difficult if not impossible to lie to a member of the Eagle Guild, so don’t feel bad. What did they learn?” Daniel replied, trying to reassure the man.

  “You were sent to investigate Serpent Guild activity in southern Ducaun, that is all I know of your mission, and you had some concerns about the possibility of Serin Gell attacking your estate. Those Soarers will no doubt learn whatever Jared knows.” Captain Marcus sent in response along with a strong sense of duty. “I had only recruited fifty guardsmen by the time Jared returned here with news that you wanted me to strengthen our defenses even more.”

  “I did go south for the reason you gave the Soarers. Jared knows what you know so don’t worry about it. What progress have you made on the defenses?” Neither person needed the details of the mission so he had given them little information, even though he had full confidence in his Captain-of-the-guard and Account Keeper.

  A strong sense of self satisfaction came ahead of the reply. “Well, it has not been a problem finding men, in fact I am being overrun with applicants, even women, coming and wanting to sign up. When the number reached five hundred, I began to take names and promised to get back to them.”

  Daniel took a moment to digest the news, five hundred and more wanting to serve, this was great to hear. “Clearly you have not received word from the capital, a Realm Alert has been issued and the kingdom is to prepare for war against the forces of the Serpent Guild. They came close to freeing Tarin Conn last night. The Queen has been informed and has ordered all nobles of the realm, including myself, to raise our musters and be prepared to fight.”

  A profound sense of shock came back and ended in a break in the connection, indicating Marcus must have dropped the amulet, and moments later the connection resumed. “I will send for those people.”

  “Excellent, five hundred is good for the house guard, considering it is likely to be targeted at some point. Have Jared provide uniforms like yours except with silver stripes where you have dark blue. These will be for my field force while those commanded by you will be my defenders. Recruit a hundred more defenders for my new holding in the northland. I have seventy-two men and sixty-six women in my service in the compound,” Daniel ordered, and then, sensing the Captain’s anxiety, added, “I am the Chosen Vessel and the coming war inevitable. But we have time, the flute of Della Lain is safe, and the battles to be fought lay in the future.” He saw no reason to worry the man by speaking of Silvia’s revelation just yet, preferring to tell the Captain eye to eye.

  “Jared and I knew what we were signing up for when we entered your service and neither of us is going to back out now. Know that I will command your defenses to the best of my ability, even in the northland, although it would be good if I have the opportunity to actually see the holding,” Marcus sent back with a growing sense of purpose. “Jared and I have used two thirds of the gold in your vault. We have been purchasing horses and equipment using all of his contacts throughout the realm an
d into Taracopa. In fact we now have three hundred twenty Taracopian war horses and have hired two hundred and fifty former house guardsmen from a good many nobles of that land. The lords are complaining about King Van Efery being heavy handed and the excessive taxes being levied. Ordinary people are troubled, especially with folks being abducted, just up and disappearing with no one knowing what happened to them. The citizens of Taracopa are beginning to feel neither the King nor his army can protect them,” he added and then continued before Daniel could respond. “You also own one hundred fifty-two Battencayan horses and twenty-eight Ducaunan Racers, not counting Sprinter.”

  The ashen stallion was currently one of the few horses enjoying the new stables provided by the Accomplisheds of the Stone Guild. Daniel conveyed the sense of approval through the connection, being pleased by all the progress made on his behalf. “Keep up the good work. I hope to see you in a few days and refill my vault. Later, I will take the time to show you my new holding.”

  “I will inform Jared after the Soarers have gone,” Marcus replied and the connection ended.

  Daniel was gladden to hear of the additional recruits, yet not sure how to take the news about the swooping in of the Eagle Guild on his estate, and their using spells to compel answers as if they did not trust Jared Benfyllon and Marcus Bower to speak truthfully. Talk about being heavy handed. How close on his heels were his adversaries? Who can he trust and who not? These were questions that needed answering.

  The door opened and in walked Jonah Ducalin dressed in a light green wool suit with a sword on his hip. Behind him came clean-shaven, Sergeant-of-the-guard Frederick Zaccum, with just a trace of gray in his hair, and more than twenty years of service in the Royal Guardsmen. The man radiated experience and currently served as escort to the Queen’s nephew, who was red in the face. Sir Tomas and both generals also entered with Jaim Cutler wincing and closing the door behind them, clearly embarrassed at failing to keep these people from barging in.