To Be a Maestro Page 8

  Samuel interrupted his conversation with Lassiter to answer the question. “After his duel with Serin Gell, I told him we would speak of it again, not just the flute, but of other things related to his repertoire. Too many events began to happen at once and the opportunity to have that discussion never came about.”

  “That was an interesting answer,” his mentor commented to the group at large. “I have many questions about how our rescuer, who had been Silenced, managed to defeat one of the deadliest members of the Serpent Guild. It just so happens my Fledgling is an eyewitness to the event. Perhaps he can enlighten us.”

  Simon had observed Daniel carefully and had a fair idea the flute was in the safest place possible, somewhere on the person of the seven-bolt Accomplished. The theory has yet to be confirmed, but time would tell. Even so Simon had no intention of sharing the suspicion, no more than he would tell them of the powerful baton on his own person given to him by Daniel.

  Samuel hesitated, no doubt regretting he had not stayed quiet and let someone else answer the question. “Anyone who has been Silenced can learn and cast a spell if it was never in his original repertoire.”

  “Lassiter is correct, your answers are interesting,” Oceanic Varroon joined the discussion. “What would be the source of such a spell?”

  Samuel began to fidget in his saddle and finally let out a sigh. “We were going into a Serpent Nest to confront Serin Gell and rescue Sherree,” he began and then stopped speaking long enough to eye everyone. “All of you, except Simon, were Condemneds, we did not know her fate and Daniel didn’t even know if he could reverse what happened to you.” Then his voice took on a stronger, more confident tone. “I’m a Fledgling of the Eagle Guild and my mentor, a Senior Soarer, was defeated by the Accomplished I was about to confront. Daniel revealed his rank to me and I made the only choice that could give us even the slightest chance of succeeding. I taught him the Eagle Guild specific spell, Talon Strike.”

  Jeremiah Lassiter nodded his head. “I see, out of desperation you violated a guild confidence in order to achieve your goal.”

  Samuel turned to his mentor. “To have a Maestro level spell caster at my back, you bet.”

  “Look out Jere, your Fledgling has a sharp beak,” Daria said and gave a nod of respect to Samuel.

  “I take it your Talon Strike is a variable potential spell,” Jerremy DeSuan finally lowered his nose, apparently deciding it was time for his opinion. “Fortunately for us, Samuel did teach it to Daniel. His seven bolts obviously blew apart the Silencing and here we are.”

  Jerremy coming to the defense of Samuel came as a bit of a surprise. Simon decided Daniel was not the only one changing. Perhaps the Serinian was not quite as arrogant and aloof as he seems, even though incorrect in his opinion. Simon knew the Ducaunan Accomplished had at least a few spells in his repertoire before Samuel taught him Talon Strike.

  “We all know the flute belongs in Aakadon,” Lassiter stated. “One of us will have to ask him for it. At some point in the near future we must leave this compound, go back to our guilds, and get on with our careers. The flute should go with us. Aside from that, all of my amulets were taken by Serin Gell, leaving me unable to send in a report, do any of you have an amulet?”

  Simon could contact Barnabas Galloway, his mentor. The Senior Forester would be expecting a report and yet this did not feel like the right time to make one. The senior Accomplisheds here might take away his amulet if they knew about it, so Simon stayed quiet, and for a wonder so did Samuel.

  “It seems we are in the same situation and will have to file our reports in person,” Master Togan concluded.

  “How are we going to get back?” Daria asked another question that had been avoided.

  Jerremy laughed. “We arrived here through Daniel’s spell casting. Demanding the flute might not put him in a mood to be accommodating.”

  “We will find a way,” Lassiter stated confidently, yet none of the others voiced agreement with him, and seemed to be considering the Serinian’s opinion.

  Simon coughed to get their attention. “I have a boat in Port Valeen. The Javelin has sufficient room to accommodate and transport everyone us out of the Taltin Sea and down the Hirus River into Aakadon.”

  Jerremy guided his horse over and gave Simon a pat on the back. “Daniel is correct, you are a wonder.”

  “That solves one problem,” Master Togan said. “Which of us is going to ask our host for the flute?”

  Daria eyed Samuel and Jerremy. “Accomplished Benhannon’s achievements were published by the Grand Maestro and are well known to us all, yet I never met him until waking up this morning, perhaps those who have known him the longest should be the first to speak of the flute to our healer.”

  “An excellent idea,” Master Togan voiced his agreement, as did everyone except the ones who would have to bring the subject up to the seven-bolt Accomplished.

  “Apprentice, I am assigning you the task of convincing Daniel Benhannon the flute of Della Lain belongs in Aakadon and to give the class two crescendo to Oceanic Varroon, him being not only high in rank but also the oldest and most experienced of we senior Accomplisheds. The flute is safest in his keeping,” Master Togan told Jerremy.

  “Yes, Master Artisan, it will be as you say,” the Serinian replied formally, although his sudden frown implied he was not happy about it.

  “Samuel, I am assigning you the same task. You and Jerremy work out the best way to go about it,” the Senior Soarer directed his Fledgling.

  The former Teki shrugged. “As I said, I’ve been meaning to have that discussion, and sooner is better than later.”

  Simon remained quiet and the others seemed to forget he was among them, which was not unusual. None of them brought up the fact that only the Serpent Guild had a spell capable of transporting people instantly from one place to another, yet Daniel obviously could, and clearly no member of this party wanted to consider how he acquired the Melody. He may have wrung it out of the many enemy Aakacarns confronted along his journey, yet that was only a working theory and Simon chose not to share his suspicions. The key to Tarin Conn’s prison should stay in the hands of the Chosen Vessel, but his opinion did not count much in present company so he chose not to share it either.

  Chapter Seven: End Of A Long Day

  Temperature, sight, sound, these had no meaning in the space between here and there. Daniel’s mind was on the return trip, picturing each person standing where they had been before the journey to the capital. Three heart beats later, they were back in his office.

  “I apologize for doubting your word.” Jonah was the first to speak.

  “You never told us the flute of Della Lain was in the hands of Serin Gell,” General Malcus added right behind him.

  “To think that it was almost destroyed and the Dark Maestro set free,” General Tallen said, eyes wide and with an iron grip on the declaration of Realm Alert signed and sealed by the Queen.

  Each of the nobles had verbal and written verification of the Realm Alert as proof to the other knights and lords in the border region of the order to prepare for war. Word would spread quickly through Tallen’s relay system.

  “Sir Daniel, what you did for my Aunt, not only destroying the Lethal Growths, but making her seem as though she never had them, it was nothing short of a miracle.” There were tears in Jonah’s eyes.

  Daniel placed his right hand on the man’s shoulder. “It is the duty of a Royal Knight of the Realm to defend his Queen from any foe, healing her was within my power, and I refused to allow the cursed disease to take her life.”

  “Well said,” Sir Tomas gave his affirmation. “You have done far more than we credited you with.”

  Daniel shrugged off the compliment, seeing as he did what duty called for, and anyone in the room would have done the same if they could.

  “Did you know the flute was in danger?” Jaim Cutler ventured to ask, this being the first time he dared to speak in present company. Perhaps meeting and being
noted by the Queen emboldened him.

  Daniel wanted the people in his service to speak up, so answered the keeper of the door. “Someone I trust taught me a few things about the Chosen Vessel. One is that situations will arise requiring I make a choice. When something is wrong, people are in danger, or someone is in distress, I can walk away, stand and watch, or do something to help. We all make those kinds of choices, yet as the Chosen Vessel, I will have to make them more often than most folks.”

  “Our duty in such cases is to help,” Sir Tomas stated correctly, it was one of the responsibilities of a Royal Knight of the Realm.

  Daniel acknowledged the senior Knight with a nod of the head and then went on with the explanation. “Sherree Jenna was the person in danger and I went to rescue her. So I crossed to save her and found Serin Gell in possession of the flute. My duty at that point was to secure the ancient crescendo, defeat the enemy Aakacarn, and rescue Sherree.”

  “We were not willing to risk a war to save the life of one person,” Malcus admitted.

  Daniel glanced his way. “True, but none of you are the Chosen Vessel. Events swirl around me and sometimes decisions I make, like saving Accomplished Jenna, turn out to either place me where I need to be, in this case to protect the flute, or draw whatever resources might be needed in the future.”

  “We are going to win this fight against Tarin Conn!” Jaim boldly stated.

  “I hope so,” Daniel replied. “Tarin Conn is also a Chosen Vessel and he draws what he needs and has been doing so for over a thousand years. Our victory is far from guaranteed.”

  “The butcher will get paid in any battle,” General Tallen stated grimly, sounding very much like Sergeant Keenan. “Don’t ever think the fight will be easy, it is a sure way to lose.”

  “You have been chosen. What would you have us do?” Sergeant Zaccum asked and seemed ready to follow Daniel directly to Kelgotha to confront the ancient Aakasear.

  Daniel held back the smile threatening to form, not wanting to give the impression he was mocking them. His pleasure came from the change of attitude, not having to argue with these men, and seeing them cooperative and ready to proceed with the chores ahead. “We must obey the Queen and muster our forces. Jonah, do you remember my decision to save the baby sasquatch?”

  Jonah’s good humor evaporated like a drop of water on a hot rock at noon. “I remember.”

  “She was just the first of many that are now loyal to me,” Daniel shared with these men for the first time.

  “What?” the Queen’s nephew blurted as if he did not hear correctly.

  “How many and where are they?” Sir Tomas wanted to know.

  Daniel could not hold back the smile. “Half of them are hiding in the forest. I’ve ordered them to no longer consider humans as food and to avoid contact.”

  “But, but, they are dangerous and cannot be trusted. You remember how they attacked us on the way.” Jonah was quick to voice his dismay.

  “Not the pack following me,” Daniel replied, calmly and with confidence.

  “Where did your sasquatches come from?” General Tallen asked.

  Daniel began laughing and then sobered up when no one else showed any signs of amusement, Tim or David would have seen the ironic humor. “I stole them from Serena Lowell, the Accomplished of the Serpent Guild who sent them after us, and an additional thirty-one are on the way. They should be here soon and I will add them to the rest.”

  General Malcus began rubbing his hands; eyebrows arching up, and asked, “How many can we count on to help in the fighting?”

  “Eighty-seven after Gurrumble arrives with his,” Daniel replied. “Shereeka has Sheila and Choaker, both infants, to take care of, so she isn’t likely to participate in the fighting soon, unless in defense of the babes.”

  “It sounds as if you know them intimately,” Jaim commented.

  “I do know them and they know me. These sasquatches are not going to be used the way the Serpent Guild uses Yetis, as fodder on the field. In fact sasquatches respond better when given a goal and allowed to achieve it their own way.” Daniel wanted the General to understand the animals in his swirl were not lives to be thrown away.

  “He is stubbornly protective of his sasquatches,” Jonah stated. “As soon pull a tree out of the ground bare handed as get him to change his thinking on this matter.”

  “My point in bring them up is that I am following Her Majesty’s command and adding to those in my service, human and non-human. The queen has given us orders to prepare the kingdom for war and that, Sergeant Zaccum, is what I would have everyone do.” Daniel did not know how to be straighter forward than that.

  Jonah glanced significantly at Jaim Cutler. “What I want to discuss can only be spoken of in the presence of people who were at a specific meeting.”

  Daniel nodded his understanding, and focused his attention on the young man, “Jaim, I need you to fetch me a bucket of rocks for when my meeting with these gentlemen is over,” he stated.

  Cutler snapped to attention and saluted. “It will be as you say, Sir Daniel.”

  When he exited the room, Jonah continued in a soft voice. “I have the trumpet of Tarin Conn hidden in my room at Fort Casum and you have the flute of Della Lain somewhere here, objects desperately sought after by the followers of the Dark Maestro. Does the Serpent Guild know we have possession of these instruments?”

  “An associate of Serin Gell stole the trumpet from Serena, this you knew when we caught up to the man,” Daniel began to answer.

  “Yes, Jak Taltin, I remember you executed him,” Jonah confirmed his memory of the event.

  Daniel continued in a softer tone. “Serin Gell did not know we caught Taltin and seemed to be expecting him to arrive with the trumpet. I’m just saying it is possible someone else in the Serpent Guild has figured out we have it.”

  “What about the flute?” Sergeant Zaccum asked.

  “I strongly suspect that they do know who has the instrument and think it best to prepare for the possibility,” Daniel replied and had no way to make his voice sound less grim.

  “What about the Aakacarns, who originally stole the trumpet, it is our understanding they are headed this way?” Tallen brought up an issue Daniel had put out of his mind.

  “My last report has them far to the south and headed west towards Rivertown. It seems they have given up on the idea of heading north.”

  Jonah turned to his host. “I didn’t know you had scouts out that far. Sir Daniel, I begin to think you have resources beyond the norm.”

  “Way beyond the norm, now that I am fully functional,” Daniel agreed. “Only a fellow Accomplished could use those resources so there isn’t much point in sharing them here.”

  “So those Aakacarns are no longer a threat,” Malcus concluded, clearly not wanting to get into matters best left to Melody Wielders.

  “Not a threat here in northern Ducaun, yet still a problem for the kingdom, and something we, meaning Jonah, the Royal Guardsmen, and I, must eventually deal with,” Daniel replied. “I believe the greater threat to be here.”

  “It is what it is,” Sir Tomas said. “San, Jathem, we have work to do. This area could soon be swarming with followers of the Dark Maestro.”

  Both Generals agreed with the Knight, they and Sir Tomas exited the office, leaving Jonah and Sergeant-of-the-guard Zaccum standing in front of Daniel. “Would you like to have a seat,” he offered, and when they did, he went around and sat behind his desk. It was obvious as a swan in a pond full of ducks they had something more to say to him.

  “The trumpet of Tarin Conn has been under the protection of House Ducalin for generations,” Jonah stated a fact known to both of them and then after taking a few minutes to contemplate whatever caused him to remain behind, he continued. “My family had kept it well hidden, until recent events, and now that we have it back, I have the responsibility to safeguard the instrument. As the legal representative of House Ducalin, it is my judgment that you be the temporary guardi
an of the Dark Maestro’s trumpet.”

  Daniel had placed shields on both the trumpet and the case before turning them over to Duke Cantor’s son, yet had to admit, given the current circumstances, it would be best if the instrument be in possession of the Accomplished with the highest rank in potential. “I accept the responsibility,” he replied, being concerned about Jonah’s safety. The kind of person who would be coming after the trumpet was the sort that would kill the Ducalin in an instant.

  Jonah nodded his head. “Good, I will come back tomorrow with my things, not that I mean to intrude, but I believe it would appear less suspicious if Sergeant Zaccum and I are seen moving into your compound.”

  It was a good notion, one that Daniel felt he should have thought of. “Certainly, you both are welcome to stay here, and it is not an intrusion.”

  Zaccum leaned forward in his chair. “Is there some way I can be of service?”

  Daniel gave the matter some thought and a few moments later the answer came to him. “I have sixty men and twenty-seven women who want to fight, the rest want to serve as support staff within this compound. Of the eighty-seven people in my fighting force, only one possesses experience. Would you consider helping him train the others?”

  Zaccum smiled. “That request is well within my skill set and I am certainly willing to help with the endeavor.”

  “Excellent, after you and Jonah get settled in tomorrow, go see Commander Herling,” Daniel replied and then decided it might be a good idea to tell the Sergeant a particular fact ahead of time. “Chas is the commander of this holding and he was once a Major in the Sutton Guard.”

  Zaccum frowned and sat back in his chair, while Jonah sprang to his feet. “Can he be trusted, a Pentrosan?” the Queen’s nephew demanded to know. His attitude was not unusual for a Ducalin, so Daniel took no offense and ignored the tone.

  “The process in which I restored each person from being among the Condemneds allows me to see their innermost being. Based on what I know of the man, Chas Herling can be trusted.”