To Be a Maestro

by John Buttrick

  “That is what I had in mind,” Daniel replied before one of the Teki had a chance to answer for him.

  “I suggest that you and I convey to Tirana, use Fashioning to learn the location of every tunnel and chamber, and then get with Chas Herling to plan an assault. I will, of course, follow your decision.” Leah proposed a good idea.

  Jared did not offer an opinion. David and Silvia took issue with the idea of only Leah and Daniel going on the scouting mission, and then Bella Sander walked right up to the table before Daniel could announce his decision.

  The old Senior Soarer acknowledged all at the table and then sat down when Daniel motioned toward the empty chair on the other side, seeing as his friends were seated to the right and left of him. “It is not every day one gets the opportunity to greet the dead and get a response,” Bella commented while fixing his gaze on Leah.

  The first Accomplished opened her mouth to reply but Silvia spoke up first. “You are in the presence of the Creator’s Champion, the Chosen Vessel, and I too had to get used to greeting the dead,” she stated, in obvious reference to her cousin, Samuel, who had been declared dead by the troop chief.

  Bella winked at her. “Many things change when the Vessel walks among us,” he said and brought his attention back to the first Accomplished. “Leah Barryn was determined to be a Condemned by a Senior Practitioner of the Aloe Guild and declared dead by the Maestro of the Eagle Guild, yet here she sits eating sausage and eggs.”

  “Leah Barryn, Senior Soarer of the Eagle Guild was a Condemned and is dead,” she confirmed without batting an eye. “Leah Barryn, the first Accomplished to associate with Daniel Benhannon is alive and well. Do you find legal fault with the arrangement?”

  Bella is an observant and crafty individual without a doubt, yet he did not seem to possess a mean bone in his body, and his sudden smile proved it. “As you well know, I am fully versed in the applicable laws, and know a dead person cannot be charged with breaking guild oaths. Technically, you are free to associate with whomever you choose. I am in reality pleased at your presence here in Bashierwood because it confirms the reports circulating in Aakadon.”

  While Daniel normally did not much care what was happening in the Aakacarn city, Sherree being there made him sit up and pay attention like a hungry cat eyeing a bird. “What reports?”

  “Accomplisheds of the Stone and Aqua Guilds associated with the Tomlin Project, along with one of the Aloe, one of the Willow, and one of the Eagle, all arrived in a truly remarkable riverboat, and claim you are the Chosen Vessel and restored most of them from Condemnation. I see Leah as the living proof of your ability to heal a Condemned. As your new associate can tell you, each of those who had been Condemned were declared dead, are now in legal limbo, and will likely be confined to their respective guilds. Sherree Jenna and Jerremy DeSuan both claimed to have been Condemneds, yet being initiates whose physical states were unknown and amulets unavailable, their fate was never verified, so they are still legally alive and so have been granted greater freedom of movement,” Bella replied.

  Daniel wondered why Sherree never mentioned the situation. She probably did not want to worry him. Wait, Bella said one member of the Eagle Guild. “I understand Samuel Cresh was here in Bashierwood, do you know what has become of him?”

  Bella laughed. “You phrased that very well. I might not have suspected you know more about what the Fledging was up to than I, if his part in what happened to Serin Gell had not been in the report I received last night.”

  David winked. “You should leave the questioning to me and Silvia. We are better at making people hear what we want them to hear without them perceiving what we don’t want them to know.”

  Daniel smiled while giving a slight nod of his head. “I will take that under advisement. Bella, what does the report say about Samuel?”

  The elder Accomplished sat back in his chair seemingly hesitant and then leaned forward. “This is not information I am normally at liberty to share, as your new associate can tell you, and yet I will do so because of who you are. The only person with first hand knowledge of your duel with Serin Gell is Samuel Cresh and each of the Accomplisheds questioned reported what he related to them. Sherree Jenna, who gained a second lightning bolt, apparently was not part of the discussion and so had nothing to report on the subject. Samuel confessed to having taught you the Eagle Guild specific spell, Talon Strike, so you could help him subdue Serin Gell, thus allowing you to summon enough potential to sunder the Silencing. They all, including Sherree Jenna, report your increase in Potential, and are convinced you are the Chosen Vessel. No one has a clue as to how you healed Condemnation. I assure you the Aloe Guild would like to know. Be that as it is, our friend Sam is in a great deal of trouble for violating an Eagle Guild confidence. This is an internal matter and Maestro Reese is the person the Fledgling will be judged by. Some leniency might have been shown to him since he is an initiate and was faced with extraordinary circumstances. While the entire Eagle Guild is pleased to know Serin Gell is dead and a member of our affiliation was involved in bringing him to justice, the Grand Maestro is furious over you being freed from the Silencing.”

  Leah touched Daniel on the arm. “The politics of the situation will force the Maestro to be harder on Accomplished Cresh than he otherwise might be.”

  None of this answered the question now floating in Daniel’s mind. “Where is Samuel?”

  Bella stroked his beard and eyed everyone at the table before answering, “I make no accusations, only raise the possibility that a mentor who’s Fledgling went to such lengths to save his life might give him a few words to the wise. We Senior Soarers know what Sam is likely to face when he returns to Aakadon. His freedom of movement will be vastly curtailed, his career damaged to the degree it could be centuries before he is considered trustworthy to have further access to the guild library. His repertoire will be kept small and he may never be permitted to step foot out of Aakadon.”

  “What he says is true,” Leah verified. “He should also mention that the Senior Soarer who gave such words to the wise and refuses to reveal having given the advice will likely be subjected to Truth Speak.”

  Jared coughed at the last statement, him having been subjected to that very spell. “From my experience your guild shows little restraint when it comes to using such spells, even when the person being questioned is cooperative and has given them no reason to suspect deceit.”

  Bella did not look at the Account Keeper, perhaps realizing the truth of the matter about his associates, and instead focused entirely on Daniel. “Samuel did not board the boat. He is believed to be in the vicinity of Port Valeen. Compared to you, he is a minnow they are not likely to spend time trying to catch. What I told you about Aakadon last night has increased four fold this morning. The harmonic waves coming from Kelgotha have made everyone jumpy and monarchs all over the world are sending demands that the Grand Maestro do something to make the ripples stop. Face it Daniel, with the exception of Serin Gell, the Serpent Guild has gone inactive, the harmonic ripples show that Tarin Conn is stirring, but the only Melody Wielder they can do anything about is you.”

  Daniel nearly laughed out loud. The Serpent Guild is far from inactive and a major nest was about to be assaulted. “In light of your report, for which I thank you, I and my associates will be collecting some horses and be on our way.”

  Bella stood up. “I cannot report what I do not know so keep your destination amongst yourselves,” he said and then glanced at Leah and winked at Daniel. “The way you are swirling events is interesting in deed and I wonder how big your association will eventually be.”

  “As big as it needs to be,” Silvia replied just before the elder Accomplished turned and walked away.

  Jared paid for the meal out of the money bag and they collected the horses from Chad and Donald after saying farewell to the residents of Bashierwood. Val, in a pale green dress, walked up to Daniel just before he was about to mount Sweeper, one of his new Ducaunan racers
.

  “Happy hunting,” she said in a tight voice and then walked away without waiting for a response. The gesture made him smile, being more than expected, and he truly wished the best for her and Todd.

  They rode up the north trail, each person mounted on a new steed, and after leading the other horses beyond sight of the town, Daniel called a halt. “We are going to see Chas and plan our assault.”

  Leah gave an approving nod. Jared still had no opinion on such matters, and the Teki were ready to follow Daniel anywhere. He summoned the potential for Conveyance and pictured all of them and the horses outside the east gate of his northern holding. Before his heart beat four times they were on the opposite side of the kingdom and staring at the entrance. Two Sentinels, Brad Stoddard and Clem Suleen, were standing guard and recognized their leader immediately. “Greetings Sir Daniel, happy we are to see you back,” they shouted as he waved to them.

  “You are spoiling us with these quick jaunts to far away places,” David stated while leading his group of horses through the gate.

  Daniel laughed. “Perhaps I should have left you behind to catch up the traditional way.”

  Silvia began shaking her head. “By the time he arrived here we would probably be hundreds of spans away on another jaunt.”

  The light banter continued as they led the new horses to the corral and turned them over to the grooms. The place was filled with horses taken during the invasion and Daniel listened patiently as the men told him of the things they experienced during the brief siege. Sentinels and support personnel greeted him and he took the opportunity to introduce Leah to all of them while proceeding toward the center court. By the time he walked into building two, Chas, Mallory, Al, and all but one Sergeant came to greet him in the common room. Branson Calver and his squad had gate duty.

  “I would like you all to meet Leah..,” Daniel began and then felt a sharp pain. Something sliced into his skin in the space between his neck and chain mail, plunging down, robbing him of the ability to speak as it sank deeper. Chaos irrupted, people screamed, lances of light flashed from every direction as he crumpled to the floor, unable to draw a breath. Lions roared, wolves howled, raptors screeched, every animal linked to his mind voiced their outrage. His eyes refused to stay open and darkness quickly closed in around him.

  Chapter Sixteen: The Assault

  Leah watched in horror as a blood-covered disembodied hand left a knife plunged to the hilt in Daniel’s chest between his neck and chain mail. Peripherally she was aware of blue lances of light launching at the anatomical likely position of the hand-owner’s body. A man in black silk appeared when one of the lances pierced him and within mere moments his body was jerked to the right, left, and forward, blood spurting from every wound, as blue beams punched holes in his torso. One passed right through his temple, spraying blood and gray matter out to the left, and the last lance pinned his back against the wall. The Accomplished’s death had come upon him fast and furious.

  Her main focus was on the Chosen Vessel. She dropped to the floor beside him and summoned Beak Strike. Amethyst light in the shape of a tiny beak, meant for surgical precision, formed at the end of her finger, and she carefully cut through the chain mail and cotton undershirt all the way down to his belt. The right side of the garments fell away and she swept the other part to the left, exposing his bloody upper torso. A flute fell to the floor. Why would he carry a crescendo between his undershirt and chain mail? All questions could wait. She placed her right hand on his forehead and her left palm on his abdomen over his navel and cast, Hearts Beat As One. Even with him being unconscious, the pain his body endured assaulted her as if it was her own, yet she did not allow such to distract from the task at hand. His right lung had been lacerated and was filling with blood. The knife had missed his jugular vein by a hair. She added a Da Capo to the spell and then cast, Heal Wounds. The spell should instantly heal the flesh as the blade slides free, she hoped.

  “Someone pull out the knife, straight and fast or you will cut his jugular, and get me two jugs of water, each with a straw,” She called out and heard the sound of feet running to obey as Sentinels and support staff encircled the two of them.

  Silvia yanked the blade out in one quick motion. “Daniel’s blood on the flute of Della Lain,” the Teki spoke under her breath. Leah could not allow the statement to distract her, no matter how intriguing the information.

  “Will he live?” a Pentrosan man with a pair of gold bars on each shoulder inquired.

  “I will not permit him to die,” Leah replied.

  A woman, who looked to be in her early thirties with long dark hair pulled back ponytail-styled, squatted beside her with two jugs. “I have the water.”

  “Good, place a straw in his mouth and the one from the other jug in mine,” Leah instructed, and silently blessed the woman for not pestering her as to why.

  As Leah drank through the straw, Hearts Beat As One, forced Daniel to do the same and she kept drinking until the jugs were empty. The same spell caused his lungs to inhale and exhale in time with hers. Only then did she address those standing around with worry etched on their faces. “Daniel has lost a large amount of blood and while I have healed his wounds, he will be weak as a day old hatchling for a few days. Our bodies metabolize water at a much faster rate than you non-Aakacarns and likewise we produce new blood at a quicker rate. Rest, water, and broth are what he needs.”

  The woman who brought the water stood up and spoke in a strong voice, “Wanda, get the pot of chicken broth.”

  Leah released the Da Capo from Hearts Beat As One, when she was sure he could breathe on his own, and then stood up. “We need to get him to his room.”

  A broad-shouldered Sentinel took hold of Daniel from under the arms while another took hold of his feet. The man with the pair of gold bars on each shoulder nodded approval. “DuArren, Tanner, take him to his bed chamber. I want two guards in the hall and two in the room with him. We don’t know how many invisible assassins are wandering around in this holding. Everyone, not a soul is to know what happened to Sir Daniel. Let it be known a would-be assassin has paid with his life for attempting to ply his trade in the Benhannon Holding,” he ordered.

  The two men carried Daniel up the stairs and Leah walked over to the body now lying on the floor. The spell powering the lance must have dissipated. She did not recognize him personally, only as a man wearing the silks of the Serpent Guild. This was the first instance she knew of where an Accomplished of the Serpent Guild cast a spell and became invisible. Presently, most everyone walked around the common room with daggers in their hands and seemed anxious enough to stab at anything out of the ordinary. She did not blame them for the emotions or extra caution.

  “I am Chas Herling, Commander of the Chosen’s Sentinels,” the man with the gold bars informed her. His head did not even reach her shoulder, yet he had a dignity that made him seem much taller, perhaps that is why Daniel chose the Pentrosan to lead his army.

  Leah gave him the traditional nod of respect even though the man is not an Aakacarn. “I am Leah Barryn and Daniel gave me the honor of being his first Accomplished.”

  “I am glad he did. The situation would have ended badly. None of us could have saved him,” Chas admitted.

  Leah glanced at the dagger in his hand. “He taught me a number of spells, some of which made it possible for me to heal him, and for that I am thankful,” she replied and then added while pointing at the body, “I could not help but notice lances of light shooting through this reptile of a man, all of which were the color of Daniel’s potential, and yet he and I are the only Melody Wielders in the holding and neither of us attacked the man.”

  Chas held out the dagger. “Sir Daniel made this, touch the ruby, and it launches a lance of light. He made it so we Sentinels can wield them along with several other innovations made by him.”

  “I think he would want you to hold onto this,” Silvia’s voice came from behind.

  Leah turned and her eyes locked
onto the object in the Teki’s hand. The instrument no longer had any traces of blood, and there could be no mistaking it for anything else, this young woman held the most famous crescendo ever made. “It really is the flute of Della Lain. You said something earlier about Daniel’s blood being on it as if you are a Senior Soarer whose suspicions have just been confirmed.”

  David stepped up, glanced at the dead man, and then apparently decided his assessment was called for. “No, she said it more like a Seer whose revelation has just come to pass.”

  Leah accepted the flute and then stared at the tiny woman. Very few Aakacarns look to Seers for guidance, especially since only commoners seemed to have the talent, and no self-respecting Accomplisheds want to admit they need advice from such a source. Daniel had been in Aakadon for only a short time, he apparently never acquired the prejudices inherent in its citizens. Working with him is going to take some adjustments, she understood this, and decided to embrace change rather than hold to the old ways that contributed to her having been Condemned. “I am glad the Chosen Vessel has a Seer who is so accurate,” she said and then turned to the commander. “Daniel told me of his link to the animals, let the wolves and foxes in, perhaps they can smell what cannot be seen.”

  “Lieutenant SuKendall, do as the First Accomplished ordered, let’s see if the beasts can locate more of these invisible assassins.” Chas told a woman with a gold bar on each shoulder.

  “It will be as you say, Commander, First Accomplished,” she replied, addressing both of them, and then exited along with a mixed squad of men and women.

  Leah focused on the commander. “Daniel restored me from Condemnation and I have dedicated myself to his service.”

  Chas smiled. “It seems we have something in common,” he replied and went on to tell her his own background and that of the others, along with their names, all of whom had formerly been Condemneds.

  When Marge Durayton came out of the kitchen carrying a covered pot, Leah went with her to Daniel’s room and placed one hand on his forehead and the other on his abdomen.