To Be Chosen

by John Buttrick

  “There are no buts,” Ronn stated firmly, while glancing at his wife, who nodded her head slightly. It was as if they had their own private means of wordless communication. “You offered to escort us to Daniel’s estate and we agreed. A Benhannon does not go back on an agreement. We stick to our word.”

  “But..,” Simon began to explain how important it was that he met with Samuel.

  “No, you agreed to escort us, so we are going with you, someone has to steer, and after we have helped Sherree and Jerremy with their problem, you can take us the rest of the way to our son’s estate,” Miriam said.

  Simon was going to continue arguing, until he saw the looks in their eyes, not far different from that of their son’s when Daniel decided that his wait for a meeting with Efferin Tames had lasted long enough. “Fine, is the morning soon enough?”

  “I don’t believe Serin Gell is going to take a break from his assault, so right now seems better to me. We can leave Bon and follow the river to an isolated spot with plenty of trees from which to make your boat” Miriam told him.

  “Once away from the city, you can summon fire or a ball of light, like Daniel can, that should be adequate for seeing where we are going, and to work by once we choose a spot,” Ronn added, and then picked up a long piece of wood he had been whittling on and went to work.

  Simon wondered when deciding what to do had shifted from him to the Benhannon’s, but the suggestions were good so he went along with them. They paid the bills for the night’s lodging and set out on horseback. Miriam packed some food and quite a few containers, items she no doubt thought necessary. Both of Daniel’s parents had a long bow and a quiver full of arrows. There was no doubt she possessed strength to draw the thing. Not long into the journey, Simon summoned a ball of light, which floated up in the air just ahead of them. Five an a half spans out of the city limits they came across a heavily wooded area along the river. Miriam set up camp while Ronn continued whittling what was shaping up to be a model of the riverboat to help with the visualization. Simon selected a huge oak tree that suited his purposes. It was broad in the base and had huge branches. He went back to the camp and found Ronn still at work on the model and Miriam sitting on the ground watching him.

  Ronn’s work was meticulous and Simon marveled that a commoner could form something so intricate out of a piece of wood. No detail had been left out and even the waterwheel turned when Ronn gave it a spin with his finger. He handed his crafting to Simon. “Can you work from this?”

  Simon examined the boat, removed the roof of the wheelhouse, saw the circular steering wheel and some benches along the sides. The cottage, he noted, was not one room but two, one with table and benches and the other with bunks. On the portside Ronn made three gangplanks, the largest being near the horse stalls. Simon put it all back together. “This is perfect,” he announced and made his way to the oak.

  Ronn and Miriam stood within visual range, but far enough away so as not to interfere with the casting. Simon held the model in one hand and then summoned the potential for, Shaping, drawing it through the level four crescendo, and focusing on the huge sprawling tree. The casting was powerful enough that he was sure the Benhannon’s could see the power being wielded. The oak began to glow cobalt blue, leaves and bark fell to the ground, stripped away in mere moments. The ground shook, roots writhing beneath the earth and the tree rose up like a giant on his tip toes, teetered for a moment, and then toppled down with a mighty crash. The trunk, branches, roots, every part of the oak formed into a single whole, drying sap, sealing the wood against leaks, and then began to take on the shape of the model.

  Simon lost track of the time, his throat was dry, and his lips were chapped but he was not ready to take a break. The riverboat was huge, eighty cubits long and twenty wide. He finished it to the last detail and then plopped down on his rear, exhausted. Had he not used the crescendo, his body would have been mummified.

  Miriam handed him a canteen and he drank thirstily, grateful for the cool, refreshing water flowing down his parched throat.

  “How are you going to get this massive thing to the river? I see you have the stern facing the water.” Ronn asked while scratching his head, as if trying to puzzle it out on his own.

  “I’m going to drink more water, rest just a bit, and then form a trench deep enough to back this baby out,” Simon replied while motioning toward the riverboat.

  “Baby,” Miriam said the word slowly as if trying it out for size and finding it insufficient. “Surely you can come up with a better name for such a swift boat. How about calling it, arrow or spear?”

  Simon shrugged his shoulders, not having given the matter any thought. He decided on a name and once again summoned the potential for, Shaping, and then caused the name, Javelin, to appear on both sides of the bow and on the stern.

  “That is a much better name,” Miriam said, finally satisfied.

  Simon drank his fill, rested up, and then used the Melody, Irrigation, to summon potential, focusing life force energy through the baton directly at the river where he wanted his trench to begin. He eased the broad cobalt blue beam from the water’s edge, making the entrance to the river wider and then tapering it to the stern of the Javelin and a little beyond; otherwise the current would shove the vessel sideward into the dirt before it got half way out. Water filled the trench, from the river, all one hundred and thirty-seven and a half paces to the boat, beneath it, and then beyond another twenty paces. His baby was now floating. “All aboard!” he shouted.

  Ronn and Miriam just stared at him, until he realized the gangplanks were not in place. He levitated the largest plank up and over, bridging the gap. The Benhannon’s led the horses aboard, with Daniel’s father leading Spud as well as Raindancer. Flashpoint and the other horses were already in stalls by the time Simon came aboard and brought in the gangplank. He went to the wheelhouse and found his two companions standing at the steering wheel.

  “Which of you is going to pilot the boat?” he inquired.

  “We will take turns, I’ll steer first and every couple of marks Miriam will take over,” Ronn answered.

  Simon nodded his head, then went back to the stern, and sat down on the bench facing the waterwheel. He was glad Miriam had suggested shelter from the elements. His had a roof but was open on all four sides, giving him full visibility. Around him were containers of grease and once again he marveled over how much thought the Benhannon’s put into this project, it never occurred to him how hot the shaft would get from spinning. He thoroughly greased the area of friction, and then summoned the potential, focusing the tightly bound solidified bands of air at the spinning-shaft, looped it around and willed it to pull, slowly. The wheel turned and the Javelin began to back out of the channel he created. Ronn kept the boat straight, but as soon as the stern entered the river, the current caught the boat and swung it around with the bow facing up river. Daniel’s father turned the rudder and the Javelin came aright.

  Simon reversed the pull on the solidified bands of air, added a Da Capo on the Melody, and then was free to concentrate on keeping the wheel turning. It took a short while for Ronn to get use to steering, but soon he had the vessel well under control.

  “That went well,” Miriam said as she came and sat on the bench beside him. “When do you get a break?”

  Simon smiled, while still concentrating on the wheel. “Not until we meet Sam at the merge.”

  “Why is that?”

  “Maintaining the potential is not a problem, I’ve taken care of that.” No need to complicate the answer with Da Capo theory. “The bands of air I’m using will remain for as long as I will them to be so, but I must concentrate to keep them moving.”

  “Well then, I’ll leave you to your work,” she replied and went back to the wheelhouse.

  Simon increased the speed and soon the Javelin was living up to its name and they were moving faster by paddlewheel than could sails enhanced by spells of the Zephyr Guild. Ronn maneuvered the boat around other river
vessels, seemingly with no difficulty, and Simon wished he could see the expressions on the faces of those sailors who were able to get a good look at the Javelin.

  He had an entire barrel of water and a tin cup to drink from at his disposal, and he made good use of them. It took a lot of energy to keep the wheel turning, particularly at the faster speed. Four and a half marks and several more applications of grease later they were passing under the bridge at Zane, with only ten more spans to go before reaching the merge of the Gosian.

  He began slowing the wheel as the Javelin approached the convergence of the waters where the Mighty Hirus swallowed the combined waters of the Tannakonna and Gosian Rivers. The currents grabbed the boat, pulling it roughly through the stream, and Ronn, Simon glanced back, no, Miriam steered the Javelin into and around the southern bend. Simon broke the spell, allowing the boat to slow down a bit before making his way up to the wheel house.

  Ronn was sitting on the bench to the right and Miriam was at her post. “Bring the Javelin over to the east side. I want to tie us to the bank. Sam should be here by dawn,” Simon told her.

  “Aye Captain,” Miriam replied playfully, while steering the boat which was being driven by the current.

  Simon smiled at her quip and then ran out on deck, casting, Lashing The Rope, he caught hold of the trunk of a white ash, and stopped the boat gently in the water. He concentrated, mentally pulling on the tightly bound solidified bands of air, and the Javelin came up against the east bank. Ronn and Miriam brought out real ropes and tied off the vessel the non-Aakacarn way. Once they had the boat secured, Simon broke the spell, making it possible for all three of them to relax for awhile. The full moon and twinkling stars provided faint lighting, but it was enough to see boats, large and small, sailing up and down the river.

  Simon pulled the amulet given him by Jerremy out of his inner pocket and placed the gemstone against his forehead. What came through the connection could not be put into words, more like deep sorrow mixed with intense pain, and despair. “Jerremy, this is Simon, are you understanding me?”

  The question went unanswered, except for the nonverbal emotions, and Simon began to worry. He broke the connection, put away Jerremy’s amulet, exchanging it for Samuel’s. “Sam, something has happened to Jerremy.”

  “Can you be more specific?” Samuel immediately replied.

  “I tried to contact him moments ago and only received wordless feelings of sadness in reply.”

  A sense of resignation and sorrow flooded through the link. “That is exactly what I received from Jeremiah Lassiter. I’m afraid we are too late, Jerremy has been Condemned.”

  That could not be right, Simon fought the notion, but it was a losing battle. He and Sam were on the way, doing the best they could. It was not suppose to end like this. But this was not the end. If the Serinian has been Condemned, what about Sherree? “You know we have to keep going. We may not be too late to rescue the others.”

  “Of course we have to keep going. I’m on a boat half way down the Tannakonna River, men are rowing for additional speed, and this effort will not be for nothing, I won’t allow it,” This was a man after Simon’s own heart. “We’ll merge with the Gosian and then should merge with the Hirus before dawn. Where are you?” Samuel replied, with determination flowing strongly through the link.

  “We, who is else has joined us?” Simon wanted to know.

  “Tim Dukane and his wife Gina insisted on coming. Captain Treavon only agreed to put out at night because the mountaineer is now famous for his part in bringing down Balen Tamm. It also didn’t hurt that he offered gold to the Captain and a silver coin to each rower on the Countess.”

  “I cannot believe you allowed non-Aakacarns on this mission,” Simon replied, while staring at Ronn and Miriam, who were sitting together with their backs to him, watching the river.

  “These mountain people aren’t easy to dissuade once they get a notion in their heads,” Sam replied.

  “Tell me about it,” Simon sent in return, perhaps transmitting more through the link than just words.

  “Who have you added to our mission,” Samuel replied, clearly having sensed the nonverbal emotion.

  “Daniel’s parents insisted on coming,” Simon admitted, but wanted to move the conversation along. “We are two spans south of the merge on the east bank. The Javelin is big enough to accommodate you, Tim, Gina, and your horses, just don’t invite any more people to join us.”

  “I have no intention of doing so. You know we can’t let Daniel’s parents anywhere near Serin Gell,” Samuel replied, stating nothing Simon did not already know.

  “We will deal with that issue later. I doubt Serin Gell will be at Lake Tomlin when we arrive. Several boats have sailed past us, being driven up stream by members of the Zephyr Guild, they will get there first. We have time to deal with our non-Aakacarn allies,” Simon replied.

  “Acknowledged,” Samuel sent without delay.

  Simon broke the link, placed the amulet back in his pocket, and proceeded to bring Miriam and Ronn up to date on the situation, including the supposed fate of Jerremy. The mood was somber and only brightened when an orange ball of light came from the north. Simon summoned his own sphere and the vessel approaching veered toward him and slowly came aside the Javelin.

  Rowers stored the oars, ropes were tossed over to be tied off by Ronn, and a broad gangplank swung into place, bridging the gap between the two boats. The waterwheel drew much of the attention of the sailors and Captain Treavon while Sam crossed onto the Javelin along with Tim, Gina, and their horses. The crew of the Countess became less enthusiastic after learning the vessel was created and powered by Aakacarn spells, staying quiet even after Tim paid the money he promised for a quick voyage. They untied the ropes, and quickly put out into the current with a minimum of polite words, all directed at the mountaineers, while avoiding eye contact with the two Aakacarns.

  The Benhannon’s helped everyone get situated and with hugs, much back-slapping, and the shaking of hands, the greetings were complete. Simon demonstrated how the wheel worked, and did not turn down the offer when Samuel volunteered to take a turn at keeping it going.

  The sun came up as they sped up the Hirus, under the bridge at Zane, pass Bon and Benton, Kendall, Beken, and Coldrone. In between those cities and towns were long expanses of wooded areas with the occasional homesteads, farms and ranches. Beyond Coldrone the roads on both sides of the river were paved right up to and through the city of Ducanton. People on the banks and on other river vessels stopped whatever they were doing and stared, some pointing at the Javelin with its waterwheel speeding up the mighty river as if totally unaffected by the current, and bypassing the much slower boats. The wilderness between the capital city and the town of Tomrus was unbroken except for a few cabins on either side of the river.

  The docks of the only town within riding distance of the Tomlin Project was large enough to accommodate ten large riverboats as well as quite a few fishing boats and smaller water craft. Tomrus was hosting four large sailboats when Ronn brought the Javelin to a stop in an open spot along the peer. All of the grease had been used and would need to be replaced before they could get under way again, not that they would be doing so right away. It was time to get the horses and begin the journey out to the compound near the lake.

  Chapter Sixteen: The Vessel’s Swirl

  They were out of the swamp and Daniel no longer felt the need to maintain the spell causing a gentle breeze to keep the swarming insects south, away from the procession. From the time they entered the swamp heading for the estate to when they left, he had been casting subtle spells, sensing gators, snakes, all sorts of creatures, and gently nudging them away when they ventured too near the horses. He could hear a few of the men commenting on how nice it was having a cool breeze blowing away the gnats and mosquitoes. He ended the spell, the natural wind blew in gently from the west, and only Silvia seemed to notice the change, yet he doubted even she knew anything more than that the wind had
shifted.

  Concentrating on so many creatures at once had not been easy, which is why Jonah was currently leading the way at a fast clip, no doubt believing he led because of his in depth knowledge of the wetlands. Daniel did not discourage that notion, wanting to focus his attention on other matters. They were following the Tollus north. Any woodsman could do the job if he pays attention, does not get lost or go farther out of his way, and the Duke’s son clearly knew woodcraft, making him a good choice.

  No one had been more surprised than Daniel when Jonah Ducalin and Sergeant Zaccum rode out of the gate in the morning, tent rolls on the back of their saddles, requesting to join the hunt for the Aakacarns. Daniel, Zaccum, and the Duke’s son were the only members of the group who knew what had been stolen, and none of them spoke of it, not even to each other. All of the animosity displayed the night before seemed to be gone, replaced by a more congenial attitude, perhaps the gesture of not bringing Sheila under his roof helped a bit, and giving him the lead position did not hurt either. The intention had never been to upset the man or his sister, but the baby sasquatch was linked to Daniel in a special way.

  Back when Sheila’s mother attacked him, Daniel had been taken completely unaware, and learned some valuable lessons. At the time he was scanning for both ordinary creatures and those of the swamp as well as yetis and Aakacarns, with a subtle flow of potential, a glow so faint it could not be seen even by another Accomplished, except possibly on a moonless night. One of his mistakes was in concentrating so deeply on his scans he failed to pay attention to his physical senses. The other was in assuming that sasquatches were close enough in kinship to yetis that the same spell would indicate their presence. He was wrong.

  He needed to physically touch a thing in order to scan for it through a spell. All of the other creatures were species he had touched at least once in his lifetime. Sheila’s mother provided him the needed opportunity. He did more than touch her, he cast, What Is This? and sensed all the way down to the recipe strands possessed by all living things. That’s when he learned the female was pregnant.