“No.”
“Is there any chance I can convince you to wait and let me communicate with Simon so he can join us?” Samuel absolutely had to know, even being fairly sure of the answer he was going to receive.
“If you and I cannot complete this chore, having Simon along isn’t likely to change the outcome,” Daniel replied, without a trace of anger, and implying he would accept help, as if he had a choice. Samuel had no intention of letting him go on his own.
“I suspected that’s what you would say, so what is your plan?”
Daniel stepped closer. “First we need to go around the Pentrosan outpost. I really don’t want to deal with them unless we must. That chore belongs to others so let’s concentrate on our own.”
Samuel had no problem with slipping by the encampment, since border skirmishes did not concern him. “Agreed, and then we need to get to the Foothills, scout out the region to determine our angle of attack, and put together a plan to gain entrance. That my friend is going to be the easy part.”
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Rex had spent a night and a day surveying the entrances to the Nest. Most of what he had witnessed, birds circling from dawn to dusk, bats coming and going from their roosts after sundown, the many others things that crawled or slithered, were nothing out of the ordinary. Whatever Gell was doing inside, it involved low power spell casting because no harmonic ripples were detected. The wait would frustrate an ordinary man, but Rex was far from ordinary. He could watch for days on end, waiting for the opportune moment to arrive, and then strike.
He was hidden among the branches of a maple and looking down on the southeast entrance. The north was not a problem. Anyone coming or going from there would eventually be seen by his team on the other side of the hill and be reported to him. The southwest entrance was hardly ever used by anything human, bats and dung beetles for the most part, so here he sat, in the middle of the night with an owl perched higher up in the tree, watching a cave, and surrounded by squirrels.
In the time spent he was able to deduce a few facts; Daniel Benhannon has not arrived and the flute of Della Lain has not yet been destroyed, otherwise Tarin Conn would be free. Rex still had time to act. He climbed to the ground without summoning potential, preferring that his body not glow like a lantern to the eyes of Gell or any of his associates who may happen to look out. Rex moved stealthily from tree to bush, under the cover of darkness, to the cave, and stopped at the right of the entrance. He leaned to the left and peeked inside. Seeing no activity, he proceeded toward the door.
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Samuel circumvented the Pentrosan encampment, moving around it to the west while Daniel and his panthers did so from the east. The idea to split up and rejoin later was a standard Eagle Guild tactic, giving the opportunity to verify certain people are where you believe them to be, rather than acting on an assumption, and being unpleasantly surprised. The former mountaineer stood staring north when Samuel caught up to him.
“The Pentrosans are still where we expected them and aren’t likely to be a problem,” Daniel spoke softly, then added, “I can’t summon potential, maybe you shouldn’t either,” and the four panthers growled as if they too felt his irritation over the fact.
Samuel wondered why his friend was stating the obvious. “I agree about the Pentrosan encampment and know you can’t summon potential unless I teach you a spell. I also agree my summoning potential should wait until our presence is known, otherwise we will lose the element of surprise, which is our greatest weapon.” And the only thing we have going for us, he added in thought.
Daniel motioned with his hand and started north, clearly expecting to be followed. “Surprise is what I’m counting on as well. Mine is a gut reaction, but you talk as if you know for a fact wielding potential should wait.”
Samuel kept pace while trying to decide if he wanted to share the particulars of what happened in Lamont with his friend. He made up his mind. “When Senior Soarer Lassiter and I approached Gell’s nest in what the locals call, the haunted hills, Serin knew we were there almost immediately and attacked my mentor. His two associates managed to set up an ambush for me, killed Salsa, destroyed my hand, and left me for dead. There was no way for him to know we were close on his trail, let alone know exactly when we arrived. Upon reaching the area, we felt harmonic ripples and knew Gell had broken the shield you placed on his potential. My mentor cast, Locate; Serin Gell, and shortly after that we encountered them. The only reasonable conclusion is the renegade has a way of detecting when potential is being directed at him.”
Daniel sighed and the panthers slinking beside him growled. “So my gut was right, even with my not knowing the why of it.”
Samuel had a suspicion about his friend’s instincts. “The Chosen Vessel draws what he needs, I suppose your instincts need to be sharper than most of us have been blessed with, and so they are.”
Daniel nodded affirmatively, and without breaking his stride. “You are probably right, and I’m glad you came along, even if you were not invited. Now, the Nest has three entrances and our best approach is from a cave on the southwest side. Serin Gell is definitely down a long corridor leading from the northern cave, in a room with at least six other people, one of which appears to be a Condemned. There are nine Accomplisheds of the Serpent Guild hiding on a hill beyond the Nest and one who is lurking in the southeast entrance.”
How could he know all of that? Samuel grabbed him by the arm, bringing them both to a stop. “Where did you get this information?”
The former mountaineer smiled at him. “I’ve had my scouts watching Serin’s Nest for days and have received regular reports. The information is accurate, if not all that we need to know.”
Samuel counted to ten in his head, he was not angry with Daniel, but with himself. It never occurred to him the man had already scouted out the area well in advance. Even so, it would have been nice to know sooner. “Is there anything else I should know or are you just going to make me discover these little details as events unfold?”
Daniel rubbed his chin as if trying to decide what ought to be shared. “I was hoping to locate Sherree and Jerremy and get them to safety first, but none of my scouts have managed to gain entrance. Longwing was the closest, but he only got a glimpse when the door opened. There is no hope for it but to bring some of them in and let them search out the place while we confront Serin Gell.”
Who is Longwing? Probably some guardsmen from the Mount Geble region; they always had animal type names. No matter, Samuel wanted to focus on the more important issue, like Daniel’s plan. He makes it sound so easy, sneak in with some scouts, let them search out the place, and never mind the Pentrosan’s associates. While that’s happening, we’ll just deal with a three-bolt Accomplished as if doing so is just another household chore. Samuel inhaled a breath and held it for a thirty count. “I’m not sure you fully understand what we are up against. I am a Fledgling of the Eagle Guild and while I have certain skills that will be helpful, I’m not capable of doing what you expect of me. For the sake of good, nothing less than a flock of twenty Senior Soarers would tackle this Nest.”
“Be that as it is, my instincts tell me, along with your grandmother’s revelation, we have very little time to save Sherree, and do whatever we can for Jerremy and your former mentor. I cannot walk away so it is time to lend a hand,” Daniel replied, and started forward.
Samuel took a deep breath and would have counted to ten, but did not have the time to waste, the Ducaunan was moving quickly. “Wait, before we get any closer, let me teach you a spell,” he called out.
Daniel stopped, turned, and walked back. “Are you sure? I don’t want you in trouble with your guild.”
Samuel chuckled, not born of humor, but from the anxiety twisting his innards. “In order to be disciplined by the Eagle Guild for breach of confidence, I need to be alive, and teaching you the Melody I have in mind is the best way to insure I live to face the consequences. Besides which,
I’m certainly not going to mention it in my report, are you?”
Daniel smiled along with a negative shake of the head. “Hardly, the last thing I want is to let Efferin Tames know I can summon potential, and I really don’t want to damage your career. So, what Melody do you want to teach me?”
A spell that might actually make it possible for them to succeed, Samuel thought, seeing as his friend did not seem to have a plan after gaining entrance to the Nest. “It is called, Talon Strike, and is used by the Eagle Guild for the purpose of grasping and holding our prey. The potential is variable, making it the perfect spell to be cast by you. A six-bolt Accomplished should be able to hold Serin Gell while I subdue him.”
Daniel stared at him for the longest time, his eyes appraising, and he grinned, seeming to approve of his summation. “I like your thinking. Instead of wasting time telling me the improbability of our success, you adjusted and developed a legitimate plan.”
Samuel appreciated the response, even if he felt his friend should not be so shocked. “I’ve been known to come up with a few good ideas on the fly. Now, pay attention,” he said and then whistled the Melody.
Orange light radiated from his body and flowed from his left hand, taking the shape of a talon. He kept the potential low, opened and closed his hand, manipulating the claw, so his friend would see how it worked.
Daniel whistled the exact same Melody, note for note, proving he did in deed inherit his mother’s musical talent. Samuel could hardly credit what happened next. The summoned potential did not radiate from Daniel’s body like it would in an ordinary Aakacarn, the only part of him that glowed were the tips of his fingers. Blue beams flowed out into the shape of a Talon and he then opened and closed his hand, manipulating the claw. “I could focus potential through both hands and have a pair of talons,” he said, and then did so.
Samuel watched as Daniel picked up a small dead branch and placed it five strides over to the right. “I think you have mastered, Talon Strike. Cut the potential and let’s get going. Perhaps you will tell me on the way how you can restrict your life force energy to the point from which you focused your spell.”
“Jerremy once told me the Teki are always in a hurry. I’m glad because I share that trait at the moment,” Daniel replied, and matched action to words, walking quickly. When Samuel caught up, the Ducaunan said, “Concentration and lots of practice, that’s how I restrict the glow.”
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Serin Gell sat on his throne in the receiving room. Glowing spheres floating near the ceiling provided the light. Flapper was leaning against the left wall. One eye on the side of its compressed head stared at him while the one on the other side could only see the wall. The Condemned had difficulty keep its balance, what used to be Sherree Jenna found it hard to breathe, its lungs being so compressed. He would have to use the spell on her again and alter the shape or soon she/it will die. Raven/Lassiter was standing in the middle of the floor along with nine other Condemneds, ones Serin had not gotten around to altering, they still appeared human, and were completely bald. Many of the completed Condemnations were in holding cells within the hill complex.
He spent his leisure time Condemning some of the commoners collected along the way, was just about ready to start on the Accomplisheds from the Tomlin Project, when he realized Jordan and Olivia were gone. They slipped away, probably back to Vance Cummin, fools that they are. Their actions were irritating yet unimportant in the over all scheme of things, so Serin put them out of his mind, and concentrated on his successes. The flute of Della Lain was beside him on a pedestal, waiting to be destroyed, just as soon as everything he worked for culminated.
He relished the thought of Vance Cummin bowing to him, being named Maestro, and the glory to be received by Tarin Conn. He could have that now, just summon potential and melt the flute down to a puddle. So many times in recent days he had been tempted to lash out at the cursed crescendo and free the Supreme Maestro, yet could not resist the urge to acquire the trumpet of Tarin Conn and take vengeance upon Daniel Benhannon. The last information from Fenton confirmed his contact had stolen the trumpet from Serena and that the Ducaunan Accomplished was on his way to the Foothills.
Serin laughed again, unable to contain his mirth. He wondered which would come first, the trumpet or the opportunity to Condemn Daniel Benhannon. The ruby amulet, one of three gems embedded in the left arm of his throne began to glow, meaning someone is in the southeastern entrance. The emerald would mean someone had entered from the north and the amber, from the southwest, which was seldom used. Serin cast, Find: Potentials, and focused out to a four span radius, it never hurts to be cautious. An aqua-marine glow in the shape of a man appeared in the north cave, a potential Serin knew well enough. So, Rex Badger, Vance’s closest ally, has come to call, but his presence meant little compared to the one approaching the southeast entrance. There were two, one orange, similar to Lassiter’s Fledgling who died in Lamont. Serin sprang from his throne, rubbed his hands together, and shouted for joy. The second person was tall and his potential, topaz blue, indicating a life force energy he knew well, and had been the focal point of in the past. Daniel Benhannon was here!
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Daniel entered the cave. Guano squished beneath his boots and the entrance was so dark human eyes were useless. He concentrated on Sly and received a colorless image of himself and Samuel walking slowly under the bat. “Just keep walking straight, the door is thirty strides ahead, and don’t touch the wall unless you enjoy the feel of bat poop,” Daniel whispered.
“You considered this the best of three entrances. What was your criterion, the one that stinks the most?” Samuel replied, clearly not pleased with the choice.
Daniel stifled a chuckle yet could not keep the smile from forming. “This entrance is used the least. I figured Serin Gell would not expect company coming in this way and I rather liked the idea of tracking bat poop into his lair.”
“You would,” Samuel grumbled softly, as dung beetles crunched beneath his feet. “The next time we sneak up on somebody I get to choose the entrance.”
“We’ll take that trail when we come to it,” Daniel whispered, and continued on to the door. “Does the Eagle Guild have a spell that opens doors, one that is narrowly focused?”
Samuel stepped up to the door and placed his hand on it. An orange glow surrounded him and his life force energy flowed into the door, spreading out from the point of physical contact. The door slid into the wall and light filled the cave, causing a multitude of bats to squeak their discomfort.
Daniel opened his eyes, ceased concentrating on Sly, and entered the complex, tracking guano with each step. Samuel walked silently behind him. Glowing spheres, ten strides apart, and floating near the ceiling, lit up the corridor. The walls were gray with arched doorways that had barred windows, from which could be heard shuffling sounds. Daniel glanced into a cell and counted three Condemneds in just the time it took to pass by.
“I wonder if Jerremy is in there,” Samuel whispered.
“That would be chore number three, we will come back and look after we subdue Serin Gell and retrieve Sherree,” Daniel told him.
Samuel glanced to his left. “The cell on this side also has Condemneds. I think we may need your scouts if the rest of these cells hold the poor souls.”
Daniel considered asking the squirrels to do the search, but decided against it. If he completed chore number one, he could use Find All to locate Sherree and Jerremy. “I like your positive attitude. Most folks would be worrying about the Three-bolt Accomplished of the Serpent Guild standing in our way.”
Samuel came forward and matched pace, shoulder to shoulder. “Why should I be worried about Gell? I’m with the invincible Daniel Benhannon, who brings bat poop to his enemy’s lair, and goes on mid-night strolls with panthers.”
“There is no need to get snippy,” Daniel replied as they reached the single door at the end of the corridor. This one was made of
wood and had an ordinary latch.
“I’ll go in first,” Samuel was all business now, an eagle about to dive at his prey.
Daniel nodded approval and Samuel stepped ahead and opened the door. A short passage led straight to the room Longwing had seen from the north entrance. In the middle of the room were a group of bald people, dressed in the red and black silks of Aakadon, both men and woman. Standing with them was a tall black Condemned with a bird-shaped head and its only clothing was a silk cloak that seemed to be a part of it, as if giving it wings. The poor soul’s feet were formed into talons. They were all facing forward, but the front of the room was not visible from where Daniel was standing. He summoned a trickle of potential and focused a hair thin beam behind him, placing an invisible shield, wall to wall, ceiling to floor, and added a Da Capo. No one was going to be coming in or out from the southwest entrance.
Samuel came to a stop. “I am going to summon potential for Confusion which will keep him from concentrating enough to cast a Melody. Then I will cast Lock Joints and take away his crescendos. I want you to summon potential and we will hit him simultaneously, me with Confusion and you with Talon Strike.”
“I have no herald so don’t stand out there waiting to be announced. Come Daniel, we know each other too well for us to stand on ceremony,” Serin Gell called out in his scratchy sounding voice.
Samuel glanced at his guano covered boots. “So much for entering where he would least expect,” he said through clenched teeth.
“He doesn’t know I can summon potential,” Daniel whispered into his friend’s ear, and then walked straight into the room. Samuel cursed and joined him a moment later.
Serin Gell was seated upon a throne. In the room with him were two Condemneds and nine bald people who stood without making a sound, each face devoid of emotion. One of them looked familiar.
To Be Chosen Page 48