The number on the console reached Four-Zero-Zero and he maintained that speed until the center of the storm was thirty spans away, and then dropped down into the lower double digits. He hated the delay but did not want the harmonics given off by the rays to be sensed by the Serpents or their master. The ripples coming from Tarin Conn’s casting were so powerful it was unlikely the mantas would be detected, but Daniel did not want to take the chance.
“The Joint Mission Task Force has begun their attack on the Serpent Nest in Zuchang,” Daria gave a fresh update. “The eight thousand enemy Aakacarns are going on the offensive. Approximately seven hundred were destroyed by the first strike before they could react. I will keep you posted as the battle continues.”
“Thank you, Conductor,” Daniel sent along with what he hoped would be interpreted as confidence.
Soon enough, Osprey Vision showed him Manta Two swimming slower than an actual manta would be swimming. Joel’s choice to cease the power to the CAPU was a wise decision, reducing substantially the ripple effects given off by the ray.
“Maestro, you brought more than a few friends, but it only makes for a bigger and better party. I can hardly wait to get started,” Sorel sent through the array and with the words, a strong sense of anticipation.
“Let’s just make it one to remember,” Daniel replied while reducing speed until all of the rays with him were well within the eye and Manta One was matching the pace set by the hurricane’s southern speed. “Acquire targets,” he sent through the array to the crews of the other mantas. “The flagship is mine.”
He turned around, facing the rear and motioned with his hand for Simon to move his head to the left. The gesture had been a little challenging with one hand on the control stick and the free one constrained by the wristband, but he managed to convey his meaning. “Carlos, have you been asked or received orders from anyone to convey me away from this battle?”
He had to look the man in the eye in order to decide if the answer could be trusted. Anyone who dared to pull him out of the fight about to begin would regret it.
“No, Maestro, I have received no such orders or requests,” the bodyguard replied. “This type of thing is what you were born to do and I am eager to be a part of it.”
“Good enough,” Daniel replied and then turned back around and sent through the array, “Attack!”
He poured life-force energy into the emerald on the control stick which contained the spell, Jet Of Air, and Manta One shot up out of the water and was immediately followed by all of the other rays. They bolted up into the air in a column, one right behind the other, through the center of the eye, which was a little over twenty spans across, and flew between the bulkier sky-cruisers that were dominating the airspace.
It seemed as if he suddenly gained several times his actual weight as the ray climbed to the highpoint of the maneuver, he pulled back on the control stick, and the manta flipped over and then it felt as if he lost weight just before it dived toward the south end of the eyewall, straight to where Tarin Conn’s flagship was pushing the storm. Each ray reached the highpoint and then dived toward whichever sky-cruiser had been selected.
All of the enemy vessels were glowing, each in the color of the Potential of the Accomplished within who was conducting the shield spell. The brightest of all was the vessel hosting Tarin Conn. It glowed like a star, even though noon was half a mark away, and the sun was shining above. Daniel could clearly see the beam of energy that was projecting into the eyewall and manipulating the hurricane to the south. In the eyewall was the spell stirring the winds. It was a clear bright swath that stretched along the inner circumference of the storm.
He summoned the potential for Find All, seeing as the presence of the rays was obvious to all, and it no longer mattered if the enemy Aakacarns could sense the Symphonic. He focused the spell in a spherical radius that went several spans beyond the eyewall. The position of every vessel, friend and foe, sprang into his awareness, and he sensed when the much faster and more maneuverable mantas engaged the larger sky-cruisers.
“All I can make out through Find All are the shapes of the vessels,” Simon stated. Since he was not at a console, his function was to observe and see what opportunity developed and could be exploited. “I cannot scan beyond the shields.”
Daniel had learned the same thing through his own spell. “The only drawback is that we can’t determine how many people are in the airships.”
“We only need to know where a ship is in order to target it, the number of people aboard does not really matter,” Carlos added his thoughts.
Daniel had reached the same conclusion while manipulating the grip, right, left, up, and down, in order to get around the sky-cruisers that were between him and Tarin Conn. “I agree, and am wondering why you and Sero are not doing that very thing with your crescendos.”
Instead of talking, both Accomplisheds bent to their tasks. The assistant sent two cucumber-shaped burst of energy at the superstructure of the sky-cruiser directly ahead of the ray while the bodyguard whipped the manta’s tail forward and sent a harpoon of light into the sleek gondola on the bottom of the vessel. Their castings hit the ship at virtually the same time, the spells made contact with the shield, and the big blue gas bag bounced back like a kicked bladder filled with air, and slammed into another sky-cruiser, doing damage to neither.
“I wonder if they thought of safety straps,” Simon remarked. “If not, that probably hurt.”
While the spells did not bring about the destruction of either ship, they did move them out of Daniel’s way. He increased the speed, darting for the brightest vessel in the air. Peripherally he was aware of the black and white mantas casting spells at the other airships and receiving back castings from multiple points around the gondolas. The only direction the enemy Accomplisheds could not focus a spell was above. Those huge superstructures were in the way and gave the rays an even greater advantage. They dived down and sent spells into those beautiful big targets, but were having the same effect as the spells cast by Sero and Carlos. Whatever they struck was knocked out of position, but otherwise was unharmed.
Ten spells, what amounted to a broadside assault, shot out from the gondola of a nearby sky-cruiser and each beam struck the top of Manta Seven as it was banking a turn. The ray glowed as the shield absorbed the potential, but the force of impact was so strong the ray dropped from the sky and splashed heavily into the sea.
Right at that moment a big blue vessel focused its broadside at Manta One. The ten beams caught the ray at just the right angle to flip its entire body all the way over. While gravitational forces yanked Daniel this way and that, trying to snap the straps holding him in place, he manipulated the grip, continuing the roll until the manta was again facing the foe, then reached with his left hand, grabbed hold of one of Sero’s crescendos, and focused a spell. The topaz shaft of light shot across the rapidly shortening distance, and struck the nose of the superstructure. In a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, fourteen bolts of energy overwhelmed the shield and an instant later the ship blew apart. Parts of it struck and bounced off the shields of two other sky-cruisers and a manta before splashing into the sea.
“Excellent,” Sero shouted. “What spell was that?”
“Shatter, the spell that causes cliffs to crack and fall, not to be confused with Shatter Sphere, which breaks down anything not organic,” Daniel replied, while sharpening his situational awareness.
Even though he was fully aware of what was happening around him, and knew he could keep overwhelming the shields of the lesser foes, his focus was the ship containing Tarin Conn, and the way was clear. “Accomplisheds, we aren’t going to be able to overwhelm his shield, but if you can distract him from his spell-work, I will consider your shots well placed.”
Just as he was saying the words he sensed a sky-cruiser, a good eight spans away and towards the center of the eye of the hurricane, vanish in a bright flash. Unfortunately, the ripples of a teleportation spell soon followed. “
It would have been better if it had simply exploded,” he commented mostly to himself.
“More is the pity,” Carlos called out his agreement.
“Maestro,” Jeremiah’s voice came through the array. “Those air boats from Aakadon are doing a good job. They flew in from the Zu River and right onto the streets of Zuchang. If we can take out the hub, I am sure Lena Beyers sent enough Solars and Coronas to hold the city. Unfortunately, if, is the operative word, we are battling eight Grand Circles, and victory is in no way assured.”
“Acknowledged, Conductor, I would come give you a hand, but this chore is not quite done, and yet soon will be. Tarin’s Conn’s vessel is right in front of me and nothing can stop me now,” Daniel replied and the sense of confidence he projected at the end of the mental communication was actually heartfelt.
The ray was suddenly engulfed in absolute darkness and then slammed into a field of energy. The manta came to a stop, throwing him, and likely everyone else in the ray, forward but not far, due to the safety straps. He quickly ceased potential to the rear CAPU and inwardly chastised himself for getting over confident.
Osprey Vision was instantly limited to a very small space and Find All made him aware of thirty Aakacarns sprawling the length of a confined area below the ray, and separated from the upper section by woven air-tight reeds. He sensed nothing beyond the inner dimensions of a sky-cruiser.
“The ship I sensed teleport away has returned in the same space we are occupying, I think we are within the superstructure,” Simon gave his observation and conclusion, which at that point was news to no one inside Manta One.
“It was incredibly good timing, assuming the intent of the captain was to intercept us so we could not interfere with his master,” Sero commented.
Instead of talking, Carlos whipped the tail down and blasted a lightning bolt towards the gondola. At the first spark, the surrounding gases ignited, and the panoramic view outside the manta showed red orange flames, no matter which way Daniel chose to look. Instead of absorbing the energy, the shield spell demanded life-force energy from him. His thirst grew as result. The extra draw was coming from a vat that had been supplying energy faster than his rate of replenishing and therefore reducing by that much the contents of his reservoir. His tongue was dry, but sipping from the canteen would have to wait for a quiet moment, if he could find one. In spite of the loss, he poured energy into the rear CAPU and was promptly pressed flat to his chair by the mighty thrust of the air jet.
Instantaneously, Find All and Osprey Vision expanded back to their original parameters, filling his senses with hundreds of pieces of information, and he became aware of everything in the sky, including the huge fireball Manta One had just emerged from. Looming before him was another sky-cruiser and the ray slammed into it, causing the big blue vessel to slam into the next one over, which conveniently cleared the way to Tarin Conn’s vessel.
“Nice flying,” the familiar voice of Jacksin Hallovir, pilot of Manta Seven, came through the array. Moment later the craft shot up out of the sea.
Knocking the two ships out of the way probably looked planned, but Daniel knew it was sheer luck. “Nice to have you back,” he replied, and kept his eyes on the target ahead.
He reached over and grabbed hold of the crescendo and focused a blunt-force spell into the back side of Tarin Conn’s ship. When the beam contacted the superstructure, the entire vessel pitched forward, heading right at the eyewall. The spell that had been pushing the hurricane southward ceased, and just before the nose of the vessel was about to enter the vortex, the big blue airship vanished in a brilliant flash.
“Blight it all!”
The curse came from Simon but Daniel had been thinking the very same thing. Disgusted by Tarin Conn’s narrow escape, he dropped his gaze, and caught sight of something far worse. Osprey Vision was showing him land directly below. The piers and docks of the port had been obliterated, reduced to nothing but huge wooden splinters and the buildings had fared no better. Keffer Greens was a disaster area.
Toppled trees and what were once homes were scattered across the landscape. The hurricane was stalled with a sliver of the eye on land and the rest still off shore. The strongest winds were wrapped around the eye and everything near it was being ripped away. He sensed lives winking out of existence. The acclaimed Chosen Vessel and Champion of all that was good could not save them and the knowledge weighed heavily upon him.
“It looks like the Dark Maestro has left you to try and stop his conjuration,” Simon gave his opinion.
In addition to the destruction below, Daniel was aware of his mantas engaging in spell battles against the remaining sky-cruisers. All one hundred of his rays were accounted for and the Serpents had one hundred ninety-three fully functional vessels blasting spells. It was virtually a stalemate. Something had to be done in order to tip the balance. If he were to overwhelm the shields of each enemy craft, something slightly beyond the ability of the Atlantan Guild Accomplisheds aboard the other rays, he would not have the strength to influence the hurricane back out to sea, and the longer he sat thinking about what to do, the more people died below.
He took the opportunity to drink from his golden canteen. The cool water felt good as it flowed over his tongue and down his parched throat. It was no callus act; far more people would die if he failed to maintain good hydration.
From every direction the harmonic waves of the spell feeding the cyclonic winds flowed inward. His fellow Aakasear had added a Da Capo before teleporting elsewhere; there could be no other explanation. The sensation was the same during the approach to the massive spell, Daniel’s bones and teeth were vibrating in time with the ripples. He could not keep his hands from shaking while contemplating his next move. Simon was correct, Tarin Conn must have left his conjuration for his rival to handle, and it was up to Daniel’s fleet of mantas to keep the sky-cruisers from interfering with him. The table had been neatly turned.
“The Dark Maestro could come back after allowing you to drain your vat by either fighting the remaining sky-cruisers or by expending life-force energy on stopping the storm,” Sero’s point increased the pressure on his Maestro, but was valid none-the-less.
“Maestro, the Serpents are not giving up this Nest without a fight. They are taking heavy losses, but so are we. Hundreds are dead and over a thousand have been wounded. Jennel’s Healers are doing their best to convey the injured Accomplisheds, ours and those of Aakadon, to Shantear,” Lassiter reported on the progress of the raid at Zuchang. “I am leading a team into the Nest. Vice Maestro Rex Badger is in charge of the hub and I hope to catch up to the sneaky viper before he teleports away.”
Daniel wished even more that he could join the fight in the east, but had his hands full. People were dying no matter what he did or felt about it. “Acknowledged, Conductor, I will come just as soon as I stop this hurricane. Meanwhile, good luck apprehending that snake-in-a-cradle.”
“Thanks for the thought. We are getting closer and it is only matter of time,” Lassiter replied and then cut off the communication.
Daniel noted all of the activity was happening at a higher elevation so moved the control stick forward, down, and to the right. The ray in response dived down and away from the fierce winds of the eyewall and towards the center. He levelled off the manta just above sea level, darted swiftly across the twenty spans of water, and then pulled back on the stick, gaining altitude. He brought the ray to a stop while sending power to the lower CAPU, and kept going up until they were hovering at the same altitude as the bright spell banding the inner wall.
“Maestro, I noticed something you might find interesting,” Simon began to point out while Daniel was considering what spell in his repertoire would be the best tool for the chore.
“Does it have anything to do with helping me choose a spell to push this hurricane off shore?” Folks were dying below him and on the far side of the continent. He truly hoped the next few words would be helpful.
“No, but it might help
turn the tide of the battle taking place above, below, and behind us,” the Chief Aid replied and paused as if pondering something or perhaps verifying his suspicions, and then continued, “Every gondola has crescendos sticking out, two in the front and rear, and ten on the sides. Those batons are in fixed positions; which means the Serpents are not manipulating the shields in order to focus spells as we first believed. Tarin Conn’s vessel could, but not these.”
Daniel studied the view through the eye-shaped devise on his console and focused on the nearest sky-cruiser. “You’re right. The shield is constant and so are the openings,” he said and could not help but smile. “Great catch, Simon, you are still a wonder,” he gave the complement and then focused his thoughts into the array. “All crews, target the crescendos with the spell, Shatter. Shear those things off.”
Manta Twenty-two was the first to swoop in and send the energy beams along the length of the right side of a gondola. In a few blinks of the eye every crescendo on that side of the blue airship was gone. In payment, the ray took spell-fire in the right dorsal wing and was sent into a spiral, but Clifford LaSoon brought the ray under control and right back into position to make another pass.
Through Find All Daniel could sense ten holes in the shield, each about the width of his finger, and so must have Clifford and his crew. As the ray was making its second pass, the tail swung around and sent Shatter in a line that swept across each tiny opening. The interior of the gondola had only been exposed to the casting for fractions of a second, but it was enough to cause the big blue ship to lurch to the left. It was possible a lucky strike did damage to the helm. The bulky craft continued to turn in the same direction and kept doing so until it flew into the winds of the eyewall. The sky-cruiser vanished in the maelstrom and soon after Daniel sensed when its shield failed and the ship was torn apart. Evidently it was difficult to concentrate on the notes of the teleportation spell while being tossed about in the confines of the gondola.
To Be Victorious: The Maestro Chronicles Book 6 Page 57