To Be A Maestro (The Maestro Chronicles)

by Buttrick, John

  Tim’s brow wrinkled into a frown. “I already reduced my life force energy when I played the spell, Potential, back in Aakadon. Harmon Gramm said I could never recover the lost energy.”

  Daniel leaned across his desk and extended his hand. “Come closer and I’ll prove him wrong.”

  Tim glanced at his wife and then came forward, allowing his forehead to come in contact with Daniel’s hand. “Will it hurt?”

  Daniel chuckled. “Far from it, the sensation should be pleasant.”

  He cast, What Is This, and sensed down to the vat of life force energy. Tim’s was filled with what appeared to be clear liquid and about nine tenths full. Daniel placed a Da Capo on, What Is This, and then focused, Vitality, into the reservoir of his friend, filling it to the brim. There was no point giving him more. The excess energy would make him hyper and the drummer certainly did not need to be more excited.

  Daniel ceased the spells and sat back in his chair. Tim’s lips stretched into a broad smile. “You’re right, that felt great. When did you learn this trick?”

  Daniel snorted. “It isn’t a trick. I learned by restoring the non-Aakacarns. I gave energy to Sherree without difficulty and so did the same for those who needed it.”

  Gina glanced at her husband and then focused on Daniel. “Does this mean you can make us live forever?”

  Her question caused him to consider whether or not he could extend the lifespan of non-Aakacarns and was something he hoped to eventually look into. For now, he stared into her large brown eyes. “Vitality will not extend your life, but you will feel energetic up to the point of death.”

  She pursed her lips thoughtfully. “I guess I’ll just have to settle for feeling strong.”

  His father began thumbing through the plans, flipping drawings aside until he found the one showing the internal workings, and then traced his finger from the helm to the stern. “Daniel, look here,” he said, using a tone of voice that reminded Daniel of the days when he was just the carpenter’s son and not the Chosen Vessel, a rare occurrence he cherished when it came. “Does the size of the crescendo part of the CAPU matter?”

  “No. What matters is the ranking in Potential of the maker,” Daniel replied. “Theoretically, the crescendo can be given any shape or size. The baton of Tarin Conn is shaped like a snake and I made one out of a knife.”

  His father nodded as if that was the answer he hoped for. “Look at the linkage and gears I designed from the steering wheel, see how they run down through the decks, to the lower level, and back to the rudder. Can you make a crescendo with the body long enough to follow this linkage?”

  Daniel nodded his head and smiled as it occurred to him what his father wanted. “You want to power the boat from the bridge. Not only can I do it, I should’ve thought of it myself.”

  “You can’t think of everything,” Gina commented while standing up. Her left eyebrow arched up merrily. “We married folk like to spend time with each other. Your idea would have kept us apart. Who would expect you to think like a newlywed?”

  She touched on a subject Daniel had deliberately kept from his mind. Would Sherree go to Aakadon with the other Accomplisheds? He did not like the idea of being separated from her for any great length of time. “Fortunately I have my parents to fill in the creative gaps. Newlyweds tend to get distracted. Are you and Tim ready to go make this project happen or should we wait until you are through casting longing glances at each other?”

  Tim deliberately stared at his wife, who rested one hand on her hip, giving him a coy smile, and they held that pose until Miriam spoke up. “Ronn, when the children are through playing, I think we should gather our things for the journey.”

  The mountain carpenter stood up and grabbed the designs. “Considering the speed in which our son travels from place to place, I suspect it will take longer to walk up stairs than to get where we need to be.”

  Daniel stood and came around to the front of the desk. “You would not even reach the stairs in the time it will take,” he said and then played, Conveyance, in his mind, while picturing all of them standing at the bank of the Gosian River where the Wager should be aground; three heart-beats later and seven hundred eighty spans west-southwest, they were standing by the river and enjoying the pleasant breeze.

  “Ah, I don’t see a boat,” Gina was the first to speak.

  They were on the north bank where Daniel had refurbished the Wager after levitating it up from the bottom. Behind them, to the west, there was nothing but dense pine forest all the way to the base of Mount Tannakonna. The river flowed south from Mount Gosian, bends west after passing Zoltair, merges farther southwest with the Tannakonna River, and they both eventually merge with the Mighty Hirus. This knowledge did not help them find the Wager. Daniel glanced at Tim. “We floated down river from this point and I don’t know the exact spot Serin Gell and his team yanked us out of the water.”

  The drummer nodded his head. “You teleported us from within the Wager,” he confirmed his recollection of the event. “Is there some way you can find it now?”

  Actually there were various ways to accomplish the task. Daniel wished he had thought to bring one of his raptor scouts. The bird could fly downstream, study the area where lay the Wager, and allow him to convey them all to the boat. He determined to plan better in the future. “I don’t believe we floated very far from here before they caught us,” he replied and then cast, Find All, focusing it in a fifteen spans radius, not caring if there were any other spell casters close enough to sense the energy.

  He sensed trees, plants, birds, fishes of all sorts in the river, raccoons and other forest critters, along with wolves, foxes, and insects. A boat with twenty-seven men rowed against the current ten spans away and coming closer, while a larger riverboat sailed by it going the other way. Two spans from his self-imposed scanning limit, he sensed a boat on the north bank. Rats, birds, and a goodly number of insects apparently decided it would make a good home. They were about to be evicted. “We need to follow the river. The Wager is thirteen spans from where we stand,” he informed his companions.

  His father stared at him briefly and then grinned. “There probably isn’t an animal on the mountain you could not track with that ability of yours.”

  Daniel shrugged his shoulders. “We would eat well, but the thrill of the hunt would be gone.”

  “You don’t even need a bow,” Gina stated accurately.

  “He doesn’t even need to see his prey,” Tim added.

  He was probably thinking of when they were within Mount Bessel and Daniel used his death spell on yetis and any members of the Serpent Guild who he could hit using, Find All, to aim rather than physical line of sight. The incident led to his eventual surrender and confrontation with Balen Tamm.

  They walked along the bank and watched while the boat he had sensed earlier passed them by. Each shirtless man strained at the oars in their struggle against the current. Birds flew in the clear blue sky and several boys were fishing off the opposite bank. The wager came into view as Daniel led his parents and friends around the most recent bend.

  “It is uglier in full scale,” Gina commented as they drew near the vessel.

  “The scorch marks must have happened after I removed the Da Capo from the shield,” Daniel replied.

  The burns in the hull, upon closer inspection, were cosmetic and did not appear to have caused any serious damage. A few spells is all it took to cause the residents to evacuate the vessel. Daniel studied the modification plans with his father and then used, Hunger, to draw the substance, mud from the river bottom, with which to make the additions and strengthen the hull. The spell, Fashioning, played in his head and he followed the drawings, and listened when his father suggested, “Make another CAPU and place it in the front so we can back up. Being able to go in reverse will make maneuvering this great vessel easier.”

  The new and improved Wager began to take shape. About half a mark into the process, Daniel tinted the entire boat topaz blue and adde
d silver trimming on the railings, hatches, air ports, arrow slits, and windows. He stretched the crescendo part of the CAPU from the helm to the stern, reinforced the superstructure to withstand the force of the CAPU, and then strengthened the entire vessel. He and Simon once had a long discussion on how the natural world works and the laws of motion. The Battencayan-born Accomplished had made the wooden hull of the Javelin stronger, denser, so it could handle stresses that would break apart any other boat. Daniel’s spells melded the mud and wood of the Wager into a substance harder than steel and then added a finger-width sheet of what appeared to be topaz, but was actually the same as the rest of the ship, except clear as glass. With the second CAPU added to the front and the Benhannon family emblem on the forecastle, the project was complete.

  “That is a fine looking riverboat,” his father declared.

  “It is more than fine,” Tim said and ran up the gangplank.

  Gina followed her husband and Daniel motioned for his parents to go ahead of him. They walked the weather deck and then went into the forecastle where the galley, sleeping, and bathing quarters were located. The largest cabin belonged to the newlyweds and had a suitably large bed.

  “I like the CAFs in the galley and bathing room and the fact you did not completely forget the needs of married people. I didn’t know you had spells to freshen the river water,” Gina said while testing the bed for comfort. “This appears to be firmly attached. We aren’t going to be sliding across the cabin.”

  Daniel nodded his head. “All of the furniture is formed out of the floor and yes, I did think of the need for clean water.”

  Tim sat on the end of the bed. “Any rearranging will require an Accomplished.”

  Daniel shrugged his shoulders. “You are free to add whatever amenities suit you, but these items stay where they are.”

  “And you placed them well enough,” his mother stated and then glanced at the open door. “What I want to see now is the helm.”

  Gina’s eyes widened. “Is the wager ready to get underway?”

  “Once we get it into the water,” Ronn answered and focused on his son.

  Daniel nodded. “Go to the bridge, I will meet you all there, and stand well away from the steering wheel.”

  They wasted little time leaving the sleeping quarters and making for the helm. Daniel exited the Wager and took the knife from the sheath attached to his sword belt. He summoned potential, focused it through the level four crescendo, and levitated the wager into the air. The boat floated over to the river and he gently lowered it into the water. Immediately it began to drift downstream in the current. He cast, Conveyance, pictured the steering wheel, and him standing in front of it. Moments later he arrived and took hold of the wheel.

  His parents, along with Tim and Gina surrounded him in an instant. A gold stand to the right of the wheel had three gemstones set within. “The emerald gives you forward speed, the amber reverse, and the sapphire contains the spell, Spout a Leak, to empty the bilge water,” he instructed and then touched the emerald.

  The Wager began to move slowly forward and Daniel steered toward the middle. He gradually increased the amount of potential flowing into the CAPU and the bow of the Wager was soon slicing through the waves and picking up speed. He turned the broad white wheel to port and then starboard, steering the vessel back into the middle of the river. He let go of the emerald and touched the amber, quickly bringing the vessel to a stop and then removed his hands from the controls. “Who’s next?”

  There was a great rush toward the helm as all four of them clearly wanted to pilot the Wager. “Modifying the Wager was Tim’s idea,” Daniel reminded everyone.

  The drummer smiled and took his place at the helm. It took him awhile to get use to steering the Wager and some persuading to step aside and let Gina have a go. She caught the hang of it fairly quick and set a southerly course. “I think we can handle our chores from here. The Tannakonna River is not far and we can turn and follow it up to Konna Springs where we can purchase supplies, from there it is only a few spans up the mountain to Bashierwood.”

  Tim nodded his approval and then fixed a stare. “Daniel, this does not mean you can keep or give away Tremor or Snowflake, we want our horses back.”

  “Understood, I’ll get them to you, but there is something I want to do before you and Gina go about your chores,” Daniel replied. “Bring the Wager to the bank and step out, I’m not sure what would happen if I work the spell I have in mind while people are actually in the vessel.”

  They made their way off the boat and stood looking at the blue marvel having no oars, sails, or any other visible means of propulsion. The Wager turned out so well he decided it should serve as a template. He touched the side of the vessel, cast, Change It, and formed an identical boat from the mud of the bank. “Mom, what name do you want on the bow?”

  His mother and father stared at the new boat and were speechless for several moments, before she finally said, “RiverDancer.”

  Daniel cast the potential and focused at the bow. The name, RiverDancer, formed in gold lettering on both sides. “This gives you speed and mobility to go wherever you need be independently of me, if you so choose.” Not that he wanted them to go.

  His father smiled. “We appreciate the use of this boat and we also intend to continue training your muster.”

  “I am glad you will,” Daniel quickly responded. “I not only want you to train recruits, I want you both around to help me on projects like this.”

  “That we will,” his mother promised.

  Tim and Gina boarded the Wager and set a course for the Tannakonna River. Daniel motioned for his parents to proceed into the RiverDancer. They reached the helm and there the lecture began. “You need to be more cautious,” his mother stated while his father took hold of the wheel and touched the emerald.

  The boat moved forward, following the Wager, which would head up the Tannakonna River at the merger, while the RiverDancer would continue on down to the Mighty Hirus, and then go west against the current. The decision whether or not to stop in Ducanton or head on up to the Taltin Sea and into Port Valeen had not been settled. Daniel had chores waiting whichever choice they made.

  “You take too many chances,” Ronn stated with his eyes forward, staring at the river.

  Daniel drank several glasses of water while wondering how he was supposed to be more cautious, and then replied, “I’m being as careful as a fox among sleeping hounds, but it is not easy with all the wolves baying at me.” He had little trust for Aakadon and knew the Serpent Guild was way ahead of him; wolves would be easier to deal with.

  “Silvia told you about Della Lain’s flute having your blood on it,” Miriam reminded him as if he could possibly have forgotten.

  They spoke to him this way because they cared, he knew this, and remembered an earlier conversation with Sherree. “My wife told me I am not allowed to throw myself recklessly into danger or wrestle any more mountain lions. Thanks, mom, for telling her about that.”

  “You are welcome dear,” she replied and patted him on the cheek.

  -------

  Jathem Tallen stood with his shoulders straight and his head held high as Captain Yolan rode through the gates atop a palomino stallion into Fort Casum. The young man, recently promoted, had proven capable of command under extreme conditions. As a Lieutenant he bravely led his detachment against yetis in the Battle of Bashierwood, killing many, and with few casualties to the men of his unit. He now led the reinforcements, the bulk of which were lined up outside the log walls.

  Lieutenant Benettle and Captain Johannan stood beside Jathem and both men seemed gladdened by the arrival of more fighting men. Only a person who knew them well could distinguish the fact given their grim faces. They might actually smile when the Northwestern Legion arrives in the evening.

  Yolan dismounted and saluted. His face was darkened somewhat by whiskers that grew so fast he had to shave twice a day. “Captain Yolan, reporting as ordered.”

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p; Jathem returned the salute. “You are a welcome addition. Come to my office and I will assign your task.”

  “It will be as you say, General,” Yolan replied.

  They no sooner entered the command post when Sergeant Rym Trothus of the Leopard Squad, a compact man having a neatly trimmed beard, making him look more like a sailor than a cavalryman, met them in the hall. “Private Lew Danner is dead with his throat slit from ear to ear.”

  Johannan stepped faced to face with the sergeant. “Who is guarding the prisoners?”

  “Whoever killed Danner also slew all fourteen of the prisoners,” Trothus replied in grim tones. His face reddened and well it should. His squad had the guard duty.

  “Who is responsible for this?” Jathem demanded of his officers.

  “I will learn who and why soon enough,” Captain Johannan declared. His face also reddened.

  The very idea a person could infiltrate this fort and do murder was outrageous and Jathem grew angrier by the moment. The most likely suspect had to be a Pentrosan sent to prevent the prisoners from revealing sensitive information. Since the young Accomplished of the Eagle Guild moved into the Benhannon Holding, nothing of value had been learned from the prisoners. They were all members of the Sutton Guard; a fact Kall might want hidden bad enough to send an assassin.

  Jathem needed facts, not speculation. “This fort is on lock down, no one comes in or goes out until a thorough search has been made for the culprit, and find out what else our uninvited guest has wrought.”

  “It will be as you say, General,” Johannan replied with perspiration dripping from his brow. After all, Fort Casum is under his command, this occurrence and the weight of responsibility fell on him.

  The wooden boards creaked beneath his feet as Jathem went to his office along with Benettle and Yolan. Half a mark later Johannan entered and stood in front of the desk with a written report in hand. He evidently chose not to take a seat as his fellow officers had done.