The team sent on the mission is both eager and expendable, Rex thoroughly agreed with the choice. Perhaps now would be a good time to confirm or strike down one persistent rumor. Vance is the only person, with the exception of Tarin Conn, who would know the answer. “My sources believe Daniel Benhannon has learned how to bring a person back from Condemnation. Is that possible?”
A profound sense of laughter flowed uncharacteristically out of the Maestro. “All of the evidence indicates that our young foe has regained his old repertoire and among those Melodies is the spell, Condemnation. Daniel is healing no one. He is using the same spell to reshape the Condemneds to the image that pleases him. I could take a man with slightly more mass than you, form a hologram of your image, and shape the person to look like you, using the extra mass to make him appear to have the body parts lost in the original condemnation. Daniel is an Aakasear and has evidently modified the spell to allow him to grow hair on his pets, but that is the only difference. Everyone he claims to have restored has apparently been commanded to behave as if they have self-will and give the appearance of being in control of their own actions. The fact is they cannot disobey him any more than those who I Condemn can disobey me. Isn’t it interesting how the child Aakasear imitates the adult?”
Rex was glad to know the truth and had to admit Daniel Benhannon seemed to be following in the footsteps of Tarin Conn. Will the Ducaunan establish his own guild? “I find the similarities to be interesting in deed. If he has destroyed our nest in Tirana, he should pay a price. We can send teams and attack his estate in the south as well as his holding in the north.”
“Why bother when Efferin Tames will do the job for us? The time has come for the world to learn the truth about Daniel Benhannon. No, we will take no action against him for now. I am deactivating all nests within Ducaun, our spies will remain, and all other plans must proceed as scheduled. You are to convince Prince Trogan to seize the crown from his brother.”
Rex did not bother to keep his amusement from being transmitted. “I will never be able to persuade him to kill his brother, but Trogan wants to be king and we, after all, are the kingmakers. He will wrest control from Jame and the vast majority of Ecoppia will stand with him. When the prince comes to power, all five kingdoms on the northern half of the continent will be allies of the Serpent Guild while the fools in Aakadon are still chasing after the rogue Accomplished from Ducaun.”
-------
Daniel sat in his office with his gaze fixed upon a Teki dressed in a red shirt, a black coat with matching pants, who was fidgeting with a wide-brimmed hat, and turning it around and around in his hands while trying to explain his presence. “Go on.”
“So I bought these clothes in Port Valeen, burned my silks, and decided to fulfill my destiny,” Samuel finally got to the point. “Back before my Potential was discovered, my mother’s mother, the one who proclaimed you, told me it was my fate to serve the chosen. I originally believed Aakacarns to be the chosen she spoke of and it was my fate to serve them, so I devoted myself to learning all that I could in Aakadon. When our paths crossed in Tomrus and you delivered her message to me, I finally knew my mistake. It is you I am destined to serve. I just could not figure out how to serve you and the Eagle Guild without violating my oath. It turns out I could not do both. Jeremiah Lassiter warned me what will happen if I ever set foot in Aakadon again. I know in accepting me you would be taking a huge risk, especially if word gets back to my former associates that you are harboring a fugitive, but we worked together well when we infiltrated Serin Gell’s Nest. I helped defuse the situation at the border and I have a valuable skill set acquired during my time as a Fledgling.”
Daniel had no intention of turning his friend down, not with over thirteen hundred Aakademneds to restore, who knew how many Condemneds still to be found by his feathered scouts, the reported sightings Jared was even now poring over, all of which needed to be investigated, and he liked the Teki’s tenacity. “You would be the third Accomplished to formally associate with me and there are things you need to know before this conversation goes further,” he began, and then revealed some general information, his being an Aakasear and the assault on Tirana among them, leaving out his marriage to Sherree and other things that did not need to be made known at this point. “I did not use what you taught me to break the Silencing. No one in Aakadon should hold what I did against you. And Sam, I am the one Efferin truly wants to get his hands on, so if you think associating with me is giving you safe harbor, you have docked in the wrong port.”
Samuel placed the black hat on the empty chair to his right. “Just because you did not use the spell I taught you to break the Silencing, does not change the fact that I did teach you Talon Strike. What is done is done. Even the possibility of invisible assassins and you being in more trouble than I am does not change my mind. My offer stands. However, I do wish you had trusted me enough to mention that ability of yours to compose spells.”
“Trust has nothing to do with it. From the time we met up in Tomrus until you walked out of this holding to go back to Aakadon, you made your affiliation clear. While you have been a help, you never gave me reason to believe you would part company with the Eagle Guild or that you wanted to continue working with me. Some Accomplisheds did make their intentions known, are secretly helping me, and as a result I shared information with them that I did not share with you,” Daniel explained without feeling a trace of guilt.
Samuel’s eyebrows came together as he contemplated the response. His sudden shrug of the shoulders caused Daniel to think of Tim Dukane. “Well, as I said, done is done. I’ve told you my intentions and you have shared your secret. I assume revealing your talent is a round about way of letting me know my service is being accepted,” the Teki replied, clearly confident in his assumption.
Daniel released the smile he had been holding back. “I was willing to accept your services the moment you set foot back in this holding. All you had to do is announce your intention.”
Samuel leaned forward. “I intend to serve the Chosen Vessel; that would be you.”
“Here are the basic rules. What happens among us stays among us. The spells you learn here are never to be shared with anyone not of our association and never perform a spell on an instrument where it can be overheard by a non-member. We have and will continue to fight the Serpent Guild, yet they are not our only opponents. The Grand Maestro of Aakadon is not going to look kindly on our little association, if he should learn of its existence.”
“I am eager to meet my fellow members and nothing short of Truth Speak will be able to make me reveal the secrets of our association,” Samuel promised, and then frowned. “I know my current legal problems and your breaking of the Silencing have created tensions, but surely you don’t consider the Accomplisheds of Aakadon to be enemies, at least not on the same scale as the Serpent Guild?”
“Enemy is too strong a word. Opponent is what I said and what I mean. Your cousin tells me I cannot win without the backing of Aakadon and yet I will never have it so long as Efferin Tames is the Grand Maestro,” Daniel stated a truth he felt from his gut, yet never voiced or pondered before.
Samuel rubbed his chin. “I don’t pretend to understand the nature of the Chosen’s swirling of events. However, I am confident a way will be found. Now, do I have to dress up like a Ducaunan Royal Knight of the Realm or do your associates wear less formal attire?”
Daniel stood. “Come and see,” he said and then the bell rang and he called out, “Enter.”
Jaim Cutler escorted Sandra into the office along with Lessa the alpha female of Loper’s pack, who came to sniff out intruders. The one-bolt Accomplished now wore silks like those of Leah. “I took the liberty of questioning the Pentrosan Lieutenant captured in the forest during the invasion,” she stated, glanced at the Teki, and then continued. “I also filled the vats of everyone in the compound. The fear of invisible assassins has them wearing their shield amulets nearly all the time.”
Her
doing the task he intended to do did not surprise Daniel as much as the fact that she could do so without him teaching her the appropriate spells. “How much has Leah taught you?”
Her lips formed into a tiny smile. “Most of what you taught her but I think not all. I have been linking to animals not part of your group, have acquired vastly superior shield and locate spells, and some healing spells. She also gave me this,” she said and held up a baton made of topaz with a silver cap. “It is a level four.”
“An Accomplished should make his or her own crescendo,” Samuel entered the conversation, echoing the doctrine drilled into him in Aakadon.
Sandra’s smile disappeared and her green eyes blazed momentarily with an anger she quickly suppressed. “Speak not of matters that do not concern you, Teki.”
Daniel decided introductions were in order. “Sandra Treena, meet Samuel Cresh, a two-bolt Accomplished who has recently joined our association. Sam, the gift of a crescendo from a higher ranked Accomplished is not looked down upon among us. Especially since we are small in number and need all the advantages we can get. Every member of our association is a wielder of potential even the non-Aakacarns, as you know after helping with the installation of the CAFs,” he said and then focused on the temperamental one. “What have you learned from the Lieutenant?”
“There is only one legion of the Sutton Guard on the border. The second legion within the circular fort is of the Pentrosan Royal Cavalry, the troops at Los Collins are raw recruits, and Reen Howcum does not know where General Kall led the other half of the Sutton Guard,” she informed him.
This meant there was an entire legion of Pentrosa’s elite fighting force poised to strike and Daniel had no clue where they were and could do nothing more than spread the warning for now. His limited resources were needed to locate Condemneds, recruit more Sentinels, uncover and eliminate nests of the Serpent Guild, along with restoring all of the Aakademneds, and those chores held the priority. “At least we can be on the lookout. Inform Chas and General Malcus, word of this must be spread throughout the kingdom.”
“It will be as you say, Maestro,” Sandra replied.
Daniel restrained from rolling his eyes and ignored the title. “I am going to take Samuel into the complex and introduce him to Leah. After you inform Commander Herling of your discovery, I would appreciate it if you would come and join us below. Sam needs silks and to be educated about our organization and be taught the spells Leah has added to your repertoire.”
Sandra went to do as asked and Daniel led the way down the hall to an inconspicuous door. Inside the small room was another door, leading to circular stairs that spiraled down to a hall, which led to the upper level wing of the underground complex.
“I see you have expanded the holding since I was last here,” Samuel commented as they made their way along the corridor and into the general assembly hall.
“I designed it and my first Accomplished fashioned it with a few additions of her own,” Daniel agreed while noting Lessa plop down near the entrance, showing no desire to enter.
The smell of the Aakademneds and yetis was diminished by, Freshen Air, a spell Daniel composed after his last trip from Tirana, but it did not help much when standing in the middle of both packs, and also explained the wolf’s desire to stay out.
“I get that you want to restore these people, but why are the yetis here and why aren’t they attacking, did you add them to your swirl like the panthers?” Samuel asked while holding one hand over his nose and breathing through his mouth.
Daniel was about to reply when Leah’s voice answered, “All one hundred seventy-two of them are linked to me,” she said after two of the white shaggy creatures stepped aside to let her pass between them. The tall Ecoppian glanced at the newest member. “You are Samuel Cresh, a Talented sent to discover the source of the high power spell centered on Mount Tannakonna. You took part in the defense at the Battle of Bashierwood. Close your mouth. I was a Senior Soarer before becoming a Condemned of Balen Tamm,” she stated and then chuckled with a slight shake of her head and focused on Daniel. “Bring in Jerremy DeSuan and you will have recruited all of the Talenteds sent by the Grand Maestro to recruit you.”
“I think he really does enjoy making me learn these things as I go along. My only real surprise is that Sherree isn’t here,” Samuel mumbled.
Daniel chose not to elaborate on his relationship with his lady just yet, Sam was in for enough surprises and it seemed best to let him gradually learn what he needed to know. “Leah Barryn is a four-bolt Accomplished, as you can see by the lightning bolts on her cloak, and she is the first Accomplished to formally associate with me.”
Samuel gave her the customary nod of respect. “I am pleased to meet you and to know the Chosen Vessel has such a powerful and experienced Accomplished in his service,” he told her and laughed for reasons Daniel did not know until the Teki glanced at him and added, “Thanks for not laughing at me when I offered you all the experience of a Fledgling. Had I known the background of your First Accomplished, I would have left that out of my sales pitch.”
Leah smiled, “Did he tell you Sandra was a Soarer?”
Samuel’s eyes glared in an over exaggeration of being put upon and he placed both hands on his hips. “You really do enjoy making me learn things as they unfold.”
“Yep,” Daniel admitted just as Sandra joined them. He viewed the Aakademneds sleeping around him. “I have chores that need doing and you have an appointment with Accomplished Treena.” Turning to her he added, “Teach him well, I will have a list of chores for both of you by the end of the day.”
“You’re not wasting time,” Samuel commented. “I like that.”
Daniel watched as the two departed and wondered how well the impatient Teki would get along with the irritable Sandra. He felt confident they would forge a working relationship and nodded as Leah prepared to defend him while he worked on the restorations. The Nighthawk Squad, with the nine recently recruited Taracopians serving as replacements for some of the Sentinels who lost their lives in Mount Tirana, had been assigned the task of dressing and carrying the people restored from condemnation to individual sleeping chambers on the second level.
He could only devote a certain number of marks in his day to the restoration process, averaging about two hundred Aakacarns each day. He actually finished healing the last one from Tirana on the seventh day. A routine soon was established during that time with him waking and going through the sword forms. Who he sparred with depended on the day. One morning it would be Chas, Mallory, and Al, and the next all four Sergeants at once. He also took turns sparring with a team from each of the squads.
His feathered scouts were finding Condemneds and Jared also informed him of all the confirmed sightings. The falcons and hawks gave Daniel the ability to convey to the seen, collect the Condemneds, and convey them back to the holding. His day was mostly spent at that point and sometimes part of his evening. Leah met and spoke with each person restored when they awakened and would later introduce them to Daniel. He communicated with Sherree often, but she had difficulty securing a room from which to convey so they did not meet. His concern for her caused him to send some feathered friends to Aakadon, so he could at least see her through their eyes.
Samuel, wearing blue silks with a canteen and a topaz silver-capped baton in his belt, and Sandra similarly dressed; both entered Daniel’s office and sat in front of his desk while he contemplated his meeting with them, the next one with Leah, and the restorations to be performed on the Condemneds he collected over the past several days. Sam fidgeted and Sandra sat calm as a stone in a stream while waiting for him to begin. After a few more moments of mediation he asked, “It has been eight days. How far along are you at completing your chores?”
Even though Samuel is the higher ranked in potential of the two, Sandra has the seniority, so she spoke up first. “I have sixty-six eagles, eighty hawks, one hundred owls, and over three hundred sparrows.”
“I have link
ed to seventy-five hawks, one hundred fifty owls, two hundred swallows, a colony of mice, two colonies of rats, and four hundred crows,” Samuel stated formally. “Give me time and I will have eyes all over Ducaun.”
“Excellent, now I want you to use them to hunt Condemneds, convey to the scene, capture the poor souls, and bring them here for me to restore,” Daniel wasted no time assigning the next chore. “I will soon be conveying to my southern estate for a short while and will need both of you to help round up all of the Condemneds in the realm.”
Samuel began rubbing his hands together, clearly eager to get started. “Conveying to those far reaches will also give me the opportunity to increase my flock.”
“I also look forward to the task,” Sandra stated in a more sedate manner.
It was obvious as a rooster among hens they both wanted to be out and about and this was the perfect assignment for them. Daniel leaned forward at his desk. “Send out your scouts and be ready to travel.”
“It will be as you say,” they both replied. Neither of them spoke the word, but their eyes locked onto his and the pause before leaving the room conveyed the title, Maestro.
Winter was upon them, snow covered the ground, and Leah’s yetis naturally loved the weather, the sasquatches not so much. As Daniel sat in his office, waiting for his next appointment, he sensed them longing for their beloved swamps. You are free to go, he sent to all of their minds at once. They acknowledge, Daniel Alpha, and began the long journey through the wilderness that would take them to the southern reaches of the kingdom. With the ability to convey to them at any time, he could think of no good reason to make them stay where they are uncomfortable, so it seemed reasonable to give them leave to go.
Leah entered his office and took a seat half a mark later. “Every former Aakademned has requested to join us, yet few of them are Accomplisheds,” she began the conversation.
Daniel had met with them all briefly and knew that much, even though Leah spent more time with each person, and therefore was better acquainted. “Ninety percent of them received no training and cannot summon potential, having been Condemned for refusing to join the Serpent Guild.”
To Be A Maestro (The Maestro Chronicles) Page 31