Simon brought with him three hundred seventy-eight Sentinels and twenty-seven Accomplisheds while Samuel led his twenty operatives. Sero and Carlos stood, one to the left and other to the right of Daniel.
“Are you going to tell us what you have in mind or let us figure it out as it unfolds?” Samuel inquired. Given events of the past, he had some justification for posing the question.
“The Sentinels are to use their crossbows, some to set fire to the tower and the rest to be aimed at the stone walls. Shooting through windows is also to be encouraged. Start at the roof of the tower and give the guards who are smart enough to flee time to descend the stairs,” Daniel responded while taking in all activity in sight and through the spell, Find All.
Simon moved in front of him. “You do realize streaming pebbles of flame will take a great deal of time to break down those walls, whereas, lances of light will penetrate like hot pokers through wet clay.”
Daniel nodded and managed not to sigh. “I realize what the spells I composed do and am glad you know how to best use them to devastating effect. However, I want to give the non-Aakacarns time to evacuate while your team and Sam’s team keep the Serpents busy.”
Simon gave the traditional nod of respect. “Up until today we have had an unwritten, take no prisoners, policy when it comes to the Serpents and their allies, and so I did not take this change into account. Is there a reason for the change?”
Daniel opened his mouth to reply but Samuel spoke up first. “Taking prisoners is a good way for us to learn the plans of the Serpent Guild and the locations of any nests infesting Ducaun.” It was a good answer considering he had not been in the discussion Daniel recently had with Leah on the subject.
That was one of the reasons for the change, Daniel admitted. “What Sam says is true and yet only part of my rationale for the change. The rest we can discuss after we finish our chores here.”
A deep blue dome shield formed and soon encompassed the entire group. Serpents were gathering at the battlements on the roof and Carlos was clearly taking no chances. The man took guarding his Maestro seriously. Daniel nodded approval and continued unfolding his plan. “I am going to give the people over there the chance to surrender, then they will respond, and the Sentinels will begin opening fire. Both of you and your teams will cast spells at the enemy. We are so greatly outnumbered here that we will have to kill most of them and take prisoners only after the numbers permit.”
Simon’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “What are you going to be doing?”
Daniel smiled. “Watch and see.”
Samuel turned to the Chief Aid. “I knew it. He enjoys making us learn his intentions as they unfold.”
Daniel did not tell them because they would not approve, especially since the Chief Aid had worked so hard to keep knowledge of his Maestro’s presence from the enemy, and also because he did not want to waste time discussing the decision. He focused a spell on the fortress. “I, Daniel Benhannon, Maestro of the Atlantan Guild, order you to surrender. Non-Aakacarns will not be harmed if they flee. The presence of this base of the Sutton Guard will no longer be tolerated and it will be destroyed. This is the first and only warning you will be receiving from me.” His spell-amplified voice thundered the words.
He was taking a big gamble and might well have just cost him and everyone else with him their lives. War was not an activity for the faint of heart and there was often a fine line between courage and folly. Outwardly he maintained his composure but inwardly he was anxiously awaiting the response, which would determine if what he had just done was in deed foolish or courageous. The entire Serpent Guild might teleport into the region.
“I see why he did not want to tell us,” Simon told the Conductor.
“I am Operation Commander Sancarn Bur. It is you, Daniel Benhannon, who will have this one chance to surrender to me. The Supreme Maestro, Tarin Conn, has issued a, capture or kill, order on you and I will be rewarded either way.”
Traveling circles did not appear, so far so good, but they could show up at any time and put a quick end to the mission. Daniel had a non-verbal response in mind, which might trigger the arrival of the enemy Accomplisheds he hoped to avoid. He raised his left hand and then brought it down sharply. Pebbles of flames by the hundreds streaked across the divide and slammed into the walls, the battlements, some into windows, and one hit the tower. Burning lumber fell onto the flat roof of the fortress and onto a few unfortunately placed men. Half of the Serpents were maintaining defensive shields while the other half went on the offensive. Daniel never expected for them to die easily and especially not on the opening shots.
Fireballs, lightning bolts, and bright beams of light came in response and were absorbed by the shield, which grew brighter. “I have just cast the spell, Freshen Air, seeing as the shield Carlos has provided us with also extends below ground and seals us in and I really want to keep breathing,” the Chief Aid announced.
He, Samuel, and the rest of the Accomplisheds raised their batons and began casting spells at the enemy. The Aakacarns casting the spell, Die Now, were not very effective, their energy beams struck Serpents on the battlements but those targeted did not fall. The enemy spell-casters had to be performing in concert, which would provide stronger shields. Samuel launched a Beak Strike and the glowing shape of an eagle’s beak tore into the stone beneath the feet of a Serpent and the cloaked figure fell in a shower of rocks to the ground. The man stood up, relatively unharmed, cast a fire ball, and a beam of light shot from Simon’s baton, striking the spell-caster in the torso. The fellow burst apart in a spray of flesh and bone. Perhaps he should not have removed his shield in order to go on the offensive.
“Keep knocking them down and I’ll blow them apart” The Chief Aid told Samuel.
Sero stepped forward, blocking Daniel’s view. “Maestro, please allow me to replenish you while we are waiting.”
Daniel took a few moments to observe the spells flying back and forth from the hill to the fortress, made a decision and took off his helmet, even though Serpents could teleport into the region at any moment. The grooms were mounting horses and riding east and away from the fighting, he was pleased to see. They will probably go a safe distance and then wait to see who prevails. He wanted to see more non-Aakacarns flee before beginning the next part of his plan and so had some time to spare. “Go ahead and start.”
The tingling warmth of potential was soon flowing into him and Daniel watched as so many spells hit the shield it was no longer possible for the Sentinels to see what they were aiming at. It did not matter, they continued to shoot in the same direction, and were confident of hitting the fortress. The Accomplisheds were accurate, using Find All to target what or whom they chose to strike. Through his own spell Daniel sensed the non-Aakacarns moving within the fortress. Some of them were on the battlements and had a good supply of spheroids at hand, but could not use them. The distance between them and the hill was too great for even the slingers to cast the explosives.
As time went by, Daniel drank his canteen dry, and the spell-casting continued without any great change, no traveling circles arrived, only a small number of Serpents had been injured, and even fewer killed, with no casualties on Daniel’s side, for which he was grateful. He did not keep an accurate count on the people who chose to flee but was satisfied all who intended to escape had done so. Sero stepped back and announced. “You now have as much as you did when we left the Equalizer.”
“Thank you my friend,” Daniel replied while noticing a group of men and women slip out of the fortress and take off running to the east.
The odds on this gamble had been stretched far enough in his estimation and he dared not stretch them much further. “We are running out of time. Sancarn Bur wants the prestige of capturing or killing me and so that is probably why half or more of the Serpent Guild has not teleported into this region,” Bur’s desire for personal glory had been what Daniel was betting on, “I am going to convey us to the south side of the fortress. Se
ro, when we arrive, I want you to form a shield similar to what we have here in conjunction with the spell, Freshen Air. Carlos, you attack any Accomplisheds who come at us, and I will do what I came here to do.”
“It will be as you say, Maestro,” they both replied.
“Simon, use your baton to the fullest so our enemies will be on the receiving end of Maestro level spell-casting.” The crescendo added six bolts of potential to his one
Simon smiled. “I see, you are going to attack from a different direction and want them to believe you are here.”
Daniel conjured a solidified cloak of air that matched the blue silks of a two-bolt Accomplished, put it on over his uniform, and then was ready for the next step. “You got it,” he told the Chief Aid and focused through the eyes of Jasper the fox, summoned the potential, and moments later stood to the right of the south entrance.
Sero raised a shield just as spheroids fell from the battlement and exploded into bright clouds raining iron shards. Several Accomplisheds of the Serpent Guild looked down and moments later a corrosive sphere appeared all around the shield, which brightened as it absorbed the energy. Daniel knew he and his two associates could stay in place all day if it were not for the fact that tens of thousands of Aakacarns could suddenly appear in a thunder clap of sound. His enemies apparently felt the same way, seeing as they did not seem to be overly concerned about the sudden appearance of three Accomplisheds near the entrance of their fort.
Carlos raised his baton and blasted both of the Aakacarns off the roof with a lightning bolt. More spheroids fell as the soldiers reached out and dropped them over the side without looking, and who could blame them after seeing what just happened to their allies? Some of the explosive balls hit the shield, exploding on impact, but most of them struck the ground. Bright flashes and dark clouds of iron shards hit the spell-casters who had fallen from the roof, blowing them apart, and making small craters in the area around the shield. A hand extended out with another one of those deadly balls, encouraging Carlos to launch another spell, which struck the spheroid with just enough force to cause it to explode before it could be dropped. That explosion triggered a series of equally powerful explosions on the battlement. Chunks of stone and bloody bits of gore rained down, bouncing, and in some cases, oozing off the shield. Through his spell, Daniel sensed what was left of possibly fifty men and he was not sure how many Aakacarns.
The spell he had in mind required a minimum seven bolts of sustained potential in order to do what he intended. He raised the diamond-bladed knife, played the spell, Shatter Sphere, in his mind, and focused one bolt of potential into the crescendo, which shot out an amplified eight bolts of life force energy. He envisioned a sphere large enough to engulf the entire building. Solid stone began to crack and the spell-castings from the battlements ceased as shield spells failed and the bones in each person also began to fracture. The Serpents could not conjure a shield powerful enough to withstand the High Powered spell or form teleportation circles. They had been given no time to call in reinforcements from the rest of the guild nor begin a concerted effort of any kind.
The assault from the hill ended. The Accomplisheds of the Atlantan Guild had no more reason to draw attention away from their Maestro. The harmonic waves given off by the spell was likely being felt by every living thing within a two hundred span radius. Bodies were being reduced to boneless flesh, huge chunks of rocks buried those remains, and were reduced to even smaller sizes. Daniel maintained the potential until what stood before him was a giant mound of sand. In all a little over three hundred people had chosen to flee, none of them were Aakacarns. He hoped Leah was doing a better job of taking captives.
Samuel and Simon led their teams down the hill and around to the south side of the new-formed hill. To the left stood the burning timbers of what were once grand stables for the prestigious Pentrosan Sutton Guard. Daniel fixed his gaze on the Conductor. “Sam, I want the people hiding east of us taken prisoner as well as the surviving Aakacarns trapped within the reshaped tunnels.”
“It will be as you say, Maestro,” he replied and gave orders to his team.
“What about the legions, Leah may need our help?” Simon asked, concern written all over his face.
The images flowing into Daniel’s mind from the animals linked to him were showing the tail end of a devastating battle. Thirty-three out of a hundred Accomplisheds of the Serpent Guild were still alive and casting spells at sixty-three Aakacarns of the Atlantan Guild. Daniel hoped the missing members were at Shantear. A huge fire still raged but was no longer being steered by spells or refueled by flaming balls of pitch. The Sentinels were in among the burnt trees to the north, east, and west of the Pentrosans. Lances of light flew into ranks of enemy soldiers, devastatingly injuring some and killing most of them. Spheroids flew back at the Sentinels and exploded, sending iron shards into the trees and in some cases shredding whatever parts of their uniforms were exposed. A lance of light struck one of four wagons; it blew apart, setting off a deadly chain of explosions. Three more wagons blasted out of existence, killing hundreds of men. Bright blue lances of light punched through the wooden frames of catapults and launchers, splintering them into sharp jagged pieces. Pierced bodies lay all over the landscape and numbered into the thousands. A brave group of Suttons charged with shields up and swords held firm as they ran at the Sentinels behind the trees nearest them. Lances of light shot out and they fell half way to their goal.
Daniel sighed at witnessing the carnage and opened his eyes to reply to the Chief Aid. “Leah does not need our help.”
Samuel nodded grim agreement and it was clear some of his animal scouts had shown him what was happening to the legions. “I don’t think any of them intend to surrender. It seems Leah has come to the same conclusion because Sirus the raven has just shown her to me and she is rendering a number of people unconscious. Sam, the Pentrosans barely have enough men to constitute a single division.”
Daniel had hoped more people would choose to surrender. The pragmatic life of a mountaineer gave him the ability to do what needed to be done, but killing gave him no pleasure, and yet he could ill afford to leave such determined enemies alive. If the less committed ones back out of the fight, allowing them to live would not be a high risk. He was too far behind in the War of the Champions, the forces of the Serpent Guild and its allies were so vast, he did not dare take too many chances. “This chore is done. Carlos, would you convey us out of here?”
Chapter Twelve: Necessary Tools
Light was provided deep in the heart of Mount Filia by a diamond chandelier hanging from a mirrored ceiling. Each precious stone radiated energy of its own, casting an even glow throughout the vast chamber. A crimson carpet led down thirteen steps from the raised floor, on which stood the man appointed to lead the guild, at least the day to day management details too trivial for the Chosen Vessel to bother with.
Tarin Conn, wearing a blouse of purple silk and white cuffs, was seated upon the crystal throne with the poise of a royal personage that came naturally to him. His broad black belt studded with rubies, emeralds, and sapphires held up violet pants, which were tucked into an eleven hundred year old pair of black boots that were supple and shiny as the day he created them. The light brown complexion he presented to his audience of one was the result of a minimal spell, only Serena enjoyed the privilege of seeing him in his actual informal state.
He was pleased by her progress. She had been to the royal courts of Demfilia, Zune, Pentrosa, and Fon Kay, linking the monarchs, lords, ladies, and high military officers to her mind. Through her, Tarin had access to their thoughts and dreams, and even now the young Aakacarn was in Southern Taracopa creating links to Van Joppa and his district governors and high military commanders. Instead of her traditional silks, she wore gowns and attended balls and other public affairs. The sly female made the connections without the individuals knowing until she later visited their dreams.
The appointed Maestro of the Serpent Guild raised hi
s cold dark eyes from the floor. He currently sported a neatly trimmed mustache, similar to that of his only superior and his deeply tanned face reminded Tarin of his own Serinian heritage. Vance wore the black silks with gold braiding only a Three-bolt and above had permission to wear. “Supreme Maestro, the commoners are pleased with the weapons you designed for them. The explosive devices have proved extremely effective against the traditional armaments of the southern kingdoms.”
He no doubt was referring to the merchant ships being destroyed in the Serinian Channel and off the coast of Taracopa. Most of the southern monarchs would eventually learn about the losses and those few who have noticed were still blaming Van Efery. All of them were so afraid of Daniel, thanks to Efferin Tames, they were not paying much attention to the events unfolding on the waters and probably would not realize the true danger until the strangle hold was complete.
The declaration of pleasure was an interesting way to begin a petition considering the events of yesterday. “They lost a battle at sea and the punitive attack against Daniel’s northern holding was completely crushed without even reaching the walls,” Tarin replied, still waiting for the man to get on with the reason for wanting an audience. It was unlike him to approach the throne with trivial matters, especially on the heels of such losses that included an Operation Commander.
Not a drop of perspiration appeared on Vance’s brow even though he had to be filled with anxiety. He truly knew how to keep his emotions in check. “Benhannon’s boats are known to be fast and maneuverable, yet we had no idea how formidable he created them to be. Our allies and the Accomplisheds aboard their ships inflicted minimal damage on the two vessels at the cost of three hundred seventeen warships and four hundred ninety-nine of our own spell-casters. Operation Commander Lorain Baler believes Benhannon teleported onto one of the boats and helped his commoners win the victory. Many of the surviving Aakacarns reported seeing him even though he wielded a multi-hued potential rather than Topaz.”
To Be Grand Maestro (Book 5) Page 29