To Be Grand Maestro (Book 5)

by John Buttrick

  “He has added scandal to the Oben name through his relationship to my daughter, so I suppose it will not do greater damage if another Oben risks his reputation. If satisfactory proof of the threat is established, and Daniel can help save the kingdom, I might not hide the fact that he is my son-in-law,” Father gave his conditional approval, which was the best Sherree could hope for.

  After Brandon headed off to the palace with Captain Tollkay awake and under guard, the family discussion continued. “You do realize the fact that even after all is said and done and the invaders are being dealt with, you will still be outlaws in the eyes of Aakadon, and in the minds of most people,” Father said after taking a seat on the other couch, facing them. His eyes were locked onto Daniel’s

  “I never thought otherwise,” the Chosen Vessel replied, amicably.

  “So, how are you going to resolve that issue?” Father asked, leaning forward with his eyebrows drawn down.

  Sherree had the answer and knew saying it out loud might irritate her husband, yet she decided to take the risk. “He must place his trust in the man who wears the pyramid ring. It is the only way to bridge the divide between him and Aakadon.” She stared at her father but watched Daniel peripherally.

  Oh, his face remained smooth but those eyes became black pearls. She managed to rile the mountaineer inside him. “So it seems,” Daniel said in a flat tone.

  “I do not pretend to understand Aakacarn politics,” Father said with concern narrowing his eyes. “Yet I suspect Efferin Tames would have your husband arrested on sight and Daniel will be lucky if the Grand Maestro does not seal him in a mountain tomb like the great Della Lain did to Tarin Conn.”

  All too true, Sherree thought. “We have no immediate plans to visit Efferin Tames. Besides, those seeking to lock Daniel away from me will be in for the fight of their lives and wish they were dead by the time I finished with them.”

  “That’s my daughter,” Father said, He leaned back and crossed his legs just as Mother came in with Sharon, Simon, Sero, Carlos, and the Teki couple. Introductions were made.

  “Since Daniel did not turn any of you into radishes, I conclude his marriage to Sherree has been recognized,” Simon said with a playful grin.

  “Can he do that?” Sharon asked with just a trace of anxiety in her voice.

  “No one could,” Sherree was quick to answer. “Simon, what happened to the young man who was so unobtrusive most people tended to forget he was in the room?”

  The Chief Aid pointed to Daniel. “He made it so everyone who wants an appointment to see him has to come to me, making it harder to be ignored, and I am simply adjusting to circumstances.”

  Mother fixed her stern gaze on Simon, and then on Daniel. “Do you actually tolerate such flippant talk from your staff?”

  Daniel glanced at Simon before making a reply. “I want to encourage freedom of speech, so must occasionally put up with cheeky remarks. Be that as it is, if one goes too far in his cheekiness, I might see if I can find a way to turn the offender into a radish.”

  “I’m not sure being a radish would suit me, perhaps a plum,” Simon replied, clearly not the least bit troubled.

  “Either way, half a mark spent as a dinner condiment should teach proper decorum to even the cheekiest member of my staff,” Daniel continued the playful banter.

  “I see, why only half a mark?” Simon evidently could not help asking.

  Daniel looked at him askance. “What? And lose the services of my Chief Aid. Half a mark is about all the time I want to spend putting up with interruptions,” he paused as if giving the matter more thought. “Perhaps a parrot would be better, that way I can put you out in the hall, and you would be able to tell people to come back at another time.”

  “All this talk about food reminds me,” Father said, ending the byplay. “Let us retire to the dining hall where luncheon will be served.”

  They went as Father suggested and were seated at the long table with Father at the head, Mother and Sister to his left, and Sherree sat to his right. Daniel took the seat next to her and his entourage next to him. By the time they finished eating; Cousin Brandon returned carrying documents, quill, and ink.

  “I declared a Realm Alert and was given an audience with Queen Clarees, Ministers, General Righter, and several of my fellow Knights of the Realm. They were all of course skeptical and yet the detailed report you gave me, which I relayed to them, along with Captain Tollkay’s testimony, was specific enough to warrant their keeping an open mind on the invasion as well as your reasons for claiming Mount Shantear,” Brandon said while his sea-green eyes focused mostly on Daniel. “Queen Clarees has declared this; if the threat to the realm is verified to her satisfaction, the Atlantan Guild can stay in Mount Shantear under these conditions, ten thousand in gold is paid for the purchase of the mountain, and the property is to be registered with the assessor. The owner is the Atlantan Guild, not Sir Daniel. Taxes must be paid annually, and the Maestro of the Guild agrees to help in the defense of Lobenia. I have taken the liberty of drawing up the papers. If you agree with the terms and requirements, after you sign them with your full legal names and guild titles, I will take the documents to be properly registered and see that copies are made for all parties.” He came and stood just behind and between Sherree and Daniel and reached over, setting the documents on the table.

  “You did well, Cousin,” She said, pleased he had been so successful.

  “I heard an, if, at the beginning of the decree,” Daniel said, leaning back from the table and looking up, no doubt to better look Brandon in the eyes. “What will it take to prove to her satisfaction the threat to Lobenia is real? I am surprised Captain Tollkay’s report did not convince her. If they weren’t so afraid, one of us Accomplisheds could have been there to prove Tollkay speaks truth, and then we could move on to actually dealing with the threat.”

  Brandon was too dignified to shrug, but Sherree knew from experiences with him that he must have felt like doing so. Instead, he stood at ease and arched an eyebrow. “You five are not the only Accomplisheds in New Oben. Three Soarers are currently staying in the embassy with Hanja. During my meeting, word was given to Accomplished Toweran, and he and one of the Eagles arrived before I left. Soarer Dearing cast a spell on Tollkay and thus proved beyond any reasonable doubt that the Captain believes what he reported to be true. I cannot say why this was not enough.”

  Sherree shook her head, not understanding the hesitation. “What more proof does Her Majesty want?” It was not bad enough Clarees has probably alerted Aakadon of Daniel’s presence in New Oben, the Queen is still not satisfied the threat is real.

  “That question I can answer,” Brandon replied with pride in his tone and an upward tilt of his nose. “She will be satisfied when two trusted officials see the threat with their own eyes and testify before her and the Hall of Ministers, after an Aakacarn spell ensures our minds have not been tampered with. I and General Righter will be the witnesses. Captain Tollkay has been taken into custody by the Royal Guardsmen, just so you know, and General Righter should be here shortly. It is a little late in the day to begin a five day ride, but we think it best to start out right away. It might be prudent to have your horses saddled so we can depart when the General is ready.”

  Sherree looked to Daniel, who was smiling. “Cousin,” he said, “You will see Kall’s camp and the siege at Polatca well before dinnertime, thanks to Simon.”

  “No aid can be that resourceful,” Father commented, firm in his knowledge of the various routes and means of transportation for both land and sea. Captains of industry and trade often stayed at his hotel and Sherree knew he was well acquainted with their business, especially their account keepers who paid the bills.

  Daniel winked at his Chief Aid. “I have learned never to underestimate Simon. There is a reason the Accomplisheds of Aakadon considered him to be a prodigy.”

  The Chief Aid gave a tight smile at the praise. “Estimates of my abilities aside, I can do as my Mae
stro says, and in about half the time he suggested. How long we take depends on the amount of time Sir Brandon and General Righter wish to spend at each location,” Simon informed Father.

  “I don’t understand,” Brandon confessed. "No horse or ship can move that fast.”

  Sherree decided to end the suspense her husband and Simon were attempting to build. Honestly, they could be such boys at times. “Simon is going to cast a spell that will transport us close to those locations, yet far enough the sound of our arrival will not be heard.”

  A faraway look appeared in Father’s eyes and they grew wider at whatever he was seeing. “Son, think of the fortune in shipping we could make.”

  Now he uses, “Son,” in reference to Daniel, who laughed and reached out his hand. “May I borrow a gold coin?”

  Father blinked, clearly not expecting a loan request. He slowly withdrew a coin with the Queen’s face prominent on one side and a rendering of the palace on the other. He gave it to Daniel.

  “The pool will do,” said the Maestro, and Sherree smiled, knowing what he had in mind.

  “My husband is not insane,” she said after seeing the quizzical and worried looks on the faces of her family. “Just come and see why Father’s dream of making a fortune is so funny.”

  They went out, beyond the terrace, and over to the pool. Daniel held the coin in one hand while holding the other out toward the water. A rainbow of light, only the eyes of an Aakacarn could see, flowed from the tips of his fingers and touched the surface, which began to bubble and churn. Much faster than Sherree could have done, and beyond the ability of human eyes to behold, the miniscule worlds with tiny moons spinning around them combined and rearranged to match that of the coin, only many thousands of times over. Suddenly in the bottom of the pool were piles of gold coins stretching from end to end and not a drop of water. She knew for a fact there were more miniscule moons in a single gold coin than in an entire jug of water, which was why the pool wasn’t filled to the brim with coins.

  Daniel handed the coin back to Father. “Have one of your trusted servants count out ten thousand coins and please have them ready for Cousin Brandon to take to the Queen along with the documents after we return. Oh, you can keep whatever is left as interest on the loan.”

  Father’s jaw had dropped open and it took a few moments for him to get it working again. “But there must be a hundred thousand coins in the pool. Are they real?”

  “As real as the one in your hand,” Daniel replied, and then fixed a more solemn expression on his face after showing off. He must be spending way too much time with the Teki. Sherree studied him as he continued with what he wanted to say. “Father, I understand a certain amount of custom was lost when news of your Daughter’s association with me came about. Keep the gold as compensation for that loss and however much more may be incurred because of me.”

  “She even makes censure, disgrace, and shame seem appealing,” Sharon mumbled softly, though loud and clear enough to be heard from a short distance.

  Sherree hugged her and at the same time cast the spell, How Do You Feel. Her sister was healthy and so was the baby. She ceased the spell at the same time the embrace ended. “Sharon, you are gorgeous, have a wonderful husband, a beautiful boy, and a lovely daughter about to enter this world, not to mention a sister who can duplicate any jewel that catches your eye. By most anybody’s standard, everything about your life is appealing and you made it happen without offending a soul. That is more than could be spoken about me.”

  Sister blinked. “You said daughter. I’m having a girl?”

  Sherree nodded. In Lobenia, giving birth to a female is highly desired, since the royal crown always rests on the head of a woman, and more ladies hold positions of respect in this kingdom than in any other.

  Daniel signed the papers, using his legal Lobenian name and his title as Maestro of the Atlantan Guild, and gave them to her, so Sherree wrote the signature of the First Lady beside his, and the formalities were complete. Now all they had to do was fetch the required proof. She smiled at what her mother might think if she were to use the word out loud.

  General Righter, wearing the royal blue uniform of the military, arrived and was standing on the terrace. Simon pointed in his direction. “Now that our other passenger has arrived, we can begin the tour. How about we go over to him? A pool with gold coins, piled several cubits high, from end to end, might just catch his attention, and I don’t think we really want to waste time with lengthy explanations.”

  -----

  Simon was pleased his friend managed to gain acceptance into Sherree’s family and glad he sent his avian scouts ahead of everyone else. Most of his pleasure came from the fact that he was still in the thick of things where his actions mattered and Daniel was given the means to achieve his goals. Simon eyed the General and Lobenian Knight and then Daniel, who clearly expected to be a part of the tour. “Lord Jenna, may I borrow a horse from your stable?”

  Sherree’s father turned to him, left eyebrow raised as if surprised by the request. “Accomplished Trenca, I was given the impression horses would not be necessary, that you have faster means of transportation.”

  Simon glanced at the Maestro before answering. “I do in deed have a faster means of getting myself, Sir Brandon, and General Righter to the region, yet it would be best if we arrive out of hearing range of our enemies. Since this requires more than a few spans of traveling, horseback seems the best way to cover that distance.”

  “You seemed to have left out some names,” Daniel mentioned in a quiet tone that often meant he was serious and not engaging in playful banter.

  “Maestro, there is no reason for you or any of the others to come with us,” Simon replied, and then decided that statement alone would not be enough to convince the former mountaineer to stay behind, especially since his nature was to jump into personally solving a problem. “Each object transported by means of the spell you composed makes a loud whip-crack like sound, coming and going, and the sound is amplified as the number is increased. The simple fact is, the more people and horses I bring, the louder the noise, and the farther away from our two destinations we will have to arrive.”

  The intensity in those dark eyes softened and Simon knew he had won the point even before Daniel opened his mouth to speak. “Now you all see why I made him my Chief Aid, he has a way of anticipating what needs to be done, and offering well thought out solutions. Okay, Simon, take up my chore.”

  “Your husband does chores?” Sharon asked in a quiet voice. “Like a common laborer?”

  “On Tannakonna, chore is synonymous with duty. Daniel is granting me the privilege of taking up his duty on my own,” Simon explained.

  The discussion wound down and it was time to get on with the mission. The grooms had a steed saddled and ready by the time Simon arrived at the stables. He mounted Springer, a beige stallion, and rode out between the Knight, and the General, both of which were on black geldings.

  The family matter had taken long enough for Griswold and his flock of buzzards to get close to Kall’s encampment. At a suggestion from Simon, the big black scavenger took to the air, flying enough spans to ensure the sound of arrival would not carry to the wrong ears. After a short time of soaring above the forest, a small clearing in the middle of a grouping of oaks came into view. “You will briefly experience total darkness and feel nothing at all. The void only lasts a few moments and then we will suddenly be at the desired location,” he informed his companions, and then summoned the potential for Conveyance and focused it through his baton.

  Darkness swallowed him and then spit him out in the circle of oaks along with the two men and three horses. “Thank you Griswold,” he called out while raising a hand in greeting to his friend perched on a branch that extended well into the clearing.

  “That was extraordinary,” General Righter dubbed the experience.

  Sir Brandon grinned. “Just think of using this as a means of placing troops in advantageous positions. Wait, did you
just show gratitude to a buzzard?”

  “Yes,” Simon replied, and then headed off in the direction of the enemy encampment. The two men began following him after a few moments of hesitation. They clearly and wrongly had expected him to elaborate.

  The General and Knight spoke softly to one another while Simon cast several spells, allowing him to scan in a one span radius for any ordinary humans and Aakacarns, being careful to keep the energy low enough so the harmonics would not be felt by any Serpents. The spell, Find All, also allowed him to sense what was beneath the ground, and made him aware of all the tiny insects. The ants held his interest the most. He had learned from Daniel to seek out the queen rather than waste time linking to her subjects, which often numbered into the hundreds of thousands, although the Maestro mostly worked with hornets, bees, and wasps. The principle was the same.

  As he rode, Simon linked his mind to the queen of one colony of ants after another. Each of the tiny monarchs communicated by giving sensations rather than words, and those impressions expressed a desire to be of help. “Move to the south and have your colony feed on the edibles in the wagons,” he sent the thought to each queen, and the spell interpreted his words into a language only they could perceive.

  Some of them were carpenter ants and eager to go eat the wood of which the supply wagons were made, not just the contents. The tactic should prove inconvenient and most annoying to Kall and his forces, something that tickled Simon.

  “I notice you are quiet when away from your Maestro,” Sir Brandon must have finished his conversation with the General, or why else would he be interrupting an Accomplished? Just because an Aakacarn is sitting quietly does not mean he is doing nothing, yet the man continued to intrude. “You even dare to speak to him as an equal, one might say almost playfully so, according to Cousin Sharon.”