Captain Tory kept them moving down a long corridor that had no decorations of any kind, just a plain white tunnel leading to a pair of bronze doors, which were guarded by two men holding halberds. Rorie did not count sconces with torches on the walls as decorations. “Highness, the flying ships carry the seahorse and trident of Zune on their bottoms and that is all I can tell you for now,” was the answer the officer gave.
As they approached the end of the hall, one of the guards opened the door, and then closed it after Rorie was pulled into a chamber where Father, dressed in purple finery with his black beard and mustache neatly trimmed, and Mother wearing a violet gown, stood at a table with General Zerkin. Standing with them was Senior Forester Kerbin, along with seven male Accomplisheds Rorie did not recognize. They were wearing the scarlet on black silks of Aakadon and that was all he needed to know.
“Majesty, no one has ever seen ships like these. They fly so high our weapons are useless,” General Zerkin said, and dabbed at his shaved head using an absorbent cloth to wipe away the sweat. His thin black mustache appeared to have been drawn on by a feather pen.
The explosions were growing louder, which meant the seeds were dropping on the city, Rorie could figure out that much without help from the adults.
“How has Zune acquired such vessels?” Father demanded to know. “They are attacking us with impunity. There must be something we can do.”
The sounds outside grew louder.
“Majesty, we are losing ships at an alarming rate. Of the man-o-wars, only the Hartley is intact, although badly damaged, and it is unlikely to survive another hit. The only civilian vessels damaged so far are those caught in our ineffectual crossfire. It seems our foes are at least attempting to limit their strikes to military targets,” Captain Tory reported far more to Father than he did to Rorie. “The Arian Legion is fully mobilized and ready for a fight on the ground, but is having no more success at damaging the skyships than has the navy. The Zunean fleet is approaching the harbor and will soon be within our striking capabilities.”
“I want the number of ships involved.” General Zerkin stated calmly, even though he was still sweating.
“Over a thousand ships,” the Captain replied while his eyes darted from Father to the General. “It has been determined the enemy fleet consists of dreadnaughts and top of the line man-o-wars, along with scores of troop carriers with frigates as escorts.”
The explosions grew louder, making Rorie a little nervous.
“This appears to be a major invasion and it is possible other port cities are under attack,” Mother stated. Today her black hair was shaped like a beehive, bracketed by gold strings, and salted with sparkling diamonds.
“It will take time for carrier pigeons and couriers to confirm the extant of the invasion,” General Zerkin said, and then turned to Accomplished Kerbin. “Senior Forester, would you provide us a map”
She had hair the color of wheat and was probably born somewhere on the west coast. Her hazel eyes glanced at Rorie before answering the General. “Be sure that I would.”
Moments later the world in miniature appeared over the table. Rorie could see all of the kingdoms with their mountains, lakes, and rivers. This image showed far more detail than any drawing the royal mapmakers could create and certainly better than the one he had drawn by hand for Briella.
“My thanks, Accomplished,” the General said, and then pointed towards the northern border. “If Zune’s legions are here to the north rather than near their border with Ducaun, as are most of ours, then Cenkataar has no means of stopping them from taking Rea. The city and all of these towns along our northern border are completely defenseless.”
The explosions grew louder and Rorie thought he felt a slight tremor beneath his feet.
“This is a ploy by the Dark Maestro, Daniel Benhannon, to force you to draw your legions away from his country,” a thin, pale-faced, Two-bolt Accomplished standing to the right of the Senior Forester offered his opinion. He was playing Eagles and Rogues for real.
“Soarer Krouten, what causes you to think so?” Father asked.
“A skyship is exactly the sort of thing Benhannon’s devious mind would come up with and painting the seahorse and trident on the bottoms would place the blame on Zune,” the Soarer replied and gave a firm nod of his head as if certain no one could fault his reasoning.
The Senior Forester began shaking her head. “Wilhelm, while I agree the Ducaunan Accomplished possesses the creative talent to possibly develop a flying vessel, I disagree with your conclusion of him being involved with this attack. Majesty, your own Generals on the border reported how he rendered them and their entire legions unconscious rather than inflicting injuries or killing a single man. You have given Daniel Benhannon no reason to suddenly strike out with such violence.”
An explosion shook the walls, Briella screamed, and clean-shaven Major Lipell entered the chamber. “The skyships have destroyed our fleet facility, docks and all, along with Fort Taar, and are now concentrating on the palace. The Zunean fleet is entering the harbor and we have nothing with which to stop them.”
“We have scores of ballista and dart launchers. The conventional fleet and troop carriers can still be stopped,” General Zerkin stated confidently.
The Major shook his head. “The skyships destroyed our emplacements before blowing up Fort Taar. I am sorry General; we truly have nothing with which to stop them. Of course, once those troops come ashore, our legion will engage in battle.”
Father turned to the Senior Forester. “Our weapons cannot reach the skyships but your spells can.”
It was Soarer Krouten who answered. “I bow to the wisdom of the Senior Forester and now concur with her. The destructive power being released by the objects dropped from the skyships are not sending off harmonic waves. If they were, I would be able to feel them even amidst the harmonic resonance coming from the northwest. I do not sense potential being released with the explosions, which means no Aakacarn is casting spells against your city.”
“What does that mean to us?” Rorie asked and drew the attention of the adults. He grasped Ersa’s hand a little tighter but did not look away.
“My son,” Father said. “It means the Accomplisheds will not cast their spells at the skyships.”
Another explosion shook the palace and then three more, causing dust to fall from the ceiling. “Majesty, we should leave soon while the tunnels are still intact. I fear there will not be much remaining of the palace a quarter of a mark from now,” Major Lipell implored.
Rorie noticed Mother glancing at him and then at Briella before turning to Father. “Gabriel, we need to get the children to safety. The Arian Legion will die to the last man to defend us, but those lives will be wasted here. The skyships will drop their explosive devices on our men, the troop carriers will invade the city, and then all will be lost.”
“We could hide in the buildings and snipe at them as they advance through the streets,” General Zerkin proposed.
Father shook his head. “The enemy has thus far refrained from attacking civilian positions. If we begin to use those private buildings as hideouts and staging areas, those skyships will lay waste to the entire city. General, we are going to withdraw all the way to Bethel near the outskirts of Aakadon. Also, I command all but General Colter’s third legion to fall back from our border with Ducaun and move west and north. The heart of my kingdom is wide open to attack and we must close that vulnerability quickly. Once we reach our destination I may be able to persuade the Grand Maestro to authorize his Accomplisheds to use destructive force on the skyships.”
“Majesty, it will be as you say,” the General replied. The way he seemed to be breathing easier gave Rorie the impression the officer approved of Father’s decision.
Once the royal command was given, men scrambled to obey, and the royal family was guided deeper into the tunnel system beneath the capitol city. More guards joined them along the way to the point where Rorie had no idea how many men w
ere marching behind the royal procession.
“We will be alright children,” Mother said, although Rorie noticed her normally smooth brow was creased the way it did when she was experiencing one of her headaches.
The passage led gradually upward until Captain Tory opened a narrow door and sunlight beamed in along with a blast of cold air. Someone brought trunks forward and soon Ersa was stuffing Rorie’s arms into a warm coat, and then mittens on his hands. Attendants did the same for Father and Mother. Barbri finished bundling up Briella in her pink winter garb and Captain Tory led them all out into the snow. The invisible waves finally stopped and everyone seemed to calm just a little, although it was not easy with the deep thumping sound of exploding seeds in the distance.
Rorie expected to see the royal carriage but found a mounted legion with pack horses. Even though he could have climbed into the saddle if someone would just give him a leg up, Major Lipell came by and placed him on the stallion. “You are set to ride, my Prince,” the officer said and moved along.
Ersa was on a horse right beside Rorie and Briella was just in front of him with Barbri next to her.
Ministers and other members of the royal tribe of Cen met them, having been guided to this point by detachments of the Arian Legion. They were in the snow-covered forest and heading up into the hills above the city. Rorie could see his breath in front of him and the snow being churned to muddy slush by the horses’ hooves.
The path through the trees twisted to the right and after a while back to the left until they were headed west. The entire procession went around a bend in the trail, providing Rorie his first unobstructed view of the city. He counted thirty watermelon ships floating in the sky, still dropping exploding seeds on the foot soldiers of the Arian Legion who stayed behind to fight the invaders. The palace looked as if a giant had picked it up and threw it with all of his might onto the ground. It was all busted up and Rorie wiped away a tear. He glanced at the horses behind his and was surprised to see Senior Forester Kerbin and her fellow Aakacarns not more than three lengths back.
“Have no fear little Prince, I will strike down any skyship that comes after you,” she said with a kindly smile, and he did feel better.
-----
Terroll Barnes approached the office of Lena Beyers near the top of the Tower of Flame, the Sun Guild’s name for their headquarters. The ruby and amber-swirled building, one thousand cubits high, resembled a flame and had a golden lightning bolt at the top that reached up into the clouds. At his side walked Runyen Cransur of the Willow Guild and Janna Barroon of the Aloe.
“I think, between the three of us, we can convince Lena to make up her mind about the Chosen Vessel,” Terroll remarked.
Runyen pulled back the hood of his silk cloak, revealing short silky hair. His dark eyes focused on Terroll. “I do not believe convincing her will be nearly as hard as changing her mind about him coming here and submitting to the will of Aakadon.” The leader of the Willows expressed his opinion.
Janna wore her hood up, as did Terroll, and she turned so her pale face could be seen. “I know you told us Sherree Jenna entered the marriage of her own free will, causing me to believe you somehow managed to get an amulet to him or her, otherwise you would not have that information,” she evidently felt the need to add that last bit about his sources, “and so we will rule out mind control being an issue. It is the warning about the use of lethal spells that I think will concern the Maestro of the Sun Guild, far more than a pair of extremely young Accomplisheds giving in to their passions.”
Runyen grimaced. “Giving in to passions is one thing, marrying is another that makes matters worse, but feelings and desires can be controlled and marriages can be annulled. Those things can be mended, but death cannot be reversed. Even after fighting a bloody war against Daniel Benhannon and his Atlantan Guild, we would still have to face Tarin Conn and his Serpent Guild, and do so without the support of the Chosen Vessel. If Benhannon dies, victory for us may be impossible.”
Terroll well understood the potential costs and difficulties involved in his task. “You are skipping ahead. The step we take today is to convince her Daniel is the Chosen Vessel. Once we are on firm ground with that point established, we can take the next step, and that could be in this meeting or another.”
“What is the next step if all we gain today is her full support on the one point?” Runyen asked.
Terroll clasped his hands. “To convince Geran DuSorin and David Svennar that Daniel is the Chosen Vessel, they still have open minds on the subject.”
Runyen nodded. “Geran will be far easier than David. We will at least have all seven Maestros of Aakadon in formal agreement on this matter. The next step will be a little more difficult.”
Janna sighed. “Yes, we will have to convince them the War of the Champions is not over and Daniel Benhannon is still needed. Maestro Barnes, through your communications with him we have learned he is not responsible for the morning spell, that Vance Cummin is a Serpent in disguise, Tarin Conn has an army of Aakacarns in Lobenia, and most of the kingdoms of the north are willing allies of the Dark Maestro, but you have only his and Sherree Jenna’s word for that. From what we have learned from our resources, the Serpent Guild seems to have gone inactive since shortly after their loss at Shantear, except to visit retribution on the Atlantan Guild. I know you are blaming the civil unrest among the kingdoms as being Serpent-backed problems but we have no proof of such things. Furthermore, Talmon has dismissed the idea of Senior Soarer Cummin betraying the Eagle Guild as being preposterous. Runyen and I believe you but doubt the other Maestros will.”
Terroll withheld a sigh of his own. The shadows of the Serpents’ involvement in world affairs were there to be seen by a willing eye, but the unwilling seemed to be blind to the influence of Tarin Conn and his followers. “I suspect the proof, when it comes, will be glaringly obvious. Let us hope the price of waiting for the inevitable is not too high.”
The golden doors at the end of the hall opened without the use of human hands. Aaron KaTaar, a Four-bolt Accomplished from Cenkataar, and Chief Aid of the Maestro, stepped forward to meet them. The discovery of his potential one hundred fifty years ago cost him the crown and cleared the way for his younger brother to rule the kingdom. That brother was long dead and if Aaron felt any bitterness at the time, it has long since dissipated. “Maestros, welcome to the Tower of Flame and its brightest light,” he said with due formality.
Terroll acknowledged him with the traditional nod of respect and entered last, showing deference to the pair who held their positions far longer than he. Sunlight beamed through the window and gave a red-orange glow to the room. The guild’s brightest light was sitting at a Maplewood table rather than behind her desk, and he appreciated the courtesy extended, receiving them as equals rather than supplicants.
Lena’s hooded cloak with its five golden lightning bolts was hanging from one of seven pegs in the wall to the left of the door, so Terroll removed his cloak and hung it on the next peg before taking a seat. Janna and Runyen followed his example.
“The noon mark approaches, your meals should be arriving shortly.” Aaron informed them and then stepped out of the office.
“Welcome Maestros, to the Sun Guild,” Lena said to all and then her iridescent blue eyes settled on Terroll. “Have you come to explain your former student’s recent behavior?”
That would take far longer than the scheduled time would allow, he thought, and out loud replied, “We have come with the goal of convincing you that he is the Creator’s Champion, not to justify in any way his breaking of the traditions we hold sacred.”
Her silky white hair and the intensity in her eyes were the only physical sign of Lena’s advanced age. The compact woman leaned back in the chair and allowed her lips to form a slight smile. Every movement she made was always deliberate. “You have given a good response, because his actions are inexcusable, and so we have a basis of understanding with which to proceed with this discussion.” The
statement meant her mind was still open to Daniel being the champion, so far, so good.
Terroll gave a listing of events beginning at his education of Daniel and ending with, “All of these occurrences and outcomes cannot be mere coincidence. I believe it will take an Aakasear to defeat Tarin Conn and the Accomplished our Grand Maestro is trying to bring down is the only other Melody Composer in the world.”
Her eyes focused on Janna. “Your fellow believer makes a good case. I have known you for a long time and am well aware of the fact you are a person who moves cautiously. For you to have stated your belief before the Grand Maestro carries weight with me.”
“I assure you the conclusion I reached was not rashly arrived at,” Maestro Barroon stated firmly.
“Maestro Cransur, are you still basing your belief on the testimony of Senior Forester Galloway?” Lena inquired, leaning forward and raising an eyebrow.
Runyen leaned forward, meeting her eye to eye. “Barnabas is a Scholar of the Willow Guild and next in line to be a Scholar of Aakadon. His opinion carries weight and cannot lightly be dismissed. So on the basis of faith in the testimony given by a person who is knowledgeable, trustworthy, and reliable, I accepted the conclusion. Since then I have investigated the matter enough on my own to be satisfied Daniel Benhannon is the Chosen Vessel.”
The Maestro of the Sun Guild leaned back and brought her hands together, forming a steeple. “As it happens, I have also been gathering information about the Benhannon boy, and much of what I have learned agrees with a number of points Maestro Barnes has just shared. His facts are more numerous and given in greater detail, him having been directly involved with some of the events. I was able to glean the truth even though the account was influenced by his feelings toward the young man he tutored,” she stated and her hands came down and rested on the table. “I was on the verge of drawing the same conclusion as you, Maestro Cransur, before agreeing to this meeting, and now after finally hearing your testimony, Maestro Barnes, I am now fully persuaded that Daniel Benhannon, the Creator only knows why, is the Chosen Vessel.”
To Be Grand Maestro (Book 5) Page 50