To Be A Maestro (The Maestro Chronicles) (11 page)

“You have been chosen. What would you have us do?” Sergeant Zaccum asked and seemed ready to follow Daniel directly to Kelgotha to confront the ancient Aakasear.

Daniel held back the smile threatening to form, not wanting to give the impression he was mocking them. His pleasure came from the change of attitude, not having to argue with these men, and seeing them cooperative and ready to proceed with the chores ahead. “We must obey the Queen and muster our forces. Jonah, do you remember my decision to save the baby sasquatch?”

Jonah’s good humor evaporated like a drop of water on a hot rock at noon. “I remember.”

“She was just the first of many that are now loyal to me,” Daniel shared with these men for the first time.

“What?” the Queen’s nephew blurted as if he did not hear correctly.

“How many and where are they?” Sir Tomas wanted to know.

Daniel could not hold back the smile. “Half of them are hiding in the forest. I’ve ordered them to no longer consider humans as food and to avoid contact.”

“But, but, they are dangerous and cannot be trusted. You remember how they attacked us on the way.” Jonah was quick to voice his dismay.

“Not the pack following me,” Daniel replied, calmly and with confidence.

“Where did your sasquatches come from?” General Tallen asked.

Daniel began laughing and then sobered up when no one else showed any signs of amusement, Tim or David would have seen the ironic humor. “I stole them from Serena Lowell, the Accomplished of the Serpent Guild who sent them after us, and an additional thirty-one are on the way. They should be here soon and I will add them to the rest.”

General Malcus began rubbing his hands; eyebrows arching up, and asked, “How many can we count on to help in the fighting?”

“Eighty-seven after Gurrumble arrives with his,” Daniel replied. “Shereeka has Sheila and Choaker, both infants, to take care of, so she isn’t likely to participate in the fighting soon, unless in defense of the babes.”

“It sounds as if you know them intimately,” Jaim commented.

“I do know them and they know me. These sasquatches are not going to be used the way the Serpent Guild uses Yetis, as fodder on the field. In fact sasquatches respond better when given a goal and allowed to achieve it their own way.” Daniel wanted the General to understand the animals in his swirl were not lives to be thrown away.

“He is stubbornly protective of his sasquatches,” Jonah stated. “As soon pull a tree out of the ground bare handed as get him to change his thinking on this matter.”

“My point in bring them up is that I am following Her Majesty’s command and adding to those in my service, human and non-human. The queen has given us orders to prepare the kingdom for war and that, Sergeant Zaccum, is what I would have everyone do.” Daniel did not know how to be straighter forward than that.

Jonah glanced significantly at Jaim Cutler. “What I want to discuss can only be spoken of in the presence of people who were at a specific meeting.”

Daniel nodded his understanding, and focused his attention on the young man, “Jaim, I need you to fetch me a bucket of rocks for when my meeting with these gentlemen is over,” he stated.

Cutler snapped to attention and saluted. “It will be as you say, Sir Daniel.”

When he exited the room, Jonah continued in a soft voice. “I have the trumpet of Tarin Conn hidden in my room at Fort Casum and you have the flute of Della Lain somewhere here, objects desperately sought after by the followers of the Dark Maestro. Does the Serpent Guild know we have possession of these instruments?”

“An associate of Serin Gell stole the trumpet from Serena, this you knew when we caught up to the man,” Daniel began to answer.

“Yes, Jak Taltin, I remember you executed him,” Jonah confirmed his memory of the event.

Daniel continued in a softer tone. “Serin Gell did not know we caught Taltin and seemed to be expecting him to arrive with the trumpet. I’m just saying it is possible someone else in the Serpent Guild has figured out we have it.”

“What about the flute?” Sergeant Zaccum asked.

“I strongly suspect that they do know who has the instrument and think it best to prepare for the possibility,” Daniel replied and had no way to make his voice sound less grim.

“What about the Aakacarns, who originally stole the trumpet, it is our understanding they are headed this way?” Tallen brought up an issue Daniel had put out of his mind.

“My last report has them far to the south and headed west towards Rivertown. It seems they have given up on the idea of heading north.”

Jonah turned to his host. “I didn’t know you had scouts out that far. Sir Daniel, I begin to think you have resources beyond the norm.”

“Way beyond the norm, now that I am fully functional,” Daniel agreed. “Only a fellow Accomplished could use those resources so there isn’t much point in sharing them here.”

“So those Aakacarns are no longer a threat,” Malcus concluded, clearly not wanting to get into matters best left to Melody Wielders.

“Not a threat here in northern Ducaun, yet still a problem for the kingdom, and something we, meaning Jonah, the Royal Guardsmen, and I, must eventually deal with,” Daniel replied. “I believe t
he greater threat to be here.”

“It is what it is,” Sir Tomas said. “San, Jathem, we have work to do. This area could soon be swarming with followers of the Dark Maestro.”

Both Generals agreed with the Knight, they and Sir Tomas exited the office, leaving Jonah and Sergeant-of-the-guard Zaccum standing in front of Daniel. “Would you like to have a seat,” he offered, and when they did, he went around and sat behind his desk. It was obvious as a swan in a pond full of ducks they had something more to say to him.

“The trumpet of Tarin Conn has been under the protection of House Ducalin for generations,” Jonah stated a fact known to both of them and then after taking a few minutes to contemplate whatever caused him to remain behind, he continued. “My family had kept it well hidden, until recent events, and now that we have it back, I have the responsibility to safeguard the instrument. As the legal representative of House Ducalin, it is my judgment that you be the temporary guardian of the Dark Maestro’s trumpet.”

Daniel had placed shields on both the trumpet and the case before turning them over to Duke Cantor’s son, yet had to admit, given the current circumstances, it would be best if the instrument be in possession of the Accomplished with the highest rank in potential. “I accept the responsibility,” he replied, being concerned about Jonah’s safety. The kind of person who would be coming after the trumpet was the sort that would kill the Ducalin in an instant.

Jonah nodded his head. “Good, I will come back tomorrow with my things, not that I mean to intrude, but I believe it would appear less suspicious if Sergeant Zaccum and I are seen moving into your compound.”

It was a good notion, one that Daniel felt he should have thought of. “Certainly, you both are welcome to stay here, and it is not an intrusion.”

Zaccum leaned forward in his chair. “Is there some way I can be of service?”

Daniel gave the matter some thought and a few moments later the answer came to him. “I have sixty men and twenty-seven women who want to fight, the rest want to serve as support staff within this compound. Of the eighty-seven people in my fighting force, only one possesses experience. Would you consider helping him train the others?”

Zaccum smiled. “That request is well within my skill set and I am certainly willing to help with the endeavor.”

“Excellent, after you and Jonah get settled in tomorrow, go see Commander Herling,” Daniel replied and then decided it might be a good idea to tell the Sergeant a particular fact ahead of time. “Chas is the commander of this holding and he was once a Major in the Sutton Guard.”

Zaccum frowned and sat back in his chair, while Jonah sprang to his feet. “Can he be trusted, a Pentrosan?” the Queen’s nephew demanded to know. His attitude was not unusual for a Ducalin, so Daniel took no offense and ignored the tone.

“The process in which I restored each person from being among the Condemneds allows me to see their innermost being. Based on what I know of the man, Chas Herling can be trusted.”

Zaccum gave a nod of his head. “I will take your word for true and work with the man.”

“I do not need another instant trip elsewhere to convince me,” Jonah was quick to add, no doubt thinking of the last time he challenged Daniel’s word.

The bell rang and it was the first time Daniel realized the room had one, seeing as not a soul had seen fit to use it until now. “Enter,” he called out.

Jaim Cutler came in with a bucket of rocks and stopped when he spotted the two men sitting in front of the desk. “I thought the meeting was over.”

Jonah did not bother to sit back down. “We just finished,” he said and then turned to his host. “Unless there is anything more you wish to discuss.”

Daniel stood up. “No, I believe we have finished.”

Sergeant Zaccum gave a nod to the Chosen Vessel, sprang to his feet
, and then exited behind Jonah.

Daniel had plans for the rocks, yet it was late in the night, and he had not slept in two days. “Jaim, set the bucket here on my desk, and then consider yourself off duty. I’m going to bed.”

“It will be as you say, Sir Daniel,” the young doorkeeper replied, and then placed the bucket where he was told and went out into the common room.

Daniel no sooner stepped out of his office, about to shut the door, when Samuel and Simon walked up. “We would like to give you a report on our meeting with the Pentrosans,” the sandy-haired Accomplished of the Willow Guild stated in a soft voice.

Daniel held back the sigh that was about to escape him and motioned for them to enter his office. He went in and sat on the front of his desk rather than going behind. “How did it go?”

Samuel’s lips formed into a sideways smile. “Are we boring you? One would think by the lack of enthusiasm in your tone and facial expression that you already know the answer.”

Simon looked at the former Teki askance and then his right eyebrow rose up speculatively, yet did not comment on whatever he concluded, choosing instead to give the report. “General Kall never showed. Sam told the Pentrosan Lieutenant his forces involved themselves in a raid against a Nest of the Serpent Guild and then each of us gave a brief description of our parts, leaving out any mention of you. That is what you had in mind, a delicate pruning of the facts.”

“Yes, Simon, that is what I had in mind and you all did well,” Daniel replied and smiled, genuinely pleased they had succeeded. He hopped from his desk, ready to head off to bed.

“We have something more to discuss,” Samuel spoke up before Daniel could take more than a step.

“Why do you have a bucket of rocks on your desk?” Simon asked while lifting it up and examining the contents.

Daniel chuckled. “Is that what you want to discuss?”

“Me, yes,” Simon replied. He seemed always curious and ever ready to figure out the how and why of things, a trait he had demonstrated in the past.

Samuel shook his head at the sandy-haired Aakacarn. The former Teki was always in a hurry and no doubt wanted to get straight to his point. “Before we talk about your rocks, I think we should discuss the flute of Della Lain. Don’t frown, this is important.”

Daniel had a fairly good notion where this conversation would lead, why would he not frown? Sherree had used the same issue to alter his expression earlier. The difference being the Accomplished of the Eagle Guild was serious. “The flute is safe.”

“Somewhere in your uniform,” Simon accurately stated.

“Can you think of a safer place?” Daniel challenged him.

“No,” the sandy-haired Accomplished replied and the genuineness of his smile led Daniel to believe the answer to be heart-felt.

“Yes,” Samuel stated flatly, thick eyebrows near to meeting. He cast a harsh-eyed glance at Simon and then turned back to the person he clearly wanted to convince. “The flute belongs in Aakadon. Oceanic Varroon can safeguard the crescendo until we turn it over to the Maestros.”

Daniel could not hold back his emotions, he started laughing and Simon joined in while Samuel turned red in the face, clearly seeing nothing funny. “I am serious,” he stated firmly.

Daniel took a breath, held it briefly, and stopped laughing. “No offense, but I don’t believe your Maestros capable of protecting a lamb from a wolf, they allowed Serin Gell to escape. I do not trust them with the key to
Tarin Conn’s prison.”

Samuel puffed up and seemed on the verge of arguing further, but then his eyes flicked to Daniel’s shoulders, all those golden lightning bolts in plain view, and the Fledgling took a deep breath and held it for a count of thirty. He raised his right arm, as in a gesture of desperation, and the silk sleeve of his cloak dropped down, revealing the stump  “All of the Accomplished
s respect you and your intention to keep the crescendo safe, yet they all, except apparently Simon, believe the flute is safest in Aakadon. Will you at least agree to consider the idea?”

Daniel had made his decision yet felt sad for his friend’s loss, and was tired, which affected his answer. “I’ll sleep on it.”