To Be A Maestro (The Maestro Chronicles) (2 page)

He does not know. Serena had an obligation to bring him up to date on the facts, even though she had no clue about who had the trumpet, and the information seemed sure to upset the Supreme Maestro. “I have caught up with Jak Taltin, Serin Gell’s minion. He is dead, incinerated, and your trumpet is gone,” she admitted and not a bit surprised to see his eyebrows draw down in anger.

“Fool!” shouted Tarin Conn. It took him a few moments to smooth out his facial features, yet his glaring eyes betrayed a deep simmering anger. “He is gambling big,” the Ancient Accomplished went on in an even tone.

Serena startled in fright at the outburst and then felt relief when the rebuke turned out to be aimed at a male. The Great One’s anger was not being directed at her, yet she dared to ask in a small voice, “Who is gambling?”

Those black eyes focused on her with such intensity she felt as if they were seeing every secret she held dear. “Serin Gell has possession of the flute of Della Lain. Yes, I see by the look in your eyes, you are wondering why it has not been destroyed, and why I am not free,” he told her.

“That is exactly what I am wondering,” she admitted.

Tarin Conn took a deep breath. “Serin Gell has convoluted plans. He intended to lure Daniel Benhannon to his Nest, Condemn him using my trumpet, and then use the crescendo to destroy the flute. His gamble is that I would be so pleased over his freeing me; I would promote him to Maestro of the guild, and forgive his ignoring my order to stay away from Daniel Benhannon. How did Jak Taltin die?”

The question took Serena by surprise, yet she did not hesitate to reply. “He died at the hands of a more powerful and skilled Aakacarn.”

Tarin Conn was shaking his head. “No, not an Aakacarn, an Aakasear; this is the reason why I gave orders for Daniel to be left alone. While he was impotent and running around playing at being a Ducaunan Royal Knight of the Realm, he was no threat.”

“What is an Aakasear?” Serena felt compelled to ask.

“A Melody Composer as am I. Compared to me, Daniel is a toddler just learning to walk, one who had fallen, and not yet regained his footing. The Silencing placed upon him by the Grand Maestro of Aakadon made him forget his repertoire. Every spell in his mind up to that point was gone. An Aakasear can compose new spells and thereby regain the ability to summon his life force energy,” Tarin Conn explained.

A fuller understanding blossomed in her mind. “Any confrontation with us could inspire Daniel Benhannon to compose a spell.” She saw no need to mention the Ferret’s strike at the Aakasear.

“Exactly so, and that is the factor Serin Gell did not know to take into account when he made his gamble. My visitation with him will not be pleasant. He has much to answer for. Daniel Benhannon has been tracking my trumpet. Taltin took it and, at the orders of Serin Gell, left a trail for the Ducaunan Knight to follow. Unfortunately for Gell’s associate, Daniel must have caught up to him. No doubt they fought and my fellow Aakasear has learned, if he had not by then, that he can summon potential by composing and using new Melodies. This means he has my trumpet and is on his way to confront Serin Gell,” the Great One explained.

Serena had no way of knowing if it was Duzolta’s assault that inspired Benhannon to compose new spells or the confrontation with Taltin. It did not really matter unless the Supreme Maestro ordered her to wrest it from the hand of the powerful Accomplished. She opened her mouth to inquire as to what Tarin Conn would have her do, when he held up his hand, forestalling her intention. His eyes seemed to be focusing at nothing in particular for several heart beats and then he shook his head.

“The confrontation has just taken place. It seems Daniel Benhannon won again. Serin Gell is dead, I would know if my fellow Aakasear used my trumpet to sever the link between myself and Gell. This means the flute is now in Daniel’s hands. The gambling fool is better off dead.” Tarin Conn stated matter-of-factly.

Serena was pleased by the news and had wanted the foolish three-bolt Accomplished to die for interfering with her mission.

“Go to Rivertown, the Accomplisheds whose services you allocated from Vance Cummin for transportation will meet you there. I have plans for you and your team. Bring them to the sacred cave here in Mount Kelgotha so I can form links to their minds. Afterward, you are to send one of them throughout the realm of Ducaun spreading word that, Efferin Tames is the Creator’s Chosen Vessel, and thus create confusion among the commoners and the nobility. At the appropriate time, I will instruct Vance Cummin to spread word about Daniel being an Aakasear and a younger version of me, which should turn most of the world against my young foe, and send all of the Accomplisheds of Aakadon after him while my guild prepares for the coming war. As for you and the rest of your team, I have a special casting in mind,” the great Tarin Conn ordered.

They were going to be rewarded! Serena was pleased and it sounded as if the Supreme Maestro was including her in even bigger things. “What about your trumpet and the flute of Della Lain?”

Tarin Conn waved the question away with a negligent sweep of his hand. “My trumpet is a powerful crescendo, true, but since the arrival of Daniel Benhannon, who can make one just as powerful any time he chooses, the instrument has become less important in the over all scheme of my plans. The flute is another matter, destroying it is the quickest way for me to regain my freedom, and efforts must be made to snatch and melt it down. As for you, my faithful Aakacarn, you will be gifted with a much more powerful crescendo. I will be breaking free soon, with or without the destruction of Della’s cursed crescendo, and then present the new energy amplifier to you along with expanding your role within the guild.”

The thrilling emotions bubbling within Serena brought tears to her eyes and she wept joyfully. “Your will be do
ne, Great One!”

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It was the middle of the night, an odd time to call a meeting, even one so earnestly sought after. Maestro Terroll Barnes, a four-bolt Accomplished of the Zephyr Guild, put on his scarlet on black silk cloak and made his way along the deserted marble streets, passing gemstone buildings, some made of diamonds, topaz, turquoise, amber, sapphire, and just about every precious stone in existence. He walked silently to the conference room within the ruby pyramid, the huge structure at the center of Aakadon, the grandest city in the world, and home of the Aakacarns. Eight places were set at the dark granite table. The Grand Maestro’s chair was at the head, naturally so. The other seven chairs; each carved with the emblem of the Maestro’s guild, were evenly spaced around the table. A golden bird of prey set against a silver oval identified the Eagle Guild, the keepers of order and seekers of truth. All of the emblems were gold on silver fused into the carved wood. A five-pronged plant represented the Aloe Guild, known primarily for healing. A circle with jagged lines radiating outward represented the Sun Guild, the conjurers of fire and lightning. The rock and hammer represented the Stone Guild, the architects and builders. The letter Z represented the Zephyr Guild, the manipulators of wind and air. A branch with lance shaped leaves hanging down represented the Willow Guild, known for making vegetation grow, and a golden drop indicated the Aqua Guild, the manipulators of water.

Terroll was the second guild leader to arrive. The first was
Janna Barroon of the Aloe Guild, a four-bolt Accomplished, who called for this meeting of the Maestros. She was born in the kingdom of Fon Kay and her wheat-colored hair and blue eyes were a common trait among the people of her homeland.

Lena Beyers, a five-bolt Accomplished, Maestro of the Sun Guild, and Demfilian by birth, was a compact woman with long white hair. Her eyes were a light iridescent blue, and her complexion so pale the faintly blue tint of her veins could be seen beneath her skin. One hundred eighty-one years of life made her the oldest Maestro, although she possessed not a single wrinkle. Both Terroll and Janna nodded their heads as she took her seat.

Runyen Cransur and Geran DuSorin arrived at the same time, as they often did. Cransur, a five-bolt Accomplished, one hundred twenty-four years of age, sat in the chair of the Willow Guild, and was born in the kingdom of Zune, giving him light brown skin and black silky hair. His brown eyes were ovoid in shape with a slight upward slant and his beard and mustache were neatly trimmed. He greeted Lena Beyers and then Terroll and Janna.

Geran DuSorin, also a five-bolt Accomplished, stout with a swarthy complexion, and a bald pate shining in the sphere light, took his seat after greeting everyone with the customary nod of the head. The Maestro of the Aqua Guild, born in the
kingdom of Aczencopa, had light brown eyes and did not look a day over forty, even though his actual age was one hundred twenty-seven.

Talmon Reese, Maestro of the Eagle Guild, deeply tanned, dark of hair and eye, came in moments later. His coloring came from being born on the southern coast of Taracopa, where as those born north of
Lake Kestral, the southern most of the three great lakes of that kingdom, were of lighter skin. He glanced around the room, taking in every detail as though storing the information away for future analysis, which is the way he normally enters a room. Talmon seemed full of vigor, physically fit, and ready for action even at the age of one hundred seventy-one. The seat of the Eagle Guild was at the end of the table and the five-bolt Accomplished made his way to it after greeting each person in the room.

Maestro David Svennar, four-bolt Accomplished of the Stone Guild, the next person to enter, greeted everyone, and took his seat. At one hundred two years old, the brown-haired green-eyed former citizen of Pentrosa was closer in age to Terroll, ninety-one, than the rest.

Efferin Tames, born on the island kingdom of Serinia located off the west coast of the continent, an ancestry giving him light brown skin, dark eyes and high cheek bones, walked briskly into the conference room and sat down at the head of the table. His green and scarlet hooded cloak had six golden lightening bolts stitched into the shoulders, three on the right and three on the left. The hood was down and the front open, revealing neatly trimmed hair, mostly gray, and his black on silver silk shirt and trousers. He glanced briefly at the eight rings he wore, drawing attention to them; four on each hand, seven having the emblems of each guild. The eighth and largest of all was the ruby pyramid, representing the office of Grand Maestro, no doubt a reminder, to anyone who deeded it, of his authority.

“This meeting, called by Maestro Barroon, shall come to order,” Efferin stated formally. “Two issues have been raised and shall be dealt with. The Maestro of the Aloe Guild has requested in writing that matters sealed to the Grand Maestro’s office concerning Daniel Benhannon be shared with the Maestros of Aakadon. Maestro Barnes wishes to discuss his official protest over my Silencing of Accomplished Benhannon and I have decided to begin our meeting with this matter. State your case Maestro.”

Terroll took a deep breath. “In hindsight, I see why it was necessary for you to Silence Accomplished Benhannon. His repertoire had been corrupted with spells of the Serpent Guild, and his stated intention upon leaving your office was to sleep until his eyes felt like opening. Given the fact that in the past, in his nightmares, he lashed out with deadly spells, Silencing him was prudent of you to insure all of our safety,” he began, speaking respectfully so as not to prejudice the other Maestros, and to keep from insulting the Grand Maestro. “The danger is gone along with Daniel’s original repertoire. It seems reasonable to me that the Silencing can now be lifted and he be given the opportunity to relearn the hundred forty spells required to be considered an Accomplished. His new repertoire of Melodies would not be corrupted with spells of the Serpent Guild.”

Terroll was pleased at seeing most all of the Maestros nodding their heads, Talmon Reese being the only exception, him sitting with a neutral expression, and hopefully having at least an open mind. Efferin Tames smiled, yet his eyes seemed to be saying, “I know something you don’t know.”

“I concur with Maestro Barnes,” David Svennar spoke up, “and wonder why the Silencing could not have been lifted before the young man departed from our fair city.”

“Accomplished Benhannon has departed, I see no reason to speculate the whys and wherefores,” Lena Beyers added her opinion.

“Here, here,” the Grand Maestro voiced his agreement with her.

The Maestro of the Sun Guild glanced at Efferin and then continued. “I would consider voting to remove the Silencing under the following conditions: Daniel Benhannon must come to Aakadon, agree to learn the required number of Melodies, and choose a guild. Only after obtaining such an agreement should the spell constraining him be removed.”

“I think we are ready to put the matter to a vote,” Janna Barroon stated, perhaps as much to see the Silencing lifted as to get on with the matter of unsealing the restricted information. After all, she had made promises to Terroll and Daniel.

Efferin raised his hand, gaining attention. “Before a ballot is taken, I wish to continue the discussion on the Silencing of Accomplished Benhannon and settle Maestro Barroon’s issue. I have no doubt the Eagle Guild has been keeping a watch on our young unaffiliated Accomplished. Maestro Reese, would you update us on Daniel’s activities?”

Talmon’s eyes met those of everyone at the table and then focused on the Grand Maestro. “Daniel Benhannon traveled from Aakadon to Ducanton, where he was dubbed the twenty-first living Royal Knight of the Realm of Ducaun, granted a jurisdiction, and made a Lord of the Land. He has invested largely in the staffing and particularly the defense of his new holding, especially after the escape of Serin Gell. Currently, the young Knight is out on maneuvers with a detachment of Royal Guardsmen. We believe the assignment is to give him experience commanding men in the field.”