To Be A Maestro (The Maestro Chronicles) (22 page)

“Commander Herling, each member of the
Chosen’s Sentinels is to be assigned a daggerlance and crossbow,” Daniel ordered and told what quantities were to be in the northland armory and which were to be prepared for transport to the southern estate. “Each member of the support staff is to be given a daggerlance. These weapons are to be considered restricted to members of our society and not to be discussed with anyone not a part of this group.”

“It will be as you say, Sir Danie
l,” Chas replied formally.

  Lieutenant Mallory SuKendall, her dark hair hanging in a single braid beneath her helmet, stepped forward and shou
ted. “Assume squad formations.”

  The unorganized mass suddenly became four squads with a sergeant at the front of each. Lieutenant Al Benkorren eyed the lineups and nodded approval. “Weapons will be collected by squad. Lightning,” he named the first and they ran forward and took up their weapons. He called out, “Stormcrow, Nighthawk, Quicksilver,” and soon each sentinel
had a crossbow and daggerlance.

Sergeant Tanner turned to his squad. “Quicksilver Squad, gather the remaining weapons.”

His squad began the task of taking the rest of the weapons to building four, containing the armory, where they would be divided as ordered. Silvia and David each claimed a daggerlance for their own use. Daniel hoped this effort meant he was now at least walking in the marathon rather than crawling. He went to his office and notice Jaim Cutler caressing the new daggerlance sheathed to his belt.

It was time to see what the enemy was up to. Daniel focused on Wisp, who was soaring above the new fortress of the Sutton Guard. Snow flurries filled the sky, promising heavier snow in the days to come. The legion of regular cavalry still occupied tents to the north of the elite guard and probably resented being out in the cold while the Suttons were warm and cozy inside. How long will Kall keep them from returning to Los Collins? The osprey had no answer. The raptor angled downward and settled on the branch of a honeylocust tree. Nothing of interest seemed to be happening among the Pentrosans so Daniel thanked Wisp and withdrew awareness.

“Daniel, this is Tim,” the drummer’s voice sounded in his head.

“How is the recruiting going?” Daniel sent back.

“Gina and I reached Konna Springs late yesterday afternoon and are now in Bashierwood. Man that Wager is fast. You should have seen the looks on the faces of the sailors whose ships we passed.”

“The RiverDancer turned a few heads as well, so I have an idea how folks reacted.” Daniel replied.

A sense of fulfillment came ahead of Tim’s words. “Tom Grening has joined up and so did most of the young men at Konna Springs. The wager now has a crew of twenty, counting me and Gina. I made a deal with Chad on your behalf to purchase ten horses and a deal with Donald Laird for twelve racers. They will be ready whenever you have a chance to pop over and collect them. Bring some silver and gold.”

Daniel hoped Jared had the foresight to order more horses. “I’ll convey to Tannakonna sometime in the coming weeks. The morning isn’t even over and you already have eighteen recruits. Gina must have been busy,” he sent that last remark with a sense of playfulness.

A wave of merriment washed through the communication link. “I would like to say it was all my doing but you’re reading my thoughts, a lie isn’t likely to work, so I will say we make a good team and leave it at that.”

Daniel realized he was smiling and thought of how helpful his friend had been to him. “She should be pleased. You are the best backup anyone could ask for.”

Daniel actually felt the mental shrug from Tim. “I’ve had some serious practice in recent months and I would not want to lose my edge.”

“Stay sharp,” Daniel replied. “Take any future recruits to my southern estate, make sure you visit the armory and pick up the new weapons and shield amulets for you and your crew.” Those items would be in the south by the time the drummer arrived.

A strong sense of curiosity accompanied the response, “What new weapons and shields?”

“I made daggers, crossbows, and shield amulets. What they can do beyond the obvious is something you will learn after requisitioning them,” Daniel sent.

“Requisitioning,” Tim sent and there was a mental pause, “that is an official sounding word.”

“As captain of the Wager, you should get used to official sounding words,” Daniel replied.

The sense of Tim nodding his head came through the link. “Now that I have an official title, I will work on my vocabulary, and add some gold bars or something to my shoulder stripes”

“How about a pair of minnows,” Daniel suggested, knowing his amusement flowed along with the words.

“I was thinking of something a little more impressive. Gina will have an idea and you will see it when next we meet,” Tim replied and a strong sense of affection and desire cascaded through the link. “My first mate is calling, so my report is finished, and I am officially ending this communication. Watch your back and have a successful hunt.”

The link cut off and the bell rang. “Enter,” Daniel called out.

Jaim Cutler opened the door. “Accomplished Jenna is here.”

“Send her in,” Daniel replied and quickly stood up and came from behind his desk.

Sherree entered in a dignified fashion, patiently waited for Jaim to go out, shutting the door behind him, and then launched herself into Daniel’s arms. They stood there hugging and he knew why she was clinging to him so fiercely. “Simon and the others will be here shortly to bid you farewell, so I came ahead of them,” she said, confirming his suspicion, and then stepped back from the embrace.

In a perfect world Daniel would have her by his side, she would be the Lady of his estate, and be helping him organize and prepare for the coming war. The world is not perfect and his destiny kept any notion of having a normal married relationship far from reality. He looked into her loving green eyes and the way her yellow gold hair framed her face and decided, I am so thankful to have a relationship, normal or not, and then kissed her.

He and Sherree made their way into the conference room and a short while later welcomed the Accomplisheds. The meeting was brief and the customary nods of respect exchanged between equals signaled their departure. Simon, Jerremy, and Samuel shook hands with Daniel, promising to stay in touch, and then left him alone. He sat at the head of the table in an empty room.

His solitude did not last long. The Knights of the Realm entered one at a time and then came Commander Herling and the two generals. They needed to go over the defense plans in light of the Aakacarns departure. Daniel mostly listened and nodded his understanding at various points, yet left most of the planning up to the experts. Chas proved every bit as competent in the formulations as the generals and gained the respect not only of the senior officers, but of the Knights of the Realm as well.

A mark and a half later, his parents met him at lunch along with Jonah and Sergeant Zaccum. “We have decided to make for Port Valeen and take the RiverDancer to Ducanton,” Miriam stated after placing her fork on the table.

“From what you have told us, the bulk of your recruits are in your southern estate, so we intend to do the training there,” his father added.

Daniel could not disagree about the need for training being greater at his estate, yet had some concerns. “Sherree and the other Accomplisheds have already departed. You could have traveled with them. The pair of you riding alone to Port Valeen bothers me some.”

“They will not be riding alone,” Jonah pointed out. “Sergeant Zaccum and I will accompany them all the way to Ducanton.”

Zaccum leaned forward. “Rest assured we will see them safely to the capital.”

“Duncan Hawk has also volunteered to go with us,” Ronn said and then finishe
d his glass of blueberry juice.

Daniel had complete confidence in the young Royal Guardsman and the experienced Sergeant. His parents had communication amulets and could call for help if they faced any danger beyond what their company could handle. “Lord Jonah, Sergeant Zaccum, you have relieved my concern and while I am not anxious to see you depart, I am pleased to have worked with you.”

“As your scouts have reported, the surviving Accomplisheds we were pursuing have fled the kingdom, and so our mission is complete,” Jonah stated in a formal manner. “Our work together is done for now, yet I look forward to the time when our paths merge again.”

Daniel shook hands with the Ducalin and saluted Sergeant Zaccum. His parents hugged him and then went upstairs to pack for their journey. He sent his awareness into Sheen and Glimmer, and pictured an image of his parents, so the hawks would recognize them, and then requested the raptors go on the journey. A sense of willingness came from the pair. This would give him the ability to see through their eyes and convey to the seen if the need shoul
d arise.

Since the last report from his scouts showed the Pentrosans involved with finishing their fortress and staying away from the border, Daniel decided it was time to visit the Benhannon Estate, and take the Royal Guardsmen back to the capital. As Jonah said, the mission was complete, Daniel felt he had no right to keep them from going back to fulfill their duty to the Queen. He gave the necessary orders and the good folks of the holding hurried to obey.

The daggerlances, crossbows, and shield amulets were packed and ready, he noted while exiting the building. David and Silvia had their horses saddled and ready to go. Carn Bencain walked up leading Sprinter and even thought to attach the guitarn case.  Daniel smiled and vaulted into the saddle of his ashen stallion. The Royal Guardsmen followed his example, except they mounted their steeds in a more dignified fashion. Once the people who were not going south cleared the area, Daniel pictured Lake Benhannon. In his mind, each person and their horses in center court were standing in the tall green grass, and facing the large body of water. He cast, Conveyance, and in the space of three heart beats, they arrived where he intended.

-------

“Dirt, go inform General Kall the Aakacarns have departed from the area and are on their way to Port Valeen. Operation Spin Off is a go. Return to me after you have delivered the message,” Phil Nettle ordered, and whatever the Accomplished commanded could not be refused.

Sandra Treena, well beyond the point of frustration, could do nothing to stop from complying with the order. Her consciousness was a mere passenger in the body that
had once been hers, and now served Vance Cummin. She had become his captive after discovering the Senior Soarer was in fact a member of the Serpent Guild. He cast a sleep spell on her and when she awakened, the body she had been born with no longer responded to her will. If anything about being Condemned could be considered fortunate, the fact that he only modified her face and removed every hair from her body would be it. Every Condemned she had encountered, and killed, in her career in the Eagle Guild had been horrifically altered beyond anything remotely recognizable as human. Even their gender had been stolen from them. If not for the brown cloak, anyone with eyes would see a hairless, naked woman. The same is true for the nine non-Aakacarns who had been Condemned along with her, except they are obviously male. Efficiency is primary to Vance Cummin and the huge volume of wretches waiting to be condemned by him is the only reason he did not take the time to make more drastic alterations.

The traitor’s will was supreme, he had ordered her to obey Nettle, and th
at reprobate commanded she respond to the name, Dirt. The body turned and headed north through the woods. It had also been given the general order to avoid being seen, so this made the trek to the border take far longer than it would have. Sandra tried with all of her mental capacity to force her left eye to blink. It went on staring blankly as the body, no longer hers, crossed the border into Pentrosa and eventually stopped in front of the round fortress built by the elite Sutton Guard.

Snow flurries filled the sky as a guardsman wearing a gray with black trim uniform stood in front of the entrance. “State your business,” the Corporal demanded, even though all of the men under General Kall’s command recognized the Condemneds belonging to Phil Nettle, and should know better than to interfere.

Sandra determined to say nothing, but the body paid no attention to her will and replied, “A message for General Kall.”

The guardsman grinned maliciously. “Give me the message,” he improperly demanded.

Sandra took some satisfaction when her body remained silent. His demand went beyond the parameters of her instructions and no one other than Vance Cummin or Phil Nettle, in that order, could make her obey. She stood staring at the man and would do so until granted entrance.

“Are you stupid?” the guardsman shouted, and then grabbed her arm. “Give me the message or I’ll beat it out of you.”

Sandra could do nothing to stop what would happen if the fool actually attacks her. Vance Cummin had ordered her to live, requiring the body to defend itself if attacked, unless Cummin or Nettle commanded otherwise, and neither person was in the vicinity. This survival command made it impossible to commit suicide by provoking or allowing someone to kill her and thus grant the only freedom possible for a Condemned.

The Corporal swung his other fist toward her face and a Melody played in her brain, placed there by Cummin. Sandra had no control over the spell and could not focus the potential without Nettle to guide it. Consequently the scarlet glow of life force energy radiated from her body and she watched as the hand gripping her began rotting away. The Corporal screamed as the rot spread up his arm, unable to release his grip, and any intention he had of striking her seemed to be melting along with his skin. She would have shoved the fool to break the contact and thereby allow the corporal to live, unfortunately for him; she was only a passenger in this body and could only watch him die.