To Be A Maestro (The Maestro Chronicles) (34 page)

Leah touched Daniel on the arm. “The politics of the situation will force the Maestro to be harder on Accomplished Cresh than he otherwise might be.”

None of this answered the question now floating in Daniel’s mind. “Where is Samuel?”

Bella stroked his beard and eyed everyone at the table before answering, “I make no accusations, only raise the possibility that a mentor who’s Fledgling went to such lengths to save his life might give him a few words to the wise. We Senior Soarers know what Sam is likely to face when he returns to Aakadon. His freedom of movement will be vastly curtailed, his career damaged to the degree it could be centuries before he is considered trustworthy to have further access to the guild library. His repertoire will be kept small and he may never be permitted to step foot out of Aakadon.”

“What he says is true,” Leah verified. “He should also mention that the Senior Soarer who gave such words to the wise and refuses to reveal having given the advice will likely be subjected to Truth Speak.”

Jared coughed at the last statement, him having been subjected to that very spell. “From my experience your guild shows little restraint when it comes to using such spells, even when the person being questioned is cooperative and has given them no reason to suspect deceit.”

Bella did not look at the Account Keeper, perhaps realizing the truth of the matter about his associates
, and instead focused entirely on Daniel. “Samuel did not board the boat. He is believed to be in the vicinity of Port Valeen. Compared to you, he is a minnow they are not likely to spend time trying to catch. What I told you about Aakadon last night has increased four fold this morning. The harmonic waves coming from Kelgotha have made everyone jumpy and monarchs all over the world are sending demands that the Grand Maestro do something to make the ripples stop. Face it Daniel, with the exception of Serin Gell, the Serpent Guild has gone inactive, the harmonic ripples show that Tarin Conn is stirring, but the only Melody Wielder they can do anything about is you.”

Daniel nearly laughed out loud. The Serpent Guild is far from inactive and a major nest was about to be assaulted. “In light of your report, for which I thank you, I and my associates will be collecting some horses and be on our way.”

Bella stood up. “I cannot report what I do not know so keep your destination amongst yourselves,” he said and then glanced at Leah and winked at Daniel. “The way you are swirling events is interesting in deed and I wonder how big your association will eventually be.”

“As big as it needs to be,” Silvia replied just before the elder Accomplished turned and walked away.

Jared paid for the meal out of the money bag and they collected the horses from Chad and Donald after saying farewell to the residents of Bashierwood. Val, in a pale green dress, walked up to Daniel just before he was about to mount Sweeper, one of his new Ducaunan racers.

“Happy hunting,” she said in a tight voice and then walked away
without waiting for a response. The gesture made him smile, being more than expected, and he truly wished the best for her and Todd.

They rode up the north trail, each person mounted on a new steed, and after leading the other horses beyond sight of the town, Daniel called a halt. “We are going to see Chas and plan our assault.”

Leah gave an approving nod. Jared still had no opinion on such matters, and the Teki were ready to follow Daniel anywhere. He summoned the potential for Conveyance and pictured all of them and the horses outside the east gate of his northern holding. Before his heart beat four times they were on the opposite side of the kingdom and staring at the entrance. Two Sentinels, Brad Stoddard and Clem Suleen, were standing guard and recognized their leader immediately. “Greetings Sir Daniel, happy we are to see you back,” they shouted as he waved to them.

“You are spoiling us with these quick jaunts to far away places,” David stated while leading his group of horses through the gate.

Daniel laughed. “Perhaps I should have left you behind to catch up the traditional way.”

Silvia began shaking her head. “By the time he arrived here we would probably be hundreds of spans away on another jaunt.”

The light banter continued as they led the new horses to the corral and turned them over to the grooms. The place was filled with horses taken during the invasion and Daniel listened patiently as the men told him of the things they experienced during the brief siege. Sentinels and support personnel greeted him and he took the opportunity to introduce Leah to all of them while proceeding toward the center court. By the time he walked into building two, Chas, Mallory, Al, and all but one Sergeant came to greet him in the common room. Branson Calver and his squad had gate duty.

“I would like you all to meet Leah..,” Daniel began and then felt a sharp pain. Something sliced into his skin in the space between his neck and chain mail, plunging down, robbing him of the ability to speak as it sank deeper. Chaos irrupted, people screamed, lances of light flashed from every direction as he crumpled to the floor, unable to draw a breath. Lions roared, wolves howled, raptors screeched, every animal linked to his mind voiced their outrage. His eyes refused to stay open and darknes
s quickly closed in around him.

Leah watched in horror as a blood-covered disembodied hand left a knife plunged to the hilt in Daniel’s chest between his neck and chain mail. Peripherally she was aware of blue lances of light launching at the anatomical likely position of the hand-owner’s body. A man in black silk appeared when one of the lances pierced him and within mere moments his body was jerked to the right, left, and forward, blood spurting from every wound, as blue beams punched holes in his torso. One passed right through his temple, spraying blood and gray matter out to the left, and the last lance pinned his back against the wall. The Accomplished’s death had come upon him fast and furious.

Her main focus was on the Chosen Vessel. She dropped to the floor beside him and summoned Beak Strike. Amethyst light in the shape of a tiny beak, meant for surgical precision, formed at the end of her finger, and she carefully cut through the chain mail and cotton undershirt all the way down to his belt. The right side of the garments fell away and she swept the other part to the left, exposing his bloody upper torso. A flute fell to the floor. Why would he carry a crescendo between his undershirt and chain mail? All questions could wait. She placed her right hand on his forehead and her left palm on his abdomen over his navel and cast, Hearts Beat As One. Even with him being unconscious, the pain his body endured assaulted her as if it was her own, yet she did not allow such to distract from the task at hand. His right lung had been lacerated and was filling with blood. The knife had missed his jugular vein by a hair. She added a Da Capo to the spell and then cast, Heal Wounds. The spell should instantly heal the flesh as the blade slides free, she hoped.

“Someone pull out the knife, straight and fast or you will cut his jugular, and get me two jugs of water, each with a straw,” She called out and heard the sound of feet running to obey as Sentinels and support staff encircled the two of them.

Silvia yanked the blade out in one quick motion. “Daniel’s blood on the flute of Della Lain,” the Teki spoke under her breath. Leah could not allow the statement to distract her, no matter how intriguing the information.

“Will he live?” a Pentrosan man with a pair of gold bars on each shoulder inquired.

“I will not pe
rmit him to die,” Leah replied.

A woman, who looked to be in her early thirties with long dark hair pulled back ponytail-styled, squatted beside her with two jugs. “I hav
e the water.”

“Good, place a straw in his mouth and the one from the other jug in mine,” Leah instructed, and silently blessed the woman for not pestering her as to why.

As Leah drank through the straw, Hearts Beat As One, forced Daniel to do the same and she kept drinking until the jugs were empty. The same spell caused his lungs to inhale and exhale in time with hers. Only then did she address those standing around with worry etched on their faces. “Daniel has lost a large amount of blood and while I have healed his wounds, he will be weak as a day old hatchling for a few days. Our bodies metabolize water at a much faster rate than you non-Aakacarns and likewise we produce new blood at a quicker rate. Rest, water, and broth are what he needs.”

The woman who brought the water stood up and spoke in a strong voice, “Wanda, get the pot of chicken broth.”

Leah released the Da Capo from Hearts Beat As One, when she was sure he could breathe on his own, and then stood up. “We need to get him to his room.”

A broad-shouldered Sentinel took hold of Daniel from under the arms while another took hold of his feet. The man with the pair of gold bars on each shoulder nodded approval. “DuArren, Tanner, take him to his bed chamber. I want two guards in the hall and two in the room with him. We don’t know how many invisible assassins are wandering around in this holding. Everyone, not a soul is to know what happened to Sir Daniel. Let it be known a would-be assassin has paid with his life for attempting to ply his trade in the
Benhannon Holding,” he ordered.

The two men carried Daniel up the stairs and Leah walked over to the body now lying on the floor. The spell powering the lance must have dissipated. She did not recognize him personally, only as a man wearing the silks of the Serpent Guild. This was the first instance she knew of where an Accomplished of the Serpent Guild cast a spell and became invisible. Presently, most everyone walked around the common room with daggers in their hands and seemed anxious enough to stab at anything out of the ordinary. She did not blame them for the emotions or extra caution.

“I am Chas Herling, Commander of the Chosen’s Sentinels,” the man with the gold bars informed her. His head did not even reach her shoulder, yet he had a dignity that made him seem much taller, perhaps that is why Daniel chose the Pentrosan to lead his army.

Leah gave him the traditional nod of respect even though the man is not an Aakacarn. “I am Leah Barryn and Daniel gave me the honor of being his first Accomplished.”

“I am glad he did. The situation would have ended badly. None of us could have saved him,” Chas admitted.

Leah glanced at the dagger in his hand. “He taught me a number of spells, some of which made it possible for me to heal him, and for that I am thankful,” she replied and then added while pointing at the body, “I could not help but notice lances of light shooting through this reptile of a man, all of which were the color of Daniel’s potential, and yet he and I are the only Melody Wielders in the holding and neither of us attacked the man.”

Chas held out the dagger. “Sir Daniel made this, touch the ruby, and it launches a lance of light. He made it so we Sentinels can wield them along with several other innovations made by him.”

“I think he would want you to hold onto this,” S
ilvia’s voice came from behind.

Leah turned and her eyes locked onto the object in the Teki’s hand. The instrument no longer had any traces of blood, and there could be no mistaking it for anything else, this young woman held the most famous crescendo ever made. “It really is the flute of Della Lain. You said something earlier about Daniel’s blood being on it as if you are a Senior Soarer whose suspicions have just been confirmed.”

David stepped up, glanced at the dead man, and then apparently decided his assessment was called for. “No, she said it more like a Seer whose revelation has just come to pass.”

Leah accepted the flute and then stared at the tiny woman. Very few Aakacarns look to Seers for guidance, especially since only commoners seemed to have the talent, and no self-respecting Accomplisheds want to admit they need advice from such a source. Daniel had been in Aakadon for only a short time, he apparently never acquired the prejudices inherent in its citizens. Working with him is going to take some adjustments, she understood this, and decided to embrace change rather than hold to the old ways that contributed to her having been Condemned. “I am glad the Chosen Vessel has a Seer who is so accurate,” she said and then turned to the commander. “Daniel told me of his link to the animals, let the wolves and foxes in, perhaps they can smell what cannot be seen.”

“Lieutenant SuKendall, do as the First Accomplished ordered, let’s see if the beasts can locate more of these invisible assassins.” Chas told a woman with a gold bar on each shoulder.

“It will be as you say, Commander, First Accomplished,” she replied, addressing both of them, and then exited along with a mixed squad of men and women.

Leah focused on the commander. “Daniel restored me from Condemnation and I have dedicated myself to his service.”

Chas smiled. “It seems we have something in common,” he replied and went on to tell her his own background and that of the others, along with their names, all of whom had formerly been Condemneds.

When Marge Durayton came out of the kitchen carrying a covered pot, Leah went with her to Daniel’s room and placed one hand on his forehead and the other on his abdomen.

“Put a straw in the soup and one in a jug of water. I have to drink in order to make him drink,” Leah told the Chief of Kitchens.

Marge put one straw in Daniel’s mouth and the one from the jug of water in Leah’s. He needed to consume the broth and then could be allowed to rest. Even though DuArren and Tanner stood watching from the other side of the room, Leah did not want to leave her rescuer’s side.