To Be A Maestro (The Maestro Chronicles) (62 page)

“Maybe a few of those Three-bolts who came with Sandra can come see that the Chosen Vessel is not disturbed,” Samuel suggested.

The third strike Leader came walking briskly into the Great Crystal the very moment the former Teki finished speaking. Her hood was down, revealing long shimmering str
ands of red hair.

“I issued the command before the First Lady finished healing our Maestro,” Leah said.

“No one has yet asked the most important question,” Simon pointed out. “Did our effort succeed? Is Tarin Conn safely shielded beneath Kelgotha?”

Sherree had no answer, having been more concerned with the Ducaunan she had married. “I succeeded in shielding his potential, but once he eliminates each crystal embedded in his body, he will be able to teleport out of the vault,” that very man spoke and the sound of his voice electrified her as sure as a lighting bolt.

She kissed him and he sat up, giving her the opportunity to wrap her arms around him. People began speaking at once and were so excited it took quite a while for the celebrating to wind down to the point where her husband could be heard in the confines of the Great Crystal.

Harmonic waves washed through the world from the direction of Kelgotha and Daniel smiled while getting to his feet, which he did on his own. “He will never overpower that shield,” he said, confidently.

Simon’s left eyebrow arched quizzically. “I’m certain you expected to die, onto what did you tie the Da Capo?”

“I will tell you after the Del Segno kicks in and ends, Teach Me,” Daniel replied. His gazed fixed on Sherree. “You saved me so fast, it is still in effect,” he paused to sip from a borrowed canteen. “I just sent
Tarin Conn a message. Oops, there it goes, the spell has ended.”

“What did you say to him?” Samuel was the first to ask the question on everyone’s mind.

“I’m not dead yet,” Daniel replied.

Silvia went to him and the diminutive Teki flashed her dimpled smile. “When a wife forbids her husband to do a thing, he is better off not going ahead with it.”

“She said, you were not allowed to die, and forbade you to do so,” Simon apparently felt compelled to clarify Silvia’s words of advice.

Sherree was about to issue orders when Daniel embraced her, and said, “I love you,” causing her to forget whatever it was she thought to be important just a moment ago.

“Maestro, your vat was completely dry and the energy sustaining you now is only what we could afford to give,” Leah interrupted with a matter he needed to hear.

Sherree could tell by the look in his eyes what he was about to do. “No, don’t cast any spells, not even, How Do You Feel, upon yourself. You have less energy than a non-Aakacarn.”

Martin Varroon cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention. “Even taking in the remarkable speed in which your potential grows, it took twenty years for you to gain seven bolts, and it could take another twenty to gain it back.”

“Are you saying, if I cast, Ranking, I wouldn’t even have a single bolt on my shoulder?” Daniel asked.

Martin frowned. “I am saying you possess far less than a bolt of potential,” he replied. “Worse, you would not survive the casting of that spell.”

“So you see why either Leah or I will be by your side at all times, and for now, so will whichever Three-bolt Sandra assigns the task. We are also depleted and so the extra protection is necessary,” Sherree explained. She was terribly afraid his mountaineer attitude would convince him he could do more than he actually can.

His eyes went to the Seer. “Silvia, is it over, have I defeated the other vessel?”

The Teki closed her eyes and seemed sad when they opened. “You have won a victory, caused him to fall on his face, but he will find a way to fight back eventually. I see much fighting, pain, and death ahead, so enjoy the moment because the war is not over.”

Daniel nodded and led the way out of the Great Crystal. Sandra and several of her Accomplisheds formed quarters in a chamber far from the ones where members of the Serpent Guild were unsuccessfully trying to displace solid stone with their substances. It was not until Sherree lay on a solidified bed of air beside Daniel that her fatigue made it impossible for her eyes to stay open.

She awakened not knowing if it was day or night or how long she had been asleep. Daniel lay beside her and his presence made her feel content. They both had fallen asleep in their silks, which were now wrinkled. She reached over and brought a pitcher to her lips, drank it dry, and then another before her thirst was satisfied. Daniel woke a little later and he also dran
k his fill, six pitchers worth.

She laundered her silks and then his. He could not even be allowed to cast a Melody a
ny first level Talented had no difficulty performing. Silvia, who was waiting at the door, informed her that it was late afternoon of the following day and everyone Daniel had rendered unconscious was now awake. Eighty-three of the one hundred forty Accomplisheds of Aakadon had died and only Talmon Reese had survived uninjured. Many Accomplisheds and Sentinels would have died if not for his wielding of the flute. Everyone who could be healed had been healed, so Sherree did not have that problem to deal with. Standing next to the Seer was Carlos Tiran, a middle-aged three-bolt Accomplished recently assigned to Daniel’s security team.

“Maestro, our allies have been demanding to see you,” Leah informed upon seeing them enter the dinning area with Silvia and Carlos.

“Before we eat, I would like to address Maestro Reese and the surviving Accomplisheds of Aakadon,” Daniel said.

Sherree would have preferred to eat first, but had no objections, and so nodded her head. She could tell by the look in his eye he did not like being given permission,
and yet he made no complaint when Leah looked to her before acknowledging him. Simon joined them at the last moment; apparently sure Daniel would have his way.

“It will be as you say, Maestro,” the First Accomplished replied, and then conveyed them, along with Carlos and Simon, to the staging chamber.

“They have been told of the shield you place on Tarin Conn,” Leah spoke in a soft voice.

Talmon Reese stood in the center of the chamber, surrounded by the eight surviving Senior Soarers. Only two members of the Stone Guild
, Lucia Trotta and Carmen Frank, lived and they were standing among the Willows, talking with Barnabas Galloway. The rest were clustered among members of their own guilds, perhaps mourning their losses. A hush settled over the room as all conversations came to a stop. The presence of the Chosen Vessel sometimes had that effect and Sherree was becoming accustomed to it. She took some comfort in the fact that there were several hundred Accomplisheds of the Atlantan Guild, including Jeremiah Lassiter, between the people of Aakadon and Daniel, along with over a thousand Sentinels who sprang up to give their leader a proper salute.

Talmon Reese started over, bringing
Renford Winthrop and Elias DeSumma, along with Jerrian Tobermin, right toward the man who was now the center of attention. Daniel whispered something to Carlos and then waited calmly for the quartet to arrive. The Atlantans parted, permitting them to approach after a single nod from Leah.

“Congratulations on the victory,” Talmon said with a closed-mouthed smile.

“A great victory, yes,” Tobermin added with no smile at all. “You tricked the serpents and us. Yes, very clever.”

Sherree did not trust the man and
kept her hand on the diamond-bladed crescendo, ready strike with a spell if the Five-bolt so much as flickered with potential.

Jeremiah stepped forward. “Seeing as you did not discover Accomplished Scarott was a spy for the Serpents until he snatched the flute of Della Lain from your Maestro’s hand, I think the precaution was warranted.”

“You are treating us as prisoners of war,” Winthrop complained.

“You were healed of your wounds, your dead have been placed in preservation spells, and you have been provided with food and beverages,” Leah replied. “For the record, we have taken no prisoners.”

Talmon held up the flute of Della Lain. “This is no longer connected with the shield on Tarin Conn’s potential. As you did with this, will you now entrust the new one to us, whatever type of crescendo that might be?” he asked while eyeing the diamond-bladed knife sheathed in Daniel’s belt.

“Good luck with that,” Simon told him, derisively, earning a smile from Daniel and Leah.

The Maestro of the Eagle Guild ignored the Chief Aid and his facial expression grew grim as time went by without receiving an answer. Sherree loved her husband to the point of distraction, but there were times when he did push the envelope, and said too much, like when he confirmed his being an Aakasear to the world. Then there were times like now when he holds back on giving information for no reason she could see, and tended to make the situation feel awkward. If he had a full vat and could defend himself, she would not mind seeing him tweak the beak of the king Eagle, but he was weak and Sherree just wanted to get through this meeting without spells flying.

Daniel’s eyes swept the chamber and then his dark-eyed gaze locked onto Talmon with such intensity the man began to sweat. “What occurred within the Great Crystal is sealed to those who participated in the castings,” the Chosen Vessel spoke firmly. “The Symphonics used are guild specific and cannot be revealed to a non-member.”

The sound of air passing into Tobermin’s nostrils could be heard by everyone within thirty paces. “You made a deal with a python to save us from a gator,” he spoke to his Maestro. “Daniel Benhannon, you did not share the full battle plan with us, and now deny us what we earned with the spilling of our own blood. Your actions from the start have not been honorable.”

Simon stepped up to the Vice-Maestro. “What are the Grand Maestro’s most recent orders concerning Daniel and us? All of you still have your amulets and I know Efferin Tames would posses one from Maestro Reese. The entire world felt our castings from the Great Crystal, so trying to make us believe you have not received orders would push the bounds of credibility.” He was obviously doing his Barnabas Galloway impersonation. Sherree felt he pulled it off quite well.

Tobermin opened and quickly closed his mouth after a quick glance at his Maestro. Something passed between them, but Sherree missed it. “By order of Grand Maestro Efferin Tames, I have been instructed to arrest Accomplished Benhannon as soon as is practicable and the rest of his associates in due time,” Talmon Reese admitted.

“What about the stay-of-warrant? It seems you did not share your plans for after the battle with us,” Leah brought up a valid point.

“You have over two hundred Aakacarns in this chamber and I have eight Senior Soarers, so it is not practicable to make an arrest at this time. You have the full day I promised.”

Daniel began shaking his head. “Shantear now belongs to the Atlantan Guild, of which I am The Maestro. We will not be vacating the premises so the arrests you have spoken of will never become practicable. I apologize for the method,” he said and gave Talmon a nod of respect just as Carlos cast a wide
deep-blue beam that instantly dropped all four Accomplisheds of Aakadon to the floor.

By the time the Senior Soarers and the members of the Sun,
Willow, Zephyr, Aqua, and the two remaining Stones figured out what was going on, Atlantans rendered them unconscious.

“I want all of them and their horses on
Mount Jessup conveyed to Aakadon. Accomplished Lassiter, would you pick a team and do the honors?” Daniel spoke into the sudden quite.

Jeremiah smiled. “It would give me great pleasure to do so, Maestro.”

While the former Eagle prepared to carry out the request of his guild leader, Sherree put her arm around Daniel’s waist. “At the risk of sounding like Simon..,” she began to say.

“Hey,” the Chief Aid pretended to be affronted.

“Where did you place the Da Capo?” Sherree finished asking before the issue could be sidetracked.

“The Da Capo is tied to
Tarin Conn’s own life force,” Daniel replied.

“The Dark Maestro will never be strong enough to break a variable shield fed by his own
energy. Why don’t you seem happier?” Simon asked.

“Because, an Aakasear is limited only by his talent and imagination, I don’t know how he can escape, but I know he will be focusing his brilliant creativity into figuring a way around what I have done,” Daniel replied.

Sherree could do little about what the Dark Maestro might do in the future, but she knew what her instincts called for now. “I think Accomplished Tiran should convey us to building number two where the brilliant and creative Marge Durayton can provide us with a tasty meal.”

Lassiter and his select team transported the Accomplisheds of Aakadon, probably into some remote part of the city, and definitely sav
ing them a long ride home. Daniel had formally declared Shantear a possession of the Atlantan Guild and Sherree knew Queen Clarees might have a few words to say about that, him being a Royal Knight of the Realm of Ducaun. Sherree’s stomach growled and she decided politics could wait. A deep-blue nimbus surrounded Carlos and in the space of three heart beats, they arrived at the Northland Holding.