To Be Chosen (48 page)

He urged Sprinter into a trot and double timed it, maneuvering around trees and bushes while his swirl of animals moved along with him silently and out of sight. Those in the river continued up stream, except Springer the frog, who was laying eggs that floated on the surface in thin films filled with dozens of eggs. She would probably catch up later.

Four copperheads and six racers joined his swirl by the time the sun was glowing orange in the western sky, and the six mounds originally spotted by Cleo came into sight. Adam Avery and Trevor Hannon were already exploring the huts, good scouts that they were. Cale urged, Becket, his steed, into a gallop and raced ahead, apparently eager to see what they found.

By the time Daniel arrived with the rest of the riders, Adam exited the third hut on the left and ran over to make his report. “The occupant of this hut left a message. I think it is for you.”

Trevor Hannon stepped up to add, “These huts are hard as stone.”

It was a trivial bit of information compared to the report of the other scout, but Daniel nodded acknowledgment and dismounted. He removed the shield from Sprinter so the horse could be rubbed down, and then was followed by Jonah, both Sergeants and the Teki. Cale was exploring the fifth hut. Avery gestured at the circular roof after Daniel ducked his head in order to gain entrance.

“An Impotent Accomplished Should Keep His Nose Out Of Aakacarn Affairs. Follow At Your Own Peril,” Jonah read out loud, as if the words sunken into the mud hut might not be clear to all.

David frowned. “They know. How did they know you were following them?”

So much for the hope of surprising the Aakacarns, apparently it had never been a possibility. Daniel was beginning to get a very good idea of how they learned, but it was Zaccum who gave voice to it. “There has to be a spy, either among us or at the estate.”

“He’s right. Our entire mission was a secret, few people knew where we were going when we left the palace, and whoever it is has to have let them know you would be coming here. I didn’t even know we would be pursuing the Aakacarns,” Sergeant Keenan added his opinion, which Daniel shared.

Daniel stepped out of the mud hut and eyed the men still mounted, some looking at him, and others talking among themselves. It was hard to believe any one of them could be a spy.

Jonah came and stood beside him. “What are you going to do?”

Daniel was about to answer when Cale exited the hut he had been exploring and spoke up. “This one also has a message.”

The urge to run over to the crude dwelling was quickly suppressed by the need to appear calm in front of those under his command, so Daniel walked purposefully into the hut and examined the writing on the wall. “Serin Gell Invites You To His Nest In The Foothills, South Of Los Collins, To Be Reunited With Sherree Jenna And Jerremy DeSuan.” There was certainly nothing cryptic about that.

Daniel blinked, as if doing so could clear away what he just read, and then he was suddenly sitting on the hardened mud floor. Sherree rejected him, but that did not mean his feelings for her had changed, he still loved her. Jerremy was a friend and also needed help, and thoughts of what Serin Gell might be doing to them filled his head. This message could not be ignored, if true. He was aware of Silvia’s hand on his shoulder, although couldn’t actually feel the gesture of support through the shield.

“Aren’t they two of the three Aakacarns who took part in the Battle of Bashierwood?” Jonah inquired, and then nodded his head as if inwardly answering his own question. “This is obviously a ploy to get you off the trail.”

He could be right, but Daniel had a bad feeling the message was not a ploy. Los Collins was the southern-most city in Pentrosa, about nine spans on the other side of the border shared with Ducaun.

“It reads like a diversionary tactic to me,” Sergeant Keenan offered his opinion.

Daniel closed his eyes and concentrated on the eight ospreys, and singled out Wisp and Echo. He sent them his mental map of Atlantan, focusing on where they were, and where he wanted them to go, from southern Ducaun to the area in Pentrosa written on the wall. In the morning they would begin their flight north, it would take days, but the raptors could get there a lot quicker than he. Even if he had composed the Symphonic allowing him to transport, the need to see the destination still had to be met. The birds not only can serve as his eyes and ears, their vision of the scene might be good enough for teleportation. Unfortunately there was an, “if,” and a, “might,” in the middle of his plan, and he was only setting up the possibility of using teleportation.

Next, he concentrated on the owls, Mouser and Hoot took off to spy on Serena and her group, just in case they decide to move away from the river. Daniel did not want Cleo to follow them on land, preferring she stay safe in the water, with onl
y eyeballs and snout visible.

Cale cleared his throat, causing Daniel to open his eyes. “Surely your friends are more valuable than whatever was stolen from the Duke.” His priorities were spot on without even knowing what had been taken.

Daniel nodded his head, totally agreeing with him, except Serena and her band of Aakacarns were closer, and could be dealt with first, seeing as both goals required a northerly track.

“I differ with you on that,” Jonah was quick to respond to the statement, apparently concerned after seeing his commander nod in agreement with the Lieutenant.

Silvia’s eyes narrowed as she focused on the young lord. “You would,” she stated as if it was an indictment, which the Ducalin ignored.

Daniel stood up and Sergeant Keenan stepped closer, apparently taking his commander’s action as an opportunity to address him. “What are your orders?” The man had given his opinion, but would go wherever he was told, leaving the setting of priorities to the one
in charge, and rightly so.

Daniel eyed the people surrounding him, each person waiting to hear his decision. The mountaineer who wanted a simple life was gone, replaced by a man whose chores demanded otherwise. “A Benhannon does not fob his chores off on others,” his father often told him, and Daniel found that he did not want to give the job to someone else, nor did he any longer desire that simple life. He took a deep breath. “We camp here tonight and continue north in the morning. Disturbing as Serin Gell’s invitation is, we don’t know if he actually has Sherree and Jerremy, something like this must to be confirmed. Our quarry cannot be far from us, so we will chase them down. After all, the Aakacarns we’re pursuing are the ones we need to question, and can be forced to explain the messages when we catch them.”

Keenan gave a salute. “It will be as you say, Sir Daniel,” he said and then went to carry out the order.

Cale opened his mouth as if to press his point, but Jonah spoke first. “The decision has been made, Lieutenant, I suggest you go pitch your tent.”

The blade master’s eyes narrowed, no doubt he would like to go a few practice rounds with the Duke’s son, a sparring that would leave the man with plenty of bruises. “At least I do pitch my own tent,” he replied and then glanced at Daniel, as if searching for any sign of affront, and then went outside.

Daniel understood the reason for the glance. The man’s retort could have been aimed at him as well as the Ducalin, seeing as Guardsman Rabin had been setting up his tent from day one, except when they all slept outside the walls of Duke Cantor’s estate. But there were far more important things to worry about than slips of the tongue.

Jonah turned from watching the blade master walk away. “The burden of command can be difficult at times, but I believe you held up well and made the sensible decision.” The young lord apparently felt the need to share his opinion.

Daniel nodded his head, a gesture the Duke’s son took as acknowledgment of his words, and was also enough to send him off with Sergeant Zaccum, leaving Silvia and David
behind.

“What else are you doing and can we help?” the juggler asked.

“I’ve done what I can for now. The Aakacarns are being watched, and I have sent some feathered scouts to Pentrosa,” Daniel replied while staring at the message and reading Sherree’s name over again. “If either of you have any suggestions or my Seer has a revelation, now would be a good time to tell me.”

David was first to speak. “I suggest you turn in early and get a full night of sleep. Tomorrow is probably going to require some nimbleness of mind and body.”  

Silvia began shaking her head before opening her mouth. “I cannot confirm whether or not Sherree is in the hands of Serin Gell,” she knew to say that much without being asked. “I do see great risks and danger from sasquatches and Aakacarn involvement tomorrow for us all, even death, although I don’t as yet see who or how many are going to die.“

It was Daniel’s turn to shake his head. “The deaths will not be on our side, not if I can help it.”

“There will be deaths. The vision is obscure. Maybe you’re right, maybe all the dying will be done by the Aakacarns,” Silvia replied, although it was clear by her tone and the sympathy in her eyes that she was only trying to make him feel better. She reached up and patted him on the shoulder. “David’s suggestion is a good one, get some sleep.”

She and her husband exited the mud hut, leaving Daniel alone with his thoughts. He decided to send Screech and Yonder, both ospreys, to watch the Aakacarns when the time came for the owls
to rest in daylight, which would give him full coverage without over taxing either pair of birds. After half a mark standing in the hut, he stepped outside.

The camp was all set up with guards posted and horses being tended to. His tent was up and he was tempted to go inside right away, but did not give in to the notion. The idea of Sherree and Jerremy being held captive by Serin Gell was robbing him of the desire to eat, yet he did so anyway. A mark later he inspected the men and horses, refreshing the mounts inconspicuously. Word had spread about the writings on the walls and the mood in the camp was somber, so Daniel played a few tunes on the guitarn. He had done what he could to raise the spirits of his men and was ready to retire for the night.

David and Silvia were already in their tent by the time Daniel entered his, stripped to his pants and undershirt, and then stretched out on the bedroll. He thought of the two messages and their tone, one warning him to stay out of Aakacarn affairs and the other directing him to follow them all the way into Pentrosa. At least Serin Gell’s involvement in the theft of the trumpet has been made clear, even though he seems to have dissension among his team members. The fifth hut was used by the man who had urinated in the night, making him the writer of the invitation, and the first one to question.

“Daniel, this is Tim,” his friend’s voice came from within.

“Hey, it’s good to hear from you,” Daniel sent back.

A sense of deep concern and sorrow flowed through the link, promising bad news. “Gina and I are in a compound at
Lake Tomlin, near the town of Tomrus. Serin Gell and some of his Accomplisheds have captured all of the members of the Tomlin Project, including Sherree and Jerremy.”

This was the confirmation Daniel had dreaded. What had him curious was the source, how did Tim
know? “I just came upon an invitation from Serin Gell to be reunited with Sherree and Jerremy in the Foothills of Pentrosa. Why were they at Lake Tomlin and why are you there?”

“Why is not so important. Jerremy contacted Simon through an amulet, who contacted Samuel, both of whom informed senior Accomplisheds in their guilds. Four boat loads of Accomplisheds are here from the Eagle, Stone,
Willow, Aloe, and Zephyr Guilds. The Accomplisheds of Aakadon have given up the team as lost and are preparing to set sail tomorrow. Samuel located the stableman, Zackeriah, and learned from him that our friends were gathered in a big circle and vanished with a flash and a thunder clap. The man was hiding in the hay until we arrived. I have worse news,” Tim sent. What could be worse than what he already reported?

Daniel braced himself. “I am listening.”

“Simon and Samuel believe Jerremy has already been Condemned. They say what is communicated through his amulet is an unrelieved sense of pain and anguish, no coherent thoughts.”

Daniel felt the blood draining from his face. He wanted to weep and cry out, but took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He thought of Sherree and sorrow was replaced by terror for her, followed by anger, a fury greater than any he had ever felt.

“Calm down. Your feelings just about knocked me off my feet. As to your question, we came here to rescue Sherree and Jerremy. I contacted you because we’re at a stand still. When Serin Gell teleported away, we had no clue as to where he went, Samuel is sure the Pentrosan did not go to his nest in Lamont. Everyone is sitting around, staring at each other, and wondering what more can be done. The others don’t know about the amulet you gave me, except Gina, who knows most everything. I decided it was time to bring you in on this problem. I knew you were busy being a Royal Knight of the Realm and all, and didn’t want to bother you, but I know this is something you would want to be involved in,” Tim sent. His emotions were on edge and only softened when he mentioned Gina, who was definitely a calming influence on him.

Daniel sprang to his feet and began pacing back and forth, which meant no more than three steps between each turnabout. “My plate is full at the moment. I am chasing six Aakacarns and hope to catch them tomorrow, and when I do, they are going to answer some tough questions. These people are working for Serin Gell. Right now I am camped beside the
Tollus River, half way between the Swamps of Append and the Taltin Sea. Thankfully, both you and my quarry are to the north, we’ll subdue them, and then meet you in Tomrus.”