To Be Grand Maestro (Book 5) (44 page)

“The beast,” Gabby cried out and began weeping.

Sherree wanted to hug Sister for the sentiments and snap at her for implying Daniel had compelled her to marry him and leave the Aloe Guild. “Daniel has never forced me to do anything. Have Hue fetch him here and you will see the kind of man I married.”

Mother fixed her eyes on the Senior Man-at-Arms and nodded. He returned the nod and exited the parlor. She then focused those emerald eyes on Sherree. “Daughter, a dog fetches,” she said and shook her head as if unable to believe a child of hers could use such common terminology.

Hue returned with Daniel, the others either stayed on the terrace or were taken somewhere more comfortable. The effect the Chosen Vessel had on people while in his presence was always remarkable to see, love him or hate him, no individual can ignore him, but one glance at the tall handsome man in the clothing of nobility had even Gabby on the verge of swooning. “If I were just a few years younger, I would not mind being commanded to marry him,” she mumbled, and then turned to Sherree and spoke in a voice meant to be heard. “My golden girl, I cannot possibly see what you saw in this young man.” And she said it with a straight face. Who knew she had such a droll sense of humor?

Daniel’s eyes scanned the room, assessing the situation, while his mind no doubt noted every nuance. She had seen him do that when preparing to launch into battle and was amused to see him do so now. “Mother, Sister, I present to you Sir Daniel Benhannon Oben Jenna, a Ducaunan Lord of the Land, Maestro of the Atlantan Guild, a Seven bolt Accomplished. Daniel, this is my mother, Lady Sheena Oben Jenna, and my sister, Lady Sharon Oben Jenna Clowen.”

There was a sparkle in Daniel’s eyes when they met hers and Sherree knew he was pleased by the introduction. Those beautiful dark orbs of his widened just a little when she added the last two names onto his. It probably never occurred to him that was his legal name in Lobenia.

He faced Lady Sheena first. “I am pleased to finally meet you, though I wish the circumstances could be more pleasant. It is clear from whom your daughters inherited their beauty. May I call you, Mother?”

“Not until I am sure this marriage was not forced upon her,” Mother replied, unaffected by the compliment, and her face became fierce as a she-bear whose cub has been hurt.

The smile vanished from his face, but not from his eyes. Clearly, he expected the reaction.

Before he could answer, Sharon imposed herself. “Rogue, you have made my sister a mind slave to your filthy desires.”

Daniel removed his hat and fixed his eyes on her. “I’m pleased to meet you too, Lady Sharon. As to the matter of a mind slave, Sherree gets her way more often than not. I think that is proof of independent thinking.”

Sharon chuckled, “She always has,” and then seemed shocked to find she was no longer mad at him.

“Besides, over ten thousand Accomplisheds are associated with me, so technically I am no longer a rogue,” he corrected the record.

“A rogue no, but definitely an outlaw of the first order,” Mother chimed in and her voice was beginning to once again hold the quality of authority. “I can see the love for you in my daughter’s eyes and yours for her, those emotions can be mistaken for nothing else, but think what you two have done in marrying each other. Sentiment is fine, yet it cannot be held higher than responsibility and duty.”

He seemed to bristle a little at being accused of not placing a high enough value on duty and responsibility, but he kept a respectful tone when he finally spoke. “I am the Chosen Vessel, the Creator’s Champion, and my responsibility is to overcome the Champion of evil, Tarin Conn. I am well aware of the fact that most people believe Efferin Tames is the Vessel, and some misguided souls think Tarin Conn is the Creator’s choice. Be that as it is, I am who I am, and what people believe about me does not change the fact. My plate is full of responsibilities and one of them is to secure this kingdom and another is to earn the trust of its Queen. Sleeping on the terrace is, Captain Tollkay, a man who can verify the threat.”

The following was a long account of what transpired from his first spell cast on Tannakonna to the claiming of Mount Shantear, and ending with the forces currently arrayed against Lobenia, with details Mother did not need to know left out. By the time he finished, Father arrived along with Sir Brandon Oben Careen, a man in his late thirties, and a Lobenian Royal Knight of the Realm.

Father, in his four piece wool suit, stood glaring at Daniel while Cousin Brandon, broad-shouldered and dressed in his uniform of red and blue wool with gold and silver striping, kept a firm grip on the sword at his hip. Mother went to her son-in-law and turned her head up so she could look him in the eyes. “You may call me Mother.”

Daniel smiled and against all decorum, hugged her. When released, she began straightening her wrinkle free dress. “Uncouth boy,” she mumbled but did so with a smile. “Well, since you are here, Clarken, I can go back to my guests. The ladies have probably finished the refreshments and will be wondering about my absence. Sharon, you come with me and for kingdom’s sake, do not speak of invasion or the newest member of our family.”

As Mother and Sister went back to fulfil their roles as hostesses, Sherree smiled, inwardly pleased at the acceptance of Daniel being a part of the family.
One parent won over and the other yet to persuade.

Father took a little longer to convince, after hearing the same report given to Mother, and he grudgingly accepted the fact that Daniel was now part of the family and the threat to the realm was dire, in that order. “It will not be easy for us to get you a formal audience with the Queen, and near impossible to get you a private one. I fear half the city will panic just knowing of your presence in the area, but I will try to get you to Clarees.”

Brandon was shaking his head. “Cousin Daniel, I believe your report, and yet must tell you few others will. Something like this needs verification and no one will let you get any closer to Queen Clarees than you are right now.”

Emotions swelled in Sherree over the use of the word, “let,” as if they could stop her husband. “Let, what do you mean, let? We could be in the palace quicker than you can step out of this parlor and there is nothing anyone in this nation can do to stop us.”

“What you say is true, my love,” Daniel said, and his eyes were so loving she stopped speaking, and the irritation slipped away. “Even so, I am not sure appearing in the throne room uninvited would set the right tone for the audience.”

She laughed. “No, but it would sure shake up poor old Hanja. There is a warrant for your arrest and he would be derelict in his duties if he did not try to enforce it.”

Daniel shrugged his broad shoulders. “I am not overly concerned about the warrant or his feelings, but I would like to make a favorable impression on Queen Clarees.”

Cousin Brandon was nodding his head vigorously. “Precisely, and breaking protocol would make a very bad impression, as Cousin Sherree well knows. What I propose is for me to report the matter. You can awaken Captain Tollkay and I will take him under guard to provide testimony. We are both knights of our respective realms and so I know you are aware, seeing as you have already done so in Ducaun, a Royal Knight of the Realm can declare a Realm Alert.”

“He has added scandal to the Oben name through his relationship to my daughter, so I suppose it will not do greater damage if another Oben risks his reputation. If satisfactory proof of the threat is established, and Daniel can help save the kingdom, I might not hide the fact that he is my son-in-law,” Father gave his conditional approval, which was the best Sherree could hope for.

After Brandon headed off to the palace with Captain Tollkay awake and under guard, the family discussion continued. “You do realize the fact that even after all is said and done and the invaders are being dealt with, you will still be outlaws in the eyes of Aakadon, and in the minds of most people,” Father said after taking a seat on the other couch, facing them. His eyes were locked onto Daniel’s

“I never thought otherwise,” the Chosen Vessel replied, amicably.

“So, how are you going to resolve that issue?” Father asked, leaning forward with his eyebrows drawn down.

Sherree had the answer and knew saying it out loud might irritate her husband, yet she decided to take the risk. “He must place his trust in the man who wears the pyramid ring. It is the only way to bridge the divide between him and Aakadon.” She stared at her father but watched Daniel peripherally.

Oh, his face remained smooth but those eyes became black pearls. She managed to rile the mountaineer inside him. “So it seems,” Daniel said in a flat tone.

“I do not pretend to understand Aakacarn politics,” Father said with concern narrowing his eyes. “Yet I suspect Efferin Tames would have your husband arrested on sight and Daniel will be lucky if the Grand Maestro does not seal him in a mountain tomb like the great Della Lain did to Tarin Conn.”

All too true,
Sherree thought. “We have no immediate plans to visit Efferin Tames. Besides, those seeking to lock Daniel away from me will be in for the fight of their lives and wish they were dead by the time I finished with them.”

“That’s my daughter,” Father said, He leaned back and crossed his legs just as Mother came in with Sharon, Simon, Sero, Carlos, and the Teki couple. Introductions were made.

“Since Daniel did not turn any of you into radishes, I conclude his marriage to Sherree has been recognized,” Simon said with a playful grin.

“Can he do that?” Sharon asked with just a trace of anxiety in her voice.

“No one could,” Sherree was quick to answer. “Simon, what happened to the young man who was so unobtrusive most people tended to forget he was in the room?”

The Chief Aid pointed to Daniel. “He made it so everyone who wants an appointment to see him has to come to me, making it harder to be ignored, and I am simply adjusting to circumstances.”

Mother fixed her stern gaze on Simon, and then on Daniel. “Do you actually tolerate such flippant talk from your staff?”

Daniel glanced at Simon before making a reply. “I want to encourage freedom of speech, so must occasionally put up with cheeky remarks. Be that as it is, if one goes too far in his cheekiness, I might see if I can find a way to turn the offender into a radish.”

“I’m not sure being a radish would suit me, perhaps a plum,” Simon replied, clearly not the least bit troubled.

“Either way, half a mark spent as a dinner condiment should teach proper decorum to even the cheekiest member of my staff,” Daniel continued the playful banter.

“I see, why only half a mark?” Simon evidently could not help asking.

Daniel looked at him askance. “What? And lose the services of my Chief Aid. Half a mark is about all the time I want to spend putting up with interruptions,” he paused as if giving the matter more thought. “Perhaps a parrot would be better, that way I can put you out in the hall, and you would be able to tell people to come back at another time.”

“All this talk about food reminds me,” Father said, ending the byplay. “Let us retire to the dining hall where luncheon will be served.”

They went as Father suggested and were seated at the long table with Father at the head, Mother and Sister to his left, and Sherree sat to his right. Daniel took the seat next to her and his entourage next to him. By the time they finished eating; Cousin Brandon returned carrying documents, quill, and ink.

“I declared a Realm Alert and was given an audience with Queen Clarees, Ministers, General Righter, and several of my fellow Knights of the Realm. They were all of course skeptical and yet the detailed report you gave me, which I relayed to them, along with Captain Tollkay’s testimony, was specific enough to warrant their keeping an open mind on the invasion as well as your reasons for claiming Mount Shantear,” Brandon said while his sea-green eyes focused mostly on Daniel. “Queen Clarees has declared this; if the threat to the realm is verified to her satisfaction, the Atlantan Guild can stay in Mount Shantear under these conditions, ten thousand in gold is paid for the purchase of the mountain, and the property is to be registered with the assessor. The owner is the Atlantan Guild, not Sir Daniel. Taxes must be paid annually, and the Maestro of the Guild agrees to help in the defense of Lobenia. I have taken the liberty of drawing up the papers. If you agree with the terms and requirements, after you sign them with your full legal names and guild titles, I will take the documents to be properly registered and see that copies are made for all parties.” He came and stood just behind and between Sherree and Daniel and reached over, setting the documents on the table.

“You did well, Cousin,” She said, pleased he had been so successful.

“I heard an, if, at the beginning of the decree,” Daniel said, leaning back from the table and looking up, no doubt to better look Brandon in the eyes. “What will it take to prove to her satisfaction the threat to Lobenia is real? I am surprised Captain Tollkay’s report did not convince her. If they weren’t so afraid, one of us Accomplisheds could have been there to prove Tollkay speaks truth, and then we could move on to actually dealing with the threat.”

Brandon was too dignified to shrug, but Sherree knew from experiences with him that he must have felt like doing so. Instead, he stood at ease and arched an eyebrow. “You five are not the only Accomplisheds in New Oben. Three Soarers are currently staying in the embassy with Hanja. During my meeting, word was given to Accomplished Toweran, and he and one of the Eagles arrived before I left. Soarer Dearing cast a spell on Tollkay and thus proved beyond any reasonable doubt that the Captain believes what he reported to be true. I cannot say why this was not enough.”