To Be Grand Maestro (Book 5) (52 page)

Daniel had expected the reaction. “It was a generous offer on your part but I think we both know Efferin would have never stood for me becoming the Maestro of any guild, marriage or no, and so I do what I think is best without regard for how he feels about anything. The enmity between he and I has risen to the point where it might cost us in the larger War of the Champions.”

Terroll leaned forward, eyes widening just a bit at hearing the last sentence. “Enmity is a strong word; might opponent be a better word?”

Daniel took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I used to think so, but five kingdoms and possibly a sixth are unofficially allied with the Serpent Guild, which is also responsible for the civil war in Taracopa,” he explained, and went on to give the Maestro a thorough briefing of how things stood in the war against Tarin Conn and his allies, along with the reason for claiming Shantear, and ending with, “The Dark Maestro is currently living within Mount Filia and is responsible for the morning spell. I believe he is eliminating the gems in his body and once that happens, he will be free to teleport wherever he pleases, and the flute of Della Lain will no longer matter. The spell will be no more and the Da Capo tied to the instrument will cease to be. At that point the only thing restraining him is the shield I placed on his potential. Given all the threats we are facing in Ducaun, Lobenia, on the Taltin Sea, and in the Serinian Channel, I cannot ignore the serious threat that an army of Coronas and Senior Soarers poses to Shantear. This is why lethal force has been authorized. When I used the word enmity, I do mean Aakadon has made itself just as much an enemy of the Chosen Vessel as the Serpent Guild.” He could not find a way to make the statement sound less ominous. It was a fact and he did not know how to sugarcoat it.

Terroll had listened quietly and kept his face blank, giving no sign whether or not he believed a word of what was said. He finally drew a deep breath and his eyes went to Sherree and then refocused on Daniel. “You cannot win the War of the Champions without Aakadon. I understand your frustration at the attacks on Ducaun being a direct result of Efferin’s plan to force you out of Shantear. I recognize why you resent the fact that your guild is forced to fight the Serpents alone, but treating us as if we are like them would be a colossal mistake.”

Daniel was well aware of the consequences of contending with Aakadon and the Serpent Guild, war on a scale he did not want to imagine, that and the likelihood of total defeat. Just because the citizens of the Aakacarn city did not see themselves as being on the side of Tarin Conn did not change the fact that they were helping him, that they were making the colossal mistake. “You are right, but I can’t win if I allow Aakadon to destroy everything that we of the Atlantan Guild have built. We have grown much larger since the taking of Shantear and even so are still not big enough to fully engage the Serpent Guild. We are far behind the champion of evil and all of the efforts of Aakadon are currently aimed at not only slowing us down, they are designed to reverse everything we have accomplished.”

Sherree leaned forward, placing her hands on the desk. “We are concerned the Grand Maestro and the Maestros of Aakadon are operating on the false premise that we will continue to use non-lethal force because that is the way we have been handling the Accomplisheds they sent in the past. We did not come here to debate the change in policy, but to inform you of the change in the hopes of preventing the deaths that will occur if your army attacks us at Shantear or anywhere,” She informed him, then removed her hands from his desk. “We are not at war with Aakadon, yet Aakadon is fighting against us, and in so doing is aiding Tarin Conn. Daniel gave you the reasons for the decisions and has given you vital news concerning the activities of the Serpents, I suggest the vast resources of Aakadon be redirected at our common enemy.”

Terroll leaned back in the chair and folded his arms over his chest. “I see that nothing I say will dissuade you from implementing this new policy. Even so, I urge you to give me the chance to change minds here in Aakadon. I have been meeting with my fellow Maestros and working behind the scenes and have succeeded in persuading most of my colleagues that you are the Chosen Vessel. Four of the seven Maestros agree with me and the other three are keeping an open mind, so I am making progress, and will continue working to support you. Daniel, if Accomplisheds of Aakadon are killed by those of your guild, I fear you may reverse all that I have achieved on your behalf.”

His words were sincere and had the ring of truth. It was good to know of the efforts being made. Daniel had no wish to make his friend and former teacher’s task more difficult. “I believe you and appreciate your efforts. Believe me; none of us wants bloodshed, so please make them understand in no uncertain terms that people will die if they attack my guild.”

Terroll drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Efferin is nearly as difficult to budge off a chosen course as you are, but I will try,” he replied and then his face lit up with pride. “Speaking of the Da Capos on the spells currently constraining Tarin Conn, tying the Da Capo onto his life force was a stroke of genius. The only way for him to be free is to die. I’m impressed by the way you take the spells he taught you and turn them against him.”

Daniel felt as if someone had punched him in the gut. He looked to Sherree, whose eyes were wide with alarm. Only one person outside of the guild knew about the Da Capo on the shield. Daniel managed to suppress his feelings and ask, “Where did you get that information?” Not bothering to correct his old instructor on the origins of the spell, Teach Me.

Terroll did not seem to realize the turmoil his revelation caused and lost the good-natured smile when his praise did not elicit a more positive response. “Maestro Barroon informed me earlier in a meeting we shared with Maestro Cransur. One of her Accomplisheds has a source in Ducanton, who passed on the information. By now every Maestro knows and by tomorrow morning every Aakacarn in the city will have been informed. I know you were reluctant to share the information with Maestro Reese, but really Daniel, there was no reason for you to be so modest,” he answered and then chuckled. “You boldly trample underfoot the laws and traditions of Aakadon and yet refrain from speaking of things for which you should be proud.”

Daniel had nothing to say concerning the validity of the last observation of his conduct and so decided to change the subject. “Terroll, I thank you for all that you have done for me and on my behalf. You and Jason are the only individuals I trust in this city. I would ask you to give him my regards but it might be better for you if no one knows we were here.”

Amber light flashed from Sherree and they were both back to normal, blue silks and all. “I think it best if we depart from here,” she said when Daniel and Terroll looked at her, the Maestro with raised eyebrows. Cushions of air formed on the door and walls. “They will keep the sound of our departure from leaving the room. I’ll remove the Da Capos after we arrive at our destination.”

“That would be for the best,” Terroll agreed, and then tossed each of them an amulet. “Use those when you wish to communicate, it will be safer than the method you seem to prefer.” This was not the first time Daniel made an unexpected appearance in the home of the Zephyr Guild.

Daniel nodded his agreement and the First Lady of the Atlantan Guild reached into her cloak where the diamond-bladed knife was hidden. Moments later Daniel stood in a hallway of the palace in Ducanton. It was a risk conveying without having a pair of eyes at the other end to see if the destination point is free of obstacles, yet they arrived safely and so he chose not to comment. Since this area was used by the servants and led into the royal bed chambers, few people were permitted to walk these floors, and that fact made it a fairly safe destination point. The noise must have reverberated up and down the hall and therefore could be heard quite clearly, which meant company.

In moments men in the green and gold uniforms of the Royal Guardsmen came running with swords in hand. Even recognizing Daniel and Sherree, the soldiers did not stop until they had them surrounded. “Sir Daniel, I must ask you to leave this area. The Queen is in her chambers and you are not authorized to be in this section,” Sergeant Balkus stated nervously.

All of the men were tense and Daniel did feel bad about placing them in the awkward position of having to confront him. Before he had a chance to respond, the back door to the royal chambers opened and out stepped Prince Collin wearing a silk night robe and slippers. “What is the meaning of this noise?” he demanded, and then noticed who was encircled. “Sir Daniel, what brings you here? Is there a new danger to the realm?”

Daniel had no difficulty confronting enemies boldly,
but how do you confront a Queen who has been your ally and to whom you have sworn allegiance? “
Yes, to the realm and to the plans we made this morning,” he found the words.

Collin nodded his head. “Very well, I will inform Cleona,” he said and then went back into the chamber.

Balkus and the guardsmen sheathed their swords and stood at ease. “I’m sure you will deal with the threat,” the Sergeant spoke confidently, after all everyone knows Sir Daniel always deals with the threats to the realm, he no doubt thought, and Daniel chose not to disabuse him of the notion, even one not well grounded in reality. Someone ought to be able to sleep well.

Collin returned and beckoned for Daniel and Sherree to enter the chamber. They sat on a crimson couch with a gold floral pattern while waiting for Cleona to appear, which she did rather quickly, in her nightgown, and took the chair opposite them with her husband standing to her right. “Sir Daniel, what is the new threat to my kingdom?”

Daniel glanced at Sherree, who nodded encouragingly. “Aakadon knows everything about the spell shielding off Tarin Conn’s potential, something that has only been spoken of in this palace today. Maestro Barroon has an Accomplished who has an informer here in Ducanton.”

Collin glared at Daniel indignantly. “Are you accusing the Queen of Ducaun of spying against her own crown?”

When he phrased it like that, it did sound as if the idea made no sense, but the War of the Champions was bigger than a single throne, and too many monarchs were already on the other side. “Of course not, I just need to know if there is any way our conversation could have been overheard by a spy, perhaps the one who revealed the family secret.”

Cleona looked at Sherree and so she understood he was speaking about the Trumpet of Tarin Conn, and the responsibility of House Ducalin to Della Lain in the safeguarding of the ancient crescendo, something he could not speak of freely in front of his wife. The Queen gave a slight nod as if coming to a decision. “If we uncover the spy you and I spoke of in the past, I believe the First Lady can be trusted to hear the confession of the culprit. Now, as to your question of us being overheard, I do not think it likely. Collin knows everything I know and even though we are expecting a new heir to the throne, the babe is not here yet and the current legal heir is. As Such, she has been made aware of our discussion. You have stated that I am not your suspect so that leaves Collin and Angelina.”

Daniel studied the Prince’s face and truly did not believe he would betray the confidence of his wife. The same could not be said about Angelina, this was not the first time her name has come up under suspicious circumstances. “I thought her ladyship was down south with Duke Cantor,” he stated rather than make an accusation.

The Queen rubbed her eyes sleepily before responding, “I sent for her when I was dying and you had not yet composed a way to heal me of the lethal growths. She has been here for quite some time and is scheduled to return home soon. We have not made a public announcement of a royal heir in the womb but she has been informed. It came as a bit of a shock to her, but she is a Ducalin, and will adjust to being second in line for the throne.”

Until another female comes along from the royal womb and she becomes third, and farther from the throne, Daniel thought. “Could the spy be someone who tends her chambers, a lady-in-waiting, or someone who might be in a position to hear if she talks in her sleep?”

Cleona locked gazes with him, her eyes sharply focused. “Sir Daniel, your many talents do not include the ability to be subtle. It is clear you believe Angelina is the source of the information that has been passed on to our adversaries. She is not overly fond of you and will not take this accusation well. However, if you want to proceed, I will summon her.”

Mess with the heir to the throne and you are in a world of trouble,
Daniel knew that very well and yet had to take the chance of earning royal displeasure. “My Queen, I asked that you summon her.”

Cleona nodded and Collin went deeper into the royal chambers. After what seemed like an awfully long time spent in awkward silence, he returned with the legal heir to the throne. Angelina Ducalin’s dark wavy hair flowed down her back and over her shoulders. A gold tiara with sparkling diamonds rested on her head. She seemed to be equal in age with Sherree, but not as strikingly beautiful, an opinion Daniel knew was totally bias. She wore a blue dress and a necklace of sapphires, the center piece of which was a sapphire with a diamond set in it. Why she was dressed so at such a late hour he had no idea. Her skin was fair like nearly all Ducaunans and those dark brown eyes, also an ethnic trait, were glaring at Daniel as if he had tracked mud on the floor.

Sherree’s eyes were focused on the center piece and narrowed. “That is one of Fenton Chen’s amulets,” she announced and pointed at the sapphire with a diamond set in it.”