To Be Grand Maestro (Book 5) (7 page)

“Of course,” she quickly replied and stepped lively through the crowd, who parted, allowing her to fall in step with Simon, who deliberately trailed behind the others accompanying the Maestro in order to walk with her.

“He is functioning on the energy we donated,” the Chief Aid spoke softly so no one else could hear. “If you were to view his vat you would see the hues of each person who was in the Great Crystal with him, but not a drop of topaz. We were all depleted after performing in the Grand Symphonies and could not give him much. Carlos has been assigned to provide Daniel extra protection.”

The news was ominous and Jennel had to swallow the rush of anxiety that threatened to take over. Her years as a Senior Practitioner helped and she managed to suppress the feelings and bring her mind to think clinically. “His vat will have to be monitored frequently. Has he cast any spells?”

Simon shook his head. “No, Sherree, Leah, and Martin made it clear to him that to do so would be deadly.”

Jennel nodded and rubbed her chin while trying to think. “I have dealt with Accomplisheds and Talenteds who have come dangerously close to draining all of their life force energy and have seen those restored using copious amounts of water. In the most extreme cases the patients recovered in no more than seven days. I have never seen one whose life force was completely drained, but recommend that the Maestro postpone performing the restorations for at least seven days, and only after we can be sure his vat has ample potential to do the task safely.”

“Agreed,” Simon replied as they hurried along the tunnel. He glanced up ahead at the Maestro. “He is one stubborn Ducaunan and not easily kept from doing a set chore, so I will do my best to divert any problems that do not absolutely require his direct involvement.”

The Chief Aid and the Maestro were of the same age and also known to have been friends before Daniel’s being the Chosen Vessel, his true calling, became clear. From the perspective of one hundred-twenty-one years, their two decades of experience seemed scant to Jennel, while their confidence held no bounds. In other words, they were typical young men, yet one of them held the fate of the world in his hands.

The Maestro led them up and through building two, which was still swarming with well-wishers desiring to know how he felt, to whom he replied, “I’m feeling right as a spring rain.” He then grabbed a sword from his office, and led the way out onto the porch and down the granite steps to Center Court.

The compound, on the surface, consisted of four main buildings, facing each other, four stories high, all topaz blue, and having the Benhannon family crest on their white slanted roofs and over the doors. The compound also included a stable and corral. Beyond the hills and trees and out of sight were thirty cubit high stone walls, north, south, east, and west; each a span in length. Snow and ice covered most of the grounds, but the center area at which the buildings faced had been swept clean, and was crowded with people, who shouted greetings at catching sight of their leader. He acknowledged them with a smile and a wave.

The crowd quickly cleared a space around the Maestro and he began performing his exercises, sword forms that more resembled a dance than the typical thrust and parry practiced by the Sentinels and members of the Guard. He started slow and gradually picked up speed to where his movements were a blur too quick for the eye to follow. Lightning bolts on his blade and scabbard warned any who would challenge him that they were facing a master of the blade. He spun three more times and then collapsed, sprawled on the ground. People shouted and the crowd pressed in.

Jennel ran over with the spell, How Do You Feel, playing in her mind, and touched his forehead before Sherree and Leah or anyone else could reach him. The man was in perfect health, respiration normal, well hydrated physically, heart rate regular; all bodily systems functioning supremely well. His musculature showed no signs of fatigue. “You are healthier than a pod of playful porpoises, yet there must be a reason for the collapse beyond the physical,” she told him and then cast, What Is This, without waiting for a reply.

She only needed to see down to his vat and so focused on the largest reservoir she had yet to see. It only stood to reason the Vat of a Seven-bolt Accomplished would be of greater size than those of the one, two, three, and the occasional Four-bolts she was more used to seeing since joining the Atlantan Guild. Neither Aakadon nor the Serpents knew anything about vats of potential, which could only be visualized through the spell Daniel composed. His liquid hues were shockingly low, scattered puddles in a dry lakebed. Samuel had told her of the donated potential and she could see fourteen different colors and none of them were Topaz blue.

“This is unacceptable,” she declared to herself and anyone in hearing distance.

“I, we, did not allow him to cast any spells,” Sherree said while bending over the Maestro.

Jennel had no time to waste responding to an irrelevant statement. The Maestro needed energy right now, no matter the reason. She summoned the potential for, Vitality, and focused her fuchsia-colored life force energy into the Maestro, funneling the entire flow into his vat. Twenty percent of her reservoir only made a larger puddle in the lakebed, but it was all she could afford to give after so many healings performed over the last day and a half. She ceased the potential and stood up while watching the Maestro being pulled to his feet by Leah, even though he did not require any help.

“That was strange,” he said and his left eyebrow arched up. “I felt fine right up to the moment I fell.”

Jennel nodded agreement. “That is because there is nothing wrong with your body,” she began to explain. “The problem is you have no life force energy of your own and are functioning on what I and others have donated.”

Simon, whom Jennel forgot was there, spoke up. “This means he loses life force energy whether or not he casts any spells. This is even more serious than we first believed.” The closest members of the crowd evidently heard and seemed on the verge of panic.

“Everyone stay calm. The Lead Healer will see him well,” Leah assured them.

“Maestro, I am glad you composed the spell, What Is This. It in conjunction with the spell, Vitality; allows for the specific targeting of your reservoir. Otherwise it would be like pouring in energy like rain over a farm. Without being able to focus the flow some energy would go into your vat but most would be scattered over your entire being. This new way is like having all of the rain on a farm diverted to fall only in the barrel.” Jennel explained in terms the former mountaineer could easily relate.

Daniel’s lips formed a half smile, as if he understood she was simplifying a principle he well understood, but was used to people speaking to him that way. He glanced at Sherree Jenna and the First Accomplished before answering Jennel. “This is not the first time spells I have composed have been wielded by another person to save my life. It seems I’m going to have to get used to delegating even more of my chores to others.”

“You got that right,” Leah, Sherree, and Simon replied in perfect harmony. They each looked at the other with raised eyebrows and then spontaneously nodded in unison as if the action had been choreographed.

“You will also need to get used to having your vat closely monitored multiple times a day,” Jennel was quick to add.

“I will check your vat every evening and morning,” Sherree told him in a way that brooked no argument.

“And I want Accomplished Obenport to check you four times a day,” Leah told him, although her tone suggested a request rather than insistence.

“I will gladly perform this service, if you will allow it,” Jennel said, truly hoping the Maestro would agree.

He nodded and glanced at building two before speaking. “It will be as you say. But I still have many chores yet and we need to get at them. Leah, I need you to contact Accomplished Meado and have her inform Queen Cleona of the events at Shantear, that I am alive, and not to worry about the amulet not working,” he took a deep breath and addressed the crowd at large. “As an Accomplished, I am weaker than a newly hatched sparrow. Nothing can be done about it at the moment, so let’s not bandy the fact about to folk who are not members of our association. Why frighten people more than they already are or risk our enemies learning and taking advantage of the situation?”

“It will be as you say, Maestro,” the First Accomplished replied and then glowed brightly and conveyed elsewhere. The whip-crack sound of displaced air underscored her departure.

Everyone in the crowd acknowledged the Maestro’s will and then continued with whatever task they had been in the middle of performing before he stepped into Center Court. Jennel followed the Maestro and his entourage back into building two. She began thinking of what to do for an Accomplished who no longer had ever replenishing and increasing life force energy. A temporary solution entered her mind, but it would take careful scheduling, and coordination. Daniel Benhannon nodded at Jaim Cutler, who must have run to get here, as he entered his office along with Sherree, Simon, Martin, and Carlos. “I will join you later,” Jennel told them and then headed for the tunnel. She needed to speak with her associates in the Health Wing.

Chapter Three: Set Your Priorities

As the hand on the chrono disk suspended from the wall on the left approached the fifteenth mark, Terroll Barnes, Maestro of the Zephyr Guild, sat behind his mahogany desk. While he stared fixedly at the gold diamond encrusted letter, Z, on the wall above the door leading into his office, his mind was in communication with Rondara. This was their second communication in two marks. The first had been from a vast chamber within Mount Shantear, after days of unconsciousness, and the current report was coming from the stables in Aakadon. “Go on, you have my undivided attention,” he told the Senior Cyclone, while clearing his mind of the deaths she reported earlier.

“The report I gave you several days ago about the hundred-fifty associates that Daniel Benhannon has assembled does not come close to what the true number is. My conservative estimate, after comparing notes with other Accomplisheds, is he brought at least ten times that amount, not including the thousands of commoners armed with amulet-powered weapons, one type able to launch a fiery pebble-like stream and another that launches a lance of light,” Rondara sent through the communication amulet Terroll had given her upon rising to head of the guild.

Terroll restrained from drumming his ebony fingers on the desk, there were better ways to bleed off anxiety. He took a deep breath. It was not bad enough that Daniel, whom Terroll educated to the level of Accomplished, had brought a huge number of previously unaffiliated Accomplisheds to a meeting with Talmon Reese and all of the senior members of the Shantear team, he chose to present himself as the Maestro of the Atlantan Guild, and used his being the Chosen Vessel to give legitimacy and justification to the title and the forming of that association. “This estimate is much higher than the one you gave me a mark and a half ago,” he replied, while trying not to send his frustration along with the words.

“Well, after being injured by shards of solidified air tearing into my face and the rest of my flesh down to my knees, falling into unconsciousness, and then waking up in a cavern with my flesh and silks mended, I contacted you before speaking with anyone, so my estimate was a little off. Especially after hearing fifty-seven Accomplisheds of Aakadon died, nine of which were from our own guild.” she sent with perhaps a trace of sarcasm.

He let out the breath he had been holding and forced himself to relax, after all she was not the source of his frustration, Daniel’s recent actions held that distinction. “You gave the most important information first,” he conceded. “The mission was a success, some sort of shield has been placed on Tarin Conn’s potential, and for that we are all grateful. Yet, how is it you are back in Aakadon?”

A sense of great tension being held at bay came ahead of the words, “Daniel Benhannon refused to give Maestro Reese the crescendo onto which the Da Capo for the Symphonic shield is tied.”

This development was not a major problem, certainly nothing to cause such tension in the Senior Cyclone. “Daniel presented the flute of Della Lain to me. Perhaps he can be persuaded to do so with this new additional key to Tarin Conn’s prison,” he replied, hoping she would answer his question without him having to ask again.

He had learned patience during his years of being Silenced. Having one’s entire repertoire erased and therefore being unable to summon potential did tend to make one less high minded and more sympathetic to the situations of others. The removal of the Forget spell and the restoration of his repertoire was one result of Daniel Benhannon casting his first spell.

Fortunately, patience paid off and Rondara continued without prompting. “The Ducaunan Accomplished claimed all of Mount Shantear to be a possession of the Atlantan Guild and gave some sort of apology about the method to Maestro Reese. Moments later we were rendered unconscious and awakened in the stables along with all of our horses and the bodies of our fallen associates. The obvious conclusion is that a circle of Aakacarns teleported us. I suppose we should be grateful he did not expel us from the mountain and leave us with nearly half a continent’s worth of traveling to cover in order to get home,” there came a pause in her thoughts and a sense of reluctance just before she finished with, “While I am not normally one to desire knowledge of the despicable spells composed by Tarin Conn, I must admit the spell, Teleportation, is one that I would not mind having in my repertoire.” It was a spell of the Serpent Guild and therefore considered anathema in Aakadon, but Terroll silently agreed.

Her tension level dropped, perhaps sharing the problem made dealing with it easier. Terroll had been racking his brain, trying to figure out how to mitigate Daniel having established his own guild and declaring himself Maestro, yet this claiming of what everyone in Aakadon would see as the headquarters of that association, in a land where no Royal Ducaunan Knight of the Realm had a right to claim, added a whole new set of problems. Tarin Conn and the threat of him breaking free had been dealt with for the time being, yet that success could be reversed if everyone believes the enemy has been vanquished completely.
The Grand Maestro will focus the resources of Aakadon on thwarting what he perceived as the most imminent threat, Daniel and his Atlantan Guild,
of this Terroll was certain.

“I appreciate you informing me of this recent development and the revised estimate of Aakacarns associated with my former student. A meeting of the Maestros is scheduled for the nineteenth mark and now I know to expect the presence of Talmon Reese and will not go in ignorant of what has transpired,” Terroll sent his gratitude. “One last thing, what is your estimate of Daniel’s physical condition? Conducting the Grand Symphonies over such a long period of time must have had some effect on him.”

“He appeared to be no different than when I saw him at the last meeting before the assault on Shantear,” she replied instantly and then added, “Be that as it is, Sherree Jenna and Leah Barryn each eyed him like a mother whose child just arose from a sick bed and could stumble at any moment. I know not what to make of their behavior but I have come to agree with Barnabas Galloway, Daniel Benhannon is the Creator’s Champion. I think Maestro Reese believes this as well, yet the Ducaunan Accomplished is completely unpredictable. I was impressed with the confidence, knowledge, and competence he demonstrated at the meetings prior to the assault on Shantear, but I am uncomfortable with his lack of respect for the traditions we hold sacred and his inability to conform to the standards we Aakacarns live by.”

“Do you think we still need the champion in light of Tarin Conn being safely shielded?” Terroll sent, wanting to get an idea how other Aakacarns would answer the question. The way each person responded will help him set his priorities and decide the best course of action. The war with the champion of evil and his Serpent Guild did not end at Shantear, but does anybody else think so?

“We do not know enough to be sure. Accomplished Benhannon declared what occurred within the Great Crystal to be sealed to those who participated in the castings, and refused to disclose anything about them, so we have no way of judging how reliable the spells are or how much potential is sustaining the shield. Tarin Conn may gain enough life force energy to break free next month for all we know,” Rondara replied. “The Serpent Guild is huge and let us consider the fact that the Eagles have been fighting them for nearly a thousand years, with occasional help from us and the other guilds, and the enemy has only grown larger in number. The greatest losses the illegitimate guild has sustained in centuries were only recent, during conflicts involving Daniel Benhannon and those individuals assisting him. So, yes I think we do still need the Chosen Vessel,” the flow of words ceased and a feeling of hopefulness seeped through the mental link. “I think you are the only one in Aakadon with whom he would share information concerning the nature and strength of the shield.”

“I concur with your reasoning and hope you are correct about his willingness to share information with me,” Terroll replied. He thought of Jason Renn. Head of Tames Hall. Daniel seemed to have some regard for the Lead Instructor of Talenteds and would perhaps share knowledge with him. The possibility was worth checking out. “Take a well-deserved rest and I will meet you in my office after the meeting of the Maestros. We will discuss the outcome and make our plans from there,” Terroll added.

“I am looking forward to having that discussion,” Rondara sent and ended the communication with, “I feel no worse for the wear. The Atlantan healers are competent. I will give them that much credit.”

Terroll read the reports given to him by other members of the guild, facts and figures he might be called on to share in the upcoming meeting. Time passed and he made his way out of his office after casting a spell to open the door, and startling Bernie who sat at the outer desk. The Two-bolt Accomplished had yellow-gold hair, a neatly trimmed mustache, and a keen detail-oriented mind. “I am on my way to the meeting,” Terroll said while walking briskly and motioning with his hands, indicating the Chief Aid need not stand up.

He entered the shaft and stepped onto the platform, cast the spell to descend, reached the first floor, and made his way out to the street, giving and receiving respectful nods of the head from his fellow Accomplisheds along the way. The outer walls of the Zephyr Guild headquarters were made by meticulously spell-binding millions of diamonds into a seamless four hundred cubit high structure with twin towers stretching up another two hundred cubits, the length and breadth of which were two hundred by one hundred fifty strides. To the left stood the half opal, half jade, depending on the viewer’s vantage point, building of the Aqua Guild, hundreds of cubits high and touching the clouds. Nearby it stood the equally tall topaz building of the Aloe Guild. Farther on down was the coliseum, covered by a vast dome that filtered in sunlight and kept out the harsh glare and heat. The rows upon rows of seats were likely unoccupied at present yet could accommodate more than one hundred thousand Aakacarns.

The huge towers of the city spiraled upward at angles that would be impossible for common builders to duplicate. Many of the structures curved and sloped smoothly like giant sculptures, those were private homes. Clouds, like massive cotton balls, were scraped by huge cylinder-shaped buildings of onyx and opal. A tower of sparkling pure sapphire, home of the Eagle Guild, stood beside one of emerald, home of the Willow. In the center of the grand city was a massive pyramid made of countless rubies, on the very top of which was a huge diamond in the shape of an eye. On the other side of the central building stood the Tower of Flame, home of the Sun Guild, and the standing hammer-shaped building of the Stone Guild. Four main streets in the circular city led to the center along the lines of the pyramid, while twenty-four roads spread out in ever larger rings with a span between each. The guild headquarters were located between the second and third rings. Minor streets connected roads beyond the third ring. Four through twenty was where individual Accomplisheds owned residences, although they all maintained an apartment within their guild affiliations. The outer rings were where visitors, usually emissaries from the twelve kingdoms, were accommodated. The docks were to the north along the Hirus River.

Terroll headed to the north on South Street and passed the huge cello-shaped community pond just beyond Centercircle Road towards the pyramid. Accomplisheds, male and female, in their swimming apparel, were diving and floating in what would be the lower body of the instrument, ten swimmers were racing in what would be the long neck, and a few sat in wading pools that were shaped like tuning pegs. He did not have time for such frivolity, yet did not resent his fellow Aakacarns taking time to enjoy simple pleasures, especially in light of the anxiety stirred up by the recent harmonic waves caused by the Grand Symphonies, and no one knowing at the time if the Shantear mission would be successful or not.

The grounds within Centercircle were mostly green fields and trees with benches and gazebos spread about. He walked silently to the conference room within the ruby pyramid where eight places were set at a dark granite table. The Grand Maestro’s chair was at the head, as always. The other seven chairs; each carved with the emblem of the Maestro’s guild, were evenly spaced around the table. A bird of prey set against an oval identified the Eagle Guild, the keepers of order and seekers of truth. All of the emblems were gold on silver fused into the carved wood. A five-pronged plant represented the Aloe Guild, known primarily for healing. A circle with jagged lines radiating outward represented the Sun Guild, the conjurers of fire and lightning. The rock and hammer represented the Stone Guild, the architects and builders. The letter, Z, represented the Zephyr Guild, the manipulators of wind and air. A branch with lance shaped leaves hanging down represented the Willow Guild, known for making vegetation grow, and a golden drop indicated the Aqua Guild, the manipulators of water.

Runyen Cransur and Geran DuSorin were already seated. Cransur, a Five-bolt Accomplished was in the chair of the Willow Guild, and was born in the kingdom of Zune, giving him light brown skin and black silky hair. His brown eyes were ovoid in shape with a slight upward slant and his beard and mustache were neatly trimmed. He greeted Terroll upon looking up.

Geran DuSorin, also a Five-bolt Accomplished, stout with a swarthy complexion, and a bald pate shining in the sphere light, noted Terroll’s presence a moment later. The Maestro of the Aqua Guild, born in the southern kingdom of Aczencopa, had light brown eyes and did not look a day over forty, even though his actual age was one hundred twenty-seven. Terroll gave the traditional nod of respect and then sat in the chair of the Zephyr Guild.