To Be Chosen (29 page)

He was smiling but could not force himself to stop, not that he wanted to. “Sherree, it’s good to see you. Especially since I never imagined you would be assigned to Ducaun.”

“Interning under a Senior Practitioner is a great opportunity and it has the side benefit of allowing me to see you again, if with an entourage,” she told him while her eyes focused behind him.

Daniel glanced back and remembered his manners. “Please allow me to introduce, Silvia Cresh and David Gerabolli of the Reshashinni Teki, and my account keeper Jared Benfyllon. Everyone, I present, Sherree Jenna, a One-bolt Accomplished of the Aloe Guild.”

Each person greeted her, but Silvia kept glancing back in forth between Sherree and him as if having difficulty making up her mind about something. David gave a slight nod of the head, but that was as far as it went, only Jared gave her a bow and said, “I am honored to meet you.”

Awkwardness around an Aakacarn was something Daniel understood well, seeing as he would have reacted similarly not more than four months ago, and yet he was becoming a little annoyed by the attitude.

“Are you related to Samuel Cresh?” Sherree asked.

Silvia looked away, not meeting anyone’s eyes, and said, “I had a cousin by that name but he died years ago.”

Daniel never asked the question of her even though he had wondered what her relationship to Samuel was, but she clearly had been misinformed. “Samuel was injured in a tangle with associates of Serin Gell, but he is very much alive.”

Sherree and Silvia were both staring at him as if seeing him for the first time. “My cousin is dead. I know not of the man you speak,” the Teki told him while Sherree asked, “How bad is he hurt and how come you know and I don’t?”

He suspected there was more to Silvia’s statement but decided to follow up on it at another time, so focused his attention on Sherree. “Do you remember the amulet I showed you in Aakadon?” She nodded her head. “I gave it to Tim. He gave me the information. Samuel lost his right hand but is otherwise safe in Bashierwood. I don’t know why you weren’t informed.”

“I’m sorry for his loss but am glad he is alright,” Sherree replied and then smiled. “Giving Tim your amulet was excellent thinking. You can be here fulfilling the duties of a Knight of the Realm and also know what is happening back on Tannakonna.”

“It was the next best thing to Teleporting, which as you know, I cannot do any more. Efferin made it impossible for me to make another amulet in time for Tim to take it to my parents,” Daniel replied.

Sherree pursed her lips and then sighed. “My curiosity got the best of me. I didn’t think, I mean, I should have realized, please know it was not my intention to bring up what
the Grand Maestro did to you.”

“Don’t be concerned. I made my peace with what happened long ago,” Daniel was quick to assure her.

“You are a remarkable man,” Sherree told him and her pupils dilated again.

“Quite a few remarks have been made about me lately, so I suppose you’re right in that sense,” he replied. “You are a fascinating woman.”

Silvia and David glanced at each other, at the Accomplished, back at Daniel, and then their eyes widened at the same time as if realizing something, and they went off to mingle with the other guests. No doubt they would share whatever it was at some point in the future. Jared followed the couple, leaving Daniel and Sherree alone. “Have you seen the gardens?” he asked her.

“No, Sir Daniel, but I would like to,” she replied.

They went from the reception hall out into the gardens. Evening had fallen but torches suspended from overhanging poles provided light. Stars littered the sky and the moon was full. They went deeper, following the paths, and Sherree spoke to him of her career in the Aloe Guild. He could see the excitement radiating from her as she described seeing a heart operation, how each Accomplished would use a spell to control the various systems in the body. They were all alone and he stared at her face, her emerald green eyes, her mouth, and the distance between her lips and his grew shorter until he was kissing her. He pulled back. What was he thinking? Her eyes widened and her countenance reddened. Seemingly, a hundred emotions flew across her face. Just when he was sure she was about to launch a spell at him, she reached up, grabbed his head, and pulled his mouth down to hers. The kiss was warm and lingering. Until now, this had only happened in his dreams. After a long while, they stopped, both flushed in the face, and catching a breath.

“Even though we cannot marry, it doesn’t mean we can’t be affectionate friends,” she whispered.

Daniel was not sure what she meant by affectionate friends, but was willing to go along with just about any phrasing of words that led to more kissing. “Works for me,” he whispered, and kissed her again.

Days went by and his new routine was firmly established. He started the morning in meetings with ministers, functionaries, lords, ladies, and then met with his fellow Knights of the Realm. Later in the afternoon came lessons with Cale, and then quality time with Sherree in secluded spots, before she went back to the guild house and he went back to his room at the Excursion to sleep. Since she was rarely invited to the palace, he often met her under the tents at the Great Carnival, which was lasting longer this time than any in the past, and there they would enjoy the food, dancing, and private times with just each other for company, which involved much hugging and kissing. He never ventured from the tents to the wagons, mostly because she being an Aakacarn caused uneasiness among the Teki, and he could hardly go near them without being hailed as the Chosen Vessel, neither situation was c
onducive to having a good time.

It was late in the day and Silvia, wearing bright green trousers and a tight yellow shirt with orange stripes, was walking beside him as they entered the carnival grounds. “Why do you stare at Sherree as if she was a pony up a tree?” he asked her, while a slender woman in the tent they just passed called for folks to come enjoy her meat pies.

Silvia looked at him sideways and smiled. “Why do you look at her as if she is a woman rather than an Aakacarn?”

Daniel did not feel like bandying words so answered straight out. “I see her as a beautiful woman. Now, tell me if you are looking at her as a Seer or Teki who doesn’t much like Aakacarns.”

She stopped smiling. “The truthful answer is both. I am a Seer and a Teki. You know we are uncomfortable around Aakacarns.”

“You and David seem to have no problem being around me.”

“You are the Chosen Vessel, that makes the difference, you could not be who you are and face the Dark Maestro otherwise,” she told him. “As for me, the Seer, I am having visions and trying to understand what they mean. I’ve held off sharing them because I wanted to give you a clear revelation, hoping in time that what I am seeing will be more definitive. Do you want the revelation now or after I understand more?”

Daniel stared at the ground as they walked between the tents. “Tell me what you see.”

“There are two possible futures ahead for you and the Accomplished, which one will come to pass depend on decisions you make, and on decisions she will make. On one path you never see each other again and on the other, you will be spending a great deal of time together. I just can’t yet discern what the choices will be,” Silvia revealed to him, apologetically.

“Thanks for the revelation,” he replied, wondering what choices would bring about the second out come, in which he and Sherree would be spending a g
reat deal of time together.

Two men in black and red silks were walking past a crowd of people. They were hard to miss with so many folks stepping aside, avoiding them, and making a clear path. The Accomplisheds were members of the Eagle Guild. They glanced Daniel’s way, even gave a respectful nod as if greeting an equal, and then continued on without saying a word.

David, wearing bright blue pants and a yellow shirt with red horizontal stripes, joined Daniel and Silvia moments later. “Our people have counted eighteen Aakacarns, in and around Ducanton, all Eagle Guild. That is not counting the two members of the Aloe Guild assigned here. Word is they’re looking for someone who escaped their custody, perhaps that fellow you mentioned, Serin Gell,” he informed them.

“Likely you’re right about that,” Daniel replied. “The sooner they catch him, the quicker they can repair their reputations.”

When Sherree came into view from several tents away, David and Silvia went off on their own. People parted for the female Accomplished much the way they had for the members of the Eagle Guild. Daniel caught up to the beautiful Lobenian. “Greetings Accomplished,” he told her formally. They were surrounded by people. He did not dare speak to her as a sweetheart in front of them.

Sherree eyed him up and down. He was still in his uniform. “Greetings Sir Daniel, what a happy coincidence meeting you here.”

“I’d be honored if you would join me for a meal,” he told her with a nod of the head.

Sherree glanced at the surroundings and smiled just a little. “I have nothing better to do so, yes, I believe I will.”

They enjoyed a light meal consisting of meat pies and fried thin sliced potatoes, and then searched out a secluded spot. He held her in his arms and pressed his lips against hers. After awhile they watched the sunset. Music drifted in from a tent several hundred paces away where people were dancing and laughing. “Care to dance?”

It was a slow dance and they swayed to the music in their private spot and all he could think of was how pleasant it was to hold her in his arms. They kissed and then she laid her head on his shoulder. It was difficult to keep in mind the stupid rules made up thousands of years ago by the Aakacarns, rules against marrying and having a family, traditions based on obscure reasoning that made no sense then or now. And there was Silvia’s revelation about choices.

Daniel kissed her again and then dropped to his knees while holding her hands. “Will you share my cabin?” His estate could hardly be considered a cabin, but he was raised on Mount Tannakonna and this was the traditional way to propose.

Sherree stared at him for quite awhile, then blinked and her bright green eyes turned cold. “Get up. How dare you ask me that? You have no regard for anyone else’s customs and none for my status as an Accomplished,” she scolded, and was becoming more furious by the moment.

Daniel stood tall and opened his mouth to apologize.

“No, I’ll speak and you will listen,” she told him. “In Lobenia, the woman proposes to the man, who either accepts or refuses. It is ill-mannered and a little crude for the man to propose. All that aside, you know I am a member of the Aloe Guild, how hard I worked to be where I am, and you have absolutely no regard for what I want or have achieved.”

“But..,”

“I should have known you are incapable of being just an affectionate friend. Perhaps if you had enough years getting used to the fact that Aakacarns do not marry, we may have been able continue sharing affection, but I see it is not possible. From now on we will be on a professional level only, address each other by rank and all casual contact will cease immediately,” She informed him in no uncertain terms.

Daniel gazed down into her eyes and found no warmth there. He had gone too far and ruined the relationship. “It will be as you say,” he told her, then turned and walked away.

He walked all the way out of the carnival grounds and waited among the carriages until David and Silvia finally joined him. She sat beside him facing David, who was staring at her with deep affection. She pulled a gold coin from a silk pouch and handed it to the juggler.

“What is this for?” David asked.

“The Gerabolli family made an agreement with mine. I am paying back my bride price so you need not feel cheated,” she told him and pursed her lips as if waiting, perhaps hoping for a certain response.

David stared at the coin in his hand for a good long while. He blinked and then focused entirely on his intended. “I don’t care about the gold. I never cared about the gold. I only care about being with you. Will you marry me? Say no, and I will leave you be. Say yes, and you will make me the happiest man in the world.”

“Why me?” she asked, and her eyes were watering up.

“Because I love you,” he replied.

“Then yes, I will marry you,” she said and David leaned forward and kissed her.

Daniel shifted to the other seat and David instantly took his spot next to Silvia. The couple seemed to forget anyone else in the world existed, much less shared a carriage with them. “Congratulations,” he told them and was not surprised and even managed to smile when they pretty much ignored him.

He leaned back and stared up at the sky for the rest of the trip to the Excursion. The happy couple went off to celebrate and he went up to his room feeling emotionally worn out. He and Sherree certainly made decisions just as Silvia predicted and it looked like they would part ways. Even though the thought saddened him, he would abide by what Sherree told him, forget about having an affectionate relationship with anyone, even though folks around him were developing their own, and focus on his duties as a Knight of the Realm. Besides, he had music to compose, not simple Melodies but Symphonics, to transport himself and others from place to place, and to heal the queen.

In the room he found a note from Jared stating the account keeper was off arranging the purchase of fifty horses, evidently Marcus wanted mounts for each guardsman. Daniel stripped off his sword belt, coat, chain mail, and silk shirt, leaving on only his green cotton shirt and wool pants. He then pushed the chairs and small table to the side, clearing a broad area in the center, and drew his sword. His mind was still whirling from the events of the evening and he wanted to clear his thoughts, so got lost in the forms taught to him by Cale. Pruning The Hedges transitioned into, Raking The Leaves, into Parting Kiss, which led to, Crack Of The Whip. He went on and on in the dance of swords, increasing the tempo until his blade was a blur few eyes could follow. The sword became an extension of his body and his mind was clear of all distraction. Triplets In The Carriage, flowed into, Spider In The Web, and then he started all over again, only faster.