To Be Grand Maestro (Book 5) (12 page)

“Go ahead, show off that education when a simple yes or no would have sufficed,” Daniel replied just as a warm palm was pressed against his forehead. He could not help but smile at the progress the man had made in a matter of months.

Sero shrugged his broad shoulders. “True, but now you know I made a well thought out decision rather than one based on an impulse of gratitude. However, thankfulness is the driving force for my choosing to give again. I had been a Condemned for such a large part of my life; I had forgotten what it is to be human.” The warmth of his hyacinth-colored potential radiated forth from him into Daniel during the conversation. “You changed all of that. Your actions and the spells you composed to enhance my ability to learn have taught me the value of seizing the moment, to help rather than stand and watch or walk away. I am not the Chosen Vessel, but like you, I choose to help.”

This was how most of the conversations went with folks who had been restored from the spell Condemnation and who were therefore exceedingly grateful. Daniel was pleased to be of help but uncomfortable with the amount of praise they piled at his feet. “Thank my mother and father; they are the ones who raised me.”

Sero finished giving his portion, nodded, and stepped away. He went to the door, turned and said, “Thank you, Lady Miriam,” while bowing his head to her, and then walked out.

Each Aakacarn came, placed their hand on Daniel’s forehead, sent Vitality into his vat, and then exited after giving thanks to his mother. When the last donor walked out, the Lead Healer placed a hand on his forehead and he could feel the warmth of the spell assessing his vat. Her left eyebrow arched up, the fuchsia glow of potential ceased and she took a step back.

“Is there something wrong?” his Mother asked, being quick to read the healer’s facial expression.

“His vat is only five eighths of the way full even though by my calculations he has been given nearly enough volume of energy to fill it” Jennel began to explain. “This means it could hold more than the minimal amount necessary to rate the seven lightning bolts on his shoulders. As you know, a six bolt Accomplished has thirty-six times the power of a one-bolt and a seven–bolt would have forty-nine, and so there is a great deal of potential between each lightning bolt ranking.”

“You mean his vat has continued to grow and could possibly take seven and a half bolts to fill,” Sherree gave her interpretation of the explanation. “I did not see any topaz in the many different hues in his reservoir.”

Jennel nodded her head. “Neither did I a moment ago, so he still cannot summon potential unless aided by one or two of us, even after today’s series of treatments. His vat is definitely growing but is not being refreshed.”

Sherree frowned and drew in a breath. “When will that happen, when will his life force energy begin replenishing?” Daniel was eager to hear the answer to that.

Jennel’s brow began wrinkling and quickly developed into a frown to match that of the First Lady. “It is difficult to say, no one has been in his condition before, and so we are learning as we go. We will continue to monitor him and donate the potential he requires, for as long as required. Time and the Vessel’s swirling of events will provide the answer to your question.”

The discussion did not answer Daniel’s biggest concern. “After I receive the donations today, will I be able to start the healings and restorations?”

The Lead Healer did not reply right away, evidently giving the matter some thought, but finally nodded and said, “I recommend the sessions continue until your reservoir is full, but see no reason the healings cannot begin with the assistance of Aakacarns on hand to replace what the procedure shall cost you in potential.”

Sherree nodded and responded, “We will accept that recommendation,” answering for him. She, Leah, and the pair of Teki had a habit of doing so, even though he was perfectly capable of speaking for himself.

Since his wife gave the verbal response he would have, Daniel focused on Jennel “The sooner we begin, the sooner I can help the people in this holding who need new limbs.”

“Of course, Maestro, it will be as you say,” the Lead Healer replied without looking to his wife or mother for permission, which he appreciated.

Three more session to go through and then Daniel could get started on his healing chores, he could hardly wait. With his wife and perhaps a few other Accomplisheds at his side, he hoped to restore scores if not hundreds of people to good health, and that was just a start on what needed to be done guild-wide. A Maestro conducts the entire symphony, not just a few arrangements within the piece.

He had observed quite a bit through the eyes of squirrels, mice, bats, spiders, a host of other creeping things, and so had a good idea of what was happening in most of his holdings; including thoughts from a pair of hawks, Sheen and Glimmer, at the small but growing naval facility where his parents have been living. The raptors were unhappy at being left behind when Marsha conveyed Ronn and Miriam to the northland holding, since their assignment from Daniel had been to keep a watch on his parents.

Most of his birds had flown south for the winter and his large tribe of sasquatches was in southwestern Ducaun. Together they granted him a wide area to glean information from, but they were no substitute for human contact. His swirl of influence now stretched across the entire kingdom, giving him more information than even his well-organized and compartmentalized mind could sort through. It was easy to get lost in the sensations, seeing and feeling their emotions as if he was there in person, in addition to trying to prioritize the information. There simply were not enough marks in a day to learn every detail and take action after making an informed decision on every matter. He needed people and they needed him, so mingling with the members of his guild was not only enjoyable, it was a necessity he could put off no longer.

His mother came and stood beside him on the left. “My daughter and I have a few things to discuss so we will leave you to your chores. We can all meet later for lunch,” she informed him. Sherree was often referred to as, “my daughter,” rather than, “my daughter-in-law.” Daniel knew his mother loved his wife as if she had given birth to her.

The First Lady’s eyes widened, evidently as surprised as he by the statement, especially since she had not left his side since restoring him after the battle, and was still not inclined to do so. Everybody in the guild knew this and no one suggested that she should part from him for even a few minutes, let alone for several marks or more.

“Leah will be here shortly to cast any spells he requires during his rounds and you know she will not allow him to be over taxed,” Miriam assured her. “After all, you are the First Lady of the Atlantan Guild and as such can make decisions on his behalf. There are literally thousands of people looking for direction, not just here but at the other holdings as well, and if you fail to give them the guidance they need, they will seek it from their Maestro. The First Accomplished has been doing a good job, but people need to see and get used to working with you as well.”

The choice between staying with her husband and helping him by performing her role as Lady of both the guild and his estates had Sherree glancing between mother and son until finally making a decision, “Daniel, when Leah tells you to take a break, you take a break” she insisted and then turned to his mother. “Let’s go have that chat.”

She and Miriam went off somewhere private and Daniel had a feeling his mother would probably share some embarrassing things from his childhood, again, but could do nothing about that. When he stepped out of the conference room, flanked by Jennel and Carlos, Silvia and David were in the common room, each wearing bright colors along with their weapons.

After the invisible assassin infiltrated this very building and nearly succeeded in killing Daniel, everyone carried weapons, even the cooks, and the personnel on guard duty used the spell, Running With the Wolves, to sense any intruders, through sound and smell, that could not be seen with naked eyes. The Sentinels and Guardsmen had wolf-head amulets he created months ago within their uniforms, against their skin, which activated the spell for them to use while on patrol.

The door to the dining room opened and out walked Simon and Leah. The First Accomplished stood a head in height above the Chief Aid and had been working closely with him for the last seven days. “And Sherree actually agreed to be parted from him?” the sandy-haired Accomplished was saying.

Leah nodded. “As you know from firsthand experience, Miriam Benhannon is not an easy person to turn down or deny and she will pass on my promise to the First Lady. This is something that needs to be done. You and Sherree are relatively new to the guild and while you have spent the last six days interacting with the members, she has been totally focused on Daniel.”

“She is still haunted by his near death and is afraid he will unnecessarily risk himself, casting spells that could be performed by any of us,” Simon was quick to defend the actions of a friend he had known for years. Daniel approved of the trait.

The First Accomplished’s lips formed a smile and her eyes focused away from the Chief Aid and onto the man who had been at the center of their discussion. “Maestro, I am here to be of assistance, where would you like to go?”

Simon’s eyes widened, it was rare for him to be so absorbed in a conversation that he did not notice anything else, although, come to think of it, Leah was always present on those rare situations. His face reddened a bit, but his voice came out in a natural tone. “You do have a tendency to throw yourself into danger.”

Daniel laughed. It was not the first time those closest to him had brought up his propensity to leap to the rescue. Ruth, the Teki Seer for the Reshashinni, had speculated about that very trait being one of the possible reasons he had been chosen by the Creator to be the Vessel to lead in the war of champions, and she might have had the right of it. The inclination to help rather than walk away or stand and watch when someone was in trouble could be one of the reasons he had been selected, and therefore was not a trait to be ashamed of. He simply had to keep in mind he was not alone, that others have joined him, and can also render aid. “The five Serpent raids Leah, Marcus, and the Benhannon Guard repelled, which both of you attempted to keep from me, should prove that I have tempered my tendency to get directly involved in the fighting. I witnessed the night raids through my scouts and allowed her to handle it.”

“There is that,” the First Accomplished agreed, although she did not appear to be the slightest bit embarrassed over learning they had failed to keep the information from him or that they had attempted to do so in the first place. “There are more than a few flocks of Eagles camped within your jurisdiction. They no doubt were aware of the raids, but did not get involved, nor have they approached the manor grounds. They have made no attempt to arrest us.”

“For the time being, we have found no sign of any Serpents within your jurisdiction or in the lands surrounding it,” Simon added to the information given by Leah, even though they both knew at this point such facts were already known to Daniel.

Rather than continue speaking of things that had been handled well enough without his involvement and after making known his awareness of the incidents, Daniel decided it was time to get on with his chores. “Leah, take us to Shantear,” he answered the question put to him earlier by the First Accomplished.

“It will be as you say, Maestro,” she replied and did not seem to mind the trail leading away from the current discussion.

Leah closed her eyes, no doubt seeing through one of her animal scouts to find an area free of people or objects. It was the best way to be sure their substances would not be merging with anyone or anything else. Daniel was suddenly flung into darkness and three heart beats later was standing in the office of the First Accomplished. A shining sphere floating up near the center of the ceiling provided the light. Carlos, Simon, and the pair of Teki were standing to the left and right of him while Leah stood behind her desk. On a stand in the right corner stood an eagle carved from a block of cedar. The raptor was life-like and Daniel instantly recognized the handiwork of his father. A pair of actual chipmunks scampered between the talons of the carving and one of them likely owned the pair of eyes Leah had seen through prior to the conveyance.

The door opened and in walked Jerremy DeSuan. Light brown skin on a face many women had described as being handsome, and clean-cut hair, gave him the appearance of a young lord, which would be a correct assumption. His father, Lord DeSuan, owned and operated one of the largest shipping fleets in Serinia, if not the world. Due to his high birth, Jerremy often came across as being arrogant, which he was to a degree, but made up for it with his willingness to risk his life on behalf of others, even those he considered to be of low birth.

“I heard the snap and crack of displaced air and knew you had arrived,” the tall Serinian gave as his reason for entering unannounced. “As you requested, First Accomplished, I am here to provide our Maestro a tour of this facility.”

Daniel had only mentioned his desire to see the improvements at Shantear in the near future and interact with the workers, but had no idea she had anticipated where he would want to go first and actually scheduled the event and appointed a guide. The former Senior Soarer of the Eagle Guild was perceptive and intuitive. “Lead the way. I have seen it all but Daniel has not, so feel free to provide as much detail as seems fit,” Leah replied.