To Be Grand Maestro (Book 5) (43 page)

All of them were fair-skinned and had hair in varying shades of yellow and each were clean shaven and well-manicured. The master and mistress of the house would not tolerate anything less. The oldest of the group, Senior Man-at-Arms, Hue Timnin, smiled. “Mistress Sherree, what a pleasure it is to see you,” he said, and seemed to be looking for something. “It sounded like a lightning bolt struck the terrace, yet I see no damage, only you and these gentlemen and that Fon Kayan Captain asleep on the ground.”

The Teki couple he ignored, Simon received a courteous nod, as did Sero and Carlos, but those pale green eyes full of delight at seeing Sherree, took in the sight of a wealthy young Ducaunan lord dressed in finery, and then narrowed into concern when they locked onto that face. Perspiration formed and dripped down the contours of his cheeks.

“Hue, Scott, Phillip, Roddy, Jonny, you know me, and have to know I would not bring harm to this house,” Sherree was quick to assure the men, and went on referring to each by name, and then explained, “This is Daniel Benhannon, a Ducaunan Lord of the Land, and these gentlemen are his associates. The fellow sleeping on the ground is Captain Tollkay. He has information of utmost importance to the realm. David and Silvia provide entertainment.”

That last introduction made Daniel smile. “They travel with me most everywhere and are highly skilled at what they do.”

David’s hand withdrew from his coat, where he had probably been gripping a knife. “I am honored to exercise my skills on behalf of the Creator’s Chosen Vessel.”

Silvia opened her mouth and appeared to be on the verge of making a declaration, probably about standing aside or being smashed, so Sherree decided to speak up before matters reverted again to the drawing of clubs. “Hue, I need to speak with my mother. Is she here?”

Silvia closed her mouth without saying anything, thank the Creator, and Hue’s pale green eyes went from Daniel back to the young woman he had seen as a child playing on this very terrace. “She is in the receiving room with your sister. They are entertaining some of the leading women of the city. I am sure she would dearly love to see you, even though the stories coming out of Aakadon concerning you have been most disturbing,” he replied, glanced at Daniel and then continued. “If what I have heard about this Lord of the Land is correct, he could instantly kill us and everyone in the city, so be assured we know our weapons are useless and none of us has any desire to provoke him,” he probably said that for the benefit of Powell, Jason, Paulen, and Greve, who were gripping their short swords.

“I would estimate he could kill every living thing somewhere between a ten and twenty span radius of where he currently stands,” Simon must have thought it amusing to throw out that fact.

Every man’s hand flew up and well away from their swords and clubs, so the information was more helpful than not, but Sherree needed to speak to her mother alone and explain the situation before introducing her husband or Simon, who might choose to throw out another one of his thought-to-be-helpful facts. “Hue, I would appreciate it if you would escort me to the receiving room. My companions will stay here, yes, you too Daniel, and the rest of the Men-at-Arms can go about their business. My friends will sit on the benches over there and wait until you or I come and get them, depending of course on my mother’s wishes.”

Hue nodded his head. “It is a reasonable request, Mistress Sherree. You men, get back to your posts. Not you Jonny or you Scott; stay here and entertain our guests.”

Daniel shrugged his shoulders, went over to the nearest bench, and sat down. In moments he had the guitarn out and was lightly strumming the strings. Simon, Sero, and Carlos went and sat on the benches next to his, while David and Silvia remained standing, one on each side of the Chosen Vessel. The Men-at-Arms who had been dismissed did not run from the terrace, yet they did move swiftly. Jonny and Scott stood ridged, hands at their sides, and staring straight ahead, and even so she knew they preferred to be somewhere else, anywhere else. Captain Tollkay continued to sleep at the arrival point.

Hue needlessly led her inside as if she might have forgotten the layout of the mansion. While it was true family ties were cut when a member was discovered to be an Aakacarn, even so the memories linger for a good many years. Even being weeks away from the nineteenth anniversary of her birth, and her Potential having been discovered at the age of fourteen, the majority of her years of life had been spent living in this mansion. She chose not to say anything to him about it as they travelled the halls.

Gabriella, Sherree’s governess as a child, exited the door of the receiving room. With gold silver-streaked hair, white livery spotless as ever, chartreuse eyes wide as they could go, she called out, “My golden girl!” and moments later, closed the distance, and drew her former charge into a warm embrace.

“Gabby, it is good to see you again,” Sherree said as the years seem to melt away and her eyes became misty.

“Let me look at you,” the elderly woman said while holding her at arms’ length and looking from shoes to plumage. Her eyes lingered on the diamond-bladed knife. “That is an interesting piece of jewelry. I not sure your mother would approve if it wasn’t clearly worth a fortune.”

“I came on a matter of urgency and need to speak with my mother,” Sherree decided to go straight to the point.

Gabriella began shaking her head. “My golden girl, from what has been reported you have in deed gotten yourself into serious trouble. I can well imagine the matter is urgent and I am sure Lady Sheena will do what she can, yet even the Queen may not be able to mend the breach between you and Aakadon.”

Sherree could well imagine the stories being circulated at court and in the business community about her and the resulting embarrassment brought to her family. Rumors were one thing, but confirmation from Aakadon turned hearsay into undeniable fact. “The gap between me and Aakadon must eventually be bridged,” she replied while thinking of Silvia’s revelation concerning Daniel’s learning to trust the Grand Maestro.
There will be no mending until that day comes.
“I am here to warn of a dire threat to Lobenia. Fon Kay has allied with Pentrosa, Demfilia and Zune. Their goal is to overthrow Queen Clarees or force her to surrender Lobenia to Queen Gloria like what happened in Battencay. Their navies are preparing to attack the coasts and their ground forces, fifty-five thousand strong, are in the wilderness, five days march from this city. Queen Clarees must be warned of this and she will need the help of Daniel Benhannon and the Atlantan Guild or this kingdom will fall.”

“You mean the Dark Maestro who has stolen Mount Shantear,” Gabriella only reacted to the last sentence, evidently dismissing the rest as too fantastic and beyond belief.

“Gabby, the Ducaunan Lord of the Land is resting on the terrace. That alone is reason enough to bring this matter to Lady Sheena’s attention,” Hue confirmed what he knew, causing Gabby’s face to grow pale.

“Daniel is not going to kill you,” Sherree assured both of them. “Can I go in?”

Gabriella shook her head. “My dear, she is hosting some of the most prominent women of the city, and this was quite an achievement to bring about after news came from Aakadon.” She did not have to say it was the news about Sherree betraying the Aloe Guild, but it was clear that is what she meant. “I think it best if I go have a quiet word in her ear. You run along to the parlor and I am sure she will come to you there.”

Sherree nodded her head, “Thank you Gabby,” she said, and then headed straight to the parlor with Hue trailing behind her.
It was silly of him to think she needed to be led anywhere in this house.

Paintings and valuable sculptures decorated the room and she sat down on one of the two plush crimson couches while Hue stood to the left by the wall. The door opened after a relatively short time and Lady Sheena Oben Jenna entered, yellow-gold hair woven into a silver coronet, and behind her came Sharon Oben Jenna Clowen. She looked pretty with her red-gold hair up and clustered with diamonds. She had a bold nose, hazel eyes, and a round face like Father’s, while Sherree’s was more angular and delicate like Mother’s.

“Oh, how the golden girl has tarnished herself,” Older Sister gleefully stated, her belly swelled in late term pregnancy. She placed both hands on her tummy. “Everything you have ever done has been whole hearted, at first in your success, and of late in your failure. You not only disgraced yourself, you have disgraced the entire family, Oben and Jenna. You should have seen the look on Father’s face when Accomplished Hanja Toweran delivered the news about your treachery to the Queen at court.”

“Sharon, that will be enough,” Mother spoke with the voice of authority, which is the only tone she ever used, except possibly with Father. “Gabriella told me you have news concerning a threat to the realm. This we will discuss after you explain why Daniel Benhannon is on my terrace.”

“What!” Sharon blurted with eyes so wide it was a wonder they did not pop out of their sockets. “He could kill us all!”

“Oh, Sharon, don’t be so dramatic, Daniel would never kill his in-laws,” Sherree said, and watched as the unflappable Lady of CriJenna plopped down, speechless, on the opposite couch.

Sharon’s mouth opened and closed several times but no sound came out. It took a few moments for Mother to find her voice and say, “Daughter, would you clarify that last statement?”

Sherree hardened her resolve and thought of the man she loved. “My name is Sherree Oben Jenna Benhannon, and I am a Ducaunan Lady of the Land, among several other titles accorded me. I asked Daniel to marry me, and he, after a little persuading, accepted according to Lobenian custom. Then he, according to Ducaunan and specifically, Tannakonna custom, invited me into his cabin, an invitation I accepted. Technically, he does not have a cabin; it was a fairly large holding in northern Ducaun he invited me into. The district, over which he is the lord, is on the opposite end of the kingdom, and I did not want to wait for us to travel all the way to his mansion to consummate the marriage.”

“But, Aakacarns are not permitted to marry,” Sharon was quick to point out. “You were always such a stickler for the rules, why would you break the biggest one Aakadon has?”

“Explain yourself.” Mother spoke in a voice full of strain and eyes glistening with unshed tears.

“I love Daniel, he loves me. Frankly, I was attracted to him from the start, and I’m fairly sure the feeling was mutual. Even though my sentiments grew more intense as time went by, I stuck to the rules. It was only after I was captured and Condemned by Serin Gell, an Accomplished of the Serpent Guild, that I realized my greatest regret was not marrying Daniel when he first, ignorantly, proposed to me.”

“The rogue,” Sharon labelled him, a sentiment shared by many. Daniel’s inappropriate proposal seemed to bother her more than the behavior of the evil Accomplished.

Sherree went on with her explanation. “I vowed to propose marriage if ever the chance came to change the decision I made in turning him down. After being trapped in a tortured and twisted body that could only do what it was commanded by the caster of the spell, time passed, and the only thing I had to look forward to was death. Daniel heard of my plight and came to the Serpent Nest where I was being held. He killed Serin Gell and restored me to what you see now. How could I not marry such a man, especially when my heart is full of so much love for him?”

Mother began rubbing her temples. “I well understand how Aakacarns are to place all family concerns aside, that is probably why you did not think of the effect giving into the gratitude and passion you obviously feel for this man would have on us. You did not consider the shame your father and I experienced when your abandoning of the Aloe Guild was announced publicly, and you obviously did not think of the consequences to the Jenna family. You are an Oben and while your actions are being thought of as scandalous, the royal name will continue to be respected. As a Jenna, you have cost your father the custom of nearly every noble family who frequented the Bastion. Even now the hotel is only half full and not one of the guests is of noble birth.”

No, “I am sorry you experienced Condemnation and happy to see you restored,” came from her lips, but Sherree knew that would come later, and after the initial shock wore off.

“I am sorry to have cost you and Father so much,” Sherree replied, truly saddened by what her family endured because of her. Shame, prestige, and profits aside, the losses were small compared to what would happen if Daniel does not win the War of the Champions. The thought gave her strength and led her back to why she had come. “If Daniel does not win the trust of Queen Clarees this day, New Oben will fall, and what was lost to you and Father over my actions will be small compared to losing everything.”

The silence was palpable as the moisture in Mother’s eyes evaporated and she took a deep breath as if drawing strength. She forced her hands to rest in her lap. “Hue, send someone to the palace. Clarees must be informed of the situation. The conversation must be in private and do mention our guest, and for heaven’s sake, leave out the part about him being a member of our family,” she said and then glanced upward. “Please, Creator, let me deal with one scandal at a time.”

Hue went as directed and later came back with Gabriella. They stood quietly. Too bad the same could not be said for Sharon.

“Mother, do you actually believe her. I mean, I don’t think she is lying to us. My little sister annoys me tremendously, yet it breaks my heart to see her bound in this way. It is said this Daniel fellow turns people into mind-slaves,” Sharon spoke her concern. A tear trickled down her cheek. She really did care, even being wrong about Daniel, and yet her feelings were genuine. “It would explain the decisions she made.”