To Be Grand Maestro (Book 5) (70 page)

The radiant happiness on her face at the idea of marrying him faded just a little when he mentioned the last four names. “Great One, I am honored and even thrilled at the prospect of being your bride. Your will shall be done just as you have said, but I do not understand why those particular Accomplisheds need to be present. All four of them failed to achieve victory, the first two in the Assault on the Benhannon Northland Holding, and the last two were unable to destroy the palace in the raid on New Oben, even though they occurred on the same night the forces of Aakadon attacked Shantear while thousands of Soarers led by the Grand Maestro attempted to arrest Daniel Benhannon in that fake conference.”

“You are correct about their failures. My status as the Chosen Vessel and the resulting swirling of events gave them an unprecedented opportunity to strike while the Atlantans were fully occupied elsewhere and victory would have been assured if they had moved quicker. However, I have a use for the two-bolt Accomplisheds and am absolutely sure they will not fail me again. Go and make the preparations and have Vance come and declare us husband and wife.”

“It will be as you say,” Serena replied and walked swiftly from the chamber.

Random notes came together in his soul, forming a simple Melody requiring only a trickle of power, and he named the spell, Feed Me. He went over each step in the plan and by the time he was fully persuaded it would work, Serena returned along with Vance Cummin and the four Accomplisheds who no doubt believed their purpose was to witness the nuptials.

Lois Berkin’s normally pale complexion had darkened some during her time in southern Lobenia and her brown eyes settled jealously on Serena. Shifty-eyed Carl SeTul stood to the right of her and perspired as if knowing his recent performance did not warrant such an honor. Rugain Cranzen strutted in and posed as if the pale Pentrosan believed he deserved the honor in spite of his failures and Franco Extollis walked across the room with his head held high. The cloak covered most of his long dark hair and his peanut-shaped eyes were wide with pride, for what reason Tarin did not know and did not care.

“Supreme Maestro, I am honored to be the one you have chosen to perform the marriage,” Vance said without any show of emotion.

Tarin stood up and took hold of Serena’s left hand. “It seemed best to have someone other than me perform the wedding and so the duty falls to you. The Maestro of the Serpent Guild is and will remain the highest position in the association. Serena shall be the First Lady, but your responsibilities will remain the same.” It was important the man know he was not being replaced or his position weakened. “Everyone whose presence was required is here, so dispense with the formalities and make the declaration.”

“Tarin Conn, do you take Serena Lowell to be your wife?”

“I do.”

“Serena Lowell, do you take Tarin Conn to be your husband?”

“I do.”

“By my authority as Maestro of the Serpent Guild I declare you husband and wife.”

“Maestro, I am pleased with the service you provided this evening and will be calling on you in a few marks. Remain here at Filia until we meet and then you can return to Mount Suteck,” Tarin said while the four Accomplisheds were congratulating Serena for marrying their Supreme Maestro. He turned to them. “Serena and I are going to my bed chamber. I want all four of you to come with us as far as the outer chamber and wait for me to send for you. At that time the special service I have in mind will be revealed to each of you.”

“It will be as you say,” Vance replied.

“Supreme Maestro, I am pleased to have the opportunity to be of service,” Lois Berkin replied.

The three men quickly echoed her sentiment and they all followed him and his bride deeper into the facility and down into his private chambers. He brought them as far as the dining room. “Have a seat at the table and feel free to drink as much of the beverages as you wish,” Tarin invited them and then walked hand in hand with Serena into the bed chamber.

The process of kissing was pleasant enough and after they removed their clothes and moved to the bed, her flesh against his was also pleasant, and his body had no problem responding to hers. During the consummation, while the two were one flesh, and he could focus potential into her, he cast the spell, Feed Me, and drained what he estimated to be nine tenths of a lightning bolt of potential. She probably thought the tingling warmth of the Melody was his way of increasing her pleasure, but it was merely a side effect of the true purpose. He ceased the spell and spent about a mark enjoying the carnal pleasure of being married.

He arose and put his clothes back on. “Serena, I am exceedingly pleased to have you as both wife and First Lady of my guild,” he told her and then feigned a concerned expression. “You look a bit parched, drink and refresh yourself while I take this opportunity to announce to the world the joy this union has brought me.”

Serena sat up, pulling the sheets up to her neck and smiled. “I too am happy to be your wife and First Lady, and you are right, our love making does seem to have caused me to develop a thirst,” she said and reached for one of the four pitchers on the night table.

Tarin summoned the potential for the spell, Free Me, and sent thirty bolts of potential in a beam straight up through and out the top of the mountain. He kept pouring out the potential until the only energy in his body was what he had taken from Serena. As old as he was, the feeling of weakness was alien to him, and he cursed Daniel again. Tarin had drained all of his life force energy and yet still lived. That had been the riskiest part of his plan and could have ended with him dead on the floor. But did it work? He summoned the potential for, Levitation, it being the Melody in his repertoire requiring the least amount of energy, and then focused out to the second pitcher on the night table. It floated up and over to his hand. He ceased the spell and drank the contents while Serena was staring wide-eyed at what she had just witnessed.

“The Da Capo is gone, but how?” She asked, releasing the sheet in her excitement, and letting it drop down to her waist.

“I suppose it has something to do with the marriage. Marrying Sherree Jenna saved Daniel and marrying you must have released the Da Capo. We assumed I would have to die and yet my fellow Aakasear must have modified the Da Capo to cease if I did the one thing he never thought I would do.” Tarin lied, not wanting to admit his current weakness.

Serena grinned, fully pleased with herself. “He is a calculating enemy to be sure but he figured wrong this time. He could not have foreseen our conversation on marriage. I am so glad you allowed me to discuss the issue with you and that it led us to this happy moment,” she commented and then laughed. “I do not believe the Maestros and Grand Maestro will ever figure out how to undo the Da Capos on their shields or would be willing to do as you have done.”

Tarin smiled and was surprised it actually matched his true feelings rather than having to be feigned. “It was in deed fortuitous we had the conversation and our union has resulted in my freedom. The solution would never occur to the fools in Aakadon” he replied and decided to get on with more important matters. “Much as I would enjoy exploring carnal pleasures with you, it is time we work together on another task.”

Serena threw off the covers and hopped out of bed. “Carnal pleasures can wait, we can get back to that after we accomplish your will,” she said while putting on her silks.

“Excellent, when you are fully dressed, go out and bring Rugain Cranzen to this room. He is the first of the group to be of service,” Tarin commanded.

She exited and returned with the proud Accomplished. “Supreme Maestro, how can I be of service?” he asked.

Tarin played the Melody in his mind while extending his hand. “Come, take my hand, a gift is warranted, and I want to give you my gratitude.”

Cranzen clasped his hand in Tarin’s and that is when the spell, Feed Me, activated, drawing life force energy out of the foolish Two-bolt and into one much more deserving. Tarin watched as the man’s skin dehydrated to the point it looked like old leather and then released the grip. The lifeless mummy dropped to the floor. “Thank you for your final contribution to the growth of the Serpent Guild,” he said, and then turned to his bride, who was smiling as deviously as he. “My dear, put this husk in that closet and then bring in Franco Extollis. We do not want him to miss out on the opportunity to finally succeed at fulfilling my will.”

“No, we certainly do not want him to miss out,” Serena replied. “What about Lois Berkin, will she be given the same task.”

“She and Carl SeTul are deserving of the same assignment, they and anyone who like them prove to be otherwise useless,” Tarin said and watched as his wife levitated the body into the closet.

He was beginning to feel a little stronger and also knew these four Accomplisheds had nowhere near enough energy to supply his need. Sacrifices must be made and yet he did not want to destroy valuable assets. “Serena, from now on the commoners under us will be required to give of their live animals, hogs, horses, and cattle. Take of the ones that are meant for slaughter, lest the fools deplete their breeding stock. Have our Accomplisheds collect the sacrifices from all across our territories and teleport them here to me. Let our Accomplisheds and commoners know they are free to steal the animals from the southern kingdoms.”

Between the life force energy of those creatures and that of any fools who fail too often in their tasks, he should be able to replace what breaking free of Daniel’s spell had cost him, eventually.

Serena was almost to the door on her way to bring in Extollis when she turned to acknowledge the new requirement. “Great One, all will be as you say. From this day forward, the Serpent Guild will soon learn what it means to fail the Supreme Maestro and the world will be experiencing the wrath of a free and unrestrained Tarin Conn.”

“Yes,” Tarin replied while an insatiable hunger for more life force energy gnawed at the core of his being, “they will.”

-----

The harmonics coming from the active spell at Filia continued on well over half a mark and showed no sign of ceasing any time soon. Daniel leaned back in his chair as the little gathering in his office at the Benhannon Northland Holding continued. Sherree, Leah, and Tim were in attendance with their chairs pulled up to the desk, they were assessing piles of battle reports.

“Daniel, did you get a chance to read the battle reports filed by the crew of Manta Two?” Tim asked.

“No, my pile is full of reports on raids in Ducaun and Lobenia,” Daniel replied. “Have you found something interesting?”

Tim smiled. “Oh yeah, Joel Glader pushed his ray up to four hundred spans per mark, launched the ray into the air, and actually glided in a controlled flight while Hosea Shiloh destroyed a Demfilian modified freighter.”

“Are you saying Joel actually flew a manta?” Sherree asked, looking up from her stack of reports.

Tim nodded. “Yes, he did. His crew reported it as a brilliant move and Joel reported it as an accident that occurred when he angled up at full speed. Daniel you should try it, and when you do, I want to be along for the ride.”

It had never occurred to Daniel the long fins on the ray could behave like wings and he laughed at the way his friend suggested he try the same maneuver along with the certainty it would be attempted. “I don’t want any witnesses so we will need to swim Manta One through the river and far out into the ocean. When Simon arrives I will have him schedule the time into my itinerary.”

Tim grinned while leaning back in the chair and placing both hands behind his head. “I have been looking for a good excuse to take a ride on an Atlantan manta ray.”

Sherree glanced at him. “You don’t need an excuse, Admiral Dukane. I think both you and Gina should experience the underwater vehicle if for no better reason than helping you plan sea battles with the rays in mind.”

Tim leaned forward and his right hand motioned in a westerly direction. “She is on the Wager in the Taltin Sea at the moment but I believe she would also choose to ride in a manta, although not on a cruise where the ray is going to glide in the air.”

Sherree glanced at Daniel. “I am not fond of the notion of flying through the air and so I know exactly how she feels. I also know my husband will not be satisfied only flying the manta, he will also want to see how fast he can make the ray go.” 

Daniel did not even try to deny his intention. “I take this to mean you do not want to be on the voyage with Tim and me.”

Sherree reached across the desk and took hold of his hand. “You can tell me all about it when you get back,” she said sweetly and then released his hand.

“It has been ten days since we have had any confrontation with the Accomplisheds of Aakadon,” Leah mentioned while still reading the page in front of her. “This relatively quiet time affords you the opportunity to test the capabilities of the manta ray while the First Lady and I run the guild.”

The bell rang and Daniel called out, “Enter.”

Jaim Cutler opened the door, waited for Simon to enter, and then stepped back out of the office and shut the door. The Chief Aid grabbed the empty chair and placed it up to the desk with the others. “I just received word from Barnabas Galloway,” he said after sitting down.

“I released the shield on Jason Renn a mark ago,” Sherree informed him, “at the same time the Del Segno ended the Da Capo on the spell Daniel placed on Maestro Barnes.”