Authors: John Buttrick
That seemed like a poor strategy to Daniel. The Pentrosans will just keep replacing their losses and these raids could go on for years, but it was a problem on the plate of these Knights and Generals, not Daniel’s. He had his own set of chores.
“You are expecting the Aakacarns of the Serpent Guild to arrive here. How many of them are there, how much time do we have to prepare for them, and do they have an army of sasquatches?” Sir Tomas inquired. He had been in the emergency meeting with the Queen, as was most everyone in the room, and knew about
the assault on Cantor’s estate.
“We estimate there to be four or five Aakacarns. As to when they might get here, days, maybe a week,” Jonah supplied his assessment, and then gave them a brief summary of the events occurring in the swamp to the present day, leaving out all mention of the Chosen Vessel, yet saw fit to add, “So Sir Daniel dispatched sixteen of the beasts single handedly but was later rendered unconscious when the rest of us battled and killed forty of the smelly things. He is now a Master-of-the-blade, having executed the traitor Cale Tomei in a duel to the death. We haven’t encountered any sasquatches since the time the traitor betrayed our whereabouts and brought the beasts upon us, so I don’t expect these Aakacarns to have many sasquatches if any.” The Duke’s son knew nothing of the sasquatches in Daniel’s swirl.
Sir Carlo gave Daniel a fond slap on the back. “My word, you have had an adventure, and I would like to see a demonstration of your sword skills.” To which everyone else agreed.
Samuel must have been waiting for this moment because he spoke right up. “While Sir Daniel is demonstrating his prowess and his Royal Guardsmen are waiting here, Simon and I can go capture Serin Gell. The Accomplished of the Serpent Guild is known to have a Nest in the Foothills.”
Daniel fixed him with a firm stare. “Nice try, but you and Simon are not going into that Nest without me.”
“Nor us,” his parents said in unison.
Everyone except Daniel seemed surprised by their assertion, especially since it was the first time either of them had spoken in front of them. “Brother Knights, Generals, these are my parents, Ronn and Miriam Benhannon.”
General Tallen had met them in Bashierwood, he and the others took a moment to greet the mother and father of the twenty-first Royal Knight of the Realm, but the pleasantries did not last long. Sir Tomas ended the niceties with, “I am siding with the Accomplished on this. You cannot go with them into Pentrosa.”
I would like to see you try to stop me, Daniel replied in his head, out loud he said, “Serin Gell has captured all of the members of the Tomlin Project, among them Sherree Jenna and Jerremy DeSuan. The Pentrosan has committed capital crimes within our kingdom and it is time for him to account for his deeds.”
“I agree he must be brought to justice but it is best to leave Aakacarn matters in the hands of the Aakacarns,” Sir Carlo argued.
“You absolutely cannot cross the border,” General Malcus stated emphatically.
The conversation was becoming tiresome and Daniel had no intention of wasting any more time on an issue already decided upon. “I believe this meeting is over. Have a nice chat, I am leaving,” he said, and started for the door to a chorus of protests.
“Wait!” Jonah called out. “What has happened? Why are you so strongly against Sir Daniel pursuing the one most responsible for assaulting my family home?”
Daniel paused at the door to hear the reply. “Xavier is now King of Pentrosa,” Sir Tomas said, and began to explain in detail what had happened and why no Ducaun Knight should cross the border and no raids from our side co
uld be launched for any reason.
“I told you once before,” Sir Carlo added. “While in that uniform you represent the Queen and anything you do here will be considered an official act of the Ducaunan government. I would dearly love marching with you against Serin Gell, but I have the same restriction as you.”
“We defeated Gell at the Battle of Bashierwood and he fled the field. You lost some friends and I lost good men, so I understand how you feel. I too would like nothing more than to launch a rescue of our fellow veterans of the battle and bring the wretched Aakacarn to justice, but not at the risk of war,” General Tallen said while looking Daniel eye to eye.
Daniel completely understood their concern and the risks involved in crossing the border. The situation was complex from a political point of view, but not so much from his. He had no doubt Sherree would die if he failed to confront Serin Gell and he could not save her without crossing the border. He glanced at Samuel and the color drained from the Aakacarn’s face. Daniel knew what he communicated to the Teki in that moment; I am the C
hosen Vessel get out of my way.
“Sir Daniel,” Jonah spoke formally. “They are correct. I was for crossing the border to bring Gell to account for his crimes, especially with your former colleagues to aid us, but given the political ramifications, I can know longer support such an enterprise and cannot participate with or condone going forward with your intentions.”
Daniel almost laughed in his face, but managed to stifle the urge. They were all playing into the very trait Tim had brought up. Daniel could rescue Sherree without them and never wanted his parents, Tim, or Gina involved. “I respect your position,” he told the Duke’s son, and then let his gaze sweep across the room, meeting the eyes of each person before settling on Tallen. “I see your point. If you are unable to accommodate me and my company, we will set up camp at the base of the hill.”
“There is room enough for you and your detachment. Be assured you are welcome. You have already helped me immensely by stopping the raiders and taking these captives. And if the Aakacarns do come as you suspect, we will need your help in combating them,” Tallen was quick to reply.
“Your force has the best record of any so far, eleven raiders dead and none of your own. On top of which you managed to capture not one, but fourteen members of Pentrosa’s Sutten Guard,” General Malcus pointed out and for some reason locked eyes with Sir Laurence.
Daniel shrugged. “It really wasn’t much of a fight. Six of the eleven were dead before I entered the fray. My archers,” he said and motioned with his hand towards his parents, “did most of the work. Ducaunan mountaineers rarely miss what they’re shooting at and are extremely good at stalking their prey,” he added and then glanced again at Samuel. “Sammy’s cousin is equally deadly with her crossbow.” To which the former Teki winced, for mentioning his cousin or calling him Sammy, Daniel did not know.
“Perhaps I should add some archers to my muster,” Sir Laurence said while rubbing his chin.
“Go see to your men. We can talk later,” Tallen suggested.
Daniel nodded his head and stepped out of the room along with his parents and Simon, who had been quiet the entire time. At this point he did not care if Samuel followed or stayed to help with the questioning.
“You never mentioned defeating a Master-of-the-blade,” his father commented as they were headed out of the
command post.
“No, I didn’t mention it and yes, I did defeat one,” Daniel replied without elaborating.
“Nor did you mention anything about being unconscious,” his mother chided him, mildly.
“I’m right as rain now, there didn’t seem much point in bringing it up,” he replied, and was glad when his parents did not try to continue the discussion.
He noticed Captain Johannan standing near the entrance to the mess hall and walked over to him. “Captain, I feel the need to burn off some excess energy, I was wondering if your best swordsman would mind going a few rounds with me.”
The Captain smiled. “I doubt it. Your men have told us all about your duel with Tomei the traitor. Now, if you will consider going against me and two of the best men at this post, well, that would be a different story.”
Daniel was up to the challenge, especially since he actually did feel the need to work off his irritation with Samuel. He liked the man but right at the moment was displeased with him. “Get your men and four lathe swords and hit me with your best efforts.”
Within a quarter of a mark, Daniel was in a circle with the Captain and a man from the army who had a wiry build. Beside him was a bald headed cavalryman who did not seem to have bit of fat in his body. Daniel’s parents and his men were gathered around, as were Sir Carlo, Sir William, and Sir Laurence. Silvia and David were sitting on the open gate of a wagon and watching him. All of the men of the fort who were not already engaged in a particular task stood by to see the bout.
The three men came at him from different directions, Daniel launched into the forms taught to him by Cale, and the men seemed to be moving at a quarter speed compared to what he had become used to. He easily brushed aside their blades and thirty seconds in the army guy was out. Thirty-eight seconds later, the bald one was out, and fifty seconds after that, Captain Johannan was out.
“Let’s have another go,” Johannan suggested, perhaps feeling more confident.
Daniel agreed and forty seconds later they were all down. He had been taking it easy on them in the first bout, although they might dispute that.
“You’re as good as your men say,” Johannan admitted. “You really should have lightning bolts put on your hilt and scabbard.”
“So I’ve been told,” Daniel replied and thanked them for the bouts.
His fellow Knights of the Realm congratulated him and everyone was soon in a good mood. Samuel, Sir Tomas, and both Generals eventually came out of the holding cells, apparently finished with the questioning. Daniel and his mother played their guitarns for the men and everyone forgot about the disagreement and tensions that took place at the meeting.
After the concert, Captain Johannan found places in the command post for Daniel’s parents, Jonah, David and Gina, and the pair of Teki. Bunks in the barracks were assigned to the Royal Guardsmen and all was proceeding as it should.
At a mark before mid-night, Daniel lay on the bed in the tiny room assigned to him. He did not complain, the space was greater than his tent, and he did not plan on spending much time in it. He stripped off everything, leaving on only his pants, green cotton undershirt, and boots. The shirt had his falcon clutching a lightning bolt in a sky of blue emblem, but nothing identifying him as a Ducaunan Royal Knight of the Realm. He would have to leave the sword behind, seeing as it was a symbol of his office. Should he bring the knife? It was a powerful crescendo, yet he decided trickery was his best ally. Serin Gell, and most everyone else, believed him to be impotent and that could be the greater weapon. Daniel wanted to save Sherree first and then subdue the Pentrosan. This was a job he would have to do alone, seeing as he could not in good conscience ask his men to cross the border. He grabbed his two canteens and went out the window and climbed over the log wall without making a sound. The frogs and crickets were performing their nocturnal concert as he made his way away from the fort and into the forest. Two panthers came and escorted him, Dusk on the right and Twi on his left, with another pair of his furred allies on the way. By the time he was half a span from the border, someone else slipped out of the for
t.
It was just as Samuel suspected, the stubborn mountaineer had not given up the idea of rescuing Sherree, but only made it seem to the others that he had. All Daniel said was that he respected their position and saw their point, yet never actually told anyone he had changed his mind.
Samuel laughed. His friend underestimated him, and clearly did not realize a member of the Eagle Guild is not so easily fooled. It was as simple as casting, Locate: Daniel, to follow the man. Samuel had touched him so many times in the past the spell worked perfectly. His objective was several spans ahead of him, just this side of the Ducaunan border. He sensed the former mountaineer had stopped, perhaps
having second thoughts about entering Pentrosa, which was hopeful thinking.
Seeing in the dark was a bit of a challenge even with a full moon,
yet Samuel noticed more than a few white-tailed deer keeping pace with him. An owl took off from a nearby branch, landed on the tree thirty paces ahead, and he could swear the nocturnal bird was watching him. A flutter out of the corner of his eye turned out to be another owl doing the same thing. The glowing eyes of what he believed to be a fox stared out from a bush to his left and a coyote howled from somewhere slightly ahead and to the west. He dismissed the peculiarities, deciding to concentrate on the Chosen Vessel. Now that had been a revelation, Daniel being the Creator’s champion. Samuel knew his fate was to serve the Chosen, as had been revealed to him. That being the case, he could not allow Daniel to handle Serin Gell alone, even if his Ducaunan friend had given him a look he would never forget.
The idea was to keep Daniel safe and to pressure him in front of the other Knights of the Realm to stay at the fort, yet Samuel’s mouth had gone dry at the intensity of the stare leveled at him. The Chosen Vessel was furious with him, which was not the result he had been aiming at. All he achieved was to drive the man out into the night to confront Serin Gell in an attempt to rescue Sherree alone.
He picked up his pace and within a tenth of a mark caught up to his objective. The tall mountaineer was leaning against a tree with a pair of panthers sitting beside him. “You might as well join me,” Daniel’s baritone voice called out.