Authors: John Buttrick
Sherree closed her mouth after realizing her jaw had dropped open. It was rare for Efferin Tames to involve himself in guild affairs, especially in matters involving who is to train whom. Maestro Janna Barroon must have been furious over his meddling in her guild. Sherree worked at not letting her resentment toward the Grand Maestro show on her face or in her actions, not because of the change in mentor; that was actually helpful to her career. She hid her feelings out of respect for the office he held, but she would never forgive him for Silencing Daniel. Thoughts of the Ducaunan made her smile. He actually handled the ordeal better than she did and even thanked Efferin for Silencing him. She used the memory to soften her attitude toward the Grand Maestro and gave the formal nod of acknowledgment to her fellow Accomplished. “I am sorry you will not be mentoring me through my internship,” she said, and meant it. The woman had been a veritable fount of knowledge.
Barbara smiled warmly. “I think you would have been a challenge, one I surely would have enjoyed. You are eager to learn and question everything, that would have kept me on my toes for the next year,” she replied and gave the respectful nod in return.
Sherree wondered about Fenton Chen. Why would it take days to meet him? “Where is my new mentor?” she asked.
“He is the Accomplished of Ducanton, assigned to the court of Cleona, Queen of Ducaun,” Barbara replied with a certain amount of excitement in her voice. “I’ve never heard of a new affiliate serving internship in a royal palace, but I suspect you are up to the task, seeing as you practically grew up in the Lobenian palace.”
Sherree could not believe her good fortune. The Grand Maestro seemed to be taking a special interest in her career and being out in the world, healing the sick, and the injured, would be fulfilling one of her deepest desires. As the moments passed and realization began to set in, it dawned on her why Efferin Tames would get involved. Sending her to the royal court had to be a sop for having Silenced the most gifted Potential ever discovered in Ducaun, the only Aakacarn to be found among Cleona’s people in decades. Why not send one of the three Talenteds who had discovered him and who was also instrumental in defeating a legion of yetis and Condemneds led by members of the Serpent Guild? Politics; that was the answer, but it was beneficial for all concerned, so she grudgingly had to respect the Grand Maestro for comin
g up with the idea.
“I should get packing if I’m to be in Ducanton in a matter of days,” she said, knowing the trip would have to be by river. It would not be easy for a ship to go west against the Mighty Hirus, even with a strong team of rowers.
“A good idea, seeing as you are scheduled to be at the docks in just three marks time. Come, let me help you pack,” Barbara replied and then started for the door.
The shiny brass covered gates of Ducanton came into view just as the sun was slowly sinking beneath the horizon. Great towers and tall spires had been visible for quite awhile before Daniel spotted the entrance amid the thirty cubit high marble walls surrounding the massive capital. The gold banded dome of the royal palace could be seen on the highest of the seven hills within the city, which sprawled over the land out beyond his visual range. Every building was either made of granite, marble, concrete, or combinations thereof. The buildings made of stone were natural in color while the ones made of concrete were painted in soft greens, blues, beiges, pinks, yellows, and other assorted colors. The city was larger than Aakadon, although the tallest towers were no where near as large as those in the Aakacarn city, nor were any of the structures close to being as spectacular. Even so, this city was a marvel, mostly built by ordinary human sweat and blood, and beautiful in its own way.
“I have been to the capital several times on behalf of Lord Sharmine,” Jared said while eyeing the growing crowd of humanity fl
owing around and ahead of them.
Daniel had hoped to arrive unnoticed, meet the Queen, save her from whatever was threatening her life, and be on his way, and do so with as little attention as he could manage. He laughed, remembering what Ruth had told him about his wants; that they mattered little. It all started after leaving the ranch where they bought Nightwind and Sandstorm. People in wagons, riding horses, and many of them on foot, began following him. They would give greetings and just fall in behind. By the time they reached Jeeter, at least sixty people entered with them, none interfered, nor did they ask to be a part of his company, they seemed content just to be close to him. Jared pointed out a respectable inn for the night. By the next morning, Jared and Marcus had bathed, shaved, and were wearing new clothes. The account keeper had a white silk shirt for Daniel and a pair of dark blue wool pants, to replace the buckskins, which were not fit for a royal audience, according to Jared, who had on a new brown suit, similar to the original, except this was not custom fit, even so he looked good. Marcus acquired a sword and a light blue wool uniform with a broad dark blue stripe on each shoulder and down each pant leg. Both men
had new belts, hats, and boots.
By the time the five of them finished breakfast and mounted up, people were gathered around the inn, apparently to get a glimpse of the man who everyone was talking about. Daniel remembered greeting them in a friendly manner and then resuming the journey to the capital. More and more people joined the entourage as time went on and now as he approached the gates they numbered in the hundreds, his unofficial escort. Silvia and David believed it was only fitting that the Chosen Vessel would be so honored. Daniel tried to behave as if the crowd was not there for him, just a large group of people who happened to be going the same way.
“Good, then you should know a decent inn to stay at,” Daniel replied to Jared’s comment, although he was fully capable of choosing a decent inn, having worked in one for several years.
“Of course, I know just the place, the Excursion. It is not far from the palace,” the account keeper replied, while adjusting the brim of his brown felt hat.
“The guards up ahead have noticed you,” Marcus pointed out. His hat was the same shade of blue as the stripes on his pants and shoulders.
The guards would have to be half dead not to notice five people on horseback escorted by a sea of humanity, but Daniel chose not to comment.
“By the laugh, I’d say your mood has much improved since this morning,” David remarked. The laugh had been about Daniel’s wants mattering little, but the archer did not know that.
“Look, see, there are Teki lining up on both sides of the street. I see Reshashinni, though not of the Forager Troop, and Gerabolli, Triffenelli, Gynnan, Jermandi, Perenne, and Solenmange, all the major tribes,” Silvia said, eyes shining with excitement. “And they know a Reshashinni is with the Chosen Vessel.”
There had to be thousands of people in this crowd and Daniel sincerely hoped they did not realize who he was even if they recognized fellow Teki traveling with him. The relative calm was shattered when every Teki suddenly raised their hands and shouted. “Hail the Chosen Vessel!”
Sitting atop Sprinter, there was no hiding, although Daniel wished he could. What was the proper response? He did not know, but Silvia and David saluted back and so Daniel did the same. The crowds in front parted and the path to the gate was unobstructed. He set Sprinter into a trot and only stopped when two guards crossed their halberds in his path.
“What inn are you staying at?” the tallest of the two guards inquired without asking for a name, it was clear they already knew. His helmet and uniform were the color of field grass in spring. Dark green stripes ran down his pant legs, and he had a silver patch bearing the royal hawk in flight on the upper left side of his chest, exactly like that of the fellow next to him. Several more guards appeared, and finally one emerged from the guardhouse, a lean man with one front tooth missing, whose uniform was the same except he had a pair of parallel silver stripes on each arm.
“The Excursion,” Daniel replied.
The Sergeant-of-the-guard turned to the pair holding the halberds. “Let Daniel Benhannon and his traveling companions in,” he said, and then eyed the crowd as if unsure just how many of them actually were to be granted entrance.
The city was not closed to strangers like Aakadon, but allowing thousands in at one time was another matter entirely. Daniel was not surprised the guards recognized who he was, not here at the capital from which the Queen had been publishing his portrait and accomplishments. He was feeling a little out of his element, surrounded by throngs of people. He had a taste of it in Aakadon, but the Aakacarns were conformists in the extreme, and big on discipline, while this city was barely controlled chaos. The Sergeant stared at him, as if waiting to hear something more, so Daniel added, “These are my Teki escorts, Silvia Cresh and David Gerabolli of the Forager Troop of the Reshashinni, along with Marcus Bower, my Captain-of-the-guard.” Daniel held back the smile that struggled to form. Captain of one, it struck him funny, although Marcus puffed up proudly. “And this is Jared Benfyllon my account keeper. Is there anything else you want to know?”
“I want to know how it felt to face Balen Tamm,” the gaunt-faced guard on the right mumbled.
“I wonder how he’ll fair now that he’s impotent,” mumbled a lanky guard farther in behind the post.
“I saw him kill more than twenty yetis with that longbow you see on his back,” Silvia declared. In another minute she might start telling them to get out of his way or be smashed.
“Guardsmen will be silent!” the Sergeant bellowed, and then refocused on Daniel. “There are many things I would like to ask you over a pint of brew, but nothing official, you may carry on.”
“My thanks,” Daniel replied, tipping his hat, and then guided Sprinter into the city along with his companions.
The side streets were cobblestone and broad with plenty of room for wagons, horses, and pedestrians. Merchants were shouting for people to come examine their wares and to the left and right were food carts with proprietors offering free samples. The din of the city was loud and people were moving back and forth, some in fancy carriages, going about the routines of the day. The clothing styles varied greatly, for both men and women. People from all over the world were in this city, perhaps more than usual since the Great Carnival was about to begin. He could see men in fancy suits walking by men in buckskins and livery. Men wearing uniforms, men-at-arms, for one noble or another, mingled with men wearing plain cloth, linen, or wool. Cotton garments were also popular. Most of the women wore dresses and, like the men, their styles varied greatly. Blouses of silk seemed to be the latest fashion, seeing as the vast majority of the female population was wearing it. Skirts were made of every conceivable fabric and came in all colors, as did the blouses. Some of the dresses were a solid blue, green, yellow, or red with wide belts of a different color or hue to add contrast. Teki were in the city and their clothing was the most flamboyant while the Lobenian visitors stood out
for their understated pastels.
Marcus seemed to be watching everywhere at once, ever cautious, and alert. Jared took the lead, seeing as he was the only one who knew exactly where they were going. Silvia and David rode, one on either side of Daniel. They were getting along better, had not argued or said a harsh word to each other since before Jared and Marcus joined the group. The Gerabolli did not bring up the subject of marriage or obligations, although he did add compliments in his conversations with her, which she seemed to appreciate. Perhaps he was beginning to see her as a person and not a possession bought and paid for. Time would tell.
The main thoroughfares were broad and divided down the middle by trees. Each side was wider than the regular streets had been. Jared led them to the right on Palace Way, the largest of the thoroughfares, and also the one leading to the Excursion. They rode up and down several hills. The buildings along this route were multi-storied structures, all of marble or granite, and had statues of men on horses or fountains with water flowing from sculptures, some of fish and some of women, with water gushing out of their mouths or the top of their heads or some other spot. This is where the wealthy did their buying and trading. All of the men in this area, those not men-at-arms or servants, wore well-made suits of wool and their coats and jackets were similar to the one the Teki had given to Daniel. Purple and violet were the most popular colors on display, although varying shades of blue, green, and brown were not uncommon. Black was also popular among the men. The hats were felt like Daniel’s and came in all colors. He did not see a single woman, except Silvia, who was not wearing a full-length dress and some fancy hat with the plumage of one exotic bird or another. The brokers, bankers, and insurers made up most of the businesses in this area and also high end lodgings, fancier by far than any inn Daniel had ever seen, let alone slept in.
“The Excursion is up ahead on the right,” Jared informed them. “Beyond that establishment you will find the homes of the wealthy merchants and nobles. Only the extremely well-to-do can afford a house on this thoroughfare, it leads straight to the palace.”
They arrived at the Excursion. The inn stood seven stories high and took up the entire city block. Jared did the signing in, choosing a large room on the seventh floor that had four rooms within it, a greeting room and three bedrooms, a concept new to Daniel. The horses were taken away by a group of boys, who led them behind to the stables.