Free To Be Grand Maestro (Book 5) by John Buttrick Page A

longer had ever replenishing and increasing life force energy. A temporary solution entered her mind, but it would take careful scheduling, and coordination. Daniel Benhannon nodded at Jaim Cutler, who must have run to get here, as he entered his office along with Sherree, Simon, Martin, and Carlos. “I will join you later,” Jennel told them and then headed for the tunnel. She needed to speak with her associates in the Health Wing.
     

Chapter Three: Set Your Priorities
     
    As the hand on the chrono disk suspended from the wall on the left approached the fifteenth mark, Terroll Barnes, Maestro of the Zephyr Guild, sat behind his mahogany desk. While he stared fixedly at the gold diamond encrusted letter, Z, on the wall above the door leading into his office, his mind was in communication with Rondara. This was their second communication in two marks. The first had been from a vast chamber within Mount Shantear, after days of unconsciousness, and the current report was coming from the stables in Aakadon. “Go on, you have my undivided attention,” he told the Senior Cyclone, while clearing his mind of the deaths she reported earlier.
    “The report I gave you several days ago about the hundred-fifty associates that Daniel Benhannon has assembled does not come close to what the true number is. My conservative estimate, after comparing notes with other Accomplisheds, is he brought at least ten times that amount, not including the thousands of commoners armed with amulet-powered weapons, one type able to launch a fiery pebble-like stream and another that launches a lance of light,” Rondara sent through the communication amulet Terroll had given her upon rising to head of the guild.
    Terroll restrained from drumming his ebony fingers on the desk, there were better ways to bleed off anxiety. He took a deep breath. It was not bad enough that Daniel, whom Terroll educated to the level of Accomplished, had brought a huge number of previously unaffiliated Accomplisheds to a meeting with Talmon Reese and all of the senior members of the Shantear team, he chose to present himself as the Maestro of the Atlantan Guild, and used his being the Chosen Vessel to give legitimacy and justification to the title and the forming of that association. “This estimate is much higher than the one you gave me a mark and a half ago,” he replied, while trying not to send his frustration along with the words.
    “Well, after being injured by shards of solidified air tearing into my face and the rest of my flesh down to my knees, falling into unconsciousness, and then waking up in a cavern with my flesh and silks mended, I contacted you before speaking with anyone, so my estimate was a little off. Especially after hearing fifty-seven Accomplisheds of Aakadon died, nine of which were from our own guild.” she sent with perhaps a trace of sarcasm.
    He let out the breath he had been holding and forced himself to relax, after all she was not the source of his frustration, Daniel’s recent actions held that distinction. “You gave the most important information first,” he conceded. “The mission was a success, some sort of shield has been placed on Tarin Conn’s potential, and for that we are all grateful. Yet, how is it you are back in Aakadon?”
    A sense of great tension being held at bay came ahead of the words, “Daniel Benhannon refused to give Maestro Reese the crescendo onto which the Da Capo for the Symphonic shield is tied.”
    This development was not a major problem, certainly nothing to cause such tension in the Senior Cyclone. “Daniel presented the flute of Della Lain to me. Perhaps he can be persuaded to do so with this new additional key to Tarin Conn’s prison,” he replied, hoping she would answer his question without him having to ask again.
    He had learned patience during his years of being Silenced. Having one’s entire repertoire erased and therefore being unable to summon potential did tend to make one less high