To Be A Maestro (The Maestro Chronicles) by John Buttrick

changed. We have a legion down and out of commission and answers must be given,” t he Pentrosan stated arrogantly.
    “Your request has been sent,” red-haired Captain Johannan replied in a firm voice.
    Daniel thanked the panther and withdrew his awareness from her. There were other animals seeking his attention. Screech, the osprey, showed him three women and two men walking through the forest in southwestern Ducaun, in the direction of Rivertown. Daniel had no idea what Serena and her team were up to, but was sure it would be trouble for him. As the raptor soared, Daniel could see sasquatches trailing behind the five Aakacarns, keeping their distance, no doubt at the insistence of Serena. Daniel wondered if she yet realized she only had thirty-two remaining, the rest were dead, or part of Daniel’s swirl, or about to be when Gurrumble, the largest male linked to him, arrives in a few days with an additional thirty-one. Screech let out a cry and Daniel sent his thanks and withdrew his awareness. He needed to think, the other animals could wait.
    The door opened and in walked Jaim Cutler, seventeen, thin, and full of eagerness to fulfill his duty as keeper of the door. Being clean shaven with his dark hair cut short, and dressed in his blue uniform with the broad silver stripe on his shoulders and pant legs, no one would question his being a soldier. “Are you ready to receive your guests, Sir Daniel?” he asked while standing rigidly and with a touch of nervousness in his voice.
    “I am,” Daniel replied.
    His distinguished guests filed in, read the names placed on the table by Silvia, and took their seats. General Jathem Tallen, possessing few wrinkles, a round face, and a man who Daniel knew for sure was more muscle than fat, having worked a major healing on him in the past, took the nearest chair to the right of his host. The general wore a pair of gold stars on the collar of his light green silk shirt, beneath which was the finest quality chain mail, and four golden hawks on the shoulders of his gold trimmed, slightly darker shade of green jacket. He glanced at Sir Laurence Dugan, seated next to him beside Sir Carlo Bencofer. Dugan had a touch of gray in his hair and yet seemed just as fit as the much younger Knight beside him. Sir Carlo, a man in his late thirties with dark hair and brown eyes, sported a neatly trimmed mustache. In fact everything about him was neat. The Royal Knights of the Realm were all dressed in their field uniforms, identical to Daniel’s, except for house emblems, and his having lightning bolts.
    Seated on down from them were Sir William Bonner, tall and thin with about as much gray as Dugan, and Sir Tomas Zollaf, a rugged man with a weathered face, a man reputed to have a strong sense of duty and contempt for those who did not share it, a gentleman who clearly spent a great deal of time exposed to the elements. Just beyond him sat General Sanfred Malcus, a lean, gray-haired man with a neatly trimmed beard, who was older than Tallen, and wearing a similar uniform.
    To Daniel’s left were Jeremiah Lassiter, Samuel Cresh, Franklin Togan, Jerremy DeSuan, Daria Copa, Martin Varroon, and Simon. The other Accomplisheds were busy working on whatever details were involved with finishing the compound. Daniel wanted Sherree to come but she thought it best to keep her distance from him for awhile, seeing as she could think of no legitimate reason to be in attendance.
    “One is curious as to why we were kept waiting, surely you realized this was not a social call,” Sir Tomas, the oldest Knight present was the first to speak.
    “After learning that I was to host a meeting of you gentlemen, it seemed prudent to gather as many facts as I could from my Seer and scouts in the field. I apologize for not being quicker about it,” Daniel replied smoothly.
    “I received the message you sent early this morning by Lieutenant Benettle informing us that General Kall’s two elite legions were headed west