The Divine Apprentice (The Divine Series)

by Allen J Johnston

  “Kade? Kade, are you ok?” Darcienna asked for the third time as she squeezed his shoulder.

  He found he was breathing heavily. His throat was raw and his chest burned. He closed his eyes as he forced himself to calm, doing his best to return his breathing to normal. He unclenched his hands and relaxed the muscles in his jaw.

  “Darcienna, I am not positive, but I believe that is my father on top of that tower,” Kade rasped as he pointed with his unseen arm.

  “Kade,” Darcienna said, her voice full of concern. She pulled him back to lean against her as she hugged him. He was not sure if it was her or her Nature’s Gift, but something reached right to the core of his being to calm him. “We will free him. I swear on the most sacred Nature’s Gift that we will do everything in our power to save your parents.” Letting out a long breath, Kade relaxed and leaned forward.

  “Do you see?” he asked, regaining control.

  “Kade, I see your father, but what about your mother?”

  He squinted in the dim light, and sure enough, he could only see one person. He took a deep breath as he felt his anger start to boil in him again. It was almost too difficult for him to think clearly while he looked on as his parent suffered.

  “Maybe she is on the other tower,” Darcienna said as she looked down the street.

  “What?” Kade asked in shock as he looked from one end of the town to the other. Then, he saw the tower fifty yards beyond the first. “They have split them up so I won’t be able to get them without being seen. As soon as I free either of them, they will have me before I can get to the other one,” Kade said as he clenched his fist again. For just a moment, he could taste the Divine Power, and he quickly shut it off before it was able to overwhelm him.

  Kade briefly recalled the beginning of his training. It had taken him years to sense the power, much less channel it, and now he was so attuned to it that it flowed to him with barely a thought. He took a deep breath, and once again, cleared his head. He reached back for his teacher’s lessons on staying calm. It never made sense to him why Zayle had preached over and over that it was imperative that emotions not be allowed to control the power. That never made sense until this very moment.

  Kade felt sweat break out on his forehead. He closed his eyes and visualized his breathing. The more he pondered his teacher’s words, the more it was starting to make sense. He could command the full force of the Divine Power…and not just the normal amount like other Chosen. To be called a Chosen was to command awe and deep respect, but each Chosen had only so much of the Divine Power they could channel. But, he was different and he knew it. It was at that very moment that Kade finally understood what Zayle meant when he said, “You are one of the most powerful users of the Divine.” Kade put aside his thinking and returned to the present.

  “They will have many eyes on those towers. If the Divine is being used here, there will be traps all over the place.”

  Rayden, take us forward, and stay close to the right side of the road so we can keep to the shadows. We don’t need anyone seeing us disturb the ground as we pass, Kade thought to the dragon. Be alert for danger.

  Rayden started forward at a pace that was slower than a man’s walk. Kade tried his best to calm his impatience and almost failed. He was not able to relax completely, but it was enough for him to clear his head so he could think.

  Kade felt his heart pounding the closer he got to the other tower. As he closed the distance, he became more certain that it was his father on top. He forced his breathing to stay calm in an attempt to keep from lunging for the Divine and killing anything that would present a challenge. The only thing that kept him from doing just that was his certainty that it would cause his parents death.

  The south end of town was smoking with several small buildings on fire. A smoky haze drifted through the streets as the breeze carried the occasional soot toward the towers. The north end still appeared to be virtually untouched. There were three oil lamps along the road, giving just enough light for anyone walking to be seen. Kade was sure it was no accident that the towers were right next to two of them.

  They were within fifty feet of the closest structure when Darcienna grabbed Kade’s arm again. He jumped, chastising himself for not being used to her doing this by now. He exhaled as he turned slightly, waiting for her to explain.

  “There is danger all around us. I also believe you are correct about there being traps set up around the towers. The closer we get, the stronger the danger is.”

  “Do you see anything that looks like a trap?” Kade asked.

  “No.”

  Rayden, do you sense anything between us and the tower? Kade thought to the dragon. Rayden took several deep breaths, tasting the air. He could sense a lot of different smells in all directions but nothing directly in their path that would indicate danger. Kade signaled the dragon to stop, forcing himself to be methodical and logical in his approach. As he sat there, he saw several shadows duck out of alleys to survey the street only to move back out of sight again. Something about being right under their noses gave him a euphoric feeling.

  “Kade,” Darcienna said firmly, “the closer we get to the tower, the more the danger threatens to overwhelm me. I am sensing it so strongly that it feels like we are standing right on top of it.”

  Kade closed his eyes and performed the Reveal Calling, feeling like a fool for not thinking of this sooner. He gasped when he saw all the pulsing patterns just ahead and to their left. There were many callings just waiting for him to blunder into. There was barely enough room for the dragon to get by the traps, if they stayed close to the buildings.

  “Kade, what is it?” Darcienna asked, hearing his gasp.

  “There are several callings placed around the tower. If we had taken two more steps, we would have been caught, or most likely, killed.”

  “What are you going to do?” Darcienna asked much calmer than he expected. By the tone in her voice, Kade could see that she put a lot of trust in him to keep them safe. This was not lost on him. He only hoped he did not disappoint her…for their sake and his parents.

  He was about to tell her that he was unsure when he thought better of it. Once again, he decided it was important for her to have faith in him so she would not panic. Well…at least, keep the panicking down as much as possible, he thought as he recalled her recent reaction in the alley.

  “I think we should work our way to the next tower,” Kade said as he looked up at the slumped form of his father. He took a deep breath and let it out, controlling the anger before it started. So close, and yet, so far, Kade thought as he tore his eyes away from the broken body of this parent. Even from this distance and this poor light, Kade could see that his father was in dire shape.

  Darcienna sat silently, seeming to accept this. Kade looked at the tortured man, wishing there was some way of telling him that he was there. It broke his heart. Just a little longer, Father, he thought and then instructed the dragon to start moving forward again. Kade closed his eyes and performed the Reveal Calling once more, opening his mind up to the dragon in hopes that it could see or sense the traps. Rayden moved a little bit more to the side. They slid past the tower, clear of the traps. Kade looked back at his father, watching very closely, desperately wanting to see him move just a little. He never did. Kade turned and focused on the next tower.

  The dragon moved forward, keeping to the shadows as much as possible. Kade closed his eyes again and used the calling once more to check for traps. He was not surprised by what he found. Kade brought the dragon to a stop just outside the furthest trap. Looking up, he was certain beyond any doubt that he was seeing his mother. He cringed. She was bound to a beam by her wrists, as she dangled just inches off the platform. Kade was also certain that he was meant to see her. The limp form stirred as it raised its head momentarily only to collapse a second later.

  At least she is alive, Kade thought, feeling a sense of relief.

  He felt the strong urge to jump down from the dragon and cl
imb the tower as fast as he could. He paused as he looked at her, sure he was seeing a slight hint of a smile while she looked down. He got the strange feeling that she was looking right at him. He quickly glanced at the dragon to make sure he had not released the Transparency Calling, even though he knew he had not. It was, indeed, still intact. When he looked up again, her head had fallen back to her chest.

  “Kade?” Darcienna asked, pained for him.

  “Yes, that is my mother,” Kade said through clenched teeth. Darcienna sat completely still, feeling pity she was sure Kade would not want. She looked up at the battered woman, desperately wanted to rescue her and end her suffering. Even though it was difficult to see in the dark, it was obvious that the woman had been tortured.

  Darcienna felt her heart break for the man that was trying so hard to be brave and save his parents in the face of so much danger. She did not know where he got all his strength from, but her level of respect for him grew. She marveled at his ability to think under such duress.

  “Darcienna, we have to leave the town so you and the boy will be safe.”

  “Kade, what are you planning?” she asked with suspicion, knowing she was not going to like the answer.

  “All you need to know is that I need to get you and the boy out of here,” Kade said.

  Darcienna started to worry, fearing Kade was going to do something rash. She firmed her resolve and waited for him to try to dismiss her. She was not about to let him send her away that easily. If he wanted her gone, he was going to have to be a lot more convincing than that, or at least assure her he had a plan that sounded like it would work.

  “You are planning to use the Divine to free your parents without being discovered?” Darcienna asked hesitantly, prodding him for any hint of what he was planning. “You are not going to try to take them by force, are you? There are too many of them. It will only end in disaster.”

  “You are right,” Kade said, sidestepping her question completely.

  “Good,” Darcienna said, not realizing that he had not really answered any of her questions.

  “Did you want to make a suggestion?” he asked, hoping she would not see that he had no plan of his own.

  “No,” Darcienna said hesitantly. “You do what you think is best. I trust you.”

  Kade felt frustration and helplessness descend upon him as he looked up at his mother, just out of reach. As he continued to consider the callings he knew, he hit on a simple one. It was so basic and yet...

  Kade closed his eyes and drew on the Divine, molding it into the Disarm Calling. The power flowed through him and out just as quickly. He opened his eyes and looked to see if the use of the Power was noticed by anyone or anything. Reaching up and gripping the medallion, he hoped and prayed that it worked. He felt it vibrate as though it had a life of its own. It also felt cool to the touch. After a moment, the vibration subsided and then there was only the feel of the medallion again.

  Kade closed his eyes and studied the patterns surrounding the tower. He felt failure start to come crashing down on him when he noticed that at least one of the callings on the far side might have been disarmed. Hope flared.

  It seems there is a chance this might work after all, he thought.

  “Kade, what are you doing?”

  “I tried to disarm the traps,” Kade said quietly as he continued to study the patterns.

  “Did it work?” Darcienna asked with optimism in her voice.

  “Maybe,” Kade said cautiously. He directed Rayden to move around the tower. There is, indeed, a path about two feet wide where a calling had been disarmed, Kade thought excitedly. He smiled in triumph. “I was able to disable at least one of the traps, but,” he said and then paused, as he studied the ground, “I am not sure it is good enough,” he added, losing some of the excitement. “I need to watch the traps and see if I can spot anything else.” He closed his eyes.

  “Then, there is a chance we can get her down?” Darcienna asked.

  “A chance,” he said. “But, even if I get her down, I am certain they will notice she is gone. I won’t make it to my father before we are discovered.”

  Darcienna looked up at the woman and then back to where Kade was sitting. She wanted dearly to come up with a way to help. She sat for several long moments, giving Kade time to study the traps when an idea came to her.

  “What if we create a distraction?” Darcienna asked.

  “If we cause a distraction, it will only give away that we are here.” Kade said.

  “I am not talking about blasting a building or anything like that. I mean something simple. Something to throw them off so they won’t be watching so closely,” Darcienna said. What she was thinking was causing a commotion in the woods away from town. But, it was enough to get Kade’s mind working. And then...it hit him.

  “Yes!” Kade said, excitedly. “You are amazing!”

  “Excellent!” Darcienna exclaimed. “So…what did I do?”

  “The Transparency Calling,” Kade said as hope grew in him.

  “Like the one you used on us?” Darcienna asked, confused.

  “Yes,” Kade said. “Don’t you see?”

  “I am not quite sure,” Darcienna said hesitantly.

  “What if I just make it look like they are gone?” Kade asked in a rush. Darcienna sat silently, trying to piece together how this was going to work. “Okay,” he said, sensing her confusion. “If I can make them both disappear, then they will think that my parents are gone, right? They will go searching for them, believing that we are escaping. They will, most likely, expect us to be fleeing from town, right?”

  “Seems to make sense. But, wouldn’t you need to make them both disappear at the same instant? Is that possible?” Darcienna asked, causing Kade’s new found hope to fade slightly. “Do you have to be next to them?”

  “I have only done this while being very close to the object. I don’t need to be touching them, but as for how close I have to be…I am not sure,” Kade said as he turned and mentally measured the distance between the two towers. “If I can make it up to my mother, then maybe I can try to cast the Transparency Calling on my father, first. If it works, I can then cast it on my mother right away.”

  Darcienna took a deep breath and let it out, knowing that things were about to get deadly. This was the moment that was going to decide everything. It was one thing to consider a course of action but entirely something else to put it into motion. She was glancing around nervously, trying to search for anything he may be missing as her heart started to race. And then, she felt Kade shift and slide down from the dragon.

  “Kade, what are you doing?” she asked urgently.

  “I am going to find a way up there,” Kade said as he closed his eyes and performed the Reveal Calling. “Hold onto this,” he said as he swung the sack of books off his back and up to where he believed her to be. It thudded against her leg.

  “Kade, I thought you said you were just going to look around and then come back later. Are you sure this is the best idea?” Darcienna asked, ignoring the jolt from the books that she did not see coming.

  “We are here. What good is it going to do for us to go, only to come back and get to this point all over again? And besides, when they find their man gone, they are going to suspect something. We may not even be able to sneak into town again. Yes, this is best,” he said, resolutely.

  Kade closed his eyes and used the Reveal Calling to guide him. He moved to the edge and studied the pattern as it pulsed. This small path was all he had. Walking it with his eyes closed was not going to be comfortable. He was not sure if he had to touch the ground to trigger the calling, or if simply passing his hand through the space above the ground could spring the trap. Regardless, he was not going to take a chance. Kade walked heel to toe and found himself wobbling dangerously. He had to fight from throwing his arms out to the side to keep his balance. After just three steps, he turned sideways and started to edge his way along the path with his hands pressed firmly against his
legs.

  Rayden, do not let anything find you. If you must move, then move, but avoid contact with anything, at all costs. We must remain undetected until I get my father from the other tower, Kade thought to the dragon. He sensed a response from Rayden that he took for acknowledgement.

  With his eyes closed, the ground felt like it was starting to rock, causing Kade to go up onto his toes and then back to his heels. He even opened his eyes once to get his balance just as he was about to take a step. A knot grew in his stomach as he breathed a sigh of relief. He fought to keep his arms at his side and succeeded…just barely. Kade looked and saw that he had moved considerable closer to the tower. He measured the distance and realized he could almost jump the rest of the way.

  Just a few more steps, Kade thought. He took a deep breath to steady his nerves and closed his eyes, performing the Reveal Calling once more. He was able to take four more steps before having to open his eyes again. This was more nerve racking than he expected. He closed his eyes and continued edging his way along the narrow path. This time, he made it without issue. Kade saw directly under the structure was clear of any traps, so he ducked under a board to stand in the middle.

  He looked up and studied the build of the tower. Reaching up as carefully as possible, he grabbed ahold of one of the boards that looked the strongest and slowly pulled himself onto it. Tearing one of the boards off would be a great way to give away their position, and he was not about to do that. The tower was solid and did not move but the board groaned quietly. In the dead of the night, without another sound anywhere, the creak must have been heard for miles…or so Kade thought. He froze. He held his breath as he scanned the area. Nothing moved. Why would they?