“Zayle was what?” Doren asked as he stared deep into Kade’s eyes, as if trying to detect deception.
“Zayle had been killed by that time. I found the book and learned it on my own,” Kade said, firmly vowing to keep the despair from surfacing at the loss of his cherished master.
“Who taught you the Calling?” Doren asked suspiciously, not believing what he was hearing. Or, maybe it was that he did not hear the response.
“I did. I learned it on my own,” Kade said.
How much more clear can I make it? Kade thought as he watched the Master Chosen. Kade could see that Doren was like a volcano getting ready to erupt and flinched.
“Kade!” Doren exploded. It reminded him of how his master, Zayle, used to react when he had made a mistake that was life threatening. “That was foolish! Foolish beyond words!” Doren exclaimed, anger reddening his face. “You could have easily destroyed yourself! You are too important to take irresponsible risks like that!”
Kade sensed that Doren was not just angry at him for putting his life in danger, but for something else, also. He recalled the cabin he had lived in for most of his life and could not help but to agree. It was foolish. Was he ready for so much power and responsibility? What was past is past and cannot be changed now.
No reason to dwell on it, he told himself, but he was not able to shake it off.
Doren clenched his fists in anger as his mouth worked. Kade was certain that if any sound accompanied those unspoken words, they would be harsh words indeed. He could not bring himself to speak as he tried to comprehend all that was happening. Doren began to walk again as his mouth twisted without saying the words that formed on his lips.
As they walked, neither said anything for quite some time. Kade avoided looking at Doren, sure he would see a scalding glare. It must be a requirement for Masters to know how to scold, Kade thought as he recalled how proficient Zayle was at it, also. Kade did not speak and dearly hoped that Doren would let the silence stand. He was relieved beyond words that the Master Chosen decided to stay quiet. As time passed, Doren softened, and inevitably, started to talk once again.
“Zayle used to have an extensive library,” Doren said in as relaxed a tone as he could muster. Kade was not sure if it was a question or a statement so he continued on in silence. “Those books are still kept safe, I take it?” Kade cringed and came to a stop. “Apprentice?” Doren asked in an ominous tone. Kade forced himself to meet Doren’s gaze, which was quickly turning into another glare. He looked down and did his best not to shuffle.
“With the exception of these,” Kade said as he hefted the sack slightly, “they did not survive.” He knew where this was going. He waited for the next heated question. The silence drew on and he worked up the courage to glance at Doren. The Master Chosen was so pale that he was on the verge of having no color at all. For the second time, he was doing a better job of looking deader now than when he was back in his hidden study. Kade wondered if the Master was going to get sick. Darcienna squeezed Kade’s arm in support.
“How?” Doren managed in a whisper. Kade could have sworn that someone had just told the man that his entire family had just been slaughtered. The Apprentice Chosen closed his eyes, knowing he was going to get a tongue lashing that was going to rival any he had ever gotten from Zayle. For a moment, he thought he might prefer to be Morg’s prisoner again over this.
“From the fire,” Kade said, taking in a steadying breath, still not moving.
“Fire?” Doren asked, gaining strength by the moment.
“The one I started with the Lightning Calling,” Kade said. He had to fight the instinct to flinch.
“Blood and ashes and all that is Holy with the Divine!” Doren swore. “It is a miracle you are even alive! Practicing callings that you know nothing about, destroying decades of knowledge in one foolish move!” he roared while throwing his hands up dramatically. “How...are…you…even…alive?” Doren screamed. This was all Darcienna could take. She rounded on Doren like gale force winds full of fury and growing stronger by the second. Kade moved back, not daring to get in her way. If Doren’s eyes could glow to warn of danger, they would have been blazing fiercely.
“How dare you judge him!” Darcienna unleashed. “He has bested Morg three times while you have done what? Hid in your cellar, hoping your trap worked?” she challenged as she poked him hard in the chest. He flinched and took a step back. Darcienna pursued him like a predator stalking its prey. “And might I point out that your trap failed miserably!” she exclaimed so vehemently that several of the spiders scurried away. “And where would you be if not for him?” she asked, stabbing a finger at Kade with such force that Doren cringed despite trying to hold the air of a Master Chosen. He opened his mouth to speak, trying to regain control, but she attacked, holding nothing back. Kade winced, actually feeling sorry for the Master. “You need him! I would suggest you start showing the wisdom you claim to possess, or so help me by Nature’s Gift, I will feed you to the dragon!” Darcienna vowed, red faced, as she poked him one more time so hard he was sure to have a bruise for a week. He tried to hide his discomfort but failed miserably as he swallowed hard. Darcienna huffed and spun on her heels, walking back to stand next to Kade, clenching her fists hard.
“I may have been a bit hard on you,” Doren said to Kade. Darcienna’s head whipped around to glare at him. Doren swallowed again. “I was a touch too hard on you,” he corrected while holding his head up to regain some composure. “I am sure it would be best if we all put this to rest, for now, and talk later,” he said, sparing a glance for her. She huffed again and turned away.
Kade did his best to not look at either of them. Darcienna was giving off waves of anger while Doren was unreadable. Kade started to walk again and pulled Darcienna along. He gave her a look that said, “Enough” and she softened…but only a little.
“Your Mordra returned several hours ago,” Rakna said. “It is why we are here. When you did not arrive shortly after, we were afraid you were coming straight to the caves so we came as quickly as possible. We were afraid we were going to be one clutch less if we did not get here to save them.”
“A Mordra! You have a Mordra?” Doren asked incredulously, completely forgetting about being humble. “By the great Divine, you never cease to amaze me! How did you come to be in possession of a Mordra? First a dragon, which has not been heard of since the Ancients, and now a Mordra?” He shook his head in disbelief while glancing at Darcienna, checking to see if she was going to react to his outburst. “You did not tell me of this,” he said with just a little more control.
“I did not think it was important. It is just an animal that seems to be attached to my books,” Kade said as he hefted the sack again.
“Just an animal?” Doren asked again, shocked at what he was hearing. “They are rarer than your dragon,” he said, shaking his head. “You have no idea.” Kade was not sure if that was an insult or an honest observation.
“I don’t understand,” Kade said, glancing at the Master Chosen. Doren took a breath and readied himself to switch into lecture mode. The anger that Doren had been so completely filled with just a few short moments before was nowhere to be seen. Hearing of the Mordra really had Doren’s interest.
“There are many guesses as to what it is. But, one thing is certain; it is definitely connected to the Divine. I am not sure if it is part of the Divine or if it is just allied with the Divine, but nevertheless, it senses the Divine. It most likely sensed your use of the power. And I am certain, knowing Zayle and how protective he was of his books, it sensed the protective callings placed on them,” Doren said, nodding toward the sack in Kade’s white-knuckled grip.
Doren waited a moment, watching closely for Kade to either confirm or deny what he had just said. Kade opened his mouth to speak when Darcienna squeezed his arm tightly, her nails digging in. He turned toward her, and for a moment thought her eyes were just ever-so-slightly glowing. But then again, it could be just the way the sun was
hitting them. Kade turned back to Doren without saying a word, waiting for the Master to continue. Doren sighed and started talking again.
“It is said that they appear and disappear without notice, but once attached to someone, they affect that person’s life in profound ways. It is interesting, really. It is as if they see how events are unfolding and affect them with just the slightest interaction that causes the greatest change. For example,” Doren said, clearly in his element as a teacher, “you may be in a mortal struggle for your life. The Mordra may walk by, distracting your opponent at a crucial moment, turning the battle in your favor and garnering you victory. They do not stay involved, but what little they do, brings about great change,” Doren said as he looked to ensure his student was absorbing what was being taught.
Kade nodded his head as he thought back on the first time he had seen the Mordra. It had taken the books. So that part made sense. Doren watched silently, allowing Kade to assimilate the information. Kade thought about how the Mordra had bitten Morg when the evil Chosen was about to deliver a killing blow. It had been no more than seconds and the creature was gone. It did turn the tide of battle. He recalled how it led Dran to the dungeon and he smiled, recalling the dagger flying out of nowhere to topple Man-boy. He nodded his head and turned back to look at Doren. The Master Chosen smiled and nodded once, seeing that his pupil was ready for him to continue.
“I have never seen a Mordra. I look forward to it,” Doren said, picking up the pace. “It is believed that the Ancients created the creature as a pet, if you can believe that,” Doren said as he let out a chuckle.
“That is all very interesting, but…how did it know to come here?” Kade asked as he turned toward Doren.
“This is all conjecture, mind you, but there is much to support what I say,” Doren said, scratching his chin with his thumb and index finger as he narrowed his eyes while thinking. “They are a mystery. They will stay attached to you for as long as you want. They know where you are at all times, and some of the Ancients even believed that they know where you will be at any time. That would explain how it got here ahead of you,” he said, nodding his head as if deciding what he had just said made sense.
“That does seem to fit,” Kade said as he surveyed the land casually.
“It was also said that any Chosen that had a Mordra was blessed by the Divine. I, myself, searched for one for a decade. I gave up, thinking they were extinct,” Doren said.
Kade sensed the Master Chosen’s eagerness to see this creature grow by the moment. He turned and regarded Doren closely. The Master Chosen smiled easily under Kade’s watchful gaze, but Kade was sure he saw hunger. Yes, there was definitely a hunger there. After a moment, Kade decided hunger was not a strong enough word.
“So, only a Chosen can have one of these?” Kade asked.
“Or one that is very strong in the Divine,” Doren answered. “It’s as if it can see you because of your connection to the Divine.”
“But, it can still see others like, say, Darcienna?” Kade asked.
“Oh its eyes are very acute. I think a better way to explain this is to say that they see you and me in color, and they see everything else in black and white,” Doren said. “From what I have read, they are part Divine and part normal, as far as I can tell.”
“Kade, I think maybe we should call your dragon,” Darcienna said as she looked back to see Rayden’s form still by the cave. Kade opened himself up to his friend and smiled. The fierce creature was deeply asleep.
“I would agree,” Kade said, testing his muscles. They were still sore, but they did feel better. He opened his mind up to Rayden fully and called to him. There was no response. Kade tried again, but again, there was nothing. “He is really out,” Kade said as he came to a stop and stared at the still form off in the distance.
“Kade, it will take us a day or more if we must walk,” Darcienna said.
“I know. I have an idea,” Kade said with a mischievous grin. He closed his eyes and smiled even wider. After just a few moments, Kade let out a laugh. Darcienna was about to ask what he found amusing when she saw the dragon’s head shoot up. It leapt to its feet and spun around as if trying to locate something. It stopped, looked in their direction and then charged. Rayden took two great strides and then leapt into the air, its wings beating furiously as it picked up speed. It spread its wings out wide, gliding directly at them. Darcienna looked at him as if to ask, “What did you do?”
“Oh, I sent it the image of a big, juicy piece of hot meat,” Kade said and laughed again as the dragon landed, sending a cloud of dust into the air. It did not slow much as it continued toward the group, and at the last moment, skidded to a stop as it tossed its head a few times in anticipation.
Doren watched closely, concerned that the dragon might run him over. It stopped and towered over the Master Chosen while looking at Kade. The Apprentice Chosen took several steps back as did Darcienna. Doren turned to look at Kade and flinched as something wet hit him on the head. Doren reached up and ran his hand through his hair. He pulled his hand away full of slime and scowled. Kade laughed even more.
“Kade,” Darcienna said, scolding him, but even she was fighting a grin. Doren glared at Kade through his brow, marched over to a patch of grass and wiped his hands. “You really must curb that sense of humor,” she chided.
“I know,” Kade said as he regarded the dragon. “Ready to eat?” Kade asked Rayden. The dragon shuffled from foot to foot, eager for its meal.
Kade removed Darcienna’s hand from his arm and stepped back, preparing himself for the calling. He closed his eyes to relax his mind so as to focus better. He called the first piece of meat into existence and tossed it high into the air. Rayden lashed out, and with a crash of teeth, snapped up the meat and swallowed without even chewing. Doren visibly jumped. After a moment, he turned and studied Kade closely with suspicion in his eyes. It was all Kade could do not to grin.
“Stop,” Darcienna whispered, her teeth clenched together and her lips the only thing moving. He shrugged easily but Darcienna could see the laughter dancing in his eyes.
He closed his eyes and forced his mind to focus. It was no easy task, but soon, his mind was clear and he went through the motions again. He made the usual ten pieces of meat and then continued to make an extra five. The dragon eagerly snapped up every piece. Rayden appeared to recuperate with every tasty morsel he inhaled. While cooking, Kade felt his stomach growl and decided a few extra pieces would do well for him and Darcienna. He made the first piece for her and then made a piece for himself. He was looking forward to taking his first big bite when Darcienna elbowed him in the ribs. He went to take a small bite and she elbowed him again. Kade looked at her in exasperation. Her eyes flitted to the Master Chosen and back to him again. Kade slowly turned to see the master watching them closely. The hunger was apparent in his eyes.
“Kade,” Darcienna said as she motioned him toward Doren. “I don’t think he can make any,” she said as she glanced past the apprentice.
“Oh,” Kade said, surprised. He proffered the meat to Doren who quickly accepted. “You can’t call food?” Kade asked the Master Chosen.
“Zayle guarded his secrets more closely than a mother bear does her cubs,” Doren said with deep scorn in his voice. Kade looked back at his sack of books and vowed to himself not to let them out of his sight.
For all his failings, Kade did enjoy seeing Doren savor the taste of his food. The group ate in silence with Darcienna only glaring at Kade one time for his eating habits. They finished their meals and then climbed onto the dragon. It kept its wings in and chose a relaxed comfortable stride. They all sat in silence, enjoying full bellies as the land smoothly flowed by. It was not long before they were stopping in front of the tree that housed the Great Hall.
“Show me to the Mordra, please,” Kade said.
“This way,” Rakna said as she led them through the tree and to the room at the end of the hall.
Kade smiled, recognizing th
e room immediately. It was the room he and Darcienna had previously slept. He reached for the block of wood that was used for a handle. There was no locking mechanism and the hinge was a leather type material. It was a basic door but that was more than enough for Kade. He pushed it open, and there, on the bed, was Chance. Doren all but shoved by to get into the room. Kade glanced sidelong at the Master Chosen and then placed the sack of books on the end of the makeshift mattress.
“My friend,” Kade said as he reached out to the silky creature. It nuzzled his hand affectionately and then uncurled around its prize. Kade stared in awe. There, lying on the bed, being guarded protectively by Chance, was the small, black book.
“Kade!” Darcienna said in shock.
“I see,” Kade said as he gently picked up the book and turned it over in his hands. “Well, aren’t you a resourceful one,” he said as he let the creature nuzzle his hand again. It allowed him to pet it affectionately for a few moments, and then its nose started to work rapidly as it took in the scent of the previously handled food excitedly. “You and the dragon,” Kade said as he chuckled.
“Are we to never be without that cursed book?” Darcienna added in exasperation. Kade gave her a reproving look and then turned back to his silky, black friend.
“Amazing!” Doren said, wide-eyed in wonder. There was a hunger in those eyes that ran deep. Kade and Darcienna exchanged a knowing glance.
Doren looked on in awe. He moved next to the bed as he studied the creature. Chance turned his head this way and that way and then seemed to tense ever so slightly. With his hackles up, he slunk over to the sack of books and curled around it protectively. Doren reached a hand out to the Mordra and it bristled. The closer Doren got, the more Chance appeared to be tensing.
“Doren,” Darcienna said while gently laying a hand on his arm. “I don’t think that would be wise,” she said as she watched the creature’s lips start to twitch.
“Maybe when it gets to know me better,” Doren said and regretfully let his arm fall to his side.
The Divine Unleashed (Book 3) Page 5
