“As you wish,” Rakna said as she easily bit through the webbing.
Morg stretched for several long moments as he worked the kinks out of his muscles. He kept his eyes hidden as a smile crept across his face. Kade got a sick feeling in his stomach as he took a step back. The Adept could feel Morg drawing deeply on the Divine, but for some reason that he could not fathom, Doren just stood and calmly stared at the man.
“Now you will pay!” Morg screamed as he spun into action. His arms flew out and then…he froze.
Doren smiled that smug smile of superiority as he feigned indifference. Morg stood for a very long time, unmoving. Kade felt his heart pounding like mad and realized he was holding the Blue Flame of the Divine in his hand. He looked from Doren to Morg and then back to Doren again, trying desperately to figure out what was going on.
Had Doren cast some sort of calling? Kade asked himself. No. He had not moved one inch. Doren turned casually to look at Kade with that condescending look and said, “He knows no callings. How can he? He has become so dependent on the staff that he has forgotten all that he has learned. He is as dangerous as any normal man, but no more. The only callings he will ever learn, from this point on, are the callings I let him learn,” Doren said as he cocked an eyebrow at the man. Now, Morg had another crushing revelation bestowed upon him. He could feel the Divine, and yet, could not use it. This grown man sank to the ground as his knees buckled.
“You…intend on teaching him?” Kade asked incredulously, the blue flame fading away.
“I do not know what I plan on doing with him, but you can rest assured that he is no longer a threat. As soon as the staff was taken away, he had nothing to covet. We are no longer his enemy. And if we are, he will find his way to the other side quickly,” Doren said in that elitist way of acting that only he had mastered. Morg’s head came up quickly. “If he were a smart man,” Doren said as he lorded himself over the broken Chosen, “he would know his best chance to escape the torture that awaits him is to work with us.”
Kade shook his head. Never did he ever consider that this man would be allowed to do anything other than suffer for what he has done. Kade just could not wrap his head around this new revelation. He wanted no part of it.
“Is that wise?” Rakna hissed, clearly displeased with Doren’s plans.
“A dead man cannot atone for his sins. He must put right that which he has made wrong. He has decades of work to do. Morg was once a brilliant man, but he lost his way. He is still a Chosen,” Doren said as he sighed.
Ven slid through his arms and shifted into her birth form at the same time. Kade took his hands off her waist and stepped back. He stopped and watched as she studied the man. For reasons he could not explain, he waited for her to speak, curious what she may say.
“He would not show you the same mercy, would he?” Ven growled.
“Might you have books of knowledge, somewhere?” Doren asked, heading this off before it could get to far. He appeared casual as he asked the question, but Kade knew there was nothing casual about the way he listened for the answer. Morg stood weakly as he took an unsteady breath.
“All gone. Burned up,” he said as he cast a glance at Kade. Doren made a quick fist and then let it go.
“It was all destroyed when we escaped from the mountain,” Kade said.
Doren closed his eyes and tilted his head back, giving off the air that to deal with such inferior people was torture. Kade rolled his eyes, looked at Darcienna and mouthed the words, “Kill me.” Her hand shot to her mouth to stifle the laugh, but before it got there, she let out a squeak. Doren eyed them suspiciously.
“I think we should get back to the Great Hall,” Kade said, changing the subject.
“Yes,” Darcienna said as she turned and pulled him away.
Kade stopped as his eyes came open wide. There, not more than a hundred yards away, was Rayden…lying next to the green. They were getting to know each other quickly, Kade thought.
“Rayden, we need to get back to the Great Hall,” Kade yelled to his friend.
The dragon lazily got up, trotted over to Kade and laid down. The green followed but kept its distance from people and spiders alike. It appeared that Rayden was the only one it trusted.
“Kade, what about Morg?” Darcienna asked as they approached the dragon. Kade paused to look back at Doren and Morg.
“He is no longer our concern. If Doren wants to deal with him, then leave him,” Kade said as he turned to his dragon. “Let’s go.”
“How is he going to get back to the Great Hall?” Darcienna asked as she glanced back at the two Master Chosen.
“We shall be coming with you,” Doren said. Kade froze. He turned slowly to stare at Doren.
“Rakna, could you please secure Morg once again and then help him onto the dragon,” Kade said firmly.
Doren might be the Master, but if he wanted a ride back to the Great Hall on his dragon, it was going to be under his rules. Doren sighed loudly, raised his finger in the air and spun it in three or four circles before letting it fall to his side. What that meant was beyond Kade’s understanding, but he knew he did not like it. He turned back to Darcienna and she winced, feeling his frustration with the Master Chosen.
Rakna was more than happy to wrap Morg in her webbing once again, and she was none too gentle about it, either. It might have been a touch too tight, but Rakna was not about to loosen it. Ven eagerly changed to her monkey form and swung up to hang around Kade’s neck. The Adept casually wrapped his arms around her without realizing that it had become a habit that took no thought. Darcienna glared at Ven but did not say a word.
The small group mounted and soon found themselves soaring into the air. Kade looked back and saw the green close behind. He tapped Darcienna on the knee and motioned to the massive, flying beast. She turned and looked at it in surprise.
“You are the one who fed him,” Darcienna said accusingly.
“By the great Divine,” Kade said, as he thought about how much cooking he was going to have to do. He flexed his hand around the staff that was no longer there. He firmly resolved to figure out how to remove the block so he did not have to suffer through so much cooking. He glanced back at the green and wondered how much it would take to keep that one fed. Yes, he was definitely going to figure out how to remove the bock, even if it killed him.
They landed at the huge tree that the spiders called home. Each rider dismounted and worked their way into the Great Hall, looking forward to the feast. Kade and Darcienna continued through the expansive cavern and down the tunnel to their room. The Adept walked in and fell onto the bed as he let his mind slow. The room was quiet with the only sound being the babble of the spring just down the hall and around the corner.
Kade and Darcienna laid arm and arm for a while as they talked about the task of performing the last rights for Valdry or learning what had become of him. Kade was not particularly comfortable with going to the Master Chosen’s home, but it had to be done. He was just going to have to be smart about it and watch for any traps.
Besides, there may be some books of knowledge there, he told himself. He froze, realizing he was thinking just like Doren. No, this would not do. He was not going to be hungry for knowledge to the point that it was all he thought about.
Look what happened to Morg with all the power he had, Kade thought critically. No, there was more to life than the search for knowledge and power.
After both felt they had had enough time to unwind, they got up, surveyed each other, seeming to notice how dirty they were for the first time and glanced around the room, hoping for a new set of clothes. Sure enough, there in the corner on a mat were freshly made outfits. They both picked up their shirts with matching pants and made their way to the spring, eager to be clean. Kade stopped as he studied the water, dreading the cold.
“Just get in,” Darcienna said as her clothes started to hit the floor.
“Fine,” Kade said, but it was clear he was not pleased. He was in and
out of the water quickly.
The rest of the night was uneventful as they enjoyed the meal and the friendly interaction with the clutch. The other kings and queens had returned to their own trees with their own clutches. The night was relaxing, for the most part, with the exception of watching the queen suffer through her sorrow.
“Rakna is still upset with the loss of the king,” Darcienna said as she urged Kade in her direction. The two approached the queen as she sat in her chair with the king’s empty chair next to her.
“Can we help?” Darcienna asked gently.
“I do miss Crayken dearly,” Rakna hissed softly as she looked at the throne to her left. “But…there is more. The link remains open. I will not be able to stop other kings from sensing me and coming,” the queen said sadly. “Maybe our custom should be observed,” she said with sincerity.
Darcienna gasped. She looked at Kade and tilted her head in the queen’s direction, prompting him to say or do something to help. Kade racked his brain, trying to figure out a solution to this and failed. A sound off to his right caught his attention. He turned, and there sat Morg surrounded by six spiders. He was staring at the ground, his shoulders slumped. Kade glared, but Morg did not notice.
“Bond with her,” Morg said again, almost too quietly to hear.
Darcienna turned to stare at Morg, gaping like a fish. She slowly closed her mouth and turned to look at Kade. The Adept was just as shocked, but the glare faded from his eyes as he turned to look at the queen.
“How?” Darcienna asked as she took a step toward the man. Morg breathed in and then raised his head to make eye contact with her. He was still a broken man with no spark.
“He can bond with her and close the link,” Morg said, still deeply depressed from his crushing defeat. No one spoke for a long time. Morg took another breath and then continued. “I was trapped in that bloody mountain for decades,” he said as he attempted to cast a glare at Doren, but failed, empty of emotion. “I had plenty of time to do a lot of reading. One of the books I read was about the spiders. Forgive me,” Morg said to the queen, “but it is how I knew that killing the king would destroy the clutch. I learned that in a book. I also learned that all she needs to do is bond again, and the link will close,” he said as he turned his attention back to Darcienna.
“You are mad!” Kade said as he turned his back on Morg’s babble and faced the queen.
“What are you talking about?” Darcienna asked as she started down the steps toward Morg. The Master Chosen sighed. Doren appeared, as if out of thin air, and stood off to the side, listening. Kade turned, irritated at Darcienna for even talking to the man. Kade’s forgiveness was not going to come easy.
“Use the Divine and force the connection,” Morg said simply.
“What does the Divine have to do with it?” Kade asked, contempt heavy in his voice. Morg flinched from the heat in his words.
“She uses the Divine but only in a very limited sense,” Morg continued. Doren edged closer, curious. “How do you think she communicates with you?” Morg asked, amusement in his voice.
“The same as she does with anyone else,” Kade said, hating himself for being drawn into this. He desperately did not want to accept any help from Morg, but he was not willing to let the queen suffer if there was a way for him to help her.
“Not so,” Morg said as he eyed the queen. Kade gasped in exasperation. Morg locked eyes with Darcienna. “Does she speak to you in your mind?”
“Kade was right. This is a waste of time,” Darcienna said as she turned to ascend the steps. “Speak in my mind? Bah,” she said as she stopped next to Kade. She glanced at him and then did a double take. “What?” she asked.
“You have not heard her speak in your mind?” Kade asked and then turned to look at the queen.
“Kade?” Darcienna asked, confused. “I do hear her speak but…I hear it. Are you saying…?” she asked and then paused. Kade turned to look at Morg and then to the queen.
“Rakna. You have not spoken to Darcienna with your mind?” Kade asked as he tried to grasp what was happening.
“No, Chosen. Only with you and Doren. I can communicate with…him…if I choose,” Rakna said as she cast a glance at Morg. “She is not one with the Divine so I must speak words for her to hear me.” Kade’s jaw hung open as he looked from the queen to Darcienna and then to Morg.
“It never occurred to me,” Kade said in wonder. “I just assumed…” Kade took a moment to let this sink in and then clenched his jaw as he turned toward Morg. He hated that he had to ask, but if it meant helping the queen…. “How?”
“Force the link. It will be very painful for her, but it has been done with other queens in the past. Rarely is a king strong enough to actually make the connection, so the queen is usually put to death, but it is just the use of the Divine. If you force the link, it should work,” Morg added.
“I believe I understand,” Doren said as he stepped up. “When the queen makes contact, reach back through the link into her mind. You need to be filled with the Divine,” Doren said as he cast a glance at Morg. Morg nodded in agreement.
“If it will help, then I am willing to try,” Kade said. “Shall we try now?”
“Yes,” Rakna hissed. All eyes turned on her.
“You would not prefer some time to prepare?” Darcienna asked, her voice full of compassion.
“It is best for the clutch if this were performed as soon as possible,” Rakna hissed.
Kade felt her connect with him as she had done many times before. He closed his eyes and found that there was, indeed, a pathway back to her mind. He called on the Divine and started down the path, but before he could move halfway to the queen, he found so much resistance that he had to stop. He gasped and his eyes flew open.
“Did it work?” Darcienna asked quickly.
“No,” Kade said as he steadied his breathing. He felt like he had been swimming up river against the current for hours.
“Kade,” Doren said as he tilted his head back thoughtfully. “This may be why kings no longer try to bond with a queen that has been previously bonded,” he said nonchalantly.
“Maybe if you focus and draw on more of the Divine?” Darcienna asked. Kade looked at her and she nodded her encouragement. He nodded once, took a deep breath and let it out.
“Let’s try again,” Kade said to the queen. She made contact almost immediately. Kade called on the Divine and started down the path once again. He opened himself up, trying to call on the unlimited supply of the Divine, but the block just did not want to budge. Kade struggled to the halfway point once more and found himself pushing against a current that was just too strong. He gasped and doubled over as he put his hands on his knees, breathing hard.
“Thank you for trying,” the queen said, and the link was gone.
“Again,” Kade growled as he forced himself to stand. The queen stood watching, unsure. “Again!” he said firmly. Rakna was uncertain if this was a command from the king or Kade being stubborn, but she did not resist.
“As you wish,” Rakna said.
Kade closed his eyes and pulled at the Divine with all his might. He raced up the path, but there was still the resistance, and he was barely half way. He ground his teeth hard as he fought the tide. Inch by inch he struggled, but he hardly made any headway. He gasped again and fell to his knees. His muscles ached, as did his mind. His breathing was ragged. All eyes were on him, waiting for him to admit defeat.
“Again!” Kade said with heat in his words.
“Kade,” Darcienna said as she got down on her knees next to him. “Maybe this was a bad idea. Maybe later when you have your strength back,” she said, but one look in his eyes, and she knew it was useless to try to stop him.
“Again!” Kade commanded. There was no doubt that the king was speaking. Rakna made the connection easily enough, and Kade ground his teeth so hard that he was sure to crack them. Rage exploded in him. He hated the block and its ability to thwart him over and over. He wa
nted to crush it, and with that, he gripped the Divine as though it were the fiercest of creatures and turned it on the block. It shattered. The Divine filled him to overflowing. He grabbed ahold of it and slammed it into place as he forced his way against the current. The further he got, the stronger the current, and yet, he continued.
He could sense his goal was close as he clenched his fists into tight balls and shook under the effort. Closer yet. He could see thousands of rays of light coming off the queen in all directions.
This has to be what calls out to other kings, Kade thought as he steeled his will.
The current was pounding him, and yet, he continued to match it with even more Divine Power as he pushed on. His goal was now just out of reach…barely. The current was thunderous as he struggled. Just one more last step and he would be there, but he felt himself slip.
NO! he raged. He took a deep breath and called on even more of the Divine. He put his head down, lunging against the current with everything, and then…the link snapped into place. In the blink of an eye, all rays of light swung together to lock onto Kade. The current disappeared completely, as if it never was. The queen wailed loudly; a sound that Kade had never heard before.
He fell onto his back, gasping. He gulped air hungrily as he struggled to breathe. His lungs were on fire, as if he had been under water for hours. The world was fading as blackness clouded his vision. After just a moment, he heard Darcienna’s voice and felt her hands wrapped around his head. His vision cleared, and he looked up into her eyes.
“That’s enough!” Darcienna said fiercely. “You almost passed out. You did your best now stop!”
“Kade,” Ven said with worry. She had returned to her birth form and was wearing one of her form fitting outfits again. “You push yourself too far.”
Doren was watching with deep curiosity. He had none of the concern that Darcienna or Ven had. It was only the quest for knowledge that had him involved. Kade closed his eyes and saw the link so strongly that he would have sworn there was a bright, blazing trail that should have easily been seen by the naked eye. But, when he opened his eyes, it was not there. He could feel the queen’s emotions, and if he listened closely enough, could even hear her thoughts.
The Divine Unleashed (Book 3) Page 27
