The Divine Unleashed (Book 3) (29 page)

“By the great Nature’s Gift, I do not EVER want to travel like that EVER again!” Darcienna vowed vehemently.  Kade wiped his mouth and spat out a string of curses that made her eyes grow wide.  With that, she knew he shared her dislike for that form of travel.

Kade heard the sound of another getting sick and turned to see Morg suffering the same fate.  He firmed his resolve not to help the man, expecting Darcienna to show compassion.  He turned, ready to stand his ground and locked eyes with her.  Darcienna was watching the evil Chosen with her eyes narrowed in thought.  After several long moment of contemplation, she turned her attention to Kade.  With the slightest of movement, she shook her head.  Kade’s eyes came open wide in shock.

“This is all his fault,” Darcienna said as she swept the area with her arms.  “He can deal with it,” she said by way of an explanation.  Kade grinned and loved her even more for sharing his lust for revenge.  He knew it was wrong, but he did not care.  Morg should be grateful that he was going to live.

A buzzing worked its way into his mind.  His vision cleared more and more and then the scene around them came into focus.  There were bodies strewn for as far as he could see.  Many were spiders but most appeared to be creatures that he did not even know existed.  There were reptile species and bird-like creatures.  There were two dead grimalkin closer to the cave, but there was one still very much alive.  It was half inside the cave, struggling furiously to get in at something.  Occasionally, it would jump back quickly only to lunge in again.

“Kade,” Rakna hissed in panic.

“I have this,” Kade said as he stood and turned on the creature.  Before he could bring the staff to bear down on its target, Rayden sent a thought so strong through the link that Kade flinched.  It translated into one simple word and it took no effort to decipher.  MINE!

Rayden leapt to his feet and tore after the creature, sending dirt spraying high into the air as its claws fought for purchase.  If only the grimalkin knew what was coming for it, it may have had a chance to run for its life.  Kade watched as the dragon and its one lone, trussed-up passenger took off to do battle.  He shook his head at the poor creature that had no clue how bad it was going to suffer.  He also knew he should do something about Morg, but he just could not get himself to care. 

Morg caused this, so he gets to see it up close,
Kade thought.  Maybe he would survive, maybe he would not.  At least he was not actively trying to kill the man, even though he was not actively trying to save him. 
Was there a difference?
he asked himself.  He did not get to answer that thought.

There was a battle raging around him and it was his turn to unleash death on those that dared attack his clutch.  The buzzing that he had heard in his head formed into sounds that he recognized.  The trees erupted into a cacophony that almost drowned out any other sound.  The spiders were growing into a frenzy as they looked down on the battle field.  News of Kade’s arrival spread quickly.  Their hero and savior had appeared from out of nowhere to pull them from defeat and bring them victory. 

Darcienna’s shield popped into existence right before Kade’s eyes.  He turned to see an earth creature swing something heavy at them.  The shield took one hit and was gone.  Darcienna was in no shape to keep this up but she had made the difference.  She was exhausted, but Kade was another story.  He grinned eagerly.  It might even be accurate to say he grinned evilly.

“You are going up into the tree where it is safe,” Kade said as he put his hands on her hips and propelled her up into the tree.  She landed with an “Umph” on a branch and latched on. 

Kade quickly back peddled to avoid the next attack and tripped over a root.  He fell and then rolled just as the creature’s club slammed into the spot he was just occupying.  He came up with the piece of wood in his hand and blocked the next swing.  The ancient artifact showed no signs of breaking and Kade easily had the strength to absorb the hit.  That was it.  That was the best chance this creature had of prevailing, and now, it was his turn.  His blood boiled as he spun in a circle and swung the staff with all his might.  The creature shattered, breaking in two.  The staff hardly slowed as it passed through the Alluvium.  Had the creature taken on the rock form it was capable of, it may have survived, but it had not reacted quickly enough to Kade’s counterattack.

“So, it does hit as hard as a house,” Kade said as he spared a glance for Darcienna.  He spun to face the bulk of the army and let his hate explode.  “You will all die!” Kade screamed, eager to kill as he raised the staff and let lightning after lightning explode into the air.  The first several bolts were just to get their attention.  He wanted them to see who was going to end their miserable lives.  The next were to maim, kill and destroy.  Blood flew everywhere as he alternated between calling on the Divine and flat out crushing skulls with the deadly piece of wood.  Kade preferred crushing skulls so he could physically feel the life being ended through the staff.  He was careful not to hurt the dragon, Ven, Doren, if he still lived, or any spiders, but beyond that, anything that moved died. 

Kade was soaked with blood of many different colors.  The lizard’s blood was blue, while the bird-like creatures was red.  The earth creatures had dark, brown blood that was like mud.  It did not matter.  They were going to die, whatever the color.  The ground was going to flow with it.  The staff was coated with the liquid life force, but Kade continued to swing.

The spiders renewed their attack.  For any creature that got too close to a tree, it would be quickly ensnared and lifted into the branches.  Shortly after, it would fall to the ground, dead.  The trees were alive with spiders.  Every tree in the area had spiders.  Kade instantly understood why his clutch was still in this fight.  The spiders on the ground would engage and then back up to the tree as if they were cornered.  Their clutch mates would then pull them up.  It was simple and effective.  But, even with this clever ploy, had Kade not returned, they would have been beaten.  But, he did return, and the spider’s morale shot through the roof as they fought with a vengeance.  Their savior was there and this alone was enough to erase any fear as they fully engaged the enemy.

Kade stopped for a moment, panting hard.  There was nothing but dead creatures surrounding him.  Some were smoking from the lightning but most were in pieces with crushed skulls.  When Kade wanted to see them suffer, he would call on the Blue Fire of the Divine and let them burn to death.  He basked in their screams as they died in droves.  He was pure rage as hate filled him. 

Kade turned to see the dragon flanking the grimalkin, lunging in and back out again.  The creature was struggling to turn with its opponent.  Its hind end was smoking and its right, back leg struggled to work.  It cried out pitifully but there was nothing close enough to come to its rescue.  At least…nothing that Kade saw.

The body of Morg was hanging off the dragon’s back now as the cocoon swung wildly.  Kade watched in horror as a massive creature emerged from around the mountain.  It oriented on his dragon and charged.  Kade screamed a warning through the link.  Rayden leapt out of reach of the grimalkin as he whirled to meet the new challenge.

“Kade!” Darcienna yelled as she pointed at the huge beast bearing down on Rayden.  “Another dragon!”

Kade’s eyes went wide with panic and his heart raced out of control.  He quickly raised the Ancient staff, and just as he was sending a blast at the massive, green and black dragon, Rayden leapt in the way.  The bolt was already firing.  Kade twisted slightly and the blast sizzled through the air just over both dragons’ heads.

Rayden and the new dragon that was half again as large came together and tangled.  Kade could not get a shot off as the dragons spun.  He feared for his friend.  He expected, at any moment, that the larger dragon would tear into Rayden easily, but it did not happen.  They spun around each other in some sort of dance, but neither attacked.  After four or five rotations, the giant dragon started to back away as Rayden pursued.  Rayden was furious.  Kade could feel the rage through the link.  Never before had he felt this much anger from his dragon.  Rayden was directing the fury at the larger dragon, who was looking left and right for escape.  Kade glanced at Darcienna who appeared to be just as mystified.

“Kade?” Darcienna asked, still trying to make heads or tails of the situation. 

The apprentice just shrugged his shoulders and stared in awe.  Darcienna’s shield popped into existence right in front of his face, startling him.  He jumped back and then turned to see a creature backing away quickly.  It turned to run.  The shield disappeared and Kade raised the staff and fired.  He did not care if it was retreating.  He would not have cared if it was down on its knees begging for its life.  Enough was enough.  If they wanted to continue to attack him after knowing who he was and what he could do, then so be it.  He felt no remorse as the fire enveloped its target.  They tried to take his life and that meant they forfeit theirs.  He was sure Darcienna was going to have a chat with him about not killing when it was running, but the time for being compassionate was past.  The creature screamed in agony.

Kade dispatched several more creatures that were not smart enough to run for their lives.  Morg’s army was thinning by the moment.  The spiders from the trees descended like death from above.  There were only a scattering of creatures now.  The spiders hunted then quickly, driving them to the ground and filling them with venom. 

Several spiders ran up to Rayden, happy to see the dragon.  The larger dragon flared its wings and prepared to attack.  Rayden placed himself between the spiders and the larger dragon, snapping at the green with a crashing of teeth.  It shook its head as it looked between the spiders and Rayden.  The beautiful, silver dragon circled the larger dragon once more while the green tried to retreat.  Rayden gave a continual stream of guttural grunts, growls and hisses.  The green became agitated as it fought to understand what was happening.  Rayden gave several more vehement guttural sounds and then returned to Kade’s side.  The green slowly turned and looked at the grimalkin.  Green looked back at Rayden one more time and shot back in the language of dragons.  Rayden took a couple of steps toward Green, responding to it, and then the large dragon rounded on the grimalkin with a vengeance.

Rayden turned his back on the green dragon and trotted toward Kade with Morg hanging sideways off his back.  The webbing was coming loose.  The grimalkin wailed in fear as the green and black dragon started to stalk it.  Rayden and the grimalkin might be an even match but this was obviously not.  Even the grimalkin knew this was the end for it as it tried to turn and run for its life.  The green dragon leapt into the air with a mighty roar, its wings expanding to blot out the sun, and then it came down on the grimalkin’s back with its claws extended, driving it into the ground.  The cat-like creature turned, desperately fighting for its life, but the dragon drove its teeth deep into the grimalkin’s throat and tore.  And with that, it was over before it even began.

“It is about time you made yourself useful,” the dry voice of Doren said from the direction of the cave.

Kade slowly turned to see Doren walking toward them.  There was blood down the front of his clothes and his left arm hung limp at his side with an ugly gash that ran from his shoulder to his elbow.  Kade ran up to Doren and let a flood of healing fill the Chosen.  Doren closed his eyes and soaked up the relief as the pain evaporated.  Every wound closed up instantly and Doren gave a deep sigh of relief.  He opened his eyes and locked onto the staff.  Before he could demand that the apprentice hand it over, Kade spoke quickly.

“We should seek the Ancients’ wisdom on what to do next,” Kade said as he turned away from Doren. 

The Master Chosen grunted but did not pursue the matter further.  Kade was certain that the only reason Doren let it go was because the Master Chosen expected to have the staff shortly.  Kade walked up to the tree with Doren close behind.  He leaned the staff against his shoulder and held his hands up toward Darcienna.  She hesitated a moment and then slid off the branch to be caught in his arms.  The staff started to fall but Kade grabbed it.  Although he did not see it, he was certain that Doren had started to move.

The Master Chosen saw Morg hanging off the side of the dragon and grunted again.   Kade was not sure if it was in contempt for the injured man all trussed up in webbing, or for Kade’s careless manner in which he treated the evil Chosen.  Either way, he just did not care.

Kade walked up to Rayden and patted him on the side as he approached Morg.  Doren fallowed closely.  The evil Chosen had sick covering his face.  Kade grinned, feeling not even one bit of sympathy.  He glanced at Doren and did a double take as the Master Chosen glared hard at him.

“You find this amusing?” Doren asked dryly.

“And I am supposed to feel sympathy?” Kade growled, pushing his luck.

Darcienna walked up and put her hands around Kade’s arm.  Her nails dug in hard.  Kade cast a glance at her, wondering what he might have done wrong and flinched.  She had daggers in her eyes as she glared death at the Master Chosen.  Kade realized that she was digging in her nails in an attempt to control her temper, but it was failing miserably.  He cringed, seeing another verbal lashing coming for Doren.  He may be powerless as an apprentice but she was Darcienna and nothing got in her way, if it knew what was good for it.

“He may have committed evil acts, but he is a Master Chosen,” Doren said much more civilly.  “He will have to atone for his crimes,” he said as he kept from making eye contact with Darcienna.  His arrogance was still there, but he made sure not to direct any of it at Kade as he spoke.  “Remove him from the dragon.”