The Divine Unleashed (Book 3) (7 page)

“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 the 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.

“Maybe,” Kade said, but deep down he was fairly certain that the Mordra was never going to let the Master Chosen get too close.  Kade was also very certain that the silky, black creature was never going to let Doren anywhere near the sack of books, with how protective it was being of them.

“We took the liberty of making you and your lady some clothes out of a special material.  We produce this naturally.  I think you will approve of the colors we chose.  We used the most vibrant greens for the lady and the deepest blues for you, Kade.  We thought you may need it someday, and it appears that we were correct,” Crayken said as he eyed their outfits.  “There is a tunnel at the back of the great hall that leads to an underground spring.  It is cold, but it should do for a place for you to bathe,” the king said as he looked at the three of them.

“I am in no need of cleaning,” Doren said as he bowed slightly.  “Thank you for the offer.”

“Then you may join me while Kade and Darcienna wash,” Crayken said.  “The queen will show you to the spring.  I will have your clothes brought to you,” the king said to Kade and Darcienna.

“Thank you,” Kade said as he scrutinized his outfit he was wearing.  He was not sure of the new clothes as he was very comfortable in the ones he was wearing, but they did appear to be very nice.  Darcienna saw how he was eyeing his outfit and gave him a stern look.  “I know,” he said, accepting that he needed to change after the bath.

Kade turned his attention back to his Mordra and stroked the animal affectionately.  Chance let out a deep, rumbling purr.  The creature got up from the books and sat back on its haunches while looking at him expectantly.  Its paws were together as if praying.  Kade easily recognized this by now and chuckled.  He gladly called a piece of fresh meat into existence and handed it to Chance, who eagerly took it into his paws and pulled it to himself protectively.  After surveying the room to make sure no one was going to take away its prize, Chance settled down and starting chewing hungrily.

Kade opened the sack and gently rolled the sides down until the stack of books were exposed.  Doren was watching intently while trying to appear to be uninterested.  Kade put himself between the bag and Doren as he worked at the bindings.  He loosened the strap and slid the black book into place on the top of the pile and then cinched them tightly again.  Chance glanced at the sack, then to everyone in the room and then back to the sack.  Content that everything was as it should be, he continued to happily chew on his food.

Crayken exited the room and Doren reluctantly followed.  Kade was relieved and a little surprised at how uncomfortable he had been until the Master Chosen was no longer present.  He shook off the unease and smiled at Chance, appreciating his friend’s protective nature with his books.

“This way,” Rakna said as she left the room and waited for them in the hall.

Darcienna glanced at the books and then back to Kade.  He could see the concern on her face.  Kade glanced at Doren as he and the king were almost out of sight and then back to the Mordra while smiling.

“They are safe,” Kade said as he patted the Mordra on the head.  He felt sorry for the fool who would try to touch those books with this thing around.  Kade started to reach for the new clothes when the queen spoke.

“They will be brought to you.”  Kade shrugged his shoulders and left the clothes where they lay.

Without another word, they turned and walked out the door.  They worked their way through the tree to the exit and over to the other massive tree that housed the Great Hall.  The queen led them down the stairs and through the expansive Great Hall to a tunnel at the back.  The queen continued until they had walked almost two hundred feet down the tunnel.  They were standing in front of a pool of water that was crystal clear.  It was only ten feet wide in all directions.  Kade could see the bottom as though the water was not even there.  The slight ripple on the surface as water churned in was the only evidence that there was any water there at all.  A soft light coming from luminescent algae hanging on the walls and ceiling helped light the area.  Kade moved over to the wall to examine the light-giving substance.   He reached out a hand and brushed the algae lightly.  It flared brightly for a moment and then faded out completely.

“I’m sorry.  I did not realize,” Kade said as he pulled his hands back, afraid that he may have committed a grave error.

“They are very fragile,” Rakna said as she surveyed the dead plant.  “It will be replaced,” she said as she pulled it from the wall and moved over to the water.  “It makes for a great cleaner, also,” the white queen said as she handed it to him.  He gently took the proffered algae and noticed how slick it felt.  It was almost slimy, making him want to drop it and wipe his hands on his pants.

“It does not feel,” Rakna said, noticing how gently he was handling the plant.  “Think of it as grass.  It is there for us to use.  Your clothes will be here shortly,” she added as she settled down a little ways from the pool of water.

Kade hesitated, watching the queen fold her legs under herself as she prepared to wait.  He glanced at Darcienna, who was also watching him.  It occurred to him that none of the spiders wore anything at all.  Clothing was strictly something used by people.  He looked back to Darcienna and noticed a slight grin creeping across her face. 

Okay
, he thought to himself and decided to call her bluff.  He undid his shirt while she watched.  Her face became one of suspicion.  He reached for his pants and smiled.  Her eyes came open wide and her cheeks colored a deep red.  As he undid the strap that served as a belt, she quickly faced away.  He smiled to himself as the rest of his clothes hit the ground. He turned and walked into the spring.  The water sent shockwaves of cold through his body.  He shivered hard.

“Holy Divine this is cold,” Kade said as he quickly waded deeper and dunked his head.

Kade recalled the cold lake the previous day and knew if he went too slowly, he would take all day getting in.  He held his right hand out of the water as he gripped the algae tightly.  With his head still under, he vigorously scrubbed his hair with his left hand, shaking lose any dirt.  After surfacing and gasping for breath because of the cold, he then rubbed the algae through his hair.  He still felt odd about using something that appeared to have been alive just moments before, but it did seem to lather.  He scrubbed eagerly and then dunked his head back under the surface.  The dirt drifted away.  The water clouded momentarily and then cleared as the underground spring continued to bubble in, cycling out the old water.

Several spiders skittered in and dropped their newly made clothes onto the ground.  Darcienna got up from next to the queen and hefted one of the outfits.  It was surprisingly light.  She was not quite certain she wanted to wear something so fragile, though.  She tried to put a small tear in it but it held strong.  She pulled, using more of her strength, and still, it gave no sign of ripping.  Next, she gripped it in both hands and put all her might into it.  There was not even the slightest bit of damage.  She nodded her approval and turned to see Kade watching.

“It is quite amazing,” Darcienna said as she held the clothes out for him to see. 

“They appear to be durable,” Kade said skeptically as he shook the excess water from his hair and prepared to exit the frigid water.