The Divine Apprentice (The Divine Series) (32 page)

Kade panicked as he remembered the sack he had left in the woods.  He mentally cursed himself for being so careless with something so important.  He quickly pulled on one boot, jammed his foot in the other one and hopped out of the room while struggling to get his heel in all the way.

“How come he won’t let me touch your books?” Darcienna asked while studying the silky, black animal.  It was lying on the floor, panting hard.  “He looks like he has been running for days, the poor thing,” she said as she bent down to stroke its shiny fur.  She thought better of it when she saw the razor sharp teeth start to show.  “He is…your animal, isn’t he?” Darcienna asked as she looked at him from her crouched position.  Her eyes widened slightly and her hand went to her mouth.  Her face even seemed to lighten a few shades.

“What is it?” he asked as he looked behind himself.

“Nothing.  It’s just that you look like someone I know,” Darcienna said, looking away.  “It’s just the light.  You…look much better cleaned up,” she said as she regained a little of her composure.

“No, it’s not my animal,” Kade said as he shrugged his shoulders at her odd behavior.

“He is not yours?” Darcienna asked as she quickly stood and took a step back with her hands raised as if to fend off an attack.  She was ready to call on her shield.

“Not like Rayden.  I healed him and fed him last night.  He seems to have this fascination with my books,” Kade said while smiling at the animal.  He noticed how hard Chance was panting and looked around the kitchen.

“Water?” Kade asked.

Darcienna quickly walked into the kitchen and came back with a small bowl of water.  Kade took the bowl and placed it on the ground just in front of the creature.  It eyed the life giving liquid thirstily, and yet, did not let go of the books.  Kade reached out slowly toward the sack and was surprised to see Chance let it go without hesitation.  The creature quickly buried its nose into the bowel and drank deeply.  After a moment, it sat back and looked at Kade expectantly.

“What?” Kade asked, confused.

The creature gave a slight huff.  Kade raised his hands up as if to say, “What” when Chance jumped up and became excited.  He leapt onto the chair and put his paws on the arm as it stared at him expectantly.  Kade looked at his hands and then laughed.

“So, you want something to eat?  Okay, just a moment,” Kade said as he closed his eyes.  He prepared to do the Food Calling, but before he could start, he felt the wrapping still on his hand.  He opened his eyes and pulled the bandage off, amazed to see that his injuries had healed completely.  Kade looked closely and could not see any signs that he had ever been injured.

“Impressive,” he said as he flexed his hand.

Closing his eyes again, Kade immersed himself in the memory of the steamy, hot food.  Within seconds, he was holding a perfectly cooked, mouthwatering, juicy piece of meat.  He opened his eyes to see the animal fidgeting as it licked its lips hungrily.  Kade tossed the tasty morsel to Chance, who easily caught it with its front paws that worked very much like human hands.  It lay down and started chewing eagerly, unconcerned with the greasy mess it was making.

Darcienna took several deep breaths as she inhaled the aroma of the cooked food.  Her eyes were locked on the animal as it devoured its precious meal.  She swallowed while trying to appear casual, but Kade could easily see the hunger in her eyes.

“Where did that come from?” Darcienna asked in awe.

“I made it for the animal,” Kade said passively as he looked upon the silky creature.

“Can you do it again?” Darcienna asked.  Kade found himself watching the way her tongue ran along her lips and the way her mouth parted just slightly as she imagined the taste of the food.  He mentally told himself to stop and focus but fond he was powerless to follow his own command.  He took a deep breath as casually as he could and looked her in the eye.  Fortunately, she did not see him staring, as she was focused on the food.

“Yes,” Kade said nonchalantly.  “Would you like some?”

Darcienna looked at Kade and nodded her head.  He closed his eyes and easily produced a hot piece of meat just like the one that was being devoured by Chance.  The silky creature dropped its food and sat up, waiting for the new one.

“Not for you, you greedy little imp,” Kade said as he handed the meat to Darcienna.  She immediately took a big bite and let the hot juice slide down her throat.  She closed her eyes as she savored the taste of fresh meat.  Some dripped down her chin but she did not seem to care.  Kade found himself watching the way she would take a bit and then chew.  Even this, he found enticing.

“You can make as much of this as you want?” Darcienna asked around the food in her mouth.  She had her wrist over her mouth in an attempt to hide her bad manners of talking while eating.

“Yes,” Kade said, surprised at how easily she was impressed. 

He had always eaten well and didn’t know what it was like to go without food.  Master Zayle could conjure a four course meal with virtually no effort, and yet, most of their food was prepared by hand.  Kade recalled not understanding why his master would go to such pains to do things the hard way when he could just call for the food.  Zayle always preached that they should not be too dependent on the Divine for life.

“What I would give not to worry about where my food is going to come from,” Darcienna said with her mouth still full.  She paused as she chewed absentmindedly.  Soon, she was standing completely still.  As he watched, her eyes changed from her normal blue to a milky, bluish glow, and then to a look of bright blue lightning as if she were in some sort of trance.

“Your eyes!” Kade said in awe.

“Danger!” Darcienna said in a tight voice.

“What is it?” Kade asked.

“I am sensing that there is danger!”

“Your eyes look like that with danger?”

“Yes,” Darcienna said, still trying to control her fear.

“Where?  How long until it is here?  Can you tell me what the danger is?” Kade asked in a rush, feeling his own heart start to pound.  Darcienna seemed almost petrified with fear.

Rayden, danger.  Come to the cabin right away!
Kade thought quickly.  Immediately, the dragon let out a fierce roar and raced to the front of the home.

“What am I going to do?  Jorell is not here to fight them!” Darcienna said as panic seized her.  Kade grabbed her roughly by the shoulders and forced her to face him.

“Darcienna!” Kade said, almost yelling, demanding her attention.  “How long until the danger is here?”

“A few minutes, maybe.  I am not sure.  I never get much of a warning.”

“Can you tell me what the danger is?” Kade asked, speaking slowly, but in a commanding voice.  This was not the time to fall apart.  He knew it was up to him if they were to survive.  He needed to decide if they could stand and fight or if it was best to flee.

“No.  I can only tell that it is danger, but I have never sensed it this strongly.  It’s overwhelming!” Darcienna said as if she were on the verge of hyperventilating.

That was all Kade needed to hear for him to decide.  He forced Darcienna to look him in the eyes.  With effort, those glowing eyes focused on him.

“Gather your things!  We are leaving now!”

“But…,” Darcienna started to say when Kade cut her off as he raised his voice.

“NOW!” Kade demanded, making it clear he meant it and pushed her toward her room where the boy was still sleeping.

Rayden, be ready to leave immediately!  Meet us out front
! Kade thought as he picked up the sack of books.  Rayden roared again, causing the house to shake.

Darcienna was back almost as soon as she had left.  She had the boy strapped to her back and a small cloth sack full of clothes.  The boy started to cry, causing Kade’s heart to pound even faster.

Great
, Kade thought. 
Just what we need; a crying boy to make things worse.  I can’t take any more distractions.
 

Ignoring the wailing noise, Kade grabbed Darcienna by the arm and led her toward the door.  He looked around one last time, making sure he had not forgotten anything.  Darcienna jerked to a stop as he quickly scanned the room.

“What about the animal?” Darcienna asked. 

The chair was empty except for the half eaten piece of meat.  The animal was nowhere to be found.  Kade paused only a moment to consider what would make this hungry, little creature leave its precious food and then decided it was definitely time for them to leave.  He turned and pulled Darcienna through the door a little rougher than he had intended.  He would apologize later.

Rayden was waiting just as Kade had instructed.  The dragon knelt down and prepared to let his passengers mount.  Kade boosted Darcienna up easily.  He forced himself to be careful with how much strength he used as he was sure he could throw her clear over the dragon.  Next, he swung up to sit in front of her just as the ground was starting to shake.

GO!
  Kade thought fiercely to the dragon.  Rayden took off in a burst of power that nearly unseated Darcienna.  Even Kade, who was ready for it, almost came off.  He grabbed Darcienna’s arm as her legs shot up and yanked her back into place.  It was close, but they were on the dragon.

Darcienna locked her arms around Kade in a death-grip that he was not sure he could undo, even with his increased strength.  Fear was a powering thing.  For just a brief moment, Kade could feel the contours of her body as she pressed up against his back and then quickly forced himself to ignore the distraction.  He cleared his head and focused on what was important.  He sent the dragon instructions to head east.

Kade looked over his shoulder just in time to see the cabin explode as though something hit it from beneath.  He watched in awe as a rock-like head emerged from the roof, sending wood in all directions.  The irony of seeing another home taken from another student was not lost on him.  He considered turning back for just a moment as his rage built to a dangerous level.  Then, he saw a speck on the horizon winging its way toward the cabin.  Kade did not need to see it up close to know it was another flying creature like the one they had killed earlier.  As much as he wanted to vent his fury on these creatures, he had other lives to consider.

Getting his rage under control, Kade held his breath, hoping not to be spotted.  He looked over his shoulder as the trees raced by and felt relief.  The rock creature never stopped pounding on the cabin until it was unrecognizable as a home.  The flying beast circled the cabin, spitting its black flame, setting ablaze anything that would burn.  Kade faced forward to settle in for the ride as he tried to organize his thoughts.  He reached down, against his better judgment, and put his hands on hers.  She intertwined her fingers with his and held on tightly.  He hated feeling this way when her heart belonged to another, but he was powerless to change the affect she had on him.

They raced at the break-neck speed until they could no longer see the monsters.  Kade felt the tension start to flow out of his body as the distance increased.  Darcienna responded to Kade’s more relaxed posture and withdrew her hand.  Kade regretted that release and vowed to get his feeling under control.  He knew it was clouding his judgment and it could easy get them killed.  He feared that this internal battle was going to be fiercer than any physical battle he had ever fought, and he was afraid he was not strong enough to prevail.  Not even close.

Kade cleared his head as he forced his mind on what was to come.  Guilt at the delay worked at him.  He looked down at his hand and flexed it, checking to make sure it was healed enough for battle.  He closed his eyes and thought to himself with all his heart,
Mother, Father, please forgive me if I am not in time.

*CH8*

             
“Are you ok?” Kade asked.

             
“Yes, I guess.  What happened back there?”

             
“More creatures showed up to finish the job.”  Kade felt Darcienna stiffen.  “It is a good thing.”

             
“What?” Darcienna asked.

             
“He must think we are a threat to him.  As long as he believes that to be the case, then we must do what we can to prove his fears well founded,” Kade growled.  He was still angry and she could hear it in his voice.  “We just need to learn why he fears us.  Whatever it is has been trying to kill me for several weeks now and has yet to succeed,” Kade said, stating the obvious.  “I regret to say that they will be after you, also, if they know of your existence.”

             
Kade turned and looked at Darcienna, waiting for her to say anything.  At a loss for words, she just stared straight ahead without uttering a thing.  He felt his heart melt as he watched her blink her eyes several times while trying to work through this.  Kade knew he would do anything for this vulnerable person.  All he could see was a helpless, scared, young woman looking to him for protection and safety.  He turned forward and scanned the woods for danger as Rayden continued to run.