The Divine Unleashed (Book 3) (17 page)

A gasp when up from the spiders.  The buzzing started around the table and then the spiders in the Great Hall started to join in.  Although the main clutch of spiders was not allowed at the great table, it was not meant for them to be kept from hearing.

“Then was it wise to kill the spy?” White Leg asked.

“I was not aware of the spy until I was in the tree.  By then, it was too late.  It had to be eradicated.  It knew too much to be allowed to live,” Vell said firmly.  “We must assume the worst.  I believe that Morg may come with his forces by the following night.  He is desperate to find what he seeks,” Vell said.

“Then we will be here to meet him!” Red Diamond said as he pounded the table for emphasis.

Kade and Doren exchanged grim looks but quickly hid them before anyone could take their eyes off the king that had pounded the table.  Kade stopped as he noticed the queen studying him.  Not all had missed the look on his face.  Doren cleared his throat lightly.  Kade glanced over as the Master Chosen tilted his head ever so slightly toward Kade and then nodded toward the other spiders.  The apprentice took that as a prompt to take a turn at speaking.  He stood and all eyes swung to him.  The place grew so quiet that he would have sworn it was empty.

“We have a plan,” Kade said.  Not a spider moved.  “We must take the staff from Morg,” Kade said.  Several kings looked at him in disbelief.

“And, how would you accomplish such a dangerous task?” one of the kings shot back.

“I am going to go to him in the mountain of Drell.  He will never expect it.  If I can catch him off guard, we can win the war without the life of one spider being lost,” Kade said confidently.  Even kings needed to see that the one who leads them, leads with complete confidence.  At least, he needed them to believe he had complete confidence.

“Your words do ring of wisdom,” Crayken said.  Several of the kings nodded in agreement.  It was risky.  It was extremely risky, but it was also a plan, where before, they had none.

“I can only take a few spiders with me.  Too many will call attention to us, and we cannot take that risk,” Kade said.

“Then you plan on leaving your dragon behind?  You will not get there in time,” another king said.

“I can take Rayden with me.  I have the ability to render him unseen and unheard.  But, I cannot do that for an entire army.  It would be too disorganized.  Besides, I need you to keep watch over the tunnel.  If he comes, we must be ready to defend it,” Kade said, knowing that the spiders would not fare well if this came to pass.

“Then, you shall take my queen with you so we may stay in contact,” Crayken said.  Rakna never wavered for a moment.  Kade was sure she would have pressed to be included if that was not already part of the plan.

“I believe I know a way into the mountain,” Vell said.  Everyone froze.  Not all who sat around the table had a protector, but those protectors that were present stared in open shock and dismay that Vell had spoken without being invited.  It was one thing to answer a question, but to openly interject while the kings and queens were talking was clearly something not done.  Every eye turned on him. 

“Your protector speaks without being invited,” White-leg chastised.

“I brought him, not only as protector, but also as a source of knowledge.  I would ask that you allow him to join in the planning where he sees fit.  I suspect you will not regret his involvement,” Kade said.  He fought to keep from glancing at Crayken as he did not want the king to feel as if he needed to come to the rescue.

“I do hope he proves his worth then,” the king said as he waved a leg in the air as if to say, “Continue.”  Kade found himself irritated at the king’s arrogance.  He quickly reminded himself that this was their culture and he was still learning their ways.  With a nod of his head, he said, “Thank you for your understanding.”  The king responded with a slight nod of his head and quickly turned his attention back to the shapeshifter.

“You may continue,” Kade said to Vell.

“I am confident I can get us in undetected.  I know that mountain well.  I have been in and out of there for years.”

“Excellent!”  Crayken exclaimed with hope.  Kade suspected that the king had spoken with enthusiasm to show Kade support for allowing this break in tradition.  But, it had to be done.  Vell was a source of information that was needed.

This was the first time Kade felt real hope and the possibility of success coming from the king.  He, too, felt the thrill the more they planned.  “Then it is decided.  We shall prepare for battle in the event that Morg does find his way here,” he said as he rose from the table.  “You need to get some rest before you go.  I will have someone show you to your new chambers,” Crayken said as he buzzed at two spiders that quickly ran to the table.  The queen got up and joined him along with the two guards.  “Doren, may I speak with you to help in preparing?” Crayken asked of the Master Chosen.

“Of course,” Doren said as he rose from his seat.  He glanced at Kade as if considering something and then shrugged, letting it go.  He turned and walked with the king.

Kade was grateful for the chance to be away from the Master Chosen.  He was certain that Doren was going to question him for any small detail of his meeting with the Ancients that he may have missed.  The more he thought about it, the more he knew he had to keep the metal books a secret unless it was absolutely necessary.  Doren might be an ally now, and very well could become his new teacher, but Kade was not under the delusion that Doren would not also become…an…issue…was the best way he could think to put it.  With a sigh, he let the entire line of thinking go and focused on the queen.

“My new room?” Kade asked.

Kade noticed Darcienna stalking alongside of him on his left with her arms crossed tightly.  It was painfully obvious that she was not going to make this any easier than she had to.  Ven walked on his right in her female form.  Kade gave a mental sigh and hoped that Darcienna would be willing to talk to resolve this, but after another glance at both women, he had his doubts.

“Yes.  The room you stayed in the first time is not befitting someone of your status.  It would be shameful for us to allow you to stay in a room that did not match your rank.  The guards will show you to your chamber,” Rakna said as she gave several buzzed commands to the two spiders.  They buzzed back and then turned to lead the way. 

“Wait.  I need to feed Rayden,” Kade said as he turned for the exit.  Rakna buzzed at the guards and then joined the king.  “It won’t take long,” Kade said as he rushed up the stairs.  Ven was close behind followed by the two guards.  Kade was certain that when he was done with the dragon, they would know to take him to his new quarters.  Darcienna stayed in the great hall.

Kade stepped outside and called to Rayden.  The dragon eagerly responded to his friend’s call.  The link exploded with affection as Rayden sniffed him several times. 
Odd,
Kade thought as he watched his dragon’s new, curious habit.  Kade tried to push the dragon’s muzzle out of the way but Rayden was not to be denied.  More out of curiosity than anything else, Kade let the dragon continue. 
He should be used to these new clothes by now,
Kade thought. 
Maybe he was just checking me over to make sure I was ok.
At least, that is what Kade thought he was doing.  As the dragon took several long draws with its nose firmly pressed against Kade’s chest, its hackles came up and its wings flared.  There was a dangerous growl coming from deep within the dragon.

“Rayden, what are you doing?” Kade asked as he shoved the dragon’s nose back.  Rayden sniffed in the direction of Ven and his wings shot out, his lips pulling back violently as he readied for a strike.  “No!” Kade screamed as he threw himself between the dragon and the shapeshifter.  “She is safe,” he said with his hands up in the air.  Confusion assaulted him through the link.  “No, Rayden!  No!  She is with us!  Easy, Rayden, easy!” he said as he turned and pushed Ven back into the tree.

The dragon never took its eyes off the entrance.  Rayden obviously remembered the scent of the shapeshifter, who had chained him to the ground.  It would appear that not all were going to accept his new companion as readily as he had hoped, but…they had to.  Ven might make the difference between success and failure.  Rayden just had no choice, but Kade got a sick feeling that this might end in disaster…if he could not mollify his friend.

“I do not fault him,” the female voice of Ven said from the entryway.  “I would not trust me either.”

“I know just how to distract him,” Kade said as he called his first piece of meat.  As he expected, the link filled with the craving for food, but the desire to rend and kill was still dominant.  He tossed the morsel in the air and the dragon caught it in its mouth but did not swallow or even chew.  The rumble from deep within continued as its shoulders bunched.  Kade got the feel that Rayden wanted to strike but the juices starting to run down his throat were getting the dragon’s attention.  Rayden’s wings slowly retracted and then its jaws started to slowly grind up the meat.  Kade gave a bit of a smile as he felt the dragon’s stomach win it over. 

He worked the Food Calling for as long as he could concentrate, grateful for the temporary reprieve.  After almost twice the normal amount of food, he patted the dragon on the neck and then returned to the tree. 
Hopefully the extra meat will take his mind off his desire to kill our best chance of defeating Morg,
Kade thought as he gave the dragon one last glance before disappearing into the tree.  Ven was waiting patiently.  It was not lost on Kade that his new ally was not very welcomed by his closest of friends and companions.  With a sigh, Kade turned to follow the two guards.

Ven followed him back down to where Darcienna was waiting.  She gave Ven an icy glare that could have frozen water solid.  The shapeshifter gave no indication of seeing the dagger like glances.  They made their way down the tunnel they had used previously to get to the spring.  Before they turned the corner to the room with the pool, the guards stopped and motioned to their left.  There, in the side of the tunnel, were two brand new doors imbedded into the rock.  There were real brass hinges on two ornate doors.  Each door had to weigh close to twice his weight as it was large enough to allow entry for someone twice his height.  Kade pulled on one of the rings and the door swung open smoothly without making a sound.  The inside was easily three times the size of the room they had stayed in previously.

Kade went in gaping as he slowly scanned the room, taking in the vastness of it.   Darcienna was close behind.  Ven hesitated, unsure if she was to follow until Darcienna turned and gave her a hard stare.  The shapeshifter moved over to stand in front of the other door and turned to face out.  Darcienna closed the door with considerably more force than was needed.  Kade was sure the echo could be heard all the way down the hall and out the exit.  He swallowed hard.

“I don’t know what is going through your head, but she is a shapeshifter!” Darcienna said with such heat in her voice that Kade flinched.  Her face was starting to flush.

“I know,” Kade was able to get out before she cut him off.

“You cannot have anything with her,” Darcienna said as she violently jabbed her finger at the door.

“I know,” Kade said, but Darcienna continued on with fire in her voice, full of passion.

“As much as you might think she is beautiful and has all those curves, she cannot be with you,” Darcienna said, showing no sign of slowing down.

“I know,” Kade repeated, but again, she charged on.

“She will never love you!  She is a shapeshifter!” Darcienna raged.

“I know,” Kade said.  By this time, he knew this was all he was going to get out and stopped so she could continue.  He hoped she would get this out of her system sooner than later.

“And you could never love her!” Darcienna practically screamed as she furiously walked away from him.

“I know!” Kade said forcefully.  Darcienna reacted as if this was the first time she had heard him talk.  She marched at him with eyes blazing.

“And, how do you know?” Darcienna challenged.

“Because, she is not the one who has my heart,” Kade shot back as he grabbed her and pulled her firmly into an embrace, pressing his lips to hers. 

What better way to silence her than to cover her mouth with mine,
he thought.

Darcienna fought him for several long moments.  She even pounded on his arms with all her strength, but her lips never left his, even when he gave her enough room.  She melted under his embrace.  When he finally pulled back, the fire in her was completely gone.  Her eyes were filled to the brim with tears.  Kade pulled her to himself and hugged her tightly.  She cried the cry of a broken heart.  Kade did his best to calm her as he stroked her hair.  He hated himself for causing her this kind of pain.

“Darcienna,” Kade said with such passion that she paused and melted a little more.  “You must know by now how I feel about you.  Yes, I feel compassion for her, and yes, I do feel a bond already forming, but not in the way I feel with you.  She is not you.  You must not let that cloud your judgment,” he said as he continued to stroke her hair.

“I thought you…when I saw you and her…” Darcienna said and then started to cry again.

“You were wrong,” Kade said, backing up and placing a hand alongside her face as he looked deep into her eyes.  She turned her cheek into that loving touch.  He spoke gently but firmly.  “I have what I want and I am not going to give it up,” he said as he forced her to look at him.  He needed her to see that what he said came from his heart.