The Druid's Spear (Ascent of the Gem Bearers Book 1) (19 page)

“Now we know why.” Odin folded his arms.

“Uchida-san
,” Luke started and stopped. He looked at her, a hesitant expression widening his eyes. Then the word gushed forward as if he couldn’t get them out fast enough. “Uchida-san
, were you ever going to tell us?”

She planned on being dead before anyone found out about her lineage. It would be easier to lie and spare her team the truth but she respected them all.

“I planned on being dead long before anyone knew what I was.” Luke and Odin looked wounded at her frankness so she changed the subject. “Despite what
Senpai
says about the Druman, I want her watched unobtrusively as possible. I don’t trust her at all.”

And Ken had some explaining to do.

Ken sat on the edge of the group that sat around Kaluwa. In the dancing firelight, the shadows and flickering lights cast her face in to a soft relief. Depending on where the light landed, she looked more woman than Druman. Then, the scales would come into sharp contrast and the purple eyes would show themselves as the orbs which made her a Druman.

Yet he waited for a private moment, locked onto her like a bee drawn to the nectar of a flower. But it wasn’t of a physical attraction. It was the heady sensation similar of a narcotic user. The drug in this case was visions of dragon hood.

“How long could you fly when you were a dragon?” a young boy asked her, sitting on his mother’s lap.

“Dragons have great stores of energy. We did not require rest and sustenance in the same way that humans do. When I was a dragon, I could fly for days, stopping only for a drink of water.” Kaluwa seemed to look inward at the thought.

The
juusha
were spellbound. In a way, Ken couldn’t blame them. For hundreds of years, the stories of the Drumans had been passed down through the line. They’d never seen one but they certainly heard about it. Now, a living, breathing Druman stood in their midst.

Another child, older than the boy, stepped forward. “What about Rhychard—
sama
? What was he like?”

The expression on Kaluwa’s face saddened. At that moment she appeared to look neither human or Druman. It was the face of sorrow.

“Rhychard—
sama
was our king. He took care of our herd, led us in negotiations with the kings, and fought to protect us. It is odd to think of dragons as having love but they do, not in the same way as humans, but it is just as poignant. Nothing mattered more to him than our care and safety.”

The crowd sent question after question at her and she answered amicably. He stopped listening, his impatience rising the longer he waited for the session to end so he could have his moment alone with her. Jittery, he got up from the edge of the crowd and headed out the chamber to come face to face with Uchida—
sensei
.

Her golden amber eyes flamed bright, although half her face was shrouded by the bandages. “I believe we need to talk, Ken.”

There was much that needed to be said. For one thing, the fact she hid her inhumanity from him was something he wanted to discuss with her. Not to mention the eruption of his power without the blood gem.

Not least of all why he lied for Kaluwa.

“Perhaps later,” Ken said, and made to move around her when she blocked his path.

“
Ima da
!” She narrowed her eyes.

He suppressed a sigh and followed her down the corridor, into an empty chamber mainly used for storage.

Uchida—
sensei
came directly to the point. “Why did you lie?”

“Why did you lie to me?” he countered.

She didn’t pretend ignorance. “I didn’t think it was necessary to let you know of my Druman ancestry.”

Ken huffed. “Not necessary? Uchida—
sensei
, my mother is dead. My brother was murdered. The last connection to any sort of family died with them. I’ve been tossed into this life and you didn’t think I’d need to have some sort of connection to this new reality?”

“It was selfish of me,” she admitted.

“
Hai!
”

“Yet I did what I did because I did not want to lose the connection to my life.” She turned away from him, the bandaged face reflecting the light. “My people did not know of my true state. They treated me as one of them, albeit as a leader to be respected. The Elder knew, but it was his suggestion we keep my identity a secret. It was the only way I had a normal childhood.”

“But what of your affinity with Tambo and…spiders?”

“It was seen as a gift, one everyone accepted. Now, all of that has been taken away from me.”

“Why?”

She faced him again, the amber eyes sad. “Because now they will revere me, fear me as they do you. I did not want that.”

Ken rubbed his neck. There was a lot of sense to that. After all, he’d just gotten used to being referred to as ‘lord’ after weeks of trying to dissuade the
juusha
from that. They respected him, but it was tinged with awe. He’d never be considered one of them. For a while, he had mourned the existence that made him separate from the rest of humanity.

Which brought back full circle the visions of dragon hood Kaluwa had given him.

Uchida—
sensei
folded her arms and narrowed golden amber eyes at him. “Your turn.”

It was better to tell the truth. “She let me experience what it was like to be dragon.”

The amber eyes widened. “How?”

“I don’t know. It was as if…” His voice trailed off, searching for words to explain the experienced that still had him high. “Somehow, she was able to let me experience being a dragon within my grandf—Rhychard’s body.” Closing his eyes, he once again felt anew the sensations of being a dragon. “It is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before.”

He opened them to meet her astonished stare. “I want it again.”

“You heard the Elder. She has not joined Ludovicus, but I still think she is threat.”

Remembering how Kaluwa stated she wanted him to join Ludovicus it seemed to suggest maybe she was. But surely she would not join with a man who killed her king? From the reverence she used when speaking of the Dragon King, it was difficult to imagine she’d willingly join Ludovicus if she knew he’d killed Rhychard. When she asked Ken to join them, it could have been from a place of ignorance. Maybe she had met with the
juusha’s
sworn enemy, but perhaps that Druman had kept his part in the murder of Rhychard to himself.

Ken stared hard at Uchida—
sensei
although he couldn’t see her face. He saw John’s pulverized body on the cream colored carpet. The nightmares of his corpse taunting him still plagued his sleep. Perhaps if he did join Kaluwa and was able to meet Ludovicus face to face, he’d avenge the death of his brother.

“Kenzo—
sama
!”

The sound of his name jolted him from his thoughts. Blinking several times, he focused on the woman before him, her amber gold eyes wary. “What were you thinking about?”

“Nothing of importance,
sensei.”
Ken frowned. “Why are you addressing me like that?”

The woman shifted from one leg to another. “No particular reason.” But she wouldn’t meet his eyes.

“You must have—”

Something thudded against the cavern walls, a sound that stopped all conversation.

“What was that?” Ken wondered aloud as he made his way to the doorway.

“I’m not sure,” Uchida—
sensei
responded, a frown on her face. “I’ll go check.”

They escaped the room and headed down to where they heard the thud. Tambo came from one of the other chambers and stepped in behind them. Ken did his best to ignore the thousand pound gorilla behind him. It was difficult with the animal breathing hard behind him, and listening to the heavy footfalls as they made their way down the path. The errant thought crossed his mind that he wanted to see Kaluwa once more.

Two runners came up to them, their eyes. Swiftly they bowed as the met them and then said, “Uchida-san, kitte kudasai
.”

“What is it?”

“There’s trouble in your quarters.”

Callen came to Uchida-san’
s room and stilled. His lord had given him charge to assist Kaluwa with the capture of the Vessel. Checking the halls, he saw he was alone and swiftly he went inside. Her distinct aroma permeated the room. Even if he had not seen her unleash her power, the scent of her would have given her away. The smell emitting from her was not as strong as Kaluwa
-no kimi’s.
His nose twitched. Her scent filled the room, a light fragrance of woman flesh, floral scent, and whatever it was that made her a Druman. A delicate smell, but it was deceptive. Uchida-san
was steel wrapped in lace.

Transfixed by the odor, he allowed himself a brief spite of insanity to rummage through her things. In the past he would have never entertained the thought of desecrating her privacy, but now the feeling had a drug-induced high about it. Touching her garments seemed akin to touching her.

He was surprised to find out that he
did
want her. This new strength and vitality given to him by his master bore with it a confidence foreign to his psyche. When Master Ludovicus destroyed these people, might he be convinced to permit Uchida-san
to become his?

Callen shut off that train of thought. Now wasn’t the time to indulge in nonsensical fantasies. Obtaining the Vessel was more important. He went over to the shelf and reached for the chest.

“What are you doing?”

Callen whipped around to see Alderic blocking the doorway. He stiffened, half-expecting the old intimidation to overtake and fluster him. It didn’t. Straightening, he was just about eye level with his adversary. The man must have noticed it too since his eyebrows arched in surprise.

“When did you get taller?” Alderic stepped inside the room, his face scrunched like wrinkled piece of paper.

“Don’t worry about it.” Callen also took as a step forward. Assessing the Elder’s son with new eyes, he realized the old fear was gone. The hatred still lingered; in fact, it surged anew. Big as the man was, Callen was confident he could take him if need be.

The thought almost made him grin.

“Why are you talking to me like that? Matter of fact, why are you doing in Uchida-san’s
room?”

“What are you doing in here?” he countered.

“I heard noises and thought—wait. You answer my questions. I don’t answer yours.”

Something boiled inside Callen, alien but heady. “Don’t talk to me like that,” he warned.

Alderic rushed forward and gripped him by the front of his shirt. “I’ll talk to you any way I choose!” He shook him. “Don’t get cocky, pebble.”

A hot rush of blood exploded behind his eyes. Snarling, he yelled, “Get your hands off me!” He shoved the man away, but not without sacrificing his shirt. It lay open, exposing the tattoo on his chest.

“That’s—that’s—” The other man could barely speak as he eyes widened and he pointed a trembling, accusatory finger. “That’s Ludovicus’ crest! You’re in allegiance with him!”

He could not permit the man to leave this room. Callen huffed out a laugh. His body vibrated with energy, pulsing with excitement. With lightning speed, he raced across the room, grabbed Alderic by the front of his shirt and lifted him into the air.

“What the—!” Alderic screamed but Callen threw his three hundred pound bulk across the room like a feather filled pillow. The impact of the man’s body as it slammed to the wall echoed. He groaned as he lay sprawled on the floor.

With each step Callen took, power rushed through his veins, heady and intoxicating. In the past, he could have never done that. He gave thanks to Master Ludovicus for giving him this power. Siding with the Druman had been the best decision he’d made in his life.

Especially now.

“Callen, what’s happened to you?” The words were weak like a child’s as Alderic struggled to get up.

He answered by yanking Alderic’s hair back and smashing his knuckles into his face. The crunch of the cartilage breaking under the onslaught of fist satisfied him. Warm blood sprinkled on his hand.

“Who’s the pebble now?” Callen sneered, punching the man again, this time on his chin. The teeth snapped and blood spewed from whatever kind of injury he’d done to his mouth.

“Please,” Alderic gurgled, the blood flowing over his lips, his hand reaching out in a gesture of mercy.

For a moment, Callen wondered at how placating Alderic was acting. Why hadn’t he started to fight back? Why was he just lying there on the ground, begging for mercy? Where was the big, brave, brash son of the Elder?

It didn’t matter
, he answered his own question. How often had the man bullied him in the past? Humiliated him, year after year? How the mighty had fallen.

Letting go of Alderic’s hair, Callen stood and kicked the big man in his stomach. The force of the kick lifted him several inches off the ground and into the corner of the room. Alderic tried to speak again but another swift kick smacked his head into the wall, a sickening thud of bone rebounding in the room.

Callen smiled as he began his full assault on Alderic’s prone body.

Rin rushed down the hall, foreboding knotting her insides.

A small group had formed at the opening of her chambers and she pushed past them to go further into the room. She gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in horror.

Alderic lay in a bloody heap, his limbs dangling at awkward angles and blood drying in macabre rivulets down his face. Swiftly she went over to him and gently touched his body. His pulse was a faint rhythm drumming against her fingers. His breathing was shallow but he was still alive.

Rin shouted out orders, her heart constricting at the sight of the brash but brave son reduced to an unrecognizable heap. Who had done this to him? What was she going to tell the Elder?

She glanced around at the crowd around her room. “Did anyone see anything?”

A small child came forward. “I did, Rin—
chan
. It was Callen—
san
.”

“Callen?” The name dropped from everyone’s lips like a bomb. Her stomach muscles tightened.

Wary now, the little girl sucked on her thumb. “
Hai
, Rin—
chan
.”

Callen did this to Alderic? She couldn’t imagine it. But how could he? Callen was a lanky man of one hundred and fifty pounds. Alderic was twice his size. It didn’t seem possible, but there was no other conclusion. She looked down at the girl who was now clutched securely in the arms of her father.

She went over to the child and knelt down. Pushing back the girl’s hair she gently asked, “Tell me,
kawai on’nanoko
, are you sure, it was Callen?”

The girl nodded and straightened from her father’s arms. “
Chi-chi
,” indicating her father, “sent me to our room. Alderic—
san
was angry with Callen—
san.
Then
he got scared and said he had Ludovicus’ mark. Then lots of noises and crying.”

Rin stared into the little girl’s marble black eyes as a chill came over her. Callen? Callen belonged to Ludovicus?

“Did you see which way he went?”

“
Iie
, Rin—
chan.
”

Rising, she patted the child’s hair absently and then nodded to the girl’s father, who took her away. Luke, Odin, and Donvar had arrived. Their faces blanched at the sight of their comrade. Ken, who had been silent the entire time, spoke one word to them. “Callen.”

All three men’s mouths dropped open. Rin went over and bent down again at Alderic’s prone figure, sorrow and anger whirling inside her. The long cord of his braid lay over his shoulder, matted with blood. Tenderly, she reached out and touched it.

“Find him,” she ordered without looking up. “If you have to search every inch of these caves, find him.”

Peripherally she saw them bow and leave. “Ken.”

He deduced what she needed, because soon the chamber was bereft of anyone except Ken and Tambo, who stood guard at the entry. She covered Alderic with a throw from her bed, her heart breaking. Based on the scope of his injuries, there seemed to be little the healers among the
juusha
could do. This required the assistance of the modern world.

What was she going to tell the Elder? Callen had been his aide for over a decade. No one had ever suspected Callen wasn’t more than a faithful follower of Rhychard—
sama
. How could this have happened?

If what the child said was true, then—

A movement from the doorway lifted her head, and she stood as the Elder walked into the room, his dark eyes alighting on his son. He stared for a long while, not saying anything. Rin watched as his eyes dulled with pain and his posture drooped as invisible weights crushed his shoulders.

Finally he turned to her and said, “Uchida—
chan
, the only way to save Alderic is go see your father.”

Rin felt the blood drain from her face as she stared into the dark somber eyes of the Elder. “What did you say?” Was that her voice, so soft and shaky?

“Please do not make me repeat it.”

She staggered forward as her legs suddenly became weak. Tambo grunted and put a foot forward, but she stayed him with a lifted hand.

“
Senpai,
you told me my father was dead.”

“It was necessary.”

Three words which crashed her world to smithereens. Her legs could no longer support her, and she fell to the ground.

Rin. Pain?

“Not now, Tambo.” She gushed out. Her father? Her Druman father was alive? How could that be?

A distinct icy sensation settled over her. Noise at the entry to her room made it past her shocked senses. Several men came in with a makeshift stretcher. Carefully they went over to Alderic’s prone figure and placed him upon it. It was a difficult task because her friend was a big man. They made to carry him out of the room when the Elder gave instruction to set his son before Rin’s seated figure.

Staring at Alderic, seeing the shallow breathing, the blood drying and sticking, the handsome face made ugly through bruises, she wept. Tears streamed from her eyes, their presence foreign to her. A path burned down the left side of her face while the rest were captured by the covering the other side.

Looking up, she met the direct gaze of the man who had been like a father to her. “You lied to me.” It hurt to say those words. The pain sliced into her stomach with knife-like intensity, ready to fillet her as easily as one would a rabbit. How could the man who had taught her honesty and integrity lie to her about something as important and vital as this?

The Elder’s body creaked as he came and sat down across from her, Alderic between them. “I know.”

“Why was it necessary to tell me my father was dead?” She had to know.

“There are reasons. Many, in fact. But the most prominent was that neither your father nor I wanted to tie you to any particular destiny. I told you what you were as a child but that was all.”

Her heart ripped in two. “
Senpai
…”

“There is much to be said, but we do not have the time.” Perhaps it was a trick of the light, but the man appeared to have aged in the last several minutes. “In order to save Alderic, we must go to your father.”

Rin stared at the man and a growing suspicion made her ask, “Where is he?”

“Three days journey up the mountain.”

“What!” She scrambled to her feet. “My father is a mere three days away and you never once told me?”

The Elder remained stoic and silent. Questions rose in her mind like spirits. Why had he not contacted her in all these years? Why the subterfuge?

A flurry of feet and Luke, Odin, and Donvar returned. “According to one of the women, she saw Callen leave. Also, Kaluwa—
no kimi
has disappeared as well.”

Ken shouted, “What?”

Rin glanced at Ken, surprised at the vehemence in his voice and tension along the lines of his face. “When did she disappear?” she asked, seeing the man’s hands roll into fists.