The Divine Apprentice (The Divine Series)

by Allen J Johnston

  The dragon rounded the corner, and not more than a hairs breath behind was the giant. It was gaining. But, Kade was sure it was enough.

  Now for the easy part, Kade thought as he straddled the path and squared his shoulders. He ground his teeth hard in fierce determination and started the moves.

  Kade focused more on this moment than he had at any other time since starting his training. Unlike like the first time he performed this calling, he knew it would come because he wanted it to come. There was no room for mistakes, and he was going to make sure it was perfect.

  Eager to bring death, Kade spun through the first move. He was vaguely aware of the smoke from the creature in the distance, as he quickly flew through the next three moves in rapid succession. As much as he tried to keep his breathing relaxed and calm, it was almost impossible. His heart was racing, making it almost too difficult to focus, but he must if he was to have the revenge he so desperately craved. His concentration was slipping as the Divine pounded at him, eager to be used. He clenched his jaw in sheer determination as he forced himself to ignore the distraction. There was only the smoke, his dragon and the calling. He judged the distance of the creature momentarily, and for an instant, feared it might be coming too fast. His lip curled as he let out a growl and flowed through the next seven moves as fluid as water. He knew that even Zayle would be impressed with his skill, as he eagerly closed on the last move. He knew this calling as well as any Chosen Master.

  Now, the twelfth move he thought in confidence as the power thrummed in him, causing his heart to pound as if it were trying to break free from his chest. The familiar roar in his head was like a drug to him now. He reveled in it. The amount of Divine Power he was channeling was seductive. It was addicting, and for a brief moment, he wanted to hold onto it, regardless of the consequences. With a flourish, he aimed directly at the creature and let the violent blast of Divine energy explode from his outstretched hand. The lightning sent a shockwave that flattened nearby bushes. The bolt sped toward its target with perfect aim. It slammed into the targoth’s chest, causing it to scream in pain.

  The dragon turned instantly and lunged. It drove its talons deep into the creature’s thigh and tore with its deadly jaws. It leapt clear of the targoth’s claws just in time. The next bolt of Divine Power struck home, destroying the monsters vision for good. Kade was learning quickly that monsters fell hard when they were plunged into darkness. It screamed in pain and agony, and probably for the first time in its life, it screamed in fear. The creature’s hands came up as it covered its face in an attempt to protect its already destroyed eyes. Kade sent another quick command to the dragon. Rayden reacted in a flash. His claws tore at the ground as he raced to flank the creature. He lunged and sank his teeth deep into the targoth’s heel, bringing his jaws together in a vice-like grip. He dug his claws into the leg for purchase and pulled with all his might. Before the creature could react, there was a sickening, loud snap and the tendon was done. The beast roared in pain and fell hard to the ground but not before raking the dragon and sending it sprawling. Rayden landed like a cat and rebounded so quick that Kade paused in shear awe. He hesitated only for a second and then was back to ending the miserable creature’s life.

  Kade went back and forth between lightning and fire, even though lightning was doing the most damage. The dragon flew in for a quick strike at critical points and was back out before the monster could react. The targoth was back up on its good leg as it struggled forward, desperate to find its target, but the dragon quickly tore at the other tendon, pulling the giant down onto all fours. Kade could feel the heat from the fire as the beast lit up like a pyre, but he was not moving back one inch. Never again would he run from this creature. He wanted it to suffer, needed to hear it cry in agony. He only wished he could look it in the eye.

  The targoth inched closer and closer, trying to reach its goal. Kade continued his dance as he delivered death over and over, feeling drunk with power while the Divine raged in him. No matter how much closer this creature moved toward him, he would never again run from it. Retreat was not an option.

  Rayden sensed Kade’s refusal to move back and roared at him in frustration. Through his link with the dragon, along with the roar, it was clear that Rayden was chastising him hotly. The creature was struggling to breathe as it reached for Kade, yet again. The Apprentice Chosen opened himself up fully to the Divine and reached for the unlimited amount of power. Yes, his gift was powerful. Within arm’s reach now, Kade let go a blast of lightning with such hatred and malevolence that the creatures head rocked back violently and then slammed down so hard Kade stumbled. The arm landed next to Kade, causing the ground to shake. The weight of that arm alone could have crushed him, but he did not care. He had to watch it die. At this close distance, Kade could just barely make out the creatures face. He smiled as he looked into its eyes…or what was left of them. He needed this. He needed this for himself. Its breath hissed out of its body, and it only twitched a few times before it lay still for good.

  Kade walked up to the creature and reached into his pocket. As the tears started to flow, he unfolded the piece of paper and let it drift down to land in the targoth’s open hand. It was only a blank piece of paper, but it once held the name of someone he loved dearly.

  “You’re next,” Kade said to no one in particular. “You…are…next!” he said fiercely as he put emphasis on each word.

  *CH5*

  Feeling a bit of closure, Kade forced himself to clear his head and check his dragon for injuries. There were two deep gouges along the dragon’s side where the giant had raked it viciously. Working the healing calling, Kade mended the wounds almost without thought and then felt a twinge of guilt.

  “Seeing you hurt at my expense is almost normal now,” Kade said with regret. He hung his head and pressed his lips together in a thin line as he looked at the ground. Shaking his head, he took a deep breath and let it out. Walking up and putting his hand affectionately on the dragon’s strong, fierce jaw, he said, “I will never forget what you risk every time you help me. Nor will I forget the many times you have saved my life.”

  Rayden’s mouth opened slightly in what probably passed for a smile amongst dragons. Kade blinked a few times, surprised at the feeling of pride that drifted through the link. The quiet rumble that came from deep within Rayden told Kade more than any words could ever say, and he smiled in return.

  “You, my friend, are more precious than I could ever say,” Kade said as he patted the dragon again as exhaustion washed over him. He walked to the side of the dragon, and with his back against the fearsome creature, he slid down to a sitting position. He knew he should keep moving, but he needed a few minutes rest. He could also feel himself crashing from his adrenaline high. His muscles ached more than he realized and his nerves were frayed.

  “We cannot stay long, my friend. The longer we are in one place, the more chance there is that something else will show up,” Kade said as much to himself as he did to Rayden.

  As soon as his heart slowed to a normal pace, Kade dragged himself to his feet, ignoring his muscles as they protested strongly and walked to the head of his friend. He looked into Rayden’s eyes, feeling a strong sense of understanding as the dragon fought to lift its head off the ground. It had run for its life and was exhausted beyond words. It desperately wanted to just let its muscles turn to water. Even though it was still breathing harder than normal, its half lidded eyes said loud and clear that sleep would have been a very welcomed friend right then. Unfortunately, that was a luxury he was not able to indulge in just yet.

  Planting his feet firmly, he performed the Healing Calling and placed his hands on the dragon’s head. Rayden’s eyes cleared and it seemed to give him a boost of energy. Although it did help in the short run, Kade knew it was only temporary. The body needed rest and it was going to get it sooner or later.

  “That’s more like it,” Kade said as he patted the dragon on the side, wishing for the hundredth time that he coul
d cast a healing on himself. Unfortunately, it just did not work that way. There was a calling that helped with alertness and a calling that helped with fatigue, neither of which he knew. If there was a calling for self-healing, he was not aware of it.

  Rayden was up and ready to go. Placing his foot on the dragon’s knee, Kade reached up, grabbing Rayden’s ridges and swung himself up, landing just in front of the wings. There was a natural divot between the wings that made for a comfortable seat, and Kade appreciated this as he settled in for the ride. Resting his arms on the slightly up-raised wings, Kade sent a mental message to the dragon, giving him a direction. He needed to head to his hometown of Arden to find out what part his parents played in discovering who or what was behind the attacks. He wished his message from Zayle was more specific. How they were involved in this was a mystery…for now.

  His parents lived in a town eight days east on foot. Feeling the press of time start to work on him, he urged the dragon to go. He hoped his delay did not cause their demise, but if they were in danger, he was certain that Zayle would have warned him. He considered how long he took in preparing his revenge against the targoth and his mind started to work.

  Was this another mistake? No, he thought firmly. That thing was waiting and I had to be prepared. No. Getting to my parents alive just happened to coincide with exacting my revenge. Kade did not want to focus too deeply on this.

  It did not take much to make him feel guilt, even when it was unwarranted. He would question his decision and then rethink it again almost as if he expected to find a flaw in his logic. For most of his life, he would brazenly charge into any situation, acting first and thinking later. He knew, sooner or later, he must change this, but for now, it was who he was. He chastised himself for his dangerous ways and started to examine his decisions over the last month. Guilt slowly slid over him and he sank into a somber mood.

  The dragon went from a gentle walk to a brisk, gliding gait, jolting Kade back to the present. He chastised himself for being so self-absorbed that he had lost touch with what was going on around him. Daydreaming was definitely something he was going to have to do less of.

  This is how I met the dragon, he thought to himself.

  Grateful for getting away from the torment of his own thoughts, he took in the view of his surroundings. Rayden increased his pace into a lope. The dragon went from a relaxed stretching of his body to a tensing of its muscles, ready for the next powerful lunge. It was more like the dragon was launching itself forward and then gliding through the air to land, ready for the next lunge. Not a far leap, but not a run either. Kade was not sure if he could take this kind of jolting for long. As if Rayden had read his mind, the dragon’s gait changed yet again. It now stayed closer to the ground as the distance it covered shortened. It made for a much smoother ride. He smiled to himself in satisfaction and settled in for the journey.

  Kade forced himself to stop criticizing his decisions and watched the woods for any sign of danger. He knew he would be a fool to think there would be no more fearsome creatures like the last. He tried to think back on the storybook and recall what other dangerous creatures he may find along the way.

  Hours slid by as Kade’s worry for his parents grew. His quest to find another Chosen had to wait until he knew his parents were safe. He was not about to let another loved one die at the hands of this evil; not if he could help it.

  Everything was quiet with the exception of the dragon letting out a grunt here and there as it ran. There was not even a single animal in site, but he was not going to let this lull him into a false sense of security. I am not going to make that mistake again, he told himself, trying to stay alert, but his mind would, inevitably, return to dissecting every decision he had recently made.

  Patting the dragon’s neck affectionately, his hand came away with a slight wet feel. This is as good a time as any for a rest, Kade thought as he directed Rayden deeper into the woods for cover. The almighty Divine knew he could use it and they had covered a lot of ground. It was not long before they entered a clearing under a large tree.

  This looks like a good place to stop and rest, Kade sent to the dragon. Rayden eagerly came to a stop and bent down to one knee, trembling slightly until its front leg was down. Kade slid off, not using the dragon’s knee for support, and landed on his feet, then his butt as his knees gave way. His legs tingled from the lack of circulation. He rubbed his thighs, trying to get some feeling back into them. After waited for the tingling to stop, he got to his feet, looking around for any signs of water. His throat was dry and he was certain that the dragon would appreciate a drink, also.

  Thinking back on the stream, Kade turned to the dragon. Can you find water? Kade asked with his mind. The dragon eyed him without lifting its head off the ground. Its eyelids looked ready to close and the eyes themselves appeared to be losing focus.

  Maybe later, Kade thought and considered just dropping to the ground himself when the dragon, with obvious effort, heaved itself up to stand unsteadily. It shook slightly and headed off at a slow meandering walk in a direction that left no doubt in Kade’s minded as to where they were going.

  For once, things seem to be going right. It was not more than a few minutes when Kade could hear the sound of babbling water. Suddenly, they stepped though a line of trees into one of the most beautiful lagoons Kade could have ever imagined. The water was a deep, clear blue with lush vegetation everywhere. There was a twenty foot waterfall that made him feel as if he had stepped into another land. To say it was majestic was an understatement.

  The dragon seemed to pick up a bit of energy as it dropped down next to the edge of the water and took long draws of the cool, clean liquid, swallowing loudly. Kade did the same. Knowing that this must be a common watering hole for other animals, Kade stayed alert for anything that moved. The area stayed quiet, giving them the much needed break. After drinking their fill of water, Kade rose to his feet and beckoned for the dragon to follow. Lethargically, it rose and lumbered after him.

  Kade worked his way through the woods, looking for a safe place to stop and rest. Several minutes later, he stopped next to a large tree that must have been close to a hundred feet tall and six feet wide at the base. He examined the ground for tracks or any other sign that would indicate animal life and found none that were recent. Believing this place to be safe, he removed the books from the dragon and plunked them down next to the tree.

  As Kade was considering what to do next, his stomach grumbled loudly. The dragon dropped to the ground and its head started to slowly sink. Before Rayden could close his eyes, Kade’s stomach protested again at the lack of food. As much as he wanted rest, remembering that tasty, hot, juicy meat made his mouth water. He was more famished than he realized.

  Kade glanced at the dragon and gave a bark of laughter. Even though Rayden was quickly fading into a sleep state, he had just a little bit of drool coming out of his mouth. Kade knew exactly how the dragon felt. He watched for a few more seconds, waiting. Then…the dragon’s eyes shot open as if it were stung. Its head rose up and it looked at Kade expectantly while licking its lips. Kade let out another laugh.

  “So, food before sleep?” Kade asked. “You go get us something and I will start a fire,” he prompted.

  The dragon seemed to consider the proposition of food as it eyed the ground, tempted to lie back down. Kade gave a sly smile as he visualized the strong smell of cooking meat, and that was all Rayden needed. He was off on the hunt. Kade laughed again as he watched the dragon disappear into the woods.

  He started to rub the soreness out of his muscles as he turned to look for wood to make a fire. He was certain he was going to suffer dearly in the morning as he tried to work the kinks out of his lower back. But that just could not be helped. It was either deal with the soreness or a walk that would take days.

  There was plenty of firewood for the gathering. Kade had a pile of kindling ready to go and sat down with his back against the tree, waiting. The rough tree bark was not as com
fortable as he would have liked, but he appreciated the chance to relax and regain much of his lost energy. He leaned his head against the tree and closed his eyes. His mind slowed considerably and his body relaxed more and more by the second. It felt amazing to finally be able to just let go for even just a short time.

  It will only be a few moments, and then I will get back up to wait for Rayden, he told himself. At least…that was the plan, but he felt himself drifting, and he had no energy to fight it.

  Kade jumped hard as something shoved him over, startling him awake. He rolled to the side and sprang to his feet, ready to face this threat. He tried to clear his head as a giant, golden eye glared at him. Well, he probably would not have realized it was a glare without the subtle mental connection. His face turned a few shades of color under the dragon’s scrutiny.

  “I did not mean to sleep. I was only resting till you got back,” Kade said a bit sheepishly. “Okay, fine. You were out working and I was relaxing,” he said as he shook his head. “What was I supposed to be doing?” That was the best apology the dragon was going to get, but it appeared to be enough.

  Rayden turned and picked up something from the ground. He spun back toward Kade, and unceremoniously, dropped a boar heavily at his feet with a thud. The apprentice smiled and his stomach growled in anticipation. Turning his attention to the pile of wood, he called on the Blue Flame of the Divine and set the logs ablaze. Pleased with his work, he turned back to the boar and stopped. He glanced around for something to use to prop the boar up with. There was nothing. With no spit, this was going to be difficult.

  “I have an idea,” Kade said as he started to gather large stones.

  Grinning to himself at his cleverness, he soon had the boar completely covered with large rocks. A good amount of confusion came from the dragon, making Kade chuckle. The dragon was mystified beyond words as to why Kade was burying their food and even attempted to dig the boar back up until Kade pushed it back.