“We leave shortly,” Judeen said. “And I am certain your father will be pleased to see you,” she said, attempting to dispel any remaining concerns Kade may be feeling.
“Well, I will enjoy spending time with him, also,” Kade said, thinking it might be the last chance to really talk with his father. “How far is it?”
“It’s about half a day’s walk.”
“The dragon can cut that time down to just an hour or two,” Kade said.
“Well, let’s get going. I don’t want Father to come back and miss us,” Kade said, ushering his mother out of the room to prepare for the journey.
“That was good thinking,” Kade said to Darcienna as he watched his mother go from room to room, gathering things to get ready for the ride into town. Darcienna smiled a knowing smile.
Kade wanted to take one last look at the comfortable bed in his room as he waited for his mother to prepare for the ride. He walked down the hall and made the left turn into his room, smiling as he looked upon the bed. He walked over and turned, sitting on the plush mattress, unable to put words to the memory that eluded him. When he came out of his thoughts, he noticed Darcienna staring at him from the doorway. He stopped, certain he recognized the mischievous glint in her eye and cocked his head as if to ask, “What?” She just smiled and laughed playfully as she avoided eye contact while pretending to straighten her son’s hair.
“What?” Kade pressed, seeing her redden just a bit.
“It’s nothing. We should get ready to go,” Darcienna said, obviously changing the subject.
“That’s a good idea,” Kade said as he studied her suspiciously.
He dismissed her actions as more mysteries of the female species that he was never going to understand. He looked at the bed one last time, already missing the comfortable sleep and turned for the kitchen. He grabbed the sack of books and gently put them over his shoulder as he waited for his mother to return.
Mentally communicating the plans to the dragon, Kade worked his way out front. Rayden came around the corner, eager to go. Shortly after, Judeen and Darcienna came out. Judeen handed Darcienna a hat to wear that did a good job covering much of her face. Darcienna had her son firmly strapped to her back. Kade realized that he had not made one sound and recalled how he wailed like an alarm when they were trying to rescue his parents. Dismissing the thought, he helped his mother and Darcienna mount. Next, he vaulted up and they were on their way.
Kade felt his stomach growl and realized he had not eaten, even though he had fed the dragon. He tried to ignore the hunger, but the more he tried to pretend it was not there, the more he noticed it. Exasperated that they had only traveled for thirty minutes at best, he signaled the dragon to stop. Rayden could sense Kade preparing to cook and started to fidget eagerly. Kade tried to ignore the frustration of having to perform the calling so many times but failed. He was hoping to cook for just himself, Darcienna and his mother, but it was not to be. Feeding the dragon was turning into a considerable chore, but he could not eat without feeding it, even though it just had its fair share. It was just the price he had to pay.
“Why are we stopping?” Darcienna asked.
“I need something to eat,” Kade said as he leapt to the ground and planted his feet, preparing to make the dozen or so pieces of meat that the dragon would want.
“Son, we can eat in town.”
“I can’t say if we will be staying long enough to eat, besides, I am hungry now,” Kade said as his stomach growled loudly.
“I do hope you are planning on making some extra,” Darcienna said playfully.
“Of course,” Kade said, his mood improving marginally. He quickly made a chunk of steaming, hot meat and handed it to Darcienna, who passed it off to Judeen. Darcienna smiled sweetly at Kade, as she waited for the next piece. “Here,” he said as he handed her the food. “Does the boy need any?” Kade asked, looking fondly at Marcole.
“I shall share mine with him,” Darcienna said as she tore off a piece for Marcole.
The dragon was now huffing loudly at him as it waited impatiently. He glanced at it and shook his head, seeing the slimy, wet liquid pooling at the edges of its mouth. Kade was careful not to get anywhere near that mouth. He was learning.
Soon, Kade was making and tossing meat to the dragon, who would quickly snap it up. On the eighth time of calling on the food, Kade yelped and jerked his hand out from under the meat as it materialized in his hand. He had started to lose focus and had made the meat too hot. He shot his mother a quick glance, afraid she was going to become upset, but she had not noticed. Darcienna cast a glance at Judeen and quickly healed Kade before his mother could see. Judeen was surprisingly interested in something in the dirt. Kade breathed a sigh of relief as soon as Darcienna finished.
Kade made a few more pieces of meat for the dragon. He was sure that it was not enough, but he could only do this for so long. Finally, he made one for himself and eagerly sat down, tearing into the food. He closed his eyes, enjoying the strong flavor of the meat as the juices ran down his throat.
“I wish I would have thought to make this before we left the cabin,” Kade said through a mouth full of food. He had taken several more large bites and was wolfing them down when he noticed that the women were staring at him. He stopped in mid chew to stare back.
“What?” Kade asked around the food, not understanding what he was doing wrong. He was starting to realize that men could never do anything right where women were concerned.
“You eat like you are starving,” Darcienna said.
Kade sat looking at her, waiting for her to explain further. Why she would state the obvious when he already knew this was beyond his understanding. The only thing he was certain of was that the comment was made to make a point. To this he responded by swallowing and then taking an even larger bite. Darcienna shook her head in disgust and turned her back on him, blatantly ignoring his gesture. Why, he would never know, but he was grateful for the chance to eat in peace. They finished their meal and stood, preparing to leave. As Kade readied to help Judeen mount, she grabbed his hand firmly and studied his palm. With a twist of her mouth and a shake of her head, she tossed it away and waited for him to boost her onto the dragon’s back. Kade ground his teeth in frustration at his incompetence and vowed to do better at hiding his foolishness.
The four of them had been traveling for just short of an hour when Darcienna’s hand shot out to latch onto Kade’s leg without warning. Kade, being deep in his own thoughts, jumped hard. He could have sworn his heart stopped beating for just a moment. His hand went to hers, but before he was able to dislodge it, he understood what the grip meant. He quickly turned to look at her and saw her eyes were starting to indicate danger. He got a sinking feeling as he studied her face, hoping to find a clue there as to what the threat might be. He immediately brought the dragon to a stop.
“What?” Kade asked, trying to stay calm.
“There is danger ahead!” Darcienna exclaimed with a gasp.
“What danger?” Kade asked, letting all his senses become as sharp as possible.
“I’m not sure. It seems to be coming from there,” Darcienna said as she pointed in the direction of town. “The longer we travel, the stronger the feeling gets.”
“The town is just in the distance,” Judeen said as she watched the couple closely.
“Do you think the danger is in Dresben?” Kade asked as he focused intently on her. “My father is there,” Kade said, fighting not to panic. His mind flashed back to the scene of his father being bound to the tower.
“Yes,” Darcienna responded. “It doesn’t seem to be as strong as when we ran into Morg, but it is definitely there.”
Kade eyed the town as he mentally warned Rayden of the approaching danger. He performed the Transparency Calling and the Silence Calling. Judeen gasped but he ignored her and urged the dragon to move forward cautiously. He hoped it was not needed, but Darcienna had not been wrong yet. Rayden seemed to pick up the pace with
the promise of battle. Kade wished he could feel the same way, but his mind was full of worry for his father. He brought the dragon to a stop just on the edge of town.
“Rayden, stay here while I go check this out. Mother, Darcienna, stay here until I return. I should not be long,” Kade said as he prepared to slide off the dragon. Darcienna grabbed his arm and held on, not liking this plan one bit.
“I am coming with you,” Darcienna said as she prepared to dismount.
“No, you are not,” Kade said firmly, leaving no room for argument. Kade felt Darcienna tense and knew she was ready to argue. “If something goes wrong, I will need you to keep my mother and Marcole safe.” After a moment, he softened and added, “Please.”
“For you,” Darcienna said with a sigh. “But you cannot keep making me stay back. You need me with you,” she scolded.
“I know,” Kade said, and felt her relax considerably. “Keep my mother safe,” he said as he slid to the ground.
Kade started toward the edge of town when Rayden growled deeply and long. It was a guttural rumble that reverberated from deep within the dragon. Rayden was obviously not pleased with being told to stay behind either. Kade reassured his friend that he would stay in contact and call on him if needed. The deep rumble ceased, but he could still feel the displeasure through the link.
Does everyone have to question my decisions? Kade mentally grumbled to himself.
Making his way into town and down the street, Kade made sure to keep clear of everyone. His mind saw the image of Darcienna’s blue eyes. He could not help but to watch for a tall man holding a staff, hiding around every corner. He looked at the ground a time or two to ensure he was not leaving prints. Relieved that he was completely undetectable, he relaxed and started toward the tavern to search for his father. That was as good a place to start as any.
Stopping just outside, Kade peered in and immediately found Garig sitting at the bar, talking to a stranger. Garig tipped his head back and drained a mug. The stranger ordered him another and placed it in his hand. Kade slid into the room and worked his way across the tavern. He had to dodge a few patrons, but seeing as the place was virtually empty, it was not too difficult.
Garig laughed at something the stranger said, and Kade felt a considerable amount of relief that his father was safe, but something seemed odd here. He moved just a few feet away from the men as they spoke, careful not to get blocked in if someone were to come toward him. He studied the stranger and instantly did not like him but could not put his finger on why. He was a deadly man that looked like he had seen lots of action. He had a look in his eye that said he would take a life in between drinks without even caring, as long as he did not spill his ale.
“You’ll be able to meet my son sometime. I will have to introduce you,” Kade heard his father say, and then Garig laughed as though he had told the most hysterical joke. The man laughed just as hard. Obviously Kade was missing the funny part of the jest, but he figured it was an inside joke and gave it no mind. For just a moment, Kade swore the stranger’s eyes were a touch more narrow and his nose a bit sharper, but then just as quickly, Kade was sure the light was playing tricks on him.
He considered letting the callings go and surprising his father but thought better of it. It would not go over well here, and it would not help him keep his secret. As much fun as it would be to see the shocked look on their faces, it was much better to be conservative in his actions. And besides, father hates the Divine, he reminded himself.
He turned and headed for the door. Just before he ducked out the exit, he glanced back at his father and paused, seeing the old man looking around as if trying to find something. Kade could swear he was trying to find him as he stood and narrowed his eyes, studying everyone and everything that moved. After a moment, he shook his head and slid back onto the bar stool.
Kade quickly returned to the dragon and the women. He could sense Rayden’s impatience and did his best to calm his friend. He called out to Darcienna and followed her voice until he bumped into Rayden.
“I found Father. He is in the tavern talking to one of the other patrons. We should go now,” Kade said as he let the callings dissipate while keeping the dragon cloaked.
I know you are not going to like this, but you must remain here, Kade thought to Rayden. The dragon responded with a quick snort directly in his face. Kade gagged and coughed as he backed away.
“Not funny,” Kade said as he glared at the empty space in front of himself. “Just wait here.”
“Kade, are you sure it’s okay? I still sense danger,” Darcienna said, unsure.
“I did not see anything out of place,” Kade said as he found himself staring into her glowing blue eyes. For a moment, he wondered what she saw when her eyes changed.
“It’s not real strong, but it is definitely there. We need to be careful,” Darcienna said gravely.
“Trust me. If father sensed any danger, he wouldn’t have been talking to a stranger about me. Anyway, he looked like he was having a good time,” Kade said.
“He was talking about you?” Judeen asked. Kade could swear he caught a tone in her voice, but when he looked at her, there was nothing out of the ordinary.
“Yes,” Kade said as he watched her for a reaction.
“Well, let’s go find him,” Judeen said casually, but there was something about the way her eyes turned to daggers that put him on edge.
Rayden fussed over and over, protesting at being left behind. Kade would have enjoyed traipsing into town with a dragon in tow, but again, it would do nothing for keeping a low profile. Rayden had to stay. He soothed the dragon several times with the promise to call for help if needed.
Kade led the small party right to the tavern. As he walked, he reassured the dragon several more times that he would be fine, but Rayden’s agitation did not lessen. At a loss as to what he could do to placate the dragon, Kade sighed and just let it go as he worked his way to where he had last seen his father. He started to go in when his mother grabbed him by the arm and squeezed while turning him.
“Kade, are you sure he is in here?” Judeen asked, suspicion heavy in her voice.
“Yes. I saw him talking to a man right over there at the bar,” Kade said as he pointed at the tavern. He turned to go, eager to see his father. Kade glanced up and down the street and then back to his mother. Judeen reluctantly let her grip go and followed after him. Darcienna hesitated as the sense of danger grew ever so slightly. She told herself that the feelings were not really that much stronger, so it had to be ok.
Besides, between Kade and me, we should be able to handle anything this slight danger can offer, she thought.
Kade walked in and saw his father sitting at a table in the back of the room with a mug of ale in his hands. He had his back to the wall in a way that allowed him to watch both the front and back entrance. Kade smiled at his father as he walked up to the table. Garig looked up at him and opened his mouth as if confused and then smiled. Kade saw the look in his father’s eye for just a moment, and then it was replaced with a look of recognition. Kade smiled at the empty mug sitting in front of his father and wondered how many empty cups had already left the table.
Motioning for Judeen and Darcienna to sit, Kade pulled up a chair next to his father. Darcienna took her place next to Kade while sitting Marcole on her lap. Judeen sat next to Garig. She studied her husband for a brief moment before relaxing.
“You could at least say hello,” Judeen said tersely.
“I am sorry. I just did not know what to say,” Garig said, still not looking at her. He never seemed to take his eyes off Kade. “Don’t you have your dragon with you?” Garig continued.
“Father!” Kade hissed. He made a motion with his hand that was meant to convey for his father to keep it quiet. “He is just outside of town, in the woods. I didn’t think it would be a good idea to bring him,” he said as he gave a quiet chuckle while glancing around the room. “As much fun as it would be to see everyone’s reaction, I am sur
e he would attract too much attention, and right now, I want to avoid that at all cost.”
“You should have him come to the back of the tavern so we can give him some spiced meat. He would love it,” Garig said with a smile.
“I’ve fed him already,” Kade said, starting to get thirsty as he looked at the empty mug.
“I am sure he would like this meat. It’s like none other that I have ever tasted. Why don’t you call him to the back, and I will have one of the men put a huge bucket of it out behind the bar. Then we can take care of that thirst of yours,” Garig said, noticing the way Kade was eyeing his cup.
“If you are certain it is ok,” Kade said, knowing his dragon could never have too much.
“Oh, I am more than certain,” Garig said with a broad grin. Kade decided he did not like when his father drank, but so far, he was harmless. It seemed to change who he was, but then again, ale or wine appeared to do that to everyone.
Kade reached out with his mind and found the dragon. He could almost see its head pop up with his mental caress and promise of more food. The dragon was more than eager to follow Kade’s directions. He felt for the Transparency Calling that was surrounding the dragon and let it melt away. He gave directions to be careful to stay in the woods until reaching the rear of the tavern and then turned his attention back to his father.
“Garig, are you okay?” Judeen asked.
“Maybe I have had too much to drink. I’m sorry,” Garig said, still not looking at her. He turned his attention back to the bar and flagged one of the men over. Within seconds, a man came skidding to a stop next to the table. “Give him one of your special drinks, and leave a bucket of spiced meat out back for his pet. Kade will be going to get his pet any moment,” Garig said as he cocked an eyebrow as if to prompt Kade into action.
“He is on his way,” Kade said, casually watching people as they mulled around the tavern. He did not see the confused look on his father’s face.
The man hastily returned to the bar. On the way, he stopped one of the other workers and pointed at the table where the small party was sitting while talking very animatedly. Kade tried to hear what was being said, but there was too much other noise in the bar. Shortly after, the first man, who had come to the table, disappeared out a back door, and the second man went to the bar.
The Divine Path (The Divine Series) Page 19