sure if it was a question or a statement so he continued on in silence. “Those books are still kept safe, I take it?” Kade cringed and came to a stop. “Apprentice?” Doren asked in an ominous tone. Kade forced himself to meet Doren’s gaze, which was quickly turning into another glare. He looked down and did his best not to shuffle.
“With the exception of these,” Kade said as he hefted the sack slightly, “they did not survive.” He knew where this was going. He waited for the next heated question. The silence drew on and he worked up the courage to glance at Doren. The Master Chosen was so pale that he was on the verge of having no color at all. For the second time, he was doing a better job of looking deader now than when he was back in his hidden study. Kade wondered if the Master was going to get sick. Darcienna squeezed Kade’s arm in support.
“How?” Doren managed in a whisper. Kade could have sworn that someone had just told the man that his entire family had just been slaughtered. The Apprentice Chosen closed his eyes, knowing he was going to get a tongue lashing that was going to rival any he had ever gotten from Zayle. For a moment, he thought he might prefer to be Morg’s prisoner again over this.
“From the fire,” Kade said, taking in a steadying breath, still not moving.
“Fire?” Doren asked, gaining strength by the moment.
“The one I started with the Lightning Calling,” Kade said. He had to fight the instinct to flinch.
“Blood and ashes and all that is Holy with the Divine!” Doren swore. “It is a miracle you are even alive! Practicing callings that you know nothing about, destroying decades of knowledge in one foolish move!” he roared while throwing his hands up dramatically. “How...are…you…even…alive?” Doren screamed. This was all Darcienna could take. She rounded on Doren like gale force winds full of fury and growing stronger by the second. Kade moved back, not daring to get in her way. If Doren’s eyes could glow to warn of danger, they would have been blazing fiercely.
“How dare you judge him!” Darcienna unleashed. “He has bested Morg three times while you have done what? Hid in your cellar, hoping your trap worked?” she challenged as she poked him hard in the chest. He flinched and took a step back. Darcienna pursued him like a predator stalking its prey. “And might I point out that your trap failed miserably!” she exclaimed so vehemently that several of the spiders scurried away. “And where would you be if not for him?” she asked, stabbing a finger at Kade with such force that Doren cringed despite trying to hold the air of a Master Chosen. He opened his mouth to speak, trying to regain control, but she attacked, holding nothing back. Kade winced, actually feeling sorry for the Master. “You need him! I would suggest you start showing the wisdom you claim to possess, or so help me by Nature’s Gift, I will feed you to the dragon!” Darcienna vowed, red faced, as she poked him one more time so hard he was sure to have a bruise for a week. He tried to hide his discomfort but failed miserably as he swallowed hard. Darcienna huffed and spun on her heels, walking back to stand next to Kade, clenching her fists hard.
“I may have been a bit hard on you,” Doren said to Kade. Darcienna’s head whipped around to glare at him. Doren swallowed again. “I was a touch too hard on you,” he corrected while holding his head up to regain some composure. “I am sure it would be best if we all put this to rest, for now, and talk later,” he said, sparing a glance for her. She huffed again and turned away.
Kade did his best to not look at either of them. Darcienna was giving off waves of anger while Doren was unreadable. Kade started to walk again and pulled Darcienna along. He gave her a look that said, “Enough” and she softened…but only a
“With the exception of these,” Kade said as he hefted the sack slightly, “they did not survive.” He knew where this was going. He waited for the next heated question. The silence drew on and he worked up the courage to glance at Doren. The Master Chosen was so pale that he was on the verge of having no color at all. For the second time, he was doing a better job of looking deader now than when he was back in his hidden study. Kade wondered if the Master was going to get sick. Darcienna squeezed Kade’s arm in support.
“How?” Doren managed in a whisper. Kade could have sworn that someone had just told the man that his entire family had just been slaughtered. The Apprentice Chosen closed his eyes, knowing he was going to get a tongue lashing that was going to rival any he had ever gotten from Zayle. For a moment, he thought he might prefer to be Morg’s prisoner again over this.
“From the fire,” Kade said, taking in a steadying breath, still not moving.
“Fire?” Doren asked, gaining strength by the moment.
“The one I started with the Lightning Calling,” Kade said. He had to fight the instinct to flinch.
“Blood and ashes and all that is Holy with the Divine!” Doren swore. “It is a miracle you are even alive! Practicing callings that you know nothing about, destroying decades of knowledge in one foolish move!” he roared while throwing his hands up dramatically. “How...are…you…even…alive?” Doren screamed. This was all Darcienna could take. She rounded on Doren like gale force winds full of fury and growing stronger by the second. Kade moved back, not daring to get in her way. If Doren’s eyes could glow to warn of danger, they would have been blazing fiercely.
“How dare you judge him!” Darcienna unleashed. “He has bested Morg three times while you have done what? Hid in your cellar, hoping your trap worked?” she challenged as she poked him hard in the chest. He flinched and took a step back. Darcienna pursued him like a predator stalking its prey. “And might I point out that your trap failed miserably!” she exclaimed so vehemently that several of the spiders scurried away. “And where would you be if not for him?” she asked, stabbing a finger at Kade with such force that Doren cringed despite trying to hold the air of a Master Chosen. He opened his mouth to speak, trying to regain control, but she attacked, holding nothing back. Kade winced, actually feeling sorry for the Master. “You need him! I would suggest you start showing the wisdom you claim to possess, or so help me by Nature’s Gift, I will feed you to the dragon!” Darcienna vowed, red faced, as she poked him one more time so hard he was sure to have a bruise for a week. He tried to hide his discomfort but failed miserably as he swallowed hard. Darcienna huffed and spun on her heels, walking back to stand next to Kade, clenching her fists hard.
“I may have been a bit hard on you,” Doren said to Kade. Darcienna’s head whipped around to glare at him. Doren swallowed again. “I was a touch too hard on you,” he corrected while holding his head up to regain some composure. “I am sure it would be best if we all put this to rest, for now, and talk later,” he said, sparing a glance for her. She huffed again and turned away.
Kade did his best to not look at either of them. Darcienna was giving off waves of anger while Doren was unreadable. Kade started to walk again and pulled Darcienna along. He gave her a look that said, “Enough” and she softened…but only a
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