The Divine Path (The Divine Series) (13 page)

“The king
?” Kade asked, feeling all anger fade from him. 
A queen?
he questioned in surprise, expecting the spider to be male.

“
My mate is sick.  If he dies, I will die, also.”

“I don’t understand.  Are you tied to him in a way that you wil
l parish if he dies?” Kade asked, looking her over.  You don’t look the least bit ill.”

“That has nothing to do with it.  If the king dies, I will be put to death.  It is the way of my kind.  Until then, my clutch will continue to follow my orders,” the queen hissed.

“I think it is fortunate for both of us that you found me.  If you take me to your king, I might be able to heal him,” Kade said as he turned for the dragon.  “Take us to him,” Kade said as he prepared to boost Darcienna onto Rayden’s back.  After just a moment’s hesitation, the white spider hissed several times to the clutch, and then they turned and took off into the woods.

             
Just as Kade was readying himself to boost Darcienna up, he recalled the books.  He turned quickly, raced over to recover the sack and then returned to tie them to the dragon’s back.  Next, he lifted Darcienna up and then leapt up to sit in front of her.  The dragon was clearly not keen on staying with the spiders, but with a little prompting, it accepted Kade’s direction and followed their new-found allies.  If not for the white spider, it would have been nearly impossible to follow the black, ghost-like shapes as they moved like shadows flowing over the ground.  After twenty minutes at a modest pace, they came to stop in front of two of the largest trees Kade had ever seen.  They were just on the edge of a massive forest.  Kade look up in awe.  The trees were so tall they appeared to go on forever.

             
In here,
Rakna communicated as she disappeared into the base of the tree.  The other spiders stopped at the opening.

             
Kade signaled for the dragon to wait for him and turned for the entrance.  Rayden complained, as he always did when left behind, but did as was requested.  Kade and Darcienna followed after the white spider.  It was a short walk up a spiral staircase to a large open room that had been hollowed out of the trunk of the tree.  There was a straw nest in an upraised bed at the back of the room with a spider lying motionless in it.  He was easily as large as the queen, if not larger.  He had thick, flowing fur that was as black as coal.  There was a stark white patch on his chest in the shape of a diamond.

             
“This is Crayken,” Rakna said as she stopped next to the bed and gazed at the spider.

             
The king slowly opened his eyes and weakly reached out to touch his queen.  There was love in that gentle touch.  Kade was looking at the spiders, and for the first time in his life, he felt something other than revulsion.  He was feeling compassion so strong that he had to help.

             
“Let me try,” Kade said as he approached the bed.  Crayken’s eyes opened wide as Kade stepped into view.

             
“Who?” the black spider asked weakly.

             
“They are friends.  They may be able to help,” Rakna said as she stroked his leg.  He settled back, too weak to do much more.

             
Kade moved to the edge of the bed and completed the Healing Calling.  He reached down and placed his hands on the spider, letting the Divine flow into the king. A glow formed around the dying creature for just a moment then faded.  Kade furrowed his brow as he contemplated what he had just seen.

             
“Did it work?” Rakna asked.

             
“I’m not sure,” Kade said in confusion, not taking his eyes off the king.  “I have never seen the Healing Calling react like that.”

             
“Kade?”  Darcienna whispered, hesitant to interrupt.

             
“Yes?” Kade asked as he turned toward her.  He narrowed his gaze as he looked intently at her eyes.  Were they showing just a little of the blue glow?

             
“I think I am sensing something within the king,” Darcienna said slowly, as if she were listening hard for a distant voice.

             
“What is it?” Kade asked, watching her closely.  He had learned never to ignore her warnings, and now he was so focused, he noticed nothing else in the room.

             
“I am not sure.  But, it seems to be attached to the king,” Darcienna said as she moved her hand over Crayken.

             
Kade closed his eyes and looked at the ailing king with the Reveal Calling.  He sucked in his breath as he studied a sickly, yellowish aura that surrounded Crayken.  Kade opened his eyes and slowly turned to the queen, letting out a long breath.  She was not going to like what he had to tell her.

             
“When did he get sick?” Kade asked.

             
“Just yesterday after we got back from the battle,” Rakna said.

             
“That makes sense,” Kade said as he scratched his chin thoughtfully.  “There is a powerful calling placed on him that is keeping me from healing him.  It was, most likely, placed on him because of your support for Valdry.”

             
“I am not sure I understand,” Rakna said as she slid closer to Crayken.

             
“Morg put a calling on him that is acting like a poison.  It is sapping the life out of him.”

             
“But, Morg never got close to the king.  Crayken stayed back to direct the battle.  The king never left my side,” Rakna said, confused.  “Why kill him slowly?  Unless he was unable to get close enough, and this was his only way,” she said thoughtfully.

             
“I cannot say, but it is more important that we focus on finding a way to save him,” Kade said as he looked Crayken over again. 

Kade had only one idea left, and it had to work.  He turned to Darcienna and held his hand out to her.  He cringed at the thought of asking her to help so soon after her last ordeal, but it was that
, or the king was going to die in the next few hours.  She looked at his hand but did not move from where she stood.

             
“Can you try?” Kade asked quietly.  Instead of taking his outstretched hand, she slowly shook her head.

             
“I am too weak.  I am so sorry, but I have no energy,” Darcienna said as she held her hands out to her side, palms up as if to say, “I am sorry but I am helpless here?”  Something about the way she held her hands sparked a memory.

             
“When you healed me at the cabin, you did something to re-energize your ability.  Maybe you could do that?” Kade asked hopefully.

             
“It would take some time, Kade,” Darcienna said as she closed her eyes and shook her head in exhaustion.

             
“It is either that or the king dies.  We have no choice,” Kade said as he gently put his hand on her shoulder.

             
“I know,” Darcienna replied as she leaned back against the wall and slid down into a sitting position.  She crossed her legs and placed an arm across each knee with her palms up.

             
“This is our only chance,” Kade whispered to the queen.  “Darcienna has the Gift of Nature.  She may be able to heal the king where I cannot.  We have different ways of healing.  Where mine fails, hers may succeed.”

             
The king slipped into a coma as the queen looked on in concern.  Several times a black spider or two would duck into the room only to be chased out by the queen.  Something in their manner, however, indicated resistance.

             
Kade paced for an hour, watching for Darcienna to show any sign of coming out of her trance.  Moment by moment, the king slipped away.  The queen sat by Crayken’s bed, dreading that his body would just give out at any moment.  Kade walked over to Darcienna, ready to wake her.  As he started to reach a hand toward her, black spiders started to file into the room too numerous to be repelled.  It was now or never as many of the clutch lined the far wall.  The queen charged at the group and hissed as she walked up and down the line.  They were not going to be denied the next few moments.  The best the queen could do was herd them out of the way before returning to the king’s side.

             
“Darcienna,” Kade said gently as he crouched down on his haunches.  “Darcienna, we must try now,” he said as he laid a hand on her arm.

             
“Then now we shall try,” Darcienna said as her eyes fluttered open.  There was definitely a spark back in those rivers of blue.  She grinned at him and held out her hand.  Kade stood and pulled her to her feet.

             
“See if your healing can cure him,” Kade said as he motioned for the queen to give them room.

             
Darcienna placed her hand on the king and smiled, but soon, that smile turned into a frown.  She shook her head as if trying to work through something that did not make sense.  She gritted her teeth and concentrated harder, but again, the look of disappointment was strong on her face.  The glow was there as it had been before, but this time there was a pulse to it.  Kade realized in horror that it was fighting her.  It was still firmly in place, showing no signs of weakening.  Or, was the fact that it was glowing brighter an indication that it took more strength to fend off the healing?

             
“Darcienna,” Kade said as he pulled her away from the king.  He was afraid she was going to expend all her healing with nothing to show for it.  She gasped as if she had been holding her breath.

             
“I don’t know what that is, but I can’t break it,” Darcienna said as she glanced at the queen.

             
“I have an idea,” Kade said as he moved to the other side of the bed. 

Kade looked at Darcienna as he raised his hands.
She nodded and he started.  He performed the Healing Calling and let the Divine flow.  Darcienna laid her hands on the king and worked Nature’s Gift.  The yellow glow was becoming much brighter by the second.  He signaled Darcienna to step back and watched as the glow faded.  He knew what he must do. 

The entire room was quiet and every eye was riveted on him.  He scanned the small crowd and met each and every gaze until he got to the queen.  She looked back at him, waiting anxiously for him to speak.

“The poison is still there,” Kade said as he broke eye contact with the queen to look at the king. “But, I have an idea,” he said as he caught Darcienna’s eye.  “Okay, let’s try it again, but this time, you keep healing,” Kade said as he stepped up to the king.  “You may be able to hold the progress we make.  If I heal and you continue to heal, maybe, just maybe, we can break the calling.  Yes,” Kade said, brightening.  “Have hope yet, Rakna.”

Kade use
d the Reveal Calling, and then with his eyes closed, started the healing.  The yellow glow was alive as before, but this time, Darcienna grabbed ahold of it with a vengeance.  She held out her hands and the Poison Calling fought back.

“I think this might work,” Kad
e said as he studied the poison with his eyes closed. 

H
e performed the healing again and watched as the yellow became slightly more vibrant.  He smiled to himself, sure he was on to something.  Now, he put his heart into it.  He performed the healing again and again.  Each time, the Poison Calling would change hues.  As he completed the tenth healing, the Poison Calling flashed to a bright red, making it appear as though the king were on fire.  It was almost too bright to watch.  Kade opened his eyes and stopped, seeing sweat forming on Darcienna’s brow. 

             
“Darcienna, are you okay?” Kade asked.

             
“Just keep going,” Darcienna said as though she had the wind knocked out of her.  She was barely breathing.  Kade realized in alarm what was happening.  She was fighting to keep the calling from adding her to its list of victims.  He closed his eyes and the colorful lights were starting to creep up her arm.

             
“Hold on,” Kade said in panic.

             
He worked the calling over and over.  There were bubbles forming in the red glow.  If he had to compare it to something, he would have compared it to molten lava as it prepared to erupt.

             
“Hurry,” Darcienna urged in a forced voice.

             
Kade worked the calling constantly.  He had lost count after twenty.  As much as he tried to keep his eyes closed, he was too worried about Darcienna not to check on her.  She had her chin on her chest as she clenched her jaw in sheer determination.  She was starting to shake.  Her knees were buckling, and she was beginning to sink toward the floor ever so slowly.  She was no longer breathing.  If he was to break this calling, it had to be now.  It was only moments before she passed out.

             
Kade performed the Healing Calling, but at the last second, he lunged at Darcienna and let it flow into her.  She gasped.  It seemed to be a small reprieve.  She stabilized momentarily as he returned to healing the king.  The Poison Calling was hissing and popping violently as it struggled to hold on.  The king appeared to be a boiling inferno of fire.