The Divine Apprentice (The Divine Series) by Allen J Johnston Page B

Studying each shelf, he looked for anything that was different.
    “Why can’t it be something simple?” Kade asked out loud as he leaned back in the chair and covered his face with his hands.  He paused as he thought back on something Zayle had said. “What was it you used to say about the simple way?” Kade questioned as he rose from the chair.  “Something about, not always looking for the hard way, but instead, look for the easy way, especially when the situation seems hopeless.” 
    But that does not make sense , he thought as he stood in front of the bookcase.
    Really? Kade thought, sure he had it.  His eyes went to the entrance to the room and then to the bookshelf.  “You always did say that getting in here was simple.  So, was that your way of getting in behind the bookcase, also?”
    Kade took a deep breath, closed his eyes and went through the motions of the Disarm Calling.   He smiled to himself as he sent the Divine into the bookcase.  He let out his breath and used the Reveal Calling.
    “What?  Why?” Kade asked, baffled that he was wrong.  “But, I was so sure that was it,” he said slowly, looking up and down at the bookcase through closed eyes, searching for something that would indicate that he had deactivated a calling.
    Kade tried once more to see the Divine around the bookshelf but to no avail.  There was no calling holding it in place.  Kade sat there for several moments with his eyes closed, trying to figure out what he was missing.  He examined every shelf closely as he slid his hands along the wood.  His fingers touched a knot that was slightly raised.  Kade stopped and his eyes popped over.  He studied the lump that was just a bit more worn than the wood around it.  Putting his thumb squarely on the knot, he took a deep breath and then pressed.  To his amazement, the bookcase swung effortlessly open without a sound.  Kade felt his heart pound as he eagerly waited to see what secrets were now being revealed. 
    Was it a secret room or maybe even a secret doorway to a tunnel?   Kade asked himself in excitement.  He stared in amazement as the light fell across the open space.  Finding only a small cubby large enough for just a few books was very anticlimactic.
    “Okay.  Well, not quite what I pictured, but at least we are getting somewhere.  These must be important to be this well hidden,” he said as he looked over five books that appeared to be incredibly old and one that appeared fairly new.  Two of them he recognized, but the others, he had never seen before.
    Reaching out very slowly, Kade picked up one of the books and brought it back to the table, holding it very carefully as if it might break.  He closed his eyes and performed the Reveal Calling.  As he expected, there was a blue aura surrounding the book.  He opened his eyes and looked on the tome in amazement.
    “Such a powerful calling,” Kade said to himself.  He knew that different colors meant more of the Divine was at use, and blue was a very high level.  The more of the Divine Power that one handled, the more dangerous it was. 
    Kade recalled that Zayle always had his lessons laid out for him on the table whenever he entered the study.  He was never allowed in the room prior to a session.  He glanced up at the bookcase and now understood why.
    Kade thought back on the thief that attempted to steal one of the books several years back and shuddered.  The thief never even had a chance to scream as he turned to stone.  His body was sent back to the man who had hired him.  Zayle had mentioned that Doren, whoever that was, was going to like that delivery.  The message was clearly understood, as the books were never threatened again.
    Turning the book over in his hands, feeling the aged leather, Kade’s curiosity built as he craved to learn the secrets at his fingertips.  He ran his hands over the cover and could feel the knowledge calling to him.  He looked at the book longingly, eager to