Vuroth's Tear: Even the Gods Cry

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Verik sat against the trunk of a thick oak tree while rain poured down around him. There was no use attempting to start a fire. Like Aven was with fire, Verik was immune to the cold so he didn't need a fire anyway. It was one of his favorite things about being a Frost Mage, even the coldest nights never bothered him.

His horse stood tied to a tree nearby, relatively dry, thanks to a makeshift shelter that Verik made for him. The horse had been ridden hard, but they were almost to Travidon. Just a few more days until he saw the Capital again.

Verik remembered the last time that he had been in Travidon. It was with Haveth that he last walked those streets. He missed his brother, not a day passed that he didn't think about the night he died. He would go over it all and wonder what he could have done differently to save Haveth from the death that took him.

He saw Haveth when he looked at Aven, the young man was a constant reminder of more than one mistake he had made in the past. Verik knew he should have stayed with Aven all those years ago, if he had, Aven might have grown up differently and perhaps he wouldn't be so afraid of letting himself care about people. He could have followed in his father's footsteps as an Ember Mage, protecting the lands of Drakorna, he could have taught Aven how to use his magic. It wasn't too late for Aven to learn, but things could have been different. But if things had been different, Aven might not have endured the life he did and the pains he suffered was why Aven was so in control of the anger of an Ember Mage. Even Aven's father, Haveth, had been a prisoner to his own burning fury.

Verik was full of regrets over the things he had done in the past, tormented by all those memories. He rested his head against the tree and closed his eyes, soothed by the rain falling around him. Just a few more days and he would be in Travidon. It was there that he would be forced to face yet another mistake that had been made so long ago.

Analda had been training daily with Aven and was learning very quickly. Aven dodged her slashes and knocked away her sword with his own. The metal of her blade sang with each strike against his as they danced the dance of battle.

She slashed towards Aven, he deflected the blade with his and stopped the edge against the flesh of her bare neck, "You're distracted today. You need to pay attention, try again."

She smiled, paying no attention to the edge of the sword still rested against her throat. He looked at her confused and opened his mouth to speak when her sword knocked his blade away and she began her assault on him. Aven was caught off guard and barely blocked the first strike before recovering and knocking her blade away to stop Quicksilver against her neck again.

"That was... better," He grinned and pulled his blade away. He sheathed his sword and held it in his left hand while he stared at her, he just couldn't look away. He felt overwhelmed, lost in her blue eyes. His heart pounded in his chest when she smiled at him and he couldn't fight it any longer. He pulled her close, pulled her lips to his. He heard her sword fall to the ground, felt her hand move to his cheek.

"Oh, shit!" Donovan laughed as he stepped out of the shack. Both Aven and Analda looked at him, "Apologies, I didn't mean to interrupt. Please, continue." He leaned against the wall and pulled the cork from a fresh bottle of wine and took a long sip.

Aven let go of Analda, she took a step back before bending to pick up her sword, confidently and without looking, found the opening to the sheath on her hip and slid the blade in place. Neither of them could stop smiling, Analda had a bright red to her cheeks.

Velana found her way outside and stopped next to Donovan, who was still chuckling, taking another sip of his wine, "What is so amusing?"

Donovan looked at her and wiped the dark red liquid from his lips with his sleeve, "Vel, you just missed the first kiss," He pointed, Analda's face reddened more.

She looked at Aven and then the bright red Analda, "It's about damn time," Velana scoffed before heading towards the city, "I'm going for food, be here when I get back or you don't eat."

The color was finally leaving Analda's face when Donovan closed in and put an arm over both of their shoulders, "My apologies if I made things awkward for you," He pulled them in close and took another swig of his wine, "It really was cute."

Aven pushed Donovan away with a huff, "You really are a bastard, Don."

Donovan and Aven aimlessly roamed the streets of Syrdania. It had been well over a month since Verik had left for Travidon and the two men were getting restless.

"Do you think Verik made it to the Capital yet?" Aven worried about the Mage, his uncle.

Donovan thought for a moment before responding, "If he hasn't made it there yet, I'm sure he will any day now," he paused, "I'm just worried about Tola. What if he is already in Travidon when Verik gets there?"

Aven pushed his way through the crowd, "I've been worrying about that myself, but we don't even know that Tola is going to the Capital."

"Tola not going to Travidon would require luck, something we haven't had in a very long time," Donovan huffed, "why else would he be raising an army?" He looked at Aven and noticed the look of worry on his face, Donovan changed the subject, "Aven, what exactly is going on between you and Analda?"

Aven stopped and stared at his friend, "What? I... I don't know, honestly."

"Do you love her?"

Aven remained silent. He couldn't look at his friend, he opened his mouth to answer but what could he say? Yes? Was it love that he felt for Analda? He really couldn't answer Donovan because he truly didn't know.

"She loves you. You do know that, right?" Donovan playfully shoved his friend.

Aven took a deep breath, "Don, I'm not sure I'm the love type. She could do much better than me."

He laughed at Aven, "You could have fooled me. She sleeps in your arms on that damn floor every night. Just yesterday I caught you kissing her. You may not be the type to show your emotions but look at you. You have softened since we first stepped into her inn, and I don't mean that in a bad way," He patted Aven on the arm, "I think you love in a way that seems to work for her, you are her protector."

Aven didn't want to admit that the very idea of love terrified him. To him, love always led to pain. It always ended in either heartbreak or death. In his experience, it was usually death. The closest thing he let himself feel was the almost brotherly bond he shared with Donovan and even that made him uncomfortable on occasion.

He wasn't even sure what loving someone really meant anymore, "What do I do, Don?"

Donovan chuckled at his friend, "Just go with it, did you expect to kiss her? What did Verik tell you, follow your instincts? So do that, let those instincts lead you."

Aven watched the people moving all around him while he let the advice sink in, "I just don't want her to get hurt."

Donovan threw an arm over his worried friend's shoulder, "You really need to stop thinking so much, my friend."