Vuroth's Tear: Even the Gods Cry

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Aven and Donovan made it back to the shack, Analda hurried over to greet them. She gave Donovan a hug and held out her arms for Aven. He hesitated for a moment, flashing Donovan a nervous look before wrapping his arms around Analda. He held her tight and Donovan nodded before walking inside to give them some time alone.

Analda let go and smiled when Aven still held her. She let her arms wrap around him again and looked into his eyes, but that was when she noticed an expression of anxiety.

"Are you okay?" She ran a finger down his cheek.

He smiled, he couldn't hold in the sigh that forced its way out at her touch. All he wanted was to tell her how he felt and kiss her again, "I, I'm worried about Verik."

She kissed him on the cheek, "I'm sure he's fine. I bet he's at the capital and there's a carriage on its way for us as we speak," She kissed his other cheek.

Aven wished she would put her lips against his, fear stopped him from doing it himself but if she were to try, he would embrace it. He squeezed her tight again before letting her go and walking into the shack.

Velana was sitting at the fire with Donovan. Aven found it interesting how close the two of them had become, especially since she seemed to hate Donovan when they first met. He wasn't getting any closer to sleeping with her, but they had become friends, which had seemed impossible to even imagine Donovan being capable of being friends with a woman and Aven was sure that Velana would deny the friendship to her last breath.

Aven sat next to Donovan, they were passing a bottle of spiced rum back and forth and when Aven sat, Donovan offered him the bottle. He took it, took in a deep gulp and handed it back with a cough, "What the hell is that, dog piss?" He didn't realize what he had said until he noticed the look that Velana was giving him. Donovan punched him in the shoulder, "Sorry, Vel, I wasn't thinking."

Verik reached the towering stone wall that encased and protected the capital. Long bright blue bands hung on either side of the enormous gated entrance into the city bearing the insignia of the lands of Drakorna, the ancient symbol of power and unity in the shape of two dragon bodies sharing a single head blowing fire towards the heavens.

Travidon looked bigger than he remembered, but it was far more beautiful than he remembered too. The castle sat in the center of the city at the peak of the hill, a stunning silhouette against the sun as it rose up over the city.

He dropped from his horse and walked it towards the gate. Two guards stood watch, one on either side of the gate and staring at the hooded stranger as he passed into the city. As soon as he was in the city, he felt overwhelmed. Capital Guards in decorated armor carried spears while they made their rounds up and down the streets. Verik wondered what they would do if they knew who he was.

Verik couldn't help admiring the buildings as he passed them, most of them were of plain design but they towered over him. The stone used shimmered in the sunlight, swirling with hints of every color of the rainbow depending on the angle they were admired from.

Everyone was dressed properly, not a single person wore rags, no homeless sat against the walls begging for whatever could be spared. The carriages were elaborately carved and decorated, the city and everything in it was utterly breathtaking.

As beautiful as it all was, he couldn't stop looking at the castle. To him, it was both beautiful and frightening. He made his way up the long road until he reached the gate to the outer castle wall that surrounded the garden and castle itself. The two guards stood blocking the path through the archway that led to the entrance of the castle.