Vuroth's Tear: Even the Gods Cry

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Aven dropped from the back of the enormous beast and looked in horror at the Capitol City in the distance. Thousands of Husks swarmed the streets like flies on a corpse, climbing over or breaking through the massive stone walls, all heading towards the Castle. It appeared the husk army attacked so suddenly that some of the archways hadn't had time to drop their portcullis. The King must not have listened to Verik, or more frightening a thought, Verik may have not even made it to the capital. Donovan stood next to him, they both stared in disbelief as they watched the distant fire burning.

"Aven, we're too late," Donovan whispered, placing a consoling hand on his friend.

Aven shrugged the hand away, feeling the fury building up within him, "If Verik is in there, I'm going in after him."

Velana, once again in her human form, stood naked in front of them, "He is there, I can smell frost on the wind. If you're going, I'm coming too."

"That's suicide," Analda pleaded with Aven, "please, don't go." She made no effort to hide the tears as they flowed freely down her cheeks. She wrapped her arms around Aven and begged him not to go.

He closed his eyes and held her tight against him, "Jazel, take her somewhere safe, please."

Analda squeezed tighter, wept harder. She looked at him, her bright blue eyes were bloodshot and soaked with tears, "Come back to me Aven. I love you."

Aven stared at her, silently. He fought the urge to tell her that he loved her, knowing it would just make it harder for her to leave. He knew there was a strong chance he wouldn't make it out of the Capital and his last words to her couldn't be that he loved her.

Jazel gently pulled Analda away and held her tight while she broke down completely. Analda looked at Aven again, fearful that it would be the last time she would see him.

Jazel looked at Velana, "I'll take her home. She will be safe with the pack." Velana nodded and Jazel led the weeping Analda away, back to the forest they had just emerged from.

Aven stared at Analda until he lost sight of her in the forest. His grip tightened on Quicksilver's scabbard and whispered, "I love you, too."

He stood in a daze until Donovan called his name. He turned to see them all standing there, Velana, Toth, Resh and Donovan waiting for his plan. His orders. What made him the leader, he wondered? Why was he the one they all looked to for leadership? Velana and Donovan stared down at Travidon, Toth and Resh simply stared at Aven, waiting. That was the moment Aven realized that nothing he said could stop them from following him into this battle.

"Vel, if you don't mind, I'll ride on you. Don, you follow on Resh," He looked to Toth, "I need you to stay close to Don and Resh. Don doesn't have a sword so I'm depending on you to protect him until he's armed."

Toth nodded. He and Resh changed and Donovan climbed on Resh's back, "Well, this is gonna be fun."

Velana changed, Aven made his way onto her back, "We stay close and cut through those undead bastards. We need to get to the palace, if Verik is in Travidon, that is where he will be."

Toth huffed and all three wolves howled, a battle cry of beasts about to begin a rampage. Toth rushed forward, leading the way, followed by Donovan riding Resh, Aven and Velana charged forward behind them. They closed in on the army and some of the husks turned towards them. Many of them broke from the group and started towards Aven and the others but Toth tore through them without slowing his stride. He would swing a paw as he went, effortlessly tossing them aside. The ones he missed would be trampled by Resh or Velana. Aven swung his sword too, severing the heads of those within his reach.