Vuroth's Tear: Even the Gods Cry

Chapter 38

Chapter 38

Tola sat in the throne tapping his talons against the carved wood arm rest. The Husks stood motionless, shoulder to shoulder, lining the room. He had grown impatient and angry. He could feel the deaths of Dakah and Toth because he was linked to them. There was no mourning their deaths, only fury that they had failed him. Now, all he had was his lifeless puppets to keep him company.

His army filled the city, countless motionless statues, they stood in the streets and on rooftops of buildings. Travidon was dead, a lifeless tomb, a trait that Tola usually enjoyed. Not now, not with Aven loose in the kingdom with Vuroth's tear.

Tola stood, smiling his devil's grin while he looked around the enormous throne room. In frustration he let out an ear piercing shriek that echoed through the halls, shattering glass throughout the halls. He rushed to the closest husk and grabbed it by its broken, hanging jaw.

He forced the husks head back, shattering it on the decorated marble wall. The creature fell to the floor, lifeless, the black smoke flowed freely from its crushed skull. Tola punched a pillar, breaking a large chunk of stone free. He continued his destruction of the room as he made his way back to the decorated throne, his foot lifted to kick it away but he stopped.

He stared at the throne and then to the crown that he sometimes wore for his own amusement, but at the moment it sat on the small tale next to his chair, "This is my kingdom now," He turned and looked at the husks, "I think it's time that we spread the word."

He walked through the hall, smoke began pouring from him as he walked. He pushed open the doors and stepped out into the garden of the castle and raised his arms. The smoke got thicker and spread outward, moving over the whole city and engulfing every husk in it, it moved like a living entity as it flowed into each of their mouths. The black smoke that covered Travidon got thinner again as it all flowed into his army.

Tola dropped to his knees, exhausted by the strain that he had just put on himself, "Spread like locusts across the kingdom. Find Aven and bring me back my pendant!" He pushed himself to his feet and watched his army in the streets spark to life and flow out of the city, spreading across the land in every direction. Tola's grin grew even wider while he watched, then he turned and found his way back inside the castle.

Velana awoke as the sky began to lighten into a dark purple and when she sat up, she noticed Kass standing and staring off into the fields. He looked up when he heard Dawn call out.

"Haven't you slept?" She asked him and he shook his head, "You kept watch all night?"

"We don't have the luxury of being relaxed. The kingdom isn't safe, we cannot afford to be caught off guard," His voice penetrated her mind and she could feel his fear flowing into her, riding on his words. His gift didn't just carry his words, sometimes she could get a memory or personal thought but when she was around him, she could feel his emotions, almost as strongly as she felt her own.

She stood and kicked Resh in the leg, "Wake up, everyone, we have a boat to catch."

Aven woke and stretched while still laying on the ground before pushing himself to his feet. He picked up Quicksilver and looked at the sky. The pinks and purples swirling together was beautiful, one of the only reasons Aven didn't mind waking up at dawn. He began to wonder what Analda would say if she were there to see it with him.

They made it to the dock and saw the ship that would be their home for the next month or so. Cap stood at the top of the ramp that ran from the dock to the ship's deck, when he noticed Aven and the others, he whistled and waved.

"If you're coming, let's go!" He shouted.

Aven met him at the top of the ramp and shook the old man's hand, "These are my friends, Kass, Resh and Velana, and Donovan you already know."

"Welcome aboard my ship, The Lucky Fin," Cap smacked the bannister.

They followed Cap aboard, "You said you were going to put us to work, what do you need us to do?"

Cap coughed, covering his mouth with his stump of a wrist, "Well, my crew has most of the work handled but they work hard. The way I see it, giving them a hand when they need a break should do. It may not sound like much but these men don't get much of a break when we are on the water."

"I understand, just point us to where we will be sleeping and we can get to work," Aven turned and looked at Kass, "except for Kass, he needs his rest."

Cap looked at Kass and nodded, "Alright, follow me," They followed him below deck, "I do apologize, we are pressed for space so you will have to share a room," he looked back at the group with a grin, "and by room, I mean a storage space. It's a bit crowded but it will have to do."

Crowded wasn't the word to use. It was a storage room with several large boxes and crates. Aven and the others rearranged some crates to clear more room in the center of the floor.

"I've slept in worse places," Chuckled Donovan.

Kass sat against the wall facing the door with his bow on his lap and he closed his eyes. Everyone else cleared the room and followed Cap as he put each of them to work.