Vuroth's Tear: Even the Gods Cry

Chapter 42

Chapter 42

"Creating fire is easy, but controlling it can be difficult," Quinn created a flame in his hands and manipulated it, making it grow and shrink, forming a ball of fire that he tossed into the air and when he caught it, the flame slithered up his bare arm and faded to nothing.

Aven tried to copy him, he created his own flame but he couldn't manipulate it like Quinn could. Frustration clouded his mind and the fire shrank down until it went out, "What am I doing wrong?"

"Take a deep breath. Your anger feeds your magic, but you need to keep that rage in check. Channel it, let your anger fuel that magic but don't let it control you. Fire naturally reaches upwards, towards the heavens, but it doesn't have a will of its own. That is part of what magic is, you project your will into the elements and give it life," Quinn explained with a smile.

Aven tried again, letting those painful memories into the front of his mind but just enough to fuel his anger, giving life to a flame in his palm. Rather than hoping the fire would bend to his will, he forced it to. He imagined the flame grew tall and thin and it did, like a tall glowing rope it stood towering over him and the Elf.

"Make something of the flame," Quinn held a ball of fire in his hand, its shape shifted into that of a coiled snake. It hissed at Aven and lunged at him, evaporating as it flew through the air.

Aven was impressed, he saw his reflection in the cascading water of the fountain and had an idea. He bent down and spread two flames out in front of his feet, he raised his hands as he stood, the flames grew and part way up converged. The fire began to take shape, arms sprouted and so did a head. Soon, Aven stood shoulder to shoulder with a glowing orange copy of himself, mirroring his stance.

Aven lifted his left hand holding Quicksilver, and his burning doppelganger did the same with its right hand. Aven yanked his sword free and slashed at the fire, passing effortlessly through it. His copy looked at Quinn, shook its head and faded away.

Quinn clapped his hands together, proud and shocked, "Aven, you are a quick study aren't you? I am very impressed," He thought for a moment, "alright, try this," in an instant, fire spread over him completely.

"Alright," Aven took a long, deep breath and imagined his body on fire. The blaze started at his fingertips and moved up his arms before spreading over the rest of him, it flickered and went out in some areas, needing Aven to concentrate to cover himself again.

Donovan was roaming around with Resh and wandered into the fountain room. They watched Aven make the fire covering him disappear before Donovan spoke up, "Wow, learning some new tricks, huh?"

Aven turned to him, the buckles and armored left arm were glowing from the heat, "Yeah, Quinn is very insightful."

Quinn laughed, "I have a lot of experience with magic, that is all."

"Aven, how much longer until we can start back to Cap and the ship?" Resh asked.

Aven hadn't had the chance to talk to them about staying yet, "We are staying here for a little while. We won't stand a chance against Tola without magic."

Donovan huffed with anger, "Why can't you train for that month at sea? Hell, why doesn't he just come with us?" Donovan gestured towards Quinn.

"I wouldn't be of much help against Tola, no matter what he has done, he is still my brother, I couldn't kill him," Quinn let his gaze fall away from Aven.

Donovan wasn't shocked to hear that Quinn and Tola were brothers, their resemblance was a strong clue. Still, Donovan was frustrated. Resh was the one most uncomfortable. He wanted revenge for the death of everyone he knew and loved. Resh turned around and left without saying a word, probably to find Kass and Velana to deliver the news that they were staying.

"Any idea how long this might take?" Donovan asked.

Quinn looked at Aven and nodded, "He's a fast learner, but I cannot put a time frame on such lessons."

Donovan sighed and turned back towards the hall he had come from. Aven stared down the hallway expecting, or hoping that Donovan would come back. After a few moments, he turned to Quinn, "I think I'm done for the day."

Quinn patted him on the back, "I understand. Go talk to your friends," Aven thanked him and chased after Donovan.

"Don, wait up!" Aven shouted to his friend down the long hallway ahead of him. It took a minute for him to catch up, "We can't leave yet, I'm sorry."

"You already said that," Donovan snapped back, "so how long are we staying here, then?"

Aven shook his head, "I don't know. Not long, I hope, but you have to see how important this could be. Fire is the key to killing the husks. If I can control it, getting to the castle, to Tola, will be much easier."

"I get it, Aven," Donovan snapped at him once again.

Aven looked at him, "Then what is your problem?" Donovan was hiding something and Aven could tell, "What is wrong, you can talk to me."

Donovan sighed, "I don't trust Kass. How do we know he isn't going to turn on us when we need him?" Aven instantly recognized the look on Donovan's face.

"Are you sure this isn't about all the time that Kass has been spending with Velana?" The look Donovan shot at him was answer enough. Aven looked down the hall to be sure nobody was there to hear him before he whispered, "What, you have feelings for her now? Because I don't think it would go very far when she finds out you slept with her sister."

"Old habits die hard, I guess. What do you want me to say?" Donovan looked to his friend right in the eyes, "I just miss being able to sit and talk with her. Kass is always there having his little silent conversations with her when I try to talk to her."

"Then tell her that. There really isn't anything else that you can do. You're going to have to just tell her how you feel," Aven felt bad for his saddened friend but didn't know what he could do to help so he walked away.

He walked the halls until he found his room, he shut the door and sat at the end of the large comfortable bed. His mind wandered, filling with doubts and fears while he stared blankly at the shimmering black wall in front of him.

What if he couldn't kill Tola, what if his friends were killed or turned into more husks in his army. What if they were captured and held prisoner, forced to watch the kingdom and everyone in it die before they were executed. So much ran through his mind that his head was throbbing. He laid down and closed his eyes, forcing himself to sleep just to stop the assault of doubts on his mind.