Vuroth's Tear: Even the Gods Cry

Chapter 44

Chapter 44

Aven stepped into the library and found Quinn sitting in a chair by the fire, a glass in his hand filled with his favorite wine. He held a book open in his other hand, his lips silently forming the words as he read. Aven stood watching him, not wanting to interrupt.

When he finished the page Quinn looked up at him, "Yes?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you," Aven moved to the empty chair next to Quinn and sat, "Is that more research or leisure reading?"

Quinn slid the silk ribbon bound to the book in between the pages to mark his place and closed the book, "This is an old fairy tale. My mother used to read it to Tola and I when we were children."

Aven tried to read the words on the cover but it was in the language of Quinn's people, the Denjak, "What's it called?"

Quinn ran his fingertips over the raised golden letters on the leather cover, it was cracked at the corners but the beauty of the design was still relatively unharmed by time, "Translated, it's named Whispers in the Garden. It's not a very good story, but it's the memories it stirs up that I read it for," He switched his focus to Aven, "you came to ask me something?"

Aven nodded, "Is there a way to enchant a bow to shoot flaming arrows?"

Quinn grinned at him, "I may have something better, follow me."

He stood and led Aven through the obsidian halls and down a set of stairs. At the bottom of the stairs was a large obsidian wall, but this one was different from the rest. There were rune carvings in an archway around the center which was smooth and polished. It looked as though it were a door but Aven couldn't see any way of opening it.

He turned to Quinn in confusion, "What is this?"

"Use your magic on the gateway, the doorway will open for you," Quinn explained.

Aven clenched his fist nervously and when he opened it, his palm was coated with fire. He put his hand to the reflective surface of the black stone and a ripple spread outwardly from his hand.

Quinn nodded and started walking, Let's continue," He stepped ahead of Aven and disappeared through the liquid wall inside the carved archway. Aven hesitated for a moment, touching the liquid wall and watching it ripple before taking a deep breath and stepping through. As he stepped through, his skin tingled like thousands of needles poking at him all at once.

When he made it through he was in a round room of a remarkable white stone, like nothing he had ever seen before. Against the wall all around the room were plain squared sarcophagi made of the same white stone. Behind each stood a very detailed statue of the warrior that had been put to rest.

"This room is the shrine to the thirty original Denjak warriors who crossed into this world with my people," Quinn spoke softly as he admired the men and women depicted so flawlessly.

"It's beautiful," Aven whispered back.

Quinn nodded and pointed around the room, "each of these men and women were the strongest of our people, chosen to investigate this world. Vuroth closed the gateway to the other world before they could return."

Aven stared at the statues, each one stood tall, in a stance of great pride and honor, "You said that Mages are the product of humans and Elves having children together, right? Does that mean one of them are my ancestor"

Quinn smiled and nodded, "Yes, that is very possible but there were a lot of our people who crossed into this world. These were just their honored protectors," He walked towards a statue of a young man holding a large headed war hammer in his hands and then to the woman next to him holding a coiled whip in her hands, "These were my ancestors, Kahro and his wife Badi. Let's continue," Quinn spoke and led the way to the other side of the room, and through an archway into another round room.