Vuroth's Tear: Even the Gods Cry

Chapter 57

Chapter 57

The husks around Dravis and his men stopped attacking and dropped to the ground, lifeless. The men continued cutting at them until Dravis stopped and stared at one of the creatures. The mummified corpses began to crumble apart until they were piles of dust that began being blown around by the wind.

The men who had been infected while they were still alive were on the ground writhing in pain while they coughed up the smoke that had corrupted them. Dravis smiled and looked up at the castle.

"Sir, what's going on?" asked one of the men while they looked around in confusion, fighting to catch his breath.

Dravis turned to what was left of his men, "They did it, it's over!" As a symbol of their battle being over, he proudly sheathed his sword, extinguishing the flame. There were cheers, some men replaced their swords on their hips, others simply dropped them to the ground and hugged each other. A few of the men simply fell to their knees and wept, happy to have survived, shocked that they had won.

Dravis heard a long howl from the castle and his heart sank. He looked to the closest man, "Go outside the city, get Andrew and the others. Get the carriages up here to pick up our fallen men," The man nodded and Dravis hurried up the hill towards the castle.

He ran into the throne room and saw the chaos all around. The bodies of dead creatures littered the floor with arrows sticking out of them or they were cut or torn apart. Dravis looked around the room and gasped when he saw Aven and Velana knelt over Donovan's lifeless body, Kass stood near them with a lost expression on his face.

"What happened?" Dravis asked, staring at the decapitated body of Tola.

Aven looked up at him with tear soaked eyes, "We did it, we stopped Tola."

"Finally, it's over." He looked at Tola's body and let out a sigh of relief. He looked at Donovan's body and knew it wasn't the right time for any questions that he did have. He stared at the throne, "It's so empty. Who is going to rule now? Padrok had no heirs, no family."

Aven wiped his eyes with his cloth sleeve and stood, "That's why you are going to take the throne, Dravis."

"Me," Dravis laughed, "You want me to be king? Why not you, Aven. You are the leader. You are the one who saved Drakorna, so you should rule over it."

"How long have you roamed these halls? How long have you been around the king and watching and listening to Padrok going about his business?" Aven explained, "You said your father was a royal guard and he would bring you around the castle with him and you yourself have been a guard for how long? There is no one more perfect to take the throne."

Dravis didn't know what to say. He wanted to argue the point but he only had one reason against it, "I don't want to be king."

"And that is why you will make a great king. Anyone who wants the throne wants it for a reason, most of them want it for power. You already have the knowledge to run the kingdom and you have lived a life protecting it," Aven patted Dravis on the back, "take your throne, King Dravis."

Dravis was hesitant, but gave in to Aven. A part of him did want it, not for the power but so he could make the kingdom a better place for the people in it, but he didn't feel worthy. He stood in front of the empty throne, the crown hanging carelessly where it had been left, on the corner of the decorative chair's back.

The soldiers started walking into the throne room and watched Dravis reach for the crown. He held it, staring at the details, the carvings and gems decorating the outside. Dravis took a deep breath and slowly lifted it and placed the crown on his head. Cheers from soldiers who had come in behind him made him turn around and the men all applauded. They all knelt with bowed heads to honor their new king while he sank into the royal chair, the king's chair, his chair..

Aven watched Dravis come to terms with his new title and then bent to pick up Donovan's body. He walked out the door with his friend in his arms, with his last breath he helped kill Maduk. Donovan entered his life when Aven saved his life, and his last moments were spent repaying the favor.

Velana and Kass followed close behind Aven, staring at the destruction, the buildings broken and battered from the battles that had taken place within the city. In the distance, soldiers respectfully collected the bodies of those who had fallen in battle.

"Aven, where are we going?" She asked him as they passed the awestruck guards who respectfully stepped out of their way. Velana couldn't help wondering if Aven intended on cremating Donovan as he had done with the other loved ones that they had lost.

Aven walked silently until he reached the nearby carriage. It was simple, an open bed in the back with a seat for the driver. He gently put Donovan in the back and turned to Velana and Kass, "I'm bringing him home. I'm going to bury him in Krenton. It's what he would want."

One of the soldiers approached nervously and looked at Aven, "I wanted to thank you for saving us, all of us. The kingdom of Drakorna is in your debt."

Aven climbed into the seat and grabbed the reins, "No debt is owed, it's the duty of a Mage." He snapped the reins and the horse started on it's way.

Velana watched Aven ride down the hill and turned to Kass. She didn't realize until just then but his eyes were welled with tears, he was mourning over the loss of Donovan. Seeing the look of sadness on his face, feeling the pain he tried and failed to hide, she lost control. She buried her face in Kass' chest and wept.