Realm of Ash Series: Soul Bond (Book 1)

CHAPTER 7 - ULRIC

On the treacherous stormy waves of the Jade Lake, the relentless, worsening winds whipped hard against the sails. Sheets of rain wailed onto unpredictable, swelling waves. Travon and Ulric propped themselves inside the shelter of the vessels half-cabin, gripping tight, bracing the strikes against the rocking hull.

"You didn't bring me out here to teach me fishing did you?" Ulric yelled frustratingly over the howling winds and lapping sails, "why of all times in this weather too? Why are we really out here?"
Travon's manner had settled, but spoke no words, only taking a moment to admire the aggressive storm. His eyes softened, keeping his gaze on the waves splashing against the stern.
"The best chance to catch a fish is when no one else is fishing. The thing about fish is they only take what they are shown, they never question what is on the other end, who or what is dangling the bait".

Travon spoke blankly knowing his charade had failed, Ulric strived to remain patient for an explanation to his father's cryptic metaphor.
"For a long time, it seems I have been the fish rather than the fisherman. But I have not been alone in this; other fish have been oblivious to the hook having pierced them already. Tonight Ulric, I discovered who was on the other end of the fishing line and realised I have been a fool for taking the bait. You were the bait son, I know you don't think much of me, and I don't expect you to, but I only ever wanted to make things right between us. Unfortunately, the more I tried, the more mistakes I made. I felt my only salvation was rescuing you from Blackwall". Facing his son with the same admiring expression he had for the waves.

"Rescue me, from Blackwall?"

In that moment, the night sky burst into a flash of lighting flurries, several striking the lake and another igniting a shallow treeline just offshore. The father and son flinched. Travon's heart began to race once more knowing this was no ordinary storm he had ever been in; it was too hostile. Despite the looming evil above crashing down, Travon continued his cryptic charade with a rare concept fresh to him; tact in an attempt to keep his son calm.

"Do you know of The Five Deities? Their guardians who supposedly protect our land?" Travon asked in a calming manner, knowing the time with his son was waning, but his son shrugged listlessly.
"Only from the fables we heard in school and one's mother told me before sleep each night". Humouring his father's cryptic ramblings.
"Did she ever tell you the story of Otharok and Avala?"
"It wasn't my favourite, I'm not really into love stories". Ulric dismissed.
"It was far more than that, it was a story of banishment, hatred, betrayal, creation, order and treachery. Some legends even claim the fable as true". Travon stated.
"Surely such fables are not possible". He denied, to coerce the conversation back to revealing the answers he wanted.
"What if I told you, we are soon to be visited by a deity?"
"Good or evil?" Ulric mocked. Travon shuddered at the terrifying potential reality.
"Evil. Otharok is said to rise tonight". But Ulric frowned in confusion.
"Even if that were true, Avala would stop him, just like she did in the story", he scoffed at the foolish statement.
"She could, so what if we were to find Avala's statue, and stop Otharok?"
"Impossible. If her statue exists, which it probably doesn't, because it's a story", Ulric continued his frank dismissal, "then she herself must exist too. But the statue has never been found or known to exist".
"Then how do we know there is a statue in the first place? It is supposedly blessed with divine power and made entirely of jade?" Travon bargained.
"From the fables father, these are not true".
Travon nodded at Ulric gesturing the violent waves of the Jade Lake. Both glancing out into the storm.
"Why do we call it the Jade Lake, Ulric?" Ulric did not shrug, but his intrigue kept his ears open for elaboration.
"The story claims the source of her power supposedly lays dormant, submerged beneath the tears of her lover; his tears streamed in the rains which fell heavy, for the loss of Avala. It is supposedly the cause of what gives our lake the lambent jade glow on the brightest of days.
Ulric's eyes sparked interest, "who could've told you that?" He criticised before his hopes were raised too high.
"If you trust my words, then you will believe me when I say, the shadow-veiled prince of deception and destruction, told me this".
"If we find this statue, then I will finally believe Avala is real, and will appease your claim that you have indeed had words with the dark one known as Otharok".