Page 137 of Forsaken Secrets

What were they? Why did they feel so familiar?

I tried to move down them like I had with Ellingsworth's, but cold spines dug into my korra and I had to stop.

"How do I cut it?"

Ellingsworth reached out, shaping his korra into a long thin blade-like shape, then he swiped it down between himself and the trapped person. I stared as one strand that had connected the two korras shriveled and fell away.

How had he changed his korra like that? Could I do it, too? I looked down at the strange bonds, then back at Ellingsworth.

"If you can do it, why do you need me?"

He frowned, dispersing his sword thing. "I've tried many, many times … but those bonds are too strong for me to break. When I get close, my korra just dissipates."

So he wanted me to cut something that he'd failed at? Me? An untrained bond mage?

"Remember your Aunt, Miss Maderoth. Time is of the essence."

I gritted my teeth and focused. Carefully, I prodded at my korra until it vaguely resembled what Ellingsworth used.

Mine was wider in the center … more like the scimitar I'd seen Lynk use. Anger shot through me at the memory of him, and I channeled it into the blade as I swiped down on the first bond.

The bond held, and I shuddered as my blade vibrated against my palm.

Perhaps if I tried again?

I tugged on the blade, but it didn't budge.

I tugged again, and with a single jolt, the bond burst, sending small bits of smokey dust everywhere.

I leaped back. What just happened?! How …

"It worked! I knew it!"Lord Ellingsworth said, his voice hoarse in my mind. "Keep going! We're almost out of time."

I nodded and went for another one, faster this time. Each strand fell within seconds of me cutting it until finally there was just one left.

Focus thrumming through me, I pulled back the scimitar and swung it through the bond. The thick strand broke apart instantly … but I wasn't done. Instead of pulling the blade back to me, I used the momentum to send it soaring through the air and straight at Ellingsworth.

He jumped back, surprise and fear twinging through our bond as the silvery rope between us shriveled and fell.

"You shouldn't have done that. You really shouldn't have done that,"he said, eyes concerned as he looked around us.

I grinned. I was free! I just needed to get out of here and save Aunt Grace, because there was no way in the seven hells that Drake was going to do it. His korra looked nothing like a druid.

A sound echoed in the distance, like loud thumping on a stone floor …

"I'm so sorry Miss Maderoth. If only you'd listened …"Lord Ellingsworth said, voice tight as he frantically searched the surrounding darkness. "I will keep my promise and save your aunt, but you are on your own. Goodbye." Then he and the Drake disappeared.

I tried to follow, but without that anchor, I was lost!

Oh gods. I was alone.

Completely alone in the cold, empty darkness.

Thump.

Or perhaps the not so empty darkness. A shiver coursed through my body and I looked around.

Where were those sounds coming from?

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