Page 140 of Forsaken Secrets

Arms tugged at me, pulling my hands behind my back, and I gasped as a shock jolted through my body. It felt like fire and ice split every vein in half, and I dropped to the ground.

What was that?

"Bring him here," a steady voice said, interrupting my thoughts. I tried to look up, but my eyes blurred and my skin still twitched.

Hands tugged at me and threw me across someone's shoulders. Were they carrying me like a bag of feed?

Cautiously, I peered through my hair, hoping to glimpse the women. My head bounced with every step, though, and my vision wavered.

"Ahh. It's that Reaper nephew of the Harlsteds. Check him, then rough him up a little, and put him by the girl. Ellingsworth can deal with him when he returns." The vicar! That voice belonged to him. I was sure of it. At least he didn't know who I really was.

The man holding me grumbled something back, but did as ordered and took me towards the tall stone statue.

Gods, I didn't want to be roughed up. Especially not by this behemoth of a man!

But when we reached the dragon, he pulled me off his shoulder and dropped me unceremoniously to the ground.

Another man strode over and bent down. "Are you ready to fight, little man?"

I just laughed. "Now why would I do that? You'll just hit me harder."

The man shrugged. "Fair enough. Let's just hope you don't have any dangerous items on your person. That would make this … tricky." He ran his hands over my entire body, pausing at the round stone in my waistcoat. Damn, I'd really hoped he wouldn't notice the relic, not that I'd really thought any of this through. If I could get it to Kaiya's aunt, though …

I looked at the man again. But he'd already tossed the relic to the vicar, who was staring at it with bright eyes.

Gods, let him not use it! The idea of his tainted korra touching that stone made me sick! No. I couldn't watch.

I closed my eyes and waited for something, anything, to happen.

Finally, the taller man spoke, his voice pitched low, "He's clear." Were they really going to beat me in front of all those people … while they were doing the ceremony? What kind of ceremony was this?

A wrenching weight hit the center of my gut and my stomach rebelled, immediately returning all the food I'd eaten that day.

The man just laughed. "Lookit that, Gav. Even the food didn't want to be with him no more."

Gav shrugged, then kicked me in the shoulder. It sent a searing pain through my arm and I debated the logic in just laying there. Perhaps it would have been better to put up a fight.

"Any closer, Riarlo?"

"We're going as fast as we can!"

I flinched and let my mind wander as kicks rained down on my body. The pain all blurred together and my vision went dark.

Then, finally, it all stopped.

My ears rang, and my eyes were swollen mostly shut, but when I lifted one eyelid, I stared directly into Kaiya's face. Her surprisingly peaceful face.

If things were different …

No. They weren't different. I stared my fill as she took breath after deep breath, relief twisting in my stomach as our situation faded away.

Then her aunt coughed, and I looked over. Damn. Sweat poured from her brow, and her lips had turned a light shade of purple.

"Any idea how long you'll be? The Aunt is in pretty rough shape."

"Almost there. Just hang on a bit longer!"

I needed to get her help. Steeling myself against more violence, I propped myself up and cleared my throat. "Hey! This woman isn't doing so well!" My words were slurred, but I motioned to Kaiya's aunt and hoped they cared enough to help her.

I couldn't see the vicar through my swollen eyes, but his laugh rang in my ears. "She'll be fine once the Druid returns. He will be reunited with his Drake and all will be healed once more."

I grimaced and shook my head. Gods. Druids were talented healers, and it was true that the Druid was a legendary one. But what made them think that he'd heal all these people? Was that dragon statue supposed to be the Drake? Or did they think it was somehow the Druid? It certainly didn't feel like the korra of any dragon I'd ever met.

A small cough sounded to my right, and Kaiya jerked roughly in her chair before slumping forward again. I sat up, reaching out for her, but my arm refused to move, and the jostling sent a searing pain through my chest. Fuck!

Had they broken something?

I couldn't stop the rasping cough that burbled up in response. My saliva tasted of iron. Was it from the blood on my lips, or something that I'd just coughed up?

Gods. This wasn't looking good …

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