Page 145 of Forsaken Secrets

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Lord Ellingsworth

Gods be praised! It had worked.

Excitement thrummed through me as I brought us back to our bodies and opened my eyes.

Sir Litsor stood at the front of the dais, gesturing to the people. They all stared at him expectantly. It was inspiring that they trusted us so much! I'd do anything to keep them safe, to protect them from more damage.

I'd already done enough with my healing.

This world was a harsh place, but I had plans. The Druid would change everything and I'd brought him his Drake, just as I'd promised.

The first time we'd used one of the twisted relics to heal a man, I'd thought we'd won. He'd been so happy to lose that limp, and I felt justified in my years of work in these ruins.

This dragon was just the first of my finds, too.

Over the years, I'd uncovered so much down here — more than anyone in my family before me — and I was proud of it.

Proud of the legacy that I'd someday leave for those that came after me.

The Empire sought to destroy and chain magic, but the world needed magic to be free once more.

Miss Maderoth's words echoed in my mind, and I felt a small moment of pain at her loss. Why had she cut our bond? If she'd just waited a few more minutes, we'd have been safe! Then again, she had that bond to the darkness like the Drake …

No. There was no escape for her.

Such was the cost of genuine progress, though. Sometimes the life of the many was worth the loss of life for the few.

Smiling broadly, I stepped up beside Sir Litsor and raised my hand. Every eye turned to me, and I felt their adoration coursing through me, stronger than the most powerful drug.

"I have returned and brought with me the key to HIM, Lord Sailanen … the Druid. Through him, we will all be saved," my voice echoed through the cavern and the responding cheers drowned it out.

All that work … finally it was coming to fruition, and I couldn't be happier.

I looked to my left, meeting the gaze of my lovely wife. She smiled at me, eyes sharp, then gestured behind us.

I turned to see Grace and Miss Maderoth, still slumped. Grace had begun to turn blue, and my heart ached. I'd promised the girl that her aunt would live. I'd do my best to fulfill that promise.

A cracking sound made me look up, and I grinned as one of the dragon's wings moved.

More cheers sounded from the room! Exhilaration made my heart race, and I reached out a hand to feel it. A dragon. Gods, I'd dreamed of this day for years!

Lynk stood to my right, his own eyes wide with surprise. We'd make a difference today. I was sure of it.

Then another sound reached me … a scream?

I looked for the source, shocked to see a man in the crowd with his hood back, blisters and bubbles forming across his face.

What was happening to him?

Another scream joined his, and I turned towards it. It came from a woman closer to me. She fell to her knees as her back bowed up and made a loud cracking sound.

I stepped back. What was happening? This wasn't in the plan! The journals hadn't mentioned anything like this!

A sharp movement behind me made me spin around in time to see Miss Maderoth jerk in her chair, mouth gaping as she let out a soundless scream.

The dragon above her moved more, its stone body turning back to flesh and bone.

What was happening?

"My lord. We need to move. This is wrong. Something is terribly wrong," the vicar's nasally voice said.

I shook him off, turning to my wife. She stared at me with wide eyes, looking down at my feet.

I dropped my gaze and gasped. Sure enough, they had started to shift … to morph. No longer human. There were long claws instead of toes, and blisters ran up the sides.

Heart in my throat, I stared at the large room, moments ago full of excited friends, now full of screaming monsters. The bonds to the Drake hadn't healed everyone, they'd made them worse!

Oh, gods. What had I done?

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