Page 144

The guards carried small, portable lamps — perhaps one had been left behind.

I quickly rummaged through the piles of paper, butthe only things of interest were an abandoned set of dice … and a familiar little black bag. I tugged the bag open, heart in my throat, to see the little healing relic I'd lost in Gleyma. Metal vines twisted around a small amber gem in which a small pixie slept.

Gods! I'd thought it lost with that terrible cultist! Perhaps Kaiya could use it to help Gram and Mirrim if they were injured …

Pocketing it quickly, I turned back to the room.

We'd make do with the light we had.

Kaiya stood stiffly to my left — gaze trained on all the beds in the room, her skin pale, eyes wide. A wave of guilt washed over me as what I'd asked in demanding her participation sank in. She already felt enough guilt for bonding these people to that creature, and I'd unthinkingly demanded she face them all …

"I'm sorry," I whispered, moving to her side. "This can't be easy for you."

She shook her head. "No. It's alright. I mean, it isn't easy seeing them like this, of course. But knowing that they're alive — it means there's stillsomehope that I can fix this."

I completely understood that sentiment.

Nodding, I gestured to the right side of the room. "I'll take this side. You take the left?"

She nodded and moved towards her side. "But we leave the moment Rien sees someone."

"Agreed."

"Okay, then." Turning, I looked down at my chosen row. "Let's do this."

I moved down the aisle, passing many familiar faces, but none I knew well. They all had the same sunken eyes and sickly pale skin, covered by those twisting dark markings — like tendrils across their skin.

And they lay so still … if I didn't know better, I'd think they were dead.

A familiar head of red hair drew my attention to the next bed, and I froze.

I wouldn't call Gorley a friend, but he was a good man, and we'd worked together often over the past two years. In fact, the last time I'd seen him, he'd berated meloudlyduring a town hall — claiming I was stupid for accepting the betrothal to Lady Valtru. Something he was very right about.

Now, though …

His hair and beard were long and unkempt, and under that beard, his ruddy cheeks had gone gaunt. I examined the markings covering his face, and my chest ached.

He'd never even met his son …

I held a hand above his mouth — checking for breath.

Nothing.

Could it truly be that faint?

Hesitantly, I moved my finger to poke hischeek. As my finger neared his skin, though, the inky markings began shifting and flowing to where I was approaching — like sea serpents gathering below the surface of the water.

"What the —" I shuddered and pulled my hand back, turning to Kaiya.

Her head was cocked to the side, and she was bent over a small frame, ear hovering above their face.

"I think they're alive," I said quietly. "But those markings …"

She nodded and stood up, brows knitted. "It's in their korra too. I'm not sure what it is. Don't touch them, just to be safe."

I nodded and swallowed, panic building inside my chest.

What thefuckwas Frexin doing to Gram and Mirrim? Ineededto find and save them … before it was too late.