Page 77 of Riftborne
And now I was coming down hard.
CHAPTER 28
I could actually feelmy brain jostling around in my head as we ran. Raine had already hunched over a few times expelling whatever she’d managed to eat earlier. Briar almost looked as pale as me.
I chugged my water but no matter how much I drank, my mouth still felt thick and dry.
Knowing that this run was only ourwarm-uphad my head reeling. If only I could stop constantly recalling my humiliating encounter with Laryk. Maybe that would lessen the pounding in my skull.
At least today, the sun was covered by the clouds and an occasional breeze would pass, cooling our clammy skin.
“I think I might die.” Briar’s voice was muffled. He was sitting in the grass with his head between his knees.
Raine was splayed out like a starfish beside him, her long eyelashes brushing the tops of her cheekbones.
Thunder rumbled in the distance.
I knew if I sat down now there would be no getting back up. I stood with my hands on my hips trying to catch my breath.
My attention was caught when I overheard Draven’s raised tone a few feet away. He was standing off against Baelor and Nazul.
“Everything you’ve been provided and everything you have and will achieve is all because of yourfatherand family name,” Draven stated, with a determination I had never seen from him before.
“I’ve proven myself enough to be chosen for this faction. That merit is my own. However, I will proudly carry on my family's legacy, as every fire wielder before me,” Baelor responded unfazed.
I could see Draven’s frustration growing.
“How do you expect us to fight alongside you when we don’t even know what your focus is? Perhaps it'syouwho shouldn’t be here if you’re so ashamed,” Baelor continued.
“Draven, why won’t you just tell us?” Nazul chimed in, throwing his hands up.
“You’ll have to fight me to find out,” Draven seethed.
I opened my mouth to speak on Draven’s behalf, but my words were cut off.
“As you wish.” Baelor’s arm swung out in an instant, his fist rushing forward to connect with Draven’s face. The snap of bone echoed through the field.
I gasped and rushed over to him.
“Espirithe sake, Draven are you okay?” I knelt beside him, trying to get a look at the damage. Blood poured from his nose into his palm. He recoiled from my grasp.
“I’m fine,” he assured me, but the amount of blood told me otherwise. He did his best to distance himself.
“Draven, come on, let me help you up.” I stepped towards him again, but he shot me a horrified look.
That was when I heard a loud thud from behind us. I snapped my head around to see Baelor on the ground, his mouth formed into a tight grimace.
His fist, covered in blood, was deathly still. In fact, his wholebody had stiffened into odd angles like he’d been frozen mid-step before toppling over. I would have thought he was made of stone if not for the desperate shifting of his eyes.
Raine looked between the two of them, a curious expression on her face.
“Woah… Draven. Are you a blood lock?” Her eyes were wide, and I could tell she was trying to stop herself from smiling as she looked over at Baelor’s frozen form.
Draven nodded, his head wincing at the movement.
“Paralyzing.” His voice sounded pinched.
“We should get you to the healers.” I took a small step back from him, not wanting to accidentally end up on the ground like Baelor.
