How To Find Your Inheritance [Discontinued]

7. My Family

Kierra stood at the prow of the boat feeling nervous. Despite Eret's protests, she was going with all the trappers to Drago's fort to deliver the shipment of dragons. She was able to convince Eret to let her go with them because her hands had went ice cold. And they only went like that when something bad was to happen.

Eret had her wrap some linen cloth very tightly around her chest, put on a big coat and wrap a scarf around her face so only her eyes could be seen. Then he gave her some heavy boots so they wouldn't see her small feet. And finally he had given her some gloves so they wouldn't see her hands and so they wouldn't be cold. The gloves were warm but they didn't make her hands warm. That proved that something awful was to happen and she wanted to be there and prevent it. And Eret even painted what looked like chin tattoos on her with some bluish-grey paint so she would look like one of them.

Once they were on their way, Eret gave Kierra a whole explanation on what she should do when they go there: 1. Stay quiet 2. Do not cross Drago 3. Stick with him and the other trappers 4. Whatever happens don't reveal what you are and 5. Don't talk to anyone. Kierra promised to follow them but she made a mental note to break them if necessary.

Soon they arrived at Drago's fort. Kierra pulled her hood over her head and pulled the scarf over her nose. She looked at Eret and he looked back at her. He wondered what was it that she sensed that was making her hands all cold. Whatever it was he hoped it wasn't to bad. When the boat touched the docks, a large man stood there waiting.

He wore a cloak of what looked like black dragon skin and one part of it was draped over his left arm. He was dark skinned and had his hair done in dreadlocks. So that's Drago. Kierra thought. She didn't like the looks of the man. There was something evil, something sinister about him.

"Drago it is good to see you! Well I have your shipment of three hundred dragons that me and my crew had caught just for you just like you asked. And-"

"Three hundred?" Drago said cutting him off. The way he said it sent ice down Kierra's spine.

"Well yes that is what you requested and-"

"I asked for six hundred dragons Eret. Six hundred. This os only half of the amount of dragons that I am asking for."

"But you asked for-"

"You know the consequences for disobeying me?"

"Uh...no..."

"Then you will suffer the consequences Eret." Then he grabbed Eret by the front of his shirt. Then he ripped it to expose his chest and grabbed a hot metal rod from a man.

"Drago please!" He pleaded trying to wiggle out of Drago's grasp. Drago released him but two men held Eret's arms behind him and held him in front of Drago.

"This is what I do to those who disobey my orders. And this is your punishment, Eret son of Eret." And with that he plunged the rod into Eret's exposed chest.

Kierra and the trapper watched in horror as Eret screamed in pain. She felt her throat tighten as a flashback of something she she had desperatly tried forgetting:

"Don't hurt him please! I'll do anything! Let me take his place!" She begged clutching the slave master's arm. Percy was tied to the whipping post and he had already been given his lashes.

"Kierra no!" He yelled before the whip came down and he gave a scream of agony. Kierra released a scream herself as if she was the one being whipped not her brother. The slave master shoved her back into the mud in disgust.

"You aren't even worth my time girl. And what can you do that can make a useful slave anyways? Another twenty lashes for the boy!"

"No you already gave him fifty! I'll take his place just don't kill him!" She cried as she tried to get up. She looked at Percy and he looked back at her, his blue eyes that had always made her feel safe whenever she looked into them.

"Kierra please be strong for me. Do it for mom, do it for dad, do it for everyone who can't struggle to be strong."

"I can't be strong without you Percy!"

"Yes you can. Just believe in yourself. And remember to not let anyone ever misused you for your gift. I love you Kierra. May the stars watch over you and may you find happiness." He looked at her woth tears in his eyes and a painful smile. Then he closed his eyes and held his head up.

The whip cam down several times but on the last time Percy cried out something in a language that only Kierra could understand. Then, he was gone...

Kierra watched as Drago removed the rod from Eret's chest and let him fall forward. Eret curled up on the floor, his knuckles white and a grunt escaping from his throat. Drago lifted his harpoon up to plunge and prepared to plunge it into the man's unprotected back.

Kierra gave a scream that sounded so horribly like a wounded dragon and lunged at Drago. Her sword clashed with the harpoon and she blocked it from stabbing Eret. Drago glared at her and she quickly slashed the blade and knocked the harpoon out from his hands.

"How dare you." Growled Drago. Kierra looked at him and narrowed her eyes.

"None of us knew that you had given us that new order. We'll leave you with this shipment of dragons and bring you the rest when we have them." She said lowering her voice to match her brothers. Drago narrowed his eyes.

"Next time you all won't be so lucky." Then he walked off with several of his men in tow.

"Help me with him!" She yelled to the other trappers who were being held back.

Kierra quickly instructed Angus and Gorn to pick Eret up and take him back to the ships cabin. Then she told Ivan to get water and whatever herbs they had. Once sheb had given the orders, the group left.

Once they had gotten him to the ship and laid him on a table in the cabin, Kierra sent them away to give them some privacy. She carefully grounded the herbs that she was given and miced them into the water. When it was ready, she carefully washed the wound. Eret had lost a lot of blood but Kierra was determined to keep him alive till they got to the closest village. Once she cleaned his wound, she dressed it as best as she could. When she finished, she heard him groan and saw his eyes open.

"Kierra..." he whispered as he tried to sit up. He gave a small yelp as pain coursed through him.

"Shhhh it's okay. I'm right here Eret. Don't worry I am right here." She said lowering his head down gently on the table. She gently kissed his forehead and stroked his cheek. He gently grabbed her hand and looked at her with a smile.

"W-why did you do that?" He whispered softly.

"Do what?"

"Fight Drago. I told you to stand down." He noticed that her hands were no longer cold.

"Because where I come from, we must protect our family. And you are my family. My brother died five years ago and he was the only family I had. I had friends who were like family to me but they could never protect me the way Percy did. And what I did to save you, was something that I should have done for my own brother."

"Thank you." He said softly with a smile. She smiled back and kissed his forehead.

"Anything for my love." She said softly.

"I'll make it up to you when I get the chance." Eret said as he clutched her hand that was still on his cheek.

"You don't have to. All I want from you right now is to rest. My healing procedures aren't as good as they used to be and I don't have any sort of magic to help you. When we get to the closest village we'll get you fixed better."

"Alright then. Whatever you wish." He said with smile. Then he closed his eyes fell asleep with Kierra still holding his hand.