Forged Destiny [Book 7: Ch. 13]

Vernal brought her foot up, prepared to kick through the bars and into my face.

"Leave him alone!" Lisa suddenly cried, surging to the bars and my defence. "Haven't you done enough?"

"I've not done nearly enough." Vernal drove her foot down, aiming for my face. I shifted enough that it missed and hit my chest instead, then snapped a hand out to grab her belt through the bars. Vernal realised her mistake a second too late. "Shit!"

"DIE!" I screamed, dragging her in. Vernal's face collided with the bars and I grabbed her collar with my other hand, trying to pull her through the bars entirely. Her hands scrambled for her weapon, but she couldn't quite reach it. "I'll kill you," I hissed, "I'll kill you!"

A wooden pole slammed into the side of my head. Lisa screamed suddenly. The two guards had finally noticed what was happening and come over, both beating me across the head and arms, one with the haft of a spear, the other with a wooden baton. I made a show of holding on as long as I reasonably could, before a solid blow hit my temple and I slumped down, retching. My vision swam, and that was before Vernal kicked me in the face.

"Filthy dog!" she roared, kicking again. "Think you can kill me. I'll murder you!"

"Enough." One of the guards pulled her back, his arms under hers. "That's enough, Vernal. You're going to kill him."

"Damn fucking right I am!"

[...]

It took fifteen minutes or so for Raven to appear, and by that point Lisa had put the bowl down, though she still ran her fingers through my hair. Something I'd have found awkward in any other situation. Right now, with the bruises forming from the beating, the motion was soothing. It reminded me of my mother stroking my head when I had a fever. Lisa's hands were cool and soft.

—Forged Destiny [Book 7: Ch. 13]