As the wraith burned, she dropped to her knees on ground stained with her own blood.
“Choose!” The voice thundered so the ground shook under her. “Life or death.”
Then all that was left was smoldering ash.
“Don’t! Don’t go near it.”
Whining, Bollocks came to her, nuzzling against her as she clutched her wounded arm. “Salt, we need salt. I can’t think. I might be in shock. I need to get up, get up. Can’t pass out. Have to heal this. Can’t think.”
She heard the horse, coming fast, and struggled to stand.
Defend.
And saw Keegan, bareback on Merlin.
“Salt,” she said again, and went back to her knees.
He dropped down beside her before the horse stopped.
“Salt. Salt the ash.”
“You’re bleeding. Gods, this is deep. Be still, let me do what I can first.”
“I thought— Jesus, that burns!”
“I know, I know. I need to stop the bleeding. We’ll leave the rest to Aisling. Hold quiet, brave one, let me do what I can.”
She shut her eyes, bore down. “I thought you’d sent the wraith, a sneak attack for training. I was pissed. That’s enough, isn’t that enough? It’s worse than the gash.”
“Almost.”
“We have to salt the ash. Someone might come. One of the kids might—”
“We’ll see to it. Here comes Harken now.”
“How did you know? How did you know I needed you?”
“The fucking bastard shouted loud enough to wake the dead. See, here’s Marg and Sedric as well, riding double on Igraine. Harken! Go fetch salt for that stinking ash. We’ll need to take it and bury it at the Bitter Caves.”
“Let me see her first.”
Like Keegan, he dropped from the horse, and with gentle hands took her wounded arm. “How bad was it?” And only nodded when Keegan looked at him. “You’ve done well then. Marg can have a look, so stop now.”
“Yes, please.”
“Mo stór,mo stór.” Marg knelt beside her.
“I’m all right.” Better, she thought, since the burning stopped. But, God, her arm throbbed.
“I’ll send him to hell myself for this. It was Odran?”
“Not exactly.”
“I stopped the bleeding, but she needs more.”
“Aye, aye, and this comes first. Aisling and I will see to the rest.”
“The salt, Harken, and let Aisling know she’s needed.”