She jerked her hand back. “It’s worse if it breaks through the skin.” Her voice sounded so calm. As if she were treating a stranger on a battlefield. “I need to wash it off.”

“There’s water at camp.”

“I brought a healing bag, too. There might be something there.”

This isn’t calm. It’s shock.

She looked again at Beatrix’s maimed body, and it was like a smack, snapping her out of her stupor. She broke into a run heading for camp, Tova leaping in front to lead her down a clear path.

I’m all right, she thought as she ran. My fingers sting, but that’s it.

Was that calm reason talking? Or shock? Either way, it kept the panic away. Whatever poison affected Beatrix had been horrific, but it seemed to have happened quickly. It must have, if she hadn’t had time to scream.

Because it burned her throat. She couldn’t scream. That doesn’t mean she didn’t—

No, Ashyn had barely touched the poison and had wiped it right off. She’d be fine.

“You’ll be fine,” Ronan said as he and Wenda caught up. “We’ll fix it. You’ll be fine.”

She stifled a laugh as his words echoed her thoughts. Yes, it’s probably shock, but it’s keeping me calm, so I’ll take it. Just keep moving. Don’t let it dull my senses and—

A curse rang through the night, so sudden and loud that it seemed to be right beside them. Ronan spun, blade raised with one hand as he tugged Wenda back. He swung between them and the noise, with Tova at his side.

Ashyn pulled Wenda against her. The girl seemed to be in shock, too, uttering not a word, shaking under Ashyn’s hand. Ashyn rubbed her shoulder, trying to comfort her.

Ashyn gripped her blade and looked around. She thought she detected a scuffling sound, so distant it was only a whisper.

Then another wordless shout, and this time, there was no question of where it came from. That’s when Wenda spoke, so loudly that her whole body jerked under Ashyn’s hand, as if she’d just woken from sleep.

“Gregor!” Wenda cried. “At the camp!”

They ran. Ronan scooped up Wenda and swung her onto his back. It wasn’t easy—the girl wasn’t a toddling child—but it was faster than dragging her along with them.

Gregor shouted a challenge at some unseen attacker. Then they could see him on his feet, waving his sword at the air.

“I heard you!” he shouted. “Show yourselves, cowards! Do not slink in shadows!”

He whirled as if he’d heard something.

“Where have you taken them, cowards? If you’ve harmed the Seeker, you will be cursed. Do you understand that? Cursed.”

“We’re here!” Ashyn called. “We’re—”