Gwen finally felt metal and carefully removed the arrowhead. “Anna, douse it with the antiseptic, then hand me the needle. You have to keep the wound open so I can repair it inside. Now, Anna.”

Anna used the liquid that Lady Madelyn assured her prevented infection, and then held the wound open as instructed. Her hands were shaking so badly they continued to slip. Duncan pushed her out of the way and used two linen strips to keep his fingers firmly in place.

Gwen began the first layers of sutures, working from the inside out. Her hair began falling, covering her eyes. “Anna, for God’s sake, tie her hair back,” Gavin shouted from over Greylen’s head.

The tension in the room was oppressive. But Anna hurried to the task as Gwen began sealing the top layer of tissue. It was a wound that could still cause serious repercussions, especially with the amount of blood he’d lost. After what felt like hours, his worst wound was finally closed, and Gwen breathed her first sigh of relief. Then she went for his shoulder.

“’Tis too faint. I can’t hear it anymore.”

“I feel no breath, Gwen. ’Tis stopped.” Gavin and Lady Madelyn had both spoken at the same time.

“No!” Gwen grabbed the stethoscope and listened. Come on, Greylen!

Nothing.

She jumped on the table and began compressions, counting under her breath. “Gavin,”—two, three—“when I tell you, give him two short breaths,”—eight, nine—“pinch his nose and make sure his tongue hasn’t dropped,”—twelve, thirteen—“hold it with your fingers if you have to. Mother, check the vein in his neck, tell me when you feel something.” She continued to count, her palms pressing Greylen’s rib cage. “Again, Gavin.”

Oh God, help me, please!

Where was the frigging ER!

Lady Madelyn shook her head again. Still nothing. Duncan, Kevin, and Hugh moved closer to Greylen. She could feel them behind her as she continued to lean over his body. Ian and Connell, who were on the other side next to Greylen’s mother, began moving closer as well. They were chanting, all of them, and she could hear the same incantation from the courtyard outside.

Their prayers were deafening, but what Greylen needed was a shock. The thought taunted her with each compression. “Again, Gavin.” Lady Madelyn continued to shake her head.

Noooo!

Her voice filled with anger and her fury unleashed. “You, stupid, pigheaded”—two fingers over the sternum—“sorry as all get-out”—close fist over thumb—“damn you to hell”—twelve inches above…six…eight…ten…perfect—“STAND BACK.”

They all watched in stunned silence as Gwen released her blow. The sound as she made contact could be heard through her agonized cry. Then they watched as she readied for another.

“Don’t you leave me,” she shouted, hitting her mark again. Her fingers were numb from the impact, and she readied to start compressions again.