Ian tried to adjust his arm around her, unsure of where she was injured and whether his grip was hurting her further.
Robin muttered something, but her voice was too low to be heard. Ian only knew she had spoken because he felt the vibration in her ribcage.
He leaned his head closer to hers. “What did you say?” he asked.
“I’m fine,” Robin muttered, twisting her face toward his.
“I can see that,” Ian replied.
She straightened her back, pushing away from him to sit up on her own.
Ian tightened his grip. “Rest. I will get us home.”
She struggled for a moment longer, then relented, resting her weight back against his chest. Her breathing remained shallow and pained as they rode.
For nearly an hour, Ulli led them at a brisk pace.
Ian listened intently for any shouts or pursuing hoofbeats, but the road behind them remained quiet.
Robin appeared to have dozed off, but Ian could not tell whether she had fully fallen asleep until she startled awake with a painful gasp.
“What is wrong?” Ian asked. “Do you need me to stop?”
She shook her head. “Keep going. I’m fine.”
“Ulli, we need to stop!” Ian called ahead to the man in the lead.
Ulli immediately turned off the road and into the undergrowth. When they were out of sight of the road, Ulli jumped from his horse and helped Ian slide Robin gently to the ground.
Robin hunched over her knees, pulling down at the collar of her shirt to expose her shoulder.
Ian helped her loosen the fabric until he saw the wound. It was unlike anything he had ever seen.
A large, angry red burn spread from her shoulder blade down under her shirt.
“It burns,” Robin said. “In my lungs.” She twisted to show him her bare shoulder from the front, marked by the same angry red burn.
There was no blood, no torn skin. It was as though the magical orb had passed through her, doing equal damage all the way.
Ian could only imagine the pain it had left behind. No wonder her breathing had been shallow. The damage appeared to have traveled directly through her lungs.
Ulli dropped a satchel at Ian’s side and pulled out a flask. “Have her drink this for the pain,” he said. “I’m going to water the horses.”
Ian unstopped the flask and held the ale up to her lips so she could take a few gulps. He reached into the bag and found a small vial of salve.
“I’m going to apply this.” He showed her the vial. “Let me know if it is too painful to touch.”
She nodded her acknowledgment.
Ian dabbed a few drops of oil from the salve onto his fingers. It smelled of peppermint and other herbs. Then he gently spread it over the angry skin.
Robin hissed, a sharp intake of breath.
Ian lifted his fingers from her skin immediately, but she nodded, encouraging him to continue. “It feels cold. Good,” she said.
Ian continued applying it to the exposed skin on her back and chest before Ulli stepped back from the horses.
“I can continue,” Robin said, tilting her head slightly to see Ulli towering over them.
