The guardswoman spent some time fussing over Arran's injuries, but to little effect. It was obvious that her talents lay in areas other than healing, and minor though Arran's self-inflicted injuries were, her best efforts only succeeded in making them worse.
Her increasingly uncomfortable expression suggested that she was aware of this, but it did not stop her from trying to help. Arran guessed that with the Matriarch's apprentice before her, she didn't dare be seen doing nothing.
Arran reluctantly accepted the unhelpful attention. If he was to play the part of a shocked initiate who had just barely escaped death, he couldn't seem too confident.
When the Matriarch arrived a short while later with several dozens of mages following behind her, there was a look of relief on the guardswoman's face. At once, she left Arran's side and hurried toward the Matriarch.
"Lady Matriarch," she began. "There was an ambush. When we—"
