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On closer examination the man's injuries were not as desperate as Elfride had first feared. The arrow had not gone straight but at an angle and had grazed rather than penetrated the ribcage and had lodged in the flesh of his side. Had he been a leaner man, Elfride reflected, the dart might well have missed him completely - or just snagged his clothes. the arow would have to come out but if the wound were properly cleaned and dressed he would most likely survive to fight another day. The wheezing breath that had scared her seemed more the result of a heavy man's fall at speed onto hard ground. Probably he was just winded - which meant he would be dangerous as soon as his breath came back to him.
Efride decided to distract his attention from mischief for a moment or two at least and started to probe the site of the injury while trying to ease the arrow head free. The man yelped in pain. "Oh did that hurt?," enquired Elfride with little trace of sympathy - nothing to what your poor mother suffered bringing such a wretch as you in to the world I'll wager she thought. She hoped the help Thomas had sought would arrive soon - if she was going to get this arrow head out she would need a couple of the men to restrain this villain while she did so. She realised that Mayonette who had conducted a surprisingly efficient interrogation (this was a skill it had not occured to her own father to pass on) was distracted and hoped the wounded man would not attempt to profit from it ... she half regretted sending Leoflic away but he was needed where he was.
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