Ilona Vale stepped directly into the attacker's path and took the strike meant for Wren's shoulder.
"No!" Talyn shouted, too far to reach her in time.
Ilona staggered but didn't fall, driving a counter into the fighter's ribs with surprising strength for her age before a second blade found her side.
"Ilona!" Senna cried, breaking from Wren's protection to catch her as she crumpled.
"Move," Ilona gasped, blood already soaking through her sleeve. "This isn't the moment to worry about me."
Wren's eyes snapped open, horror overriding the building pressure of her own instinctive response. "You're hurt because of me."
"I'm hurt because I chose to be here," Ilona said through gritted teeth, Senna already working fast to stem the bleeding. "Don't waste this chance arguing about it."
Talyn c
