For once, Tanith didn't exactly have a full awareness of her surroundings. Her world was occupied only by pain. The only other thing that could possibly register was her release, and the second she was free she instinctively rolled away, both cradling her arm and putting as much space between herself and Alistair's cell as possible. Her scream died in a deep, ragged gasp. She curled up in on herself in the fetal position and squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself back under control. There were actual tears in her eyes. Tears! In those moments, Tanith would have welcomed death.
She actually thought she might get it, too. She was having an awfully hard time breathing. She kept trying to force breath into her lungs, but her body didn't seem willing to take on anything but the agony. There was speech. She vaguely recognized that, and shakily turned her head in their direction.
Salvatrix. And she had the blood. If it had been possible for Tanith's stomach to sink any lower, it would have done. I might die here yet, she thought. Still having trouble seeing the problem with that idea.