Marius probably questioned, vaguely, why the very same person who attacked him was leading his hand to the wound. But another searing, blinding pain shot through him, and all he could do was bite down his lower lip until he could taste a metallic tang at the tip of his tongue and pray that the agony passed quickly.

And then he murmured, through his near-delirium, "Forgive me, I did not..." A deep breath, and then, "intend to steal what was yours."