Adrian: Baldur's Gate

The death of the Gnoll leader had sent the rest of the Gnolls scurrying back into their stronghold, leaving the party battered and bloody on the rooftop.

Adrian looked down at Dynaheir, and she back up at him. She was skinny from several days of no food, and her violet mage robes were torn and filthy.

"Edwin," he called, softly.

At the sound of her rival's name, Dynaheir grimaced. "Oh no. How unfortunate."

"Fortunate for me, Witch," said Edwin as he came to the top of the pit. "Very fortunate indeed. (They have led me to her. It seems I underestimated them, again.)"

"Pardon me while I put up a fight," she said, softly.

"Naturally," Edwin agreed, and started coming down the steps.

Dynaheir had been unable to memorize any spells while down that filthy hole, and Edwin had used up all of his in the battle. So it came down to a pure physical contest. Edwin was armed with a staff, and had the early advantage, but Dynaheir managed to knock it away and claw at him with her long nails.

Adrian watched the fight in fascination. Neither had much skill in the way of hand to hand combat, but they both fought with a fierce intensity; she for survival, he of hatred. It was long, perhaps twenty minutes, and Edwin was scratched badly about the face and arms when it was done, one eye bruised shut, and his own red robes torn almost as much as hers had been. But at the end, it was she who fell.

"Checkmate," Edwin whispered. "At last, the Witch dies." Then he staggered, with difficulty, up the improvised stairs out of the pit.

"We got you here, you owe us," Adrian said.

"Aye, I've promised you a year's service. (Does he think I forgot? Foolish monkey.)"

Adrian gripped his chin and glared at him. "A debt you will pay. In full."

Edwin looked back out of one bleary eye. "Of course. Now let go of my chin."

Adrian nodded. "Let's get out of here, before the Gnolls regroup."

The return to Nashkel was faster, since they knew exactly where they were going. They were only interrupted once, by a pretentious Amnish noble and her foolish archers. They dispatched them with some difficulty, and Adrian got a nice sword out of it, assuredly magical.

Tired, weary, wounded and out of sorts, they camped just outside Nashkel to sleep the night.

"Adrian," came Kagain's voice in the darkness.

"What?" Adrian murmured, sleepily.

"How did you cast that spell against the Gnoll?"

There was a long pause.

"I honestly don't know," he said.

Kagain let it be, and Adrian slipped into an exhausted sleep. But Viconia watched him in the night for some time.