13. Timely Rescue

The hobgoblin dropped Ala on the grass and drew his short sword. "See that, pipsqueak?" he grunted. "You move, I kill."
"A-all right," she stammered, staring at his knees. The monster was wearing a very nice set of boots made of some silver cloth. Probably that's why I haven't heard him. Well, two can play that game.
"You're evil, w-wicked p-p-person!" she exclaimed in shrill, unpleasant voice. "Some hero would certainly c-come and rescue me!"
"Eh?"
"A m-monster! You deserve no less, than death, and more!" If I carry on like that, Jaheira would certainly hear me. She's a druid with sensitive ears, after all. Ala shuddered. I just hope the sound won't carry down to hobgoblins' camp.
The hobgoblin seemed to figure out what she said, and his face puffed with anger.
"You dare mock me?! Rrraaagh!!!"
He charged, and Ala barely had time to draw her own dagger. Using her natural agility, she had flown over him, turned around and stiffened in half-crouch, ready to strike. They warily circled around each other.
I must run! I can parry his blows for a while, but in the open combat... he'll get me in the end. Ala's face was composed, but her lower lip trembled as she measured him up.
The blades clashed. Ala managed to leave a dent on her assailant's armor, and the dark blood spilled forth. Her dagger was poisoned, but no poison, even the most violent one, had an immediate effect. She needed time, but she had none. Her movements were becoming slower, clumsier, and twice the blade almost sliced her up. Someone... anyone...
A low hiss ran through the air. The hobgoblin faltered. A stain appeared on his leather armor, and his clothes began to smoke. He growled in pain and began to flap himself, trying to get the substance off, but corrosion spread across his body faster, and he fell, acrid stench lingering in the air.
Xan materialized out of thin air next to Ala, a blade in his hands. "That was a close call," she breathed. "How?.."
"I'm sure I don't need to repeat the passage about postponing your gruesome death, do I?" Ala could swear he almost smiled.
"There were two others," the girl remembered. "Wait!" She hauled the body up and began to take off the boots.
"I assume you don't want me to step in his still-warm boots," Xan remarked.
"No way!" she chuckled, "these are for stealth, and you have your invisibility spells... wait a minute. You said you had none of those!"
The elf shook his head. "I shall help you however I can, but-"
"...You're going to choose your spells and tell me which ones you have yourself," Ala's voice was shaking. "I am sorry, but no. You are, of course, entitled to your opinions about which spells are best, but you are traveling in a party now." She folded her arms. "So, either you consult with me, or we go separate ways."
Xan's lips broke into a faint smile. "I would appreciate your insight, of course. I am sure the fact that you are several times younger than me only speaks on your behalf."
"Good," the rogue said, letting the sarcasm pass. "By the way, are you alone? Where are the others?"
"Sleeping, apparently. I didn't have the time to wake them up."
"You--what? The hobgoblins are out there, we are all going to be slaughtered, and you left them defenseless? You said you wanted to postpone my death, but do you even care about theirs?" Not waiting for his response, she ran to the cave.

Imoen opened her eyes. She had difficulty identifying where she was. It was dark and quiet, she was lying on soft covers, she was warm and comfortable. For a second, she had a fleeting feeling it was her old bedroom in Candlekeep.
There was a muffled sound from another side of the cave, and Imoen craned her neck to get a better picture. She regretted it immediately. Khalid and Jaheira... oh, gods, what is he doing... c'mon, they can't do it with everyone watching! She blushed. Or can they? By the way, where's everyone? Ala went scouting long ago, and where's Xan? He was supposed to guard us!
Then she heard something that made her blood freeze. A loud curse, and a growl in return. The voices sounded close, too close to their hiding place.
Ala tore through the forest at full speed, never minding the twigs and branches that got in her way. The stealthy approach was out of the question since she needed to arrive before hobgoblins did. Out of breath, she stopped on the edge of the forest area. The hobgoblins were exploring the source of a river, and Ala's heart sank to her stomach when she realized that they were to find their hideout any moment.
Not pausing to think, she flexed the bowstring with the poison arrow ready to fly, pointed the tip at the direction of the nearest creature and released the arrow with a tinkling sound. An instant later, the hobgoblin fell over. Yes!
She reached for another arrow, but a figure leaped out of the cave, there was a swishing sound and a large thud, and the second corpse fell into the river.
"Where have you been, girl?" a heavily accented voice asked her as she approached. "Khalid and I were very worried about you, with these unnatural creatures around. We were lucky that Imoen woke us up." For some unfathomable reason, Jaheira didn't quite meet her eyes when she said this, and her cheeks were distinctly pinker than normal.
Xan appeared on the other side of the clearing. "The monsters' camp is on the right side of the path. If we spend the rest of the night here and move out in the morn, following the main road, we could be in Nashkel by nightfall."
Imoen looked over her companions. Ala hid herself in a distant corner of the cave, probably mad at herself for whatever happened near hobgoblins' camp. Jaheira and Khalid were sitting hand in hand, looking guilty, though they exchanged happy looks from time to time.
Xan's face was impassive, though Imoen privately suspected he couldn't help feeling guilty, as well. Leaving us alone and helpless! Granted, he heard that Ala was in danger, but he could at least wake us up! Though she reddened at the prospect of Xan waking up Jaheira when she and Khalid were... well... sleeping.
She was really annoyed with Xan, but she was more annoyed with herself. Her best friend and sister had to go out alone and to put her life at risk, and she, Imoen, couldn't help her!
"What is it, Imoen?" Ala appeared next to her, looking worried. "You look bad. Don't you want to sleep awhile? We have some time yet."
"I'm fine, sis," Imoen smiled sadly. "I just wish I could be of more help to you."
"But you are of help to me. Best friends, always, remember? Besides, oh mighty Imoen, what am I to do in the dungeon without you? How shall I plan the greatest burglary on Faerun without you? It won't be fun!"
"Thanks, but... I don't know," Imoen sighed wistfully, "it seems fine, but I need more than that. Gorion, he promised to teach me magic. Real magic, so some day I could become like Khelben or Elminster, or... Gorion himself. And now he'd never see me in the robes of an archmage, conjuring up demons and defeating dragons! Even if I become a mage, for him, I'd always stay just plain Imoen." Her voice shook and died.
"But you can become a mage, if you want!" Her friend hugged her. "Well, it's not as good as being a dashing rogue, but these robes have a sort of charm. And don't you think Gorion wouldn't be proud of you! You are strong, and you've saved our lives more than once with your quick thinking and, er, careful planning."
"I'll think about it, sis," Imoen smiled. "Thank you."