26. Firewine: Extermination

Ala stood in the middle of a plain. Everything was covered with snow. Ala's feet were not cold, however, and they left no footprints on the earth. The sky was dark and starless, and the empty horizon was giving off the impression that the whole world had gone black and white. Not another dream, is it?
"So, my dear, did you enjoy your act of charity?" a familiar voice rang into her ear. Her double was standing right behind her, arms crossed at the chest, white hair rippling in the faint wind.
"You wanted to kill them, didn't you?" Ala asked. "Have I bereft you of your regular crop?"
"Not as such. Rather, you've left poor little Cyric hungry," her double pouted mockingly. "But it is of no importance. I suggest you ponder on your motives, instead, for if you strive for goodness, your path is blind."
"What do you mean?"
"The Zhentarim you let go," the second 'Ala' waved her hand, and a group of grey figures appeared in front of her. "All these men would die in their beds from old age, all these women would never feel the violator's breath on their faces, if not for your flawless choice. Or did you think that Xzar and Montaron would forget their 'wicked ways' and turn to light?"
"I do not know," Ala shook her head, feeling the familiar black rage stir inside. Calm down. It is a dream, an illusion. "I..."
"Yes?"
"Everyone deserves a chance. They were our companions, Xzar saved and taught Imoen, and thus they doubly deserve it."
"And these people? Don't they deserve a chance to live? You have unleashed these villains into the world, not caring what happens to others, haven't you, my dear? A bit hypocritical, isn't it? Or are you going to say you don't care for these nameless and faceless creatures?" Her double chuckled. "You know, Ala, you remind me of a certain elven queen..."
The half-elf sat on the ground, her face white. "They were wounded, and they were mostly harmless!"
"Oh, yes. That was exactly what she said to her divine patron and sire. She was actually convinced what she had done was noble and merciful. Well, unlike you, she tortured her victims a little, first, but that was all for their own sake, really. After all, how would you come to the light, if not through suffering?"
"Shut up!"
"I am not interested in continuing this discussion, in any case. Just think, my dear. Think and decide on whether so-called 'mercy' is worth it." A brush of wind, and Ala's double was gone, together with the grey figures. Ala stared at the empty plain.
The right thing, she thought. She implied I hadn't done the right thing. Yes, perhaps it was a mistake. I know it could have been one, but the other choice was unacceptable. Or wasn't it?
I guess I'll find out sooner or later.

They made it to the Firewine Bridge quickly. Nobody mentioned the previous night's events, and Ala was grateful for that, particularly to Jaheira. The girl didn't doubt that the druid was itching to have an 'I-told-you-so' talk with her, but something kept the woman from actually bringing the subject up. Ala vaguely suspected that she owed it to Khalid's gentle influence, but she knew she was never going to ask.
The weather did not favor their journey. The ruins greeted the party with a drizzly rain and repetitive gusts of piercing wind. As for the sounds, they had heard the kobolds' yapping in the distance, but otherwise, the ruins were empty. And then there was an unpleasant male voice.
"Oh, come on, woman! I'm the best swordsman on the Sword Coast, surely I can kill that thing in your bottle!"
"No! Oh Kahrk! Oh Mighty Kahrk!" the woman screamed, and then there was silence. Ala carefully moved around the corner to see what was going on, and the strangest sight opened before her eyes. A huge ogre mage was sitting on the ground, chewing what seemed to be a human leg. A female corpse lay at his feet, a strange-shaped bottle clasped in its hand.
"Oh, hello there," the ogre said, a little incomprehensibly. "I am Kahrk, mightiest of the Ogre Mage, and the purpose of this human's death is to feed my power, for now I am weak. Satisfied now?"
"Er, sure," Ala answered slowly. "Say, can I take his things? There's a certain item we require."
"Go ahead. This foolish human made me free at last, so I'm in the mood to be generous." He burped. "Just remember to get out of here before I change my mind."
"Right." Ala hastily collected the items from the unfortunate swordsman's body, seizing up the woman's robes on her way back. "Bye."
"Child, what happened there?" Jaheira said, astonished. "Did the mage let you go?"
"Yes, and we'd better go soon," the girl shoved the things into her backpack. "I have a feeling that he's got many spells memorized, and I'm sure I don't want to know which ones. One ogre mage was quite enough." Ala turned to Xan. "Here's the Stoneshape scroll. Can you work it?"
The mage took the scroll from her hands, examining it carefully. "It screams 'suicide' to me, but if you are determined to proceed, so be it. I suppose that the casting will cause an earthquake, albeit a minor one. If you don't want to be doomed with me, step back as far as possible." Without waiting for their answer, the elf started to read the scroll.
Khalid grasped both girls' hands and pulled them along, with Jaheira running after them. They had reached a small hillock and hid behind it, pressing their bodies against the wet earth. Ala began to count. One, two, three...
When she reached twenty, there was an ear-splitting roar, and the earth shook beneath their feet. Ala had a feeling that they were about to fall in, but the landscape stayed smooth. There was another, more distant explosion, and the third one that they barely heard. When the earth stopped trembling, the girl carefully peeped out from the rocks. Xan was making his way to them, apparently alive and intact. The remains of the Firewine Ruins, however, had been utterly destroyed. Obviously, the tunnel lay under the bridge, and they had collapsed together.
"I hope there was nobody there," Imoen said uncertainly. "That Kahrk is probably dead, too. But we made it, Ala! We are heroes of Nashkel now!"
"We are," her friend smiled. "I've got something for you, Immy. I'm sorry that it all turned this way, but you still can learn something on your own." She reached into her pack. "I've taken these scrolls from the Ogre Mage in the dungeon, and here's a robe to match them." She thrust the object into Imoen's hands.
"A Fireball! And a Cloudkill! I'll learn to cast them, ya'll see!" Imoen was looking happier than Ala had seen her in months.
"I would wait with these ones, they are too complicated for you to cast, yet," Xan remarked, shaking his head. "But if you are sure that you want to learn magic, I can help you at least with enchantment spells, doomed though my efforts would doubtlessly be. An enchantment school is the most difficult, but also the most rewarding one."
"Enchantment spells?" Imoen snorted. "Boooooring. I bet your spells are not nearly as flashy as mine!" She stuck out her tongue at the elf. "But all right, I guess. Teach me, will ya?"
"If we shall make it to Nashkel alive, I'll teach you, I promise," the elf said solemnly. "And now... shall we return at long last? I would rather put the mines' experience away for good."
"Yes," Ala smiled. "Back to Nashkel!"