36. Edwin and Ethics

"Here she is!" Jaheira exclaimed. Though the woman tried to hide it, Ala distinctly heard hints of relief in her voice. "What kept you so long?"
"I found Dynaheir," Ala said, her voice tight.
"So?" Edwin's voice was loud and eager. "Is it over? Is she dead already?"
"What?!" Minsc bellowed. The ranger closed in the distance between himself and the wizard in two steps, and held him by the collar of his robes. "What did you say about my charge?"
"Peace, both of you," Jaheira extended her arm between the two. Minsc hesitantly let go, and the druid turned to Ala again. "Is she kept prisoner?"
"She is," the girl nodded. "She looks ill, perhaps dying, I don't know."
"Is she ill?" Edwin looked baffled for a moment. "I thought we would have to fight, but if so, then the matter is settled. (At last! I expected it to be over sooner, but perhaps it was the best these monkeys could perform. Hmph. I suppose I could call it adequate.)"
"What do you mean?" Imoen frowned at him.
"The witch will die on her own, so we need not sully our hands, You have my services for one year, as directed, so I do not think you need another reward. I now consider the subject closed," the wizard held out his hand to Ala.
Minsc went purple. "Murderer! You will pay for this!" Before anyone could say or do anything, he charged straight at the wizard and the girl, his sword drawing wild curves.
Then, several things happened in very quick succession. The ranger swung at Edwin, with Khalid and Imoen clinging to his shoulders, trying to restrain him. Jaheira managed to yank the Red Wizard out of the way, and they both sprawled on the floor. Minsc roared, and his sword flicked, ready to plunge into the Ala instead. Instinctively, the girl thrust her own small weapon into the ranger's unprotected thigh with all her might, rolling over his leg to avoid the blow. He howled with pain and made another swish, going completely berserk, but she was already out of reach. A soft voice chanted several words in an unfamiliar language, and the ranger stopped dead, a very surprised look on his face.
"A holding spell," Jaheira said curtly. "Unpleasant, but unavoidable. And I'm tempted to do it to you as well, as soon as you move your hands!" she turned to the Red Wizard, who was looking at Minsc's immobile figure longingly. "Now, I want you to tell me everything there is to tell, child. And I mean everything. Imoen has already told me about wizard being in your service, and that's not what I call good news."
"There's nothing else to tell," Ala shrugged. "I was going to talk to the woman, to try and find out what all this," she nodded at Minsc and Edwin, "is about. But her throat was so dry she couldn't talk. Call me a damn hypocrite and a poor rogue, but I cannot kill a woman who's totally helpless, and who is slowly dying of thirst. I say we help her, and now."
"And poor reasoning it is!" Edwin looked very put out. "What is the difference between killing a healthy opponent and a dying one, if you're paid the same? It matters not to the witch, I tell you! She'd be dead in any case!"
"You're right, she would," the girl nodded. "But it matters to me, as a person. It might sound unreasonable, illogical, even treacherous to you, but I won't do it."
"(Now she strikes a heroic pose. Pathetic.) If you have no guts for it, fine," the wizard sneered. "I should have known better than to employ such a moronic rogue for my purposes. Or did you expect her to stand in the pit all ready and waiting for you, hands on her spell components, so you could kill her fair and square?"
She shrugged. "You obviously did, or you wouldn't make us travel all the way to the Stronghold. Anyway, I don't care for your taunts, I have already made up my mind. And as you are in my service, you'll help me."
"What?"
"You've got no choice, really. We'll take her and Minsc to Nashkel, though I doubt she's got anything for us in return, and when your contract is over, you're free to find her once again." Ala looked straight into Edwin's eyes. "Believe me, I wouldn't care. But now, I wouldn't want her death on my conscience."
"Eh? (But there is sense... this way she certainly shall be out of the way permanently, and that should satisfy Master Degardan.) If you give me your word that neither she nor the addled ranger would ever travel with us, I agree," the wizard reluctantly nodded.
"Then, here's my plan..."
One hour later, the rogue and the wizard were creeping past the guards once again, Edwin covered by an invisibility spell. So far, they were successful, though the fact that the girl had to hold wizard's hand in order not to lose him did not improve her mood.
It was feeding time, and several gnolls were sitting along the first pit, chewing something that looked horribly like human flesh. Other monsters were still busy with fighting practice, so the stairs to the second level were empty.
"Now, where is she?" Edwin hissed.
"The last one," the girl whispered. "Here--look!"
Dynaheir was in the same spot they left her. The female wizard was lying on her back, staring at the sky with empty eyes. For a moment, Ala thought she was dead, but as the girl leaned into the pit, the woman shifted a little, trying to say something.
"Don't move," Ala raised a hand. "Be very quiet, please, or we shall not escape this place. My companion will cast a spell on you, and we'll try to get you out."
Edwin let go of Ala's hand and began to chant. His voice descended to a low murmur, and became fainter and fainter as the wizard went to the pit, still invisible.
In a minute, there was a light throbbing around the woman, and Dynaheir's figure disappeared as Edwin popped up out of thin air, his elegant red robes looking very out of place among the decayed corpses. He raised his hands, ready to repeat the spell.
Then there was a high-pitched scream, and a small foot hit Edwin on the groin. Dynaheir reappeared, supporting herself against the wall with both hands. She was looking at the Red Wizard with utmost hatred. Ala's mouth fell open.
The witch has recognized Edwin. Of course. But we are her only chance! How stupid must she be to resist? Oh well. I see it wouldn't be easy to persuade her to let bygones be bygones.
However, the girl had immediately forgotten about the two of them when another sound reached her ears. The loud tramping of many feet, swiftly approaching them. Gnolls.