AN: Yes! Edwin! Cower! And come on, he's a great character. Was I the only one who found his arrogance endearing? I suppose I found Anomen's arrogance endearing too, so hmm… But anyway, Edwin is now number 7. And he's staying, unless I get bored of him. Next chapter comes the promised jump ahead, and the leisurely part of the story has come to an end…

Chapter 90: Follow My Leader

Worn, tired, and some slightly injured, the party still managed to gather around a table in the lounge of the Delryn estate, ready to be attentive in the face of the unexpected help from unexpected quarters that came in the shape of Edwin Odesseiron.

Harrian eased down in one of the larger, comfier chairs before sliding a mug of some of the finest Maztican coffee Anomen had in the house across the table towards the Red Wizard. "So, Ed, tell us… how'd you sort out the sex change?"

Edwin glared daggers at the swashbuckler, but accepted the drink anyway. "When one reaches my level of absolute perfection of intellect, it is but a simple matter to correct minor problems. I dealt with it myself… no thanks to you and your pack of trained monkeys."

Minsc, who was gripping the table so hard his knuckles had turned white and Anomen looked fearful that he might break it, glowered at the mage. "Enemy of Dynaheir," he growled unhappily. "You did not deserve to be turned back!" He paused, his expression clearing as an idea slowly burrowed through to his brain. "As a woman, it would not be courteous for Minsc and Boo to administer the butt-kicking you thoroughly deserved. Now you are a man again, we have no such trouble," he continued cheerily, leaping to his feet and snatching Warblade up.

Edwin stood hurriedly, ready to jump out of the way of the over-arm swing of Minsc's that would surely split him from head to toe, but in the face of the berserker's wrath it was unlikely he could be speedy enough.

One person who was close enough and speedy enough, however, was Harrian. The swashbuckler darted forwards, standing directly in front of Edwin, directly in the path of Minsc's sword, and folded his arms casually.

Angry and vengeful Minsc may have been, he was still in as much control as the ranger ever was, and he managed to divert his blade enough that it didn't so much as brush past Harrian. The great two-handed sword moved past harmlessly, hitting the floor at a tremendous speed and imbedding itself in the floorboards.

There was a long silence, one only broken by a pained yet resigned groan from Anomen, and a deep, relieved sigh from Harrian, who stepped forwards and grasped one of Minsc's arms. "No, Minsc. You can't hurt him. We need him."

Anomen frowned slightly, shaking his head as he watched a flustered Edwin regain his composure and sit back down again. "Although I must object to making the Red Wizard another stain on my floor, I agree with Minsc." He glanced at Harrian. "There are other wizards, my friend. More trustworthy wizards. You would rely on this Thayvian to aid us? It is not safe. Send him on his way."

"I agree," Jaheira spoke up, folding her arms across her chest and glaring a little accusingly. "We have seen first hand twice now how he cannot be trusted. He tried to trick you once, and if the Nether Scroll had been the artefact granting immense power it was supposed to be, he would have betrayed you before. And you are willing to place all of your hopes in this man?"

Harrian ignored her, returning to his seat and looking at Edwin. The Red Wizard seemed a little taken aback by the intense objections to his presence, but not altogether too surprised. "Edwin. I assume you encountered Tellis, and he told you we needed a powerful mage. Why did you return to the city?"

Edwin straightened up, looking a little defensive. "Unfinished business," he replied stubbornly. "As you may or may not have noticed, I was quite firmly involved in the Shadow Thieves when I had my… unfortunate encounter with you. I needed to sever ties, and deal with loose ends." He smirked a little smugly, raising an eyebrow. "Then I heard that you needed assistance for something that is supposedly… very interesting."

Anomen snorted. "He probably came here to wreak petty vengeance for something that wasn't even our fault," he mumbled under his breath, shaking his head as he sipped his own drink tightly.

Harrian ignored him. "I assume you've been told what we need a skilled mage for. We need to get to the Underdark, but obviously can't do so by conventional means. The sort of power such a teleportation would need is… rather beyond us. Now, I may hate you. I may think you're scum. But I also know that you're a damned good wizard, and better than most we could hope to find. Be honest and straightforward with me for a moment. Such an undertaking is huge, and takes someone with certain skills and talents. Can you do it?"

Edwin considered this for a moment, actually looking deeply serious. It seemed that, now they had got down to business and were working on the terrain he was most comfortable at, his constant arrogant air faded a little. "It shall take time. A considerable amount of time, especially as the method shall need to be decided upon. But it can be done."

Harrian smiled tightly. "That's good. How much time are we talking, though? We're on something of a clock."

Edwin shrugged. "Despite my intense brilliance, I am quite unable to offer a perfect projection of a task I have had all of an hour to consider. Still, at a vague, yet educated and skilled estimation, I would surmise that it shall take approximately one month to perfect the spell. Or possibly build the necessary portal…" His voice trailed off and there was a moment of silence as the six party members stared at the Red Wizard, watching his eyes gaze over as he drifted into contemplation.

Harrian raised an eyebrow, then turned to the others. "We're going for it," he told them firmly, in an authoritative tone none of them had quite heard him use before, as it almost rivalled Jaheira's no-nonsense manner. "We shall use Edwin."

There was a cacophony of complaints from the corner where Jaheira, Anomen and Minsc were seated, including a few random squeaks from Boo. "This cannot be done!" the Helmite declared at last. "I would rather walk into the Underdark by myself than trust this Thayvian!"

Jaheira nodded. "He will lead you astray, Harrian. You could well doom us all by placing your faith in a Red Wizard. Trusting him is absolute folly, for he is certain to betray us whenever it suits him. Rethink your –"

Harrian stood quickly, almost upsetting the table in his haste and anger. "I have asked none of you to stand by me in this!" he barked, seemingly darker and taller in his fury. "I shall make what decisions I will to reach my ends, and to the Hells with you if you disagree! This is my task; you are only here because you said you would stand by me! Anybody who does not trust my judgement, anybody who refuses to follow my lead on any matter has the right to walk out now, or, for that matter, at any moment down the road!"

There was a grim silence, broken only by a slightly smug sigh from Edwin. "I believe he is your party leader, so you would do best to follow him," the Red Wizard declared victoriously, smirking a little.

"Shut up," Harrian growled, moving to pace in the corner.

Jaheira shook her head. "Harrian, we will stand by you on your quest; you know this. But trusting him is madness. You know as well as I do that your judgement when it comes to putting faith in people can be… flawed, but –"

"I put my faith in you. It seems that was evidently flawed," the swashbuckler snapped, turning around to glare at her. She didn't falter, and there was a moment of silence as two strong wills clashed tautly. "Stop treating me like a child. I don't need your guidance any more; I can live my life by myself. I don't need you to hold my hand every step of the way."

He turned to glower at Anomen, who wore an unreadable expression. "You can stop being a pious, pompous git. There are times when I don't know what to make of you, Helmite. You can stand by me one moment, swearing utter, utter allegiance, and then walk off when the pressure's placed directly on you. I figured it would stop when you abandoned the Order, but it hasn't. You've left that group of pompous paladins, but you're still trying to play knight. You're not a knight. You dropped out, by your own decision. Start acting like it. You can't go back, and I'd wager you wouldn't actually want to, but you're behaving as if you're waiting for the Prelate to suddenly pop up and say 'here's your knighthood back, sorry about being a pain in the arse'. Sort out your head before you start trying to fix mine."

Harrian whirled around to face Minsc, still wearing a mask of fury. It faded as he looked upon the mildly befuddled ranger, and the thief knelt down before him, clasping his friend's hands. "Minsc… trust me. You know you can trust me, right?" He glanced up at Boo, perched on the Rashemani's shoulder. "That goes for you too, Boo. Have a little faith in me as I put faith in him."

He straightened up, regarding them all. "This is my quest," Harrian declared, giving Imoen a brief, discreet, sideways glance that also held thanks for her not intervening in the situation. "If any of you want to leave, you may do so now… or if Anomen wants to leave, he can chuck us all out of the house," he conceded.

Imoen stood up, smiling a little. "I never said a word back there," she said, her expression light and filling him with some hope. "You know I trust you, Harrian. Even if it means we have to trust… Edwin." The Red Wizard looked a little indignant, but said nothing. "I don't even need to tell you that I'm with you all the way."

"You don't have a choice," Harrian replied, then, as her expression froze slightly, he covered for his mild blunder with a bright and joking smile. "Thank you. At the very least, we'll do the Underdark together."

Haer'Dalis leaped to his feet to stand next to Imoen. "My raven, this is a tale that shall be, at the very least, the essence of ballads! It would be foolish for any bard to give up on such an opportunity." There was a pause as he felt all eyes on him, then the tiefling bowed his head slightly. "My blades are yours, my raven. You have done this much for me; it is only fitting that I repay the debt."

Minsc stood quickly, hurrying over to enwrap Harrian in a hug that left the thief almost unable to breathe. "Minsc will stand by you with blade and boot!" the giant ranger declared brightly, pulling back to allow the Bhaalspawn to rub his bruised ribs. "I trust you, Harrian. Even if we must trust this bad wizard. Boo says that the ends shall justify the means. I have no choice but to agree."

Harrian patted him lightly on the shoulder, struggling to breathe a little. "Uh, thanks, Minsc. I think," he mumbled, then turned to the other two, who were still seated. "And you?" he asked them lightly. "What of you?"

Anomen stood up slowly, his expression thoughtful. "Whilst trudging down to the deepest depths of the Underdark has never been one of my lifelong ambitions, and the idea that we shall be doing so courtesy of the magic of a Red Wizard does not make me warm to the prospect, there are things to take into account." The cleric shrugged, his usual small, slightly arrogant smile crossing his face. "Such as friendship, and loyalty. I have never forsaken you before, Harrian; I am not about to start doing so now. I swear that, in Helm's name, I shall see your task completed. Even if we have to go to the very heart of the Abyss for it to be done."

Harrian smiled brightly at his friend's words, and clapped him firmly on the back. "It's good to hear that, Anomen. This would be a hard task without you by my side," he declared resolutely.

Then his eyes flickered over to Jaheira, who had slowly clambered to her feet. "You have stood by me so far," he murmured to her quietly. "You have walked with me many distances, through many perils. I won't hold it against you if this is where you draw the line. Don't stay for promises made to Gorion; you've already fulfilled them completely. Stay… if you want to stay."

The druid stepped over to him slowly, softly… then gave him a slap around the head. "You are suggesting that I would turn my back on you now?" she demanded imperiously, incredulously. "Don't be an idiot, Harrian. I've come this far; I can't very well turn back. Besides…" Her expression softened a little, and he felt his stomach flip over. "There is still much to be done. Much to be decided."

There was a long silence as they stared at each other for several minutes, broken only by the small, slightly impatient clearing of the throat from Edwin. "I hate to interrupt this… touching moment," the Red Wizard started slowly. "But am I allowed to just ask what's in this little endeavour for me?"

Harrian paused, then glanced over at him, considering this for the moment. "An opportunity most mages would die for," he started slowly. "A chance to enter the very heart of the drow cities and witness their arcane wonders. You get half of the treasures we can find. And you can poke at whatever Underdark mysteries you wish, as long as it doesn't get us all killed…"