The Company closed in a ring around the girl and her captor.
Lidia said, "Conster, drop her."
As soon as his arms relaxed, Iltha slipped out, scrambling on her hands and knees until she took refuge between one of the couches and the table.
"You seem like a reasonable man," Lidia said. "You may have great power, but you're badly outnumbered here. Nothing Firkraag can offer you is worth this fight."
"You cannot fathom the payment a dragon might offer for loyalty," Conster said, sheathing his dagger and removing his leather gloves. "Far better than scraps from Tolgerias, at any rate. At least my lord permits his mages to study in peace."
"We'll leave with Iltha, then, and you can resume your work."
He shook his head, and a wild look came into his haggard face. "There is nothing to discuss. I will make my fortune or gladly take death! Fight, that Lord Firkraag may see my devotion!"
He raised one pale, knobbed hand. "Praeses, alia, fero!"
Suddenly, the entire floor erupted into glittering red tendrils. One of them reached from the ground, briefly swirled around Lidia, and in the blink of an eye she found herself on the other side of the room. Minsc ended up in the opposite corner.
"No, Boo," he said, "we're supposed to go towards the angry wizard, not away! It's not like you to be so lily-livered when there is still evil to be fought!"
A faintly glimmering cloud encased Conster, then a blue globe not unlike a massive bubble. A few seconds later, a silver globe covered them all, leaving him barely visible underneath.
Jaheira, who had been transported atop one of the couches, threw her spear. It traveled across the room towards the silver globe, stuck in it, hung in midair for a moment, then clattered to the ground.
From across the room, Aerie's high voice called out, "Incertus, pulcher, imperio!"
Too late, Lidia called out, "Aerie, don't -"
Two small red lights left the elf's hand and crashed into the silver globe. They rippled on its surface and rebounded, striking Aerie with full force. She let out a cry of pain and stumbled to the ground. Another red tendril swirled up from the floor, and she disappeared.
Lidia realized that this was only the mage's opening gambit. Throwing the group into chaos let him cast several protection spells, and now he could unleash something really nasty without fear of interruption.
Unless -
A red tendril swirled around her again, and she found herself directly behind the silver globe. She thought she spotted Conster's back underneath it.
He'd need at least a few seconds to cast a spell in her direction. She needed less time than that.
She aimed a kick towards what she thought was his leg. Her foot tingled as it passed unhindered through the protection spells, then glanced off the mage's calf. She aimed another one, this time a little higher, and this time it firmly connected with the back of Conster's knee. The protection spells prevented sound from escaping, but she thought she saw him stumble.
A red tendril reached for her grounding leg, and she found herself atop the center table near the couches. "Punch him if you get close!" she called, to no one in particular.
The others hadn't had much luck. Aerie was trying to get to her feet without success, Jaheira was throwing anything she could get her hands on, but the protection spells made it difficult to see where to hit. Anomen and Minsc kept trying to rush Conster before they were teleported to the other side of the room.
Yoshimo ended up in the same spot Lidia had, directly behind him. He seemed to be reaching inside the globe, though the layers of spells made it difficult for anyone to see through it.
Meanwhile, a bright ball of orange fire lazily floated out from inside the silver globe. It was about the size of a person's head, and it was crackling, as though it were burning something on the inside.
Multiple voices shouted in alarm: "Get down! Get down!"
Lidia dropped to the floor, where Iltha was still cowering between the couch and the table. She curled over the girl, praying to anyone who would listen that it would be enough.
The crackling above grew louder, then turned to hissing. With a series of pops and crackles, the room filled with incredible heat.
And then a sound above like thunder.
In a few moments, everything smelled like smoke.
As soon as she tried to move, pain shot through the back of her head. A sensation like an open wound radiated from there down her neck. It didn't go any farther, but at that moment, it was little comfort.
She gritted her teeth and tried to focus on her surroundings. In a circle in the middle of the table, the fine gold leaf was brighter than before, and the stone ceiling above had blackened. The couch directly next to her was slowly being engulfed in flames, the smoke rising to the top.
Finally, she raised herself up from the girl. She seemed unhurt. "Iltha, are you all right?"
"Uh-huh," she replied.
"You need to get out as fast as you can. Stay close to the ground and make for that door. Do you see it?" Lidia pointed towards the door depicting the dracolich. There was no sign of the red tendrils on the floor - the teleportation spell had apparently run its course.
"Yes." Her voice quavered a little.
"Think you can do that?"
Iltha gave her a determined nod.
"I'll make sure the wizard doesn't hurt you. Go!"
The girl raised herself on her hands and knees, slipped through the gap between the couch and the table, and started crawling, making her way to the door. Most of the group were already nearly there, keeping their heads low to avoid breathing in the smoke. As for Aerie, Minsc had already carried her through the door to safety.
Lidia found Conster where he had stood, his magical protections gone. He had collapsed and was already struggling for breath, succumbing to the fumes from the smoke.
She considered what to do next. The only way to save him was to take him outside and let him go his own way. But there would be little to stop him from attacking the Company again. He was capable of doing anything to finish what he started.
Lidia hooked her arms under his armpits and started dragging him towards the door depicting Tiamat, now beginning to be blackened by the smoke and heat. He was completely insensible, his head lolling to one side as she moved him. She tried the doorknob. Perhaps Firkraag had expected her to pay a visit to him right away, for it was unlocked.
She opened the door, moved him through it, and shut the door to block out any stray smoke fumes. She dragged him down the tunnel, finally laying him near the gold-trimmed wardrobe.
Conster was still in bad shape, despite being moved to fresher air. He was wheezing as though every breath was a mighty effort. Likely he wouldn't make it without help. She shut her eyes and focused on a desire to help him, placing two hands on his chest. Within a few moments, his breathing became easier.
As soon as the casting was done, his hand went for her throat.
She easily knocked it aside. For all his magical might, he'd been ill-used and had likely never lifted anything heavier than a spell tome. Within moments, she'd subdued him, holding his hand towards the ground. His other hand was still fumbling along his belt.
"My spell components?" he mumbled. "Where -"
"You've got bigger problems," Lidia said. "You've failed your master, and we're leaving. If you want to pursue us, I'd suggest waiting to leave until the fire dies down."
His face became serene, a sight as odd as the sudden death of a turbulent wind. She felt the tension leave his bound hand, and he started to rise to his feet.
Lidia finally let go of his wrist, then stepped back, drawing her shortsword. "Keep your hands in sight."
Conster stood up, holding his arms out in front of him. "This shall be goodbye, then."
"Explain yourself."
He started walking backwards. "I will go to my master."
"I won't stop you if you do," she said, "but I doubt he's the forgiving sort."
"If he sees my life as a fit recompense for this fault, so be it." He turned his back to her, and slowly, painfully, started moving towards Firkraag's lair.
She watched him leave until the darkness in the tunnel finally took him.