Cutting their Losses?

"Hmm," said Jarlath. He was starting to sweat under his robes. He realized with a start that he had absolutely no idea what to do next. If he broke the thing, they'd kill Vaeren but in the process he and his friends would die from the burst of magical energy that would be unleashed, and they would not be able to stop the Brazen Man. But he couldn't just run away, especially because there was probably no way to escape anyway. He vaguely remembered that this construct was somehow similar to something he'd heard about in one of his classes, but couldn't remember what. He hadn't listened, because he'd been absoulely certain that he had nothing to learn from that class. If only--

He could see that Carola was becoming more uncertain and her conversation was wavering. The animates were beginning to stir and turn their eyes toward the four heroes.

"Oh shit," said Belinda.

"Shh," said Matthias. "We have to stay quiet and not move so these things don't notice us."

Matthias had his eyes riveted on the animates, but Belinda and Jarlath looked over to Carola, who was becoming very strained. She looked on the verge of crying. "Carola, what is it?" said Belinda.

"I--I don't know. I feel all the terrible energy in there, and it could destroy us if the conduit is broken. I'd gladly give my life to stop Vaeren from killing any more people, but I also have to battle the Brazen Man. I just don't know--"

Belinda wanted to comfort her sister, but she didn't dare move now that the animates were starting to notice them. "Maybe we should leave?" she said uncertainly. "I know it'll be difficult to find a way out, but it would be just as difficult to destroy the conduit, and Carola would be less likely to die."

"No!" shouted Matthias. The tension was getting to him as well. It looked as if his eyes were going to bulge out of their sockets. "We've gone so far to fight Vaeren, and it wouldn't be right to just give up."

"Jarlath?" said Belinda.

1. "You're right," said Jarlath, sadly and hesitantly. "We have to leave."
2. "No, wait!" he said. "I just had an idea."
3. Just then, Vaeren himself appeared in the room.

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