Compassion Overrules Caution

Exotica hesitated. "I can't just leave them," she decided. "I had thought to save them by defeating the demon, but by then it might be too late. I doubt that they can survive much longer. And these are the noblest, whom the demon could not corrupt into his service. They deserve a better fate."

"But m'lady, you promised to be careful," Mary objected. "Have you the strength for this? If you should die then there is no hope for any of us."

"Perhaps I'm letting my heart rule my head. But it shouldn't require nearly as much power as making the pit and the guillotines vanish. I need to make their chains disappear, lower them gently to the floor and then heal their wounds. It is worth the risk, I think, as if I can do it then it will add five to our number."

Mary did not argue with her mistress any further - it would not be proper for a maidservant to do so - but she wondered how much help the extra people would be. Prowess with a sword was of no avail against the demon, and that was all they had to offer. None of them would have any of the strange power that the Princess had somehow acquired, the only thing that had a chance of prevailing against the horror.

1. Exotica succeeds in freeing and healing the captives, at little cost to herself.
2. Exotica succeeds in freeing and healing the captives, but at great cost to herself.
3. Exotica fails, her earlier efforts having weakened her too much.

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