For a moment, Ron didn't know what had happened. Something else blurred his vision, a fast-moving figure bulking up in front of his target. It was only when he heard the voice that he recognized the intruder as Dr. Minton, and he saw then that the doctor had rescued the Scholar from certain death.
"Stop, Ron—"
"Doctor! Get out of the way!"
"No, Ron. You don't know what you're doing—"
The old man was shielding the Ron-body with his own. Ron put the weapon down.
"But why?" he said.
"Because this is no answer! This is the assassin's way—" He turned to the Ron-body, and his voice was shaking. "Listen, Scholar. I want to arbitrate. Will you listen?"