@Belkin
You're using audience omniscience bias, however. If we'd never seen the part where he explains the flaw, you'd not likely have this argument. At least, not enough to feel like it warranted posting.
Think from her perspective. A mage can apparently do most anything so long as they have the imagination for it. Surrounded by his minions who can apparently cast Circle-type spells (multicaster linkup), an assistant or superior at his side who is a 100% unknown factor, and the guy himself who has an obnoxious command of what you can do and who you are while you know nothing of what he's capable of aside from the fact he has an item which can apparently make your magic not only useless, but likely to kill you/your friend/his minions and your own senses even confirm it.
Not to mention this is ground he prepared, so there could be traps and defenses and whatnot that you just don't even know are there. Knowledge and imagination are a caster's weapons here, and she lacks knowledge, so imagination won't cut it. She's in a situation where she does not want to kill and is hesitating, and everything in the area screams 'Do nothing and there won't be any unnecessary murder.' which it seems like he picked up on.
With all of this in mind, is it any wonder she didn't try to 'probe' his defenses? The only reason you're so sure she should have done so is entirely because the story tells you she should have, if she knew better. A well-written character wouldn't gamble their life so easily, especially when they're already deeply disadvantaged.
You're using audience omniscience bias, however. If we'd never seen the part where he explains the flaw, you'd not likely have this argument. At least, not enough to feel like it warranted posting.
Think from her perspective. A mage can apparently do most anything so long as they have the imagination for it. Surrounded by his minions who can apparently cast Circle-type spells (multicaster linkup), an assistant or superior at his side who is a 100% unknown factor, and the guy himself who has an obnoxious command of what you can do and who you are while you know nothing of what he's capable of aside from the fact he has an item which can apparently make your magic not only useless, but likely to kill you/your friend/his minions and your own senses even confirm it.
Not to mention this is ground he prepared, so there could be traps and defenses and whatnot that you just don't even know are there. Knowledge and imagination are a caster's weapons here, and she lacks knowledge, so imagination won't cut it. She's in a situation where she does not want to kill and is hesitating, and everything in the area screams 'Do nothing and there won't be any unnecessary murder.' which it seems like he picked up on.
With all of this in mind, is it any wonder she didn't try to 'probe' his defenses? The only reason you're so sure she should have done so is entirely because the story tells you she should have, if she knew better. A well-written character wouldn't gamble their life so easily, especially when they're already deeply disadvantaged.
