[ ] Aye, if she asks, you must trust your dear dollmaker.


In the end your mind swiftly streams through trammeling twists, for this question is no question at all. So you nod slightly, so with a small smile your dear dollmaker draws back and the two of you walk after the shield-thane once more.

"I don't think anyone's going to like what they see, when we gat back out however." Alice then tells you her voice surprisingly flat for soch a grave announcement.

"You know this well, I would wager." You answer her, the words bringing a chuckle from the Seven-Coloured Sorceress.

"I left Shanghai to keep an eye on Marisa." Alice answers you with a sly smile. "It's a trick we use sometimes."

You steal a swift glance at her and see that it is how she tells, the small puppet is nowhere in sight.

You feel strangely disappointed by this fact.

With these words spoken, you find that you've reached the temple grounds once again. Where before there was light and magic, furious forces battling in the sky, fierce like the host of Prince Eirik's men clashing with the shield-wall of the english, now there is only calm. The Wight of the deeps is nowhere in sight for your gaze only falls upon the Black-White Witch and the Immortal Phoenix, both settled down beneath a tree, looking as ones without a care in the world.

In truth this sight is a welcome one as well as one without great surprise, for forest witch is great in might, this truth you know well. Yet behind welcome victory rests well-hidden danger, for how will the high priestess take the news that her champion has fallen before foeman?

Thus you watch her warily as you make your way towards the two, wondering whether ravens shall fly over the din-of-spears before this day is done, pondering if death or glory shall be yours.

"It seems as if matters have settled down." The whisper-voice of the high priestess declares, "Would you kindly tell where Murasa has gone?"

"Oh, her?" The forest witch replies with a wave of her hand "Crashed somewhere thereabouts last I saw her -ze."

"I see. Then I shall go find her." The radiant calm-bringer replies, "Yet we shall discuss this later".

Thusly spoken she swiftly takes flight towards the direction pointed out by the hand of the black-white witch, her speed as the steed of Odin, like Sleipnir's din of hooves upon the firmament.

"What a bore." Mighty Marisa tells with a grin, watching the high priestess disappear between the trees "I woulda been up for another go."

"Aren't you always?" Alice replies, a small smile on her lips. The dollmaker's words bring a slight blush to the forest witch's cheeks and a flash of anger to her eyes.

"Watch yourself doll girl," The black-white witch snaps back, her flustered expression turning into a wicked smile "After all, you ain't much better..."

"Shut up!" Alice growls, her fierce words cutting off the black-white witch "You are to be quiet!"

"Or what, doll girl?" Wildwood witch's bold voice makes reply, sorcery spinning around her, spells streaming, swift, silent, deadly.

"Or maybe I'm going to let you have another go if you want it so badly." The seven-coloured sorceress snaps back, dolls forming up in long rows as her rage is unleashed.

"Heh, stop it Alice, you're makin' me blush." The words strike home, with wit and wisdom does Black-White witch's skill strike true, colouring your dear dollmaker's cheeks crimson, her fingers twitching in anger.

[ ] Let this move at it mays, for ill is it for a man to step into women's quarrels.

[ ] Halt this foolishness, not for friends to battle friends.

---

I am very sorry for buggering off for all this time, but I've been busy as all hell with schoolwork.

The good news is that I'm finally done with uni, so I might have more time to write in the future.