No

'Marianne. You know i care about you, but i have to settle things with Arakarin. Besides, what about the others? They want me back too, don't they?'

Marianne hung her head almost unnoticably. 'Yes, we all do. I guess it was a bit selfish to want to have you all to myself, wasn't it? Ok, i'll see if we can go back. LADY FATE!!'

Sagus flinched a little at Marianne's uncharacteristic yell, but turned away slightly when someone answered it. A giant woman, maybe 30 years old, with black hair and a benevolent but scheming smile appeared, filling the surrounding void.

"Yes?" she asked. Her voice was more gentle than one would expect from the embodiment of ****.

'Honorable Lady Fate. I am Marianne Valengard. I am a puppet-mistress.'

"I know who you are. I am Lady Fate."

'Of course. Lady Fate, i have come to attempt to win back the life of Sagus Bolinheim.'

She glanced at him, then back at Marianne. "I see. And why should i allow you to take my recent acquisition from me?"

'Because he has something that must be done back in the living realm.'

"So do most. I need a better reason than that. If you don't have one, then what will you trade for him?"

'I'm afraid i am poor and have nothing my lady does not have already.'

"Would you take his place?"

'What!?'

"Will you take his place in the void?"

'No!! Marianne, don't! If you don't come with me, it'll all be pointless!'

'I know. But if we stay here, it'll be for nothing too!'

"I love a conundrum. So, what will you do?"