While both Leyndell and the Haligtree were making moves, Caria had not been idle either.
Ranni was making little dolls in her own Sorcery Tower, ordinary dolls made of cloth and cotton, the kind that could not move, also called rag dolls. She sewed these little toys by hand, and a row of different rag dolls sat on the windowsill.
There was Marika with her long golden hair, Radagon with his red hair, gentle Godwyn, valiant Radahn, and solemn Rykard.
The one she was making now was herself, a rag doll modeled after her own body.
It had short red hair, wore an extravagant gown, and had a golden crown studded with glintstone on its head. This was the formal attire she wore to important occasions as the Lunar Princess. Ordinarily, she still preferred the sorcerer's clothes her teacher had left her.
The Snow Witch's clothes gave Ranni a trace of warmth, as though her teacher were still beside her. In truth, her teacher was long gone, leaving only those clothes as a keepsake.
As a princess, what she chose to wear on her own territory was no one else's business.
She was deft with her hands, and her rag dolls looked almost real. She certainly knew her way around a needle and thread. Suddenly, a cold wind blew, and Blaidd appeared before Ranni, kneeling on one knee.
"Princess," Blaidd called softly, his head lowered.
Ranni did not look away from her work. "I told you, just call me sister. We're all family."
"Sister, that brat had no useful information to offer." Blaidd kept his head down.
"What did he tell you?" Ranni asked.
Blaidd snorted. "He said the Two Fingers sent him to Godrick, but he didn't know what exactly he was supposed to do."
"Nothing else?" Ranni remained