"Actually, it might have, just with you having to kill the mage as well. Or, more likely, I would have been asked why I hadn't dealt with the mage before returning. Assuming the Mantle would have let me leave the area."<br/><br/>He put the orb back into its pouch, and pulled out a glass of dwarven wine. "So you get to go and prove you are the best man to inherit my position, and I get to go and play politics with the dwarves next. I think you get to have more fun. At least you get the option to kill whatever is being overly stubborn."<br/><br/>He turned his head slightly as the front door opened, and smiled as he heard Blossom and Flute enter. "So, do you want my sphinx sisters and kitsune to come help you? Goldie is kind of attached to Josh, so she doesn't want to, and likely shouldn't, leave him."