No one who has not experienced love could blame two ladies who had faced each other with such fury and anger the day before. But those who know love and its power will forgive these two great souls, for love takes away reason and intellect, and the art of reasoning and thinking is of no use.  

Young and old go to its dance, the lowly rabble as well as the haughty lord; there is no remedy for love, not even death; it takes everyone, of whatever kind or condition. And this can now be clearly seen, for Marfisa, who was impeccable in her senses, changed her nature so rapidly that she became impatient with her desire; nor must you think that Medulfa was any less troubled, for she, who was used to playing with her food, now threw herself on the plate like an animal full of appetite. 

The next day, Rolandus went to see Marfisa in her room at Margiana: here she had good food and good wine, just enough for her to eat alone. But despite the good food, she felt so ill that she could not tell whether she was dead or alive. She fought like a child in front of Madalgarius. 

Sensing her thoughts, Rolandus tried to bring a smile back to her face, avoiding touching strings that could not be played. But then finally it was Marfisa who asked for a certain melody to be heard. 

And he said to the cat: "I am lonely. And as much as Medulfa annoyed me yesterday, I cannot get out of my mind even five of the minutes I spent chatting with Madalgarius. Though I have only been with him for one evening, I have never been happier, and if I could only have one wish: I would rather walk the streets with him again than conquer the world".  

"To be honest, I don't know enough about love to suggest or advise against it..." said Oliverio, closing his eyes in thought, "but I have never seen you leave everything for one man, or a man leave everything to go to the Far East. Surely this whole situation could have been resolved by talking, but I think there is some good in all this. You have found someone who makes you happy. 

Nor do I think you need to have lived long to know how much the poison of love can hurt; but if you want my advice, don't see Medulfa as an enemy, but as a victim of the same disease that clouds reason. Then, if she really won't listen to reason, you can always beat her up, but don't let anger get the better of you. In the end, even a great hero like Achilles regretted having followed the advice of anger.” 

"You are indeed a kind soul," said Marfisa in a tone that was neither approving nor disapproving. Then she said nothing more. She remained silent, sitting on the bed until Rolandus climbed onto the covers and crawled towards her. 

"Would you like to hold me?" said Rolandus. 

"I thought you didn't like being hugged like a child," replied Marfisa. 

"No catizus likes to be hugged like a child, but we seem to have a calming effect on you human women." 

Marfisa hugged Rolandus and closed her eyes. She felt calmer and a sense of peace filled her soul. 

"Rolandus... thank you. You are a true friend." 

Later, Marfisa left the room, ready to finish her duel with Marfisa. None of the big names were missing: there were Lyrcanius, Oliverius, Oridans and Zamasphes, curious to know the outcome of the battle. There were Aesara and Rogerius and many others you know, joined by even more curious ones. 

But it was at the gates of Margiana that I first met my little girl, who said to me: 'Deh! There she is, the cause of all my suffering. Let me guess: you are here to document yourself for a book?"  

"No... maybe... perhaps?" said Varuclezia, looking away.   

"..." 

My gaze softened and I leaned against the city wall, inviting Marfisa to do the same. She leaned her back against the wall and began to cry. 

"My goodness! Is it that serious?" said I, but Marfisa did not answer. She dried her tears and waited for advice. 

"I'm sorry that things have turned out this way. I had no idea that I had caused all this trouble." 

"Well! You did cause it!" she said with a hint of anger in her voice before straightening up. "Although I'm not sorry you introduced me to Madalgarius." 

"Come now, you are an extraordinary woman. You will see that Madalgarius will notice." 

I said, and a smile broke out on Marfisa's face.   

"There, there, that you look wonderful when you smile," said I, putting a hand on her shoulder. 

Marfisa jumped and hugged me. 

"I love you, mum." 

Marfisa and Medulfa met at the camp near Margiana and stood facing each other as all the witnesses looked on. They said nothing this time, just stared at each other. 

Their feet planted on the ground, the metal against the blades, and the impact was so violent that it would have deformed the ground and thrown away anyone who came near, but the two ladies stood firm. 

Medulfa continued to push, asserting her greater physical strength, and Marfisa responded by moving to the side, causing her to lose her balance, but before she could do any damage, Medulfa landed a headbutt that sent her reeling. 

She pushed her back, raised the club and lowered it violently, only to see the weapon deflected to one side and Marfisa move to the other. 

"Damn plebeian..." said Marfisa, "...that's a mace, not a shovel. Make sure you fight properly," but despite these words, Medulfa continued to strike her weapon against Marfisa's sword, pushing it back. 

"What is it? Are you afraid your blade will be ruined? That's certainly not my problem." 

Medulfa raised his palm and placed a hand on Marfisa's helmet, pushing her aside. At the same time, he stood close to her, eliminating any room to manoeuvre the weapon that was held down by Medulfa's mace. 

Marfisa allowed herself to be pushed aside and ducked, letting Medulfa's hand slide over her helmet before striking her diaphragm with the hilt of her sword. She shoved her and pushed her away. 

The weapons clashed again with a violent crash, and a roar went up among the spectators. There were few who did not rejoice and wish for an immediate end to this clash. There was Rogerius, and there was Aesara, for they both wanted their sister and teacher to be safe, and finally it was I who found myself restless and nervous. Madalgarius must have noticed this, for he was standing close by, seemingly ready to intervene in case of disaster. 

Meanwhile, the two ladies continued to fight. Never had they felt such strength in their blows and never had they felt their minds so focused on their goal. Both felt they were in the right, and both refused to give in. 

The spectators were divided into one faction and the other, but both felt that there was little difference between these two lionesses. Some cheered for one, some for the other, all were convinced that the laurel belonged to both, but only one could have Madalgarius. But even the gods did not know whom to choose. 

Medulfa cried out: “Is your family not here to buy good weapons with gold and silver, and is your brother Rogerius not with you to help you with his strength? Who can save you from my mace? Where will you go to escape? Will you ask the kings of Sarmatia, Kusana or Hyperborea for help? Take one of them, you who don't mind having many lovers. Don't steal Madalgarius from me like the treasures you stole from Rhaetia and Libya, like a mere tomb raider masquerading as an archaeologist. What other treasures are you going to steal? From whom, when and where? Tell me! I want to show everyone who you are.” 

Marfisa replied with harsh and strong words: "Why? Are you jealous that I have faced the cruel wraiths of the Alps or the great worms of the desert? Or that the wonders I have discovered will be remembered forever? Go on! Go home and prepare herbal teas for the children's sore throats, perhaps if some hero is injured, go and heal him; but leave the real fighting to the real fighters, for that is their trade, and you will never excel in it. Nor do you think that Madalgarius will appreciate you, for there is not much you can do except sew flesh and blood." 

Feet were planted on the ground and weapons clashed in the air. Pushing her back, Medulfa raised the mace and brought it down hard, only to see Marfisa throw her cloak at her, obscuring her vision. 

"Damn bitch," said Medulfa as she took off Marfisa's cloak, but she wasn't the only one who had problems, as she managed to hit her in the helmet so hard that Marfisa lost her sight for a few moments and sought safety in the distance. "Well, if you don't want to fight, I'll make you." 

Medulfa pulled Marfisa's cloak towards her, but plans don't always go as planned. Still half-blind and confused, Marfisa made no resistance and even started to run towards Medulfa, who now had no time to raise her weapon: only time to get a shoulder. 

She put an arm around her shoulder, but Marfisa continued to strike blindly at her, even more dangerous than when she could see her. A blow to the helmet and Medulfa pushed her back as she jumped back to catch her breath. Now it was Medulfa who called for help from afar, giving Marfisa time to regain her sight and senses. 

Now they both found themselves in the same position, annoyed that they had received no benefit or result from so much effort. But they were the only ones annoyed, as the crowd seemed to enjoy what they were seeing. 

The two ladies continued to create fire and flames, both with their looks and with their weapons, as the crowd around them watched. Perhaps the only one who wasn't having any fun was me, nervously squeezing my arm to calm my soul. 

I had seen Marfisa duel many times: sometimes she won, sometimes she lost, but never against an opponent who really wanted to hurt her. My little girl was there to risk while my soul was being torn apart. Madalgarius took a step forward, even more ready to intervene if things went wrong. 

I smiled at the thought. It's nice to see that your daughter has fallen in love with such a civilised and humane man, but why am I boring you with these thoughts? Surely, it's not my maternal side that interests you, so let's get back to our two ladies, who continue to flash and spark on the battlefield. 

Marfisa continued to dodge until she slapped Medulfa's bottom and then kicked her in the knee, forcing her to the ground. 

"Down! Where your kind should be!" said Marfisa, to which Medulfa replied: "Ah, ah, a very funny little trick. Almost as funny as mine," and with a quick snap she grabbed Marfisa by the ankle and slammed her into the mud. 

"Yes, just where my kind should be," said Medulfa, watching her from above. 

"Very funny," Marfisa said, wiping her face. 

"What can I say... pleasure is found in the little things," replied Medulfa, shrugging her shoulders. However, the mocking look quickly disappeared from Medulfa's face, as it did from Marfisa's, as both were determined to end this fight with one last attack. 

The battlefield was suddenly quiet. Even the light-hearted spectators could sense that something had changed in the air. The two ladies looked into each other's eyes and took up guard positions. Marfisa took a deep breath. 

Then she leapt forward, weapons gleaming in the sunlight, and the blows became so powerful that Medulfa and Marfisa were thrown back to the edge of the clearing. 

The impact was violent. All around cried out at the blow, but the two maidens remained silent, never taking their eyes off their opponent. The gaze was fixed, firm and scornful: neither yielded, and both ended up pushed back by the force of the other. 

Both were out of breath, but they tried again, this time with all their armour shining brightly in the sun, but the blow still didn't land on the other. 

Suddenly, anger boiled in their blood, and the polite greetings and courtship began again between the two gentlewomen. 

"Do you really know what it is to be lonely?" said Marfisa, storming off again. "True loneliness, the loneliness of the soul, which hides a vastness of desolation under happy looks and happy smiles?  Like a cell, so big that you can't see its limits, and so small that you are suffocated by its bars? My key, my light. Will you take it from me? Who are you to plot such evil?" 

"I..." said Medulfa as a god of wrath took shape in her body. With an almost listless blow, she pushed Marfisa back like a troublesome leaf. A divine fear crossed Marfisa's soul at the sight of such power. 

Medulfa advanced with slow and late steps, fending off Marfisa's attacks and advancing inexorably like winter. Pushed by Mars, she said: "I am Medulfa Calpurnia Ascelpiades: the unwanted daughter who became a doctor, the infamous prostitute who became a famous gladiator. I have been humiliated, robbed, raped, but I shall have my happy ending!" 

Medulfa raised the mace. It was then that Marfisa realised that the gods had abandoned her side. The gods had placed the weights on the scales and they had decided. 

Medulfa's mace fell on Marfisa's helmet. The helmet fell and so did Marfisa. 

Medulfa raised her mace for the umpteenth time. Madalgarius leapt forward and blocked his descent with his romphaia. 

"That's enough," said Madalgarius as the anger in Medulfa's eyes faded. 

Medulfa cried, and from an angry woman she now looked like a lost child. Madalgarius held out his arm and let her cry in his arms. Then he held out his other arm to Marfisa. Marfisa looked at him in confusion, but then tears streamed down her face and she cried on his chest like a child.  Madalgarius said nothing, letting them vent their grief. 

No one spoke. No one said anything. And all were ashamed to have cheered at this battle. The four kings remained silent, realising that they had lost that war and could not have Marfisa. 

Madalgarius continued to remain silent until he felt that they had let loose. He let them go from his embrace. However, now a decision had to be made. Although there was no longer anger in the hearts of Marfisa and Medulfa, they both expected to hear a choice from him. 

"I spent a beautiful evening with you in Rome, and I know you have much more of value for me to discover, but I hope you understand that I cannot choose one or the other based on what happened in a single evening long ago..." said Madalgarius, extending his hand towards both of them, "...but I have promised to find the golden apple tree and to bring justice to Dragontina, who, as far as I know, is close to both of your hearts. Therefore, I propose this to you. Come with me and let time close this matter." 

Marfisa and Medulfa looked into each other's eyes, but there was too much weariness for jealousy to make them quarrel. They both wanted to be happy and both took Madalgarius' hand. 

Astulfus looked at Aesara, then at Madalgarius, then back at Aesara. He put his hand on her back and pushed her forward, so that she, hopping badly to keep her balance, ended up within a few paces of this adorable trio. 

"I- I... do you mind if I go with you? N- not to go back to Rome a- alone," said Aesara with the first lie she could think of. 

Madalgarius said nothing, just looked at his... I think we can call them fiancées at this point. Neither of them had any problems. I don't want to speak ill of Aesara, but when it comes to love, she doesn't seem all that threatening. And if you don’t mind, I would ask to end this book here. 

Finally, Marfisa, Aesara and Medulfa are reunited Madalgarius and for now we don’t need to worry for them. We have all learnt to solve problems by talking, rather than by violence. How love is not commanded, just as we should not trust a certain green-haired witch before we are certain of her intentions. 

I need a rest from this writing. But, if you will be so kind as to give me the chance, there are many other adventures, which I am sure you will enjoy hearing and I would like to tell. Tell therefore to others about my deed, my book and your journey as well.  

For now, I take my leave and bid you farewell.