"It must be stopped, now and forever." Shazak stamped his magestaff on the floor.

"But the risk”" started T'Nky. Shazak interrupted, his voice harsh and pained.

"Is nothing compared to the danger it already poses. We must make the attempt, and make it now. Its power will only grow - already it may be too late, and we all know how much potential my wi- its body had."

T'Nky cast her eyes downward, submitting. Looking around the circle, Shazak nodded. "We have consensus, then?" The other 6 mages, including T'Nky, gave reluctant nods. "Then let us begin."

==========

"Ahhh” a sweet, sweet soul." Her voice chilled the air, sending shivers down the spines of the hidden mages. "I knew you'd be mine eventually. Your feelings for this shell are too strong to ignore." The sprite cackled wildly, her shining black skin reflecting the sickening glow of the green sphere in her forehead. "Come, join with me."

"If this is the only way I can be with my wife again, then very well. Take my soul." Shazak felt his strength, his feelings, his thoughts begin to drain from him as the orb throbbed. "Now, do it NOW!!" the fading sprite cried out. The air tingled with powerful magic and the globe dimmed, the black sprite scowling in fury.

"A trap? Perhaps you possess more strength than I'd estimated. To offer yourself as bait, simply to ambush me” This shell's inhabitant would have been proud. No matter. You have offered your soul - a few mages cannot shield it from me for long." Green lights and mists within the orb appeared to swirl and mingle, but the shield held.

"All seven of us are here, parasite. The shields need not hold long." Shazak fluttered into the air, gathering his strength and chanting together with the others. For the first time the black sprite appeared uncertain. Without hesitation the mages struck. Two streams each of fire, ice, and lighting engulfed the creature, joined by a powerful flow of healing magic from Shazak. The sprite screamed in agony, trying again and again to fight off the powerful enchantment. Slowly her defenses crumbled and the healing energy filled her body. The orb dimmed and winked out, and the sprite collapsed to the ground.

"Now. Finish it now!" T'Nky thrust the tiny dagger into Shazak's hand. He fluttered over to the crumpled form and placed the dagger against her throat.

Her eyes opened, the red glow gone from them. "Shazak? Is it you, darling?" Tears leapt to his eyes.

"Yes, Kelar, it's me. Everything will be alright, now." Trembling, he bent for a last kiss. His lips touched hers, and his heart filled with hope. Then he felt the change. A light sparked deep within the globe. "Forgive me, beloved" he whispered.

Her eyes grew wide as he drew the blade across her throat. The look of betrayal and hurt in her eyes struck him to the core; his hand faltered, the slash half-completed. Instantly the green light brightened, and the red glow returned to the black sprite's eyes. With a flash she blinked out, leaving behind a pool of blood and a tiny mage screaming his grief to the heavens.

==========

"I'm so excited! I think the city will be the most fascinating place ever!" V'ken enthused, fluttering about the wide road. "I just know we'll meet all sorts of interesting people and help all sorts of creatures in need."

Khorzal grinned at his sister, his wings sending him on a more direct path towards town. "Aye, if half the stories are true we'll have adventures Mum & Pa won't never believe."

Zipping over to rub noses with Khorzal, V'ken giggled at the look of love and bemusement he shot her. "You know, I”" his voice trailed off as he stared in wonderment at the sight before them. Another sprite, but like none they'd ever known. This one was black as night; her eyes glowed red, and a bizarre green ball was embedded in the center of her forehead. More importantly, she was clearly dying. A gruesome gash in her throat poured blood on the ground, surely more than such a tiny body could hold.

V'ken immediately shot towards the figure, but Khorzal caught her wrist. "Let me, V'ken. She's beyond your healing, but at least I can comfort her." Khorzal landed next to the mortally wounded sprite. "There now lass, you're not alone. I can ease your pain, and hold you until the end." Laying her head upon his lap, the young sprite looked deep into the glowing eyes. Suddenly he stiffened, a faint gurgle escaping his lips.

"What's wrong, bro?" V'ken began to ask. He gave no response, but slowly reached to the green orb and removed it from the dead sprite's brow. "I don't think you ought to mess with that”" she started, but it was too late. The orb settled deeply into Khorzal's forehead, as if it had been there all his life.

"Come here, child. I have need of you."

V'ken put her hand on his arm, trembling. "Khorzal, what --" The sphere glowed bright, and the young shaman writhed in agony, trying fruitlessly to remove her hand. Soon her struggles became weaker, the orb casting an increasingly strong and sickly light over the area. And then it was over. V'ken dropped to the ground, all expression gone from her face.

"Ah, that was too close for comfort." the sprite muttered. "I shall have to take precautions against such an” inconvenience” from recurring." A deep breath and his eyes began to glow red. Taking to the air, the sprite headed down the causeway. Two sprites remained, one dead and one as-dead, discarded and left for scavengers. With each movement of his wings, the body that used to be Khorzal darkened, until finally his skin shone as ebony as night.

==========

"It's not our problem now." T'Nky's voice was firm, but she couldn't meet Shazak's eyes.

"It is mine. It started with Kelar, I failed to finish it, and now we have no way of knowing if it found another host. For all we know, my-- that body is still alive. I have to find it."

"And if you do?"

Shazak shrugged. "We will see." Turning his gaze to the scrolls and maps before him, he pointed at a particular region. "Its teleport was random, and we haven't been able to track it any closer than this general area. Much of the country is still untamed, but there is one large city that it would probably be drawn to." Tapping the spot on the map, Shazak pulled at his lip thoughfully. "It may take years, even decades, to surface, but I'm sure this is where it will appear."

"You leave today?" Nodding, Shazak pulled her into his arms for a long embrace. "The longer I'm there, the better prepared I'll be. It will be attracted to any mages that might live there, so I'll seek employment with them. When it arrives, it will seek to use the resources of the guild. And when it does, I'll be there."

T'Nky's eyes teared up. "It wasn't your fault, Shazak."

"Yes, it was."

"I don't mean its escape, I mean -"

"I know. It was." Giving his old friend a quick peck on the cheek and a spritely hug, Shazak fluttered out the door and began his journey to Moorgate.