Chapter 7

         Not too far back in the forest, Magbert was frowning in surprise. "Where is she?"

         "Where's who?" asked Ian.

         "Crystal...!"

         "I know who you meant; I noticed the sudden silence, too. She probably went crazy over some new flower or something she's found," Ian replied.

         "Yeah, but she's usually back by now," said Magbert. "Something must have happened to her."

         "What could possibly happen to someone her size?"

         "She could be attacked by small animals or she could've found some other guy like that fairy hunter and fallen for his lines again. Or she could've met a witch and could be, at this very moment, about to become an unwilling slave or wing donor."

         "If that's what happening to her right now," Ian replied, "we will personally kill the responsible party, okay?"

         "Kill who?" asked Lokey, coming up from behind them.

         "Speaking of murderous individuals," murmured Magbert.

         "We're gonna kill whoever's holding Crystal prisoner," said Ian.

         "Killing is good," nodded Lokey enthusiastically.

         "Well, now, we don't exactly know she's being held prisoner," said Magbert, suddenly realizing things were getting slightly out of hand.

         "We don't have to," grinned Ian. "We can still kill any opposition that might present itself."

         "Killing is good," Lokey repeated.

         "Okay, I get the point," sighed Magbert. "I'm overreacting."

         "Right," agreed Ian.

         "Not necessarily," said Lokey. "There is a fairly strong magic presence nearby."

         "That would be Crystal," agreed Magbert.

         "Nooo," said Lokey, "Crystal would be the heavily fluctuating smaller magic presence nearby."

         "Fluctuating?" echoed Magbert.

         "Fluctuating," replied Lokey. "Most magic has a fairly constant emanation, unless it's in heavy use...or it's leaving the body some other way really fast."

         "Like how?" asked Ian, as he and Magbert both stopped and frowned seriously.

         "Like if the source is dying," Lokey replied, arching his eyebrows.

         Magbert's face became grim determination itself. "Killing," he said, drawing his sword, "is good."

         It took less than a few minutes to burst into the small clearing where Kathyrn had laid her trap and where Drianna now sat against a tree holding Crystal. It took even less time for all those involved, except Crystal, to decide brute force was necessary.

         "Wait!" shrieked Crystal, flying up in a panic. Her tiny voice reached none of her now bloodthirsty companions. Ian, Magbert and Lokey charged Drianna with a avenging roar, while Drianna, terrified of the forthcoming onslaught, curled up in a ball and blindly threw a mass pain spell in their direction, catching all three attackers in midswing. They dropped to the ground in agony while Drianna remained balled up, half in horror, half in exhaustion, under the tree she leaned against.

         There was a moment of general pain, fear and confusion until Ian spoke.

         "Killing is bad," he gasped, his face contorted with pain.

         "Killing is very bad," added Magbert in the same tone.

         "She's a witch, isn't she?" Lokey moaned. "Why didn't I know this?"

         Crystal, who had prudently flown out of harm's reach above them, now hovered near Magbert with a terse look on her face.

         "Two things," she began, looking at him. "Have I or have I not explained to you my wish to defend myself?"

         "You have, dearest," grimaced Magbert in sheer anguish.

         "I thought I had," replied Crystal calmly. "And did it ever occur to you manly types that I may have already handled myself accordingly and perhaps even found an ally?"

         "The thought had occurred to me, but I was slightly more worried about your well-being," said Magbert wryly. "Forgive me."

         Crystal immediately softened. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be so hard on you," she wailed, gently fluttering down to kiss his cheek.

         "For heavens sake, woman, don't kiss me," Magbert gasped. "That hurts!"

         "Does it really? Drianna, can't you do something about this?"

         "These are friends of yours?" Drianna asked, head still ducked in fear.

         "Yes, they just thought you were trying to hurt me," Crystal explained.

         "We're real sorry," Magbert added.

         "Well, just gimme a second to recuperate, here," breathed Drianna.

         "Do whatever," said Ian. "Just do it soon."

         As Drianna reversed the effects of her spell on the three, Crystal explained their strange encounter. Suddenly, Crystal snapped her fingers. "Drianna, I've got it!" she squealed. "You could come with us and not have to report back to Kathyrn at all!"

         "But I'm Kathyrn's favorite!" said Drianna. "She'd be heartbroken!"

         "She'll get over it! And these guys don't mind, do you?" asked Crystal.

         "No," said Ian and Magbert.

         "Yes," replied Lokey simultaneously. They gave him a look and he glared back as if to say "no!".

         "Huddle," said Ian, and he, Magbert and Lokey gathered around.

         "No way," said Lokey. "The witch stays here."

         "Lokey, we can't just leave her here. She saved Crystal's life!"

         "Taking a sprite's wings does not necessarily kill it," frowned Lokey.

         "Don't be crude," said Magbert. "I think it's only right that we let this woman go with us. She poses no threat to me."

         "Yeah, and maybe Crys'll talk her ear off instead," added Ian.

         "Yeah, well what about her boss, that Evil Sorceress? She's not just gonna believe her favorite apprentice just decided to leave without so much as a goodbye! And for that matter, she may not want her to leave and she might take it out on us. Besides, have I already mentioned how much I hate witches?"

         "Frequently," returned both Ian and Magbert.

         "Look, she's not gonna..." began Magbert, just as Crystal flew into the circle.

         "Well?" she asked.

         "Forget it, sprite," Lokey retorted. "She doesn't have to die or anything, but she can't come with us."

         "Says who?" Crystal demanded.

         "Says me."

         "Too scared of a mere woman to let her come along?"

         "That little trick is not going to work," said Lokey. "I don't care what you say about me or her, I'm not traveling with her."

         "Lokey," began Ian. "You realize if she gets let go, she might still betray us."

         "And we definitely can't kill her," said Magbert.

         "Well, we could wait 'til she's asleep," said Lokey.

         "She'd have to travel with us to do that," said Ian.

         Lokey was silent for a moment. "The first opportunity we get to kill her..." he began.

         "No, the first opportunity you have," said Magbert. "We're not killing anybody." Ian nodded in agreement and Crystal hovered by them in shock.

         "You're gonna let him kill her?" she gasped.

         "She can probably handle herself," said Magbert. "Like you."

         "And if she can't," said Ian, "she doesn't need to be with us, anyway."

         "Yeah, I guess," agreed Crystal halfheartedly.

         "Alright, you get three shots at it, Lokey," said Magbert. "If she doesn't die, she stays. Good enough?"

         "As long as nobody tells her and I get no interference from her," snapped Lokey, pointing at Crystal, who looked ready to protest.

         "Fair enough," said Magbert aloud. "No direct interference," he added to Crystal under his breath.

         "Fine," she smiled. Lokey turned away from them and Ian, Crystal and Magbert turned to Drianna.

         "You can come!" said Crystal excitedly.

         Drianna breathed a sigh of relief. "Well, that's a relief. Even if Kathyrn would allow me back after such insubordination, I don't think I could hurt any sprites or fairies after this."

         "Oh, I definitely could," muttered Lokey, grabbing up his quarterstaff.

         "I sense hostility," said Drianna to Crystal, as they began walking.

         "You better sense more than that," sighed Crystal warningly.

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