Focusing back on my searching, I started looking over the animals in my woods. The Fairies were excitedly dancing about in the waves of power. The elves seemed to realize something was going on but it was hard to tell due to their small spiritual energy. The humans did not seem to notice what was happening. Most of the humans were just blank voids with no spiritual energy while a few had sparks. But they were too weak to notice the changes around them.

I honed in on the humans. I needed to make sure that Maximus did not slip in with the prince's men. A few of those that had sparks s.h.i.+vered while I probed them for any sign of the blight. This gave me an idea. I knew that Maximus was good at hiding. What if he suppressed his spark of power to hide among the humans? I started forcing some energy into those men that showed no spark of spiritual awareness to see if I got a reaction.

It was extremely frustrating getting negative after negative. Why could I not find him? He had to be somewhere. He can not just vanis.h.!.+ No, there was no need to be frustrated. There was only one Maximus and chances are he was not even with the prince's men. I need to just do what I can while Tide continues her search. My frustration was still nagging at me even after I berated myself. Was I spending too much time with mortals? I just want my friends back.

I tested human after human with no reaction. My mind started to go blank in the monotony. A stir. I sat upright for the slouch that I had sunk into. I had finally found him. I needed to act quickly. He was going to get away again. How do I get a message to the prince to capture him? I might even be willing to accept his advances if he gets Maximus. A few decades would be nothing to get Mist and Faun back.

Why wasn't Maximus running? He knew that I had found him. Looking closer the spark seemed small and unsteady. Surely not something strong enough to fight greater spirits with magic, even if he resorted to trickery. "I just woke his spark," I said to myself incredulously.

"How do you make a spark? Dryads can't use fire." Fume looked at me puzzled.

"A spark of power," I explained. "I was making sure that Maximus was not hiding with the humans. While I was searching them I awoke one of them to their spiritual power or spark."

"Humans don't have spiritual power?" Fume showed her ignorance. I guess the only one she has ever met was Maximus, so it was no surprise.

"I will explain this later, but no. Most humans have no power," I replied quickly before turning back to my task.

It was only a few short minutes later my mind was again called back to the pond. "I found a magician!" Tide called out to me.

"Where?!" I shouted in haste.

"East of the woods past that village near where you have been looking." She replied. She seemed to understand my impatience since she did not question me on it as she would have in the past. I was grateful that she did not start lecturing.

I stretched out my powers searching East of the village. I was not sure I could really call this in range of my power. It was more like I was reaching and trying to grab something I can only touch with the tips of my fingers no matter how high on my toes I get. After reaching as far as possible I was able to faintly feel traces of the power Tide had found. All I could say is that my feelings were mixed at what I saw. This was not Maximus who I had been looking for for such a long time. But it was someone I could really use right now.

The magic power that Tide had felt was from Emily. My companions must have rushed as fast as their horses would allow to get here so soon. My heart swelled. They had rushed back to be with me. They were going to help me still.

"Did you find Mist?" Rine asked his face full of expectation.

"No," I replied to which Rine's face instantly fell. "It is my companions that were traveling with me."

"Leafy and Emily?!" Ivy exclaimed. Her excitement was evident even through her exhaustion.

"Yes, Emily and Leafy," I said, confirming Ivy's question. Well I was not sure it was a question but I treated it as such.

"Great! I really hope they have time to teach me some more recipes. Though I think what I really need is to learn how to control the fire better." Why was I not surprised that Ivy seemed to be in her own little world apart from what was happening around her. I just smiled at her patting her on the leg. I didn't think we would be able to take the time. Speed mattered much more this time. Faun was powerful and had vast reserves of energy. She could take care of herself. Mist was still just a sprite. She was still recovering too. She would be lucky to last two days with just the water that was in the bowl.

It seemed that I was the only one lost in worry. Ivy's statement must have caught Cocoa and Tide off guard. They were both standing there with their mouths slightly ajar. I saw Fume was off a ways and did not seem to have noticed as she was cleaning soot out of her ears. I was a little sad at not seeing Fume's reaction but I still felt a smile creep over my face over the others' reactions. Yes, Ivy was a spirit who enjoyed mortal things.