Finally, around lunchtime, we all met up at the farmhouse. Maple had made chili, a recipe I’d suggested and helped her gather ingredients to make. She’d also baked fresh bread. “You are getting to be a really talented chef,” I told her, and she blushed.

After lunch, I pulled Reed and Ivy aside, shuffling them into my bedroom, away from every other sprite. “All right,” I told them, “I haven’t kept you guys in the loop as much as I should have, but today we’re planning on giving Woods a mana potion so he can change back into a sprite.”

Ivy’s eyes widened, and Reed cleared his throat, looking nervous. “Is that wise?” he asked, fear tinging his voice.

I shrugged. “Finn, Melvin, and the Forest and River Spirits are going to be there, and you two can be there too if you’d like. But I don’t think anyone else should.” I looked around furtively and lowered my voice. “I don’t think any of the other sprites should be there in case anything goes wrong.”

Ivy and Reed nodded solemnly, knowing exactly what I meant.

“Anyway, I’m headed there now. I just have to find Finn...” I trailed off as something piqued my magical senses to the south. A cluster of strong magical auras came onto my farm, and I recognized them as the southern sprites. Curiously enough, Finn was with them. They were dangerously close to Woods, and I hoped that the southern sprites couldn’t pick up on his magical aura.

“Hang on, I think we might have to postpone giving Woods the mana potion,” I said, turning to Reed and Ivy. “The southern sprites are back on the farm, right by where we keep Woods.”

Both Ivy’s and Reed’s features darkened.

“Let’s go,” Reed said. “Whatever they’re up to, I’m sure it isn’t good.”

***

All three of us arrived at the tree prison where Woods was kept. The southern sprites were already there, as was Finn. They hadn’t found the prison yet, but they were close enough to make me nervous. I studied Finn. He looked to be in rough shape, sporting a black eye and a bloody lip. He was also handcuffed, and his hands were bound in front of him with rune-carved metal handcuffs.

“What’s happening here?” I demanded.

Alder was the first to speak up. “We have reason to believe that this sprite is an imposter masquerading as Woods. Which means that the corrupt sprite is still at large.”

I narrowed my eyes at Alder. “That’s a bold claim. Where’s your proof? Also, didn’t I ask you to leave my farm? That means you’re trespassing.”

Alder didn’t back down. “Coal caught the scent of the grizzly bear we’ve been tracking—we believe that you are harboring a corrupt sprite on your farm. And you northern sprites,” Alder said the word with open contempt, “don’t have the stomach to do what needs to be done.”

Ivy and Reed appeared stricken, and a dark look crossed Finn’s face. I wondered why he didn’t just break out of the handcuffs. His animal form was the strongest of all the sprites—why wasn’t he using it now? My eyes flicked back to the handcuffs and realization dawned on me. Those runes… they must be inhibiting his magic somehow. I had so many questions, but they were cut short when the leader of the southern sprites gestured to his companion.

“Coal—sniff him out,” Alder ordered, and the sprite with the light gray hat transformed into his animal form: a white husky-looking dog.

He began sniffing around.

Panic welled inside me, but I tried not to let it show. “Listen,” I said. “Let’s say you guys did find some other Woods. What’s your plan from there? We’re not going to let you just kill our friend.”

“He’s corrupted,” Alder replied matter-of-factly. “It’s every sprite’s duty to put down all corrupt creatures. Our oath to the Goddess demands it.”

I pressed further. “You say he’s corrupted, but what proof do you have?”

Alder sniffed. “I don’t have to explain myself to you, human. We sprites have our ways, and I can confidently tell you that corruption runs deep through this entire valley.”

Nearby, the dog sprite howled, signaling that Coal had found something.

Reed and Ivy shared a worried glance, but neither sprite moved.

Alder looked to his companions, a victorious smile splitting his face. “Looks like we were right all along. The corrupted bear is here after all. And they thought that they could trick us.”

My fingers itched to reach for my sword. I wouldn’t let this happen. Couldn’t let this happen. I’d sooner die than let these interlopers kill Woods like some rabid animal. One glance at Ivy and Reed told me they were thinking the same thing. Then, a tingling sensation brushed the edges of my mind. Someone new was stepping foot on my farm.

Melvin.

I turned to Reed and whispered, “You need to get Melvin and bring him here as quickly as possible. Have him bring a mana potion. I’ll do what I can to hold them off.”

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Reed nodded once, shifted into his wolf form, and took off toward the farmhouse.

I cleared my throat. “All right, you caught us,” I found myself saying. I motioned at Finn. “This is an imposter, and we’ve been hiding the real Woods out here this entire time. Congratulations. Unfortunately, I can’t let you be the ones to put him down.”

One of the female southern sprites—Skye—gave me a reproachful look. “Why not?”

“Because,” I said, improvising, “I am the owner of this land. And for that reason, it’s my responsibility to take care of this problem. Not yours.”

“You’ve had weeks to take responsibility,” Alder scoffed. “That time is long past.”

“You’re right,” I admitted. “I should have done this a long time ago. Even so, I’m the farmer here. And that makes me the caretaker of all the creatures on this property—even the corrupted ones. You’ve forced my hand. It’s time that I put Woods out of his misery.”

Ivy started. “Matt! No!”

“It’s all right, Ivy,” I said, turning to look at her and subtly winking. “You know as well as I do that this is what needs to happen.” I drew my sword from out of my inventory. “That being said… I do think it’s appropriate to say a few words to honor Woods before I… do the deed.”

Alder scratched his chin. He exchanged looks with Skye and the other southern sprites before eventually shrugging. “Very well, then,” he said grudgingly. “We’ll allow it. But we’re going to stay here and watch to make sure it that actually gets done.”

I nodded and blew out a breath. “You do what you have to do.”

With that, I started toward the makeshift prison. Coal was waiting for us there, and he’d shifted back into his sprite form, his arms crossed impatiently in front of his chest. He gave me a curious look but didn’t say anything as I peered between the tree branches at the enormous grizzly. He was still sleeping, and I couldn’t help but feel a pang of anxiety as I tightened my grip on my sword. I hope this works.

Turning back to face the assembled sprites, I cleared my throat. “We gather here today to do what needs to be done for the greater good of Sagewood. It’s with a heavy heart that I eulogize our friend Woods.” To my surprise, the words started coming naturally, my deeply held feelings for Woods now rising to the surface. “He was a sprite without equal, a leader, a guide—without whom I would probably be dead several times over. The great change that’s come over this farm is due to his guidance, and his corruption has left a deep scar in all of our hearts. He’s surely going to be missed by all.”

Ivy sniffled, playing her part well. Finn remained stoney faced and grim. Whether he knew this was a ruse or not, I couldn’t tell. But the southern sprites merely watched impatiently, waiting for me to get on with it.

I continued talking, trying to play for time. “I remember when Woods first showed himself to me. I was a different person back then—arrogant, naïve. I barely knew how to hold a shovel. Everything I’ve learned, everything I’ve become, is because of him.” I glanced down at my sword. The sun glinted off the polished steel. “This farm has become a much darker place now that he’s been corrupted. I never thought—” I cut off as a wave of emotion suddenly overtook me. Grunting, I blinked away sudden tears. “I never thought it would come to this. I guess, deep down, I always thought there would be some way to bring him back. Some spell, or some potion we hadn’t tried. But in the end, the influence of Corruption was too strong, and now, it’s finally time to let Woods rest.”

Alder stepped forward. “All right,” he said. “You’ve said your piece. Now, it’s time to make good on your promise.”

“Wait,” I replied. “There’s still a few more things I’d like to say.”

“Time’s up,” Alder said, putting a hand on his own short sword. “Do your duty, or step aside.”

Ivy came to stand next to me and appeared ready to draw her own blade. Finn came to stand beside me as well, although his hands were still bound by those strange metal cuffs.

I licked my lips and sweat beaded on my forehead. This is it, I thought as the southern sprites squared off in front of us. The last stand. We can take them, right?

Just then, a new voice broke the tension and a figure appeared in the trees in front of us. “Hello, there!” Melvin called jovially. “What’s this, then? A party? Why didn’t I receive an invitation?”

Skye held up her hand and stopped the wizard before he could come any closer. “Stop right there, sorcerer,” she sneered. “We don’t need you interfering with any of your tricks.”

“Tricks?” Melvin replied, aghast. “Why, I would never stoop to the level of tricking you fine folk. Such action is beneath me. My friend on the other hand… well, that’s a different story.”

Alder frowned. “Friend? What friend?” he demanded.

From out of nowhere, Reed appeared, bounding in his wolf form from out of the trees. He came from the side, and—before anyone could stop him—jumped over the prison wall and landed in the glade next to the sleeping Woods.

“What’s he doing?” Alder shouted, pulling out his sword. This prompted the other sprites to draw their weapons as well. “Get in there! Somebody stop him!”

I pointed my sword at them. “Don’t take another step!” I shouted, using my strongest possible voice. “I know how to use this thing, and I won’t hesitate to cut you down!”

Despite her diminutive size, Ivy struck a menacing stance—and her bared teeth and sword point kept the sprites at bay more than anything I could have said.

I glanced over my shoulder. Reed had something in his mouth. Squinting, I could see that it was a glass bottle filled with some sort of glowing blue liquid. A mana potion.

Reed set the bottle down and shifted into his sprite form. Then, pulling the cork, he raised the bottle to the grizzly’s open mouth. He said something, but it was too soft for me to make out. Then, he poured, emptying its contents down the bear’s throat.

“You’ve all lost your minds!” Alder snarled. He took a step closer to me and slashed the air in anger. “Corruption must have brainwashed the lot of you—why else would you try to help that monster?”

Something flashed, a burst of blue light, and we collectively gasped as Reed was blasted backward, colliding with the prison wall.

“Reed!” I dropped my sword and jumped over the wall, landing beside the dazed sprite.

“I… I’m fine,” Reed said, rubbing the back of his head. “Don’t worry about me. Go check on Woods.”

I turned to regard the grizzly bear, which now seemed to be stirring. It groaned, a deep, guttural sound that put me on edge. Why did I abandon my sword? What if this thing attacks me? I stood, putting a protective hand on Reed, who was still hunched behind me.

The others watched silently through gaps in the magically wrought branches. Then, Ivy pointed and screamed, “Look!”

Energy swirled around the grizzly bear as it got to its feet, its eyes still closed as power seemed to suffuse its limbs. Motes of blue light created a vortex, and then the great, hulking figure began to change. Its body shrank, its claws retracted, and soon, the light became too bright to see through. I covered my eyes, squinting as the light reached a climax and my skin prickled as if by an electrical current.

Then, all at once, the light faded.

Blinking, I lowered my hands and saw that there was no longer a grizzly bear standing in the middle of the glade. It was a sprite that I hadn’t seen for weeks, though he was missing his signature green hat, and instead of an eyepatch, he stared back at me with two eyes—one emerald, and one a brilliant purple. Despite looking disheveled, he’d apparently been healed.

“Matt, is that you?” Woods asked in a scratchy voice. “What… what happened to me?”