There were warm spring nights when few dared to go out and then only for short distances. The sprites were emerging from their slow-moving watery birthplaces and they swarmed at night, looking like all the stars come to ground. Their will-o-wisping displays were mesmerizing, confusing and lured travelers off the path at best and to watery graves at worst.

It was not so perilous closer to the towns; the lights and noise muted the effect. Still, meetings and events were not well attended since the people who lived furthest away tended to stay home.

Master Faestus found that the sprites could not shake him off course. His children were the only ones who lived any distance from the town who never missed an evening's dance class.