A Promise Kept
Seth crept deeper underground, flashlight in hand. Pale roots corkscrewed from the glistening muck of the curved ceiling. Some caves had a rich, earthy smell, full of gritty minerals. This was not one of them. Things were rotting down here. Bugs were breeding and slime was spreading. The uneven floor of the tunnel squelched beneath every step.
The wraith beside him did little to cheer the atmosphere. Not quite alive and not quite dead, it strode silently, disturbingly still even when in motion, the darkest shape in the shadowy tunnel, radiating coldness and an unnerving aura of fear. Some would have stood immobilized in the presence of the wraith, horrified, speechless, struggling to breathe. And the wraith might have crept up to them and temporarily relieved its own iciness by draining their warmth.
But ever since Seth had become a shadow charmer, not only could he endure the presence of the undead, he could even communicate with some of them. The surest way to survive the company of a wraith was to strike a bargain. Seth had pledged to free this wraith from the dungeon below Fablehaven and deliver it to new owners in exchange for the wraith obeying and protecting him until the transfer was complete.
A few months prior, in order to learn the location of the storied sword Vasilis, Seth had promised to bring the Singing Sisters the sword and a wraith. He had also agreed to fulfil one additional assignment of their choice. If he failed to keep the arrangement, an enchanted knife was ready to hunt him down and kill him. So, he had selected the most companionable wraith he could find and set off on a road trip to Missouri with Grandpa Sorenson and the satyrs Newel and Doren. Even with the wraith being transported in a trailer behind their vehicle, its chilly presence had kept the other passengers on edge.
On his only previous visit to the Sisters, Seth had entered through a door in a high bluff. This time, the Sentinel who guarded access to this narrow island in the Mississippi River had informed him that return visitors should enter through a low tunnel on the other side. Neither Grandpa nor the satyrs had been allowed to join him. Since arriving on the island and finding the muddy cave, Seth and the wraith had met no living creatures.
Vasilis dangled from a sword belt Seth had slung over one shoulder. Seth was reluctant to part with the legendary Sword of Light and Darkness. He technically had a full year to return the blade after striking the deal that let him find it, and the time was not yet up. But the weapon had served its purpose, helping him and Kendra hold off the demons who had emerged from Zzyzx. Bracken the unicorn had suggested Seth settle his debt with the Sisters early rather than waiting until the last minute—in case something prevented him from fulfilling his promise. Grandpa had agreed and encouraged him to get it over with.
Normally Seth adhered to a fairly rigid policy of procrastination, but the threat of a knife pursuing him across the globe intent on ending his life helped persuade him otherwise. That and the boring months since the demonic apocalypse had been averted. With his Grandpa and Grandma Sorenson running Fablehaven alongside his Grandpa and Grandma Larsen, life had been woefully uneventful. A road trip had sounded like a welcome relief.
Giving up the wraith was no problem. Early on the drive, the shadowy form had earned the nickname Whiner. But Seth was going to miss the sword. As souvenirs went, a magic weapon was hard to beat.
The tunnel ended at a corroded door. When Seth knocked, it produced little sound. Though scarred on the surface, the wood was thick.
"You're almost home," Seth told the wraith.
Icy words reached his mind in reply. "There can be no home for me. Only unrest."
"I felt a little like that in the car," Seth replied, trying to keep the conversation light. "Hard to get comfy. My rear kept going numb." The undead tended to dwell on emptiness and yearning. Get them started and it sometimes became hard to shut off. Especially this guy. "Think I knocked loud enough?" He gave the door a couple of kicks.
It swung open to reveal a warty face with bulging yellow eyes. "Who dares rap upon this portal?"
"Good question," Seth said. "You really should wash it."
The river troll blinked in confusion. "This is a domain of perils untold."
"I've been told," Seth said. "I came here before. The Sisters know me."
Leaning forward, the tall troll squinted at him. "Yes, the boy. I suppose you have a right to pass this way. You're not expected for some time."
"I'm early," Seth said. "I brought what they wanted." He touched the hilt of the sword and gestured at the wraith.
The troll took a step back as his gaze shifted to the wraith. "I see. Very well. Since you are returning to fulfil an assignment, you enter by invitation."
Seth glanced at the wraith. "I think you'll like him," he whispered to the troll while stepping across the threshold. "Great roommate. One of the guys."
Long feet flapping against the ground, the troll led them along a corridor that looked like a pale grey throat. The troll periodically glanced back at the wraith, clearly unsettled. Apparently even other monsters didn't love the idea of having their life leeched from them.
The corridor sloped down before opening into a damp chamber cratered with puddles. Huge white maggots stretched and flexed grotesquely, pale flesh rippling, one in each little pool. Several short trolls with puffy builds and oversized heads scuttled away at the approach of Seth and the wraith.
Around one of the puddles, three women stood in a ring. They had no hands. Instead, their wrists were fused together to form a conjoined circle. Seth recalled that the tall, skinny one was Berna. The flabby one with the droopy flesh on her arms was Wilna. The shortest, Orna, had acted nicest on his previous visit. The sisters shifted to better see him. Wilna had to look over her shoulder.
"Seth Sorenson," Berna greeted. "You return well before we expected you."
"Can't you see the future?" Seth asked, trying not to breathe too deeply. The chamber smelled sweet and rotten, like a decaying mix of mushy fruit.
"We don't peer down every avenue," Orna said. "Ruins the suspense."
"We could have sent the covenant knife after you," Wilna said. "You weren't supposed to reveal our arrangement to anyone."
"It wasn't my fault," Seth complained. "Bracken read my mind. He's a unicorn. I didn't tell him."
"She knows that," Orna said. "Otherwise you would already be dead. And such a shame! You're starting out on a path much like the one walked by your great-great-granduncle."
"I have a long way to go before I can compare myself to Patton Burgess," Seth said.
"Don't be so hasty to dismiss the comparison," Orna warned in gentle tones. "It's why I like you."
"We voted two to one against sending the knife," Berna said. "Orna vouched for you because you intrigue her. I joined her because I sense you could be useful."
"Our private agreement leaked to outsiders," Wilna complained with a scowl. "We were within our rights to slay the boy."
"And then we would have no sword and no wraith," Berna said. "That wraith could come in handy."
"The boy still owes us a favour," Orna added. "And don't forget Nagi Luna."
"You heard about that?" Seth asked. He had killed two ancient demons with Vasilis—Nagi Luna and Graulas.
"Why would we need to hear of it?" Wilna snapped. "We can behold such events at our leisure."
"Are you . . . angry?" Seth asked.
The three sisters cackled and swayed, wrists creaking.
"Because Nagi Luna mentored dozens of witches?" Orna asked through her giggles.
"Well, yeah," Seth said. "I guess you heard about Gorgrog, too?"
The witches laughed harder.
"What witch with any right to the title would have failed to note the fall of the Demon King?" Berna asked.
Seth felt confused by the merriment. "Don't witches get their power from demons?"
"That is more or less true," Orna said, using her shoulder to rub away mirthful tears. "But the power comes at a price." She raised her arms, which lifted the connected arms of her sisters. "The demons are our sponsors but seldom our friends. Fear and respect are not the same as love. The fall of a high demon can be . . . delicious."
"To see the king brought low by a child . . ." Berna said.
"An amusing day for one and all," Wilna concluded.
Seth couldn't take credit for slaying the Demon King. His sister, Kendra, had done it. "You're glad the demons were imprisoned after their escape?" Seth verified.
"Oh, my, on the whole, yes," Orna said. "Imagine all the grovelling and bootlicking we would have to do with so many powerful demon lords on the prowl."
"It would have shaken things up," Berna said. "No doubt about it."
"We could have found ways to turn an age of demonic rule to our advantage," Wilna asserted stiffly.
"It would have been complicated," Orna said.
"It's always complicated," Wilna replied. "Now we have the dragons to worry about."
"But they have less direct interest in us," Berna said.
"Dragons?" Seth asked.
"No free predictions," Wilna said.
"Did I ask for a prediction?" Seth asked.
"Your future is entwined with the rise of the great wyrms," Orna said.
Berna jerked Orna to one side. "Stop blabbing!"
"Don't pull me!" Orna griped, yanking Berna hard enough to make her stumble.
"You saw my future?" Seth asked.
"We observe many futures," Wilna said. "Not all come to pass."
"Are you going to send me on a mission involving dragons?" Seth wondered.
Wilna narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "You sound hopeful."
Seth shrugged. "I missed some of the dragon stuff at Wyrmroost. I was stuck in a knapsack. The dragons looked really cool at Zzyzx."
"Told you," Orna said. "Patton all over again."
"We have not yet settled on your task," Berna said.
"Are you sure?" Seth checked. "I wouldn't mind getting it over with."
"Why the hurry to repay us?" Wilna asked.
"Things have been kind of dull around Fablehaven," Seth said. "And it doesn't seem like a good idea to owe favours to witches."
"Dullness won't be a problem for long," Orna said.
"Hush," Wilna ordered.
"Why?" Seth asked.
"Turbulent times await us all," Wilna stated.
"You brought the sword," Berna said. "And the wraith appears serviceable."
"It's great," Seth assured them. "Hungry. Cold. Lonely. Everything you could want in an undead servant."
Empty, the wraith thought at them.
"And empty," Seth agreed. "Thirsty, too. Fun at parties."
"You'll serve us?" Wilna asked the wraith.
Seth sensed the answer in his mind. The boy brought me as a gift. I will serve.
"It would appear Seth Sorenson has paid back two of his three promises," Berna said.
"I'm happy to do the third now," Seth reminded them. "I get to use the sword for it, right?"
"Leave the wraith and the sword," Wilna said. "We'll contact you when the time comes for your task."
"When will that be?" Seth asked.
"When it suits us," Wilna replied. "Good day."
"Do you want my e-mail address?" Seth asked.
"We have ways to reach you," Berna assured him.
Seth unshouldered the sword and set it down. He turned to the wraith. "Behave for the witches. Thanks for volunteering."
So very cold, the wraith expressed. No peace. No rest.
"I'll miss you too," Seth said. "It was a blast." He turned to the witches. "Anything else?"
"Not unless you care to strike a new bargain," Orna suggested hopefully.
"Not today," Seth said. "Especially since I still owe you a service."
"Our business is concluded for now," Wilna said. "Begone."
"Or linger uninvited," Berna suggested sneakily.
"I'll go," Seth said, moving toward the way he had entered. "If you forget to ask for a favour, I'll forgive you."
The three sisters cackled.
"Don't fret about that," Orna said.
"We always collect on our debts," Berna said.
"Our dealings are far from complete, Seth Sorenson," Wilna said. "We spared you from the covenant knife. Kindly repay the courtesy by staying alive."
"What's coming?" Seth asked, still moving away.
Wilna grew grave. "No hints. Knowledge comes at a price."
"Maybe a little hint?" Orna asked.
"No," Berna insisted.
"I have my own mouth and my own mind," Orna fumed. "We already gave it away." She gazed intently at Seth. "A storm is coming. A storm of dragons."
"Orna!" Berna and Wilna cried in dismay.
"You won't have to wait long," Orna promised.
"Good, I guess," Seth replied. "I've never liked waiting."