I may eventually write a chapter story dedicated to Seth's quest. The time for that is not now. I am a major "let's work on one project at a time" kind of person. So… we'll see what the future holds. For now, here's a touch of my interpretation of this particular event. I did quote a little of pages 405 and 406 of book 5, Keys to the Demon Prison. That part is quite obvious. And I'm sorry, but if you haven't read book 5 then you'll likely be at least partially lost on this chapter.


Chapter 4: Trouble

The room was exactly the same as he remembered it – damp, with puddles all over the floor and gross maggot things in each one. A short distance away stood the three women he would recognize anywhere, their arms fused together at the wrists. He approached them confidently, a troll on both sides either to simply escort him or make sure he didn't slaughter the Sisters with the sword.

"Seth Sorenson," Wilna – the fat one – stated as he drew closer.

"I've brought you a wraith," Seth began, motioning to the box he held in his hands, "and Vasilis I will surrender to you."

"Very good," Orna commented happily. Seth remembered that she had been the one who seemed the fondest of him out of the three.

"We thought you might forget your deadline," the tallest one – Berna – said with a frown.

"Of course not," Seth said, unperturbed by the disappointment he heard in her voice. He knew too well what would have happened if he had been late to this particular appointment, and he didn't much treasure the thought of dying from a cursed stab wound. Shrugging off that thought, he asked, "Have you decided on an item you would like me to retrieve for you?"

"Yes," the Sisters responded simultaneously.

They did not clarify so after a minute Seth prompted, "Well… what is it?"

"Now is not the time for your quest," Wilna answered. "We will call on you in the future."

A large question mark seemed to wiggle its way into Seth's brain, and he thought it would be best to stop them in their tracks before this conversation went down in a way he would not be happy with.

"Our deal was that I would return within a year to act as your champion," Seth said sternly, his disapproval made clear. "You are bound by our agreement as well."

The Sisters tittered.

"Such boldness," Berna said.

"He's so like Patton – I wish you would have chosen to be our servant, boy," Orna added.

"You forget your vow," Berna stated. "Shall we refresh your memory?"

"I think I remember pretty well. I've had the threat of 'death-by-ceremonial-knife' hanging over my head for the past year after all," Seth pointed out. "I said I would be back before a year had passed, and here I am."

"You didn't retain everything," Wilna chimed in. She looked at the other two women and after a moment she nodded.

"We will remind you of your promise."

The Sisters tilted their heads back and opened their mouths wide but instead of song like the last time Seth had visited them, he heard other voices echoing all around the cavernous space. He listened to what was being said and quickly understood that this was some kind of replay of the conversation he had with them when the deal had originally been struck.

'He makes a reasonable bargain,' he heard. It seemed as though the voices were directly in his ears at times however, when he turned his head, sure enough there was no one invading his personal space. 'Three gifts: the sword, a wraith, and one of our choosing. Consider the possibilities.'

'I am inclined to accept as well. Is it unanimous, sister, or shall we outvote you?'

'Very well. We will accept your dubious proposition, upon one condition. You must not divulge the terms of our proposal to anyone, or share the particulars of our other offers.'

'Agreed,' Seth heard his own voice say.

'Gromlet, bring us a covenant knife.'

There was a momentary pause and Seth pictured the athame being presented to him by the short troll called Gromlet. He remembered pricking his finger on the blade when he heard the next words, 'Let the knife taste your blood.'

'We vow to show you how to find Vasilis. Knife in hand, make your vow!'

'I promise to bring you Vasilis within a year after I find it, to bring you a wraith bound to serve you, and to retrieve an additional item for you upon your request.'

'Once we perform our obligation, you will be bound. If you fail to perform your duties, or if you divulge the particulars of our arrangement, this knife will take your life. So be it.'

Seth's eyes widened as what he heard sunk in and the voices faded. He hadn't been specific enough. They'd found a loophole, 'upon your request,' and he was quite unsettled by how vulnerable he suddenly felt.

Silence reigned in the area until Seth asked quietly, "Why not just send me now if you know what you want? I'm right here."

"Your sacrifice was part of the bargain."

"The personal toll you pay matters. Not only how you benefit us."

Seth was bothered at this but he tried to remain calm and keep his emotions in check. "So what, are you going to call me away when my first child is being born or something?"

"Perhaps," Wilna answered.

"That isn't a terrible thought," Orna chimed in.

Seth ran his hands through his hair quickly, giving it a messy appearance. He was very nervous. Being indebted to mysterious, powerful magical beings with a spontaneous due date for repayment somewhere out there on the horizon was not comforting.

The Sisters stared at him while he fought internally with himself, patiently waiting for his response.

"Alright," he finally acquiesced. "A deal is a deal. How will I know when the time is right?"

"You will know," Wilna replied. "There will be no mistake."

He mentally cursed at his situation. "Very well. I'm assuming Vasilis is to remain here until I am called?"

"That would be according to the terms of our bargain. You will not wield it again until your task has been set."

"Relinquish the sword and the wraith and be on your way."

Seth passed the box containing the wraith he'd brought from the Hall of Dread back home to the troll who walked up to him from seemingly out of nowhere. He then removed the scabbard containing Vasilis from his belt and held it in his hands for a moment before passing it to the same troll. 'Thank you,' he thought, pointedly hoping that somehow the sword would be able to sense his gratitude. Parting with it was more difficult than he'd thought it would be; that sword had proven to be infinitely necessary. He didn't know how they could possibly have managed the Zzyzx fiasco without it. Vasilis had protected him, his sister, and had allowed Bracken's plan to succeed which ultimately prevented the end of the world.

"Don't wait until I'm a feeble old man to drag me back here," Seth said as he turned around and followed a different troll back to the entry door. He could hear the Sisters mumbling indistinguishably to themselves as he left.

This was not going to be good. His gut told him so.


Happy Mother's Day to all of the ladies out there, whether or not you have children of your own. It doesn't take blood relation to be able to mother a child. Here's the part where I shamelessly say that my birthday is also on Sunday and I'm just hoping for a relaxing day with my happy kids. :) Have a great weekend, everyone!