All of Fablehaven the ownership of Brandon Mull. As with all Fanfiction, I am simply building my own stories in someone else's sandbox.
The head of the third Singing Sister was still rolling when Seth replaced Vasilis in its sheath. Next to him, his wraiths were just about finished sucking the life out of the other two sisters. Seth watched impassively as their bodies slowly shriveled and dried up, becoming barely recognizable from the bodies of the trolls he had killed on the way in.
"It truly wasn't anything personal," he said conversationally to the corpses of the sisters, "But I really didn't want to give up this sword."
He had fulfilled his bargain to the letter of their arrangement. He had brought Vasilis and a wraith bound to obey the Sisters to them. He had then used Vasilis to retrieve another item of value for the Sisters. Was it really his fault if he had afterwards taken Vasilis back a little forcefully?
Of course not. You were perfectly obedient to your bargain.
"Be quiet," Seth idly said. It didn't even matter which of his wraiths had said that, or even if it had been his own thoughts. The only opinion that mattered right now was that of the little black knife nestled on its cushion, looking exactly as it had the first time he had visited the Sisters. He had vowed on that knife; if he broke his deal with the Sisters, the knife would end his life.
Well, there was a lot of not dying going on, so the knife must think he was within the bounds of his agreement. Either that or the magic had been broken with the death of the Sisters.
Either way, Seth was in the clear. He was free of his debt, and he didn't have any obligation to give up his sword.
Everything is going exactly according to plan. Relax; you've never been more free.
Then why is it that I've never felt more enslaved?
