Chapter 6: Brothers and Sisters
High in the morning sky, soaring above the clouds, Raxtus was flying in a southwesterly direction, toting Seth, Lance and David upon his backside. The three boys were all holding onto Raxtus tightly, even though they had gotten over their initial fear that they might fall off and plunge to their deaths.
"This is awesome," said Lance, the wind blowing against his face and flicking his hair back across his head.
"You know, I can't read any of Zavarog's memories," said David, "but if this is what it's like to fly, I can see why he's so anxious to restore himself!"
"You guys," said Seth. "We've been flying for like over three hours! Haven't you gotten used to the thrill by now?"
"You seem to be having such a good time yourself," said Lance. "What are you ratting on us for? Besides, this is our first time."
"Well, all right," muttered Seth. "How much longer anyway, Raxtus?"
"I get the feeling it's not much further," replied the dragon, who had turned his head back, then faced it forward again.
"How can he tell how far it is?" asked Lance.
"I don't know how he does it," replied Seth. "Since he flies the whole way uninterrupted, you just need to give him the distance between two spots, and the direction. Then he just figures it out somehow based on his speed."
"Yeah, that's what most people like to call math," laughed Lance.
"I'm pretty sure Zavarog would've done the same," added David. "But he didn't fly around the world very much. He kept to himself. Rarely left Balauridge."
"What's... Balauridge?" asked Seth.
"A dragon sanctuary," replied David. "From what I've learned from Zavarok, it was one of the forbidden ones, much like Wyrmroost. When most of the wild dragons that still roamed the Earth were being herded into sanctuaries, Zavarok wound up inside Balauridge."
"Wait a minute," said Seth. "Why would Zavarok wind up in a forbidden dragon sanctuary? "When we went to Wyrmroost, it was full of the nastiest dragons I'd ever met! Present company excluded, Raxtus."
"Even though he was a good dragon, Zavarok was just as fearsome and powerful as his brother," said David. "He lived in solitude there for ages, until Navarog tracked him down last year and slaughtered him."
"That Navarog really sounds persistent," said Lance. "Slipping into dragon sanctuaries. Killing anyone who stood in his way. Possessing Seth."
"Yeah, there's a reason why he got himself a one-way ticket to the knapsack," said Seth.
Before long, Raxtus began descending down beneath the clouds. Beneath the group, the vast countryside spread across in every direction. Hills and forests dotted the land, as did a long river that stretched beyond both ends of the horizonr; the Mississippi.
"I think we're just about there," said Seth, pulling a map out of his bag. "Course, last time I was here, I didn't get a bird's-eye view of the place."
"Where is this place?" asked Raxtus. "What are we supposed to look for?"
"There was this path leading up to a door along a cliff side somewhere near the river," replied Seth. "Fly us down close to the river and we'll figure things out from there."
"As you say," said Raxtus, as he sped down from the sky, aiming his body towards the center of the river.
Seth, Lance and David all held on tightly, The way Raxtus was diving downwards, it almost felt like they were going down a very high roller coaster. It then hit Seth that Raxtus was still mesmerized, and that his self-awareness was wonky.
The river was getting closer and closer, as Raxtus continuously soared lower and lower. Now no more than fifty feet above the surface, Raxtus eased up on his descent. Just before hitting the water, Raxtus flew up, then slowed down, until he was just slowly flapping his wings, hovering mere feet above the river.
"Where to now?" asked Raxtus, observing the surrounding river from their current position.
Seth fumbled through the various papers that were in his hands. The papers consisted of directions, as well as a map of the general area. Taking the information he had gathered into account, as well as the memory of his previous visit, Seth tried to, in his head, deduce where exactly the Singing Sisters' home was.
"Seth," said Lance. "Do you know what you're doing?"
"I think so. The place was located within the cliff side of a bluff. As long as Raxtus here got us to the right general area, it should be just around here."
"According to our GPS, we've gotta be very close to their location," said Lance, looking over Seth's shoulder at the notes in his friend's hands. "It's probably just down the river a bit more."
Seth directed Raxtus to follow the river, keeping in the air no more than ten feet above the surface. After only a moment or so, a familiar sight came into Seth's view; the island where the Singing Sisters resided!
"Up that bluff, Raxtus," said Seth, prompting the dragon to fly over to and up the side of the aforementioned bluff that loomed over the shore of the island. After ascending more than two-thirds of the way up the bluff, Raxtus stopped in front of a small ledge on the cliff side, which he landed upon.
"This is it!" said Seth, as he climbed down off of Raxtus and stepped onto the ledge. "This is the place!"
Lance and David climbed down off of Raxtus after Seth and admired the view from atop the ledge.
"Where are they?" asked David.
"This way," said Seth. "There should be a door built into the cliff side over here."
Seth led the group of Lance, David and Raxtus along the ledge and over to the rock door that rested at the far end of it. He stared at the all-too-familiar sight that stood before him, then froze on the spot.
"Seth, what's wrong?" asked David. "You're just standing there."
"You know, the Singing Sisters aren't going to just help us. I already owe them one favor and there's no guarantee that they'll go easy on you."
"We can at least try," said David. "If we can't agree to fulfill our end of the bargain, we'll leave. I want to be free of Zavarok just as much as he does of me, but not if the price is too great."
"Okay then," said Seth, as he pounded on the door three times. A moment later, the door creaked open, revealing the troll that served as the gatekeeper. Seth remembered the troll from his previous visit.
"You," grumbled the troll. "You! You are back. And you bypassed the sentry."
"Well, yeah," said Seth. "You've got a good memory, it's been like seven months since I was last here."
"Your previous group was the last to come here. I don't forget. But what business do you have here?"
"I'm not the one who wishes to see the Singing Sisters," responded Seth. "My friend, David, does."
The troll turned his attention to David, and walked stepped up next to him. Although David was roughly the same height as Seth, the troll stood a good head taller than him.
"Well then, David," snorted the troll. "If you wish to come in, state that you willingly enter as an uninvited visitor."
"I willingly enter as an uninvited visitor," said David. "And so does Zavarok."
"Zavarok?" asked the troll, pointing at Lance. "Is he Zavarok?"
Seth shook his head. "Hardly."
"Whatever," said the troll. "Enter, David."
"Hold it!" exclaimed Seth. "Let me in, too. I need to hear this information for myself. Just to verify that it's... authentic."
"You've no need to visit the Sisters?" asked the troll.
"Well I do... sort of," stated Seth. "Look I'll agree to enter as an uninvited visitor if that's what it takes."
"Me too," added Lance. "Part of this is my doing. I need to see for myself as well."
"Then agree to enter as uninvited visitors," said the troll. "Both of ya."
"What'd he say?" asked Lance. Seth then remembered that the troll had been speaking in Duggish the whole time. Therefore, it was possible for him and David to understand it, but not Lance.
"Just repeat after me," replied Seth. He and Lance then both proceeded to uttered the line I willingly enter as an uninvited visitor.
"All right," said the troll, as he opened the door up and stood to the side. You may enter. All three of you. But, the dragon must wait outside."
Seth looked back at Raxtus. The dragon just stood there, gazing out at the river below, as if he were in a trance-like daze. Raxtus almost reminded Seth of when Warren had been catatonic. However, Seth knew this was only temporary, and that he would be back to normal soon. In spite of that, part of Seth wished that he had not mesmerized Raxtus in the first place.
Seth and his friends stepped through the door and entered the domain of the Singing Sisters. Just like on his previous visit, the entrance contained a dank, murky downwards stairwell. The troll led the trio down the stairwell and into a large cavern populated by several other trolls. On the floor towards the centre of the room were puddles, the largest and center-most of which was where the Singing Sisters themselves stood.
"Seth Sorenson?" exclaimed one of the sisters, prompting the three boys to approach the conjoined siblings. "What brings you back here?"
"Don't you remember, Berna?" asked Wilna. "This noble rapscallion is indebted to us."
Seth made his best effort to hide a guilty grin. He knew he would have to return eventually, but it still wasn't time.
"I do believe he has arrived prematurely," noted Orna.
"I'm not objecting to his early arrival," said Berna. "If he wants to fulfil his debt to us early, I say we let him!"
Seth blew on his fingers, creating a whistle, which drew the attention of his friends and the Singing Sisters.
"Excuse me!" he cried. "But I am not here to return my favor today. I still have several months to go, so give me a break!"
"Then what are you here for?" asked Wilna.
"This here is David," said Seth, pointing his friend out to the sisters.
"Yes, we were quite aware of that," noted Berna.
"Well, David has a request to ask of you. Go on, David. Ask them."
David stepped up in front of the three sisters and took in a deep breath. "I am being possessed by a demon named Zavarok," he said nervously. "I... I need to know a way to release him from my body. And maybe even restore his old dragon body as well."
"Exorcising a demon?" asked Orna. "Is that all?"
"Restoring him would be nice too, if you know how."
"Young man," said Wilna. "We have the power to obtain any piece of information that we so desire. However, depending on how valuable the information is, is how we determine our fee. Your friend Seth sought out an elusive sword, so we felt it was fair for him to bring us the sword at a later date, as well as a wraith, and owe us a favor in the future as well."
"So, what do you want in exchange for my request?" asked David.
"It wouldn't be much," said Berna. "Perhaps a small treasure hoard would suffice."
"Or a priceless relic," suggested Wilna.
"Is that really fair?" asked Lance. "I mean, our family doesn't just have money to burn."
"This is a service of ours, and we know how valuable information can be to others," explained Orna. "If he doesn't feel that he can pay the price, he is free to turn around and leave."
"He's got a point," said Seth. "Part of the deal when I asked for Vasilis was to present the sword itself to you three later on. All David wants is to be separated from a demon."
"Then maybe the demon himself would be able to fulfill a favor for us," said Berna.
"I like it," said Wilna. "If Zavarok can indeed be restored, I say we let him come to us. Maybe, say, within a year."
"But, how're we going to get Zavarok to come if he never agrees to this?" asked Seth.
"Zavarok is going to agree to it," exclaimed David. "I know he's a part of me, but deep down, he himself agrees to this."
"Since this demon is a part of you, David, you will have to stand in for him," stated Orna. "Gromlet, fetch a covenant knife, would you?"
Gromlet, a small troll whom Seth recalled from last time, trotted over to the Singing Sisters carrying an embroidered cushion. Resting atop the cushion was a dagger.
"What do I do with this?" asked David, as the demon presented the dagger to him with the handle facing him.
"Let the knife taste your blood," sang the three sisters.
"Seriously?"
Seth nodded slowly in response.
Very cautiously, David pierced the tip of the knife into his wrist. He then drew it out, and blood slowly trickled down onto his thumb.
"We vow to show you where you can go to get Zavarok exorcised from within you," the sisters chanted in unison. "Knife in hand, make your vow!"
David clenched the knife in his hand. "Zavarok promises to return to you once he is free from me. Within a year after his release."
"Once we perform our obligation, you will be bound," the women sang. "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."
The three sisters proceed to hum, then raised their arms up over their heads. As they hummed their all-too-familiar tune, Seth watched as the maggot in the puddle beneath them wriggled violently, until it burst, revealing a strange-looking purple substance in the puddle. The puddle lit up vibrantly, then quickly faded.
The sisters then ceased their humming, and were all wheezing rather tiredly. "This demon better appreciate what we're doing for you." noted Orna.
"Anyway," said Wilna. "There is someone who is capable of extracting Zavarok from you, David. She is a witch living underneath an island. There are others, but she's the closest to this location."
"A witch?" asked David. "And what island are you talking about?"
"An island by the name of Manhattan," replied Berna.
"Manhattan?" asked Lance. "New York City, Manhattan?"
"That's where she resides," said Orna. "She is bound to her confinement by a knotted rope. By untying a knot, she has the power to extract Zavarok from David."
"Hold on," said Lance. "Manhattan is part of a huge city. How do we get to wherever it is she's residing?"
"The map, Timmut," said Wilna, prompting a troll to run back to the sisters. He then handed to David a hand-drawn map. The boys all glanced at it, and Seth could see the island of Manhattan, with a red dot on it.
"This exact point is where the witch resides. But be careful with her. From what we gather, she is as corrupt as she is powerful. However, she is willing to help you if you help her."
"I can't help but think of Muriel," said Seth. "Untying her final knot came at a high price."
"So all we do is agree to untie a knot and she'll help us?" asked Lance.
"There's no guarantee," said Orna. "She may agree to grant your request, she may not. However, she certainly has the power to do so if you can persuade her."
"Is that it?" asked Seth. "We venture underground to this spot on this map, find this witch, and get her to help us?"
"That's all it takes," said Wilna. "Now, if you are done, please leave kindly."
"Wait!" exclaimed Lance. "I have a favor to ask as well!"
The three sisters all groaned. "What do you want?" asked Berna.
"Can you assure us that Zavarok is not evil?"
"Lance!" gasped David. "Why are you doubting me? Don't waste your request on that!"
"I need to know the truth," said Lance.
"That's all?" asked Orna.
"Look, I'll do that sword thing myself and get you whatever you want."
"He's not evil," said Wilna.
"What?" asked Lance. "How do you know? You didn't do that chant or anything."
"We know," said Wilna.
"Why'd you spill the beans?" asked Orna, who glared at Wilna, along with Berna.
"We could've gotten a favor from him!"
"I didn't require a vision to tell me that," said Wilna. "I mean, it was apparent once David pierced himself with the blade. I could sense the non-malicious demon within him. However, like any individual, Zavarok is free to make his own choices."
"But, the favor!" cried Orna.
"What favor could Lance grant us anyway?" asked Wilna. "Besides, his request was small, and did not not require additional effort on our behalf."
"Thank you very much," said Lance, as Orna and Berna scowled at him. Lance then walked back to David and gave him a hug. "Sorry I doubted you, but I just wanted to be safe."
"I understand," said David, hugging him back.
"Thanks, you three," said Seth, as he led Lance and David back towards the stairwell.
"Farewell, boys," chanted the sisters, as the boys proceeded to climb back up the stairs. "And we look forward to your return next year, Seth Sorenson."