After eating a quick breakfast in the Hotel they all packed into the car again and headed off towards the Mississippi river. Bracken kept giving Seth worried looks and Seth just shrugged it off as the unicorn being over-protective. Warren pointed out and read all the landmark and attraction signs, causing Vanessa to speed due to her irritation.
Finally they came upon a familiar dirt road that led to a small house. Seth got out of the car and waved happily to the old ferry-man, Bracken got out as well and watched as Seth and the old man exchanged a few words and walk back to the car.
"I'll be taking whoever wants to accompany him over to the island on the raft. No golem this time, eh?" He asked, squinting at the back of the minivan.
"No, just us, Sir." Seth said respectively.
The man nodded, "Good, good. You have grown in the past year, gotten taller I think, Young man."
Seth grinned and followed the man to the raft at the small, wooden pier. "You think so?"
Vanessa shook her head as she got out of the car and followed the pair, "I still wonder what Seth did to get passage to the island in the first place…"
Warren burped into his fist and patted his stomach, "If it were eating a sandwich, I'd be a goner! I don't have any room left after lunch!"
Vanessa looked back at Warren with mild disgust as they all piled onto the raft and were ferried over to the island of the Singing Sisters.
When they landed at the island, Seth got off first and looked around. The same door greeted his sight and again he was confronted and a little nervous about going in.
"Anything before I head in?" Seth asked, turning around to face the nacroblix, Knight of the Dawn, and the unicorn.
Bracken smiled and put a hand on Seth's shoulder, "Have confidence, you are the bravest person I know, Seth Sorenson."Seth smiled back and choked up a little at Bracken's words; he stepped towards the door and knocked.
The same troll opened the door as before. "You are still alive." The troll noted as Seth stepped inside.
"Yes, it appears I am." Seth said back to the troll in its native tongue.
"Good, good. My mistresses are waiting for you."
"Thanks," Seth nodded his head to the troll and headed up the stairs.
The Singing Sisters stood exactly where they had been where Seth had last seen them, standing in a circle, joined at the wrists, over a pool of glowing maggots.
"Oh, look. He's back!"
"I told you he was just like Patton!" The shortest one giggled.
"You and your Patton!" The tall one scolded irritably.
"Oh, stop it, you liked him too!"
"Quiet!" The first sister to speak shouted, calling for silence as she turned around to inspect Seth. "So… You have survived and brought us the sword of light and darkness, as well as a spirit wraith, well done."
Seth nodded, swallowing hard to clear his sticky throat and unzipping his backpack. "The wraith, would you like it now?"
"Yes. Let it free, but only one you have secured the faith of the creature." The middle one spoke again.
Seth pulled the black box with the seals on it from his backpack and concentrated to make mental contact with the wraith. The response was immediate and chilling.
Master, is it my time to serve you?
Yes, Seth said, but you will have to promise me something.
There was a pause from the wraith, then… Anything, powerful Shadow Charmer, just name it.
I want you to attack nothing within the Singing Sister's domain, unless ordered by the Singing Sisters, you are to obey their every command from here on out, and you must never leave this island unless ordered. Are we clear?
… Yes, Master.
Very well, I will let you free.
Seth unsealed the box and a darkness clouded the room as the spirit flew free of its tiny prison. The Singing Sisters all stood impressed but then looked uneasy, no doubt feeling the effects from the fear of the wraith.
"One-third of the bargain is now complete." The tallest, Berna, sniffed, eyeing the young Shadow Charmer and settling on his sword. "Now you must wield Vasilis as our champion to retrieve any one item that we desire," She glared down her nose at him and motioned for Wilna to continue.
"That item is the third horn of the dark unicorn. We shall not give you the location of the horn, because we, ourselves, don't know. But we have noticed a unicorn in your company, if any can help you find it, he might."
"We have also noted the Narcoblex and other man in your company. You may travel with whom you choose. We do not mind whom chooses to follow you into this quest."
Orna looked worried and turned to Seth, "If the unicorn is your friend, then you shouldn't risk taking h-"
"Sister!" The other two cried in displeasure.
"Wait! What did you mean?!" Seth asked, a pleading look in his eyes. He didn't want Bracken to get hurt on his quest, nor anyone other than himself.
"We cannot tell you anymore." Wilna stated and nodded over at an attendant troll. "Luck on your quest, young champion. You are going to need it."
And with that, Seth was towed down the stairs by the troll and seen out the door. He stood outside the entrance, feeling a bit numb, and then turned to face his friends.
"What do you need to do?" Vanessa asked, coming forward and looking at Seth, seeing him a mite shaken.
"We have to find the horn of a dark unicorn."