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Newel raised a finger "Doren and I actually have an escape clause We’re free to withdraw our support and flee at any tilance "Keep in mind that by the time you know you should flee, it will probably be too late"

"Noted," Newel said

"Seth will be doing the erous work," Vanessa went on "If he falls, we’ll all cut and run"

"No iving me a headache Noant to know if a wraith can beat up a bunch of centaurs"

"A wraith in the sunlight would fall to centaurs," Vanessa said "But in the dark, or underground, or in a building, a hundred centaurs would retreat froo to the Hall of Dread," Seth said "Can you help ure out which ones are wraiths?"

"I can"

Seth led the way to the bloodred door Although they had to walk some hallways and round a couple of corners, the Hall of Dread seemed much nearer to the Quiet Box than it had before his tie The instructions from Patton explained that he had to say so the key to open the door to the Hall of Dread Seth opened the letter and found the words They were not in English

"Can you read these?" he asked Vanessa

She peered at the letter "Yes Give me the key" She inserted the key into the keyhole, placed a palainst the door, muttered a few incomprehensible words, turned the key, and pushed the door open She handed Seth the key and the letter

The air in the hall felt chilly

"We’ll stand guard out here," Newel said stoutly

Vanessa gave hi look "Probably for the best" Newel avoided eye contact Seth and Vanessa entered the hall "I feel strong presences here," Vanessa said

"How can you tell the difference between the dark creatures?" Seth inquired He could hear theer and thirst, pain and loneliness

"Experience, mostly," she said "There are two basic types of restless beings: corporeal and ethereal The corporeal entities have a physical fors are hostly, like specters or phanto," Seth said "I’ve spoken to one of these prisoners before It offered to serve ood place to start," Vanessa said

Seth hurried down the hall, passing many doors on either side Forlorn voices babbled in the darkness He paused at the last door on the left Ahead was the blank here a secret passage could take the the door

The other voices went silent

"I have been waiting, Great One," came the attentive response "How may I serve you?"

Seth turned to Vanessa "Can you hear him?" She shook her head She looked pale "Can you tell h the peephole Seth assuical fear to which he was immune She backed away "Jackpot," she said "It’s a wraith A strong one Be sure it is bound by oath to serve you or ill all perish together"

"I will be your greatest servant, Strong One," the wraith promised

"I could use your help," Seth said "I need a, ueon Any who draw too near would be yours to claim"

"Let me perform this duty," the wraith asked fervently

"You would have to leave those who belong to this house unharrandparents or my sister"

"I sense your intent I understand"

"You would have to return to this cell uponyou ask Release me and I am yours"

"Swear to do these tasks and to follow s," Seth said

"By solemn covenant, I swear fealty to you, Wise One I vow to obey word and spirit of all your colanced at Vanessa "I think he swore He seeer"

Her broitched "Make sure he’s alone in there"

"Are you alone in that cell?" Seth asked

There came a pause "I am not alone Two of my lesser brethren accoled down Seth’s back It had been a trap! One wraith swearing loyalty while two others waited in ambush In the end, with the "one free!

Seth had to seem in control "Would the other wraiths care to serve erness was gone

"I would send one of them to protect the old manor The other to protect the stables and the livestock They would be under the sae fealty, and to perfore fealty, and to embody your commands," promised another new voice

"Swear to me that no ambush or deception will come from you or others of your kind," Seth said "Promise to protect me and my friends and my cause from harm"

"We swear it," answered three voices in unison

"This woman, Vanessa, and the satyrs, Newel and Doren, are with me, and under my protection If centaurs should come anywhere near these properties, they are yours to claihty One"

"You understand the places I want protected?"

"We can see them in your mind"

Seth turned to Vanessa "I think we’re ready"

"Is there a key?" she asked

Seth fished out a separate key and the letter from Patton "There are neords also"

Vanessa took the letter and approached the cell door She inserted the key, placed her pal the key sharply, she backed away

The cell door swung open A wave of cold spilled out as if the rooht, gliding forith shadowy grace One stood a little taller than Seth, the two others almost a head shorter It was hard to discern details The flashlight did not illuht, lanced at Vanessa She crouched, head down, utterly immobilized "You three wait here for now," Seth said "Let me clear out my friends before you take your positions"

"As you say," the tall wraith pronounced in a low voice as hard and cold as ice