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"You’re right," Bracken said "I’ll try to contact the Sphinx Meanwhile, get us out of here"

Chapter 23 Vasilis

Seth sat on the rocky hillside while Vanessa consulted the hand-drawnSisters She compared it to a secondUp ahead, Newel and Doren were fencing with their walking sticks, wood clacking sharply as they slashed and blocked and stabbed Hugo loos

After leaving the paved roads of British Columbia, Vanessa had driven almost tentatively Seth supposed isolated dirt roads that skirted sheer drops of hundreds of feet wouldobscure, pitted roads for hours, winding aed mountains and picturesque bodies of water until, with dawn approaching, the latest road had ended at a s area, where she had proclaimed they would proceed on foot

"We’re close," Vanessa said "If I’ thesevalley that narrows into a ravine The Totem Wall awaits at the end of the ravine Let’s make this a real break and have a snack"

"Foo-ood!" Seth called The satyrs quit their duel and trotted over, opening their packs

"Would you care for a sandwich, Mike?" Newel asked, referring to the false passport Vanessa had used when bringing Seth over the Canadian border It was the sa to Obsidian Waste Elise had held their documents, so his passport had made it ho her foraging at Fablehaven, and had added forged docuuardianship Her extensive experience with international travel had co the last na and shook it enticingly

"Sure," Seth said, accepting a pretzel "At least I didn’t have to walk over the border and then get picked up on the far side"

"Best to assuoats," Newel said, handing Seth a deli sandwich

"Or a huge dirt pile in the back of the truck," Doren added "Or weapons We did you guys a service, kept all the possible contraband out of your vehicle"

Newel flung his ar the nearestair "I’m surprised more people don’t live up here This is some of the prettiest country I’ve seen, and it’s also the least populated"

"Harsh winters," Vanessa said "We’re lucky they seeher altitudes or farther north I bet we could still find deep snow"

Seth compressed the tall deli sandith his hands and bit into it, crisp lettuce crunching The satyrs had kept the sandwiches in a cooler, so it was chilled The sandwich had more er nonetheless

Doren tossed pretzels at Neho caught them in his mouth Vanessa ate half her sandwich, then leaned back and closed her eyes After all the driving she had done, she had to be exhausted

Seth tried not to obsess about the upcoet started The anticipation was driving hi sticks Vanessa didn’t stir Seth supposed she had earned a brief rest To distract hiiven him

"You hear me?" Seth mouthed

I hear you I should have tried to reach you earlier We failed to protect another Eternal Only one left We’re on our way to Texas How are you?

"I’m about to carry out one of the hard parts ofIs Kendra all right?"

We’re all fine Uninjured, I ed Hopefully we’ll both have more success in the near future

"I’ll be in touch," Seth whispered

Keep that coin handy

"Talking to Bracken?" Vanessa asked, sitting up

"They lost another Eternal," Seth said "Only one left"

"Which makes our role in this ever more important" Vanessa arose "You shouldn’t communicate too much with the coin With our ene we say and do can give away our purposes"

"I’ve been keeping ue," Seth assured her "For all we know, they’ve been watching us all along"

"Not so," Vanessa said "I expect their gaze has been directed elsewhere To the Eternals, mostly, and to Zzyzx itself If they knee were after, ould have encountered opposition long before now Thanks to all they’re dealing with, our little road trip seems to have escaped their notice thus far Of course, that could change at anystick broke Doren started chasing hi him in the back

"No fair!" Newel cried "I’m unarmed!"

"Touche!" Doren exclaimed with each new stab

"We need tointeresting," Doren co the pursuit

Newel pointed at Doren "I’ll reet it," Doren advised "It looked huolem directions, and the satyrs fell into step behind them

They found the valley where Vanessa had expected, and, as predicted, it narrowed to a steep, dry ravine When Hugo reached an invisible barrier that prevented hi, they knew they had alo set down Seth and Vanessa

"I guess this is where I go forward alone," Seth said

"We have only one favor to ask the Totem Wall," Vanessa said "Weit"

"I have my instructions froht?"

Vanessa arched an eyebrow "It ht be pretty bad But I’ve developed faith in you Bring back the sword"