"How do I get past the Totem Wall?" Seth asked.
"The Totem Wall demands sacrifices in exchange for favors," Berna said. "Everything depends on which totems you involve."
"The Wall can be more finicky than we are," Orna tittered. "Chance plays a major role."
"Without our help," Wilna corrected. "Insights gained through our vision can eliminate much of the chance. We will provide guidance. After all, it is in our interest to see you succeed."
"Unless we would rather watch you fail and die than collect on your promises," Berna mused.
"We have already expended much effort to view the way to Vasilis," Wilna asserted, jowls flapping. "We will impart what knowledge we can."
"The Totem Wall has many heads," Orna said.
"You will have to select four totems to treat with," Berna added.
Wilna stared at Seth purposefully. "In order to open the hidden door, speak with Anyu the Hunter, Tootega the Crone, Yuralria the Dancer, and Chu the Beaver."
"Addressing them by name should surprise them," Orna said.
Seth practiced the names.
"They will require an offering to open the hidden door," Wilna said. "Tell them you will eradicate the evil entombed within."
"Even if they doubt you," said Berna, "they may enjoy the sport of the attempt."
"What evil?" Seth asked.
"Only you will be permitted to pass through the door," Wilna said. "You are uniquely suited to accomplish the task. Beyond the door is a room full of the Standing Dead. Only one without fear may pass. If they sense fear, they will seize you, and you will join them."
"In the chamber of the sword awaits a greater threat," Berna murmured.
"An entity of terrible power," Wilna agreed solemnly. "You must slay that entity to gain Vasilis. Therefore, your promise to the Wall will not increase your burden. Those particular totems should accept the offer."
"So much depends on what heads you address for any given issue," Orna said. "We really are removing most of the guesswork."
"What if the totems deny my offer?" Seth asked. "Then it will be time to improvise," Berna said. "Tibbut! The map!"
The troll hustled over to Seth, a scroll in his hand. Seth accepted the rolled parchment. "He just drew this?" Seth asked. "Tibbut works fast," Orna said. "Do you have any other advice to share?" Seth asked. "None," Wilna said.
"Hold true to your end of the bargain," Orna advised.
"I would never lie to a magical knife," Seth said. "Thanks." The short trolls escorted Seth back the way he had entered. The river troll awaited at the foot of the carved stairs. "You survived," the brawny troll said. "For now," Seth replied.
"You did better than most," the troll approved, leading the way up the serpentine steps.
At the top, the troll opened the door, and Seth stepped out into the late afternoon sunlight. The troll closed the door unceremoniously behind him.
"Told you," Doren trumpeted. He gave Newel a shove. "You owe me five gold coins!"
"You bet against me?" Seth asked Newel.
"We were bored," Newel apologized.
"He wouldn't let me join in," Vanessa said, "or he would have lost another ten."
"With your record, I didn't expect to win," Newel explained. "I figured I could get five coins back from Doren without much trouble."
"We'll see about that," Doren huffed.
Newel folded his arms. "How about, double or nothing, we see who can eat the most tacos at dinner?"
"No way," Doren said. "I've learned never to bet against your stomach."
"I'll take on all three of you," Newel challenged.
Doren paused. "Maybe. Assuming we go someplace with tacos."
"I see you have a scroll," Vanessa said.
"It's a map to a place called the Totem Wall," Seth said.
"The Totem Wall?" Vanessa exclaimed. "Couldn't the Sisters see the location of the sword?"
"They saw it," Seth said. "The sword is hidden behind the Totem Wall. They gave us a map that should lead us there, and advice on how I can get inside." He handed the scroll to Vanessa.
"What did you have to do?" Newel wondered.
"They made me promise not to tell," Seth said.
"I just hope you didn't promise to assassinate a couple of handsome satyrs," Newel said.
"I don't have to kill anybody," Seth said. "I think I can say that much."
Vanessa studied the map. "The road trip continues. We should get under way."
They returned to the raft to find the old sentinel leaning on his pole. While the others boarded the raft, the shirtless old man pulled Seth aside.
"I know you can't say too much," the old man said. "But you made it back alive. I don't need to know particulars. Did they make more than three offers?"
"No."
"Did you make more than one?"
"No. I think they could tell you coached me."
The old man scratched his shoulder. "There was risk involved for both of us. But if my hints were open violations, you would not have succeeded. I'm glad you survived. I hope the knowledge you gained will take you places."
Seth regarded his friends on the raft. "The first place it will take us is Canada."
Chapter 22 Mark
Kendra and Bracken earned plenty of stares as they strolled along the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica. She had carefully draped her wolf-hide cloak to conceal her sword and crossbow, just as Bracken had hidden his weapons beneath his bearskin cape, but even with a number of odd dressers in the crowd and an unusual assortment of street performers pandering to the pedestrians, they stood out in their rugged clothes and armor.
A guy with dark eyeliner and a ring in his lip came up to Bracken. "What are you supposed to be?" the skinny stranger asked.
"The Santa Monica Seaside Players are putting on Henry V next weekend," Bracken replied warmly. "Sorry, I'm out of flyers."
"Sweet outfits," the guy muttered as Bracken and Kendra moved away.
Bracken had already employed a similar story several times. He had even sidestepped the suspicions of a police officer.
Up ahead, a ring of onlookers watched a man balance a chair on his chin while juggling rubber balls. A young woman kneeling beside him added live accompaniment to the spectacle on a small keyboard. Eyes roving high and low, Kendra and Bracken wandered through the crowd.