Seth and the wraiths

“Greetings,” Seth said in the brightest voice he could muster. “I brought a message.”

Dezia needs no messages, one of the wraiths thought to him.

You do not belong here, another maintained.

Take his warmth, a third expressed.

He is plump with life, another conveyed.

“Hold on,” Seth said. “My message is for you, not Dezia. Stop for a second. What’s the big hurry?”

The wraiths halted. Seth was poised to run away if necessary.

He speaks to us, one of the wraiths communicated.

“And I hear you,” Seth said. “You don’t want my warmth. It would be a waste. I can help you.”

It’s cold here, one of the wraiths expressed.

He is alive, a different wraith spoke to his mind. He is warm.

“You can speak,” Seth said. “You don’t have to think at me.”

We commune as we choose, another wraith transmitted.

“Have you heard that this dragon prison fell?” Seth asked.

For a time, one wraith expressed. Then one of the watchers revived.

“The hour of Crescent Lagoon is over,” Seth said. “I’m here to grant you freedom. You don’t have too tay in a forgotten hole at a fallen prison. You can go where you want now.”

He speaks pretty words, one of the wraiths put in.

Beguiler, another wraith accused.

“That one watcher won’t last long,” Seth said. “Besides, very few people even remember you’re here. The world has moved on. You’re guarding nothing. Nobody cares anymore.”

Drain him dry, one of the wraiths yearned, stepping forward.

Seth held up a hand. “I wouldn’t do that. I’m the only friend you’ve got. The only voice of warning you’re going to get.”

Hear him, another wraith demanded.

The wraiths kept still.

Hungry, one of the wraiths expressed glumly.

“I come from the Underking,” Seth said. “I’m on an errand for him.”

There is truth in his language, a wraith conveyed.

“I’m here to offer you a deal,” Seth said. “Are other wraiths guarding this crypt?”

We six, one wraith expressed.

“If one of you agrees to serve me, the other five can go free,” Seth said, hoping the deal sounded enticing. He had no real authority to allow them to leave, but he hoped that they remained there largely because nobody had given them permission to go. He also hoped that asking one wraith to serve him would make the others feel lucky about the bargain.

Serve you how? a wraith asked.

“Whatever I need until I leave the crypt,” Seth said. “The one who serves me will be released when I leave. You’re never going to get what you really want by staying in this forsaken burrow. I have met tons of wraiths who live better than this. I freed some recently. Now I’m here to free you.”

Who will serve you? a wraith asked.

“The best one,” Seth said.

“That would be me,” one of the wraiths vocalized. No others challenged him. “I accept your offer.”

“Smart wraith,” Seth said. “What about the rest of you?”

“Yes,” a wraith said.

Yes, another conveyed.

Yes.

I wish freedom, but to remain here for a time, a wraith expressed timidly.

I wish the same, the final wraith added.

“If you promise not to harm me, you may stay here, free to leave when you choose,” Seth said.

I agree.

As do I.

“You who will serve me.” Seth said. “Do you promise me no harm during your service and afterward?”

“You have my pledge,” the wraiths assured him.

“Congratulations,” Seth said. “The path to freedom begins now.”

Chapter 19-Crypt