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ng towards life； moving towards emergence at the broken stone。
there had been too much death and too much charter magic on this hill； and the night was yet to reach its blackest。 the wind was swinging around； the clouds regaining their superiority over sky。 soon； the stars would disappear and the young moon would be wrapped in white。
quickly； sabriel scanned the heavens； looking for the three bright stars that marked the buckle of the north giant’s belt。 she found them； but then had to check the star map in her almanac； a handmade match stinking as it cast a yellow flicker on the pages； for she didn’t dare use any more charter magic till she was away from the broken stone。 the almanac showed that she had remembered correctly： the buckle was due north in the old kingdom； its other name was mariner’s cheat。 in ancelstierre； the buckle was easily ten degrees west of north。
north located； sabriel started to make her way to that side of the crest； looking for the spur that slanted down to the valley lost in darkness below。 the clouds were thickening and she wanted to reach level ground before the moonlight disappeared。 at least the spur； when found； looked like easier going than the broken steps to the south； though its gentle slope proclaimed a long descent to the valley。
in fact； it took several hours before sabriel reached the valley floor； stumbling and shivering； a very pale charter flame dancing a little ways in front of her。 too insubstantial to really ease her path； it had helped her avoid major disaster； and she hoped it was pallid enough to be taken for marsh…gas or chance reflection。 in any case； it had proved essential when clouds closed the last remaining gap in the sky。
so much for no cloud； sabriel thought； as she looked towards what she guessed was still north； searching for the red star； uallus。 her teeth were chattering and would not be stilled； and a shiver that had started with her ice…cold feet was repeating itself through every limb。 if she didn’t keep moving； she’d simply freeze where she stood—particularly as the wind was rising once more 。 。 。
sabriel laughed quietly； almost hysterically； and turned her face to feel the breeze。 it was an easterly； gaining strength with the minute。
colder； yes； but it also cleared the cloud； sweeping it to the west—and there； in the first cleared broom…stroke of the wind； was uallus gleaming red。 sabriel smiled； stared at it； took stock of the little she could see around her； and started off again； following the star； a whispering voice constant in the back of her mind。
do not tarry； do not stop； no matter what happens。
the smile lasted as sabriel found the road and； with a good cover of snow in each gutter； she skied； making good time。
by the time sabriel found the mile marker and the charter stone behind it； no trace of the smile could be seen on her pale face。 it was snowing again； snowing sideways as the wind grew more frenzied； taking the snowflakes and whipping them into her eyes； now the only exposed portion of her entire body。 her boots were soaked too； despite the mutton fat she’d rubbed into them。 her feet； face and hands were freezing； and she was exhausted。 she’d dutifully eaten a little every hour； but now； simply couldn’t open her frozen jaws。
for a short time； at the intact charter stone that rose proudly behind the smaller milemarker； sabriel had made herself warm； invoking a charter…spell for heat。 but she’d grown too tired to maintain it without the assistance of the stone； and the spell dissipated almost as soon as she walked on。 only the mother…spirit’s warning kept her going。 that； and the sensation that she was being followed。
it was only a feeling； and in her tired； chilled state； sabriel wondered if it was just imagination。
but she wasn’t in any state to face up to anything that might not be imagined； so she forced herself to go on。
do not tarry； do not stop； no matter what happens。
the path from the charter stone was better made than the one that climbed cloven crest； but steeper。 the pathmakers here had to cut through a dense； greyish rock； which did not erode like granite； and they had built hundreds of wide； low steps； carved with intricate patterns。
whether these meant something； sabriel didn’t know。 they weren’t charter marks； or symbols of any language that she knew； and she was too tired to speculate。 she concentrated on one step at a time； using her hands to push down on her aching thighs； coughing and gasping； head down to avoid the flying snow。
the path grew steeper still and sabriel could see the cliff…face ahead； a huge； black； vertical mass； a much darker backdrop to the swirling snow than the clouded sky； palely backlit by the moon。 but she didn’t seem to get any closer as the path switchbacked to and fro； rising further and further up from the valley below。
then； suddenly； sabriel was there。 the path turned again and her little will…o’…the…wisp light reflected back from a wall； a wall that stretched for miles to either side； and for hundreds of yards upwards。 clearly； these were the long cliffs； and the path had ended。
almost sobbing with relief； sabriel pushed herself forward to the very base of the cliff； and the little light rose above her head to disclose grey； lichen…veined rock。 but even with that light； there was no sign of a door—nothing but jagged； impervious rock； going up and out of her tiny circle of illumination。 there was no path and nowhere else to go。
wearily； sabriel knelt in a patch of snow and rubbed her hands together vigorously； trying to restore circulation； before drawing mosrael from the bandolier。 mosrael； the waker。 sabriel stilled it carefully and concentrated her senses； feeling for anything dead that might be near and should not be woken。 there was nothing close； but once again sabriel felt something behind her； something following her； far down on the path。 something dead； something reeking of power。 she tried to judge how distant the thing was； before forcing it from her thoughts。
whatever it might be； it was too far away to hear even mosrael’s raucous voice。 sabriel stood up； and rang the bell。
it made a sound like