按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
abhorsen advanced on the thing slowly；watching the child it held loosely in the crook of a shadowed arm。 the baby was asleep； but restless； and it squirmed towards the creature； seeking a mother’s breast； but it only held her away from itself； as if the child were hot； or caustic。
slowly； abhorsen drew a small； silver handbell from the bandolier of bells across his chest； and cocked his wrist to ring it。 but the shadow…thing held the baby up and spoke in a dry； slithery voice； like a snake on gravel。
“spirit of your spirit； abhorsen。 you can’t spell me while i hold her。 and perhaps i shall take her beyond the gate； as her mother has already gone。”
abhorsen frowned； in recognition； and replaced the bell。 “you have a new shape； kerrigor。 and you are now this side of the first gate。 who was foolish enough to assist you so far？”
kerrigor smiled widely； and abhorsen caught a glimpse of fires burning deep inside his mouth。
“one of the usual calling；” he croaked。 “but unskilled。 he didn’t realize it would be in the nature of an exchange。 alas； his life was not sufficient for me to pass the last portal。 but now； you have e to help me。”
“i； who chained you beyond the seventh gate？”
“yes；” whispered kerrigor。 “the irony does not； i think； escape you。 but if you want the child 。 。 。”
he made as if to throw the baby into the stream and； with that jerk； woke her。 immediately； she began to cry and her little fists reached out to gather up the shadow…stuff of kerrigor like the folds of a robe。 he cried out； tried to detach her； but the tiny hands held tightly and he was forced to overuse his strength； and threw her from him。 she landed； squalling； and was instantly caught up in the flow of the river； but abhorsen lunged forward； snatching her from both the river and kerrigor’s grasping hands。
stepping back； he drew the silver bell onehanded； and swung it so it sounded twice。 the sound was curiously muffled； but true； and the clear chime hung in the air； fresh and cutting； alive。 kerrigor flinched at the sound； and fell backwards to the darkness that was the gate。
“some fool will soon bring me back； and then 。 。 。” he cried out； as the river took him under。 the waters swirled and gurgled and then resumed their steady flow。
abhorsen stared at the gate for a time； then sighed and； placing the bell back in his belt； looked at the baby held in his arm。 she stared back at him； dark eyes matching his own。
already； the color had been drained from her skin。 nervously； abhorsen laid a hand across the brand on her forehead and felt the glow of her spirit within。 the charter mark had kept her life contained when the river should have drained it。 it was her life…spirit that had so burned kerrigor。
she smiled up at him and gurgled a little； and abhorsen felt a smile tilting the corner of his own mouth。 still smiling； he turned； and began the long wade back up the river； to the gate that would return them both to their living flesh。
the baby wailed a scant second before abhorsen opened his eyes； so that the midwife was already halfway around the dying fire； ready to pick her up。 frost crackled on the ground and icicles hung from abhorsen’s nose。 he wiped them off with a sleeve and leaned over the child； much as any anxious father does after a birth。
“how is the babe？” he asked； and the midwife stared at him wonderingly； for the dead child was now loudly alive and as deathly white as he。
“as you hear； lord；” she answered。 “she is very well。 it is perhaps a little cold for her—”
he gestured at the fire and spoke a word； and it roared into life； the frost melting at once； the raindrops sizzling into steam。
“that will do till morning；” said abhorsen。
“then i shall take her to my house。 i shall have need of a nurse。will you e？”
the midwife hesitated； and looked to the charter mage； who still lingered on the far side of the fire。 he refused to meet her glance and she looked down once more at the little girl bawling in her arms。
“you are 。 。 。 you are 。 。 。” whispered the midwife。
“a necromancer？” said abhorsen。 “only of a sort。 i loved the woman who lies here。 she would have lived if she had loved another； but she did not。 sabriel is our child。 can you not see the kinship？”
the midwife looked at him as he leant forward and took sabriel from her； rocking her on his chest。 the baby quietened and； in a few seconds； was asleep。
“yes；” said the midwife。 “i shall e with you； and look after sabriel。 but you must find a wet…nurse 。 。 。”
“and i daresay much else besides；” mused abhorsen。 “but my house is not a place for—”
the charter mage cleared his throat； and moved around the fire。
“if you seek a man who knows a little of the charter；” he said hesitantly； “i should wish to serve； for i have seen its work in you； lord； though i am loath to leave my fellow wanderers。”
“perhaps you will not have to；” replied abhorsen； smiling at a sudden thought。 “i wonder if your leader will object to two new members joining her band。 for my work means i must travel； and there is no part of the kingdom that has not felt the imprint of my feet。”
“your work？” asked the man； shivering a little； though it was no longer cold。
“yes；” said abhorsen。 “i am a necromancer； but not of the mon kind。 where others of the art raise the dead； i lay them back to rest。 and those that will not rest； i bind—or try to。 i am abhorsen 。 。 。”
he looked at the baby again； and added； almost with a note of surprise； “father of sabriel。”
。d xs
chapter 1
生小说＿网
the rabbit had been run over minutes before。 its pink eyes were glazed and blood stained its clean white fur。 unnaturally clean fur； for it had just escaped from a bath。 it still smelt faintly of lavender water。
a tall； curiously pale young woman stood over the rabbit。 her night…black hair； fashionably bobbed； was hanging slightly over her face。
she wore no makeup or jewelry； save for an enamelled school badge pinned to her regulation navy blazer。 that； coupled with her long skirt； stockings and sensible shoes； identified her as a schoolgirl。 a nameplate under the badge