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flesh was imperfect； fluid and unsettling。 its face wouldn’t stay fixed； migrating between scores of possibilities。 some were women； some were men—but all bore tough； petent visages。 its body and clothing changed slightly； too； with every face； but two details always remained the same； a black surcoat with the blazon of a silver key； and a longsword redolent with charter magic。
“thank you；” sabriel said nervously； flinching as the mordicant pounded the door again。
“can 。 。 。 do you think that 。 。 。 will it get through？”
the sending nodded grimly； and let go her hand to point up the long corridor； but it did not speak。
sabriel turned her head to follow its pointing hand and saw a dark passage that rose up into darkness。 charter marks illuminated where they stood； but faded only a little way on。 despite this； the darkness seemed friendly； and she could almost taste the charter…spells that rode on the corridor’s dusty air。
“i must go on？” asked sabriel； as it pointed again； more urgently。 the sending nodded； and flapped its hand backwards and forwards； indicating haste。 behind him； another crashing blow caused another great billow of dust； and the door sounded as if it was weakening。 once again； the vile； burnt smell of the mordicant wafted through the air。
the doorkeeper wrinkled its nose and gave sabriel a bit of a push in the right direction； like a parent urging a reluctant child to press on。 but sabriel needed no urging。 her fear was still burning in her。 momentarily extinguished by the rescue； the smell of the mordicant was all it needed to blaze again。 she set her face upwards and started to walk quickly； into the passage。
she looked back after a few yards； to see the doorkeeper waiting near the door； its sword at the guard position。 beyond it； the door was bulging in； iron…bound planks bursting； breaking around a hole as big as a dinner plate。
the mordicant reached in and broke off more planks； as easily as it might snap toothpicks。 it was obviously furious that its prey was getting away； for it burned all over now。 yellow…red flames vomited from its mouth in a vile torrent； and black smoke rose like a second shadow around it； eddying in crazy circles as it howled。
sabriel looked away； setting off at a fast walk； but the walk grew faster and faster； became a jog and then a run。 her feet pounded on the stone； but it wasn’t until she was almost sprinting； that she realized why she could—her pack and skis were still back at the lower door。 for a moment； she was struck with a nervous inclination to go back； but it passed before it even became conscious thought。 even so； her hands checked scabbard and bandolier； and gained reassurance from the cool metal of sword hilt and the handsmoothed wood of the bell handles。
it was light too； she realized as she ran。 charter marks ran in the stone； keeping pace with her。
charter marks for light and for fleetness； and for many other things she didn’t know。 strange marks and many of them—so many that sabriel wondered how she could have ever thought that a first in magic from an ancelstierran school would make her a great mage in the old kingdom。 fear and realization of ignorance were strong medicines against stupid pride。
another howl came racing up the passage and echoed onwards； acpanied by many crashes； and thuds or clangs of steel striking supernatural flesh； or ricocheting off stone。
sabriel didn’t need to look back to know the mordicant had broken through the door and was now fighting the doorkeeper—or pushing past him。 sabriel knew little of such sendings； but a mon failing with the sentinel variety was an inability to leave their post。 once the creature got a few feet past the doorkeeper； the sending would be useless—and one great charge would soon get the mordicant past。
that thought gave her another burst of speed； but sabriel knew that it was the last。 her body； pushed by fear and weakened by cold and exertion； was on the edge of failure。 her legs felt stiff； muscles ready to cramp； and her lungs seemed to bubble with fluid rather than air。
ahead； the corridor seemed to go on and on； sloping ever upwards。 but the light only shone where sabriel ran； so perhaps the exit might not be too far ahead； perhaps just past the next little patch of darkness 。 。 。
even as this thought passed through her mind； sabriel saw a glow that sharpened into the bright tracing of a doorway。 she half gasped； half cried out； both slight human noises drowned out by the unholy； inhuman screech of the mordicant。 it was past the doorkeeper。
at the same time； sabriel became aware of a new sound ahead； a sound she had initially thought was the throb of blood in her ears； the pounding of a racing heart。 but it was outside； beyond the upper door。 a deep； roaring noise； so low it was almost a vibration； a shudder that she felt through the floor； rather than heard。
heavy trucks passing on a road above； sabriel thought； before remembering where she was。 in that same instant； she recognized the sound。
somewhere ahead； out of these encircling cliffs； a great waterfall was crashing down。 and a waterfall that made so great a sound must be fed by an equally great river。
running water！ the prospect of it fueled sabriel with sudden hope； and with that hope came the strength she thought beyond her。 in a wild spurt of speed； she almost hit the door； hands slapping against the wood； slowing for the instant she needed to find the handle or ring。
but another hand was already on the ring when she touched it； though none had been there a second before。 again； charter marks defined this hand； and sabriel could see the grain of the wood and the blueing of the steel through the palm of another sending。
this one was smaller； of indeterminate sex； for it was wearing a habit like a monk’s； with the hood drawn across its head。 the habit was black and bore the emblem of the silver key front and back。
it bowed； and turned the ring。 the door swung open； to reveal bright starlight shining down between clouds fleeing the newly risen wind。 the noise of the waterfall roared through the open doorway； acpanied by flecks of flying spray。
without think