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d as flesh。
all charter magic had fled from sabriel’s mind。 her sword was trapped； the bells likewise； and even if they weren’t； she didn’t know how to use them properly against things not dead。 she ran over them mentally anyway； in a frantic； lightning inventory of anything that might help。
it was then her tired； concussed mind remembered the ring。 it was on her left hand； her free hand； cool silver on the index finger。
but she didn’t know what to do with it—and the creature’s head was bowing down towards her own； its neck stretching impossibly long； till it was like a snake’s head rearing above her； the mouth opening wider； growing brighter； fizzing with white…hot sparks that fell upon her helmet and face； burning cloth and skin； leaving tiny； tattoo…like scars。 the ring felt loose on her finger。
sabriel instinctively curled her hand； and the ring felt looser still； slipping down her finger； expanding； growing； till without looking； sabriel knew she held a silver hoop as wide or wider than the creature’s slender head。 and she suddenly knew what to do。
“first； the plucking of an eye；” said the thing； breath as hot as the falling sparks； scorching her face with instant sunburn。 it tilted its head sideways and opened its mouth still wider； lower jaw dislocating out。
sabriel took one last； careful look； screwed her eyes tight against the terrible glare； and flipped the silver hoop up； and she hoped； over the thing’s neck。
for a second； as the heat increased and she felt a terrible burning pain against her eye； sabriel thought she’d missed。 then the hoop was wrenched from her hand and she was thrown away； hurled out like an angry fisherman’s rejected minnow。
on the cool flagstones again； she opened her eyes； the left one blurry； sore and swimming with tears—but still there and still working。
she had put the silver hoop over the thing’s head； and it was slowly sliding down that long； sinuous neck。 the ring was shrinking again as it slid； impervious to the creature’s desperate attempts to get it off。 it had six or seven hands now； formed directly from its shoulders； all squirming about； trying to force fingers under the ring。 but the metal seemed inimical to the creature’s substance； like a hot pan to human fingers； for the fingers flinched and danced around it； but could not take hold for longer than a second。
the darkness that stained it was ebbing too； draining down through its thrashing； twisting support； leaving glowing whiteness behind。 still the creature fought with the ring； blazing hands forming and re…forming； body twisting and turning； even bucking； as if it could throw the ring like a rider from a horse。
finally； it gave up and turned towards sabriel； screaming and crackling。 two long arms sprang out from it； reaching towards sabriel’s sprawling body； talons growing from the hands； raking the stone with deep gouges as they scrabbled towards her； like spiders scuttling to their prey— only to fall short by a yard or more。
“no！” howled the thing； and its whole twisting； coiling body lurched forward； killing arms outstretched。 again； the talons fell short； as sabriel crawled； rolled and pushed herself away。
then the silver ring contracted once more； and a terrible shout of anguish； rage and despair came from the very center of the white…flaming thing。 its arms suddenly shrank back to its torso； the head fell into the shoulders； and the whole body sank into an amorphous blob of shimmering white； with a single； still…large silver band around the middle； the ruby glittering like a drop of blood。
sabriel stared at it； unable to look aside； or do anything else； even quell the flow from her bleeding nose； which now covered half her face and chin； her mouth glued shut with dried and clotting blood。 it seemed to her that something was left undone； something that she had to provide。
nervously crawling closer； she saw that there were now marks on the ring； charter marks that told her what she must do。 wearily； she got up on her knees and fumbled with the bellbandolier。
saraneth was heavy； almost beyond her strength； but she managed to draw it out； and the deep； pelling voice rang through the sinkhole； seeming to pierce the glowing； silverbound mass。
the ring hummed in answer to the bell and exuded a pear…shaped drop of its own metal； which cooled to bee a miniature saraneth。
at the same time； the ring changed color and consistency。 the ruby’s color seemed to run； and a red wash spread through the silver。 it was now dull and ordinary； no longer a silver band； but a red leather collar； with a miniature silver bell。
with this change； the white mass quivered； and shone bright again； till sabriel had to shield her eyes once more。 when the shadows grew together again； she looked back； and there was mogget； collared in red leather； sitting up and looking like he was about to throw up a hairball。
it wasn’t a hairball； but a silver ring； the ruby reflecting mogget’s internal light。 it rolled to sabriel； tinkling across the stone。 she picked it up and slid it back on her finger。
mogget’s glow faded； and the burning paperwing was now only faint embers； sad memories and ash。 darkness returned； cloaking sabriel； wrapping her up with all her hurts and fears。 she sat； silent； not even thinking。
a little later； she felt a soft cat nose against her folded hands； and a candle； damp from mogget’s mouth。
“your nose is still bleeding；” said a familiar； didactic voice。 “light the candle； pinch your nose； and get some blankets out for us to sleep。
it’s getting cold。”
“wele back； mogget；” whispered sabriel。
。。
chapter xiii
～
neither sabriel nor mogget mentioned the happenings of the previous night when they awoke。 sabriel； bathing her seriously swollen nose in an inch of water from her canteen； found that she didn’t particularly want to remember a waking nightmare； and mogget was quiet； in an apologetic way。 despite what happened later； freeing mogget’s alter ego； or whatever it was； had saved them from certain destruction by the wind。
as she’d expected； dawn had brought some light to the sinkhole； and as the day progressed；