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nevertheless； they walked carefully up to the village； swords loose； sabriel with a hand to her bells。 the path wound up in a series of steps carved from the rock； reinforced here and there with bricks and mortar。 the village proper nestled on top of the bluff—about thirty cozy brick cottages； with wood…tile roofs； some painted bright colors； some dull； and some simply grey and weatherbeaten。
it was pletely silent； save for the odd gust of wind； or the mournful cry of a gull； slipping down through the air above。 sabriel and touchstone drew closer together； walking almost shoulder…to…shoulder up what passed for a main street； swords out now； eyes flickering across closed doors and shuttered windows。
both felt uneasy； nervous—a nasty； tingling； creeping sensation climbing up from spine； to nape of neck； to forehead charter mark。
sabriel also felt the presence of dead things。
lesser dead； hiding from sunlight； lurking somewhere nearby； in house or cellar。
at the end of the main street； on the highest point of the bluff； a charter stone stood on a patch of carefully tended lawn。 half of the stone had been sheared away； pieces broken and tumbled； dark stone on green turf。 a body lay in front of the stone； hands and feet bound； the gaping cut across the throat a clear sign of where the blood had e from—the blood for the sacrifice that broke the stone。
sabriel knelt by the corpse； eyes averted from the broken stone。 it was only recently ruined； she felt； but already the door to death was creaking open。 she could almost feel the cold of the currents beyond； leaking out around the stone； sucking warmth and life from the air。
things lurked there too； she knew； just beyond the border。 she sensed their hunger for life； their impatience for night to fall。
as she expected； the corpse was of a charter mage； dead but three or four days。 but she hadn’t expected to find the dead person was a woman。
wide shoulders and a muscular build had deceived her for a moment； but there was a middleaged woman before her； eyes shut； throat cut； short brown hair caked with sea salt and blood。
“the village healer；” said mogget； indicating a bracelet on her wrist with his nose。 sabriel pushed the rope bindings aside for a better look。 the bracelet was bronze with inlaid charter marks of greenstone。 dead marks now； for blood dried upon the bronze； and no pulse beat in the skin under the metal。
“she was killed three or four days ago；”
sabriel announced。 “the stone was broken at the same time。”
touchstone looked back at her and nodded grimly； then resumed watching the houses opposite。 his swords hung loosely in his hands； but sabriel noticed that his entire body was tense； like a pressed jack…in…the…box； ready to spring。
“whoever 。 。 。 whatever 。 。 。 killed her and broke the stone； didn’t enslave her spirit；”
sabriel added quietly； as if thinking to herself。
“i wonder why？”
neither mogget nor touchstone answered。
for a moment； sabriel considered asking the woman herself； but her impetuous desire for journeys into death had been soundly dampened by recent experience。 instead； she cut the woman’s bonds； and arranged her as best she could； ending up with a sort of curled…up sleeping position。
“i don’t know your name； healer；” sabriel whispered。 “but i hope you go quickly beyond the final gate。 farewell。”
she stood back and drew the charter marks for the funeral pyre above the corpse； whispering the names of the marks as she did so—but her fingers fumbled and words went awry。 the baleful influence of the broken stone pressed against her； like a wrestler gripping her wrists； clamping her jaw。 sweat beaded on her forehead； and pain shot through her limbs； her hands shaking with effort； tongue clumsy； seeming swollen in her suddenly dry mouth。
then she felt assistance e； strength flowing through her； reinforcing the marks； steadying her hands； clearing her voice。 she pleted the litany； and a spark exploded above the woman； became a twisting flame； then grew to a fierce； white…hot blaze that spread the length of the woman’s body； totally consuming it； to leave only ash； light cargo for the sea winds。
the extra strength came through touchstone’s hand； his open palm lightly resting on her shoulder。
as she straightened up； the touch was lost。
when sabriel turned around； touchstone was just drawing his right…hand sword； eyes fixed on the houses—as if he’d had nothing to do with helping her。
“thank you；” said sabriel。 touchstone was a strong charter mage； perhaps as strong as she was。 this surprised her； though she couldn’t think why。 he’d made no secret of being a charter mage—she’d just assumed he would only know a few of the more fighting…related marks and spells。 petty magics。
“we should move on；” said mogget； prowling backwards and forwards in agitation； carefully avoiding the fragments from the broken stone。
“find a boat； and put to sea before nightfall。”
“the harbor is that way；” touchstone added quickly； pointing with his sword。 both he and the cat seemed very keen to leave the area around the broken stone； thought sabriel。 but then； so was she。 even in bright daylight； it seemed to dull the color around it。 the lawn was already more yellow than green； and even the shadows looked thicker and more abundant than they should。 she shivered； remembering cloven crest and the thing called thralk。
the harbor lay on the northern side of the bluff； reached by another series of steps in the rocky hill； or in the case of cargo； via one of the shear…legged hoists that lined the edge of the bluff。 long wooden jetties thrust out into the clear blue…green water； sheltered under the lee of a rocky island； a smaller sibling of the village bluff。 a long breakwater of huge boulders joined island and shore； pleting the harbor’s protection from wind and wave。
there were no boats moored in the harbor； tied up to the jetties； or at the harbor wall。 not even a dinghy； hauled up for repair。 sabriel stood on the steps； looking down； mind temporarily devoid of further plans。 she just watched the swirl of the sea around the barnacled piles of the jetties； the moving