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ure would be totally under the control of its master； who could use its senses and spirit as it saw fit。
something tugged at sabriel’s physical body； and she reluctantly twitched her senses back to the living world； a slight feeling of nausea rising in her as a wave of warmth rushed over her death…chilled body。
“what is it？” said a calm voice； close to sabriel’s ear。 an old voice； tinged with the power of charter magic—miss greenwood； the magistrix of the school。
“it’s a dead servant—a spirit form；” replied sabriel； her attention back on the creature。 it was halfway down the dorm； still single…mindedly rolling one leg after the other。 “without free will。
something sent it back to the living world。 it’s controlled from beyond the first gate。”
“why is it here？” asked the magistrix。 her voice sounded calm； but sabriel felt the charter symbols gathering in her voice； forming on her tongue—symbols that would unleash lightning and flame； the destructive powers of the earth。
“it’s not obviously malign； nor has it attempted any actual harm 。 。 。” replied sabriel slowly； her mind working over the possibilities。 she was used to explaining purely necromantic aspects of magic to miss greenwood。 the magistrix had taught her charter magic； but necromancy was definitely not on the syllabus。 sabriel had learned more than she wanted to know about necromancy from her father 。 。 。 and the dead themselves。
“don’t do anything for a moment。 i will attempt to speak with it。”
the cold washed over her again； biting into her； as the river gushed around her legs； eager to pull her over and carry her away。 sabriel exerted her will； and the cold became simply a sensation； without danger； the current merely a pleasing vibration about the feet。
the creature was close now； as it was in the living world。 sabriel held out both her hands； and clapped； the sharp sound echoing for longer than it would anywhere else。 before the echo died； sabriel whistled several notes； and they echoed too； sweet sounds within the harshness of the handclap。
the thing flinched at the sound and stepped back； putting both hands to its ears。 as it did so； it dropped the sack。 sabriel started in surprise。
she hadn’t noticed the sack before； possibly because she hadn’t expected it to be there。 very few inanimate things existed in both realms； the living and the dead。
she was even more surprised as the creature suddenly bent forward and plunged into the water； hands searching for the sack。 it found it almost at once； but not without losing its footing。 as the sack surfaced； the current forced the creature under。 sabriel breathed a sigh of relief as she saw it slide away； then gasped as its head broke the surface and it cried out： “sabriel！ my messenger！ take the sack！” the voice was abhorsen’s。
sabriel ran forward and an arm pushed out towards her； the neck of the sack clutched in its fingers。 she reached out； missed； then tried again。 the sack was secure in her grasp； as the current took the creature pletely under。
sabriel looked after it； hearing the roar of the first gate suddenly increase as it always did when someone passed its falls。 she turned and started to slog back against the current to a point where she could easily return to life。 the sack in her hand was heavy and there was a leaden feeling in her stomach。 if the messenger was truly abhorsen’s； then he himself was unable to return to the realm of the living。
and that meant he was either dead； or trapped by something that should have passed beyond the final gate。
once again； a wave of nausea overcame her and sabriel fell to her knees； shaking。 she could feel the magistrix’s hand on her shoulder； but her attention was fastened on the sack she held in her hand。 she didn’t need to look to know that the creature was gone。 its manifestation into the living world had ceased as its spirit had gone past the first gate。 only a pile of grave mold would remain； to be swept aside in the morning。
“what did you do？” asked the magistrix； as sabriel brushed her hands through her hair； ice crystals falling from her hands onto the sack that lay in front of her knees。
“it had a message for me；” replied sabriel。 “so i took it。”
she opened the sack； and reached inside。 a sword hilt met her grasp； so she drew it out； still scabbarded； and put it to one side。 she didn’t need to draw it to see the charter symbols etched along its blade—the dull emerald in the pommel and the worn bronze…plated crossguard were as familiar to her as the school’s uninspired cutlery。 it was abhorsen’s sword。
the leather bandolier she drew out next was an old brown belt； a hand’s…breadth wide； which always smelled faintly of beeswax。 seven tubular leather pouches hung from it； starting with one the size of a small pill bottle； growing larger； till the seventh was almost the size of a jar。 the bandolier was designed to be worn across the chest； with the pouches hanging down。 sabriel opened the smallest and pulled out a tiny silver bell； with a dark； deeply polished mahogany handle。 she held it gently； but the clapper still swung slightly； and the bell made a high； sweet note that somehow lingered in the mind； even after the sound was gone。
“father’s instruments；” whispered sabriel。
“the tools of a necromancer。”
“but there are charter marks engraved on the bell 。 。 。 and the handle！” interjected the magistrix； who was looking down with fascination。
“necromancy is free magic； not governed by the charter 。 。 。”
“father’s was different；” replied sabriel distantly； still staring at the bell she held in her hand； thinking of her father’s brown； lined hands holding the bells。 “binding； not raising。 he was a faithful servant of the charter。”
“you’re going to be leaving us； aren’t you？”
the magistriaid suddenly； as sabriel replaced the bell and stood up； sword in one hand； bandolier in the other。 “i just saw it； in the reflection of the bell。 you were crossing the wall 。 。 。”
“yes。 into the old kingdom；” said sabriel； with sudden realization。 “something has happened to father 。 。 。 but i’ll find him 。 。 。 so i swear by the chart