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enger。 even freshly cleaned and scrubbed； her clothes and armor were not the sweetest items of wear。 they were also still slightly damp； and the boat cloak that covered her up was on the borderline between damp and wet； because it hadn’t been hung up properly after washing。 on the positive side； everything had the scent of lemon； for the sign of three lemons washerfolk used lemon…scented soap。
sabriel thought the scavengers had been waiting for the guards； but clearly they had been waiting for something else； which they’d suddenly sighted behind her。 the sitting or squatting men picked themselves up； grumbling and cursing； and shuffled together into something resembling a line。
sabriel looked over her shoulder to see what they saw—and froze。 for ing towards the arch were two men； and about twenty children； children of all ages between six and sixteen。 the men had the same look as the other scavengers； and carried long； four…tongued whips。 the children were manacled at the ankles； the manacles fastened to a long central chain。 one man held the chain； leading the children down the middle of the road。 the other followed behind； plying the air above the small bodies idly with his whip； the four tongues occasionally licking against an ear or the top of a small head。
“i heard of this too；” muttered touchstone； moving up closer to sabriel； his hands falling on his sword hilts。 “but i thought it was a beer story。 the scavengers use children—slaves—as decoys； or bait； for the dead。 they leave them in one area； to draw the dead away from where they intend to search。”
“this is 。 。 。 disgusting！” raged sabriel。
“immoral！ they’re slavers； not scavengers！ we have to stop it！”
she started forward； mind already forming a charter…spell to blind and confuse the scavengers； but a sharp pain in her neck halted her。
mogget； riding on her shoulders； had dug his claws in just under her chin。 blood trickled down in hairline traces； as he hissed close to her ear。
“wait！ there are nine scavengers and six guards； with more close by。 what will it profit these children； and all the others who may e； if you are slain？ it is the dead who are at the root of this evil； and abhorsen’s business is with the dead！”
sabriel stood still； shuddering； tears of rage and anger welling up in the corners of her eyes。 but she didn’t attack。 just stood； watching the children。
they seemed resigned to their fate； silent； without hope。 they didn’t even fidget in their chains； standing still； heads bowed； till the scavengers whipped them up again and they broke into a dispirited shuffle towards the archway。
soon； they were beyond the arch； heading up the ruined street； the scavenging team walking slowly behind them。 the sun shone bright on the cobbled street and reflected from armor and weapons—and； briefly； from a little boy’s blond head。 then they were gone； turning right； taking the way towards coiner’s hill。
sabriel； touchstone and mogget followed after ten minutes spent negotiating with the guards。 at first； the leader； a large man in a gravy…stained leather cuirass； wanted to see an “official scavenger’s license；” but this was soon translated as a request for bribes。 then it was merely a matter of bargaining； down to the final price of three silver pennies each for sabriel and touchstone； and one for the cat。 strange accounting； sabriel thought； but she was glad mogget stayed silent； not voicing the opinion that he was being undervalued。
past the aqueduct； and the soothing barrier of running water； sabriel felt the immediate presence of the dead。 they were all around； in the ruined houses； in cellars and drains； lurking anywhere the light didn’t reach。 dormant。 waiting for the night； while the sun shone。
in many ways； the dead of belisaere were direct counterparts of the scavengers。 hiding by day； they took what they could by night。 there were many； many dead in belisaere； but they were weak； cowardly and jealous。 their bined appetite was enormous； but the supply of victims sadly limited。 every morning saw scores of them lose their hold on life； to fall back into death。
but more always came 。 。 。
“there are thousands of dead here；” sabriel said； eyes darting from side to side。 “they’re weak； for the most part—but so many！”
“do we go straight on to the reservoir？”
touchstone asked。 there was an unspoken question there； sabriel knew。 should they—could they—save the children first？ she looked at the sky； and the sun； before answering。 they had about four hours of strong sunlight； if no clouds intervened。 little enough time； anyway。 assuming that they could defeat the scavengers； could they leave finding her father till tomorrow？ every day made it less likely his spirit and body could be brought back together。 without him； they couldn’t defeat kerrigor—and kerrigor had to be defeated for them to have any hope of repairing the stones of the great charter— banishing the dead across the kingdom 。 。 。
“we’ll go straight to the reservoir；” sabriel said； heavily； trying to blank out a sudden fragment of visual memory； sunlight on that little boy’s head； the trudging feet 。 。 。
“perhaps we 。 。 。 perhaps we will be able to rescue the children on the way back。”
touchstone led the way with confidence； keeping to the middle of the streets； where the sun was bright。 for almost an hour； they strode up empty； deserted streets； the only sound the clacking of their boot…nails on the cobbles。 there were no birds； or animals。 not even insects。 just ruin and decay。
finally； they reached an iron…fenced park that ran around the base of palace hill。 atop the hill； blackened； burnt…out shells of tumbled stone and timber were all that remained of the royal palace。
“the last regent burned it；” said mogget； as all three stopped to look up。 “about twenty years ago。 it was being infested with the dead； despite all the guards and wards that various visiting abhorsens put up。 they say the regent went mad and tried to burn them out。”
“what happened to him？” asked sabriel。
“her； actually；” replied mogget。 “she died in the fire—or the dead took her。 and that marked the end o