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owed reluctantly； forcing his legs to move in short steps； minimizing the splash and ripple of his wake。
sabriel snuffed out her candle； thrust it through her belt； then held out her open palm。
“put your sword away and give me your hand；” she said； in a tone that did not invite conversation or argument。 touchstone hesitated— his left hand held only a candle； and he didn’t want both his swords scabbarded—then he plied。 her hand was cold； colder than the water。 instinctively； he gripped a little tighter； to give her some of his warmth。
“mogget—keep watch；” sabriel instructed。
she closed her eyes； and began to visualize the east mark； the first of the four cardinal wards。
touchstone took a quick look around； then closed his eyes too； drawn in by the force of sabriel’s conjuration。
pain shot through his hand and arm； as he added his will to sabriel’s。 the mark seemed blurry in his head； and impossible to focus。 the pins and needles that had already plagued his feet spread up above his knees； shooting them through with rheumatic pains。 but he blocked off the pain； narrowing his consciousness to just one thing： the creation of a diamond of protection。
finally； the east mark flowed down sabriel’s blade and took root in the reservoir floor。
without opening their eyes； the duo shuffled around to face the south； and the next mark。
this was harder still； and both of them were sweating and shaking when it finally began its glowing existence。 sabriel’s hand was hot and feverish now； and touchstone’s flesh ricocheted violently between sweating heat and shivering cold。 a terrible wave of nausea hit him； and he would have been sick； but sabriel gripped his hand； like a falcon its prey； and lent him strength。 he gagged； dry…retched once； then recovered。
the west mark was simply a trial of endurance。
sabriel lost concentration for a moment； so touchstone had to hold the mark alone for a few seconds； the effort making him feel drunk in the most unpleasant way； the world spinning inside his head； totally out of control。 then sabriel forced herself back and the west mark flowered under the water。
desperation gave them the north mark。 they struggled with it for what seemed like hours； but was only seconds； till it almost squirmed from them uncast。 but at that moment； sabriel spent all the force of her desire to free her father； and touchstone pushed with the weight of two hundred years of guilt and sorrow。
the north mark rolled brightly down the sword and grew to brilliance； brilliance dulled by the water。 lines of charter…fire ran from it to the east mark； from east mark to south mark to west mark and back again。 the diamond was plete。
immediately； they felt a lessening of the terrible presence of the broken stones。 the high…pitched pain in sabriel’s head dimmed； normal feeling returned to touchstone’s legs and feet。 mogget stirred and stretched； the first significant movement he’d made since taking up position around touchstone’s neck。
“a good casting；” sabriel said quietly； looking at the marks through eyes half…lidded in weariness。
“better than the last one i cast。”
“i don’t know how we did it；” muttered touchstone； staring down at the lines of charterfire。
he suddenly became aware that he was still holding sabriel’s hand； and slumping like an aged wood collector under a heavy burden。 he straightened up suddenly； dropping her hand as if it were the fanged end of a snake。
she looked at him； rather startled； and he found himself staring at the reflection of his candle…flame in her dark eyes。 almost for the first time； he really looked at her。 he saw the weariness there； and the incipient lines of care； and the way her mouth looked a little sad around the edges。 her nose was still swollen； and there were yellowing bruises on her cheekbones。
she was also beautiful and touchstone realized that he had thought of her only in terms of her office； as abhorsen。 not as a woman at all 。 。 。
“i’d better be going；” said sabriel； suddenly embarrassed by touchstone’s stare。 her left hand went to the bell…bandolier； fingers feeling for the straps that held saraneth。
“let me help；” said touchstone。 he stood close； fumbling with the stiff leather； hands weakened by the effort spent on the diamond of protection； his head bowed over the bells。
sabriel looked down on his hair； and was strangely tempted to kiss the exact center； a tiny part marking the epicenter where his tight brown curls radiated outwards。 but she didn’t。
the strap came undone； and touchstone stepped back。 sabriel drew saraneth； carefully stilling the bell。
“it probably won’t be a long wait for you；” she said。 “time moves strangely in death。 if 。 。 。 if i’m not back in two hours； then i probably 。 。 。 i’ll probably be trapped too； so you and mogget should leave 。 。 。”
“i’ll be waiting；” replied touchstone firmly。
“who knows what time it is down here anyway？”
“and i’ll wait； it seems；” added mogget。
“unless i want to swim out of here。 which i don’t。 may the charter be with you； sabriel。”
“and with you；” said sabriel。 she looked around the dark expanse of the reservoir。 she still couldn’t sense any of the dead out there— and yet 。 。 。
“we’ll need it to be with us；” mogget replied sourly。 “one way or another。”
“i hope not；” whispered sabriel。 she checked the pouch at her belt for the small things she’d prepared back at the sign of three lemons； then turned to face the north mark and started to raise her sword； beginning her preparations to enter death。
suddenly； touchstone sloshed forward and quickly kissed her on the cheek—a clumsy； dry…lipped peck that almost hit the rim of her helmet rather than her cheek。
“for luck；” touchstone said nervously。
“sabriel。”
she smiled； and nodded twice； then looked back to the north。 her eyes focused on something not there and waves of cold air billowed from her motionless form。 a second later； ice crystals began to crack out of her hair； and frost ran in lines down the sword and bell。
touchstone watched； close by； till it grew too cold； then he retreated to the far southern vertice of t