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touchstone watched； close by； till it grew too cold； then he retreated to the far southern vertice of the diamond。 drawing one sword； he turned outwards； holding his candle high； and started to wade around inside the lines of charter…fire as if he were patrolling the battlements of a castle。
mogget watched too； from his shoulder； his green eyes lit with their own internal luminescence。
both of them often turned to gaze at sabriel。
the crossing into death was made easy—far too easy—by the presence of the broken stones。
sabriel felt them near her； like two yawning gates； proclaiming easy entry to life for any dead nearby。 fortunately； the other effect of the stones—the sickening illness—disappeared in death。 there was only the chill and tug of the river。
sabriel started forward immediately； carefully scanning the grey expanse before her。 things moved at the edge of her vision； she heard movement in the cold waters。 but nothing came towards her； nothing attacked； save the constant twining and gripping of the current。
she came to the first gate； halting just beyond the wall of mist that stretched out as far as she could see to either side。 the river roared beyond that mist； turbulent rapids going through to the second precinct； and on to the second gate。
remembering pages from the book of the dead； sabriel spoke words of power。 free magic； that shook her mouth as she spoke； jarring her teeth； burning her tongue with raw power。
the veil of mist parted； revealing a series of waterfalls that appeared to drop into an unending blackness。 sabriel spoke some more words； and gestured to the right and left with her sword。
a path appeared； parting the waterfall like a finger drawn through butter。 sabriel stepped out onto it； and walked down； the waters crashing harmlessly on either side。 behind her； the mist closed up and； as her rearmost heel lifted to make her next step； the path disappeared。
the second precinct was more dangerous than the first。 there were deep holes； as well as the ever…present current。 the light was worse too。
not the total darkness promised at the end of the waterfalls； but there was a different quality in its greyness。 a blurring effect； that made it difficult to see further than you could touch。
sabriel continued carefully； using her sword to probe the ground ahead。 there was an easy way through； she knew； a course mapped and plotted by many necromancers and not a few abhorsens； but she didn’t trust her memory to tread confidently ahead at speed。
always； her senses quested for her father’s spirit。 he was somewhere in death； she was positive of that。 there was always the faintest trace of him； a lingering memory。 but it was not this close to life。 she would have to go on。
the second gate was essentially an enormous hole； at least two hundred yards across； into which the river sank like sinkwater down a drain。 unlike a normal drain； it was eerily silent； and with the difficult light； easy for the unwary to walk up to its rim。 sabriel was always particularly careful with this gate—she had learned to sense the feel of its tug against her shins at an early age。 she stopped well back when the tug came； and tried to focus on the silently raging whirlpool。
a faint squelching sound behind her made her turn； sword scything around at full arm…stretch； a great circle of charter…spelled steel。 it struck dead spirit…flesh； sparks flying； a scream of rage and pain filling the silence。 sabriel almost jumped back； at that scream； but she held her ground。 the second gate was too close。
the thing she’d hit stepped back； its head hanging from a mostly severed neck。 it was humanoid in shape； at least to begin with； but had arms that trailed down below its knees； into the river。 its head； now flopping on one shoulder； was longer than it was wide or tall； possessed a mouth with several rows of teeth。 it had flaming coals in its eyepits； a characteristic of the deep dead； from beyond the fifth gate。
it snarled and brought its long； skewer…thin fingers up out of the water to try and straighten its head； attempting to rest it back atop the cleanly hewn neck。
sabriel struck again； and the head and one hand flew off； splashing into the river。 they bobbed on the surface for a moment； the head howling； eyes flaming with hate across the water。 then it was sucked down； down into the hurly…burly of the second gate。
the headless body stood where it was for a second； then started to cautiously step sideways； its remaining hand groping around in front of it。
sabriel watched it cautiously； debating whether to use saraneth to bind it to her will； and then kibeth to send it on its way to final death。 but using the bells would alert everything dead between here and the first and third gates at least—and she didn’t want that。
the headless thing took another step； and fell sideways into a deep hole。 it scrabbled there； long arms thrashing the water； but couldn’t pull itself up and out。 it only succeeded in getting across into the full force of the current； which snatched it up and threw it into the whirlpool of the gate。
once again； sabriel recited words of free magic power； words impressed into her mind long ago from the book of the dead。 the words flowed out of her； blistering her lips； strange heat in this place of leeching cold。
with the words； the waters of the second gate slowed and stilled。 the whirling vorteeparated out into a long spiral path； winding downwards。
sabriel； checking for a few last holes near the edge； gingerly strode out to this path and started down。 behind and above her； the waters began to swirl again。
the spiral path looked long； but to sabriel it seemed only a matter of minutes before she was passing through the very base of the whirlpool； and out into the third precinct。
this was a tricksome place。 the water was shallow here； only ankle…deep； and somewhat warmer。 the light was better too—still grey； but you could see farther out。 even the ubiquitous current was no more than a bit of a tickle around the feet。
but the third precinct had waves。 for the first time； sabriel broke into a run； sprinting as fast as she could towards the thi