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there has just been a delay of two hundred years 。 。 。
“yes； i can；” continued mogget； his eyes green with sparkling fire。 “a tall beast has e； its flesh boiling with dirty flames。 a mordicant。 it’s crouching in the water； looking back and up like a dog to its master。 fog is rolling down the stairs behind it—a free magic trick； that one。 i wonder why he has such an urge to impress？”
“rogir always was flamboyant；” touchstone stated； as if he might be menting on someone at a dinner party。 “he liked everyone to be looking at him。 he’s no different as kerrigor； no different dead。”
“oh； but he is；” said mogget。 “very different。
he knows you’re here； and the fog’s for vanity。
he must have been terribly rushed making the body he wears now。 a vain man—even a dead one—would not like this body looked at。”
touchstone swallowed； trying not to think about that。 he wondered if he could charge out of the diamond； flèche with his swords into that fog； a mad attack—but even if he got there； would his swords； charter…spelled though they were； have any effect on the magical flesh kerrigor now wore？ something moved in the water； at the limits of his vision； and the hands increased the tempo of their drumming； the frenzied gurgle…chanting rising in volume。
touchstone squinted； confirming what he thought he’d seen—tendrils of fog； lazily drifting across the water between the lines of the dead； keeping to the corridor they’d made。
“he’s playing with us；” gasped touchstone； surprised by his own lack of breath for speech。 he felt like he’d already sprinted a mile； his heart going thump…thump…thump…thump 。 。 。
a terrible howl suddenly rose above the dead drumming； and touchstone leapt back； nearly dislodging mogget。 the howl rose and rose； being unbearable； and then a huge shape broke out of the fog and darkness； stampeding towards them with fearful power； great swaths of spray exploding around it as it ran。
touchstone shouted； or screamed—he wasn’t sure—threw away his candle； drew his left sword and thrust both blades out； crouching to receive the charge； knees so bent he was chestdeep in the water。
“the mordicant！” yelled mogget； then he was gone； leaping from touchstone to the still…frosted sabriel。
touchstone barely had time to absorb this information； and a split…second image of something like an enormous； flame…shrouded bear； howling like the final scream of a sacrifice—then the mordicant collided with the diamond of protection； and touchstone’s out…thrust swords。
silver sparks exploded with a bang that drowned the howling； throwing both touchstone and the mordicant back several yards。 touchstone lost his footing； and went under； water bubbling into his nose and still…screaming mouth。
he panicked； thinking the mordicant would be on him in a second； and flipped himself back up with unnecessary force； savagely ripping his stomach muscles。
he almost flew out of the water； swords at guard again； but the diamond was intact； and the mordicant retreating； backing away along the corridor of hands。 they’d stopped their noise； but there was something else—something touchstone didn’t recognize； till the water drained out of his ears。
it was laughter； laughter echoing out of the fog； which now billowed across the water； ing closer and closer； till the retreating mordicant was enveloped in it； and lost to sight。
“did my hound scare you； little brother？” said a voice from within the fog。
“ow！” exclaimed sabriel； feeling mogget’s claws on her physical body。 abhorsen looked at her； raising one silvery eyebrow questioningly。
“something touched my body in life；” she explained。 “mogget； i think。 i wonder what’s happening？”
they stood at the very edge of death； on the border with life。 no dead had tried to stop them； and they’d passed easily through the first gate。
perhaps any dead would quail from the sight of two abhorsens 。 。 。
now they waited。 sabriel didn’t know why。
somehow； abhorsen seemed to be able to see into life； or to work out what was happening。 he stood like an eavesdropper； body slightly bent； ear cocked to a non…existent door。
sabriel； on the other hand； stood like a soldier； keeping watch for the dead。 the broken stones made this part of death an attractive high road into life； and she had expected to find many dead here； trying to take advantage of the “hole。” but it was not so。 they seemed to be alone in the grey； featureless river； their only neighbors the swells and eddies of the water。
abhorsen closed his eyes； concentrating even harder； then opened them to a wide…eyed stare and touched sabriel lightly on the arm。
“it is almost time；” he said gently。 “when we emerge； i want you to take 。 。 。 touchstone 。 。 。
and run for the southern stairs。 do not stop for anything； anything at all。 once outside； climb up to the top of the palace hill； to the west yard。
it’s just an empty field now—touchstone will know how to get there。 if the clayr are watching properly； and haven’t got their whens mixed up； there’ll be a paperwing there—”
“a paperwing！” interrupted sabriel。 “but i crashed it。”
“there are several around；” replied abhorsen。
“the abhorsen who made it—the forty…sixth； i think—taught several others how to construct them。 anyway； it should be there。 the clayr will also be there； or a messenger； to tell you where to find kerrigor’s body in ancelstierre。 fly as close to the wall as possible； cross； find the body—and destroy it！”
“what will you be doing？” whispered sabriel。
“here is saraneth；” replied abhorsen； not meeting her gaze。 “give me your sword； and 。 。 。
astarael。”
the seventh bell。 astarael the sorrowful。
weeper。
sabriel didn’t move； made no motion to hand over bell or blade。 abhorsen pushed saraneth into its pouch； and did up the strap。 he started to undo the strap that held astarael； but sabriel’s hand closed on his； gripping it tightly。
“there must be another way；” she cried。 “we can all escape together—”
“no；” said abhorsen firmly。 he gently pushed her hand away。 sabriel let go； and he took astarael carefully from the bandolier；