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“charter mages！ please e here。”
they came； the young women quicker than the soldiers； who were showing the weariness of the day’s work； and proximity to the sarcophagus。
sabriel looked at the students； their faces bright and open； a thin layer of fear laid over excitement at the spice of the unknown。 two of her best schoolfriends； sulyn and ellimere； were among the crowd； but she felt far distant from them now。 she probably looked it too； she thought； seeing respect and something like wonder in their eyes。 even the charter marks on their foreheads looked like fragile cosmetic replicas； though she knew they were real。 it was so unfair that they had to be caught up in this 。 。 。
sabriel opened her mouth to speak； and the noise of gunfire suddenly ceased； almost on cue。
in the silence； one of the girls giggled nervously。
sabriel； however； suddenly felt many deaths e at once； and a familiar dread touched her spine with cold fingers。 kerrigor was closing in。
it was his power that had stilled the guns； not a lessening of the assault。 faintly； she could hear shouts and even 。 。 。 screams 。 。 。 from outside。
they would be fighting with older weapons now。
“quickly；” she said； walking towards the sarcophagus as she spoke。 “we must make a handfast ring around the sarcophagus。 magistrix； if you would place everyone—lieutenant； please put your men in among the girls 。 。 。”
anywhere else； at any other time； there would have been ribald jokes and giggles about that。
here； with the dead about the building； and the sarcophagus brooding in their midst； it was simply an instruction。 men moved quickly to their places； the young women took their hands purposefully。
in a few seconds； the sarcophagus was ringed by charter mages。
linked by touch now； sabriel didn’t need to speak。 she could feel everyone in the ring。
touchstone； to her right； a familiar and powerful warmth。 miss greenwood； to her left； less powerful； but not without skill—and so on； right around the ring。
slowly； sabriel brought the charter marks of opening to the forefront of her mind。 the marks grew； power flowing round and round the ring； growing in force till it started to project inwards； like the narrowing vortex of a whirlpool。 golden light began to stream about the sarcophagus； visible streaks rotating clockwise around it； with greater and greater speed。
still sabriel kept the power of the charter magic flowing into the center； drawing on everything the charter mages could produce。 soldiers and schoolgirls wavered； and some fell to their knees； but the hands stayed linked； the circle plete。
slowly； the sarcophagus itself began turning on the platform； with a hideous shrieking noise； like an enormous unoiled hinge。 steam jetted forth from under its lid； but the golden light whisked it away。 still shrieking； the sarcophagus began to spin faster and faster； till it was a blur of bronze； white steam and yolk…yellow light。
then； with a scream more piercing than any before； it suddenly stopped； the lid flying off to hurtle over the charter mages’ heads； smashing into the floor a good thirty paces away。
the charter magic went too； as if earthed by its success； and the ring collapsed with fewer than half the participants still on their feet。
wavering； her hands still tightly gripped by touchstone and the magistrix； sabriel tottered over to the sarcophagus and looked in。
“why；” said miss greenwood； with a startled glance back up at touchstone； “he looks just like you！”
before touchstone could answer； steel clashed outside in the corridor； and the shouting grew louder。 those scouts still standing drew their swords and rushed to the doors—but before they could reach them； other soldiers were pouring in； bloodied； terrified soldiers； who ran to the corners； or threw themselves down； and sobbed； or laughed； or shook in silence。
behind this rush came some of the heavily armored soldiery of the corridor。 these men still had some semblance of control。 instead of running on； they hurled themselves back against the doors； and dropped the bar in place。
“he’s inside the main doors！” one of them shouted back towards sabriel； his face white with terror。 there was no doubt about who “he”
was。
“quick； the final rites！” sabriel snapped。 she drew her hands from the others’ grasp； and held them out over the body； forming the marks for fire； cleansing and peace in her mind。 she didn’t look too closely at the body。 rogir did look very much like a sleeping； defenseless touchstone。
she was tired； and there were still free magic protections around the body； but the first mark soon lingered in the air。 touchstone had transferred his hand to her shoulder； pouring power into her。 others of the circle had crept up and linked hands again—and suddenly sabriel felt a stirring of relief。 they were going to make it— kerrigor’s human body would be destroyed； and the greater part of his power with it 。 。 。
then the whole of the northern wall exploded； bricks cascading out； red dust blowing in like a solid wave； knocking everyone down in blinding； choking ruin。
sabriel lay on the floor； coughing； hands pushing feebly on the floor； knees scrabbling as she tried to get up。 there was dust and grit in her eyes； and the lanterns had all gone out。 blind； she felt around her； but there was only the stillscalding bronze of the sarcophagus。
“the blood price must be paid；” said a crackling； inhuman voice。 a familiar voice； though not the liquid； ruined tones of kerrigor 。 。 。 but the terrible speech of the night in holehallow； when the paperwing burned。
blinking furiously； sabriel crawled away from the sound； around the sarcophagus。 it didn’t speak again immediately； but she could hear it closing in； the air crackling and buzzing at its passage。
“i must deliver my last burden；” the creature said。 “then the bargain is done； and i may turn to retribution。”
sabriel blinked again； tears streaming down her face。 vision slowly came back； a picture woven with tears and the first rays of moonlight streaming through the shattered wall； a picture blurred with the red dust of pulverized bricks。
all sabr