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wall； a picture blurred with the red dust of pulverized bricks。
all sabriel’s senses were screaming inside her。
free magic； the dead； danger all around 。 。 。
the creature that had once been mogget blazed a little more than five yards away。 it was squatter than it had appeared previously； but equally misshapen； a lumpy body slowly drifting towards her atop a column of twisting； whirling energies。
a soldier suddenly leapt up behind it； driving a sword deep into its back。 it hardly noticed； but the man screamed and burst into white flames。
within a second； he was consumed； his sword a molten lump of metal； scorching the thick oak planks of the floor。
“i bring you abhorsen’s sword；” the creature said； dropping a long； dimly seen object to one side。 “and the bell called astarael。”
that； it laid carefully down； the silver glinting momentarily before it was lowered into the sea of dust。
“e forward； abhorsen。 it is long since time that we begun。”
the thing laughed then； a sound like a match igniting； and it started to move around the sarcophagus。
sabriel loosened the ring on her finger； and edged away； keeping the sarcophagus between them； her thoughts racing。 kerrigor was very near； but there still might be time to turn this creature back into mogget； and plete the final rites 。 。 。
“stop！”
the word was like a foul lick across the face by a reptilian tongue； but there was power behind it。 sabriel stood still； against her own desire； as did the blazing thing。 sabriel tried looking past it； lidding her eyes against the light； trying to puzzle out what was happening at the other end of the hall。 not that she really needed to see。
it was kerrigor。 the soldiers who’d barred the door lay dead around him； pale flesh islands about a sea of darkness。 he had no shape now； but there were semi…human features in the great ink…splash of his presence。 eyes of white fire； and a yawning mouth that was lined with flickering coals of a red as dark as drying blood。
“abhorsen is mine；” croaked kerrigor； his voice deep and somehow liquid； as if his words came bubbling out like lava mixed with spittle。
“you will leave her to me。”
the mogget…thing crackled； and moved again； white sparks falling like tiny stars in its wake。
“i have waited too long to allow my revenge to be taken by another！” it hissed； ending on a high…pitched yowl that still had something of the cat。 then it flew at kerrigor； a shining electric et hurtling into the darkness of his body； smashing into his shadowy substance like a hammer tenderizing meat。
for a moment； no one moved； shocked by the suddenness of the attack。 then； kerrigor’s dark shape slowly recongealed； long tendrils of bitter night wrapping around his brilliant attacker； choking and absorbing it with the implacable voracity of an octopus strangling a brightshelled turtle。
desperately； sabriel looked around for touchstone and magistrix greenwood。 brick dust was still falling slowly through the moonlit air； like some deadly rust…colored gas； the bodies lying around seemingly victims of its choking poison。 but they had been struck by bricks； or wooden splinters from the smashing of the pews。
sabriel saw the magistrix first； lying a little away； curled up on her side。 anyone else might have thought her merely unconscious； but sabriel knew she was dead； struck by a long； stiletto…like splinter from a shattered pew。 the iron…hard wood had driven right through her。
she knew touchstone was alive—and there he was； propped up against a pile of broken masonry。 his eyes reflected the moonlight。
sabriel walked over to him； stepping between the bodies and the rubble； the patches of freshly spilled blood and the silent； hopeless wounded。
“my leg is broken；” touchstone said； his mouth showing the pain of it。 he tilted his head towards the gaping hole in the wall。 “run； sabriel。 while he’s busy。 run south。 live a normal life 。 。 。”
“i can’t；” replied sabriel softly。 “i am the abhorsen。 besides； how could you run with me； you with your broken leg？”
“sabriel 。 。 。”
but sabriel had already turned away。 she picked up astarael； practiced hands keeping it still。 but there was no need； for the bell was choked with brick dust； its voice silent。 it would not ring true until cleaned； with patience； magic and steady nerves。 sabriel stared at it for a second； then gently placed it back down on the floor。
her father’s sword was only a few paces further away。 she picked it up； and watched the charter marks flow along the blade。 this time； they didn’t run through the normal inscription； but said： “the clayr saw me； the wallmaker made me； the king quenched me； the abhorsen wields me so that no dead shall walk in life。 for this is not their path。”
“this is not their path；” whispered sabriel。 she took up the guard position； and looked down the hall to the writhing hulk of darkness that was kerrigor。
。。
chapter xxix
gxiaoshuowang
kerrigor seemed to have finished with the free magic thing that had once been mogget。 his great cloud of darkness was plete again； with no sign of white fire； no dazzling brilliance fighting away within。
he was remarkably still； and sabriel had a moment’s brief hope that he was somehow wounded。 then the awful realization came。
kerrigor was digesting； like a glutton after an overly ambitious meal。
sabriel shuddered at the thought； bile tainting her mouth。 not that her end was likely to be better。 both she and touchstone would be taken alive； and kept that way； till they pumped out their life’s blood； throats yawning； down in the dark of the reservoir 。 。 。
she shook her head； dispelling that image。
there had to be something 。 。 。 kerrigor had to be weaker； so far from the old kingdom 。 。 。
perhaps weakened more than her charter magic。 she doubted that a single bell could sway him； but two； in concert？ it was dark in the hall； save for the moonlight falling through the shattered wall behind her。 and quiet。 even the wounded were slipping away in silence； their cries muted； last wishes whispered。 they kept their agony close； as if a scream might attract the wrong attention。 there w