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es whispered。 they kept their agony close； as if a scream might attract the wrong attention。 there were things worse than death in the hall 。 。 。
even in darkness； the form of kerrigor was darker still。 sabriel watched him carefully； undoing the straps that held saraneth and kibeth with her left hand。 she sensed other dead all around； but none entered the hall。
there were still men to fight； or feast upon。
what went on in the hall was their master’s business。
the straps came undone。 kerrigor didn’t move； his burning eyes closed； his fiery mouth shut。
in one quick motion； sabriel sheathed her sword； and drew the bells。
kerrigor did move then。 swiftly； his dark bulk bounding forward； halving the gap between them。 he grew taller too； stretching upwards till he almost reached the vaulted ceiling。 his eyes opened to full； raging； flaming fury； and he spoke。
“toys； abhorsen。 and too late。 much too late。”
it was not just words he spoke； but power； free magic power that froze sabriel’s nerves； caught at her muscles。 desperately； she struggled to ring the bells； but her wrists were locked in place 。 。 。
tantalizingly slowly； kerrigor glided forward； till he was a mere arm’s length away； towering over her like some colossal statue of rough…hewn night； his breath rolling down on her with the stench of a thousand abattoirs。
someone—a girl quietly coughing out her last breath on the floor—touched sabriel’s ankle with a light caress。 a small spark of golden charter magic came from that dying touch； slowly swelling into sabriel’s veins； traveling upwards； warming joints； freeing muscles。 at last it reached her wrists and hands—and the bells rang out。
it was not the clear； true sound it should be； for somehow the bulk of kerrigor took the sound in and warped it—but it had an effect。
kerrigor slid back； and was diminished； till he was little more than twice sabriel’s height。
but he was not subject to sabriel’s will。
saraneth had not bound him； and kibeth had only forced him back。
sabriel rang the bells again； concentrating on the difficult counterpoint between them； forcing all her will into their magic。 kerrigor would fall under her domination； he would walk where she willed 。 。 。
and for a second； he did。 not into death； for she lacked the power； but into his original body； inside the broken sarcophagus。 even as the chime of the bells faded； kerrigor changed。
fiery eyes and mouth ran into each other like molten wax； and his shadow…stuff folded into a narrow column of smoke； roaring up into the ceiling。 it hovered among the rafters for a moment； then descended with a hideous scream； straight into the rogir…body’s open mouth。
with that scream； saraneth and kibeth cracked； shards of silver falling like broken stars； crashing to the earth。 mahogany handles turned to dust； drifting through sabriel’s fingers like smoke。
sabriel stared at her empty hands for a second； still feeling the harsh imprint of bell…handles 。 。 。
then； without any conscious thought； there was a sword hilt in her hand as she advanced upon the sarcophagus。 but before she could see into it； rogir stood up and looked at her—looked with the burning fire…pit eyes of kerrigor。
“an inconvenience；” he said； with a voice that was only marginally more human。 “i should have remembered you were a troublesome brat。”
sabriel lunged at him； sword blowing white sparks as it struck； punching through his chest to project out the other side。 but kerrigor only laughed； and reached down till he held the blade with both hands； knuckles pallid against the silver…sparking steel。 sabriel tugged at the sword； but it would not e free。
“no sword can harm me；” kerrigor said； with a giggle like a dying man’s cough。 “not even one made by the wallmakers。 especially not now； when i have finally assumed the last of their powers。 power that ruled before the charter； power that made the wall。 i have it now。 i have that broken puppet； my half…brother—and i have you； my abhorsen。 power； and blood— blood for the breaking！”
he reached out； and pulled the sword further into his chest； till the hilt was lodged against his skin。 sabriel tried to let go； but he was too quick； one chill hand clutching her forearm。 irresistibly； kerrigor drew her towards him。
“will you sleep； unknowing； till the great stones are ready for your blood？” whispered kerrigor； his breath still reeking of carrion。 “or will you go waking； every step of the way？”
sabriel stared back； meeting his gaze for the first time。 surely； there in the hellfire of his eyes； she could see the faintest spark of blazing white？ she unclenched her left fist； and felt the silver ring slip down her finger。 was it expanding？ “what would you have； abhorsen？” continued kerrigor； his mouth peeling back； skin already breaking at the corners； the spirit within corroding even this magically preserved flesh。
“your lover crawls towards us—a pathetic sight—but i shall have the next kiss 。 。 。”
the ring was hanging in sabriel’s hand； hidden behind her back。 it had grown larger—but she could still feel the metal expanding 。 。 。
kerrigor’s blistered lips moved towards hers； and still the ring moved in her hand。 his breath was overpowering； reeking of blood； but she had long gone beyond throwing up。 she turned her head aside at the last second； and felt； dry； corpse…like flesh slide across her cheek。
“a sisterly kiss；” chuckled kerrigor。 “a kiss for an uncle who has known you since birth—or slightly before—but it is not enough 。 。 。”
again； his words were not just words。 sabriel felt a force grip her head； and move it back to face him； while her mouth was wedged apart； as if in passionate expectation。
but her left arm was free。
kerrigor’s head bent forward； his face looming larger and larger—then silver flashed between them； and the ring was around his neck。
sabriel felt the pulsion snap off； and she leant back； trying to hurl herself away。 but kerrigor didn’t let go of her arm。 he seemed surprised； but not anxious。 his right hand went up to touch the band； fingernails falling as he did so； bone already pushing through at t