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hand went up to touch the band； fingernails falling as he did so； bone already pushing through at the fingertips。
“what is this？ some relic of 。 。 。”
the ring constricted； cutting through the pulpy flesh of his neck； revealing the solid darkness within。 that too was pressed； forced inwards； pulsating as it tried to escape。 two flaming eyes looked down in disbelief。
“impossible；” croaked kerrigor。 snarling； he pushed sabriel away； throwing her to the floor。
in the same motion he drew the sword from his chest； the blade slowly ing free with a sound like a rasp on hardwood。
swiftly as a snake； arm and sword went out； striking through sabriel； through armor and flesh and deep into the wooden floor beyond。
pain exploded； and sabriel screamed； body convulsing around the blade in one awful reflexive curve。
kerrigor left her there； impaled like a bug in a collection； and advanced upon touchstone。
sabriel； through eyes fogged with pain； saw kerrigor look down and rip a long； jagged splinter from one of the pews。
“rogir；” touchstone said。 “rogir 。 。 。”
the splinter came down with a strangled shriek of rage。 sabriel closed her eyes and looked away； slipping into a world of her own； a world of pain。
she knew she should do something about the blood pouring out of her stomach； but now— with touchstone dead—she just lay where she was； and let it bleed。
then sabriel realized she hadn’t felt touchstone die。
she looked again。 the splinter had broken on his armored coat。 kerrigor was reaching out for another splinter—but the silver ring had slipped down to his shoulders now； shredding the flesh away as it fell； like an apple corer punching the dead spirit out of the rotting corpse。
kerrigor struggled and shrieked； but the ring bound his arms。 capering madly； he threw himself from side to side； seeking to cast off the silver band that held him—only causing yet more flesh to fall away； till no flesh remained； nothing but a raging column of darkness； constrained by a silver ring。
then the column collapsed upon itself like a demolished building； to bee a mound of rippling shadow； the silver ring shining like a ribbon。 a gleaming red eye shone amidst the silver—but that was only the ruby； grown to match the metal。
there were charter marks on the ring again； but sabriel couldn’t read them。 her eyes wouldn’t focus； and it was too dark。 the moonlight seemed to have gone。 still； she knew what must be done。 saraneth—her hand crept to the bandolier； but the sixth bell wasn’t there—or the seventh； or the third。 careless of me； thought sabriel； careless— but i must plete the binding。 her hand fell on belgaer for a moment； and almost drew it—but no； that would be release 。 。 。 finally； she drew ranna； whimpering with the pain of even that small movement。
ranna was unusually heavy； for so slight a bell。 sabriel rested it against her chest for a moment； gathering strength。 then； lying on her back； transfixed with her own sword； she rang the bell。
ranna sounded sweet； and felt forting； like a long…expected bed。 the sound echoed through the hall； and out； to where a few men still battled with the dead。 all who heard it ceased their struggles； and lay themselves down。
the badly wounded slipped easily into death； joining the dead who had followed kerrigor； those less hurt fell into a healing sleep。
the mound of darkness that had been kerrigor split into two distinct hemispheres； bounded by an equatorial ring of silver。 one hemisphere was as black as coal； the other a gleaming white。
gradually； they melted into two distinct forms— two cats； joined at the throat like siamese twins。
then the silver ring split in two； a ring around each neck； and the cats separated。 the rings lost their brilliance； slowly changing color and texture till they were red leather bands； each supporting a miniature bell； a miniature ranna。
two small cats sat side by side。 one black； one white。 both leaned forward； throats moving； and each spat up a silver ring。 the cats yawned as the rings rolled towards sabriel； then curled up and went to sleep。
touchstone watched the rings roll through the dust； silver flashing in the moonlight。 they hit sabriel’s side； but she didn’t pick them up。 both her hands still clutched ranna； but it was silent； resting below her breasts。 her sword loomed above her； blade and hilt casting the moonshadow of a cross upon her face。
something from his childhood memory flashed through touchstone’s mind。 a voice； a messenger’s voice； speaking to his mother。
“highness； we bring sorrowful tidings。 the abhorsen is dead。”
epilogue death seemed colder than ever before； sabriel thought； and wondered why； till she realized she was still lying down。
in the water； being carried along by the current。
for a moment； she started to struggle； then she relaxed。
“everyone and everything has a time to die 。 。 。”
she whispered。 the living world and its cares seemed far away。 touchstone lived； and that made her glad； inasmuch as she could feel anything。
kerrigor was defeated； imprisoned if not made truly dead。 her work was done。 soon she would pass beyond the ninth gate； and rest forever 。 。 。
something grabbed her arms and legs； picked her up out of the water and set her down on her feet。
“this is not your time；” said a voice； a voice echoed by half a hundred others。
sabriel blinked； for there were many shining human shapes around her； hovering above the water。 more than she could count。 not dead spirits； but something else； like the mothersending called by the paper boat。 their shapes were vague； but instantly recognizable； for all wore the deep blue with the silver keys。 every one was an abhorsen。
“go back；” they chorused。 “go back。”
“i can’t；” sobbed sabriel。 “i’m dead！ i haven’t the strength 。 。 。”
“you are the last abhorsen；” the voices whispered； the shining shapes closing in。 “you cannot pass this way until there is another。 you do have the strength within you。 live； abhorsen； live 。 。 。”
suddenly； she did have the strength。 enough to crawl； wade and fall back up the river； and gingerly edge back into life； her shin