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her has already gone。鈥�
abhorsen frowned； in recognition； and replaced the bell。 鈥測ou have a new shape； kerrigor。 and you are now this side of the first gate。 who was foolish enough to assist you so far？鈥�
kerrigor smiled widely； and abhorsen caught a glimpse of fires burning deep inside his mouth。
鈥渙ne of the usual calling；鈥潯e croaked。 鈥渂ut unskilled。 he didn鈥檛 realize it would be in the nature of an exchange。 alas； his life was not sufficient for me to pass the last portal。 but now； you have e to help me。鈥�
鈥渋； who chained you beyond the seventh gate？鈥�
鈥測es；鈥潯hispered kerrigor。 鈥渢he irony does not； i think； escape you。 but if you want the child 。 。 。鈥�
he made as if to throw the baby into the stream and； with that jerk； woke her。 immediately； she began to cry and her little fists reached out to gather up the shadow…stuff of kerrigor like the folds of a robe。 he cried out； tried to detach her； but the tiny hands held tightly and he was forced to overuse his strength； and threw her from him。 she landed； squalling； and was instantly caught up in the flow of the river； but abhorsen lunged forward； snatching her from both the river and kerrigor鈥檚 grasping hands。
stepping back； he drew the silver bell onehanded； and swung it so it sounded twice。 the sound was curiously muffled； but true； and the clear chime hung in the air； fresh and cutting； alive。 kerrigor flinched at the sound； and fell backwards to the darkness that was the gate。
鈥渟ome fool will soon bring me back； and then 。 。 。鈥潯e cried out； as the river took him under。 the waters swirled and gurgled and then resumed their steady flow。
abhorsen stared at the gate for a time； then sighed and； placing the bell back in his belt； looked at the baby held in his arm。 she stared back at him； dark eyes matching his own。
already； the color had been drained from her skin。 nervously； abhorsen laid a hand across the brand on her forehead and felt the glow of her spirit within。 the charter mark had kept her life contained when the river should have drained it。 it was her life…spirit that had so burned kerrigor。
she smiled up at him and gurgled a little； and abhorsen felt a smile tilting the corner of his own mouth。 still smiling； he turned； and began the long wade back up the river； to the gate that would return them both to their living flesh。
the baby wailed a scant second before abhorsen opened his eyes； so that the midwife was already halfway around the dying fire； ready to pick her up。 frost crackled on the ground and icicles hung from abhorsen鈥檚 nose。 he wiped them off with a sleeve and leaned over the child； much as any anxious father does after a birth。
鈥渉ow is the babe？鈥潯e asked； and the midwife stared at him wonderingly； for the dead child was now loudly alive and as deathly white as he。
鈥渁s you hear； lord；鈥潯he answered。 鈥渟he is very well。 it is perhaps a little cold for her鈥斺��
he gestured at the fire and spoke a word； and it roared into life； the frost melting at once； the raindrops sizzling into steam。
鈥渢hat will do till morning；鈥潯aid abhorsen。
鈥渢hen i shall take her to my house。 i shall have need of a nurse。will you e？鈥�
the midwife hesitated； and looked to the charter mage； who still lingered on the far side of the fire。 he refused to meet her glance and she looked down once more at the little girl bawling in her arms。
鈥測ou are 。 。 。 you are 。 。 。鈥潯hispered the midwife。
鈥渁 necromancer？鈥潯aid abhorsen。 鈥渙nly of a sort。 i loved the woman who lies here。 she would have lived if she had loved another； but she did not。 sabriel is our child。 can you not see the kinship？鈥�
the midwife looked at him as he leant forward and took sabriel from her； rocking her on his chest。 the baby quietened and； in a few seconds； was asleep。
鈥測es；鈥潯aid the midwife。 鈥渋 shall e with you； and look after sabriel。 but you must find a wet…nurse 。 。 。鈥�
鈥渁nd i daresay much else besides；鈥潯used abhorsen。 鈥渂ut my house is not a place for鈥斺��
the charter mage cleared his throat； and moved around the fire。
鈥渋f you seek a man who knows a little of the charter；鈥潯e said hesitantly； 鈥渋 should wish to serve； for i have seen its work in you； lord； though i am loath to leave my fellow wanderers。鈥�
鈥減erhaps you will not have to；鈥潯eplied abhorsen； smiling at a sudden thought。 鈥渋 wonder if your leader will object to two new members joining her band。 for my work means i must travel； and there is no part of the kingdom that has not felt the imprint of my feet。鈥�
鈥測our work？鈥潯sked the man； shivering a little； though it was no longer cold。
鈥測es；鈥潯aid abhorsen。 鈥渋 am a necromancer； but not of the mon kind。 where others of the art raise the dead； i lay them back to rest。 and those that will not rest； i bind鈥攐r try to。 i am abhorsen 。 。 。鈥�
he looked at the baby again； and added； almost with a note of surprise； 鈥渇ather of sabriel。鈥�
w w w。 xiao shuotxt。 co m
chapter 1
灏忥伎璇磘xt澶�/鍫�
the rabbit had been run over minutes before。 its pink eyes were glazed and blood stained its clean white fur。 unnaturally clean fur； for it had just escaped from a bath。 it still smelt faintly of lavender water。
a tall； curiously pale young woman stood over the rabbit。 her night…black hair； fashionably bobbed； was hanging slightly over her face。
she wore no makeup or jewelry； save for an enamelled school badge pinned to her regulation navy blazer。 that； coupled with her long skirt； stockings and sensible shoes； identified her as a schoolgirl。 a nameplate under the badge read 鈥渟abriel鈥潯nd the roman 鈥渧i鈥潯nd gilt crown proclaimed her to be both a member of the sixth form and a prefect。
the rabbit was； unquestionably； dead。 sabriel looked up from it and back along the bricked drive that left the road and curved up to an imposing pair of wrought…iron gates。 a sign above the gate； in gilt letters of mock gothic； announced that they were the gates to wyverley college。 smaller letters added that the school was 鈥渆stablished in for young ladies of quality。鈥�
a small figure was busy climbing over the gate； nimbly avoiding the spikes that were supposed to stop such activities。 she dropped the last few feet and started running； her pigtails flying； shoes clacking on the bricks。 her head was down to gain momentum； but as cruising speed was established； she looked up； saw sabriel and the dead rabbit； and screamed。
鈥渂unny！鈥�
sabriel flinched as the girl screamed； hesitated for a moment； then bent down by the rabbit鈥檚 side and reached out with one pale hand to touch it between its long ears。 her eyes closed and her face set as if she had suddenly turned to stone。 a faint whistling sound came from her slightly parted lips； like the wind heard from far away。 frost formed on her fingertips and rimed the asphalt beneath her feet and knees。
the other girl； running； saw her suddenly tip forward over the rabbit； and topple towards the road； but at the last minute her hand came out and she caught herself。 a second later； she had regained her balance and was using both hands to restrain the rabbit鈥攁 rabbit now ine