It tle more to t t a cloud in sig, and a steady rain begun to fall, coming faster tents could be raised.
t over to turned face belo in a cloud of tient.
traig single movement telling tco knoaggered into t camp on to t even as tically small form beside t ss ill.
“too?” asked one of tcer fresism.”
up to brusopped, as a pale motion.
“Peace!” said a calm voice. “I wish you no harm.”
te s grip and tepped into t. tc cer marks, or gone to borings and s, did not relax.
trode tourned to face tco reveal taken pat, for e.
“I am called Ab ripples t a large and o a pool of stagnant er. “And tism tonight.”
ter Mage looked doravelers, our life lived under t is often h, lord.”
“Not as I do,” replied Abe face crinkled at te teet yet dead.”
tried to meet Ab faltered and looked a ill a woman said, “So.
It is easily done. Sign t Leovi’s Ford. Join us when you are finished here.”
ter Mage inclined , and ted ao pack up tance of o move, but filled er reluctance to remain near Abs, and unspoken fears.
to lay t. You will be needed.”
t it illness, could be merely sleeping. S to ter Mage.
“If ter does not—” began t Aberrupted.
“Let us see er wills.”
t the child again and sighed.
took a small bottle from aloft, crying out a c t er; one t listed all t lived or gre ogether.
As came to ttle, pulsing . ter . ouctle to to t over the child.
A great flas t cried: “By ter t binds all thee—”
Normally, ts of the name. here, only Abhorsen spoke, and he said: “Sabriel.”
As tered t’s foreer ed tism.
“But . . . but ser Mage, gingerly touco make sure truly gone.
no ansaring across t Abaring at—noted t did not see them.
Sloo rise from otled to ting to get a nooo afraid to run.
he child crying, which was good.
If s gateringent preparations, and a subsequent dilution of .
t rong, but pools and eddies t o drag ers leac, but rong, so took only t tance.
o listen, and ened fore to pass.
t Gate , o to, and topped. t yet passed t only because somet anding t of ters, was a se.
It s burning o see eyes, and tid stenc—a enc relieved the river.
Abc restless, and it squirmed toure, seeking a mot, but it only self, as if t, or caustic.
Sloo ring it. But thery voice, like a snake on gravel.
“Spirit of your spirit, Ab spell me wake e, as her has already gone.”
Abion, and replaced t Gate. o assist you so far?”
Kerrigor smiled widely, and Ab a glimpse of fires burning deep inside h.
“One of t unskilled. realize it ure of an exc sufficient for me to pass t portal. But now, you o help me.”
“I, we?”
“Yes,” if you the child . . .”
o to tream and, jerk, le fists reac to gatuff of Kerrigor like t, tried to detac tiny igo overuse rengtantly caug Abche river and Kerrigor’s grasping hands.
Stepping back, so it sounded t true, and tting, alive. Kerrigor flinc to t e.
“Some fool , as took ers seady flow.
Abared at te for a time, t, looked at tared back at ching his own.
Already, t t er mark ained had so burned Kerrigor.
S tle, and Ab a smile tilting till smiling, urned, and began to te t urn to their living flesh.
t second before Ab to pick crackled on ter a birth.
“ared at e as he.
“As you is pertle cold for her—”
ured at t roared into life, t melting at once, to steam.
“t ill morning,” said Abhorsen.
“take o my house. I shall have need of a nurse.ill you come?”
tated, and looked to ter Mage, o meet ttle girl bawling in her arms.
“You are . . . you are . . .” whe midwife.
“A necromancer?” said Ab. I loved t s. Sabriel is our c see the kinship?”
t forook Sabriel from . tened and, in a few seconds, was asleep.
“Yes,” said ter Sabriel. But you must find a -nurse . . .”
“And I daresay muc my a place for—”
ter Mage cleared , and moved around the fire.
“If you seek a man er,” antly, “I so serve, for I s o leave my fellow wanderers.”
“Per o,” replied Ab a sudden t. “I to travel, and t of t felt t of my feet.”
“Your tle, t was no longer cold.
“Yes,” said Ab not of t raise to rest. And t rest, I bind—or try to. I am Abhorsen . . .”
t e of surprise, “Father of Sabriel.”