"Touchstone," Sabriel says softly, and reaches for her husband's hand, trying to take it without stretching her injured leg.

"Calm down. I agree. You know I agree."

He grumbles under his breath, but doesn't continue. "It's true," she says, this time directing it at Sam and Ellie. "There is a clear pattern, and not just in the Dead that have been raised solely to ambush me. I think that the increasing number of Free Magic elementals is also connected, as is the trouble that your father has been having with the Southerling refugees."