In the reservoir

[walksindeath]

The faint light from the Charter Stones seems to turn everything to muted grey and gold from behind Sabriel's half-closed eyes. It is warm here in the centre of the reservoir, slowly melting away the chill from crossing the water earlier. She lies still in the bottom of the boat so as not to jar her leg; it still hurts, but by now in a healthier, sorer way as the spells drain away the inflammation and infection, bolstered by the strength of the Charter stones above.

The stones are always comforting, although sometimes if she thinks too deeply, she wonders if the darker traces on the rock under the flow of charter marks are Touchstone's blood, from the many months he had spent mending them. And then she remembers coming down here the first time, into the horror of black water broken stones and oncoming Dead.

Maudlin thoughts, and probably feverish.

She closes her eyes all the way, and wills the Charter to heal her faster. There's so little time for anything, these days.

Comments

[unlessidoit.livejournal.com]

"What plans?" asks Ellimere, "What are they...it...whatever...going to do?"

[walksindeath]

Sabriel glances at Touchstone, almost in hesitation.

But they agreed, and no matter that these are their children - they should know.

"We think that they plan to bring all two hundred thousand Southerling refugees into the Old Kingdom - and kill them," she says, and her voice comes out very quiet. "Two hundred thousand deaths in a single poisoned minute, to make an avenue out of Death for every spirit that has lingered there from the First Precinct to the very precipice of the Ninth Gate. The summon a host of the Dead greater than any that has ever walked in life. A host that we could not possibly defeat, even if all the Abhorsens who have ever lived were somehow to stand against them."

[makesthings]

There's a long silence after she finishes speaking and Sam found his imagination filling with a host of the Dead.

It was too easy to imagine Life-starved corpses stretching from horizon to horizon and towards him.

He wouldn't show just how frightened he was, he couldn't so he just gripped his mother's hand tightly.

[charter_npc]

Speaking into the silence, breaking it, Touchstone said, "That will not happen, of course." He said it firm as if there was no other option. No other possibility. "We will make sure that it doesn't, that the refugees never even cross the Wall. However, we can't stop the on our side. The Wall is too long, with too many broken gates and too many old Crossing Points on the other side. So we must ensure that the Ancelstierrans don't send them across in the first place. Consequently your mother and I have decided to go to Ancelstierre ourselves - secretly, so not to arouse alarm or suspicion. We will go to Covere and negotiate with their government, which will undoubtedly take several months. That mans we will be relying on you two to look after the Kingdom."

[makesthings]

Sam wasn't sure what to think of that, he knew Ellimere would manage but could he?

After swallowing a few times to gather his courage, he said, "What, ah, exactly do you mean?"

[charter_npc]

"As far as both our friends and enemies need to know, I will be on a diplomatic mission to the barbarian chefs at their Southern Stop, and Sabriel will be going about her business as mysteriously as she always does," replied Touchstone. "In our absence, Ellimere will continue as co0regent with Jall Oren -everyone seems to have become accustomed to that. Sameth, you will assist her. But most important, you will continue in your studies of the Book of the Dead."

[walksindeath]

"Speaking of such things, I have something for you," Sabriel puts in, and pushes her pack to Sam, wincing with the strain.

"Look in the top."

[makesthings]

Sam undid the straps and felt quite sick since he knew he has to tell them now.

Inside there was an oilskin-wrapped package that he slid out slowly as his fingers felt cold and clumsy and his eyes felt blurry.

[walksindeath]

"I found these at the House - or rather the sendings had set them out," Sabriel says, looking at the bells with curiosity, and missing the look on Sam's face.

"I don't know where they found them, or why they've got them out now. They are very, very old. So old that I have no record of who bore them first. I would have asked Mogget, but he still sleeps--"

[charter_npc]

Scowling Touchstone said,"Except for when I caught that salmon last year."

[walksindeath]

"Mogget would not wake," continued Sabriel, suppressing a smile without much success -- which then softens into something prouder as she looks at her son.

"But as I have my own, these are clearly meant for the Abhorsen-in-Waiting. Congratulations, Sam."

[makesthings]

Sam nodded, not even opening the package, he could feel the weight and power of the seven Charter-spelled bells of an Abhorsen.

[unlessidoit.livejournal.com]

"Aren't you going to open it?"

[makesthings]

"Later."

Sam could hear his voice sounding almost like a croak and tried for a smile that he knew didn't work.

His mother's eyes were on him, but he couldn't look at her, he kept thinking about Kait asking him why he did something he hated.

He still didn't have any other answer than there was no one else so he'd somehow learn to use the bells.

[walksindeath]

"I'm glad the bells have come," Sabriel says. "Most Abhorsens before me worked with their successors, sometimes for many years, as I hope we will work together. According to Mogget, my father trained with his aunt for nearly a decade. I have often wished I had had the same opportunity."

Mogget again, of course. She misses him oddly when he's in his deep sleep periods.

And worries for the future, knowing that some day he will break free again, and be as he is in the bar. Not that he's uncontrolled or even entirely unpleasant, there -- it's wondering how that robs her of sleep at night.

She hesitates, then continues on. Sameth is so young - but he must understand how urgently he is needed.

"To tell the truth, I will need your help, Sam."

[makesthings]

He nodded as his confession dried up in his mouth, he was the only one with the birthright, the book and the bells.

He would just have to be braver and read it, not matter how much it terrified him. Since he had to do this, there was no one else.

Finally he looked up to look his mother in the eyes sounding as sure of himself as he could manage,

"I'll do my best."

[walksindeath]

Sabriel smiles at him, so proud she thinks she might burst.

"I have to go to Ancelstierre, for I still know their ways much better than your father does," she says.

"And quite a few of my old schoolfriends have become influential, or have married so. But I didn't want to leave without knowing there was an Abhorsen here to protect the people from the Dead. Thank you, Sam."

[makesthings]

"But I'm not..."

The words rushed out before he could stop himself, she shouldn't trust so much in him,

"I'm not ready. I haven't finished the book, I mean and--"

[walksindeath]

"I'm sure you know more than you think," Sabriel says dryly, remembering the strange first days when the teachings of the Book of the Dead had sunk into her subconscious, unremembered until she needed them.

"In any case, there should be little trouble now that Spring is in full bloom. Every stream and river is flowing with snow-melt and spring rain. The days are getting longer. There are never any major threats from the Dead this late in Spring, or through the Summer. The most you'll have to deal with is a rogue Hand or pehaps a Mordaut. I have every confidence you can manage that."

[unlessidoit.livejournal.com]

"What about the missing Southerlings?" asks Ellimere, with a look that speaks volumes about her confidence in Sam. "Nine hundred Dead are a major threat."

[walksindeath]

"They must have disappeared into the area around the Red Lake or the Clayr would have Seen them," Sabriel says. She wishes they could find out just what barred the place from their Sight, but the fact that it the only known blind spot they have narrows down their search enough.

"So the should be confined there by the spring floods. I would go and deal with them first, but the greater danger lies with the many more Southerlings in Ancelstierre. We will have to trust in the flooded rivers, and in you, Sam."

[makesthings]

"But--" Sam began to say.

[walksindeath]

"Mind you, the necromancer or necromancers who oppose us are not to be trifled with," Sabriel is continuing, frowning at the thought of more than one, and of Sam facing them along.

He is still so young - and looks it more than ever right now.

"If the dare to confront you, you must fight them in Life. Do not fight one of them in Death again, Sam. You were brave to do so before, but also lucky. You must also be very careful with the bells. As you know, they can force you into Death, or trick you into it. Use them only when you are confident you have learned the lessons in the book. Do you promise?"

[makesthings]

"Yes," said Sam.

Somehow he found the breath for that word and it was full of relief. He could probably take care of the Lesser Dead with Charter Magic alone.

His resolution to be a proper Abhorsen hadn't completely gotten rid of his fear and his fingers were cold where they touched the wrapped-up bells.

[charter_npc]

Not noticing the uneasiness in his son, Touchstone turned to other matters. "Now," He said, "I wonder if you have any insights into dealing with the Ancelstierrans, you two, from your schooling there. This Corolini for instance, the leaser of the Our Country Party. Could he be from the Old Kingdom himself, do you think?"