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[walksindeath]

Sabriel had meant to stay in the bar after speaking to Blodwen, but the experience had shaken her more than she had liked to show. The woman is terrifying just by being, and yet so apparently rational, so cool. Kerrigor had retained his wits, but no ability to mimic humanity in conversation that way, and yet...

They are all too alike.

The Abhorsen has seen a great deal in her years since taking up the bells, but there are some things that still frighten her.

She really must speak with Sameth. Her own door is still gone, but if his is back... far better if he is away. The forge would seem her most likely chance of finding him, so there is her first port of call, knocking on the door and then peering in anyway.

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[walksindeath]

Sabriel steps a little further in before hesitating and reaching for the Charter with a soft, absent whistle to create a simple anti-eavesdropping ward.

"What are you making?" she asks as she walks slowly around them in a wide circle to mark the boundaries.

[makesthings]

The ward makes him look around, its not one that he's used before and he's trying to spot how it works.

Also this gives him time to think of a decent explanation,

"I'm not sure quite yet. I think its going to end up a frog."

[walksindeath]

It is barely visible, just translucent Charter marks shivering in the air and joined by a thin line that nevertheless blocks sound from outside as it grows towards completion.

Sabriel nods at him explanation, then draws the master Mark to join the chain together, and the ward begins a faint glow to the eyes of those sensitive to the Charter.

"I spoke to Blodwen Rowlands," she says without preamble.

[makesthings]

Even watching the spell isn't enough distraction to hide suddenly how pale he goes,

"What happened?"

[walksindeath]

Sabriel turns once the ward is complete, the mark on her forehead cooling to a pale trace once again.

"We were polite," Sabriel says, accurately, and probably very unhelpfully.

[makesthings]

"T.that's good."

He'd like to know more but he's not sure the best way to ask.

[walksindeath]

Sabriel pauses, trying to find the right words.

The woman had scared her, as much for the familiarity as the strangeness of the power sense she'd felt.

"She is extremely dangerous, as you obviously know." One hand brushes her throat, apparently unconsciously. "I hope she will take me seriously."

The Abhorsen is ready and willing to act, should any overt threat be made towards her son. But the fact remains that she is very unsure whether she would win - and what the cost of trying would be.

[makesthings]

"I.i don't know how she thinks, but I can't think how she wouldn't."

It shakes him to see his mother so unsure and he's not sure of a way to comfort her or if he even can.

[walksindeath]

"Let us hope that neither does she," Sabriel says, forcing a smile, which slips almost as soon as she looks back at her son.

"Sam... I know this is a small place, but please stay as far from her as you can. I am sure you can recognise the sense of her by now. She is not something you should have to fight."

Never mind that she faced Kerrigor when she was only a little older than Sameth, and less educated, in some ways. Blodwen Rowlands is different, and Sam is... young. In more than one way.

[makesthings]

"I will. I promise that I will, Mother."

He doesn't want to though its hard when she looks at him that way since he's letting her down in so many ways.

[walksindeath]

She smiles a little more at that, and reaches up to touch his shoulder, awkward but warm and loving.

"Thank you. The less reason we give her after all, the fewer excuses she has to misbehave. And she makes me itch. To have her gone or bound to cause no harm would be a great relief."

[makesthings]

"Of course and many people here fear and hate her so she will be dealt with, I hope."

The touch is nice but he's never sure what to do and so gives her a worried smile.

[walksindeath]

If he could see past her outward confidence, he might see that Sabriel is more than a little worried herself.

But years of practise are rather hard to put aside.

"There does seem to a be a lot of official interest," she agrees. "I think that is reassuring."

Thinks.

[makesthings]

"Yes, but I'm not sure everything they can do, but she's known danger."

He looks down and absently adjusts a piece of metal on the leg, it should be easier to talk to her somehow.

[walksindeath]

"It will do for now."

This next... will possibly not help.

"Now - what is this about you being arrested, Sam?"

[makesthings]

Its quite striking just how fast he can go pale and look worried and sheepish,

"Um, I didn't mean to."

He also didn't mean for her to find out about it.

[walksindeath]

"No," she says dryly, one eyebrow quirking. "I imagine you didn't."

Then the mild amusement at his deer-in-the-headlights look cracks from anxiety.

"What happened? I know you can't have been there long, but..."

She trails off, looking about equal parts displeased and worried. Cells, in her admittedly limited experience*, are unpleasant.

* Apart from that one time she went too far south in a Charter-unfriendly area of Ancelstierre and there was almost a diplomatic incident when Touchstone found out.

[makesthings]

Maybe if he says it quickly and simply that will work best,

"A.after the attack, a woman in Security asked me some questions and I didn't tell her very much. Apparently she spoke to Blodwen so when I came in from the forge one day, she pointed at me and said I'd attacked her. I.i had, it was foolish and stupid and so I spent two days in the cells."

[walksindeath]

Sabriel resists the urge to tear her hair out, and rubs her forehead instead.

"Oh, Sam," she says, trying to put aside the slight glow of pride that he'd tried to take on an Abhorsen's duty even when so outmatched.

Bravery is all very well until he gets himself killed.

[makesthings]

"Sorry."

His voice sounds small as he looks down at his work and thinks of all the other ways he's disappointing her that she doesn't know.

[walksindeath]

"Did they treat you all right?"

She waves a frustrated hand.

"No, I know, it was supposed to be a punishment. Did they?"

Sabriel, it should be said, is a somewhat unreliable discipliarian.

(Unless it's to the Dead. There, she is extremely reliable.)

[makesthings]

"Y.yes, the cells are nice and have a sort of Sending built into them."

[walksindeath]

"Really?"

She needs to see that.

Wait, no, parental diapproval. She frowns at him in mixed frustration and anxiety, hands on her hips

"I... You know, I think you know everything I could say about provoking powerful beings."

[makesthings]

Her confusion gets a small smile from him, he and Ellimere used to try and guess what she would do if she had to punish them. It wasn't too hard to guess because she never seemed to know what to do,

"I promise that I won't provoke or approach her again."

[walksindeath]

Sabriel pauses just a moment.

It seems somehow unnecessary to point out that in ordinary circumstances, he wouldn't get a second chance.

But if it's anybody's job to point it out...

"Her or anyone like her," she says. "Your priority at the moment should always be getting away, and getting help."

[makesthings]

"Yes, I'll do my best to stay clear of the more dangerous people here."

He knows he shouldn't be smiling but carefully parsing words reminds him of the arguments he made to be able to spend time in the castle forge when he was younger.

[walksindeath]

Sabriel raises her eyebrow.

"Will you?"

Attracting danger is something of a family trait.

[makesthings]

"I'd much rather be in here making things than getting hurt or put in the cells again."

Which is the complete and utter truth, there's more he wishes he could say but this is best for now.

[walksindeath]

Well, quite, but Sabriel has lived with the Abhorsen trouble-attracting gene for a long time now. She knows how it can be!

"So long as you remember that in times of stress."

[makesthings]

"I will."

Its not enough, but its what he can say and mean.

[walksindeath]

Sabriel looks at Sameth, but only lets out a breath gently.

She has to trust him.

"All right."

[makesthings]

How long she takes is hard, he can do some things, not enough but some.

Though now he's not sure what to say, he doesn't want her to leave again, but just has no idea where to start.

[walksindeath]

"I'll let you get back to work," she says eventually.

Sabriel would watch, but feels uncomfortably as if she'll be breathing down his neck. She always hated teachers who did that at Wyverley.

[makesthings]

He doesn't want her to leave yet, but talking is so hard,

"You can stay. I don't mind having anyone here while I'm working. I tend to get lost in the work."

[walksindeath]

Sabriel can't help smiling a little then.

"I noticed," she says. "Go on, then. I promise not to interrupt except in emergencies."

Even semi-joking, the Abhorsen allows for the possibility of emergencies. It's statistical likelihood taking its toll.

[makesthings]

That just gets a grin from him and a slightly sheepish look,

"I haven't burned myself in a while."

Then he turns back to his work and at first, it takes a while to not be too aware of her there. Though in time, he forgets and gets lost in trying to find the best way to make the leg move as he wants it to.

[walksindeath]

And true to her word, Sabriel stays quiet, just watching how he does, and being ever more impressed by how quickly and intuitively her son works.

It's a good feeling.