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wind。
as she’d expected； dawn had brought some light to the sinkhole； and as the day progressed； this had grown to a level approximating twilight。
sabriel could read and see things close by quite clearly； but they merged into indistinct gloom twenty or thirty yards away。
not that the sinkhole was much larger than that—perhaps a hundred yards in diameter； not the fifty she’d guessed at when she was ing down。 the entire floor of it was paved； with a circular drain in the middle； and there were several tunnel entrances into the sheer rock walls—tunnels which sabriel knew she would eventually have to take； as there was no water in the sinkhole。 there seemed little chance of rain； either。 it was cool； but nowhere near as cold as the plateau near abhorsen’s house。
the climate was mitigated by proximity to the ocean； and an altitude that could easily be sealevel or below； for in daylight sabriel could see that the sinkhole was at least a hundred yards deep。
still； with a half…full canteen of water gurgling by her side； sabriel was quite content to slouch upon her slightly scorched pack and apply herbal creams to her bruises； and a poultice of evilsmelling tanmaril leaves to her strange sunburn。
her nose was a different matter when it came to treatment。 it wasn’t broken—merely hideous； swollen and encrusted with dried blood； which hurt too much to clean off pletely。
mogget； after an hour or so of sheepish silence； sauntered off to explore； refusing sabriel’s offer of hard cakes and dried meat for breakfast。 she expected he’d find a rat； or something equally appetizing； instead。 in a way； she was quite pleased he was gone。 the memory of the free magic beast that lay within the little white cat was still disturbing。
even so； when the sun had risen to bee a little disc surrounded by the greater circumference of the sinkhole’s rim； she started to wonder why he hadn’t e back。 levering herself up； she limped over to the tunnel he’d chosen； using her sword as a walking stick and plaining quietly as every bruise reminded her of its location。
of course； just as she was lighting a candle at the tunnel entrance mogget reappeared behind her。
“looking for me？” he mewed； innocently。
“who else？” replied sabriel。 “have you found anything？ anything useful； i mean。 water； for instance。”
“useful？” mused mogget； rubbing his chin back along his two outstretched front legs。
“perhaps。 interesting； certainly。 water？ yes。”
“how far away？” asked sabriel； all too aware of her bruise…limited mobility。 “and what does interesting mean？ dangerous？”
“not far； by this tunnel；” replied mogget。
“there is a little danger getting there—a trap and a few other oddments； but nothing that will harm you。 as to the interesting part； you will have to see for yourself； abhorsen。”
“sabriel；” said sabriel automatically； as she tried to think ahead。 she needed at least two days’ rest； but no more than that。 every day lost before she found her father’s corporeal body might mean disaster。 she simply had to find him soon。
a mordicant； shadow hands； gore crows—it was now all too clear that some terrible enemy was arrayed against both father and daughter。
that enemy had already trapped her father； so it had to be a very powerful necromancer； or some greater dead creature。 perhaps this kerrigor 。 。 。
“i’ll get my pack；” she decided； trudging back； mogget slipping backwards and forwards across her path like a kitten； almost tripping her； but always just getting out of the way。 sabriel put this down to inexplicable catness； and didn’t ment。
as mogget had promised； the tunnel wasn’t long； and its well…made steps and cross…hatched floor made passage easy； save for the part where sabriel had to follow the little cat exactly across the stones； to avoid a cleverly concealed pit。
without mogget’s guidance； sabriel knew she would have fallen in。
there were magical wardings too。 old； inimical spells lay like moths in the corners of the tunnel； waiting to fly up at her； to surround and choke her with power—but something checked their first reaction and they settled again。 a few times； sabriel experienced a ghostly touch； like a hand reaching out to brush the charter mark on her forehead； and almost at the end of the tunnel； she saw two guard sendings melting into the rock； the tips of their halberds glinting in her candlelight before they； too； merged into stone。
“where are we going？” she whispered； nervously； as the door in front of them slowly creaked open—without visible means of propulsion。
“another sinkhole；” mogget said； matter…offactly。
“it is where the first blood 。 。 。 ach 。 。 。”
he choked； hissed； and then rephrased his sentence rather drably； with “it is interesting。”
“what do you mean—” sabriel began； but she fell silent as they passed the doorway； magical force suddenly tugging at her hair； her hands； her surcoat； the hilt of her sword。 mogget’s fur stood on end； and his collar rotated halfway around of its own accord； till the charter marks of binding were uppermost and clearly readable； bright against the leather。
then they were out； standing at the bottom of another sinkhole； in a premature twilight； for the sun was already slipping over the circumscribed horizon of the sinkhole rim。
this sinkhole was much wider than the first— perhaps a mile across； and deeper； say six or seven hundred feet。 despite its size； the entire vast pit was sealed off from the upper air by a gleaming； web…thin net； which seemed to merge into the rim wall about a quarter of the way down from the surface。 sunlight had given it away； but even so； sabriel had to use her telescope to see the delicate diamond…pattern weave clearly。 it looked flimsy； but the presence of several dessicated bird…corpses indicated considerable strength。 sabriel guessed the unfortunate birds had dived into the net； eyes greedily intent on food below。
in the sinkhole itself； there was considerable； if uninspiring vegetation—mostly stunted trees and malformed bushes。 but sabriel had little attention to spare for the trees； for in between each of these straggling patches of greenery； there were paved areas—and on each of these paved areas rested a ship。
fourteen open…decked； single…masted longboats； their black sails set to catch a nonexistent wind； oars out to battle an imaginary tide。 they flew many flags and standards； all limp against mast and rigging； but sabriel didn’t need to see them unfurled to know what strange cargo these ships might bear。 she’d heard of this place； as had every child in the northern parts of ancelstierre； close to the old kingdom。 hundreds of tales of treasure； adventure and romance were woven around this strange harbor。
“funerary ships；” said sabriel。 “royal ships。”
she had further confirmation that this was so； for there were binding spells woven into the very dirt her feet scuffed at the tunnel entrance； spells of final death that could only have been laid by an abhorsen。 no necromancer would ever raise any of the ancient rulers of the old kingdom。
“the famous burial ground of the first 。 。 。
ckkk 。 。 。 the kings and queens of the old