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recent experience。 instead； she cut the woman’s bonds； and arranged her as best she could； ending up with a sort of curled…up sleeping position。
“i don’t know your name； healer；” sabriel whispered。 “but i hope you go quickly beyond the final gate。 farewell。”
she stood back and drew the charter marks for the funeral pyre above the corpse； whispering the names of the marks as she did so—but her fingers fumbled and words went awry。 the baleful influence of the broken stone pressed against her； like a wrestler gripping her wrists； clamping her jaw。 sweat beaded on her forehead； and pain shot through her limbs； her hands shaking with effort； tongue clumsy； seeming swollen in her suddenly dry mouth。
then she felt assistance e； strength flowing through her； reinforcing the marks； steadying her hands； clearing her voice。 she pleted the litany； and a spark exploded above the woman； became a twisting flame； then grew to a fierce； white…hot blaze that spread the length of the woman’s body； totally consuming it； to leave only ash； light cargo for the sea winds。
the extra strength came through touchstone’s hand； his open palm lightly resting on her shoulder。
as she straightened up； the touch was lost。
when sabriel turned around； touchstone was just drawing his right…hand sword； eyes fixed on the houses—as if he’d had nothing to do with helping her。
“thank you；” said sabriel。 touchstone was a strong charter mage； perhaps as strong as she was。 this surprised her； though she couldn’t think why。 he’d made no secret of being a charter mage—she’d just assumed he would only know a few of the more fighting…related marks and spells。 petty magics。
“we should move on；” said mogget； prowling backwards and forwards in agitation； carefully avoiding the fragments from the broken stone。
“find a boat； and put to sea before nightfall。”
“the harbor is that way；” touchstone added quickly； pointing with his sword。 both he and the cat seemed very keen to leave the area around the broken stone； thought sabriel。 but then； so was she。 even in bright daylight； it seemed to dull the color around it。 the lawn was already more yellow than green； and even the shadows looked thicker and more abundant than they should。 she shivered； remembering cloven crest and the thing called thralk。
the harbor lay on the northern side of the bluff； reached by another series of steps in the rocky hill； or in the case of cargo； via one of the shear…legged hoists that lined the edge of the bluff。 long wooden jetties thrust out into the clear blue…green water； sheltered under the lee of a rocky island； a smaller sibling of the village bluff。 a long breakwater of huge boulders joined island and shore； pleting the harbor’s protection from wind and wave。
there were no boats moored in the harbor； tied up to the jetties； or at the harbor wall。 not even a dinghy； hauled up for repair。 sabriel stood on the steps； looking down； mind temporarily devoid of further plans。 she just watched the swirl of the sea around the barnacled piles of the jetties； the moving shadows in the blue； marking small fish schooling about their business。
mogget sat near her feet； sniffing the air； silent。
touchstone stood higher； behind her； guarding the rear。
“what now？” asked sabriel； generally indicating the empty harbor below； her arm moving with the same rhythm as the swell； in its perpetual tilt against wood and stone。
“there are people on the island；” mogget said； eyes slitted against the wind。 “and boats tied up between the two outcrops of rock on the southwest。”
sabriel looked； but saw nothing； till she extracted the telescope from the pack on touchstone’s back。 he stood pletely still while she ferreted around； silent as the empty village。 playing wooden again； sabriel thought； but she didn’t really mind。 he was being helpful； without metaphorically tugging his forelock every few minutes。
through the telescope； she saw that mogget was right。 there were several boats partly hidden between two spurs of rock； and some slight signs of habitation： a glimpse of a washing line； blown around the corner of a tall rock； the momentary sight of movement between two of the six or seven ramshackle wooden buildings that nestled on the island’s south…western side。
shifting her gaze to the breakwater； sabriel followed its length。 as she’d half expected； there was a gap in the very middle of it； where the sea rushed through with considerable force。 a pile of timber on the island side of the breakwater indicated that there had once been a bridge there； now removed。
“it looks like the villagers fled to the island；”
she said； shutting the telescope down。 “there’s a gap in the breakwater； to keep running water between the island and shore。 an ideal defense against the dead。 i don’t think even a mordicant would risk crossing deep tidal water—”
“let’s go then；” muttered touchstone。 he sounded nervous again； jumpy。 sabriel looked at him； then above his head； and saw why he was nervous。 clouds were rolling in from the southeast； behind the village—dark clouds； laden with rain。 the air was calm； but now she saw the clouds； sabriel recognized it was the calm before heavy rain。 the sun would not be guarding them for very much longer and night would be an early guest。
without further urging； she set off down the steps； down to the harborside； then along to the breakwater。 touchstone followed more slowly； turning every few steps to watch the rear。 mogget did likewise； his small cat…face continually looking back； peering up at the houses。
behind them； shutters inched open and fleshless eyes watched from the safety of shadows； watched the trio marching out to the breakwater； still washed in harsh sunlight； flanked by swiftmoving waves of terrible water。 rotten； corroded teeth ground and gnashed in skeletal mouths。
farther back from the windows； shadows darker than ones ever cast by light whirled in frustration； anger—and fear。 they all knew who had passed。
one such shadow； selected by lot and pelled by its peers； gave up its existence in life with a silent scream； vanishing into death。 their master was many； many leagues away； and the quickest way to reach him lay in death。 of course； message delivered； the messenger would fall through the gates to a final demise。 but the master didn’t care about that。
the gap in the breakwater proved to be at least fifteen feet wide； and the water was twice sabriel’s height； the sea surging through with a rough aggression。 it was also covered by archers from the island； as they discovered when an arrow struck the stones in front of them and skittered off into the sea。
instantly； touchstone rushed in front of sabriel； and she felt the flow of charter magic from him； his swords sketching a great circle in the air in front of them both。 glowing lines followed the swords’ path； till a shining circle hung in the air。
four arrows curved through the air from the island。 one； striking the circle； simply vanished。
the other three missed pletely； striking stones or sea。
“arrow ward；” gasped touchstone。 “effective； but hard to keep going。 do we retreat？”
“not yet；” replie