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gesture that distance made unclear； but was probably obscene。 laughter carried to them； borne by the breeze。 the men’s intentions were clear。 hostile。
“i wonder if they deal with the dead；”
sabriel said bleakly； revulsion in those words。
“to do their deeds when sunlight lends its aid to the living 。 。 。”
“they mean no good； anyway；” said touchstone； as they set off again； building up from a fast walk to a jog。 “they have bows and i bet they can shoot； unlike the villagers of nestowe。”
“yes；” replied sabriel。 “i hope there is a paperwing up there 。 。 。”
she didn’t need to expand upon what would happen if it wasn’t。 neither of them were in any shape for fighting； or much charter magic； and nine bowmen could easily finish them off—or capture them。 if the men were working for kerrigor； it would be capture； and the knife； down in the dark of the reservoir 。 。 。
the road grew steeper； and they jogged in silence； breath ing fast and ragged； with none to spare for words。 touchstone coughed； and sabriel looked at him with concern； till she realized she was coughing too。 the shape they were in； it might not take an arrow to finish matters。
the hill would do it anyway。
“not 。 。 。 much 。 。 。 further；” touchstone gasped as they turned at the switchback； tired legs gaining a few seconds of relief on the flat； before starting the next incline。
sabriel started to laugh； a bitter； coughing laugh； because it was still a lot further。 the laugh became a shocked cry as something struck her in the ribs like a sucker punch。 she fell sideways； into touchstone； carrying both of them down onto the hard flagstones。 a long…shot arrow had found its mark。
“sabriel！” touchstone shouted； voice high with fear and anger。 he shouted her name again； and then sabriel suddenly felt charter magic explode into life within him。 as it grew； he leapt up； and thrust his arms out and down towards the enemy； towards that over…gifted marksman。
eight small suns flowered at his fingertips； grew to the size of his clenched fists； and shot out； leaving white trails of after…image in the air。 a split second later； a scream from below testified to their finding at least one target。
numbly； sabriel wondered how touchstone could possibly still have the strength for such a spell。 wonder became surprise as he suddenly bent and lifted her up； pack and all； cradling her in his arms—all in one easy motion。 she screamed a little as the arrow shifted in her side； but touchstone didn’t seem to notice。 he threw his head back； roared out an animal…like challenge； and started to run up the road； gathering speed from an ungainly lurch to an inhuman sprint。 froth burst from his lips； blowing out over his chin and onto sabriel。 every vein and muscle in his neck and face corded out； and his eyes went wild with unseeing energy。
he was berserk； and nothing could stop him now； save total dismemberment。 sabriel shivered in his grasp and turned her face into his chest； too disturbed to look on the savage； snorting face that bore so little resemblance to the touchstone she knew。 but at least he was running away from the enemy 。 。 。
on he ran； leaving the road； climbing over the tumbled stones of what had once been a gateway； hardly pausing； jumping from one rock to another with goat…like precision。 his face was as bright red as a fire engine now； the pulse in his neck beating as fast as a hummingbird’s wings。
sabriel； forgetting her own wound in sudden fear that his heart would burst； started shouting at him； begging him to e out of the rage。
“touchstone！ we’re safe！ put me down！ stop！ please； stop！”
he didn’t hear her； his whole concentration bent on their path。 through the ruined gateway he ran； on along a walled path； nostrils wide； head darting from side to side like a scentfollowing hound。
“touchstone！ touchstone！” sabriel sobbed； beating on his chest with her hands。 “we’ve got away！ i’m all right！ stop！ stop！”
still he ran； through another arch； along a raised way； the stones falling away under his feet； down a short stair； jumping gaping holes。 a closed door halted him for a moment； and sabriel breathed a sigh of relief； but he kicked at it viciously； till the rotten wood collapsed and he could back through； carefully shielding sabriel from splinters。
beyond the door was a large； open field； bordered by tumbledown walls。 tall weeds covered the expanse； with the occasional stunted； selfsown tree rising above them。 right at the western edge； perched where a wall had long since crumbled down the hill； there were two paperwings； one facing south and the other north—and two people； indistinct silhouettes bordered with the flaming orange of the afternoon sun that was sinking down behind them。
touchstone broke into a gait that could only be described as a gallop； parting the weeds like a ship ploughing a sargasso sea。 he ran right up to the two standing figures； gently placed sabriel on the ground before them—and fell over； eyes rolling back to whiteness； limbs twitching。
sabriel tried to crawl over to him； but the pain in her side suddenly bit sharp and deadly； so it was all she could do to sit up and look at the two people； and beyond them； the paperwings。
“hello；” they said； in unison。 “we are； for the moment； the clayr。 you must be the abhorsen and the king。”
sabriel stared； dry…mouthed。 the sun was in her eyes； making it hard for her to see them clearly。 young women； both； with long blond hair and bright； piercing blue eyes。 they wore white linen dresses； with long； open sleeves。
freshly pressed dresses that made sabriel feel extremely dirty and uncivilized； in her reservoirsoaked breeches and sweaty armor。 like their voices； their faces were identical。 very pretty。
twins。
they smiled； and knelt down； one by sabriel’s side； the other by touchstone’s。 sabriel felt charter magic slowly welling up in them； like water rising in a spring—then it flowed into her； taking away the hurt and pain of the arrow。
next to her； touchstone’s breath became less labored； and he sank into the easy quiet of sleep。
“thank you；” croaked sabriel。 she tried to smile； but seemed to have lost the knack of it。 “there are slavers 。 。 。 human allies of the dead 。 。 。 behind us。”
“we know；” said the duo。 “but they are ten minutes behind。 your friend—the king—ran very； very fast。 we saw him run yesterday。 or tomorrow。”
“ah；” said sabriel； laboriously pushing herself up onto her feet； thinking of her father and what he had said about the clayr confusing their whens。 best to find out what she needed to know before things got really confusing。
“thank you；” she said again； for the arrow fell on the ground as she fully straightened up。 it was a hunting arrow； narrow…headed； not an armor…punching bodkin。 they had only meant to slow her down。 she shivered； and felt the hole between the armor plates。 the wound didn’t feel healed exactly—just older； as if it had struck a week ago； instead of minutes。
“father said you would be here 。 。 。 that you have been watching for us； and watching for where kerrigor has his body。”
“yes；” replied the clayr。 “well； not us exactly。