按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
it was not just words he spoke； but power； free magic power that froze sabriel’s nerves； caught at her muscles。 desperately； she struggled to ring the bells； but her wrists were locked in place 。 。 。
tantalizingly slowly； kerrigor glided forward； till he was a mere arm’s length away； towering over her like some colossal statue of rough…hewn night； his breath rolling down on her with the stench of a thousand abattoirs。
someone—a girl quietly coughing out her last breath on the floor—touched sabriel’s ankle with a light caress。 a small spark of golden charter magic came from that dying touch； slowly swelling into sabriel’s veins； traveling upwards； warming joints； freeing muscles。 at last it reached her wrists and hands—and the bells rang out。
it was not the clear； true sound it should be； for somehow the bulk of kerrigor took the sound in and warped it—but it had an effect。
kerrigor slid back； and was diminished； till he was little more than twice sabriel’s height。
but he was not subject to sabriel’s will。
saraneth had not bound him； and kibeth had only forced him back。
sabriel rang the bells again； concentrating on the difficult counterpoint between them； forcing all her will into their magic。 kerrigor would fall under her domination； he would walk where she willed 。 。 。
and for a second； he did。 not into death； for she lacked the power； but into his original body； inside the broken sarcophagus。 even as the chime of the bells faded； kerrigor changed。
fiery eyes and mouth ran into each other like molten wax； and his shadow…stuff folded into a narrow column of smoke； roaring up into the ceiling。 it hovered among the rafters for a moment； then descended with a hideous scream； straight into the rogir…body’s open mouth。
with that scream； saraneth and kibeth cracked； shards of silver falling like broken stars； crashing to the earth。 mahogany handles turned to dust； drifting through sabriel’s fingers like smoke。
sabriel stared at her empty hands for a second； still feeling the harsh imprint of bell…handles 。 。 。
then； without any conscious thought； there was a sword hilt in her hand as she advanced upon the sarcophagus。 but before she could see into it； rogir stood up and looked at her—looked with the burning fire…pit eyes of kerrigor。
“an inconvenience；” he said； with a voice that was only marginally more human。 “i should have remembered you were a troublesome brat。”
sabriel lunged at him； sword blowing white sparks as it struck； punching through his chest to project out the other side。 but kerrigor only laughed； and reached down till he held the blade with both hands； knuckles pallid against the silver…sparking steel。 sabriel tugged at the sword； but it would not e free。
“no sword can harm me；” kerrigor said； with a giggle like a dying man’s cough。 “not even one made by the wallmakers。 especially not now； when i have finally assumed the last of their powers。 power that ruled before the charter； power that made the wall。 i have it now。 i have that broken puppet； my half…brother—and i have you； my abhorsen。 power； and blood— blood for the breaking！”
he reached out； and pulled the sword further into his chest； till the hilt was lodged against his skin。 sabriel tried to let go； but he was too quick； one chill hand clutching her forearm。 irresistibly； kerrigor drew her towards him。
“will you sleep； unknowing； till the great stones are ready for your blood？” whispered kerrigor； his breath still reeking of carrion。 “or will you go waking； every step of the way？”
sabriel stared back； meeting his gaze for the first time。 surely； there in the hellfire of his eyes； she could see the faintest spark of blazing white？ she unclenched her left fist； and felt the silver ring slip down her finger。 was it expanding？ “what would you have； abhorsen？” continued kerrigor； his mouth peeling back； skin already breaking at the corners； the spirit within corroding even this magically preserved flesh。
“your lover crawls towards us—a pathetic sight—but i shall have the next kiss 。 。 。”
the ring was hanging in sabriel’s hand； hidden behind her back。 it had grown larger—but she could still feel the metal expanding 。 。 。
kerrigor’s blistered lips moved towards hers； and still the ring moved in her hand。 his breath was overpowering； reeking of blood； but she had long gone beyond throwing up。 she turned her head aside at the last second； and felt； dry； corpse…like flesh slide across her cheek。
“a sisterly kiss；” chuckled kerrigor。 “a kiss for an uncle who has known you since birth—or slightly before—but it is not enough 。 。 。”
again； his words were not just words。 sabriel felt a force grip her head； and move it back to face him； while her mouth was wedged apart； as if in passionate expectation。
but her left arm was free。
kerrigor’s head bent forward； his face looming larger and larger—then silver flashed between them； and the ring was around his neck。
sabriel felt the pulsion snap off； and she leant back； trying to hurl herself away。 but kerrigor didn’t let go of her arm。 he seemed surprised； but not anxious。 his right hand went up to touch the band； fingernails falling as he did so； bone already pushing through at the fingertips。
“what is this？ some relic of 。 。 。”
the ring constricted； cutting through the pulpy flesh of his neck； revealing the solid darkness within。 that too was pressed； forced inwards； pulsating as it tried to escape。 two flaming eyes looked down in disbelief。
“impossible；” croaked kerrigor。 snarling； he pushed sabriel away； throwing her to the floor。
in the same motion he drew the sword from his chest； the blade slowly ing free with a sound like a rasp on hardwood。
swiftly as a snake； arm and sword went out； striking through sabriel； through armor and flesh and deep into the wooden floor beyond。
pain exploded； and sabriel screamed； body convulsing around the blade in one awful reflexive curve。
kerrigor left her there； impaled like a bug in a collection； and advanced upon touchstone。
sabriel； through eyes fogged with pain； saw kerrigor look down and rip a long； jagged splinter from one of the pews。
“rogir；” touchstone said。 “rogir 。 。 。”
the splinter came down with a strangled shriek of rage。 sabriel closed her eyes and looked away； slipping into a world of her own； a world of pain。
she knew she should do something about the blood pouring out of her stomach； but now— with touchstone dead—she just lay where she was； and let it bleed。
then sabriel realized she hadn’t felt touchstone die。
she looked again。 the splinter had broken on his armored coat。 kerrigor was reaching out for another splinter—but the silver ring had slipped down to his shoulders now； shredding the flesh away as it fell； like an apple corer punching the dead spirit out of the rotting corpse。
kerrigor struggled and shrieked； but the ring bound his arms。 capering madly； he threw himself from side to side； seeking to cast off the silver band that held him—only causing yet more flesh to fall away； till no flesh remained； nothing but a raging column of darkness； constrained by a silver ring。
then the