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柊浠ュ強鐩稿叧涔︾睄鎺ㄨ崘璇峰埌銆奡abriel （The Abhorsen Trilogy）銆嬩笓棰樼綉鍧�http：///waiwen/3112/
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Prologue
灏忥伎璇础 xt 澶爞
it was little more than three miles from the wall into the old kingdom； but that was enough。 noonday sunshine could be seen on the other side of the wall in ancelstierre； and not a cloud in sight。 here； there was a clouded sunset； and a steady rain had just begun to fall； ing faster than the tents could be raised。
the midwife shrugged her cloak higher up against her neck and bent over the woman again； raindrops spilling from her nose onto the upturned face below。 the midwife鈥檚 breath blew out in a cloud of white； but there was no answering billow of air from her patient。
the midwife sighed and slowly straightened up； that single movement telling the watchers everything they needed to know。 the woman who had staggered into their forest camp was dead； only holding on to life long enough to pass it on to the baby at her side。 but even as the midwife picked up the pathetically small form beside the dead woman； it shuddered within its wrappings； and was still。
鈥渢he child； too？鈥潯sked one of the watchers； a man who wore the mark of the charter freshdrawn in wood ash upon his brow。 鈥渢hen there shall be no need for baptism。鈥�
his hand went up to brush the mark from his forehead； then suddenly stopped； as a pale white hand gripped his and forced it down in a single； swift motion。
鈥減eace！鈥潯aid a calm voice。 鈥渋 wish you no harm。鈥�
the white hand released its grip and the speaker stepped into the ring of firelight。 the others watched him without wele； and the hands that had half sketched charter marks； or gone to bowstrings and hilts； did not relax。
the man strode towards the bodies and looked upon them。 then he turned to face the watchers； pushing his hood back to reveal the face of someone who had taken paths far from sunlight； for his skin was a deathly white。
鈥渋 am called abhorsen；鈥潯e said； and his words sent ripples through the people about him； as if he had cast a large and weighty stone into a pool of stagnant water。 鈥渁nd there will be a baptism tonight。鈥�
the charter mage looked down on the bundle in the midwife鈥檚 hands； and said： 鈥渢he child is dead； abhorsen。 we are travelers； our life lived under the sky； and it is often harsh。 we know death； lord。鈥�
鈥渘ot as i do；鈥潯eplied abhorsen； smiling so his paper…white face crinkled at the corners and drew back from his equally white teeth。 鈥渁nd i say the child is not yet dead。鈥�
the man tried to meet abhorsen鈥檚 gaze； but faltered and looked away at his fellows。 none moved； or made any sign； till a woman said； 鈥渟o。
it is easily done。 sign the child； arrenil。 we will make a new camp at leovi鈥檚 ford。 join us when you are finished here。鈥�
the charter mage inclined his head in assent； and the others drifted away to pack up their halfmade camp； slow with the reluctance of having to move； but filled with a greater reluctance to remain near abhorsen； for his name was one of secrets； and unspoken fears。
when the midwife went to lay the child down and leave； abhorsen spoke： 鈥渨ait。 you will be needed。鈥�
the midwife looked down on the baby； and saw that it was a girl child and； save for its stillness； could be merely sleeping。 she had heard of abhorsen； and if the girl could live 。 。 。 warily she picked up the child again and held her out to the charter mage。
鈥渋f the charter does not鈥斺�潯egan the man； but abhorsen held up a pallid hand and interrupted。
鈥渓et us see what the charter wills。鈥�
the man looked at the child again and sighed。
then he took a small bottle from his pouch and held it aloft； crying out a chant that was the beginning of a charter； one that listed all things that lived or grew； or once lived； or would live again； and the bonds that held them all together。
as he spoke； a light came to the bottle； pulsing with the rhythm of the chant。 then the chanter was silent。 he touched the bottle to the earth； then to the sign of wood ash on his forehead； and then upended it over the child。
a great flash lit the surrounding woods as the glowing liquid splashed over the child鈥檚 head； and the priest cried： 鈥渂y the charter that binds all things； we name thee鈥斺��
normally； the parents of the child would then speak the name。 here； only abhorsen spoke； and he said： 鈥渟abriel。鈥�
as he uttered the word； the wood ash disappeared from the priest鈥檚 forehead； and slowly formed on the child鈥檚。 the charter had accepted the baptism。
鈥渂ut 。 。 。 but she is dead！鈥潯xclaimed the charter mage； gingerly touching his forehead to make sure the ash was truly gone。
he got no answer； for the midwife was staring across the fire at abhorsen； and abhorsen was staring at鈥攏othing。 his eyes reflected the dancing flames； but did not see them。
slowly； a chill mist began to rise from his body； spreading towards the man and midwife； who scuttled to the other side of the fire鈥攚anting to get away； but now too afraid to run。
he could hear the child crying； which was good。
if she had gone beyond the first gateway he could not bring her back without more stringent preparations； and a subsequent dilution of her spirit。
the current was strong； but he knew this branch of the river and waded past pools and eddies that hoped to drag him under。 already； he could feel the waters leaching his spirit； but his will was strong； so they took only the color； not the substance。
he paused to listen； and hearing the crying diminish； hastened forward。 perhaps she was already at the gateway； and about to pass。
the first gate was a veil of mist； with a single dark opening； where the river poured into the silence beyond。 abhorsen hurried towards it； and then stopped。 the baby had not yet passed through； but only because something had caught her and picked her up。 standing there； looming up out of the black waters； was a shadow darker than the gate。
it was several feet higher than abhorsen； and there were pale marsh…lights burning where you would expect to see eyes； and the fetid stench of carrion rolled off it鈥攁 warm stench that relieved the chill of the river。
abhorsen advanced on the thing slowly；watching the child it held loosely in the crook of a shadowed arm。 the baby was asleep； but restless； and it squirmed towards the creature； seeking a mother鈥檚 breast； but it only held her away from itself； as if the child were hot； or caustic。
slowly； abhorsen drew a small； silver handbell from the bandolier of bells across his chest； and cocked his wrist to ring it。 but the shadow…thing held the baby up and spoke in a dry； slithery voice； like a snake on gravel。
鈥渟pirit of your spirit； abhorsen。 you can鈥檛 spell me while i hold her。 and perhaps i shall take her beyond the gate； as her mother has already gone。鈥�
abhorsen frowned； in recognition； and replaced the bell。 鈥測ou have a new shape； kerrigor。 and you are now this side of the first gate。 who was foolish enough to assist you so far？鈥�
kerrigor smiled widely； and abhorsen caught a glimpse of fires burning deep inside his mouth。
鈥渙ne of the usual calling；鈥潯e croaked。 鈥渂ut unskilled。 he didn鈥檛 realize it would be in the nature of an exchange。 alas； his life was not sufficient for me to pass the last portal。 but now； you have e to help me。鈥�
鈥渋； who chained you beyond the seventh gate？鈥�
鈥測es；鈥潯hispered kerrigor。 鈥渢he irony does not； i think； escape you。 but if you want the child 。 。 。鈥�
he made as if to throw the baby into the stream and； with that jerk； woke her。 immediately； she began to cry and her little fists reached out to gather up the shadow…stuff of kerrigor like the folds of a robe。 he cried out； tried to detach her； but the tiny hands held tightly and he was forced to overuse his strength； and threw her from him。 she landed； squalling； and was instantly caught up in the flow of the river； but abhorsen lunged forward； snatching her from both the river and kerrigor鈥檚 grasping hands。
stepping back； he drew the silver bell onehanded； and swung it so it sounded twice。 the sound was curiously muffled； but true； and the clear chime hung in the air； fresh and cutting； alive。 kerrigor flinched at the sound； and fell backwards to the darkness that was the gate。
鈥渟ome fool will soon bring me back； and then 。 。 。鈥潯e cried out； as the river took him under。 the waters swirled and gurgled and then resumed their steady flow。
abhorsen stared at the gate for a time； then sighed and； placing the bell back in his belt； looked at the baby held in his arm。 she stared back at him； dark eyes matching his own。
already； the color had been drained from her skin。 nervously； abhorsen laid a hand across the brand on her forehead and felt the glow of her spirit within。 the charter mark had kept her life contained when the river should have drained it。 it was her life…spirit that had so burned kerrigor。
she smiled up at him and gurgled a little； and abhorsen felt a smile tilting the corner of his own mouth。 still smiling； he turned； and began the long wade back up the river； to the gate that would return them both to their living flesh。
the baby wailed a scant second before abhorsen opened his eyes； so that the midwife was already halfway around the dying fire； ready to pick her up。 frost crackled on the ground and icicles hung from abhorsen鈥檚 nose。 he wiped them off with a sleeve and leaned over the child； much as any anxious father does after a birth。
鈥渉ow is the babe？鈥潯e asked； and the midwife stared at him wonderingly； for the dead child was now loudly alive and as deathly white as he。
鈥渁s you hear； lord；鈥潯he answered。 鈥渟he is very well。 it is perhaps a little cold for her鈥斺��
he gestured at the fire and spoke a word； and it roared into life； the frost melting at once； the raindrops sizzling into steam。
鈥渢hat will do till morning；鈥潯aid abhorsen。
鈥渢hen i shall take her to my house。 i shall have need of a nurse。will you e？鈥�
the midwife hesitated； and looked to the charter mage； who still lingered on the far side of the fire。 he refused to meet her glance and she looked down once more at the little girl bawling in her arms。
鈥測ou are 。 。 。 you are 。 。 。鈥潯hispered the midwife。
鈥渁 necromancer？鈥潯aid abhorsen。 鈥渙nly of a sort。 i loved the woman who lies here。 she would have lived if she had loved another； but she did not。 sabriel is our child。 can you not see the kinship？鈥�
the midwife looked at him as he leant forward and took sabriel from her； rocking her on his chest。 the baby quietened and； in a few seconds； was asleep。
鈥測es；鈥潯aid the midwife。 鈥渋 shall e with you； and look after sabriel。 but you must find a wet…nurse 。 。 。鈥�
鈥渁nd i daresay much else besides；鈥潯used abhorsen。 鈥渂ut my house is not a place for鈥斺��
the charter mage cleared his throat； and moved around the fire。
鈥渋f you seek a man who knows a little of the charter；鈥潯e said hesitantly； 鈥渋 should wish to serve； for i have seen its work in you； lord； though i am loath to leave my fellow wanderers。鈥�
鈥減erhaps you will not have to；鈥潯eplied abhorsen； smiling at a sudden thought。 鈥渋 wonder if your leader will object to two new members joining her band。 for my work means i must travel； and there is no part of the kingdom that has not felt the imprint of my feet。鈥�
鈥測our work？鈥潯sked the man； shivering a little； though it was no longer cold。
鈥測es；鈥潯aid abhorsen。 鈥渋 am a necromancer； but not of the mon kind。 where others of the art raise the dead； i lay them back to rest。 and those that will not rest； i bind鈥攐r try to。 i am abhorsen 。 。 。鈥�
he looked at the baby again； and added； almost with a note of surprise； 鈥渇ather of sabriel。鈥�
w w w。 xiao shuotxt。 co m
chapter 1
灏忥伎璇磘xt澶�/鍫�
the rabbit had been run over minutes before。 its pink eyes were glazed and blood stained its clean white fur。 unnaturally clean fur； for it had just escaped from a bath。 it still smelt faintly of lavender water。
a tall； curiously pale young woman stood over the rabbit。 her night…black hair； fashionably bobbed； was hanging slightly over her face。
she wore no makeup or jewelry； save for an enamelled school badge pinned to her regulation navy blazer。 that； coupled with her long skirt； stockings and sensible shoes； identified her as a schoolgirl。 a nameplate under the badge read 鈥渟abriel鈥潯nd the roman 鈥渧i鈥潯nd gilt crown proclaimed her to be both a member of the sixth form and a prefect。
the rabbit was； unquestionably； dead。 sabriel looked up from it and back along the bricked drive that left the road and curved up to an imposing pair of wrought…iron gates。 a sign above the gate； in gilt letters of mock gothic； announced that they were the gates to wyverley college。 smaller letters added that the school was 鈥渆stablished in for young ladies of quality。鈥�
a small figure was busy climbing over the gate； nimb