Page 12 (1/2)

"We should go back," said the Dog, her head slowlyfrom side to side as she tried to locate the creature "I don’t like it when they’re clever"

"Do you knohat it is?" whispered Lirael as they began to trudge back to Life, zigzagging so her back was never truly turned As on her first trip, it was ainst the current, and it see away at her spirit

"So "Sinal-- There!"

She barked and dashed through the water Lirael saw so coals for eyes--leap aside as the Dog struck Then it was coht at her, and she felt its cold and powerful spirit rise against her, out of all proportion to its rat-like form

She screamed and struck at it with her sword, blue-white sparks strealanced off, and it snapped at her left wrist, at the hand that held the bell Its jaws met her armored sleeve, and black-red fla fastened her os on the creature’s middle and twisted it off Lirael’s ar to the sound of the thing squealing and Lirael’s scream A moment later all were drowned in the deep sound of Saraneth as Lirael stepped back, flipped the bell, caught the handle, and rang it, all in one s of Sa toNot that he could see , for thatbut fight

He checked Lirael again for any sign of change, but she remained in Death, her body still as a statue, ri out to freeze the puddles at her feet Sa off a piece of ice to cool hie Dog footprints in the --unlike herSaical

The Guard’s body was still propped up against the tree as well Sa her out properly, but that see her body down into the , too, but didn’t dare use the Charter Magic required Not until Lirael caht and wished he could shelter out of the rain against the tree until Lirael did return But he was acutely aware that he was reponsible for Lirael’s safety He was alone again, in effect, noithout even the dubious coet It made hih his flight froone This time he simply didn’t want to let Aunt Lirael down So he hefted his sword and began once again to walk around the tight ring of trees he’d selected as his patrol route

He was halfway around when he heard soy snap of igs breaking underfoot, or so for the forest

Ime fern and froze, so he could hear better

At first, all he heard was the rain and his own beating heart Then he caught the sound again A soft footfall, leaves crushed underfoot So to sneak up on him The sounds were about twenty feet away, lower down the slope, hidden by all the green undergrowth Cole pace every n of her returning froht he should run and tap her on the shoulder, to alert her to co, because then she could take charge

He disht Lirael had a task to do, and so did he There would be tih to call her back if he had to Perhaps it was only a big lizard crawling up between the ferns, or a wild dog, or one of those large black flightless birds that he knew lived in these mountains He couldn’t re Dead He would have sensed it for sure, he thought A Free Magic creature would be sizzling froain, but not uphill It was circling around, Sa to work its way past them to attack down the slope That would be a human trick

It could be a necromancer, said a fearful part of Sa Free Magic, but not of it, so you couldn’t se

Sahter, rew livid, bright with the effort

This it it, he told himself This was the test If he didn’t face whatever was out there now, he would knoas a coward forever Lirael didn’t think he was, nor the Dog He had run froic, and Lirael had run too There was no sha closer Sam still couldn’t see it, but he was sure he knehere it was

He reached into the Charter and felt his heart slow from a frantic pace as he was eic that linked all living things Drawing in the air with his free hand, Saht Charter marks The fifth he spoke under his breath, into his cupped hand When the ht in his hand Too bright to look at directly, but golden at a glance

"For the Charter!"

Sun dagger in one hand, sword in the other, Sah the ferns, slipping in thedown the slope He saw a flash of , his father’s berserker blood beating in his tee pallid littlehis heels in, but his feet skidded in the ht into a tree trunk, rebounded into a fern, and fell flat on his back Down in the o down in a battle never get up again So don’t bloody well fall down!"

Sauished iround, and pushed hiht, as he stared wildly around But there was no sign of thewhatever it was

Lirael

The thought struck hi up the slope he’d just careered down, grabbing at ferns and branches and anything that could et back! What if Lirael was attacked while she was still in Death? Struck froer, or a knife? She wouldn’t have a chance

HeLirael still stood there Iciclesfrom her outstretched are in this warm forest She was unharmed

"Lucky I was here," said a voice behind Saet’s voice

Saet? Is that you? Where are you?"

"Here, and regretting it as per usual," replied Mogget, and a small white cat sauntered out frouard He could see that Mogget still wore his collar, and there was a bell on it But it could be a trick And whereor whowas that strange pale man?

"I saw a man," said Sam "His hair and skin hite, white as snow White as your fur"