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"Co at the entrance to the lane But Barlest did not corabbed Touchstone and Sabriel and pushed the, "Go! Go!"
They heard Barlest shout a battle cry behind theed out fro shuddering burst of autole shots Then there was silence, save for the clattering of their own boots on the cobbles, the pant of their labored breaths, and the beating of their hearts
Larnery Square was earden, usually the habitat of nannies and babies, was completely devoid of life The explosion had probably happened only a few h There had been plenty of trouble in Corvere since the rise of Corolini and his Our Country thugs, and the ordinary citizens had learned when to retreat quickly frorih the square and clattered down the Warden Steps on the far side A drunken bargeures splattered in blood and worse, and was not so drunk that he got in the way He cowered to one side, hunching himself into as small a ball as possible
The Sethem River flowed dirtily past the short quay at the end of the steps A s of a tide dredger stood there, his hands inside a barrel that he’d presued from the muddy river flats As he heard the clatter on the stairs, his hands caun, the hammers cocked
"Querel! A rescue!" shouted Veran
The un, pulled a whistle out from under his many-patched shirt and blew it several ti whistle, and several ht beneath the quay, the river being at low tide All the guards were ar trouble, but from their expressions none expected what they saw
"An ambush," exclaimed Touchstone quickly as they approached "We must be away at once"
Before he could say any rabbed him and Sabriel and practically threw the on after them The craft, a converted river tramp, was six or seven feet below the quay, but there were more hands to catch theed cabin, the engine was going fro into motion
Sabriel and Touchstone looked at each other, reassuring themselves that they were still alive and relatively unhurt, though they were both bleeding from small shrapnel cuts
"That is it," said Touchstone quietly, setting his pistol down on the deck "I am done with Ancelstierre"
"Yes," said Sabriel "Or it is done with us We will not find any help here now"
Touchstone sighed and, taking up a cloth, wiped the blood from Sabriel’s face She did the same for hi, and they did not try to disguise it
"We had best see to Veran’s wounds," said Sabriel as they let go of each other "And plot a course to take us home"
"Home!" confirmed Touchstone, but even that asn’t said without both of the an unspoken fear Close as they had come to death today, they feared their children would face even greater dangers, and as both of them kneell, there were far worse fates than simple death
PART TWO
Chapter Nine
A Dreaain, of the Lightning Farether Then the drea on a bed of furs in a tent There was the slow beat of rain on the canvas above his head, and the sound of thunder, and the whole tent was lit by the constant flicker of lightning
Nick sat up and saw an owl perched on his traveling chest, looking at hi next to his bed A black and tan dog notout of its shoulders
At least it’s a different dreaht He had to be alments that precede total wakefulness, where reality and fantasy !
I wonder what thathis drea watched him look at thehtness His hand clutched at his chest, fingers curled as if to scratch at his heart He blinked twice, then shut his eyes and lay back on the furs
"He really is sick," whispered Lirael "He looks terrible And there’s so else about hiness"
"There is so softly "A sliver of one of the silver he away at hi used as the Destroyer’s avatar A mouthpiece We et hi that?" asked Lirael "He doesn’t even look strong enough to leave his bed, let alone walk"
"I can walk," protested Nick, opening his eyes and sitting up again again Since this was his dream, surely he could participate in the conversation between the winged dog and the talking owl "Who is the Destroyer, and what’s this about eating away at
"Makes ed dog! Hah!"
"He thinks he’s dreaood The Destroyer will not rise in hiic close Be careful not to touch him with your Charter-skin, Mistress!"
"Can’t have an owl sit on , neither"