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Then he felt a cold hand on his shoulder, and he looked around Lirael was standing there She was still covered in frost Ice flaked fro expression that he could not place Then it was gone, visibly repressed by a hardness that re," said Sa spells won’t-- The shard flew out of hi!"
"I kno to bind and break the Destroyer," said Lirael urgently She turned her gaze away from Nick and looked directly at Sam "You have to make a weapon for o of his friend’s hand
Lirael glanced at the colue the state of the Destroyer’s power by its color and the height of the flames There were still minutes left--but very few of theh for Nick
"There’sthere’s nothing you can do for Nick," she said, though the words came out with a sob "There’s no time, and I needI need to tell you what must be done We have a chance, Sam! I didn’t think ould, but the Clayr did See as needed and they’re here But we have to act now!"
Saain, but he was looking past Sam, at Lirael
"Do what she says, Saht"
Then his eyes lost their focus, and his ragged breath bubbled away to nothing Both Sam and Lirael felt his spirit slip away, and they knew that Nicholas Sayre was dead
Sam opened his hand and stood up He felt old and tired, his joints stiff He was bewildered, too, unable to accept that the body at his feet was Nick’s He had set out to save hi else seerabbed him as he swayed in front of her, his eyes unfocused The shock broke through the distance he felt around hi him around and pointed to Sabriel, Touchstone, Elli rapidly up the spur
"You need to get a drop of blood from me, your parents, Ellimere, and Sanar and Ryelle, and bind it with yours into Nehima with the ot a forge," Sam replied dumbly, but he accepted Nehi down at Nick
"Use ic!" shrieked Lirael, and she shook hiht Sam all the way back to the present He suddenly felt the heat of the fiery column, and the full dread of the Destroyer filled his bones Turning away fro the blood along the blade
Lirael cut herself next, letting the blood flon the blade
"I’ll re the sword Then in the next breath, conscious of how little time they had, she shouted at the soldiers
"Major Greene! Get all your people back to the Southerlings! Warn them! You must all stay on the other side of the stream and lie down as low as you can Do not look towards the fire, and when it suddenly brightens, close your eyes! Go! Go!"
Before anyone could respond, Lirael was shouting again, this tiroup led by Sabriel, which was almost upon them
"Hurry! Please hurry! We have to make at least three diamonds of protection here within the next ten minutes! Hurry!"
Sam rushed down tothe bloody sword flat, ready to takeand binding in hisand complex net When the blade was fully blooded, he would lay the pipes upon it and the spell over it all entire If it worked, blood andof a new and unique sword If it worked
Behind hi slunk over to the sprawled, silent body of Nicholas She looked around toany attention, then barked softly in his ear
Nothing happened The Dog looked puzzled, as if she expected an ilowingleft the corpse and bounded across to join Lirael, as casting the Easte diamond of protection It was to be the outermost of three, if there was time to cast thee, the huge coluh it stayed a terrible, disturbing red The red of bright blood, fresh froht
The Seven
"SAMETH, WHAT HAVE you done noere the first words out of Elli hi away
"No time to explain!" he exclaimed as he held out the bloodied Nehima "I need soo and help Aunt Lirael"
Ellimere immediately complied In earlier times, Sam would have been surprised by his sister’s instant cooperation But Elli colu of soe
"Mother! Father! I’lad you’re not dead!" Sa blood, and Sabriel and Touchstone clambered up
"Likewise," said Touchstone, but he wasted no ti out his hand so Sam could make the cut Sabriel put hers out at the same time, but she ruffled Sam’s head with her other hand
"I have a sister, or so the Clayr tell ," said Sabriel as they wiped their pal as they felt the kinship of Blood to Charter "And you have found a different path but one no less important I trust you have been helpful to your aunt?"