so it sounded t true, and tting, alive. Kerrigor flinc to t e.

    “Some fool , as took ers seady flow.

    Abared at te for a time, t,  looked at tared back at ching his own.

    Already, t t er mark  ained   had so burned Kerrigor.

    S tle, and Ab a smile tilting till smiling, urned, and began to te t urn to their living flesh.

    t second before Ab to pick  crackled on ter a birth.

    “ared at e as he.

    “As you  is pertle cold for her—”

    ured at t roared into life, t melting at once, to steam.

    “t ill morning,” said Abhorsen.

    “take o my house. I shall have need of a nurse.ill you come?”

    tated, and looked to ter Mage, o meet  ttle girl bawling in her arms.

    “You are . . . you are . . .” whe midwife.

    “A necromancer?” said Ab. I loved t s. Sabriel is our c see the kinship?”

    t  forook Sabriel from . tened and, in a few seconds, was asleep.

    “Yes,” said ter Sabriel. But you must find a -nurse . . .”

    “And I daresay muc my  a place for—”

    ter Mage cleared , and moved around the fire.

    “If you seek a man er,” antly, “I so serve, for I s o leave my fellow wanderers.”

    “Per o,” replied Ab a sudden t. “I  to travel, and t of t  felt t of my feet.”

    “Your tle, t was no longer cold.

    “Yes,” said Ab not of t raise to rest. And t  rest, I bind—or try to. I am Abhorsen . . .”

    t e of surprise, “Father of Sabriel.”