kly, wiping .

    “?” snorted Mogget. “Get dressed, for a start. things aboard here for you as well. Swords and suchlike.”

    “But I’m not fit to wield royal—”

    “Just do as you’re told,” Mogget said firmly.

    “t makes you feel better, t era, you’ll find common sense is more important than honor.”

    “Very oucone muttered, humbly.

    ood up and put on t, but couldn’t get trousers past highs.

    “t and leggings in one of ts back  said, after coucone rapped in too-tigher.

    toucone nodded, divested rousers, and clambered up taking care to keep as far a as possible. he gap.

    “You  tell her?” he asked.

    “tell well w?”

    “Abo  it  intentional. My part, I mean. Please, don’t tell her—”

    “Spare me t, in a disgusted tone. “I can’t tell  tell her.

    tion is ory.

    ell you t of our current saga while you dress.”

    Sabriel returned from t ions he blood.

    to reatments. All in all, s about eig normal, raten percent functional, and so  breakfast ot. Not t   ested ter mark on to be unsullied by Free Magic, or necromancy.

    Sed to still be asleep, so s a faint frisson of surprise and suspense co  nearby, precariously draped on the ship’s rail.

    Sy tempered by to be rangers.  dressed. Older and someimidating, particularly since o  of gold-striped red, criped gold, disappearing into turned-dos of russet doeskin. , to put on a red leat aco be giving him some problems.

    ter scabbards near , stabbing po