Abhorsen's Training
Sabriel must take three boys under her wing because of a vision from the Clayr. But there is more to this vision – and the boys – than meets the eye.
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A/N: This crossover is between Sabriel, by Garth Nix, and Naruto. The story continues from events in Sabriel, but there are details in it from Lireal and Abhorsen, too.
The idea for this fic came from reading To Keep the Dead down by Azural God of Ferrets, so there are a few character similarities, but the plot line is totally different.
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Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Garth Nix's Abhorsen Trilogy in any way, shape, or form.
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Chapter 1: Vision from the Clayr
Sabriel jerked awake. She was lying in her bed in Abhorsen's House… what had that dream been about…? She strained to remember… something about Kerrigor? But he was bound by Ranna… Something else… Dark masses, blurred shapes… the Dead…
She rolled onto her stomach, burying her face in her pillow. It was the third time in a week that she had had that same vague dream…nightmare… the same dream, filled with fear…
Reaching to the bedside table, she touched the bell-bandolier. Her hand lingered on Ranna. As if she had rung it, she drifted into sleep…
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The next morning, as she finished her breakfast, Sabriel made up her mind… she would go to the Clayr, and discover the meaning of her dream…
A feather-light touch brought her mind out of her plans. A Charter-sending was pointing at the doors of the dining hall.
"Hmm?" she asked, more to herself.
"It wants you out in the entrance hall," yawned a lazy voice. "A Paperwing."
"Mogget –" she growled. She really hated it when he used that tone. Then what he had said penetrated her brain. "Wait…a Paperwing?"
"Yes," the white cat, in that same irritating voice. "In the royal colors."
She sighed, knowing an admonishment would be wasted, and picked up her bell-bandolier and went out into the entrance hall.
Queen Asrylil had sent the same advisor as she always did, a man by the name of Rechad. He was a thin, wiry man, with a touch of gray in his brown hair. Formal as always, he bowed low as she approached. He was not, however, alone.
"Good day, Abhorsen," Rechad said.
"Good day, Advisor Rechad," she replied, though most of her attention was centered on the three boys behind him. The blond was obviously the royal prince, in red robes trimmed in gold. At the moment, she couldn't remember the name of Touchstone's oldest child. She could not hazard even a guess about the other two boys, one black-haired, with black eyes, the other with long brown hair and white eyes.
"Abhorsen, may I request that we speak for a moment in private?" Rechad asked.
"Of course," Sabriel said. "The sendings can show our guests into the parlor."
Three sendings appeared immediately to lead the boys down the hall and into the parlor. The royal prince looked back several times, curiosity strong in his gaze, but the other two didn't look back once.
"What's going on?" Sabriel asked.
"I am not sure, to be honest," Rechad said. "A daughter of the Clayr has Seen something, something to do with those three boys, and another daughter of the Clayr. Unfortunately, that does not help us much, as the vision was not very clear. You see, this Daughter gained the Sight with this vision."
Sabriel thought about this information for a moment. "Well, before you tell me the details of the vision, I'd like to know more about these boys and the two daughters of the Clayr."
Rechad nodded soberly. "The vision would not be so disturbing if the background of these boys was… normal."
"What do you mean?" Sabriel asked.
"There's more to those boys than meets the eye," Mogget said.
"Mogget!" Sabriel scolded, surprised at his appearance.
"Well, if you can't see the obvious, I should point it out to you," Mogget said in a mock-patient voice.
Sabriel chose to ignore this. Much had changed in the Kingdom since Kerrigor had been bound, but Mogget had not. "Go on," she said to Rechad.
Rechad glanced at Mogget before continuing. "Well, you know what happened at King Touchstone's annual hearing…" he said uncomfortably.
Sabriel nodded gravely. She had helped put Touchstone on the throne; she knew him better than most people, as he had helped her as the new Abhorsen. She had been on his closest advising council, when she could be there. She had helped him restore order to the Kingdom. She had been at his wedding to Queen Asrylil, and at the birth of his son, and at the birth of his daughter.
One of the many measures that Touchstone had decreed was a two-day hearing of the common people's problems, the theory being that a fair trial by the king would help them trust him. It worked, to a degree. Two years went by, with the hearings at the celebration of spring. The people of Belisaere brought their problems to him on the appointed day, ranging from squabbles over trade to matters of estate. Many went away satisfied, and came back to listen to the king's wisdom. On the second day, however, someone shot him through the stomach with an arrow. He did not live past sunset.
She had not been present at that hearing, for Dead had risen in the Great Sickle Wood, and it was, after all, the third year of the hearings. She had made sure that the city was protected from the Dead, but whoever had assassinated the king had been living. By the time word had reached her, Touchstone had passed through the Final Gate, and his killer had not been apprehended. Asrylil had been ruling from Belisaere since, maintaining a polite – though frosty – channel of communication with the Abhorsen.
"In a few months' time, Naruto will be sixteen, and he can take over the responsibilities of ruling the kingdom," Rechad said. "But that was before the vision…"
Sabriel had never seen Rechad so uncomfortable. "What is it?"
"I am not sure that Naruto is ready to rule," Rechad said quietly. "He is a ninja, but even so…he is a prankster…"
Sabriel sighed. "Yes, Naruto can be childish."
"Well, that is not all," Rechad said. "This vision had thrown together these three boys, and so far, cooperation has been, shall we say… lacking."
"I see," Sabriel said slowly. "Tell me about the others."
"You know the story of the Uchiha Clan?" Rechad asked just slowly.
"I don't know the details," Sabriel admitted.
"All you need know is that Sasuke Uchiha was part of the vision, and that his older brother, Itachi, murdered the entire Uchiha Clan except for him. He was never caught."
"And no one knows why he left Sasuke alive?" Sabriel asked.
Rechad nodded.
"And the other boy?" Sabriel asked after a moment.
"Neji Hyuuga… he makes the vision even more complicated. You see, the other daughter of the Clayr that the vision concerns is his sister," Rechad said quietly.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but he is of the Branch House, is he not?" Sabriel asked, as his surname sparked her memory.
"Yes."
"And the blood of the Wallmakers flows in the veins of the Branch House?"
"According to traditional rumor."
"The blood of the Clayr flows in the veins of the Main House?"
"That is a fact," Rechad said, nodding. "Hinata Hyuuga is the first-born of the Main House, and she is of the Clayr."
"But did she not first try to become a ninja?" Sabriel asked.
Rechad nodded sadly. "But you know what happened at the Chuunin Exam."
Sabriel nodded. "So those two do not get along."
"To phrase it in an understatement like that, yes."
"And the vision from the Clayr has Seen them together? All of them?"
Rechad nodded irritably. "The three boys are here, together, in your House."
"Tell me about the daughter who had the vision," Sabriel requested.
"Sakura Haruno went to the Clayr after she, too, failed the Chuunin Exam."
"Hmmm," Sabriel said to herself.
"Would you care to know anything else?" Rechad asked.
"The vision," Sabriel reminded him.
"The three boys, together, shortly to confront an army of Dead. Their decisions are to be influenced by Hinata Hyuuga. One of the boys dies to save the Kingdom. The remaining two become an Abhorsen-in-Waiting and a Wallmaker."
"That is vague," Sabriel mused.
Rechad nodded.
"May I meet them now?" Sabriel asked.
As sendings went to get the boys, Rechad nodded.
Sabriel studied the three boys walking down the hall. Only Naruto looked at ease. Both Sasuke and Neji stared straight ahead, cold-eyed.
They came to a halt in front of her. Looking at them, she forgot the sendings, who were bowing themselves away, and Rechad.
"So, can you learn to become an Abhorsen, even it you don't have the blood of the Great Charter in you?" Sasuke asked, too casually. Neji was looking pointedly at the bells she held forgotten in her hands.
Not knowing how to answer the question, Mogget saved her. "Maybe yes, maybe no. The Kingdom's rules are not always what they appear to be."
Sasuke stared at Mogget. Neji breathed, "Free Magic, bound by Ranna."
"Very good, Neji White-Eyes," said Mogget lazily.
Neji stiffened.
Intervening, Sabriel said: "As long as you are in my presence, I want the four of you to be civil to one another."
Sasuke and Neji glared at her. Mogget began licking his pure-white chest fur unconcernedly, making the miniature Ranna tinkle.
"I'm going to go find a warm patch of sunlight for a nap," Mogget yawned. He ambled off, watched by all three boys.
Rechad broke the silence. "Will you agree to instruct these three?"
Sabriel looked into three pairs of eyes, one blue, one black, one white. "Yes."
"Damn," muttered Neji, and almost at the same time, Sasuke: "Shit."
"What's wrong?" Sabriel asked.
"Nothing," Neji said sourly, but – most unusually – he was looking at his feet.
"Then I'll have the sendings show you to your rooms," Sabriel said.
Sabriel followed Rechad out to the Paperwing after instructing the sendings to show the boys rooms and make sure their needs were met.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Rechad asked, concerned.
Sabriel avoided the question. "Let me know if the Clayr See anything else."
Rechad nodded reluctantly. He climbed into the Paperwing, and whistled the Charter marks to bring the Paperwing to life, and for the winds. Sabriel watched him go.