Note: Yay! Longer than last time!
Lirael could feel the stares as they entered the village. It was a very small place and the people were far from wealthy. They were also very far from another town or settlement and it occurred to Lirael that they did not know she was the Abhorsen-in-waiting. Most likely, they still believed the title to belong to Prince Sameth, and with the bells strapped to her chest, she looked nothing short of a necromancer. With this realization, she began to notice the fear etched in the people's eyes, in the way they slowly moved away from her.
They all wore dark clothing; the clothing of mourners.
"Do nothing to alarm them," Lirael warned Nicholas under her breath.
He nodded, adjusting the pack on his back only to receive an agitated hiss from the drowsy Mogget within.
"So you are to be the new Abhorsen…"
They stopped walking and turned in the direction of the voice. An old woman sauntered toward them. She wore black, like most everyone else, and walked with a slight limp. Her silver hair fell to her shoulders in a frazzled mess and a Charter mark shone on her wrinkled forehead.
"I wondered when you would show up."
The woman grasped Liraels hands and shook them with enthusiasm.
"I knew your sister, and I must say, you could almost be her twin! My name's Cora, by the way."
"Lirael. And this is my friend Nicholas."
Cora then reached for Nicks hand and shook it vigorously.
"What a fine young man, indeed!"
Nicholas smiled at the woman, a bit embarrassed.
"Come." Cora said, "I shall take you to Norfe."
She began walking toward a house not far down the road, Lirael and Nick in tow.
"Who is Norfe?" Lirael asked.
"In a way he's the village leader," Cora replied, "Though not officially."
Lirael nodded.
"Can you tell me what's been happening? With the Dead, that is?"
"Norfe will explain everything! I told him you would be coming."
"But…" Nicholas inquired, "How could you know?"
Cora simply laughed.
"Because, deary! I am a Seer."
With that she opened the door to Norfe's house and led them into a room where a large man sat at an awkwardly small table.
"Norfe," Cora said, "This is Lirael, the Abhorsen-in-waiting and her companion Nicholas."
The man was old, though not so much as Cora, with white hair and weary blue eyes. He stood and smiled at his quests, gesturing to a couple empty chairs.
"Welcome, Lady Abhorsen and friend Nicholas. Please, have a seat."
They sat, followed by Cora, and placed their bags next to their seats.
Nicholas noticed that his was lighter than it had been and opened it to make sure nothing had been stolen by a sly thief. Everything was still in place, except for a certain white feline. He looked at Lirael who had been watching and noticed the cat's disappearance. She shook her head and turned her attention back to Norfe. Mogget was known for wandering off unexpectantly. It was best not to think anything of it.
"I am so glad you were able to come to our aid. The Abhorsen herself is very busy, I'm sure."
Lirael nodded.
"Recent events have caused several Dead to appear about the Kingdom. Sabriel has her hands full."
Lirael was not sure how much the people of the Old Kingdom knew about Hedge and what he had caused. The less they know, she reasoned, the better.
"Has anyone been killed?" She already knew the answer, but the information was still important.
"Far too many, I'm afraid. We found most of the bodies and gave them a proper burial so they could not be… used. But there are still some…"
Lirael understood, completely. It didn't seem fair to her. None if it did. She still woke sometimes with the images of people she came so close to saving… but failed. It was a terrible thing, Death. But that was why she was here.
"How many would you say there are?"
"Hard to say. Less than ten at first, but with the new added… bodies, I cannot say. We've tried placing containers of water surrounding our doors at night. They won't come near it, not very bright I don't think, but they're strong. Our methods,"
"Won't keep them out for long." She finished for him. The Dead were far from intelligent, if mere bowls of water slowed them down. But predators will only wait so long when they're hungry. After that, they'll do anything to get their prey. Or move on and find an easier catch.
"I assume they hide in the woods until night?"
Norfe nodded.
"I will do my best."
The man smiled. "You do not know how mush hope you presence gives us."
That worried Lirael. She was still new at this. What if she failed? A little over ten Dead were nothing compared to what she dealt with before. But she had the Disreputable Dog, then.
She stroked the third bell, Kibeth, gently.
"By morning your village will no longer sleep in fear."
Norfe stood.
"It will be dark soon. I must go and ensure everyone is prepared for the night, just in case. I will return soon. Cora, you should head home now."
"Oh!" She snorted, "I'm not afraid of any Dead!"
The old woman stood and patted Lirael's hand gently before leaving.
"Good luck, Abhorsen dear! Give those corpses a good beating for me!"
And then they were gone, leaving Lirael to her nervousness and Nick to his curiosity.
"I am quite interested to see the use of those bells," he stated, smiling a brilliant smile that Lirael could not help but notice.
She looked away quickly.
"I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you will be staying here."
He stood a bit too quickly, and swayed, going slightly pale.
"Are you alright?" Lirael rushed to his side and helped him stand straight.
"Yes yes, I'm fine. It's nothing."
"It doesn't seem like nothing!"
She forced him to sit back down.
"You're still weak from Orranis' defeat, aren't you? Nicholas! Why didn't you tell me!"
Her anger and concern made him flush.
"If I did, you would never have let me come! And besides, Sabriel said I would heal soon enough."
"That's no matter! You should be resting! Not accompanying me to fight Dead! That settles it. You are most diffidently staying here.
He started to protest, but a familiar incisive voice broke in.
"Now now, Lirael. No need to act like his mother."
Mogget hopped up onto the table and began licking his paw.
"And where have you been?" Lirael inquired.
"Oh, don't start punishing me, mother dearest. I've been a good boy, checking the village's defenses and what not."
She chose to ignore his sudden annoying manner.
"And?"
"And? They're horrible. Just like this village. Horrible. They would never last against a Necromancer. What kind of village has no fish, anyway?"
Nicholas stood, more slowly this time, and continued his argument.
"I am Not a child! I can make my own decisions! And I decide to go with you."
"No!" Lirael cried. Why was he being so stubborn? "I don't care how old you are, you are still my pupil and I say you're staying here!"
They stared at each other; both angry and hardheaded.
When Nick sat down, Lirael knew she had won.
"It shouldn't take long. Mogget and I will be back by dawn at the latest."
"What do you mean 'Mogget and I'?" The cat purred. "This is your job, not mine. I'm going to be busy sleeping."
Lirael was stunned.
"Y-you mean… You're not going to help me? Not even to make sure I don't accidentally kill myself?"
Mogget flicked his tail.
"No. I intend not to. And I can recall several times before when you almost accidentally killed yourself and you came out alright. Well, with a Charter hand, but still."
Lirael flexed her hand, on impulse, and stared into Mogget's dark eyes. For the first time since losing the Dog, she could feel tears behind her eyes. She was so used to having the Dog with her, she had expected Mogget to do the same.
Apparently not.
"Oh! Don't look at me like that!" The cat cried, "Fine! But don't expect me to do anything!"
Relief flooded through her. AT least she wasn't alone.
"Lady Abhorsen?" Norfe stood in the doorway.
Lirael quickly hid her feeble emotions and forced herself to look brave, ready.
"Dusk is fast approaching."
She nodded. "Then I will go."
Nicholas walked over and touched her wrist gently.
"Be careful."
"I will."
He remembered all too well the coldness of Death.
And so did she.
AshAstonishing: Much longer than the last, no? Much love to my reviewers!!