Finally, right? Sorry for any delay. And thanks for reviewing!
Yarrl was much bigger than Gwyer-Muchbigger.
In fact, it was a rather large city not far from the Ratterlin.
They landed in the Paperwing landing station and after gathering their things, made their way to The Barekk Inn where Sabriel was staying.
Everything caught their eye as they walked. There were shops and taverns everywhere, merchants sold their goods from small booths alongside the bustling streets, and small groups of traveling musicians and dancers performed in the streets for a coin or two. The smells were astonishing, even attracting Mogget's nose of who was well hidden inside Nick's pack.
It did not seem like a city that was suffering from Free Magic beings.
It was hard to ignore the delightful items for sale as they passed and when they walked by a stall frying fish, it was almost too much for Mogget to bare not to stop.
But they eventually made it to The Barekk Inn without spending a single coin.
Sabriel was waiting in the lobby when they entered and her first action was to hug them all (excluding Mogget who was buried deep beneath Nick's personal belongings).
"I'm so happy you made it safely!"
Lirael was more than happy to see her sister. Since they had first discovered one another, they had had little time to converse.
"And I am glad you have not been badly harmed fighting Dead." She hugged Sabriel once more.
"Come," the Queen announced, "I have reserved two rooms for you both."
They followed her up the Inn stairs. Lirael's room was right next to Sabriel's and Nick's was three down from that.
After they had settled in, Sabriel had to leave.
"I must return to the outskirts of the city and make sure there are no Dead or Free magic lurking about. Feel free to explore the city."
Lirael was disappointed. She had been hoping to accompany her sister and begin her training.
But she did not complain.
"Be safe," was all she said.
Dusk was approaching and it was now that the city truly came alive.
Lights and music were everywhere and the food was beyond anything Lirael had ever tasted.
She was standing next to a stall selling colorful stones when Nicholas approached.
"Did you find anything?" she asked.
He shook his head.
"Nothing. Not that the books I did see weren't interesting… I'm just not used to the lack of recorded scientific investigations here."
Lirael, a little confused at what he was referring to, merely nodded.
Nearby, a group of performers were beginning their performance.
"Come on!" Lirael grabbed Nick's hand and dragged him into the gathering crowd.
They watched in silence, enjoying the acting, music, and each others company.
When it was over, the first thing Lirael noticed was that she still held Nick's hand.
She dropped it quickly.
"I suppose we should go fin…"
She was interrupted by a high pitched scream coming from the center of the city.
"Nick! Find Mogget and go back to the Inn!"
He shook his head.
"And leave you? No thanks."
"Nick…" Why was he so stubborn?
She was about to argue when another scream pierced the air.
She ran, holding her bells secure against her chest, feeling them almost radiate, tight within the bandolier. Almost as if they wanted to be used…
Nicholas kept up with her fast pace easily and as soon as she sensed the source of panic, she immediately grew concerned for his safety.
They would be dealing with a Free Magic being… A big one.
How had it eluded Sabriel? Unless… No! Sabriel was strong. Lirael felt certain she was fine.
Nick, however…
"Nicholas, please, I'm begging you to leave."
"Don't be ridiculous. I want to see you in action."
And then they were upon it.
It was quite large, just as Lirael had suspected, with the body of a massive boulder. Moss and vines grew through the many cracks and crevices upon its surface, covering it in a green blanket. Several of the vines it used to lash out at buildings or people. When it moved, rocks fell like a heavy downpour of rain.
"Oh…"She heard Nick say behind her.
"Whatever you do… Stay back and do NOT let it see you."
She stepped forward, already forming Charter Marks in her mind.
The smell of Free Magic grew nauseating the closer she approached, but she walked on, relentless.
When she was close enough, she released her spell.
Flames erupted on the creature, attempting to burn away the treacherous vines.
It cried out in pain, a sound similar to an avalanche of boulders and turned Lirael's way.
The flames barely left a mark.
She cursed under breath.
A vine lashed out at her, which she dodged, only to have another knock her to her side.
She fell hard but moved just in time as another came her way.
It was like an endless dance: Dodge. Hit. Fall. Move!
The entire time her mind raced.
I have to do something… she thought. But what?
She could use Ranna… But that would risk all who hear to tumble into a deep and relaxing sleep.
Her best bet would be to bind it and force it into death.
But she would have to weaken it first.
She formed more Marks, this time trying a new combination, while dodging vines.
She released them and watched with satisfaction as a vine fell limp, scorched and dead.
The creature moaned, picking up a huge rock that had fallen from its back, aimed, and thrust it at Lirael.
Nicholas grabbed her wrist and pulled her out of the way.
"Do what you have to do. I'll distract it."
Before she could argue he was running towards the creature, waving his arms in the air and yelling insults.
"'Ey you! Over here! You do realize that, logically speaking of course, your very existence is quite impossible?" He picked up a rock and threw it at the being's face.
It grunted angrily and lashed out at the young man.
But he was swift and while Lirael formed the same Charter Marks he continued throwing rocks and ranting about Science and how odd it was that this creature even existed.
Lirael released her spell and once again a vine-arm fell dead.
The being turned back to Lirael, receiving a rock to the face from Nick.
"Hey, you leave her alone!"
Lirael destroyed one more vine before choosing her bells; Saraneth the binder and Kibeth the walker.
"Nick! Cover your ears!"
She did not think the bells would control him as well, but she didn't want to risk sending Nicholas past the Ninth Gate.
She steadied her hand, which shook considerably, and let Saraneth ring.
Immediately the creature began to fight the bells will. It was strong and it took every ounce of Lirael's focus not to break.
She would have to do it quickly if she wanted to succeed.
Raising Kibeth she said, "Leave Life and enter Death. There, you shall walk through each gate until you have passed the ninth and final Gate, where you will remain for eternity." And she rang the bell.
The creature still fought but it was not strong enough to withstand entirely.
As Lirael turned towards Nick, a long vine lashed out and knocked her unconscious before the being disappeared completely.
She was laying in a bed when she came-to, a soft one. Everything was dark and for a moment she thought she was dead. But no, Death did not feel like this.
She lay completely still, hoping that a light would appear from somewhere. She could hear murmurings nearby, though too hushed to be deciphered.
Something soft and fluffy brushed her cheek.
And then she realized her eyes were closed.
She opened them slowly and it was if, in doing so, she had granted all pain to be felt as well. There were bruises all over her body from the several falls she had received and her head ached tremendously.
She was in her room back at the Inn and the first face she saw was Mogget's since he was sitting right on her chest.
"Wherewereyou?!" she asked. Nicholas, who was sitting next to her bed (and holding her hand, she noticed), chuckled.
"Want to take a guess?"
"For your information, I was with Sabriel."
"Riiight." The woman replied, "After tasting every single fish stall in the city."
"By which time you were too full to do anything but sleep." Nick added.
The cat swatted at Nicholas before jumping down and curling up on the floor.
"How are you feeling, Lirael?" Her older sister held so much concern in her eyes… Lirael was not used to such family caring.
"I'm fine." She attempted to sit up, but failed due to her painful bruises. "Ow! Everything hurts!"
"Which will delay any training I had hoped to give you," Sabriel sighed. "You did very well, though. Our father would have been proud."
Our Father…
The words sounded beautiful in her mind… Like a long lost dream.
Yet at the same time it filled her with an unexplainable sorrow and sense of loss.
A loss for the father she would never meet.