A Boy Named Eto
Disclaimer: All characters and places belong to Garth Nix and whichever
company that also owns this material any characters you don't recognize
belong to me.
Author's Note: This tale takes place after the death of the Disreputable
Dog and the rebinding of the Destroyer.
Chapter 3:
A Lesson Well Learned
"She was what?!" Nick bellowed. "She's the Abhorsen-in-Waiting! How could she be kidnapped?!" The book that Nick held moments earlier was sent careening into the wall, its open pages swaying idly amidst the tension.
"It seems that her bells were left in her room. And it seems Kirae is a very powerful Charter Mage," Mogget mewled.
"But I still can't believe it...how could this scum-bag have possibly deceived her?"
"Believe it or not, that is what happened. And Lirael isn't at all very...skeptical of things."
"Well we have to do something! We have to rescue her!"
"What do you mean 'we'? I believe you are in no state to even think about leaving these grounds," the cat replied bitterly.
"How could you possibly even hope to help her! You're just a cat!" he shouted angrily, glaring down at the white-furred creature before him. Mogget's eye twitched in a most un-catlike manner as literally spat in the boy's face.
Sauntering away, he replied in a quiet and calm tone, "Very well. If you so wish to go and perform your foolish heroics, then so be it."
"And what about you?" Nick said, still sending death glares at him.
"I shall accompany you only because it is my duty as the Abhorsen's Servant to assure that the Abhorsen-in-Waiting lives long enough to at least carry on the line." Mogget carefully stepped over the strewn-aside book, slipping through the doorway just in time to avoid another book being thrown at him. "Oh yes, and get your things, we leave early tomorrow," he added over his shoulder.
* * * *
Morning dawned with overcast skies and strong winds that upturned the leaves on the trees, a sign of an approaching storm. The two left the grounds as the sun attempted to shine from behind the clouds. They crossed the River Ratterlin, Nick reaching the shore and heaving a sigh as Mogget followed behind nimbly avoiding the sprays of water. Even though he had taken the form of a white-bearded dwarf, his binding in the cat's body still left him with a strong dislike of water. "So where do we go from here?" Nick asked, adjusting the pack that was determined to dig into his spine.
"Gardil, most likely. The recent uprisings of the Dead and Free Magic beings have all been concentrated in that area."
"That must be where Kirae is headed."
"That remains obvious. And do hurry it up, we don't have all day you know. Tracking someone is very difficult at night," Mogget chided as Nick's face flushed with embarrassment. They ascended the path leading to the tunnel with relative ease, and arrived at the bottom of the cliffs by noon. There they followed the hastily covered tracks, which followed the River and up the Old North Road.
"Can't we get a horse or something?" Nicholas asked for the twelfth time that day.
"No, or not yet at least. When we reach Uppside we may, but the road heading west passes by the Red Lake. It is far too soon after the rebinding for any beast that is living to tolerate being that close to the burial site," the little man replied, finally answering his question fully.
"Can we at least stop to rest for the night? And I need to at least be able to do some Charter Spells if I am to be of any use." With a sigh, Mogget nodded as Nick happily collected wood for the fire ready for a good rest. He didn't notice that his arm muscles were screaming from the exertion of carrying the logs.
* * * *
"Focus your mind on the Charter and try to bring up the symbols you just learned for light and guidance," Mogget instructed.
"But how am I supposed to see the Charter if I don't even know what it looks like!"
"Just do as I say." Nick finally complied and soon saw thousands of Charter Marks floating like an afterimage at the back of his eyes. He concentrated on the marks and spoke them as told, though his tongue stumbled over the pronunciation of the final one. Suddenly a loud crack sounded after a bright flash of light filled the area making the moon itself look bright yellow compared to it. Nick saw spots dancing before his eyes once he opened them and Mogget yowled in agitation while he rubbed his eyes with his hands. "You must learn to pronounce the names of the Marks properly before you ever attempt a new spell! I thought you knew that."
"Well it's not my fault these names are so...oddly sounded!" They were both so absorbed in their anger with each other that they it took them several minutes to register the bleak caws coming from overhead. They were distant shrill cries similar to that of some dying animal, and Mogget frowned when he looked up to the sky for the source.
"What is it?" Nick asked, a prickle of fear just beginning to creep up his spine.
"Gore crows. There are only a few up there, probably scouts," he replied, getting his own chill from the dead creatures. "We will have to be more cautious from now on, thanks to you little beacon."
It was an hour or two later before either of them felt safe enough to sleep, not that Mogget really needed to. 'It seems that there is something much bigger behind all of this,' he thought, staring off into the night.
Disclaimer: All characters and places belong to Garth Nix and whichever
company that also owns this material any characters you don't recognize
belong to me.
Author's Note: This tale takes place after the death of the Disreputable
Dog and the rebinding of the Destroyer.
Chapter 3:
A Lesson Well Learned
"She was what?!" Nick bellowed. "She's the Abhorsen-in-Waiting! How could she be kidnapped?!" The book that Nick held moments earlier was sent careening into the wall, its open pages swaying idly amidst the tension.
"It seems that her bells were left in her room. And it seems Kirae is a very powerful Charter Mage," Mogget mewled.
"But I still can't believe it...how could this scum-bag have possibly deceived her?"
"Believe it or not, that is what happened. And Lirael isn't at all very...skeptical of things."
"Well we have to do something! We have to rescue her!"
"What do you mean 'we'? I believe you are in no state to even think about leaving these grounds," the cat replied bitterly.
"How could you possibly even hope to help her! You're just a cat!" he shouted angrily, glaring down at the white-furred creature before him. Mogget's eye twitched in a most un-catlike manner as literally spat in the boy's face.
Sauntering away, he replied in a quiet and calm tone, "Very well. If you so wish to go and perform your foolish heroics, then so be it."
"And what about you?" Nick said, still sending death glares at him.
"I shall accompany you only because it is my duty as the Abhorsen's Servant to assure that the Abhorsen-in-Waiting lives long enough to at least carry on the line." Mogget carefully stepped over the strewn-aside book, slipping through the doorway just in time to avoid another book being thrown at him. "Oh yes, and get your things, we leave early tomorrow," he added over his shoulder.
* * * *
Morning dawned with overcast skies and strong winds that upturned the leaves on the trees, a sign of an approaching storm. The two left the grounds as the sun attempted to shine from behind the clouds. They crossed the River Ratterlin, Nick reaching the shore and heaving a sigh as Mogget followed behind nimbly avoiding the sprays of water. Even though he had taken the form of a white-bearded dwarf, his binding in the cat's body still left him with a strong dislike of water. "So where do we go from here?" Nick asked, adjusting the pack that was determined to dig into his spine.
"Gardil, most likely. The recent uprisings of the Dead and Free Magic beings have all been concentrated in that area."
"That must be where Kirae is headed."
"That remains obvious. And do hurry it up, we don't have all day you know. Tracking someone is very difficult at night," Mogget chided as Nick's face flushed with embarrassment. They ascended the path leading to the tunnel with relative ease, and arrived at the bottom of the cliffs by noon. There they followed the hastily covered tracks, which followed the River and up the Old North Road.
"Can't we get a horse or something?" Nicholas asked for the twelfth time that day.
"No, or not yet at least. When we reach Uppside we may, but the road heading west passes by the Red Lake. It is far too soon after the rebinding for any beast that is living to tolerate being that close to the burial site," the little man replied, finally answering his question fully.
"Can we at least stop to rest for the night? And I need to at least be able to do some Charter Spells if I am to be of any use." With a sigh, Mogget nodded as Nick happily collected wood for the fire ready for a good rest. He didn't notice that his arm muscles were screaming from the exertion of carrying the logs.
* * * *
"Focus your mind on the Charter and try to bring up the symbols you just learned for light and guidance," Mogget instructed.
"But how am I supposed to see the Charter if I don't even know what it looks like!"
"Just do as I say." Nick finally complied and soon saw thousands of Charter Marks floating like an afterimage at the back of his eyes. He concentrated on the marks and spoke them as told, though his tongue stumbled over the pronunciation of the final one. Suddenly a loud crack sounded after a bright flash of light filled the area making the moon itself look bright yellow compared to it. Nick saw spots dancing before his eyes once he opened them and Mogget yowled in agitation while he rubbed his eyes with his hands. "You must learn to pronounce the names of the Marks properly before you ever attempt a new spell! I thought you knew that."
"Well it's not my fault these names are so...oddly sounded!" They were both so absorbed in their anger with each other that they it took them several minutes to register the bleak caws coming from overhead. They were distant shrill cries similar to that of some dying animal, and Mogget frowned when he looked up to the sky for the source.
"What is it?" Nick asked, a prickle of fear just beginning to creep up his spine.
"Gore crows. There are only a few up there, probably scouts," he replied, getting his own chill from the dead creatures. "We will have to be more cautious from now on, thanks to you little beacon."
It was an hour or two later before either of them felt safe enough to sleep, not that Mogget really needed to. 'It seems that there is something much bigger behind all of this,' he thought, staring off into the night.
