The Abhorsen's Sword Chapter 5
Charter Marks flared as the newly forged broad sword hewed through Dead flesh. Yasmel's Charter Mark glowed in response to the Free Magic in the air, and the stench of it made her head spin, her nose burn and her body reel. She never was much good in her Fighting Skills class in the Glacier. She never really thought that she would need it. The Glacier was so well protected. As she sliced through a Dead Hands torso, her new sword flashed. The Charter's natural repulsion of Free Magic made the Marks in her blade blaze into life, and the Mark on her forehead tingle.
The last Dead Hand fell at Nathaniel's final stroke. There had been only a dozen Hands, and now Yasmel was frightened. These Dead Hands had been set here to watch.
Nathaniel and Yasmel had moved to journeying on land when the creek they were following suddenly gave way to dams, and the terrifying odour of Free Magic. Yasmel caught Sight of bodies choking the creek in a fragment of a vision a few miles before they came to the first dam, but she said nothing to Nathaniel, hoping it was only a possible future. It hadn't been. They had turned back and made for the meadow they had crossed. Heading south-west, through the forest, finally to the edge of the woods. Fewer and fewer trees, and finally prairies. The plains were nearly uninterrupted for many leagues. Crossing the grasslands South, there was no sight of the Abhorsen. Thankfully there was no sign of any of the Dead, either.
Nathaniel was quiet, and Yasmel understood. She did not really expect this to be a real adventure, she would have never expected to be in the midst of this journey, though she had Seen it. Yasmel was sure that Nathaniel felt the same way. "Are you alright?"
Nathaniel jumped, startled out of his reverie. "Hmm? Yes, I'm alright." He said, rather defensively. The wind gusted and pulled at his shirt, knocking the Abhorsen's sword about, setting it's scabbard thumping against his pack. "I'm fine."
Yasmel pushed her hair back out of her face and nodded. "Fine." She continued walking and nothing more was said at all that day until nightfall when the Diamond of Protection was cast.
Tirylese was tired. Her Diamond was not the best she had ever cast, but she thought it would hold. The Eastmark was wavering, but it was the most she could do tonight. The stench of Free Magic hung about, and Death was very easily reached here. She had spent the day near Estel. She had cremated her uncle's body, and stayed near-by. The doorway to Death was gaping here in the place where so many had been slain. She needed to remain until she was sure that nothing was going to find the doorway to Life. A few creatures did, but they were weak, and soon taken care of.
Tirylese sat on the stony ground and plucked at a few scant blades of grass that grew in between the stones. She was still weeping. One of the voices inside of her urged her to go on, to get a handle on herself. Another voice argued that it was useless, and she was useless, for a real Abhorsen would not have tarried, delaying her arrival in Estel, and causing her uncle's death. The third voice was not her own, it belonged to her uncle. It said simply, over and over and over that there were too many Free Magic creatures and that he ran.
"I could have saved him. I should have been there." She berated her self.
"It doesn't matter! Re-spell your sword, and get moving!" The voice yelled.
"I ran. Back to Estel." Uncle Mosaibe's voice said slowly.
"I should have been there."
So involved in her scolding and self-pity, Tirylese did not notice the two shining eyes creeping closer. Silently, without stirring any of the loose stones underneath, the creature crept closer to the wavering Charter Diamond. The Corner closest to it was dim, and slowly getting dimmer. Long claws and teeth glistened, and a sick sort of intelligence gleamed in its shining eyes. It could feel the repulsiveness of the Charter, and was drawn to it to destroy. Slinking slowly closer, it could see the bells that hung on the chest of the Charter-marked woman. The Abhorsen-in-waiting! A slight hesitation, but perceiving her distraction and inattention, it leapt at the Eastmark, tearing and shredding at the Charter swirling around it.
Tirylese jumped at the burst of light, and drew her sword. Whirling around, she witnessed her Diamond being massacred by a large being that was darker than the night sky beyond. A shriek escaped her, and she wondered if it was terror or a battle cry as she raised her sword. The Diamond broke with a flash and she was set upon by a thing of fury, hunger and power. It slashed at her as she parried with her sword. The beast fought wildly, famished for a strong life. Tirylese ducked its long claws and thrust with her sword. Metal met flesh, and the thing screamed at her in fury, and it leapt again. Tirylese strained and struck at it with her sword. Charter Marks fizzled in the stench of Free Magic, and Tirylese moaned. This creature was strong. It backed up slightly, snarled, and slowly rounded the small woman. It sprang again, and Tirylese hurriedly fumbled with her bandolier, reaching for Saraneth, and was knocked to the stony ground by the creature, it's hot breath steaming onto her face. She strained and reached her bells, her fingers finding Ranna. She rang it as hard as she could. The creature swayed and dropped onto her, numb. She sighed and groped for Saraneth. Ringing it in the dependable "s" motion, she awoke the creature and sent it beyond the Ninth Gate. Trembling, weeping and weak, she rolled over on the rocks and threw up. She had a few cuts, but nothing major. She looked at her sword, and was dismayed to see the Charter Marks were faint, much dimmer than they were earlier. Once she recovered, she would have to re-spell her sword. She held back a sob and tried to plan out how best to get back to the Abhorsen's house and recover before finding the Free Magic creatures that lurked near Albalef. Re-sheathing her bell, she stood and began to walk east, towards her house, forcing herself to remain silent, ignoring the sobs welling in her throat.