NOTE: Every little technical detail may not be exactly right. This is all based on what I remember, as I do not have my copy of Abhorsen with me. Please DON"T review to tell me that I got some minor detail wrong. Chances are I knew about it and chose to ignore it (because it's irrelevant), or that I put it in but you either didn't realize it or won't realize it for a while. Have patience with it, it's not completed.
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The wood creaked beneath her feet as she walked through the room. Tara stood in the center of the circle shaped room, staring up at the ceiling. A large mural blanketed the top, painted with a delicate hand. Pictures of the Dead, and of Abhorsen's past decorated the sculpturesque style ceiling. A soft patter averted her attention from the artwork.
"Yes it's beautiful, but it grows old..." the voice sounded from behind her. She turned and smiled.
"Oh yes. Sometimes it's impossible to forget something, no matter how much we try." A small white cat stood behind her.
"I'm surprised you agreed to the job. Was it not Lirael who put you away?"
"Now, now, silly kitten," she said, clearly mocking him. "I have no hard feelings."
"Or none you'll show." Tara paused, trying to control her temper.
"That, my friend, is irrelevant. One can change, despite their past. You are a distinct model of that now aren't you?" It was the cat's turn to be angry.
"Exactly," he said half-heartedly. Tara smiled.
"My name, is Tara," she said, eyeing the cat carefully.
"I go by Mogget. Any other name," he paused, a spark in his eye that had not been there previously, "is irrelevant. Now, if you don't mind, I have business to attend to. Good day, Tara." The cat walked off in the direction the cat came in.
Tara smiled to herself and walked toward the rooms. On her right and left were many large doors, each with it's own design. Tara focused on the door handles. After closely inspecting all of them, she chose one door and opened it slowly.
In the left-hand corner was a large four poster bed. On the side closest to the door was a large glass bookcase. Tara walked over to it a peered at the large green book inside. "Hello, dear friend," she said, and opened the case with a wave of her hand. The book shone a brighter green, which reflected on her hand as she pulled it out. She flipped through the pages and began reading. The person in the bed moved, causing Tara to look up, and quickly look back to her book as if nothing happened.
"Who are you?" asked the figure in the bed, his hair ruffed and large bags still under his eyes.
"That is a very good question. But I must say I honestly don't know," she closed she book. "My name, however, is Tara." The boy tried to digest her words. He groaned and rubbed his eyes.
"Alright." Tara flipped the book from hand to hand.
"A good read. Have you read it?"
"What? Oh well, only the first few-"
"Well that's a good thing to start with!" she said, "get dressed, let's eat. We'll start when the sun is a third of its height in the sky." He stared at her blankly.
"Um...right," he sat up and rubbed his eyes again. "I'll get a Sending to show you your room."
"Thank you very kindly but I'll find it on my own," she turned and walked out the door.
"Okay..." he said as she left. He slowly got out of bed, and began to put on his clothes.
A thin layer of fog thinly lay across the sky, almost covering the morning sun. Tara sat on the fence that surrounded the courtyard, her hair tied behind her head in a bun. She was looking intently to the sky.
The boy was walking toward the courtyard, watching Tara intently. "You're-" Tara began.
"Late? No, I'm not. I am Abhorsen, I am never late," he responded mockingly. She smiled.
"Well, sir Abhorsen–which is what I must call you as I do not know your name–shall we get started?"
"My name," he spoke with fake dignity, "is Kamriel. But you may call me Abhorsen."
"Will Kamriel do? Abhorsen is too long for my prisoner's tongue."
"I suspect your prisoner's tongue is sly, and could surely say Abhorsen. But as you are my tutor, you may call me Kamriel." Tara flinched as he said tutor.
"Yes, let's go," she said as she stepped into the center of the courtyard.
"I have a question for you. How in the world did you get here so fast? I wasn't expecting you for another three days at least," he asked as he followed her.
"Although I am not Abhorsen, I am still a well learned necromancer and Charter mage. I am also a criminal, and know my shortcuts."
"Were a criminal. You were a criminal."
"Yes...was a criminal." Tara smiled at him. "Now, I take it you can make fire, correct?" She said a quick series of Charter Marks and a flame grew from the palm of her hand. Kamriel did the same, and within a few seconds a small flame appeared in his hand. "Good, but we should work on speed. The Dead will not wait for you, Abhorsen or no." He extinguished his flame and did it again. "Slightly faster," she said, "Practice more later. Let's see you make it bigger." She released two Charter Marks from the tip of her tongue and the flame grew to the size of her head. "You must keep the flame under control, so it doesn't burn you." He let out a light laugh and spoke the two Marks. His flame exploded into a giant fireball, but quickly diminishing so it was the same size as Tara's. She laughed, "Good! Now, see that birdbath over there?" she gestured toward the birdbath over in the far corner of the courtyard.
"Yes," he replied, looking at her in bewilderment.
"Throw it into the water." He looked more confused, by chose to oblige. He reached into the Charter and pulled out marks of flight and power. He pulled his hands back behind his head and threw the fireball. It sailed toward the birdbath and exploded with a puff of steam in the water. Tara smiled and walked over to the birdbath. She placed her finger gently on the rim. "What do you know? It's still warm, very nice. I think we'll stop for now...it's starting to get hot. You can go ahead and continue practicing for speed until lunch. I am going to go take a look around."
"Would you like a Charter Sendi–"
"No, I'm fine."
"If you're sure..."
"Thank you, Abhorsen, but I will by quite alright."
"I'm sure you will..." She smiled back at him and walked toward the house.
"He did well," she said.
"Yes. He has skill with the Charter, he just needs practice," said Mogget, who had appeared behind her.
"He will be a good Abhorsen."
"Yes..." She turned to the cat.
"So what has the infamous Mogget been up to these last thousand years?"
"I was bound to the Abhorsen until the binding of Orannis, and now I aid the Abhorsen by choice."
"It's not a job then?"
"It is. No one ever fully changes. I aid the Abhorsen, but still part of me longs to serve against. No, no one changes. They simply gain control over that small part of them. I am old, Tara. I have given up a life of crime."
"Such wise words for a cat."
"Cat by choice, dearest. Better an immortal cat, than a silly mortal human."
"Very true."
"And don't you forget it!" Tara laughed, her eyes sparkling. "So cat, it's such a beautiful day," she waved her hand toward the sky, "shall we go for a ride?" Than cat grinned.
"Alright. Despite the fact you are a silly human, I'll f latter you."
"Better a silly human than a silly cat." Mogget stabbed a fully extended claw into her foot.
"Ow! Damn cat!" she yelled, and ran toward the door to the stables.