They reached the wall back into the Old Kingdom in less than three hours – a record in Lirael's opinion, although she wished she hadn't made Heai gallop so fast – it had made her thighs ache horribly and she winced as she called a halt to her horse. Nick was still feeling woozy, he told her, but he had recovered considerably and was doing his best not to show how the Mordaut had affected him. His limbs were weak and clumsy, and it had led to more hard work on Lirael's account to keep him on Heai's back as well as push her horse into a flat out gallop. The poor horse's flanks were heaving, and Lirael clambered down from her back, whispering soothing noises to her and placing charter marks for calm and revival on the horse's shining forehead.
'Sorry, girl,' Lirael said, smiling sadly. We'll get you some water once we're in the Old Kingdom, I promise.'
Heai grunted, a clear sign that she'd better. Lirael looked across at Ellimere, whose curly, almost black hair was standing on end. It was true she looked a little ruffled, but otherwise fine.
'Nick,' Ellimere panted, 'what on earth is so urgent that we had to get back that fast?'
'Sorry,' Nick mumbled, but did not answer Ellimere's question.
Ellimere looked at him expectantly, and then sighed as the answer she wanted never came.
'I'm not sure myself, Ellie.' Lirael admitted, wondering what would be the best way to get back into The Old Kingdom. Her mind cast wistfully back to when she had made the giant owl charter skin: but they had not had horses then, and Lirael sensed that there was a very serious reason why it was urgent to get back into the Old Kingdom.
Fortunately, Ellimere and Lirael did not have to tarry long to deliberate the best way to get back across after all, Sergeant Berk, a newly estated Sergeant recognised Lirael by her hair and called the through. Of course, he knew all about Lirael, and her legendary binding, not to mention being the sister of the Abhorsen, and being something of an Abhorsen herself.
Berk had twice cornered Lirael, and both occasions had been rather embarrassing. He was a forthcoming, rather confusing man, but his awe of Lirael was un-ending and he never ceased to shower her with compliments and praise, which Lirael had shrugged off gruffly. She had not noticed, her life having been practically devoid of men in her years as a daughter of the Clayr, but it was evident to most the nature of Berk's interest – romance. Lirael had snorted at this when Sam had informed her, but as her mind grew used to the idea she realised this might be true.
Despite the embarrassing nature of Berk's interest in her, Lirael was a little glad to see him: particularly as he was the keeper of a Paperwing.
The craft itself was Sabriel's – she had left it with the Sergeant a month or two ago, with an explanation that she was sure one of her family would need it soon- and Lirael was thankful for it.
'Sergeant Berk!' Lirael pushed a look of pleasant surprise onto her face as the round-faced man approached, beaming, his arm's open in a welcome gesture.
Lirael shot Ellimere a filthy look as her niece snorted, but turned, keeping her face friendly, back to the Sergeant.
'Milady,' Berk smiled, bowing low.
Lirael nodded awkwardly in reply.
'…And Princess Ellimere!' The Sergeant turned quickly to Ellimere and gave a slightly less grand bow, which Ellimere returned, hiding her look of amusement.
'How can I help you on this fine day?'
Lirael looked about her, confused. The sky was grey and the air a little chilly, but as she looked past the wall, she saw the sun was shining brightly in the Old Kingdom.
'We need the Paperwing, Sergeant Berk,' said Lirael politely, as they made there way through a narrow archway that left Ancelstierre behind.
'My friend Nick here-' Lirael gestured to the lopsided Nick on Heai.
'Nick says there's trouble here in the Old Kingdom – trouble that perhaps we do not want to get tangled in. I'm afraid I can't say where or what – I don't think Nick's recovered from the Mordaut enough.'
'At…At… The P…P…Palace.' Nick wheezed, his breath hard with the taughtness that was coming from inside his ribcage. Evidently he could say no more as he suddenly fell forward onto the neck of Heai.
Ellimere's face suddenly changed from one of amusement to one of deadly seriousness.
Berk stroked his chin, 'I'm sure I could let you have the Paperwing Lirael – but where do you intend to put the horses?'
Lirael's hand began to twist with nervousness.
'Yes, I thought that would be a problem. But… I thought…' Lirael began to think on her feet here. If it was true that he was interested in her – then surely helping her would seem like a profitable thing to do for him?
'I thought,' Lirael continued, more confidently, her eye wondering over him casually, 'That perhaps you – of course, you don't have to, but… I thought that you… being the big, strong Sergeant that you are would be so helpful as to look after them for a while?'
The Sergeant's face was twitching and nervously, Lirael put in, 'Only for a while of course…'
'Of course!' the Sergeant burst, his face splitting into a wide-eyed smile, 'I mean, of course, I'd love to… 'd be delighted, naturally… honoured.'
'Thank you,' Lirael smiled in relief, and made a mental note not to smile too much again as this seem to positively make the man's day.
'-very much.' Put in Ellimere. 'I'm sorry to hurry you along Sir, but we really need that Paperwing…'
'Of course!' The Sergeant said again, jumping up enthusiastically, 'This way, follow me…'
Lirael was relieved to see the yellow-eyed Paperwing, and it looked up at her seemingly innocently as Ellimere climbed in quickly. Lirael took longer, as she helped Nick off Heai first, and settled him in, next to Ellimere, who looked rather put-out at being squashed next to him.
'Hurry, Lirael!' she said briskly, 'You heard what Nick said! Whatever danger the Old Kingdom's in, it's at The Palace, and…'
'I know Ellie,' Lirael cut across, sighing at Ellimere's now persistent desire to return home to the Palace. It was not hers, as such, her father, Touchstone being King there, but Ellimere was a born-queen, and, as such was heir to the throne. She was also quite the control freak, and, as much as Lirael loved her niece, it became tiresome at times.
'Thank-you.' She smiled at Berk, who beamed back in return.
'Of course! Anything for the great Lirael! The binder… the Abhorsen, the…'
'Thank you!' Lirael interrupted quickly, 'Its very good of you.'
She turned to Heai, and patted her nose fondly. 'See you soon, my dear.' She said, and clambered into the Paperwing.
Its eyes snapped out from its look of laziness to one of confidence.
Lirael watched the Charter Marks swim on the windscreen before her, before she pursed her wet lips and whistled hard. The Paperwing gave a great lurch and sped into the air, suddenly soaring over woodland, rivers, lakes and grassland.
'Home?' Lirael called to the passengers in the back.
'Home.' Came Ellimere's reply.
'Right,' Lirael said, swerving the plane right into the light of the pale sun.
'Home!' she yelled, and whistled a clear, pure note. The Paperwing heard and off it took, plunging the three into further darkness than they knew.
Off they go! What will happen next you ask? I will add the next chapter soon so keep checking back!
