It had been a month since Touchstone had asked the question and preparations were all under way. The city was busy organizing events for the day.

Sabriel was sitting at her desk, writing letter to her friends back in Ancelstierre. Just as she was finishing off there was a knock at her door.

'Come in.' she called.

The messenger stepped forward, holding out a letter, bowing slightly he handed her the letter before taking a step backwards and closing the door. Sabriel unfolded the letter.

Abhorsen.

There have been many reports lately of a Mordicant in the small village of Ganel. They need your help almost immediately.

Marvin

Ganel's Elder

Sabriel folded the letter up. Another trip she sighed. She got up and reached for her leather bandolier of bells and strapped it to her chest. Although the Abhorsen's duties were growing less, they always seem to come up when there was something important, as if they were planed.

'Going somewhere?'

Sabriel turned; nearly dropping the sword she has putting on. She smiled as she saw it was Touchstone.

'Yes' she whispered handing him the letter. Touchstone took the letter, reading what it said.

'A Mordicant, you better be careful.' He said putting his arms around her hips.

'I will be, and I'll be back in time.'

'Your already worrying me to death and were not even married yet.' He said, placing a kiss on the top of her head.

'Well you better get use to it,' she giggled, looking up at him.

He leaned down letting their lips meet. Hearing a knock at the door, they pulled away.

'Come in.' Sabriel called.

The messenger seemed to be slightly embarrassed from stumbling on the King and the Abhorsen.

'Abhorsen…. the uh…the… paperwing is um…ready for you.' He said, stuttered.

Sabriel nodded, 'I'll be up shortly.'

The messenger walked back out, shutting the door behind him.

'Now where were we?' Touchstone said, a schoolboy grin spreading across his face.

Sabriel arrived at the paperwing launch site, to find her silver and blue paper wing waiting for her. Stepping in to the paperwing, she hand her hands, feeling the follow of the charter mark. Waving and kissing goodbye to Touchstone she called up the marks for a wind and set of in the direction of Ganel.

Arriving in Ganel she was first met by Marvin, the elder.

'Abhorsen I'm so glad you came so quickly. The Mordicant was last seen in the fields over to your west. The rest of the village are gathered around shore.'

'Ok, I'll be there once I have done my job.'

Sabriel walked towards the elder and said, checking her bells as she went. It wasn't long before she could taste and smell the horrible stench of free magic. The Mordicant was watching Sabriel from the over off the shadows. Sensing the Mordicant near by, she drew out Saraneth, the deepest, lowest bell. In her other hand she held her sword, charter marks running down the blade. She rang the bell, binding the Mordicant to her will. Quickly she changed bells, drawing out Dyrim. She hadn't accounted a Mordicant since that time she was on the way to the Abhorsen's house. She rang the bell its musical tune filling the air.

'Who sent you' she shouted in to the darkness.

'The Abhorsen can't keep him forever even if she did a greater evil will soon come' the Mordicant cried its horrible voice sending a shiver down her spine.

Not liking what she heard she swapped Dyrim for Kibeth, the walker, and sent the Mordicant in to the gates of death. Putting the bells back in to there pouches, she headed back, a little shaken.

'I best check on the house, before I go back to the city and back to Touchstone.'