Mogget had been at the palace got for a few days now and nothing had been learnt about what was going on in the Old Kingdom. Sabriel had been taken to studying in the playroom/nursery while Touchstone attended court hearings listening to what was happening to the people.
One of the guards was first to notice green and silver paperwing flying in from the north and sent men over to investigate it.
An out of breath messenger boy arrived in the court room as another did in the playroom. Touchstone thanked everyone and turned up the flight of stairs to one of the higher rooms. Sabriel left Ellimere in the care of the girl who had brought the message to her and set off across the palace, being followed by a white cat some paces behind.
….
….
Sabriel arrived first and opened the door to be greeted by two of the Clayr, dressed in white linen dresses, with long open sleeved. They had long blond hair and bright blue eyes. And both of them were identical. Sanar and Ryelle, the twins.
"Hello cousins." Sabriel said as she hugged them each in turn. "I haven't seen you in a while, what brings you here?"
The twins didn't get a chance to answer as Touchstone walked in.
"Sorry I'm late." He said walking over to stand by Sabriel.
"I'm glad you're both here," said Ryelle. "The ninth watch has sent us with a message for you."
"We'll have to show you, and you'll have to watch and remember," said the other twin.
One of the bought out a bottle made of clear glass from the flowing sleeve of her robe. The other produced a long ivory wand from her sleeve.
"Ready?" They asked each other simultaneously.
Sanar unstopped the bottle and in one quick motion, poured out the contents along a horizontal line. Ryelle, equally as quick, drew the wand across the falling water, and it froze in mid air to form a pane of transparent ice.
"Watch" they commanded as Ryelle tapped the ice with her wand. It quickly clouded over to show an image of a young woman, dressed in dark clothes a makeshift bandoleer of bells across her chest. Her long knotting messy hair fell hiding her face from view. She looked up and smiled grimly causing the image to change to a small town. It showed an empty town square. Empty of life. But full of death. It stayed on that image before the ice suddenly cracked, the pieces collapsing into a pile of swift melting slush.
"You saw," the Clayr said together. It wasn't a question but both Sabriel and Touchstone nodded
"So there is something wrong after all then," said a small voice from the back of the room.
"Mogget! How did…" Sabriel said shocked to see the white cat so suddenly.
"Nice to see you to." Mogget said jumping up on a chair.
"I see the Abhorsen's servant has let to learn some manner."
"Take no notice of Mogget." Touchstone said. "He is always like that."
The Clayr nodded. "We must be on our way." Ryelle said.
"Yes we still have our own duties to attend to back at the glacier." Sanar said. "We shall come back if any thing new is seen by the ninth watch."
….
….
"Good by cousins" Sabriel said waving to the green and silver paperwing as it flew off in to the north. Heading to the safety of the glacier.
"Looks like your needed again." Touchstone said moving a stray piece of hair from Sabriel's face.
Sabriel nodded and rested her head on his chest. She remembered what she was told about the Clayr. Getting their when's mixed up, and hoped what was going to happen wasn't going to soon.
The sun maybe setting in the west but trouble was just starting.
A/N: Hello, yep im still posting and updating. I was going to stop when Ellimere was born but i found myself writing more.