Authors Note: Thanks, Sinewy, for the review. I was very excited about this, being my first fan-fic, so I'm trying to get off to a good start with publishing my chapters on time. Please, no flames. Any review saying that this isn't good is fine, but no 'OMG, it sucks. You can't write at all, you should just give up etc.' will be removed and ignored, so just don't try. Let's be civilized.

Chapter One

Chlorr sat there, frozen at the single word. "Abhorsen?" she tried once more. He must be mistaken, she thought. Still, the cat Mogget merely twitched at her voice in his tall cat ears. She didn't want to offend the poor cat; he must be tired from the journey. She lifted him gently off her shoulders and followed her urge to scratch him under the chin and just behind the ears. A cat-like grin formed on his face and he purred softly, enjoying the attention. Then, Chlorr suddenly found that her hand was slipping under the blood red collar that had before seemed so innocent. It was cold to the touch and a wave of nausea came over her as she realized it was a binding spell—for Free Magic constructs. She stood up and stepped back as the cat squinted lazily up at her, trying to seem innocent.

"What," gulped Chlorr, "are you?" She almost didn't want the answer. She bit her lip and lifted her head slightly, to look superior. Why would her father have sent a bound Free Magic construct to her?

"I am Mogget, servant of the Abhorsen—that's you—and the Charter." he said matter-of-factly, grooming himself once more.

"But your collar. The marks on it are used to bind Free Magic constructs." she said blandly. Perhaps she misread the marks? Maybe they are just marks that are similar to binding marks? But she knew what she had felt, and it wasn't the simple marks that would give an animal the gift of speech.

"Yes, so they are. Would you like to see why they're there?" Mogget teased slyly. This girl was ignorant, and he would have to teach her. His eye twitched a bit at the thought. He hated teaching.

Chlorr didn't want to touch Mogget again, let alone see him unbound. He wasn't as servant, he was a slave. In a way, she pitied him; then she looked down into his cold gaze and lost all pity. She watched him lick himself a few more times then forced herself to sit down next to the chest. As long as he was bound, she should have no worries. "What must I do?" Her voice seemed very faint, as if someone else were saying the words.

"First, I suggest you check the small pouch of the sword belt; there are some things there for you." He sat up and slunk over to rest beside her. Chlorr scooted to the far edge of the chest and opened the drawer from there. As she lifted the thick leather belt and opened the pouch she smelled a small taint of free magic coming from inside the bag; or perhaps it was Mogget? No, he hadn't smelt before. Her hands shook as she lifted something cold out of the pouch. A silver ring made almost purely of magic. In the middle was a deep red ruby, held by two silver claws. "That is of most importance, I urge you to wear it always." He sounded somewhat irritated, as if he didn't really want her to put it on.

"What is it for?" Chlorr asked as she slipped it on her middle finger, afraid it wouldn't fit. It shrunk itself to fit her finger just right. She held her hand out, examining the gem and silver it was set in.

She reached into the pouch once more as Mogget answered, "You'll know when you need to use it." He seemed full of answers that he just didn't want to tell. The spell may make him help her, but Mogget obviously believed in learning from experience. She brought her hand out of the pouch with at least ten silver deniers for bargaining, she supposed, a sewing kit and some matches. "You should be getting ready," Mogget urged Chlorr. Chlorr leaned over to pat him on the head and tell him she'd be right back, but stopped herself as he squinted at her smooth, pale hand as if it'd be a shame for her to get it scratched. Chlorr got the message and stood up to leave.

She removed the contents of the chest and brought them into her room. She realized that she would have to wear some of her father's breeches and boots. She sighed and stepped across the hall of her still cottage-like home and found the smallest pair of breeches and boots. Luckily her father never got rid of his clothes, as he was rarely there. After retrieving those items she laid out the clothes daintily, only to be interrupted by an impatient Mogget saying, "Hurry it up in there, we really must be going."

She stripped down to her under things and put the breeches and a soft cotton shirt on, then the scale-like mail and the surcoat. The sword was spelled like most new things she seemed to be finding. At first she thought she saw a name imprinted on the sharp edge, but it soon disappeared. She disregarded this as part of the heavy magic and slid it into its sheath listening to the metal-on-metal sound. After that she slipped the belt around her waist, finding that it was very large for her—probably made for someone older—then adjusted it to fit properly. Next came the bells. She stared at them, tears blurring her vision. As soon as she put them on she would no longer be Chlorr; she would be Abhorsen. She forced her hand not to shake as she lifted the bandolier and put it over her head, feeling the weight of the bells heavy on her chest. She quickly pulled her hair out of its loose tie and braided it down her back and tied it tight, with two ribbons and some quick Charter marks for grip and tightness.

With that done, she slipped on her boots and made a quick glance in the mirror as she stepped out to the hall. The transformation was complete. She was Abhorsen. She was terrified.

Mogget sat in the hall, stock still, waiting. He blinked then turned to lead her out. "We really must be going, we've wasted all morning," he commented as they reached the kitchen, "But we should eat something before we leave." With that he hopped up on the table and waited for her to get out the food. The cat stared at her, waiting.

Chlorr prepared warm tea and cut some bread for herself then boiled some leftover meat for Mogget. "This is all we have, the meat should be fine; I bought it last night." Mogget replied by grabbing it in his teeth and pulling it out the door to finish his meal in peace. Chlorr let out a sigh and drank some of the tea that was supposed to relieve stress. She did feel somewhat more relaxed as she finished off the small lunch of tea and bread. Before she joined Mogget outside, she slipped some of the herbs into a bag which was then put in her belt pouch. With that done, she stepped into the fresh air and saw that Mogget had curled himself up in the empty drawer of the chest and the drawer next to it was not empty. There lay the green leather book that seemed so forbidding. Mogget opened his eyes and yawned, then stepped daintily out of the drawer.

"You should take that with you, as well, Abhorsen," he nodded to the book. "It is the Book of the Dead. All Abhorsens must read it." Chlorr stared at the book and its silver latch that held it shut. The silver clasp that kept whatever secrets locked safely inside. Silently she bent down and ran her fingers over the wrinkles in its cover. She picked it up, resigned to her fate, and clutched it to her chest as a mother would a child, eyes closed. This book was powerful, she felt, but reading it may save her life. She opened her eyes slowly and stood up. She was ready, she could feel a small bit of courage and strength growing inside her. She had to be Abhorsen, the Dead wouldn't kill another living man if she could prevent it.

"Where are we going, Mogget?" she said, holding the book with one hand by her side.

"First, we must investigate your fathers death. He's stronger than a few Dead Hands." Mogget explained. "So we shall travel to High Bridge, where he was last seen. We should reach the Ratterlin by late today, and that is very fortunate."

"Why don't we just continue on past the Ratterlin? We can get to High Bridge by morning if we travel through the night." Chlorr replied, starting to feel the fear of travel creep over her, and some of that recently found courage left her. The farthest she had gone from her small home in Aunden was to the Mountains less than 3 hours travel one way.

"Did your father tell you nothing?

When the Dead do walk, seek waters run
For this the Dead will always shun

Deep rivers best, or broadest lake

To ward the Dead and haven make
If water fails thee, fires thy friend

If neither guards it shall be thy end"

Mogget recited the children's song. This girl knew nothing of the Dead, but she would soon learn, for they would surely seek her out. "And they are much stronger by night. If we find the river, we should be able to find some island to take refuge on. Unless you'd rather take your chances; I wouldn't mind." Mogget didn't sound pleased in the least by Chlorr's lack of everyday Abhorsen knowledge.

"That's okay." Chlorr said, seeing his fierce glance, "My father was always out doing his job. I learned only household things from my mother, and she left to find my father when I was 13. I suppose she settled down with someone else, or died." Chlorr explained. I do miss her, she thought to herself, but I must focus on the future and not the past—good or bad. With those words in her head, she took her first step toward the mighty Ratterlin River; and away from her safe home.