Chapter three: the Necromancer.

Araniel surveyed the necromancer standing before her.

Tough boots, thick leggings, sword held within its scabbard and of course the bells, set securely within their bandolier. Only their mahogany handles showing.

With relief, Araniel noticed the night-blue surcoat emblazoned with a dusting of silver keys.

The Abhorsen.

She let her axe drop to her side, her fingers relax and the destructive powers of the charter slip back to their eternal flow.

"Abhorsen Lirael, greetings," began Araniel graciously, "we did not expect you for a few days yet."

"Yes that was my original plan, but the construct I was chasing came here first so I had to follow."

"What became of the dead?" Araniel questioned, realising that there was no grave mould or sign of struggle. "Why did you stop my arrow!" she continued remembering the first attempt to destroy the dead. "And why did you use Ranna on me!"

"Be calm Araniel." gestured to the gates which stood open, "Walk with me in the garden, it is not safe to talk here, I will explain."

The two walked into the garden, past the roses and the vegetables to the fountain, and the charter stone.

It had been placed by the King man years passed, it was in the centre of the gardens and offered a place of quiet and contemplation, it was also the part of the castle that held the most risk of dead.

Lirael raised a golden barrier that would hold all sound then she and Araniel sat at the edge of the pool.

"They were not dead." stated Lirael simply," they are a new breed of dead, as it were. I am intending to inform the council of their existence at the chamber tonight."

"How can they not be dead? They had no charter marks but they were not harmed by marks for purity."

"It is a new perversion of the charter, cast by necromancers it infests the spirit of the human with a dead spirit, it is similar to a mordaut but they can travel in sunlight. They cannot cross running water but it does not harm them is they are splashed."

"How is this possible? The charter baptism should defend against this distortion of the charter!" Araniel was shocked, a charter baptism was supposed to keep the spirit pure within the human.

"I am not fully aware of how it is done, but once the spirit has been destroyed then the charter is restored to the person."

"How can it be reversed?" Araniel questioned, these new enemies were a great threat to the guild, as every new perversion of the charter was.

"By restoring the thought and character to the person. The call of Belgaer should do this but the spirit must still be destroyed once this has been done otherwise it will run free. I am sorry that I had to use Ranna on you but you would have easily killed those people."

"Oh its ok, but why didn't anyone wake me up once you'd dealt with the spirits?"

"Well, for one thing I didn't know how you would react, and another I had no hope of getting through your personal defences before you woke up."

"What defences?.......Oh I had forgotten about those spells, I didn't know they would work against a spelled sleep. That's good to know."

"How did you manage to cast marks like those when falling?" requested Lirael obviously surprised at their strength. "It would take me at least half an hour to cast marks of that power!"

Araniel drew a pendant from inside her shirt. It was a perfect of diamond, flawless, when looking at it directly, Lirael only saw the simple shape but through the corner of her eye it seemed to glow with a golden flame within.

"It's spelled with an imperial mark," Araniel explained, "When the wearer is asleep or unconscious it summons protections."

"Sorry, imperial marks?" "They're a new method of performing charter spells. If mastermarks are linked together they amplify the power enormously. Imperial marks allow for very complex spells, they can lie dormant until they are summoned if they are placed in an object."

"How come you the other members of the guild didn't disable the defences then?"

"No other guildsmen can perform them. I invented the method."

"What! I don't mean to demean your power, but surely you cannot be the only guildsman!"

Before Araniel could answer there came a bright light shining through the shield. An apprentice had come to fetch the two. Araniel gestured for an extra minute and continued.

"Its true, most of the masters can form all of the mastermarks required but for some reason they cannot form the bonds."

About to reply, the surprised Abhorsen was again alerted by the apprentice.

"Come to my chambers later after hours, we will discuss this matter, amongst other things."

The Abhorsen held up her hand and the golden shield flowed down onto it until it first formed a golden fiery aura and then a circle of marks that formed the spell, these in turn faded as Lirael rose.

"Abhorsen," the apprentice addressed, evidently uncomfortable for interrupting the distinguished necromancer, "Araniel, you are both requested to attend the distortion chamber, the masters are about to draw the marks."

"Thank you....."

"Jordek Maam."

"Thank you Jordek, we will proceed to the chamber directly. Araniel would you lead me?"

"Of course Abhorsen, you can go back to your duties Jordek."

Taking his eyes from the bandolier. Jordek gave a slight bow and turned started back to the palace, followed by Araniel and Lirael.

The chamber of distortions was held within the catacombs below the castle, it was a dark room built of Obsidian, a slab of white marble stood in the centre.

"Abhorsen, Araniel, we will now begin the proceedings." The master rose and began tracing marks in the air as the other masters did so, a glowing map appeared on the marble.

It showed the entire Old Kingdom in all detail, tiny pinpricks of golden light showed the location of charter mages.

Most of the masters themselves were intrigued by the map. It was seldom seen as it could only be conjured in the presence of a person of blood. The concentration of golden fire was strongest on the isle of the guild.

However, there were also two other marks on the isle, practically on top each other, one of silver and one of a crimson gold. There were other marks on the map of white and a darker crimson, but they marked the location of the Clayr and other members of the royal line.

"Those marks on the Isle, what are those?" Lirael asked, "I have not heard of them before."

"Well," the guildmaster remarked, seemingly confused, "the silver marks the Abhorsen, but I cannot place the other, it may also be you as you are of royal blood and a charter mage."

Somewhat satisfied with this response, Lirael looked over the map for what she had come for.

She found what she was looking for massing around the city of Hafmet. She had been told that these marks represented necromancers or humans bearing a sullied charter mark. The black fire was darker or paler depending on the strength of the caster.

Dead were not evident on the map.

"So it is to Hafmet that I must go. Would the guild permit me to stay here for three days until my guards arrive, then a further two to allow them rest?"

"Of course Abhorsen, I assume that all of your guards bear a charter mark?"

"Yes, certainly."

"Good. You shall be in the chambers in the east wing. Araniel, will you show the Abhorsen to her quarters."

Araniel bowed to the master and turned from the room, followed by Lirael.

Later that night Araniel took the walk through the castle, up the steps to the east wing and along the corridor to the guest chambers.

She knocked on the door and once met with an answer, turned the iron handle and let the door creak open.

"Greetings Araniel," welcomed Lirael, leading Araniel through to the main room. This consisted of a bed, desk, cupboard and two chairs in front of the fireplace.

The two sat on the chairs and began to talk about many things as they roasted hazel nuts. After about quarter of an hour Lirael commented.

"I cannot believe that you are the only mage who can form these marks. Power and abilities most often run in blood. Who were your parents?"

"I have to say that I don't know Abhorsen,"

"How many times, call me Lirael." "Lirael. I was found outside the wall, charter mark intact and no-one saw or could find anyone who brought me."

"Then it is a mystery. How strange that someone would give up a child with such strong powers."

A silence followed this comment.

"Well as I have three days free now, would you give me a tour of the castle tomorrow?"

"Of course Lirael. I have a fighting arts class to teach at the tenth hour, perhaps you would care to come to the end of that."

Lirael assented and after the goodnights Araniel returned to her chambers in the west wing.

Sorry that this was rather a chatty chapter but i was setting things up for the rest of the story. the next chapter will have much more action and should be up before the end of the week!

Authors note: Sabriel is dead, she and the dog went beyond the ninth gate when they defeated orranis. Lirael is the Abhorsen and is just as good as Sabriel was. Both Lirael and Araniel are in their mid twenties, unmarried and unattached. all of the other characters form the Abhorsen are as they were.

charterfire