A/N: Wow, I really seem to be on a roll with this story. I've sort of got writer's block for "Five Great Charters," so I guess this is just a project to use my creative energy. But enough chatter, on with the story!

Disclaimer: None of this is mine, except for the name of our traitorous Clayr. Not even Mirelle is mine – if you look hard enough, you can find her in "Lirael". Kudos to whoever finds her!

Chapter 3: Traitor

Mirelle strode through the halls of the Clayr's glacier, thoughts spinning. The Abhorsen's House had been attacked! The young ranger shook her head in disbelief. Who would dare do such a thing? Rumours were circling around the Glacier that the Abhorsen's wife had been the target, for she carried the last of the line. Mirelle's lips tightened in a spasm of anger: some people were sick.

She threw a door open, stalking into the room where the messenger-hawks were kept. The ranger nodded at the only other person in the room, a young Clayr called Tildae, before selecting a hawk from the perches. Activating the hawk's Charter spell, she recited a message for her Captain who was still in the field.

The young ranger noticed Tildae watching her anxiously, something that made her senses tingle, but she did not voice her suspicions. Instead, Mirelle carried the hawk over to the enormous window that opened over the glacier, and sent the bird on its way. With a polite nod and a swift glance at Tildae, she left the room, half-closing the door behind her and walking down the hall.

When she had gone what she judged to be a sufficient distance, Mirelle turned and crept back to the doorway. Pressing herself up against the wall, she could hear Tildae's hushed voice: "…attacks are not working, even by using spirits of the Clayr. She has been Seen in the woods, alone and pregnant. I suggest you hold off your Crows and attack her there, outside the protections of the House…"

Mirelle had heard enough. She charged through the door, startling the hawks, and Tildae looked up in alarm. The ranger's hand automatically shot to the hilt of her sword. "Traitor!" she hissed. "You've been in contact with whoever's been attacking Abhorsen, right?"

The other Clayr stumbled back in fright, green eyes wide.

"You have a chance to redeem yourself," growled Mirelle, looking at the young woman in disgust. "Tell us who is behind it all. Tell us who you've been speaking to."

"I can't," Tildae sobbed. "He has my sister…" The ranger felt a flash of confusion – Tildae's sister was dead.

She looked up at the ranger, tears streaking her cheeks. "I'm… sorry," she choked. "I was not strong enough." And before Mirelle could stop her, the Clayr had climbed onto the ledge of the vast window, and plunged several hundred feet onto the icy crags below.

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"I need to leave the House," Sabrine proclaimed. She glowered at Terciel angrily across the telescope in the Observatory. From this position they could look down on the courtyards, which were littered with the bodies of dead Gore Crows.

"The House is safe," Abhorsen declared edgily. "We are protected here."

"Not well enough," argued his wife. "Somehow those crows got past our magical defenses. They have stopped attacking, but they will be back, or worse. The Abhorsen's House is too much of a target."

"The sendings will–"

"The sendings have all been destroyed, and take days to regenerate," Sabrine interrupted. "If something wants to get to us that badly, it will eventually find a way. Ancelstierre is safer by far."

"Provided we can get there," replied Abhorsen, his patience wearing thin. "We would be playing right into its hands if we just leave the House."

Sabrine shook her head vehemently. "Nobody would expect us to leave. It's perfect."

"No, it's foolish," Abhorsen snapped. "How did they know that our daughter could be a danger to Kerrigor? How did they know?"

"Maybe it's not that," reasoned Sabrine, forcing herself to speak calmly. "The fact that I am pregnant is no secret. Our child will be the last of Abhorsen's blood."

"But if the followers of Kerrigor–"

"Who's to say that they are involved?"

Husband and wife glared at each other across the room. Abhorsen crossed his arms and set his jaw stubbornly. "We're not going."

A/N: Who do you think will win out this argument? My bet is on the pregnant woman! Sorry to kill off the traitor, but you'll see that she deserves it for what will happen later. Now, if you've read this far, I would really like a review. It's easy – just click that little blue button at the bottom of the screen. Go on!