Afterlife
"AAAAAGH!" Kirel screamed as the dog flew over the city of Belesaire. Kirel had been riding the dog for a few hours now, and it was not going well. INSIRT CIRCUMSTANCES HERE CONSULTING MAP
"Turn, turn! You just went over the city! HEEELP!" The dog turned her head as she flew almost vertically downwards.
"Shush up, will you? I'm trying to fly, here."
"FLY?! FLY?! More like falling, you stupid dog!" Kirel yelled forward as the pair plummeted on down.
"You couldn't make a Charter skin, so its your fault." The dog replied.
The dog landed hard, just outside the palace gates. Kirel fell off the side, onto soft grass and dandelions.
"Aunt? Uncle?" Kirel ran up to the gates to find Sabriel and Touchstone. Upon seeing Kirel arrive, the two had halted their activities to come to the front of the palace.
"How are you dear? And where is Lirael? I would very much like to speak with her about the most recent vision..." Sabriel began to chatter.
"Aunt, Mother isn't here. She, um...had to go into Death for something."
"Death? And you just left her body there, unprotected? But heavens, child, what were you thinking..."
Taking this as her cue, the dog walked up behind Kirel. Upon seeing Sabriel and Touchstone, she lowered her front knees. Sabriel did not look surprised. In fact, she looked relieved.
"Kirel, go on to your room. I'm sure Mogget will be thrilled to see you. Go on, now." Touchstone said.
Kirel nodded, knowing it was best not to talk back to her aunt and uncle. Immediately after she left, a flurry of Charter marks and Free Magic whirled around the entry hall. In the middle of it all was the dog, changing shape again. After a few minutes of screaming from outside about Kerrigor and Orannis, a young woman, looking about twenty, stood in the dog's place.
Her oak brown hair was braided in intricate patterns and hung loosely around her shoulders. The woman was outfitted in an ivy green dress, simple and soft. A small pouch hung to her side, as well as two sheathed swords. The most astonishing thing was that a bell bandolier hung from her shoulder to her waist, holding eight bells, and room for one more.
"Abhorsen. Well, one of the two reigning at the moment. I am honored to be in your presence once again. As I am honored to meet you, King Touchstone."
Touchstone stared as Sabriel silently mouthed the maiden's name: Kibeth.
"What happened? My sister is gone, and Kibeth stands before my very eyes. Am I going mad?" asked Sabriel.
"No, Sabriel, you are not mad. Lirael journeyed into Death to find me. After the battle with Orannis, I predicted we would never meet again. But even one of the seven cannot tell all of the futures. She went into Binding to bring me back to Life. It seems that much has happened in the Old Kingdom. Much that confuses even the oldest and wisest of councils."
"Yes. The Clayr have seen a vision, a vision of an Eighth Bell. It holds much power, and evil within its grasp. We know also of a Ninth Bell, but from where it is to come I do not know. Last of all, great evil is stirring in the kingdom. Small numbers of deaths, with no apparent cause. Spectres in the night, and a rumor of Kerrigor spreading throughout the land. But that cannot be, can it?" Sabriel asked.
Kibeth looked worried. "Of an Eighth Bell, I do know. The Power of Orannis lies sealed in its power. Yet it does not have the ability to ring. A Ninth Bell, I also know of. But the idea that it could exist is a strange thing. And a whisper of a nameless fear... LOTR flashbacks. I do not know of that."
"Well," Touchstone began, "We are just glad you are here. It is useful to have one of the old ones. Did...does Lirael know?"
"Yes, she has known for a time."
"Very well," Sabriel smiled, "Since you are here, we had better get you a room right away."
"Thank you, but I live as a dog. I can stay by my new mistress's side. And please, keep this our secret. Kirel does not need to know, until I deem her ready. Last of all, I must see the abomination. I have a feeling he is tied to all of this."
"Of course. You are welcome anywhere in the palace, and anywhere in the city for that matter. Thank you."
"You're welcome," Kibeth said, the Dispreputable Dog once more.
"AAAAAGH!" Kirel screamed as the dog flew over the city of Belesaire. Kirel had been riding the dog for a few hours now, and it was not going well. INSIRT CIRCUMSTANCES HERE CONSULTING MAP
"Turn, turn! You just went over the city! HEEELP!" The dog turned her head as she flew almost vertically downwards.
"Shush up, will you? I'm trying to fly, here."
"FLY?! FLY?! More like falling, you stupid dog!" Kirel yelled forward as the pair plummeted on down.
"You couldn't make a Charter skin, so its your fault." The dog replied.
The dog landed hard, just outside the palace gates. Kirel fell off the side, onto soft grass and dandelions.
"Aunt? Uncle?" Kirel ran up to the gates to find Sabriel and Touchstone. Upon seeing Kirel arrive, the two had halted their activities to come to the front of the palace.
"How are you dear? And where is Lirael? I would very much like to speak with her about the most recent vision..." Sabriel began to chatter.
"Aunt, Mother isn't here. She, um...had to go into Death for something."
"Death? And you just left her body there, unprotected? But heavens, child, what were you thinking..."
Taking this as her cue, the dog walked up behind Kirel. Upon seeing Sabriel and Touchstone, she lowered her front knees. Sabriel did not look surprised. In fact, she looked relieved.
"Kirel, go on to your room. I'm sure Mogget will be thrilled to see you. Go on, now." Touchstone said.
Kirel nodded, knowing it was best not to talk back to her aunt and uncle. Immediately after she left, a flurry of Charter marks and Free Magic whirled around the entry hall. In the middle of it all was the dog, changing shape again. After a few minutes of screaming from outside about Kerrigor and Orannis, a young woman, looking about twenty, stood in the dog's place.
Her oak brown hair was braided in intricate patterns and hung loosely around her shoulders. The woman was outfitted in an ivy green dress, simple and soft. A small pouch hung to her side, as well as two sheathed swords. The most astonishing thing was that a bell bandolier hung from her shoulder to her waist, holding eight bells, and room for one more.
"Abhorsen. Well, one of the two reigning at the moment. I am honored to be in your presence once again. As I am honored to meet you, King Touchstone."
Touchstone stared as Sabriel silently mouthed the maiden's name: Kibeth.
"What happened? My sister is gone, and Kibeth stands before my very eyes. Am I going mad?" asked Sabriel.
"No, Sabriel, you are not mad. Lirael journeyed into Death to find me. After the battle with Orannis, I predicted we would never meet again. But even one of the seven cannot tell all of the futures. She went into Binding to bring me back to Life. It seems that much has happened in the Old Kingdom. Much that confuses even the oldest and wisest of councils."
"Yes. The Clayr have seen a vision, a vision of an Eighth Bell. It holds much power, and evil within its grasp. We know also of a Ninth Bell, but from where it is to come I do not know. Last of all, great evil is stirring in the kingdom. Small numbers of deaths, with no apparent cause. Spectres in the night, and a rumor of Kerrigor spreading throughout the land. But that cannot be, can it?" Sabriel asked.
Kibeth looked worried. "Of an Eighth Bell, I do know. The Power of Orannis lies sealed in its power. Yet it does not have the ability to ring. A Ninth Bell, I also know of. But the idea that it could exist is a strange thing. And a whisper of a nameless fear... LOTR flashbacks. I do not know of that."
"Well," Touchstone began, "We are just glad you are here. It is useful to have one of the old ones. Did...does Lirael know?"
"Yes, she has known for a time."
"Very well," Sabriel smiled, "Since you are here, we had better get you a room right away."
"Thank you, but I live as a dog. I can stay by my new mistress's side. And please, keep this our secret. Kirel does not need to know, until I deem her ready. Last of all, I must see the abomination. I have a feeling he is tied to all of this."
"Of course. You are welcome anywhere in the palace, and anywhere in the city for that matter. Thank you."
"You're welcome," Kibeth said, the Dispreputable Dog once more.