Well here it is, I know it was a longer wait than the others and this one is short to boot but you know what it's like coming up to Christmas (if you celebrate it) I also had the most awful case of writers block to boot.

Disclaimer: I only own my additions Garth Nix owns the rest.

FLAWLESS EVIL

Selection and Perfection

The boy in front of him was motionless and despite his efforts Reece could not read him. He could not tell if he remained still to contain fear or excitement and he could not tell his character. He was a little taller than Reece and fairly attractive, dark haired with good complexion and a lean body. Despite not being able to read him he was still a perfect candidate so Reece would take him. With a gesture he indicated the boy to join the group behind him, seven stood there so far, fifteen had been rejected.

Slowly he moved along the line accepting or rejecting people based on their physical appearance. Later on they would receive positions within the system based on their personalities and skills but for now appearance would do.

He looked along the line at the rest of them there, plenty of faces to choose from. Then he noticed the next one in line; he was a retard, his wide vacant eyes staring into space at a point just above Reece's shoulder while a think line of spittle leaked out the corner of his mouth. Stepping back a little in revulsion Reece made a bizarre little hand sign on his chest and looked around at the people watching him intently.

"Before me stands an abomination, do you not see this people?" Among the crowd there were various mutterings of agreement and unrest, "Well, do you or do you not see it!" There were a few angry mutterings but more cries of agreement. With a single movement Reece drew his knife, spoke a word, and as the blade flashed, decapitated the poor boy.

"This is what we do with abominations." In the crowd a single woman wailed and a handful cheered a little half-heartedly. Putting his knife away Reece continued down the line, selecting his new order of youth.

***

The full moon glimmered on the ice enchantingly. From Lirael's perspective it almost seemed that the ice of the pond glowed in the darkness, a luminescent whiteness stretching out before her where it faded back into darkness some metres away. Despite the touch of spring now encroaching on the land the bitter nights still froze small bodies of water and Lirael was grateful for it. The tranquillity of the scene was rejuvenating.

Touchstone had left them a few miles back and struck out for Belisaere with the guard escort while Lirael and Sabriel had headed for Sindle. It was obviously dark by the time they reached it though and a town like Sindle sealed all its doors and windows when nightfall came so they had stopped just outside and made camp. On her wanderings Lirael had then found the pond which she sat beside now.

It was odd, they were right close to Sindle and even under normal circumstances you could usually feel some dead around. With a necromancer there it would be logical to assume the feeling would be stronger but Lirael could feel nothing. Carefully she went through all the things she could feel, selecting each one and examining it but nothing within all the range of all her senses could feel anything dead.

A sudden snapping of twigs broke the silence and it seemed that in that moment the ice should have cracked as well so unexpectedly was the perfection shattered. "Lirael, you know we have a fire going back there, it's much warmer than here."

Turning with a sigh to face Sabriel she lost the image of the pond from her sight. "You know I don't really mind the cold. I grew up in the glacier after all."

Sabriel's expression was disapproving though, "I'll come back to the fire though, I suppose it is a bit chilly."

With a nod Sabriel turned back and walked back again, before following though Lirael looked back at the pond. A cloud had passed across the moon and all was dull, just a grey expanse in the centre of the clearing… and the ice was indeed cracked.

There ya go, with luck I've got over my writers block and the next one will come soon. No promises though because I really don't know what the next few days will be like.

Spot the hints ;)