Wow, so sorry this took so long to come out but I went on this five day Christian Youth camp with no internet and no time to write, and you know you come back from these awesome things and you're exhausted so you have to catch up on sleep, and because you've gone from this sort of 'hyper-life' you've also got to catch up on your real life when you return to the 'real world'.

Anyway it's here now and I hope you like it.

Disclaimer: The usual.

FLAWLESS EVIL

Inspection

The dungeon was nice, Reece grinned appreciatively as he took note of the small cells and their heavy iron doors, the torch alcoves with their mordicant statuettes and the lack of locks and keys. Each cell would be sealed by magic and only a more powerful mage or someone who knew the enchantment would be able to unlock them.

Behind him Leif and Knut, his personal butlers, followed warily looking around themselves cautiously. They were now dressed in a similar outfit to Reece, soft boots, good close-fitting trousers, and cloth arm bracers. Their outfits, however, were black signifying that they were the highest ranking members of the white-mancer's household.

Satisfied that the dungeons were acceptable Reece turned and walked briskly back towards the stairs. Despite his apparent youth he was quite tall and the twins struggled to keep up with his long strides.

Up one flight of stairs they came to the lower floor where the kitchen and storage rooms were. Many of the items that had previously been held within the town hall were now being moved into Reece's stronghold and his new household were doing the moving. No one else was allowed in.

On their way up the stairs to the ground floor they passed a girl. She too wore an outfit almost identical to Reece's except hers also included a chest covering. All of it was in a deep shade of purple signifying her to be of the second highest rank within the household and a user of charter magic. She bowed her head deferentially as she passed them on the stairs but the charter light she carried flickered slightly betraying her fear.

They will come to know that they have nothing to fear from me in time, they are my chosen ones. Reece's gaze did not flicker as he passed but he followed her with his mind until he was sure she was gone before he chuckled quietly to himself.

Finally they reached the ground floor and, passing the mordicants, exited into the square. There waiting for them was a very small crowd (many had chosen to abstain from the late gathering), and three more of his 'chosen ones'. These ones wore pink outfits that again were identical in design. As he approached he addressed them and said, "Watch closely."

On a makeshift dais in the centre of the square rested the head of the retarded boy who he had killed earlier. "Behold! On this night I will give new glory to the dead and they shall receive more honour than they could in life."

With a harsh free magic phrase two blue-white diamonds of protection formed on the ground, one around Reece and one around the head with a bright blue-white line connecting the two. Reece withdrew the bells Saraneth and Kibeth and with a brief look around stepped into death.

Before him a bright blue-white line extended from himself through the gates of death towards the boy's spirit. With haste he passed through death, appearing only to walk but travelling much faster on the slightest current of free magic. A little beyond the sixth gate he found the spirit he sought. Saraneth rang out in the darkness and the spirit stopped its travel downstream and turned to him. Already faceless the spirit had had much of its substance leeched out by Death. With a flick of the wrist Kibeth's high tinkling notes of power reached out and took on a march of their own whereby Reece commanded the spirit to walk back to life.

Finally, binding it on the very border of life and death Reece emerged back into life. Ice crystals sheared off and shattered on the stone flags as Reece flexed his body. Carefully he put away Kibeth and drew out Mosrael, with a clang Mosrael's bright clamorous note rang out and a darkness formed itself around the head of the boy. Again Saraneth rang out and the darkness took on a shape, once again it was human though this time it had no features, only an impenetrable inky blackness.

"You will serve and obey me as my shadow hand, from now until you pass beyond the ninth gate." Reece's voice rang out with a tone of command that was undeniable, the shadow hand nodded once and the diamonds of protection faded.

"You shall serve Leif and Knut here as if they were me, you shall be the loyal guard of our persons and the perpetrator of our justice." Turning he left them all behind and made his way back to the top room of the stronghold, back to puzzling over the bells again.

***

Lirael and Sabriel rode into Sindle less than an hour after dawn. Around them the townsfolk were busily setting up for the day as they usually did. They had to make good use of the day here because the night was far from safe and guards did not protect them from everything.

Their horse's hooves clipped sharply on the cobbles and their outfits drew many looks. In these days the Abhorsen was well known though so many of these looks were accompanied by smiles. All that day they wandered the town, talking to people and reaching out with their minds, but not once did they find anything dead, the people were unusually happy as not a single dead thing had come to the town in months.

Finally they packed it in and paid for a room in one of the inns to stay the night, in the morning they would leave and look elsewhere.

Ok I realise the second bit of the narrative is a complete plopp but I couldn't remember anything important I had to put in there so it just sort of happened. If you have any suggestions I'll change it but otherwise I'll move straight onto the next chapter. (The next chapter will be the same no matter what gets written in here though so do not be afraid to suggest, if there was something you wanted to see happen now is your chance!)

Next chapter coming soon and this one's a doozy, you might finally find out some solid fact about Reece's past so don't miss out, I promise it wont be anything you could expect!!!

Oh and R&R I love you all! :D