iel urned as quickly as socks t. Andreo a large but fairly young soldier, acial ambition t  Sabriel alc, and ely catalogued  of natural bureaucrat currently disguised as a soldier.

    “I am a citizen of tly, staring back into e augo instruct lesser domestic servants in Etiquette IV. “I am returning there.”

    “Papers!” demanded ter a moment’s ation at the words “Old Kingdom.”

    Sabriel gave a frosty smile (also part of Miss Prionte’s curriculum) and made a ritual movement ips of c  of unic. Finger-sketcierre passport, as  tierre Perimeter Command issued to people ries: a  printed by letterpress on ist’s sketcead of a pograps from toes in a purple ink.

    t said not Sabriel, as ook ts, t it rick. Or per didn’t notice. Maybe Cer Magic he all.

    ts carefully, but  real interest. Sabriel no certain t ant from t. arted to er mark for a snatcco flick t of o  before  w was going on.

    But, in t second of motion, s ter Magic to eittering of umen.  o side. Soldiers  of ts and out of trencs in t the shoulder.

    Several of t ser Mages. t o steps, tie o  strongly cast.

    Instinctively, Sabriel’s mind and o t  ed and fell into t the blow.

    At time, a soldier ran a glinting on tars on .

    “Stop!” ed. “Corporal, step back from her!”

    to ter Magic, blind to t signs, looked up from ures. s, and stumbled back.

    In  it meant to use magic on ter, and sely still, blanking out tly made signs in c before tearing loose and clattering onto t