tricted, cutting t too ing as it tried to escape. two flaming eyes looked down in disbelief.

    “Impossible,” croaked Kerrigor. Snarling, o the floor.

    In tion , th a sound like a rasp on hardwood.

    Sly as a snake, arm and s out, striking to the wooden floor beyond.

    Pain exploded, and Sabriel screamed, body convulsing around the blade in one awful reflexive curve.

    Kerrigor left ion, and advanced upon toucone.

    Sabriel, ter from one of the pews.

    “Rogir,” toucone said. “Rogir . . .”

    ter came dorangled so a world of her own, a world of pain.

    S t of omac nooucone dead—s lay  bleed.

    t felt toucone die.

    Ser . Kerrigor er—but to  fell, like an apple corer punc out of tting corpse.

    Kerrigor struggled and s to side, seeking to cast off t  more fleso fall aill no fles a raging column of darkness, constrained by a silver ring.

    tself like a demoliso become a mound of rippling s t t o matcal.

    ter marks on t Sabriel couldn’t read t focus, and it oo dark. t  seemed to ill, s must be done. Saranet to t t t Sabriel, careless— but I must complete t, and almost dre—but no, t .

    Ranna ed it against  for a moment, gatrengtransfixed he bell.

    Ranna sounded s, and felt comforting, like a long-expected bed. t, to tled  ceased truggles, and lay themselves down.

    to Deat fell into a healing sleep.

    t  into tinct orial ring of silver. One e.

    Gradually, ted into tinct forms—