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。 where was the fork in their paths？ what had put rogir鈥檚 feet on the long road that led to the abomination known as kerrigor？ 鈥渨e have four minutes；鈥潯nnounced sanar。
鈥渢ill the slavers e。 we鈥檒l help you get the king to your paperwing； shall we？鈥�
鈥測es； please；鈥潯eplied sabriel。 despite the fear… some sight of kerrigor鈥檚 raw spirit form； the vision had imbued her with a new and definite sense of purpose。 kerrigor鈥檚 body was in ancelstierre。 she would find it and destroy it； and then deal with his spirit。 but they had to get to the body first 。 。 。
the two women lifted touchstone up； grunting with the effort。 he was no lightweight at any time； and now was even heavier； still sodden with water from his ducking in the reservoir。 but the clayr； despite their rather ethereal appearance； seemed to manage well enough。
鈥渨e wish you luck； cousin；鈥潯hey said； as they walked slowly to the red and gold paperwing； balanced so close to the edge of the broken wall； the saere glistening white and blue below。
鈥渃ousin？鈥潯abriel murmured。 鈥渋 suppose we are cousins鈥攐f a sort； aren鈥檛 we？鈥�
鈥渂lood relatives； all the children of the great charters；鈥潯he clayr agreed。 鈥渢hough the clan dwindles 。 。 。鈥�
鈥渄o you always鈥攌now what is going to happen？鈥�
sabriel asked； as they gently lowered touchstone into the back of the cockpit； and strapped him in with the belts normally used for securing luggage。
both the clayr laughed。 鈥渘o； thank the charter！ our family is the most numerous of the bloodlines； and the gift is spread among many。 our visions e in snatches and splinters； glimpses and shadows。 when we must； the whole family can spend its strength to narrow our sight鈥攁s it has done through us today。
tomorrow； we will be back to dreams and confusion； not knowing where； when or what we see。 now； we have only two minutes 。 。 。鈥�
suddenly； they hugged sabriel； surprising her with the obvious warmth of the gesture。 she hugged them back； gladly； grateful for their care。
with her father gone； she had no family left鈥敗ut perhaps she would find sisters in the clayr； and perhaps touchstone would be 。 。 。
鈥渢wo minutes；鈥潯epeated both the women； one in each ear。 sabriel let them go； and hurriedly took the book of the dead and the two charter magic books from her pack； wedging them down next to touchstone鈥檚 slightly snoring form。
after a second鈥檚 thought； she also stuffed in the fleece…lined oilskin and the boat cloak。
touchstone鈥檚 swords went into the special holders next； but the pack and the rest of its contents had to be abandoned。
鈥渘ext stop； the wall；鈥潯abriel muttered as she climbed into the craft； trying not to think about what would happen if they had to land somewhere uncivilized in between。
the clayr were already in their green and silver craft； and； as sabriel did up her straps； she heard them begin to whistle； charter magic streaming out into the air。 sabriel licked her lips； summoned her breath and strength； and joined in。 wind rose behind both the craft； tossing black hair and blond； lifting the paperwings鈥櫋ails and jostling their wings。
sabriel took a breath after the wind…whistling； and stroked the smooth； laminated paper of the hull。 a brief image of the first paperwing came to mind； broken and burning in the depths of holehallow。
鈥渋 hope we fare better together；鈥潯he whispered； before joining with the clayr to whistle the last note； the pure clear sound that would wake the charter magic in their craft。
a second later； two bright…eyed paperwings leapt out from the ruined palace of belisaere； glided down almost to the swell in the sea of saere； then rose to circle higher and higher above the hill。 one craft； of green and silver； turned to the north…west。 the other； of red and gold； turned south。
touchstone； waking to the rush of cold air on his face； and the unfamiliar sensation of flying； groggily muttered； 鈥渨hat happened？鈥�
鈥渨e鈥檙e going to ancelstierre；鈥潯abriel shouted。
鈥渁cross the wall； to find kerrigor鈥檚 body鈥攁nd destroy it！鈥�
鈥渙h；鈥潯aid touchstone； who only heard 鈥渁cross the wall。鈥潯♀�済ood。鈥�
锛凤挤w。xi锛s锛╱otxt。锛ｏ集锛�
chapter xxv
灏忥伎璇磘…x…t锛垮ぉ/鍫�
鈥渂eg pardon； sir；鈥潯aid the soldier； saluting at the doorway to the officer鈥檚 bathroom。 鈥渄uty officer鈥檚 pliments and can you e straight away？鈥�
colonel horyse sighed； put down his razor； and used the flannel to wipe off the remains of the shaving soap。 he had been interrupted shaving that morning； and had tried several times during the day to finish the job。 perhaps it was a sign he should grow a moustache。
鈥渨hat鈥檚 happening？鈥潯e asked； resignedly。
whatever was happening； it was unlikely to be good。
鈥渁n aircraft； sir；鈥潯eplied the private； stolidly。
鈥渇rom army hq？ dropping a message cylinder？鈥�
鈥渋 don鈥檛 know； sir。 it鈥檚 on the other side of the wall。鈥�
鈥渨hat！鈥潯xclaimed horyse； dropping all his shaving gear； picking up his helmet and sword； and attempting to rush out； all at the same time。
鈥渋mpossible！鈥�
but； when he eventually sorted himself out and got down to the forward observation post鈥攁n octagonal strongpoint that thrust out through the perimeter to within fifty yards of the wall鈥敗t quite clearly was possible。 the light was fading as the afternoon waned鈥攊t was probably close to setting on the other side鈥攂ut the visibility was good enough to make out the distant airborne shape that was descending in a series of long； gradual loops 。 。 。 on the other side of the wall。 in the old kingdom。
the duty officer was watching through big artillery spotter鈥檚 binoculars； his elbows perched on the sandbagged parapet of the position。
horyse paused for a moment to think of the fellow鈥檚 name鈥攈e was new to the perimeter garrison鈥攖hen tapped him on the shoulder。
鈥渏orbert。 mind if i have a look？鈥�
the young officer lowered the binoculars reluctantly； and handed them across like a boy deprived of a half…eaten lollipop。
鈥渋t鈥檚 definitely an aircraft； sir；鈥潯e said； brightening up as he spoke。 鈥渢otally silent； like a