On her mun's ideas

[bindsthedead]

You have other things to concern yourself with. I have other things to worry about, such as your plans for my world and your ideas for the bells. I don't have time to watch 'zombie movies'- I see enough of the Dead as it is, I don't need to watch them for entertainment. Why would anyone?

Also, I know letting Arry see what an Abhorsen's duty is is foolish, but- let it go right, for once, instead of ending terribly. And what do you mean 'That's not her real name'?!

Comments

[star_seeker]

Z-Zombies are so scary!

[bindsthedead]

Yes. And far too common.

[star_seeker]

They are?! I thought you were talking about movies...

[bindsthedead]

Ah... There are creatures called the Dead in my world. They're rather similar to what people call zombies.

[star_seeker]

Th-That's terrible! And unsafe! You sh-should stay here and - ! (Flail flail flail!)

[bindsthedead]

Fighting the Dead is my duty- and if the Abhorsen doesn't do it, who will?

[star_seeker]

B-But what if one of them bites you? (Tohru can't help but fret.) Who are the um..Abhor...er...

[bindsthedead]

Getting bitten by one doesn't turn you into one- it just makes you very sick. And I wear armor.

And I am the Abhorsen- it's a sort of title my family holds.

[star_seeker]

Being sick is dangerous! You could - (Die. Like her father.)

What does it mean?

[bindsthedead]

I make sure to heal myself if I get hurt.

It means we're the ones who fight the Dead.

[star_seeker]

That's pretty amazing. I bet not everyone can do something so wonderful~!

...oh, I see. Do you put them...to rest?

[bindsthedead]

Yes. [With a sword, if she has to.]

[star_seeker]

...that's good. They...should rest.

[bindsthedead]

Yes. Even if they try to fight it.

[standformyself]

They are good for herding.

[bindsthedead]

You- who- what?

[Sabriel sees that collar, and she's reaching out to touch it.]

[standformyself]

Behind the ears, if you don't mind.

[bindsthedead]

[Scritchy, scratchy, Sabriel is scratching behind the ears as she examines the collar.]

You- that collar.

Are you like Mogget?

[standformyself]

[A slight sniff at that.]

That cat? Of course not. I'm delightful.

[bindsthedead]

There's Charter Magic in your collar, though. [scritch scritch. Very old, very powerful magic, but it's different from Mogget's collar. This one doesn't seem so much a binding as something else.]

Where did you come from?

[standformyself]

You would need to ask my mistress that.

[Mooooching for more pets.]

[bindsthedead]

And who is your mistress, then? [Sabriel is willing to oblige!]

[standformyself]

Was. Not is.

[bindsthedead]

I'm sorry. Who was she then?

[standformyself]

She's not dead, if that is what you are thinking.

[bindsthedead]

So you left her? Who is she?

[standformyself]

Your half-sister.

[bindsthedead]

I- I have a sister?!

Why- why didn't Father tell me about her?

[standformyself]

You do, Abhorsen.

[bindsthedead]

I thought- I thought I was the only one left!

Where is she?

[standformyself]

I should be asking you.

But you don't seem to know.

[howdoishotbells]

Yeah, I sort of lost my taste for zombie flicks after the whole... actual zombies thing. It's really not as jolly as it looks...

[THAT SURE IS A BANDOLIER THERE that looks a lot like Sabriel's, how about that.]

[bindsthedead]

Yes, I-

You are- also an Abhorsen?

[howdoishotbells]

I think you might be my great-times-a-lot grandma? Or something, I sort of zoned out when Mom told me about the family tree.

But, uh, yeah. That Abhorsen thing is sure is a thing that... happened, and now I sure am camping in the wilderness stabbing shambling horrors. Which is definitely not what I planned for my life but I seem to be getting better at it, at least?

[bindsthedead]

I- I am? I am Sabriel. What's your name?

I- it wasn't something I would have chosen. I didn't even know it was an office, and not Father's name for most of my life, so I'm sure you'll do- very well.

[howdoishotbells]

Oh! Um, my name's Liberty. Liberty King, that is. 60th Abhorsen.

I feel you there—Mom didn't tell me until I was sixteen that she was, you know, a princess and all and suddenly the aunt I'd only met once or twice is dead and I'm supposed to take her job, which is saving the world from the undead legions.

It's not as bad as I thought it would be, but I really miss the internet.

[bindsthedead]

And I- I am the fifty-third. [by the Charter this is awkward.]

You were sixteen? I was- I mean, I'm still eighteen. But our work is important and- someone must do it.

Collette has told me about the internet, although I still don't understand what's so wonderful about it.