After

[makesthings]

The days after the fight at the Lightning Farm and Milliways pass by quickly as there's much to do. Sameth must be a prince to get the promised land to the refugee Southerlings, he must be Wallmaker in terms of helping to rebuild all that's been broken and he has to figure out how to be Wallmaker.

His first major project is Lirael's hand, which takes a couple of months and lots of adjusting to get right. In between working on the hand, he reads all that he can about Wallmakers and talks with his father about the Great Charter Stones so he can take over mending them.

He knows that he needs to travel the Old Kingdom to see the damage to Charter Stones and go over every part of the Wall to understand what he needs to do. Milliways is always at the back of his thoughts as he wonders if Kait was there for the final battle, if she's well, but there's so much to do that he doesn't have time to look for a door.

One night after working far too late, which seems to be what he does of late, he ends up asleep in a comfortable chair in the family study.

Comments

[walksindeath]

Sabriel nods.

Still against his shoulder.

It's late.

"That's good," she says softly. "I shall have to speak to her tomorrow."

...Odds are good that Touchstone will wake as soon as she goes into their room. Some instincts have never left him.

[makesthings]

"She'll be glad to see you. We always are,"

Talking is harder but at least now he's not hiding as much from her.

[walksindeath]

"Hm."

She finally stands up again, a little embarrassed.

"We should go up. Lest we both fall asleep here."

[makesthings]

"Yes, that makes sense. Will you be here for breakfast? I can show you how some projects are going if you're interested,"

He never knows how much she is but he wants to show her that he knows how to be a Wallmaker. This is something he can do.

[walksindeath]

Sabriel smiles, tired but genuine.

"I will be here," she promises.

[makesthings]

He stands up and stretches, he's aching more than he realized,

"Good, then I'll see you tomorrow."

[walksindeath]

"Goodnight, Sameth."

[makesthings]

"Good night," Morning arrives rather sooner than Sameth expected but it tends to do that. Breakfast is one of those rare times when the entire family is there which is nice and awkward.

After eating, he starts for his workshop and says to his mother, "Do you want to see what I'm working on?"

[walksindeath]

"Please," she says, getting up, and ignoring Touchstone's amused look at her haste.

It's not a crime to make up for lost time while she's home.

(She'll get him back for teasing her later.)

[makesthings]

As he waits for her, he rolls up his sleeves and starts thinking about his list for the day.

When she reaches him, he starts up the stairs and its odd but sort of nice to have her there.

[walksindeath]

Sabriel follows, quiet and curious.

She has thought of Sameth as her heir for so long that it easy to slip back into that way of thinking. But she hopes that knowing Sam is a Wallmaker and seeing it for herself will make the difference.

[makesthings]

He opens his workshop door and goes directly to the small forge where he uses a Charter Mark to wake up the fire. His current project is Lirael's hand which is in pieces around the workshop, the golden sheathing has been put around a few fingers.

The palm is still being put together and is sitting close to the fire, "I'm mainly working on Lirael's hand and trying to make sure it has enough movement. When you use the bells are there any odd positions you use?"

[walksindeath]

Now, this is something she can understand.

"That's a good thought," she says, peering at it. "You do need a decent amount of flexibility, although strength and sureness is more important."

Falter while sounding any of the Bells, and you and everyone around you are in deep, deep trouble.

"But her pipes must surely require a lot more delicacy, and I know she'll still be using them, if she can."

[makesthings]

"I briefly used the pipes and they require a slightly different sort of movement I think,"

As they're talking, he's testing different motions with his hands,

"Could you show me what you do? I've given it so far the same type of movement I have but its those smaller and specific gestures that are most important."

[walksindeath]

"Let's try a few forms," she says, detaching Ranna from the bandolier she wears, but leaving the clapper muffled.

She holds it out, letting Sam see how she wraps her fingers around the handle, held so she can move it without ever loosening her grip.

[makesthings]

While she moves the bell, he grabs a piece of paper to make quick notes, mimicking her gestures with his own hand,

"That should be possible and if I use a spell for greater flexibility, that should work."

[walksindeath]

She nods.

"So long as the grip remains strong, a hold like this should always be secure."

She returns Ranna, and after hesitating slightly, draws Astarael.

"Of course, the bigger bells are more of a stretch. See?"

[makesthings]

"Yes, it will be strong, I've been using a mixture of spells for strengthening and flexibility in the metal before even crafting the joints. The idea is to make sure that every part works together. Oh yes, that's helpful to have that amount of reach,"

One of the few connected joints is the thumb and forefinger and he picks it up, manipulating the structure to show her how it moves.

[walksindeath]

Sabriel nods, flexing her own hand absently to note the way it moves.

"It moves very well. And given that strength, it will be better than the real thing."

She smiles.

"Although I do hope I won't need to ask you for one at any point."

[makesthings]

"It's different from a real hand but I hope a good replacement. I hope not,"

He looks up at her with worry in his eyes, she's good at what she does but its still such dangerous work.

[walksindeath]

"I know Lirael is grateful for all your hard work."

She pauses, then reaches out to touch his shoulder lightly.

"I'm only joking, Sam."

[makesthings]

"Oh, right,"

He quickly looks back down at his work, even though he doesn't have to be Abhorsen-in-Waiting anymore, the thought of what his mother and Lirael do still scares him. Perhaps not quite as much as it used to but the fear is still there.

[walksindeath]

"Are you all right?" she asks, a little abrupt, after watching him for a moment.

[makesthings]

"I am, sorry, yes,"

He still feels like a failure for not being as brave as she is, but he's Wallmaker. It wouldn't do any good to tell her now of how scared he was by the idea of trying to be her heir. The problem is he's still not good at lying, but he just doesn't know how to talk about those feelings with her.

[walksindeath]

"Sam."

She reaches out again, a little awkward, to take his hand.

"If something worries you, you can always speak to me. Or your father. You know that, yes?"