Editing Sabriel (section)

==Plot introduction==
The novel is set in two neighbouring [[fictional country|fictional countries]]: To the South lies [[Ancelstierre]], which has a technology level and society similar to that of early-20th century [[Australia]] To the North lies the Old Kingdom, where there exists two oppositional forms of magic, Free Magic, which is malevolent, and Charter Magic, which is benevolent. The existence of this is officially denied by the government of Ancelstierre, and disbelieved by most of Ancelstierre's inhabitants. Yet, an ancient wall separates the two countries, on the south side of which the Ancelstierran government maintains, despite its official denial of magic, a military post whose purpose is to monitor and combat hostile Free Magic beings and effects of Free Magic that cross the wall. Near the border some magic crosses the Wall, especially on days when the wind is blowing out of the Old Kingdom. Since the fall two hundred years previously of the Old Kingdom's Royal Family, which was charged with preserving the Charter, the integrity of Charter Magic has declined, allowing the hostile entities to roam, ranging from the [[animated dead]] to powerful Free Magic necromancers and Free Magic [[elementals]].

These living Dead are raised by the Free Magic [[Necromancers]], diviners of the dead who roam the Old Kingdom or live in Death, using Hands to do their bidding. To remedy the problem of dangerous living dead, a Charter Magic necromancer under the title of [[Abhorsen]] invokes Charter Magic using a [[bandolier]] of Bells and a sword to put the dead to final rest. At the time of Sabriel, the Abhorsen is her father, [[Terciel]], who has the job of putting the dead to rest in the Old Kingdom, which is especially difficult since a new evil is rising as the protection of Charter Magic weakens.

When the current Abhorsen is overcome by a Free Magic being and sent beyond the Seventh Gate of Death, he sends his [[The Bells (Old Kingdom Series)|bells]] (the primary tools of a necromancer, used in various ways to control the Dead) and sword to [[Sabriel (character)|Sabriel]] via an undead messenger bound and under his control.  Sabriel is at an Ancelstierre school for girls to remain out of reach of those who might try to strike at her father through her and end the Abhorsen bloodline. The bound undead is also attempting to speak, but she must enter death in order to make out the words. She is instructed by her father (speaking through the undead messenger in Death) to return to the Old Kingdom to take on the role of Abhorsen and stop the return of Kerrigor, an especially malign Free Magic being, to Life. While in Death obtaining her father's guidance, she narrowly avoids a fatal altercation with a Lesser Dead.