Editing Sabriel (section)

====The Abhorsens====

{{main|Abhorsen (office)}}
One of the most respected figures in the Old Kingdom, the Abhorsen uses both the dangerous Free Magic-based powers of a [[Necromancy#Necromancy in fiction|necromancer]] and the benevolent magic of the Charter to keep the gates of Death against the return of Dead spirits back into Life.  Sabriel and her father are members of the Abhorsen family.  They use the bells, named after the seven bright shiners that established the old kingdom, in tandem with their natural affinity with Death, granted by their ancestor bright shiner, to amplify their powers.  The bells, smallest to largest, are Ranna, Mosrael, Kibeth, Dyrim, Belgaer, Saraneth, and Astarael.  Saraneth, the "binder", is thought to be the original Abhorsen, and the bright shiner who invested her powers in this bloodline.  Her gift is "binding", just as the Abhorsens job is to "bind" the dead to Death.  Ranna the "sleepbringer", causing listeners to fall asleep; she is the least tricksome.  Mosrael, "the waker", wakes the dead, bringing them into life as it throws the necromancer farther into death.  Kibeth, "walker", forces the dead to march back into death, or wherever the ringer desires, although if the ringer is not careful it may end up "walking" her.  Dyrim is the "speaker", granting the ability of speech to the dead, or taking it away.  Belgaer is the "thinker" and can restore independent thought to the dead and resurrect old memories, but can also erase them in a careless hand.  Astarael is the "Sorrowful".  Last and final of the bells, she sends all who hear her, including the ringer, deep into death.  It is nearly impossible to return after hearing Astarael. Like all three bloodlines, the Abhorsen bloodline not only defines their job (the Abhorsen may only be chosen from direct blood relatives) and grants them their powers, but also determines their appearance.  All members of the Abhorsen family have black hair and their skin is unnaturally pale.  Among the families guarding the Old Kingdom from disaster, and the only family guarding it from disasters from Death, Abhorsens are unique in their ability to sense Death.  They are able to identify undead creatures and differentiate them from the living, and cross over into Death to fight undead minions there and banish them to a final death.  They are also the only ones who have the proper authority to enter Death, and therefore the only Necromancers who retain uncorrupted charter marks and mage powers.  Their symbol is a silver key on a background of blue.