- Suddenly we're inside a zombie's head, but only figuratively—a creature called Thralk, once human and now back from the dead, is slinking around Cloven Crest and senses Charter magic in the area. Thralk thrives on killing, and magic is a tipoff that a living creature is near, so he sets off toward Sabriel like a moth to a flame.
- Meanwhile, Sabriel's guide has arrived in the form of her late mother. Sabriel's only summoned her mother once before—when she first got her period—and now she gives her directions to Abhorsen's House, before abruptly warning her to go back to Life.
- Sabriel emerges from Death to find Thralk reaching for her, so she pulls out her father's sword and thrusts it at him. He recoils, recognizing it, and she banishes him with a bell. With his last zombie breath, or whatever it is zombies use to speak, Thralk mentions the Servants of Kerrigor. The name rings a bell for Sabriel, no pun intended.
- Before any other undead creatures can join the party, Sabriel takes off for Abhorsen's House as fast as she can, navigating using the stars and her mother's directions. Although it's freezing, she keeps moving, words of warning in her mind: "Do not tarry, do not stop, no matter what happens" (6.41). Yeah, we’d get a move on too.
- Feeling like she's being followed, Sabriel finds her way to a cliff face and knows she has to open a door in it. She rings a bell to try and open the door, but realizes that something is really following her.
- That something is a Mordicant, a "thing that could pass at will through Life and Death" (6.54). Its body is made of clay and human blood, brought to life with a human spirit and full of Free Magic—that is, dangerous magic not governed by the Charter. It's pretty clear that this Mordicant means certain death for Sabriel. She bangs on the cliff wall, finally finding the door when the pommel of her sword strikes the wall—in the nick of time, she falls through the door, but the Mordicant is too quick and reaches out a flaming hand…