Chapter 7 Summary

Two days after summoning the rain with magic, it is still raining onto Lirael, Dog and Sam. They are getting close to Red Lake. As they are wiping the mud out of their eyes and climbing a gully, they run across a dying Guardswoman. Lirael decides that she has to step through Death's door that was created by the dying guard so she can find out what Nick and Hedge are up to before they journey on. She decides to take Dog with her and leave Sam behind warning him not to use any magic.

Lirael uses the bell to get the attention of the guard whose body is floating up ahead toward the First Gate. Lirael tells the guard who she is and asks the guard what she knows of Nicholas. The guard, Mareyn, confirms Nicholas killed her and some others. Mareyn...