- Sabriel is beginning to realize that there was a lot more to her dad than just cool magic tricks. She tells Horyse she needs to get to Abhorsen's house to start figuring out what's happened to him.
- Sadly, Google Maps doesn't exist in this universe—in fact, there are no maps of the Old Kingdom, period. However, Sabriel's father taught her how to summon a guide in the Old Kingdom, and she tells Horyse that this guide will help her find Abhorsen's house.
- Horyse tells Sabriel about landmarks called Charter Stones, highly powerful nodes of magic spread throughout the Old Kingdom. Someone or something has been destroying them lately, which is seriously not good.
- Sabriel decides to head for Cloven Crest, a broken Charter Stone—because it's broken, it will be easier for her to visit Death if she needs to. Planning your trip around visiting Death is not very cheerful, but this is Sabriel's special ability.
- Horyse mentions he has a daughter Sabriel's age, but Sabriel seems much older. "I am only eighteen years old on the outside […] but I first walked in Death when I was twelve" (3.28), Sabriel explains.
- Horyse can't spare any soldiers to accompany Sabriel, so she must travel alone into the Old Kingdom. She crosses the border, puts on her skis, and sets off through the snow.