- Sabriel finds the Book of the Dead in her father's study. She grills Mogget for more information—he last saw her father three weeks ago, when he left for the capital city of Belisaere.
- Sabriel visits the spectacular observatory in the house, where she can see the Mordicant still waiting for her across the river. Even worse, next to the Mordicant, enslaved men and women are working to build a bridge over to Abhorsen's House. Mogget explains that they are doing this with coffins full of grave dirt, which the Mordicant will be able to cross.
- Mogget is unable to physically speak about certain topics, which he explains is a condition of his binding.
- Mogget tells Sabriel that the only defense on the island is to raise the river with magic, creating a flood that will wash out the Mordicant's bridge.