"I'm not sure what 'demons' are," Sabriel said, "But that sounds like Free Magic, which is... inimical to Charter Magic, and life in general, in almost all cases. The Charter is-" How on earth could she describe the Charter?

"Symbols," Sabriel said, "Order. It describes everything that has ever existed or will exist, and the bonds that tie everything together. Drawing upon it can be- exhausting, but even in the worst possible circumstances, it is always the mage casting it who pays the price."

"And I've never made any bargains with any Dead or Free magic creature. What power I have I gained by study, or was born with- such as my sense of Death," Sabriel finished.