In the quote from Garth Nix's "Abhorsen," the author highlights the close relationship between time and death by pairing them together. This pairing suggests that time is a constant, inevitable force that moves forward alongside the inevitable end of life, emphasizing the transient nature of existence.

The quote also evokes a sense of sleep as a liminal state, a space where death and the passage of time intersect. It hints at the idea that death, like sleep, is an integral and perhaps peaceful part of the cycle of life, underscoring the interconnectedness of mortality and the relentless march of time.