of the hallway, trying to proc

n continued, each

id, a note I couldn't quite place in hi

sometimes see her looking at m

ed with a sneer I' d never hea

es. Having that shattered relic my father ke

ered

t my son th

K

se, Kael. Her presence lends stabilit

in. Alwa

as the new Guardian of the

ra? Guardian? The pos

mpressed. "Some will object, given Mother'

ny. Her presence will lend it legitimacy. It will silence any dissenters who might question Lyra' s s

, my supposed disgrace, to elevate the wo

hysical thing, t

I had been their willing marionette, dancing on the str

I held suddenly

alked away, si

not see me