The next few days were more quiet than usual...too quiet Kieran did what he said he would do and gave Lyra space He didn’t come to her door. He didn’t ask her to train with him or sit beside him at breakfast. He didn’t even send for her through Eira but he didn't vanish, he was around, calm, careful, like a shadow that didn't want to be seen.

Every morning, Eira would bring a small tray into Lyra’s room. Sometimes it was a hot cup of honey tea, sometimes a tiny charm carved from ...