Kieran didn’t go and see Lyra that morning or even even ask Eira if she had packed or changed her mind. He was just standing by the window looking outside as if he wasn't trying to listen to every sound outside this office. “She’s about to leave,” Eira said, standing behind him.

“Let her go,” he said quietly.

But when the heavy doors closed behind them, he turned to one of the guards standing near the stairs “Follow her,” he ordered “Don’t let her see you, don’t let her ...