Lyra's POV.

I stood at the memorial garden watching Derrick's army camp within sight of Haven's Edge, and all I could think about was how easy it would be to lead them.

Forty trained wolves. Organized. Disciplined. Following orders. I hated myself for thinking it. "We should be preparing to fight," I said when Mira appeared. "We are. But that's not all we should be doing."

"What else is there?"

"Hoping we don't have to."

I turned to face her. "That's naive."

"Maybe. But so is thinking violence ...