**Lyra's point of view

Kenny's innocent touch showed Kael a map of gray seeds that was like a ghostly overlay on his perception. It was a secret sickness that only we could see. It made everything different. The territory's triumphant rebirth was now overshadowed by a quiet, surgical campaign. We weren't just a family anymore; we were in charge of a war fought with tweezers and holy fire.

The first cleansing was a serious and holy event. Kael, Jake, Elara, and I all went to the cliff where ...