LYRA

The wet white dress clung to my skin uncomfortably, water from the Chamber pool still dripping from the hem and leaving dark spots on the stone floor of my chamber. The silver runes that had appeared during the trial were fading now, just faint traces visible on my arms and neck like scars that hadn't fully healed, reminders of what had happened and what everyone now knew about me.

I sat on the edge of my bed and stared at nothing, my mind too full of thoughts that went nowhere useful and ...