Jet sword

Chapter 1

Lyra hugged her knees and watched the children in the park. Pan had wondered off into the trees, looking around and hiding in the leaves. But he knew that He needed to leave Lyra alone for a bit. It had been Exactly four years since she had last seen Will. She could not even remember how old she had been when she had stepped into her world and said goodbye to Will forever. She was sixteen now. He would be seventeen now, maybe even eighteen. The children were throwing clay at each other and squealing when they were hit. She could not help smiling. She remembered her time in the clay beds, her and the kitchen children and the townies, against the gyptian kids. She was glad that the battles had not ended even if she did not take part in them any more. The battles reminded her of Rodger, how she had unknowingly led him to his death. She thought about Lord Asreil. She still felt angry at him He had killed Rodger to break the boundaries and travel to different worlds. She thought about Mrs Coulter and the golden Monkey. It made her angry. Mrs Coulter had been so cruel. The monkey was like a magnification of her evil and was missing that bit of humanity that made her a human. These two people who had done such bad things, her parents, had thrown themselves into the abyss to save her and the rest of the worlds. She thought about Lee Scoresby and how he had died in honour and had fought a battle and had won, yet lost. She thought of Iorek Byrnison, her dear friend. He was up in the North, in Svalbard. Ruling the Ice bears. She thought of Mary, the scholar from Will's world. How she had created a spy glass which allowed you to see dust. Lyra hoped that Mary had helped Will take care of his mother. She looked out to the children and saw Billy making his way towards her. He was about her age now and his Demon a had settled as a small, black bat. He had mud smeared across his face. He smiled and sat down next to her. His brown hair was filled with clay.

"Hi Billy."

"Hey Lyra. Do you want to join us?"

"No, I'm happy to watch, next time ok?"

"Sure." He sighed and stood up. His demon flew down and looked around.

"Where is Pantalaimon?" she whispered.

Pan leapt from a bush and Lyra exhaled. Few people knew that Pan could go as far from her as a witches demon. The two of them danced around and rolled along the ground. Then Billy's demon would fly to high for Pan to reach. This made Lyra smile. A wad of clay flew towards them and hit Billy at the back of his head. His demon flew on to his shoulder and he ran towards the fight. The sun was sinking behind the mountains and splashed the sky with purples, oranges, gold's and pinks all surrounding a ball of light. Lyra sighed and let go of her knees and got up. She turned to pan and tried to smile.

"I think we better go. Mrs Lonsdale will be looking for us." Pantalaimon followed after her and she bent down and he clambered up her arm and wrapped around her neck the way he had when she was a child. His fur was soft and it gave her comfort. Together they made their way through the park and towards Jordon college. She was spending the week there while Ma Costa was staying at here home in Oxford. They had little room and the master was more then happy to let her stay there. Though she did not live in the college she was still close to the Servants and the scholars. She had been living with Ma Costa, Fader Coram and Lord Faa. She spent a lot of time travelling but every year, on the same day she would come back to Oxford and sit on the bench the whole day like she had told Will she would. She hoped that he did the same. The sun was almost gone when she got back. She made her way in and greeted the servants as she walked. But they all knew the truth. She had changed. When she had arrived back all those years ago things had changed. She was still adventurous and she was always up to mischief. But she had changed. She did not speak with her same cheek and she found it harder and harder to enjoy her self. The master did not know about Will and all the people she had lost. She went up to her room and lay down on the bed. Pan leapt from her shoulder and wondered around the room. The door opened and Mrs Longsdale came into the room.

"Lyra, It's almost dinner time."

"Yes ma'am."

She nodded and left the room. Mrs Longsdale was so used to the girl who was forever being cheeky and now she had this new girl to care for. She saw the change in Lyra and sometimes thought that she almost seemed broken. Lyra got up and pan climbed onto her shoulders. They went down to the dining hall and sat down at the table. The master was sitting there at the end.

"Good evening, Master."

"Hello, Lyra. Did you have a good day?"

"Yes I did, sir." She tried to conceal the shake in her voice.

"What did you do?"

"I watched the neighbourhood Children and the Gyptians in the clay beds."

"And you did not join them?"

"I did not feel up to it."

He nodded and dropped the subject. Lyra loved the master, even after he had tried to poison Lord Asreil's Tokay. She missed him sometimes, when she left with the gyptians and went out to sea. She would be leaving the next day. She was exited as the were going to Trollesund, the dock up in the North. She wanted to visit Iorek Byrnison and see svalbard. The thought about her adventures in the North and her time in Svalbard and Bolvangar. The thought of Bolvangar sent a shiver up her spine. She and the master ate their meal in silence.

"May I please be excused, Master?"

"You may young lady, don't forget to thank the kitchen staff as you leave. You are a guest, not a resident."

"Of course." She nodded and walked to the kitchen and put her plates in the sink. She thanked the cook and went upstairs. The master watched after her and sighed. She entered her room and searched for the waist bag. It hung from the chair, she pulled out the little velvet pouch and unwrapped it. She carefully lifted the alethieometer. She turned it over and over in her hands and placed in down on the velvet. She got up and went to the book case and found the books of reading. She sat back down in front of the compass and opened the books. She missed being able to read the alethieometer. The angel had said that it would take her a life time to learn. Lyra was not sure she could wait that long. She picked up the compass and began turning the dials. She decided that she would spend the rest of the time she had until she had to sleep, studying. She asked it questions about the angels and about Iorek and Serrifina Pekkala, the witch. She asked about the abyss and what would happen up in the North. There was only one question that eluded her, which she couldn't bare to ask for she feared the answer would not be what she wanted. She read through the endless meanings and went over all thirty-six symbols that had been perfectly painted on the ivory.

"Lyra, its bed time." Pantalaimon whined.

"Yea, ok." She closed the books and put then in the shelf. She folded the Velvet around the Compass and carefully put it back in the waist bag.

She tossed the pens and paper onto the desk and started to get ready for bed.

"Lyra, It's time for bed." Mrs Lonsdale opened the door and peered in.

"Oh good, Your ready."

"Yes, goodnight, Mrs Lonsdale."

"Good night, Lyra."

Lyra lay back and stared at the ceiling. Pantalaimon lay over her throat and she closed her eyes. Sleep snuck up on her and she soon fell into deep dreams.

She was sitting by a river. The water rushed past and crashed against the rocks. She dipped her legs in the water and the ice cold water splashed up on her legs. She could her the water and the birds chirping and the crickets croaked. The air was warm and the sun beat down on her face. Boulders piled along the side of the river and a hill rested behind them. A forest lingered behind her and the trees swayed as a light breeze caressed her face. The water ran around her and into the forest. Lyra looked into the water and reached out and pulled out a glistening wet stone. Pantalaimon bounded down the hill and leapt from rock to rock. He slipped and dove into the water. Lyra felt the ice cold water hit Pantalaimon. She reached for him and pulled the soaking pan close to her breast. She stroked him and dried him with her skirt. The rays of sun warmed them both and the fresh air filled her lungs. She lay back and rested in the sand.

"Lyra?" She shot up and looked around to where the voice was coming from.

"Lyra, is that you?" She got up and looked around. Staring into the forest and up the hill. She stepped onto the first rock, then the second. She stopped and looked up to the hill. Then he walked up. He appeared at the top of the hill and began walking down. She watched him intently. Gazing over his dark hair and dark eyes. She looked over his jutting jaw. He was taller and more built. His pants were torn and he had no shirt. Kirjava, his daemon walked beside him. She had the same depth filled eyes as he did. Lyra closed her eyes, hoping he was still there when she opened them. They flickered open and Will stood there, smiling at her. She couldn't move. She just watched him. He reached his hand out and she looked at it, then at him. He nodded and she reached out. She took a step forward onto the stone in front. It was gone. She plummeted to the water and hit it with a crushing blow. She tried to stand up but found her self sinking. She fought to stay above the now deep water. Will rushed up and grabbed at the water, calling her name. She gasped for air and grabbed his hand. He began pulling her up but the water engulfed her and pulled her back in. She sobbed and tears streaked his face. He yelled her name and pulled her up. The water splashed up and hit him hard. He fell down and she slipped back into the water that began carrying her down the river and deeper into the forest. It became a battle between her and the water.

"PAN! PAN!"

"LYRA!" Pan yelled. She flung herself around and lunged towards Pan who was speeding down the river out in front of her. Will ran along the bank screaming for her and reaching into the water then rising and running. Lyra reached for Pan but fought to get to Will. Then the rocks approached. Pantalaimon raced towards a rock and hit it. Lyra screamed as she felt her ribs break and gasped for air. Pantalaimon headed for another rock. Lyra's vision was hazy and she could hardly hear Will screaming her name. Pantalaimon crashed into the rock and Lyra felt the crack but remained quiet. She found her self sinking deeper and deeper into the darkness and clawed at the still water, fighting to catch a breath. She sobbed as the blackness took over her sight and all she heard were the fleeting cries of Will.