A/N:
Here's another chapter, I'm trying to write quickly because I'll be going to
camp for about 2 weeks in a few days. This one starts in Will's POV, but will probably end in Lyra's. Enjoy!
Will stood up and looked around,
rubbing his scar on his hand excitedly. Just the thought of being in Lyra's world made him feel like
flying. Thinking of what to do next,
Will realized that now that the window was open to both sides, anyone could get
through. So, turning around, he reached
through the window, into his world, and scooped the dirt back into his
hole. As a marker, so Will could find
the window, he rolled a rock about the size of his head in front of it. Feeling satisfied, will turned towards the
alpine town decisively and walking into it.
The town was that of like a
storybook. Little white houses and
buildings with quaint burgundy roofs nestled into the hillside of the
snow-capped mountains. Walking on the
dirt road below him, he looked around for a sort of general store where he
could get supplies and information. Will let his eyes stray aside, where he noticed a large river, gently
flowing south. But what Will noticed
about this river was that a string of boats was docked there. They were gyptain boats, friends of Lyra's,
perhaps.
Will ran down the hillside to
what looked like the largest boat, guarded by what was no doubt a gyptian.
"Who are you and what is your
business here?" The gyptain asked, his
eyes piercing into Will's.
"My name is Will Parry, and I'm
looking for a friend of mine who was once a friend of the gyptains." Will replied, finding no need to lie.
"Are you son of Grumman?"
"You knew my father?" Will asked, heart pounding.
"He used to trade with us, he
always brought wonderful furs from the north," said the gyptain, "But now, who
is this friend you are looking for?" Will wished that he could hear more of his father, but realized that
Lyra were more important right now.
"Lyra Belacqua, Lyra Silvertounge
to some." The gyptian gasped.
"You mean… THE child?" He asked in awe, "How do you know her?"
"We were… friends as kids," Will
replied shortly, not wishing to tell the whole tale. "Now, do you or your leader know where she is?"
"You will have to ask our leader,
Sean Lee. Wait here, I will request his
attention to the matter." The gyptain
replied, and hurried onto the boat in front of Will.
About three hours later, Will sat
in a large room at a table facing Sean Lee and another man. Lee himself was surprisingly young, probably
only a few years older than will. The
man next to him, in comparison, was incredibly old.
"Greetings, Will Parry. I am Sean Lee, ruler of the gyptians," He said, stroking his wolf daemon, "And
this," he continued, beckoning to the man beside him, "is Rantili, our alethiomomiterist. Now, will, what brings you here? Please do not leave out any details, we have
all night to talk." He nodded to Will, who
took a deep breath and began, trying to recount his adventures of so long ago.
It
was nearly two hours before he had finished, and Will glanced to Lee. "So, do you know where Lyra is? Can you help me?" he asked in a nearly hoarse
voice.
"Well, your story is magnificent,
and we believe Lyra is residing near oxford. We will be journeying there in a fortnight, if you would like to join us
on our journey."
"That would be wonderful, I am
very grateful." Will replied, grinning widely.
"We are blessed to have a friend
of Lyra's to accompany us. We have not
visited her in over a year."
"Thank you. Can I ask you two more questions?" Will ventured.
"Of course, but make them short,
as I am tired."
"Where are we?"
"On the west coast of
Russia. Your other question?"
"Will we be at Oxford by Midsummer's
eve?"
"But, it is Midsummer's eve, boy,
have you forgotten the day?" Will's stomach lurched, imaging Lyra in the
Botanical garden all alone.
"Excuse me sir, is there a place
where I can sleep tonight?" Will
mumbled, wanting to be alone.
"Ah yes, down those stair you
will find a bunk we hope is suitable." Lee said, and Will bowed and quickly
left. Lying on the bunk, will fell into
a fitful sleep.
Lyra
sat alone on the bench in the botanical gardens. When she came at noon, she could not feel Will's presence, and
felt rooted to the spot. Now it had begun to rain. Had will forgotten her? Why else would he forget? Was he
hurt? Dead? Lyra sat helplessly, shaking, soaked by the rain, as pan licked
her cheek, also crying softly. Lyra had
never felt so alone.
A/N:
How was it? If you like it, I'll
continue, and I believe the next chapter will be the most interesting so
far. Thank you for all the reviews! –StarFig
Oh,
the_devil's_advocate, about how you said that people can't see daemons unless
they know about them, maybe I missed that part in the books. Sorry. But if that's true how did Will see
Pan at first when he met Lyra? If you review
this time, could you clear that up for me? Thanx!