'I don't get why you're fighting this so hard,' Hester remarked to Lee as he checked the fuel gauge on the balloon. 'That kid needs a father. Her natural father's not up to the job. You're here, she loves you and you love her. Seems pretty straightforward to me.'

'And I suppose you think I'm up to the job?' Lee asked roughly, fiddling with a valve. He'd doffed his disguise and was back in his own coat and hat, so he bought some time by searching his pockets for his pliers.

'You've done good so far,' Hester pointed out.

'And how long do you suppose that will last?' Lee asked, giving up on the search and just thumping the recalcitrant wire into place. 'We've been over this, Hester, I ain't fatherly material.'

'Balderdash. You're frightened is all.'

'So, what –' Lee paused, realising he'd raised his voice without meaning to. He snuck a quick glance around the farmyard, but no-one was within earshot. Bram and Derrick, who'd come along to help, were lugging gas canisters off the back of a lorry and Asriel was inspecting the envelope laid out on the cobbles. Tony Costa had headed back to the river to report on their progress.

'So, what if I am? A bit frightened, that is?' he asked his daemon. 'I've told you before, the kind of life I lead ain't right for a kid.'

'Lyra ain't a regular girl though, Lee. She'll never have a regular life. Not like other girls her age. She needs someone who understands that. Who understands her. Asriel can't be bothered taking the time to understand her.'

'He's still her pa, Hester,' Lee pointed out. 'He's the one who gets to decide what's best for her.'

'He don't much care, if you ask me. Besides, Lyra's the important one in all this, and she's chosen you. She'll be wanting to come with us when all this is over, and I think we should let her.'

Lee paused in his tinkering to look down at Hester, who was regarding him with unusual solemnity.

'Hester, I love Lyra, you know that. But that ain't necessarily enough.'

'It's a good start.'

'I don't know how to be a damn father to anyone – or anything, for that matter. Remember the seagull?'

This was an unnecessary question, for the seagull, a greater black-backed one, was unforgettable. It had landed on Lee's balloon basket in the midst of a storm with an injured wing, and had taken up residence, shrieking fit to burst eardrums whenever it got hungry (which was often) and pecking at Lee and Hester every time they ventured near. It had been a relief to all concerned when its wing mended, and it took off for parts unknown.

'That seagull was just an asshole,' Hester pronounced. 'And you're being a dummy on purpose if you think that one grouchy bird means you'll be a lousy dad. Now, you got any more excuses?'

'Hester –' Lee began and then realised whatever protest he voiced next would only confirm what she'd just said. There was nothing for it but to lay all his cards on the table.

'Hester,' he said again. 'I don't think I can do what everyone is expecting of me. The only thing I ever learned about being a father was never hit a kid, 'cause it doesn't teach 'em anything – except how to hide their pain. I never intended on being a father, partly cause of the life I lead, partly cause of who I am. You're telling me you want me to take responsibility for that little girl when most days it's as much as I can do to keep my skin intact?'

Hester did not answer him at once. She sat on her haunches and studied him.

'That's your problem? You think your old man thrashed all the fatherliness and love out of you? Lee, that's the biggest load of horseshit you've come out with in quite some time. For starters, you ain't your old man. Polar opposite, if you ask me. Second, the reason he beat you so often was he was trying to thrash all the love and strength out of you, and he couldn't do it no matter how hard he hit you. Third, ain't no man alive born knowing how to be a father. You'll make it up as you go, and you'll screw it up sometimes. Human nature. But don't you dare give up on Lyra just cause you're afraid. You're a better man than that.'

Lee stared at Hester, shocked by her words, by the frank manner in which she spoke of their past. Long ago, they had formed a tacit agreement that the past was in the past and speaking of it served no purpose. But she faced him squarely, without the slightest vestige of shame or apprehension.

Opportunely or otherwise, it was then that Bram came tramping up to the basket, the farmer with the badger-daemon in tow.

'We've unloaded all the gas, Scoresby,' he said. 'But we'll need you to tell us how to inflate the balloon.'

'I'll come now,' Lee answered, shaking off his shock and leaping smoothly over the rim of the basket. 'Mr Garrod, would you ask the driver to hang on for another half-hour so he can take the cannisters we've used away? I don't want any trace of my presence left on this good man's property.'

'In trouble with the law, are ye?' grunted the farmer, whose name was Reginald Saunders.

'Like you wouldn't believe,' Lee answered honestly. Farmer Saunders shrugged and watched with interest as Lee began directing operations, filling his balloon with gas. With four men working on it, it was soon inflated. They loaded the empty gas canisters back on the truck, Lee bid farewell to Farmer Saunders and instructed everyone to climb aboard. And then, for the first time in far too long, they rose upwards, into the sky and were airborne.

Bram and Derrick, who had never left solid ground or open water in their lives, were entranced, staring out over the Oxford countryside, grey and purple in the fading light, with yellow anbaric lights glimmering here and there. Bram's daemon, Lineke, flew alongside them, great steady wingbeats carrying her along as swiftly as the balloon. Asriel was taciturn, watching the skies around them and the ground for any sign of Magisterium activity. Lee focused on flying the balloon.

The wind was in their favour, and before more than an hour had passed, they were dropping anchor on the riverside where the Gyptians had moored their boat, a small crowd eagerly awaiting them.

Lyra was first to come running up, as Lee should have expected.

'Your balloon is wonderful!' she exclaimed, breathless with excitement.

'Yeah, she ain't much to look at, but she's not let me down yet,' Lee remarked, jumping out to tie the mooring ropes securely.

'Can I go up in it?'

'Maybe later,' Lee winked. 'We've got other things to see to tonight. Loveday, Van Buskirk, are you all set with the distraction?'

'That's all sorted,' Van Buskirk answered. 'There's a row of poplar trees on the edge of the Hall grounds, I've walked past them a thousand times. We'll use those as a screen and set off the explosions from there. The Gyptians are going to lie in wait with us and we'll nab the security guards as they come running out. That'll put the wind up the Magisterium.'

'We've got plenty of small rockets, and I've made a couple of much bigger fireworks, they'll make a nice big bang,' Loveday grinned. Lee noticed several of her fingers were bandaged.

'You didn't hurt yourself putting these pyrotechnics together, did ya?' he asked, concerned. Loveday looked sheepish.

'Nope, she was helping Ma Costa in the kitchen and tried to take a tray off the stove without using a cloth,' Van Buskirk explained helpfully. Loveday elbowed him in the ribs.

'Loveday, honey, don't take this the wrong way, but do you think you'll safe around gunpowder?' Lee enquired dryly.

'I'm accident-prone, Lee darling, except when it's really important,' she informed him with a wink. 'These pyrotechnics will work exactly as intended, and even if you don't trust me, the Gyptians will be along to help.'

'Ah, don't take it personal, Loveday, you know I trust you,' Lee soothed. She smiled at him, so couldn't have been too offended in the first place.

'Lee, can I look in the basket?' Lyra asked.

'Sure, for a few minutes. Just don't touch anything. Here –'

He formed his hands into a stirrup and boosted her up to the rim of the basket. Lyra leapt inside eagerly, Pantalaimon turning into a magpie and fluttering up to perch on one of the struts connecting the basket to the envelope. Lyra looked entranced, poring over the inner workings of the balloon, taking care not to disturb the instrumentation.

'Lyra, make yourself useful in there and check the pyrometer – the gauge that shows how hot the air is in the envelope,' Lee instructed. It didn't need checking, but he guessed it would make Lyra happy.

Lyra immediately began checking the dials until she found the one that measured degrees Celsius.

'It's just over ninety degrees,' she reported.

'Means we need more heat to get properly airborne, kid. I normally aim for one hundred-twenty. Any hotter than that and it's too much wear and tear on the envelope. Now, do me another favour and dig my compass out of that locker down there. I'll be needing it soon.'

Lyra dropped to her knees and began digging round in the locker as instructed. Loveday and Van Buskirk watched this interaction with interest.

'She's not yours, is she?' Loveday asked him. Lee jumped.

'What?' he asked stupidly. Then, as the question registered: 'no, of course not. She's Asriel's. You know that. I'm not connected with her at all. Well, I guess I am but I'm not a blood relative.'

'Oh,' said Loveday, actually looking a bit disappointed. 'I thought so, from what happened earlier, but she seems a lot more attached to you than Asriel.'

'We got a lot in common,' was Lee's utterly inadequate response. Hester sighed heavily. Loveday must have taken pity, for she didn't ask him anything else. A moment later Lyra popped up over the rim of the basket.

'Got it!' she declared triumphantly, the compass clutched in her hand. Just then, Lord Faa came striding over, Asriel beside him. Lord Faa whistled loudly to attract everyone's attention, and Gyptians and non-Gyptians alike gathered to listen to what the king of the Gyptians had to say to them.

'Our plans are almost complete,' John Faa announced. 'We have prepared a distraction with the help of Miss Charrier. Miss Charrier, Dr Van Buskirk, Liam, Bram and me will put it in motion. Now, the place we've earmarked for the fireworks and explosions is to the east of the property. Mr Scoresby, you will have to approach from the west if at all possible.'

'That doable, ma'am?' Lee asked Serafina. He was certain she could, but he was determined to be courteous, especially since courtesy seemed to be a foreign notion to Lord Asriel.

'Perfectly,' Serafina answered. 'I shall spell the winds as soon as you give word, Mr Scoresby.'

'Mr Scoresby and Lord Asriel will approach Farleigh Hall in the balloon at the same time,' Lord Faa resumed. He lifted up a map and Liam held up a lantern to illuminate it. It was a simple ink affair, showing rivers and local landmarks. But it was clearly drawn, and Lee committed it to memory as he studied it.

'It'll be a short flight, especially if the wind is in our favour,' Lee mused. 'Not more than half an hour. The difficulty will be timing. Lord Faa, it would be best if you set off early and get yourself in position. Then I'll take off, head to Farleigh Hall and signal you somehow once I'm in place. I'll fly directly above the hall and lower the balloon so we can jump onto the room.'

'We'll give you a lantern with a shutter,' Tony Costa volunteered. 'Make the light flash three times to give the go ahead.'

Lee nodded assent to this.

'Scoresby and I will get into Farleigh Hall and destroy whatever the Magisterium has obtained,' pronounced Asriel. 'I know what to look for. Scoresby, I shall need you along as reinforcements. Then, we'll make a break for it in the balloon. We'll set down wherever it is safe and then make our way back to the river.'

'No heroics with the distraction now,' Lee cautioned. 'We'll only need minutes, so don't be careless. Run if it gets too dangerous or there are more security forces than you bargained for.'

'And whilst all this is transpiring, Lyra, Iorek Byrnison and Serafina Pekkala will journey to Chimney Meadows to lead the wolf pack to safety,' Lord Faa continued. 'We shall wait until after Serafina Pekkala has spelled the wind for Mr Scoresby, and then send them on their way. Lyra will guide the wolves to the Lake Country, and then she'll wait for us to fetch her.'

'Do you know where you're going, honey?' Lee asked her. Lyra nodded confidently.

'I do. I've studied maps of Brytain, and I know the route. If all else fails, I'll head north and just keep going,' she answered. Lee nodded.

'Take that compass with you,' he told her. 'You get lost, use that to find your sense of direction. I'm sure Serafina Pekkala will help you too.'

'I will,' said Serafina. 'I can guide Lyra if needed, and then she can guide the wolves. She will be safe with Iorek and myself to help her.'

'Thank you, ma'am,' Lee answered, tipping his hat to her.

'But what about you?' Lyra broke in. 'Will you be all right, going to raid the Hall? I know you're a good fighter, but there'll be dozens of men there, with guns and all kinds of weapons.'

'We ain't fixing to get in a fight, Lyra,' Lee answered her, uncomfortably aware that Lyra was addressing him and only him. Asriel was watching poker-faced, but Ma Costa and Farder Coram were grinning at them. 'We'll be in and out as quietly as possible. Worst comes to worst, I have my Winchester and I'm sure Asriel knows how to fire a gun.'

'He can borrow my revolver,' Farder Coram chimed in. 'I haven't used it in some time, but I've kept it carefully. It will be in working order.'

Asriel nodded acceptance of this. But more than one person gathered near Lee's balloon had been affected by Lyra's worry.

'She's got a point,' piped up Derrick. 'You shouldn't go in alone, Mr Scoresby. Let some of us come with you and help you.'

'I'm game,' Bram remarked with a fierce grin. 'And I'm a good shot.'

'I can fight!' Tony Costa proclaimed.

'Thanks for the offers, gentlemen, but I'm gonna have to decline,' Lee said to them, genuinely touched by their willingness to put themselves in harm's way for him. 'We're running one hell of a risk here, but it's for me and Asriel to take. You've all gone above and beyond helping us, and I ain't inclined to put you in more danger. I won't ask for more than is fair from you all.'

Asriel frowned at this, and Lee guessed he was happy enough to take along a couple of foot soldiers as extra muscle (and as cannon fodder, he caught himself thinking cynically). But Lord Faa was nodding agreement with Lee and spoke before Asriel could voice a counter argument.

'Asriel and Mr Scoresby are aiming for speed and stealth in this mission,' he said. 'The more people they take along, the harder it will be for them to remain discreet. It's bad enough that they're landing a whacking great balloon on the roof, but if they take an invading army with them, they'll stand no chance of going unseen. I'd be happy to send along some of my men as back-up, Mr Scoresby, but I believe it may not be the best course of action.'

'I don't think it will be,' Lee said firmly. 'I'd appreciate the extra firepower, but it'll be easier for two men to sneak about unnoticed. Also, there'll be fewer of us to get into trouble.'

'Yes,' Asriel voiced. 'We will be straight in and out. I know what to look for. We'll accomplish it faster if it is just me and Scoresby infiltrating the hall.'

The Gyptians and Loveday were clearly unhappy with this decision, with Bram shaking his head and Tony and Derrick looking despondent. Loveday bit her lip and glanced worriedly at Lee.

'But what if you need help?' Derrick asked softly, unwilling to give way. 'What if you get captured, or run into trouble?'

'That's when we need people on the outside,' Lee answered. He glanced at Lord Faa to see if he'd presumed a little too much, but the king of the Gyptians nodded his approval.

'Should you encounter any difficulties, Mr Scoresby, the Gyptians will be waiting outside to help you,' he said. 'Just keep yourself alive until we have a chance to get to you.'

'Then it's settled,' announced Lord Asriel. 'Lord Faa, how long will it take you and your men to get in position?'

'An hour – make an hour and a half, in case we encounter any problems.'

'And Scoresby, you said it would take half an hour to reach Farleigh Hall,' continued Asriel.

'Assuming the wind's in our favour – which it will be, thanks to Serafina Pekkala – it won't take us more than thirty minutes. It's only a few miles away from here and I'm ready to take off.'

'Everyone look at your watches,' Lord Faa said. 'We will launch the distraction an hour and a half from now. We will get in position and watch for Mr Scoresby's signal above the hall. Everyone coming to Farleigh Hall, grab what you need. We set out in five minutes. Good luck, Mr Scoresby. And you, Lyra.'

'Good luck to you and your crew Lord Faa,' returned Lee.

The assembly on the riverbank began to break up, as the Gyptians, Van Buskirk and Loveday went about their business, gathering up supplies and checking weapons. Lee watched them go, chuckling to himself as Loveday winked at him. He winked back and turned to ready his balloon. Lyra watched as he jumped into the basket and began double-checking the instrumentation.

'Will you come and find me and the wolves once you've got rid of all the research on wolfwalkers?' she asked him.

'You can have my word on that, kid. Soon as I'm able me and Hester will fly to the Lake Country to find you.'

'And then we can head North like we planned? Go to Bolvangar to help the armoured bears?'

'Sure, provided your father's onboard with it.'

Lyra glanced towards Lord Asriel, who was speaking with Farder Coram. Her expression was withering rather than enthusiastic.

'I don't care what he thinks or does,' she pronounced. 'He's obsessed with his research and his fight with the Magisterium. I don't want to go with him, I want to stay with you and help Iorek.'

Hester shot Lee an 'I told you so' look. Lee sighed.

'Lyra honey, when all this is over, I'd be glad to have you alongside me and Hester,' he told her. 'But Asriel's your father and he's the one who's responsible for you now. He might not want to come to Bolvangar – he might have different plans for you both.'

'I don't care what he wants,' Lyra repeated, the old familiar stubborn expression creeping over her features. 'He can't split up the pack, it would be wrong. We belong together.'

'Lyra, to be honest with you, I don't think Asriel's all that keen on me joining your pack,' Lee admitted, though the words pained him.

'It doesn't matter,' Lyra exclaimed. 'He's not part of the pack. You and me and the wolves, we're the pack now. We're the ones who belong together and love each other. I thought Asriel and me were pack, but I was wrong. He's on the outside, and you and me, are the real wolfpack.'

'That's what I've been telling you,' muttered Hester. Pantalaimon, in his favourite ermine form, leaped from where he was perched on the basket to snuggle against Hester. Lee watched this little interaction with a small smile on his face.

'I guess we are,' he said, almost without thinking. He couldn't deny it. He'd run out of excuses. Besides, everything Lyra had said, with the unthinking frankness of the young, was true. Lee had sensed, practically since their first meeting, that Asriel cared little for the wolves or even Lyra, except insofar as they could be of use to him.

Nah, that's too harsh, Lee chided himself, for Asriel had done what he could to protect Lyra from Mrs Coulter and other threats and had taught her about being a wolfwalker. But he couldn't deny that the man was neglectful at best and cold and unfeeling at worst. Lee had thought he was reuniting a family, in rescuing Asriel, but he'd only stripped away the illusion of one.

He took one last deep breath.

'Lyra, honey, I feel the same,' he told her. 'I've always been a lone wolf, if you'll pardon the pun, but you're my pack now. I ain't keen on the thought of leaving you behind. If you can come with me to Bolvangar, and stay with me afterwards, I'd be happy as a jackrabbit. But are you sure it's what you want?'

Lyra began to speak, but Lee held up a hand to quiet her.

'The life I lead ain't an easy one,' Lee continued, determined to make her realise what sticking with him would entail. 'I'm scrapping for a living most days and I never stop too long in one place. You wouldn't be able to have a proper home, not like Jordan or Badbury Forest. 'Sides, you might get lonely. I usually get myself chased out of most towns I visit. You wouldn't be in most places long enough to make friends. And sooner or later you're gonna want some education, to have friends your own age, and I might not be able to give it to you.'

'And you think Asriel will?' Lyra demanded. 'Lee, when I turned into a wolfwalker, Asriel explained to me that I'd have to give up a lot. That it would be difficult for me to have close friends like Roger or to live in a city or go to one of the schools they've got set up for girls nowadays. I'm not a normal girl. My old life in Jordan is gone, you said so yourself. I have to leave Oxford, and if that's the case… then what I want is to go with you. I'd love to fly across the North with you.'

Lee quirked a quizzical eyebrow. Lyra grinned.

'It's true,' she insisted. 'I always wanted to go on adventures in the North. I don't care if we have to keep moving. We'll make friends with the bears and the witches and find new wolves to keep us company. I'll learn stuff from you. I'll be an apprentice aeronaut, and help you earn a living. And we'll have each other for company. That's all we need.'

Lee studied Lyra carefully, but she meant what she said – there wasn't a trace of doubt in her voice or features. That might not last, when she found how tough life was in the North, but it was enough for now.

'Then you can come with me, kid, and welcome,' he told her, smiling a little. 'It ain't the usual kind of life for a girl, but like you and Hester tell me, you ain't a regular girl. I'll teach you all I know about flying and navigating and we'll find somewhere peaceful where we can be wolves in safety.'

Lyra's face was radiant as she listened to these simple words. Lee took a moment to enjoy her delight, and then, reluctantly, said: 'provided your father gives the go-ahead, Lyra. He might be a little…distant, but he's still your parent, and he might not be too thrilled at the thought of sending you off with a stranger.'

'He'll do it,' said Lyra confidently. Her surety made Lee's heart ache.

'I ain't certain about that, kid. He's got no reason to trust me,' Lee pointed out. 'Especially not to take care of his girl. But if we don't ask, we won't get.'

Lyra seemed content with that. Lee glanced round to check if Asriel had been listening to their conversation, but he was talking to Lord Faa. Whatever they were discussing, Asriel seemed engrossed by it. He turned back to Lyra, but as he did so, he felt the golden compass, still in his pocket, knocking against his hip.

'Lyra honey,' he said on impulse. 'Back in the den, before we set out to meet with Hannah Relf, I was sorting through your supplies and found something I thought might be important.'

He tugged the compass out of his pocket and flipped it open. Lyra hunkered over it and stared at the beautifully crafted thing in fascination. Pantalaimon left off cuddling Hester and leapt onto Lyra's shoulder to examine it too.

'What is it?' Lyra asked him, entranced.

'Well, I was hoping you could tell me. It's a compass of some kind, I reckon. You want to take it with you? It ain't mine, and I don't know how to use it.'

Lyra took it carefully and examined it again, before flipping the case shut and stuffing it into her coat pocket.

'I'll look at it properly later,' she said. 'Come on, let's say goodbye to the Gyptians and everyone.'

Author's Notes: the details about Lee's awful father and his upbringing (or lack thereof) are based on the 'His Dark Materials' season two episode, 'Theft' and That Scene.

All the information about the balloon and its instrumentation is taken from the Wikipedia page on 'hot air balloons.'

Well, Lee and Lyra are well on their way to becoming a new family - but will the wolfwalkers survive the long night ahead? As always, you'll have to wait and see.

Till next time, dear readers...