The Battle for the Knife

Outside his house, a shaman was holding a bunny toy, rubbing it tenderly to send waves of summoning energy which drew a certain aeronaut, his daemon and a Pansebjorne.

For a long night, Iera had carried Lee and Hester on her back along the river. They had yet to find any sign of Mr Grumman. Iera was getting slower so Lee dismounted her and he dove into the river to find fish for the two of them. He sat down on a sandy shore with Hester.

"What a ride that was," she panted.

"Never underestimate the speed of an armoured bear," Lee said fondly.

Iera came stalking wet out of the water with some salmon. "It may not be your favourite Lee but it's food,"

"Thanks, Iera," Lee said. "You saved us back there and you carried us so far,"

"I am proud to be a protector to the father of the girl who freed me," Iera genuflected.

Lee got a fire going and they cooked the fish. They dined and they were full up already.

"A perfect meal. Not bacon of course but just as tasty," Lee said. "Now, we just keep going to find Grumman,"

"I think we may have already," Iera said.

"What makes you say that?" Lee asked.

"Check that out," Hester looked upwards.

Lee saw an osprey eagle descending towards them. It landed on a branch in front of them.

"Lee Scoresby. I thought you'd be more tortoise than hare,"

"Hey," Hester snapped.

"You are a daemon," Iera realised.

"I am. And I must say, Lee, you look very much like her picture," the osprey said.

"Who are you talking about?" Lee asked.

"Your wife of course. Follow me. He is waiting for you," the osprey flapped her wings. "Follow me,"

Iera allowed Lee to mount her again. At a fast pace, they followed their guide through the nearby forest till they came to a village of houses with strange totems.

"I smell strange magic here," Iera growled softly.

"Easy Iera," Lee soothed.

Iera slowly stalked through the path which separated the two rows of huts from another. They saw men in long coats of many colours and furry capes observing them. Shaman paint marked their hands and faces. Their bird daemons perched on their shoulders or ritual hats.

"Shamans," Hester breathed.

"You weren't kidding about the magic here," Lee whispered. "Best you keep the growling low,"

"It is they who should keep their glowers low," Iera growled.

They followed the osprey to the very edge of the village where they saw the largest hut on a gentle hill. "This is it," Lee realised. He dismounted Iera and touched her face gently. "You wait here Iera and keep watch. Soldiers may yet track us down.

"Be careful Lee," she said.

"And remember to be nice to the shamans if they come near," Hester advised.

"It is they who should be careful," Iera remained weary of the villages who remained glaring at them from their chairs. She turned around and narrowed her eyes at anyone who dared to look at her.

Lee walked up to the hut as he saw the osprey daemon perch on the top. As he approached the open door, a man in his forties walked out. He was shrouded in a shaman coat with red weavings and he had black paint lining his fingers. He had a man bun right above his black hair. "Good. You're here," he greeted.

"Who are you?" Lee asked.

"They call me Jopari but I've been known by a few other names,"

"I'm looking for a Doctor Stanislaus Grumman, is that one of them?" Lee asked.

"It is yes," Jopari nodded. "Call me Jopari,"

"Well Mr Jopari, my name's Lee Scoresby," Lee pulled off his hat. "I'm from the country of Texas,"

"You're a long way from home Mr Scoresby,"

"Well, strange winds are blowing through the world now sire,'

"Would you like soup? Maybe a bacon sandwich,"

"Oh yes please," Lee wouldn't say no to bacon. He followed Jopari into his hut. "Now Mr Jopari, I've come here humbly for your help. I believe you have something that gives protection to anyone who holds it,"

"You didn't come here, Mr Scoresby. I summoned you," Jopari spoke.

"Excuse me, I've risked life and limb and my perfect completions through swamps and snow and I rode an ice bear to get here," Lee shook his head. "You didn't summon me,"

"Here," Jopari reached into a bag and pulled out an item which he handed over to Lee who took it slowly. It was an old beige rabbit toy with brown eyes. Lee cradled it tenderly. "This is my daughter's,"

"It brought you here,"

"I haven't seen this for four years. I don't understand," he babbled.

"You've travelled a long way. You must be hungry," Jopari tried to start making some food but Lee kept sticking him in place with his firm eyes. "Who in the world do you think you are? I come here looking for you and I find out you have my daughter's toy,"

"Mia gave it to me as a gift when she looked after me,"

Lee froze. "You know my daughter?" he questioned.

"She and your mother were very kind to me. They took care of me after I saved them from some horrible men in Texas. But then a horrible attack came to your village and..."

"You saved her didn't you," Lee realised.

Jopari's face meant yes. "I could never forget your daughter even if I wanted to. She was such a brave lass that day. I had hoped that she had found you after I told her to run from danger. And seeing you now, I know now more than ever that she is alive. I'm very sorry I couldn't save your mother," with a despondent face, Jopari moved to a table. "Please. Sit and eat. We have much to talk about,"

"How do you know my wife Meera too?" Lee spoke up again. "Your daemon mentioned it,"

Jopari looked up at him. "Meera came to me four years ago. She said she was looking for something to protect her daughter with. And I told her what she needed to know. Please sit. I will tell you exactly what I know you came here to ask me for,"

Lee sat down. "First thing I want to ask is this. What attacked my village? Who was trying to kill my daughter?"

"A dark angel...believe by many to be the regent of Heaven,"

Lee was appalled. "I never thought..." he paused.

"Meera beloved that the knife you seek could protect your daughter. This knife..." he picked up a butter. "...can cut and slice an opening between worlds. It can ward off spectres," he said. "I'd been looking for it for a long time before your wife came looking for answers,"

"Why didn't you go with her?"

"Because she believed one day I would meet you and that you would need my help. Which you do. I'm very sorry for what happened to her Lee but you can finish what she started. I know that a bearer will take up the mantle as the Knife bearer and that means Lord Asriel will need it. We need to find them and take them to him,"

Lee turned cold. "Asriel,"

"You know him?"

"I don't like Asriel,"

"Like him? Who does? This is much bigger than that,"

Lee wasn't swayed.

"Don't confuse the man with the mission. Mr Scoresby, there are two forces that have always been at war with each other. Those who repress, who commands, who don't want us to be conscious, enquiring beings and those who want us to know more, to be stronger and wiser to explore. And those two forces are lining to battle up as we speak and if the right side has any chance of success, Asriel will need the knife,"

"That may well be. But I come here for one reason and that's for my daughter and a girl named Lyra. Not to help that man. They're in trouble. If you don't have the knife and you can't help either of them I'll be on my way," Lee stood up, grabbing his coat.

"Mr Scoresby I understand you hate Asriel but don't you want your daughter and that girl to live in a world where they're free?"

Lee turned on him in a flash. "I do. But I will not work with that man, not after he was a terrible father to Lyra. He lied to her, her whole life. And he just left her to fend for herself. Imagine, leaving your child like that,"

Jopari turned his head away hearing the news.

"Ever since I lost my wife, not a day went by when I wasn't afraid for my little girl. I was so scared of losing her, that something terrible would happen to her. I couldn't bear to lose her that I always held her back and kept her hidden at all times. But ever since Lyra came into our lives, she has made my daughter braver, stronger, and more confident. She has helped her in ways I've never been able to. And I owe so much to her for that. I would gladly adopt her into my family if that meant that Mia would have her as a sister and that she would have a family with people who love her,"

Jopari's eyes half-closed and he hung his head down in sadness. Lee's feet paced towards the door. "I did," he confessed regrettably.

Lee turned to him at his words. "You did what?"

"I left my boy, my son. And not a day goes by that I don't wish I could take that back, that I don't wish more than anything to hold him in my arms,"

Lee sat down. "Tell me,"

Will and Mia hiked up the levels of steps. They were getting quite tired but they wouldn't give up. Just when they were about to collapse from exhaustion, they spotted a ladder leading up to a door right above their heads. Will climbed up and pushed it open. Mia climbed up after him and Aster flew up as an owl before turning into an Arctic wolf. Will helped her up.

"We made it," she said. She stared around and saw the large quiet room that they were in surrounded by glass windows on all sides. In the centre of the room was a small podium with golden angel statues. They walked over but on the podium, all they saw were two handle stands.

"Where's the knife?" Will asked.

"Guys look!" Aster pointed a furry paw towards an old white-haired man in the corner gagged and tied up. "He's hurt,"

Mia rushed over and pulled the gag off his face. "Who are you? Are you alright?"

"My name is Giacomo Paradisi. I am The Bearer," the man said.

"The bearer?" repeated Will.

"There's a boy hiding in this tower. He stole the knife from me,"

"Where is he?" Mia asked.

"I don't know. Please untie me," Giacomo egged.

"Don't worry. We'll help you," Will started unbinding his wrists whilst Mia did his feet. They were nearly done when they heard the slamming of a door behind them. They twisted their heads and saw a tall boy with a long silver knife which had a twisted base.

"The knife," Will breathed.

"Who are you?!" the boy demanded pointing the knife at them. "Why are you here? What do you want?"

"We need that knife," Mia implored.

"No, it's mine! You can't have it!"

"You don't understand. We need it to free our friends!"

"It's mine!"

"Please just calm down," begged Will but the boy in a panicked state lashed out cutting the wings of an angel statue on the podium. He charged at Will who grabbed some unbounded rope and wrapped it around his fingers. He ducked and dodged.

"Will!" Mia screamed.

"Mia! Help him!" Aster shouted.

Mia rushed over just as Will was pinned against a window of glass. She tried to help him but the boy with the knife kicked her to her side and she fell. Will fought back and knocked the boy away but the boy charged again and they crashed through the glass.

"Will!" Mia cried. She frantically rushed over and saw them fighting on a ledge that was over a thousand feet above the ground. "Grab my hand!" Will managed to reach over and grab her hand but the boy with the knife still attacked them. Giacomo came over and although quite old, he managed to help Mia pull both Will and the boy inside with them. The attacking boy dropped the knife on the floor.

"I've got the knife," Aster bounded over and grabbed it between his teeth.

The boy suddenly punched Giacomo in the chest and he was stunned. He then kicked Aster and he and Mia were knocked down. Will tried to make for his knife again but the boy grabbed it and slashed at him, cutting off two of his fingers.

"Will!" Mia cried out in fear.

Will stumbled back screaming out loud.

"Fight boy! Fight!" Giacomo shouted.

With his bleeding fingers wrapped in his rope biding, Will punched the boy several times in the face till he dropped the knife. He then picked it up and the boy cowered back in fear; he was defeated.

"Get out of here!" Giacomo ordered. "While you still can,"

The boy instantly opened the door and fled. Will fell to his knees in exhaustion. Mia rushed over to him, pulling off the blood-stained rope bindings revealing his right hand with the pinkie and middle right finger cut off. "Your fingers," she hoarsely breathed. She felt Will falling against her shoulders as he fainted, closing his eyes.

"Will," Mia cradled him in her arms, crying a bit.

The old knife bearer came over to them. "We need to get him to my quarters,"

"What if that boy comes back?"

"He won't come back," the man assured. "Come on. Help me get him up,"

And that's it. Their dads have met. Lee and John meet each other. And Will and Mia have found the knife. What will happen to Lyra and (M/C) next? We'll have to wait and find out. Hope you all enjoyed it.