and she would not do him the treachery of looking away, for if he looked at her he must see her shining eyes and their love and belief, not a face hidden in cowardice or a shoulder fearfully turned away.

The only light came from the pale reflection in the snow-bank of the remains of the fire, and that in turn was reflected from her wet cheeks, and her tears found their own reflection in Will’s eyes, and so those photons wove the two together in a silent web.

Lyra marvelled at the effect hope could have.

were filled with anxiety and with sweetness in equal measure, so that he struggled to wake up and yet longed for sleep again.

She looked defiant as well as lost,

People here cannot conceive of worlds where dæmons are a silent voice in the mind and no more. Can you imagine my astonishment, in turn, at learning that part of my own nature was female, and bird-formed, and beautiful?

Was there only one world after all, which spent its time dreaming of others?

He’d said once to Serafina Pekkala that he didn’t care for flying, that it was only a job, but he hadn’t meant it. Soaring upwards, with a fair wind behind and a new world in front: what could be better in this life?

We have no means of exchange apart from mutual aid. If a witch needs something, another witch will give it to her.