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lord asriel came away from the telescope and stood up； hand shading his eyes。 in hundreds； and then thousands； and tens of thousands； until half that part of the sky was darkened； the minute figures flew and flew and kept on ing。 lord asriel had seen the billion…strong flocks of blue starlings that wheeled at sunset around the palace of the emperor kang…po； but he had never seen so vast a multitude in all his life。 the flying beings gathered themselves and then streamed away slowly； slowly； to the north and the south。
〃ah！ and whats that？〃 said lord asriel； pointing。 〃thats not the wind。〃
the cloud was swirling on the southern flank of the mountain； and long tattered banners of vapor streamed out in the powerful winds。 but lord asriel was right： the movement was ing from within； not from the air outside。 the cloud roiled and tumbled； and then it parted for a second。
there was more than a mountain there； but they only saw it for a moment； and then the cloud swirled back； as if drawn across by an unseen hand； to conceal it again。
king ogunwe put down his field glasses。
〃thats not a mountain；〃 he said。 〃i saw gun emplacements 。。。〃
〃so did i。 a whole plexity of things。 can he see out through the cloud； i wonder？ in some worlds； they have machines to do that。 but as for his army； if those angels are all theyve got。。。”
the king gave a brief exclamation； half of astonishment； half of despair。 lord asriel turned and gripped his arm with fingers that all but bruised him to the bone。
〃they havent got this！〃 he said； and shook ogunwes arm violently。 〃they havent got zesh！〃
he laid his hand against his friends rough cheek。
〃few as we are；〃 he went on； 〃and short…lived as we are； and weak…sighted as we are； in parison with them； were still stronger。 they envy us； ogunwe！ thats what fuels their hatred； im sure of it。 they long to have our precious bodies； so solid and powerful； so well…adapted to the good earth！ and if we drive at them with force and determination； we can sweep aside those infinite numbers as you can sweep your hand through mist。 they have no more power than that！〃
〃asriel； they have allies from a thousand worlds； living beings like us。〃
〃we shall win。〃
〃and suppose hes sent those angels to look for your daughter？〃
〃my daughter！〃 cried lord asriel； exulting。 〃isnt it something to bring a child like that into the world？ youd think it was enough to go alone to the king of the armored bears and trick his kingdom out of his paws； but to go down into the world of the dead and calmly let them all out！ and that boy； i want to meet that boy； i want to shake his hand。 did we know what we were taking on when we started this rebellion？ no。 but did they know； the authority and his regent； this metatron； did they know what they were taking on when my daughter got involved？〃
〃lord asriel；〃 said the king； 〃do you understand her importance for the future？〃
〃frankly； no。 thats why i want to see basilides。 where did he go？〃
〃to the lady coulter。 but the man is worn out； he can do no more until hes rested。〃
〃he should have rested before。 send for him； would you？ oh； one more thing： please ask madame oxentiel to e to the tower as soon as its convenient。 i must give her my condolences。〃
madame oxentiel had been the gallivespians second…in…mand。 now she would have to take over lord rokes responsibilities。 king ogunwe bowed and left his mander scanning the gray horizon。
all through that day the army assembled。 angels of lord asriels force flew high over the clouded mountain； looking for an opening； but without success。 nothing changed； no more angels flew out or inward； the high winds tore at the clouds； and the clouds endlessly renewed themselves； not parting even for a second。 the sun crossed the cold blue sky and then moved down to the southwest； gilding the clouds and tinting the vapor around the mountain every shade of cream and scarlet； of apricot and orange。 when the sun sank； the clouds glowed faintly from within。
warriors were now in place from every world where lord asriels rebellion had supporters； mechanics and artificers were fueling aircraft； loading weapons； and calibrating sights and measures。 as the darkness came； some wele reinforcements arrived。 padding silently over the cold ground from the north； separately； singly； came a number of armored hears； a large number； and among them was their king。 not long afterward； there arrived the first of several witch clans； the sound of the air through their pine branches whispering in the dark sky for a long time。
along the plain to the south of the fortress glimmered thousands of lights； marking the camps of those who had arrived from far off。 farther away； in all four corners of the pass； flights of spy…angels cruised tirelessly； keeping watch。
at midnight in the adamant tower； lord asriel sat in discussion with king ogunwe； the angel xaphania； madame oxentiel the gallivespian； and teukros basilides。 the alethiometrist had just finished speaking； and lord asriel stood up； crossed to the window； and looked out at the distant glow of the clouded mountain hanging in the western sky。 the others were silent； they had just heard something that had made lord asriel turn pale and tremble； and none of them quite knew how to respond。
finally lord asriel spoke。
〃mr。 basilides；〃 he said； 〃you must be very fatigued。 i am grateful for all your efforts。 please take some wine with us。〃
〃thank you； my lord；〃 said the reader。
his hands were shaking。 king ogunwe poured the golden tokay and handed him the glass。
〃what will this mean； lord asriel？〃 said the clear voice of madame oxentiel。
lord asriel came back to the table。
〃well；〃 he said； 〃it will mean that when we join battle； we shall have a new objective。 my daughter and this boy have bee separated from their daemons； somehow； and managed to survive； and their daemons are somewhere in this world； correct me if im summarizing wrongly； mr。 basilides； their daemons are in this world； and metatron is intent on capturing them。 if he captures their daemons； the children will have to
follow； and if he can control those two children； the future is his； forever。 our