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art； to do the thinking！〃
〃yes。 and thats the ghost。〃
lyras eyes blazed。 she said； 〃maybe we could get rogers ghost out。 maybe we could rescue him。〃
〃maybe。 we could try。〃
〃yeah； well do it！〃 she said at once。 〃well go together！ thats exactly what well do！〃
but if they didnt get the knife mended； will thought； theyd be able to do nothing at all。
as soon as his head cleared and his stomach felt calmer； he sat up and called to the little spies。 they were busy with some minute apparatus nearby。
〃who are you？〃 he said。 〃and whose side are you on？〃
the man finished what he was doing and shut a wooden box； like a violin case no longer than a walnut。 the woman spoke first。
〃we are gallivespian；〃 she said。 〃i am the lady salmakia； and my panion is the chevalier tialys。 we are spies for lord asriel。〃
she was standing on a rock three or four paces away from will and lyra； distinct and brilliant in the moonlight。 her little voice was perfectly clear and low； her expression confident。 she wore a loose skirt of some silver material and a sleeveless top of green； and her spurred feet were bare； like the mans。 his costume was similarly colored； but his sleeves were long and his wide trousers reached to midcalf。 both of them looked strong； capable； ruthless； and proud。
〃what world do you e from？〃 said lyra。 〃i never seen people like you before。〃
〃our world has the same problems as yours；〃 said tialys。 〃we are outlaws。 our leader； lord roke； heard of lord asriels revolt and pledged our support。〃
〃and what did you want to do with me？〃
〃to take you to your father；〃 said the lady salmakia。 〃lord asriel sent a force under king ogunwe to rescue you and the boy and bring you both to his fortress。 we are here to help。〃
〃ah； but suppose i dont want to go to my father？ suppose i dont trust him？〃
〃im sorry to hear that；〃 she said； 〃but those are our orders： to take you to him。〃
lyra couldnt help it： she laughed out loud at the notion of these tiny people making her do anything。 but it was a mistake。 moving suddenly； the woman seized pantalaimon； and holding his mouse body in a fierce grip； she touched the tip of a spur to his leg。 lyra gasped： it was like the shock when the men at bolvangar had seized him。 no one should touch someone elses daemon； it was a violation。
but then she saw that will had swept up the man in his right hand； holding him tightly around the legs so he couldnt use his spurs； and was holding him high。
〃stalemate again；〃 said the lady calmly。 〃put the chevalier down； boy。〃
〃let go of lyras daemon first；〃 said will。 〃im not in the mood to argue。〃
lyra saw with a cold thrill that will was perfectly ready to dash the gallivespians head against the rock。 and both little people knew it。
salmakia lifted her foot away from pantalaimons leg； and at once he fought free of her grasp and changed into a wildcat； hissing ferociously； fur on end； tail lashing。 his bared teeth were a hands breadth from the ladys face； and she gazed at him with perfect posure。 after a moment he turned and fled to lyras breast； ermine…shaped； and will carefully placed tialys back on the rock beside his partner。
〃you should show some respect；〃 the chevalier said to lyra。 〃you are a thoughtless； insolent child； and several brave men have died this evening in order to make you safe。 youd do better to act politely。〃
〃yes；〃 she said humbly； 〃im sorry； i will。 honest。〃
〃as for you。。。” he went on； turning to will。
but will interrupted： 〃as for me； im not going to be spoken to like that； so dont try。 respect goes two ways。 now listen carefully。 you are not in charge here； we are。 if you want to stay and help； then you do as we say。 otherwise； go back to lord asriel now。 theres no arguing about it。〃
lyra could see the pair of them bristling； but tialys was looking at wills hand； which was on the sheath at his belt； and she knew he was thinking that while will had the knife； he was stronger than they were。 at all costs they mustnt know it was broken； then。
〃very well；〃 said the chevalier。 〃we shall help you； because thats the task weve been given。 but you must let us know what you intend to do。〃
〃thats fair；〃 said will。 〃ill tell you。 were going back into lyras world as soon as weve rested； and were going to find a friend of ours； a bear。 hes not far away。〃
〃the bear with the armor？ very well；〃 said salmakia。 〃we saw him fight。 well help you do that。 but then you must e with us to lord asriel。〃
〃yes；〃 said lyra； lying earnestly； 〃oh yes； well do that then all right。〃
pantalaimon was calmer now； and curious； so she let him climb to her shoulder and change。 he became a dragonfly； as big as the two that were skimming through the air as they spoke； and darted up to join them。
〃that poison；〃 lyra said； turning back to the gallivespians； 〃in your spurs； i mean； is it deadly？ because you stung my mother； mrs。 coulter； didnt you？ will she die？〃
〃it was only a light sting；〃 said tialys。 〃a full dose would have killed her； yes； but a small scratch will make her weak and drowsy for half a day or so。〃
and full of maddening pain； he knew； but he didnt tell her that。
〃i need to talk to lyra in private；〃 said will。 〃were just going to move away for a minute。〃
〃with that knife；〃 said the chevalier； 〃you can cut through from one world to another； isnt that so？〃
〃dont you trust me？〃
〃no。〃
〃all right； ill leave it here； then。 if i havent got it； i cant use it。〃
he unbuckled the sheath and laid it on the rock； and then he and lyra walked away and sat where they could see the gallivespians。 tialys was looking closely at the knife handle； but he wasnt touching it；
〃well just have to put up with them；〃 will said。 〃as soon as the knifes mended； well escape。〃
〃theyre so quick； will；〃 she said。 〃and they wouldnt care； theyd kill you。〃
〃i just hope iorek can mend it。 i hadnt realized how much we need it。〃
〃he will；〃 she said confidently。
she was watching pantalaimon as he skimmed and darted through the air； snapping up tiny moths like the other dragonflies。 he couldnt go as far as they could； but he was just as fast； and even more brightly patterned。 she raised her h