Every lantern went dark.

Not gradually.

Not one by one.

All at once.

The world became black.

Lyra heard herself inhale.

Beside her, Kael drew his sword.

The mysterious woman in the silver mask stood perfectly still.

Behind her, the enormous temple vanished into darkness.

Only Lyra's little blue lantern remained lit.

Its flame trembled.

"Who are you?" Lyra asked.

The woman smiled.

"My name is Seris."

"Why have you been following us?"

"Because your mother asked me to."

Lyra's heart stopped.

"You knew my mother?"

"I knew her very well."

Kael stepped forward.

"Seris."

She looked at him.

His expression hardened.

"You shouldn't be here."

"And yet," Seris said, "here I am."

"You were supposed to be dead."

"So were you."

Lyra looked between them.

"You know each other."

Kael said nothing.

Seris laughed softly.

"Oh, Lyra. He hasn't told you anything, has he?"

Lyra turned toward Kael.

"Apparently not."

Kael lowered his sword.

"Seris, leave."

"I can't."

"Why?"

"Because they're coming."

A low rumble shook the temple.

Seris looked upward.

"The Crown has found you."

Lyra's stomach tightened.

"How?"

Seris pointed toward the windows.

Far in the distance, tiny lights appeared.

Dozens.

Then hundreds.

Skyships.

Royal ships.

Descending through the clouds.

Kael cursed.

Seris smiled.

"Now we have perhaps five minutes before your former friends arrive."

Lyra looked at Kael.

"Former friends?"

"Complicated."

"Everything with you is complicated."

"Yes."

Seris walked toward the exit.

"Come with me."

Lyra didn't move.

"Why should I trust you?"

Seris stopped.

"Because your mother trusted me."

That answer hurt more than it helped.

Seris looked over her shoulder.

"And because if you stay here, you will never discover why she disappeared."

She vanished into the darkness.

Lyra looked at Kael.

He sheathed his sword.

"She's telling the truth."

"How do you know?"

"Because Seris has never lied when the truth was more dangerous."

Lyra picked up her bag.

"Then we'd better catch her."