The devourer's bane

promised Mistress Aria that she would do everything in her po

e feeling that she was being watched. She glanced over her shoulder, but sa

feeling

every step. She was headed for her workshop, a small,

liar sight of her loom, a beautiful, intricately carved w

n to a figure standing in the corner of t

hat seemed to absorb the light around him. His face was pale, his eye

ra asked, trying to

He just watched Lyra, his eyes fixed

e the mysterious client that Mistress Aria had told her about. The one

ound calm. "Mistress Aria told me that you were l

He just watched Lyra, his eyes fixed

There was something about this figure that didn'

oice was low, raspy, and seemed t

with a... delicate project," he said. "One that

sound of this. "What kind of project?" s

. "I'm afraid that's confidential," he said. "But I can assure you th

nside her. She didn't like the sound

said, trying to sound firm. "I have

t. "I think you'll find that this project is... irresistible,"

rds. Who did he think he was, trying to bribe

trying to sound firm. "And I don't

ry well," he said. "If you're not interested, then perhaps yo

dn't want to help this mysterious figure, but

nterested in your project," Lyra said finally. "But I can give you

take that list. But I warn you, Lyra. I always get what I want. And if you're not ca

figure's words. Who was this ma

at made her blood run cold. A small, silver pin on the figure's lape

pear into the crowded streets of Echoia. She couldn't s

nt noise coming from the back of her workshop. She turned to see one of her ap

wide with concern. "I saw that man come in here

reveal. But something about Elara's

aid, "but I think he might be c

ow Weavers?" she repeated. "But t

heard rumors that they're real, and that they're looki

"What do you think they

nswer. But as she looked at Elara,

said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I'm not going to let the

with you, Lyra," she said. "We'll figure out

e towards Elara. She knew that she could

trying to uncover the truth about the S

being watched. She kept looking over her shoulder, expecting to

he looked, there

she th

Elara finally made a breakthrough. They discovered a hidden message, en

was simple,

n the outskirts of town at mid

She knew that she had to go to the meeting, but

asked Elara, feeling

said. "But you don't go alone. I'll come with you,

e towards Elara. She knew that she could

their way to the old windmill,

f unease growing inside her. She didn't know what they wou

yra pushed open the creak

g of the old wooden beams. Lyra fumbled in her pocket for a ma

ing in the corner of the room. A figure that looked

id, its voice low and menacing

figure. She knew that she was in grave dang

?" Lyra demanded, trying

amusement. "Oh, Lyra," it said. "I want

felt a strange sensation wash over her. A sensation

stumbling backwards. She tried to reach out for

, her voice hoarse with

e was no

something to hold onto. But everything seemed to be s

rm, holding her steady. She looked up

trembling. "I was just standing there, and then

"I don't know," she said. "I think that man did so

"We have to get out of

Elara helped her to her feet, and together they st

iting for them in the shadows. It was the mysterious cl

he said, his voice low and men

but Elara stood tall, her e

d, her voice steady. "We're going to

s eyes glinting with amusement.

strange sensation wash over her. A sensation that

stumbling backwards. She tried to reach out for

, her voice hoarse with

e was no

something to hold onto. But everything seemed to be s

everything