Iorek's story

As they put up camp for the evening Lyra checks the alethiometer. It tells her there is a Gobbler camp with Tartar warriors nearby

Iorek and Lyra chat. It turns out Iorek has history with Mrs Coulter. He was once King of Svalbard, home of the armoured bears. He explains; ‘I had a rival, Iofur Raknison, a bear of enormous strength, but vain and treacherous’. Vain, Iorek explains because he longed to have human attributes. Iorek continues; ‘Mrs. Coulter plotted with him against me and I was cast out of Svalbard to wander the Arctic like a vagrant, till I came to Trollesund’.

Iorek reveals that Mrs Coulter has got Iofur to guard a special prisoner of hers called Lord Asriel. Lyra immediately declares she will win back Iorek’s throne with him and rescue Lord Asriel.