Lyra and Will recapture the alethiometer

Lyra and Will have returned to Oxford and Lord Boreal’s house. Will’s hand is still bleeding from his injuries. They have come to get the alethiometer. Their plan is to use the Subtle Knife to cut new windows between the worlds and to secretly creep into Lord Boreal’s study undetected.

As they are hiding they discover that Mrs Coulter has come to visit Lord Boreal in the hope of finding her daughter. They overhear a conversation which is shocking to both of them. Will hears Lord Boreal talking about his father and how he is in hiding and has been given a secret name by the northern tribesman. He also learns how his father discovered a secret window between the worlds that the church has been searching for. Lyra is shocked as Mrs Coulter talks disparagingly of Lyra’s dear deceased friend Roger.

Lyra and Will hatch a plan where she will distract Lord Boreal and Mrs Coulter by throwing stones at their window while Will creeps in and retrieves the alethiometer. The plan succeeds and they escape back to Cittagazze.

Lord Boreal and Mrs Coulter cannot follow as they are adults and the spectres will kill them.