With the specter of war ominously close, Lyra searches for Lord Asriel, while Mrs Coulter continues to chase her.
As Lyra goes through the portal, she ends up in a parallel universe in Cittàgazze, where she meets Will Parry. With a war in the offing, the witches send Lee Scoresby to find an allegedly dead explorer. A witch informs Mrs. Coulter of a prophecy, but is killed by the witch queen before revealing much.