"Yeah," he said, his voice steadier now, settled back into its usual cadence as he shifted a coil of rope into one pack and tightening the straps with practiced ease. "Not so different, I can imagine." He let his glacier eyes lift back to her and he offered her a smile, his kindness not having left.
They worked in a rhythm that came together easily, with Noah's years of experience building these specific packs and the way Lyra set into the motion that looked so close to what she knew. The soft clink of tools, the rustle of cloth, the quiet adjustments of weight and balance filled the space between them where heavier words had been not long before. Noah tested each pack once it was filled, lifting each and making small corrections until everything sat right.
By the time the last strap was cinched, the table was clear. All that sat there now were the packs. Noah straightened, rolling his shoulders. "That’ll do it," he said, a faint, but clearly satisfied, note in his voice. His gaze shifted toward the east wall for just a moment, thoughtful for a beat before returning to her.
"If you’ve got time, I finished building a shrine for Safrin. I'd love for you to see it while you're here." He smiled, again, a flutter of hope and something else he couldn't quite place fluttering beneath his ribs as he took a step toward her.
They worked in a rhythm that came together easily, with Noah's years of experience building these specific packs and the way Lyra set into the motion that looked so close to what she knew. The soft clink of tools, the rustle of cloth, the quiet adjustments of weight and balance filled the space between them where heavier words had been not long before. Noah tested each pack once it was filled, lifting each and making small corrections until everything sat right.
By the time the last strap was cinched, the table was clear. All that sat there now were the packs. Noah straightened, rolling his shoulders. "That’ll do it," he said, a faint, but clearly satisfied, note in his voice. His gaze shifted toward the east wall for just a moment, thoughtful for a beat before returning to her.
"If you’ve got time, I finished building a shrine for Safrin. I'd love for you to see it while you're here." He smiled, again, a flutter of hope and something else he couldn't quite place fluttering beneath his ribs as he took a step toward her.
the sentinel of the north
