For much of the morning, things at the embassy had been calm. Lyra had left, taking Starlight with her. Diamond had gone into town, for what purpose he didn't know, but she'd been wearing saddlebags.

There wasn't any sign of impending doom from upstairs, not yet anyway.

He paced around the living area, pausing to look at the bust of Elmo—perhaps the muppet would have some guidance.

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