Chapter Twenty-Four: The Death of Sorush

Malcolm flies north along the Baku coast on Prince Keshvād with Gulya and Tuuli Latvala’s witches, coordinating via lodestone with Lyra at sea amid riots and refinery fires. Guided by a lighthouse signal, the gryphon lands on a storm-battered jetty. Malcolm and Ionides secure the sinking fishing boat and help Lyra, Leila Pervani, and Yusif ashore.

Sorush ignites the mountainside with a thousand flames to conceal his forge. Using Lyra’s alethiometer glass, Malcolm discerns the true cave when all other fires suddenly die. Leaving Ionides, Leila, and Yusif below, Malcolm, Lyra, Asta, and Gulya begin the searing climb as Tuuli and her witches reshape the storm to open a moonlit chasm above.

Nearing the cave, Malcolm readies Khuroshvili’s tools: water flask, bellows, pumice dust, and a stone. Sorush’s mirror casts degrading illusions, but Malcolm smashes it, splashes water, and blasts pumice to reveal the small, naked sorcerer. As the witches part the clouds, moonlight enters the forge. Gulya throws Sorush’s silver amulet at his feet; he recoils and tries to retreat.

The koruskati swarm Gulya, driving at her eyes; Lyra knocks the sparks away while Malcolm keeps Sorush visible. A banner of flame lashes out, Tuuli saves her burning cloud-pine, and Lyra focuses moonlight with the alethiometer glass onto Sorush, startling him. Gulya seizes the moment, breaks his wrist, tears his throat, and kills him—lifting the djinn-fire cords that bound her growth.

With Sorush dead, Malcolm and Asta break crystal prisons to free maimed gryphons. Gulya begins to grow into her true, commanding form. Tuuli rejoins the sky-witches, bathing the mountain in moonlight. Prince Keshvād launches to her, while Malcolm spots another boat approaching the jetty below.