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  “Best get started then, Finblewick.”

  He scowled at her, then sent Agapantha to the changing rooms out the back to put on her uniform. Finblewick’s tail drooped unhappily across the floorboards as he scurried around the shop gathering piles of books and equipment. Prue moved to the nearest shelf, where all sorts of tools were placed in neat boxes with green velvet lining: tiny clamps, snippers, needle pliers, miniature vices, magnifiers, wire strippers, solder, wick, and the tiniest precision screwdrivers Prue had ever seen.

  Cora joined her. “What an ugly personifate,” she whispered.

  A notebook flew past their heads. “I have excellent hearing,” Finblewick said, scampering towards a stepladder in the middle of the store, trailing a tape measure.

  “He’s right, you shouldn’t say such things, Frances.” Cora laughed.

  Prue opened her mouth to protest, but Cora just pushed past towards Finblewick. “I’m next,” she said.

  Prue shook her head and wandered to the counter and leaned over to view an intricate contraption that had caught her eye; it looked like some sort of spectacle machine. She reached out to pick it up.

  “Don’t touch!” Finblewick shrieked.

  She retracted her hand and muttered an apology.

  When Finblewick had finished measuring Cora and had gathered her uniform, he sent her off to get changed and called to Prue. “You, the nosy one with bushy hair, come here. Well, come on, I don’t have all day.”

  Prue could already see that although personifates had no memory of their lives before, it was quite clear that their personalities were very much there. It was so strange to think that this curious rat had once been alive as a person. He was probably a mean shopkeeper then, like the one in Peck’s Supplies in North Owlcot. She’d always pushed Francis ahead of her to go in there.

  Finblewick instructed her to lift her arms and turn this way and that while he hurried up and down a ladder beside her. Agapantha appeared wearing a long, blue jacket that reached her knees and was sharply cut, neatly buttoned with silver, showing a glimpse of a crisp white shirt. A thin line of silver embroidery ran the length of the arm. Her brown shoes had been replaced by long, black boots with shiny buckles. Prue couldn’t believe she’d soon get to wear a uniform as nice as this.

  Finblewick began collecting various items of clothing from the shelves and bundled them on to the counter for Prue. She ran her hand over the blue velvet of the Guild jacket placed before her – it was as soft as the feather-top grass on the farm.

  “What are the other colours for?” she asked.

  “Blue for apprentice, gold for craftsman, ruby for master.” Finblewick looked her up and down. “Not likely you’ll make it out of blue, though.”

  Prue ignored his snipe and took herself to the changing room. She carefully folded up her farm clothes. Her new uniform smelt of the same pleasant book scent that permeated Deakins. There was no mirror in the changing room, so she had no idea how she looked, but had to admit that Finblewick had done a great job of getting the sizes precisely right. Before she left the room, she tied her hair back into a plait, then put her hand to the silver symbol on her lapel and closed her eyes. Her heart was thudding in her chest. She wondered how long it would take for her note to reach her parents. She ached for home, but she ached more for Francis.

  When she whipped back the curtains, Agapantha’s eyes flicked in her direction and she smiled. Cora was busy spinning and looking at her own reflection in one of the glass cabinets, and Finblewick was still gathering equipment into three groups on the counter. Then he disappeared out the back, while strange whirring and grinding sounds came from the unseen room. Eventually, Finblewick returned and put leather toolbelts and rosewood cases on the counter. On the front of the cases in silver was etched Apprentice Haywood, Apprentice Young and Apprentice Duval. Prue ran her fingers over her name. It looked so fancy.

  “Did you just engrave that?” Prue said. She was amazed at how skillful a personifate machine could be.

  Finblewick nodded. “Well, it didn’t just etch itself! Your tools go into your cases. You’ll need a set of day clothes, judging by what some of you arrived in.” He stared unashamedly at Prue. “You are apprentices; your appearance needs to reflect the privileged role you now have.” Finblewick then went to the shelves for navy woollen jumpers and plain trousers.

  They started sorting the tools into their cases.

  Finally, Finblewick dragged three tan leather suitcases from the back. They had rounded brass corners, extendable wheels and the Guild symbol in silver in the top left corner.

  “Right, that’s everything. Now, pack up and be out of my sight,” said Finblewick, disappearing out the back and slamming the door.

  “Wait, we need to know how to get to the Guild,” Prue called after him.

  Cora laughed. “Silly, I know the way. I see that I’m going to have to take on the responsibility of guiding your naïve farm feet around the city, or you’re likely be flattened by a tram. Honestly, Agapantha, you should’ve seen her bewildered little face!” Cora pulled an exaggerated shocked expression while Agapantha flashed Prue an apologetic smile.

  Agapantha didn’t say much, but Prue warmed to her much more than Cora.

  By the time they stepped back out into Smithy Door, the sun was halfway behind the metal spires in the west. They made their way to the main square, where people and personifates were still hurrying about. In their smart new apprentice uniforms, the three girls drew glances and people stepped out of their way. Prue spotted a couple of mustard gold jackets in the crowds, and a ruby one – craftsmen and a master.

  As they crossed the square, Prue noticed a large group had gathered down one of the roads.

  “What’s going on?” she asked.

  “The Sovereign Chancellery is down there,” said Cora.

  “Really! Oh, I’d love to see it. Could we go and have a look? Have we got time?” said Prue.

  Cora sighed. “Well, I suppose, as it’s all such a novelty to you, Frances.”

  They hurried over to where people gathered around an expensive-looking mechanicart that had come to rest outside a great white building.

  A personifate fox unhitched the steps of the carriage.

  “Governor Watson-Wentworth is very popular with the people, and the personifates,” Cora said. “He’s the one who introduced the Personifates for All, and All for the Personifates bill.”

  “That’s the Governor’s cart?” asked Prue.

  “You really do live in the middle of nowhere, don’t you?”

  A middle-aged man stepped from the carriage. He wore a sky-blue jacket with matching shawl, cravat, and a golden waistcoat. He glanced at his reflection in the carriage window and ran a hand through his wavy, brown hair. The crowd pressed in, pushing the apprentices closer.

  Governor Watson-Wentworth must have noticed the girls’ Guild uniforms because he came straight over to them. He took a bundle of cards from his jacket and proceeded to sign and tuck one in each of their pockets. “What fine new apprentices, working to help keep our wondrous city at the forefront of technology. I look forward to seeing you all in action soon! There are busy times ahead.” He paused at Cora. “Ah, Miss Duval! Your parents said you were starting at the Guild. I know we’ll see great things from you, if your brother is anything to go by!”

  Cora smiled politely but Prue couldn’t help but notice the way she straightened up and gave a little sniff.

  Then Governor Watson-Wentworth breezed away towards the golden gates of the Sovereign Chancellery.

  As the crowd dispersed, Prue saw a commotion by a building opposite. A man and two personifates – a brown bear and a huge cat with a spotted tawny coat and enormous ears – stood by the wall. The bear personifate held the arm of the man and was talking sternly to him.

  “What’s going on?” Prue asked.

  “They’re likely personifate guards,” said Cora.

  They stood before a large poster that clung crookedly to
the facade. It had a white circle enclosing three black letters: ASL.

  “What’s ASL?” Prue asked

  “Anti-Second Lifers – they’re first lifers against the new tech,” said Cora.

  The personifate big cat swiftly pulled down the poster, but as it was removed, another poster was revealed: a white hand with a green paw print in the palm – it read Rights for Personifates. The big cat paused, then pulled it down too. Then they escorted the man responsible for the ASL poster towards the Sovereign Chancellery.

  “He’ll get put away for a day or two, which is too lenient if you ask me,” said Cora.

  “The sun’s nearly down,” said Agapantha quietly. Prue realized Agapantha had hardly spoken two words since they’d met her. She imagined if Agapantha was a personifate, she would perhaps be a little russet field mouse. Cora would possibly be a bird of prey.

  “Then we’d better get to the Guild,” said Prue.

  THE GUILD

  The peach warmth of sunset brushed the rooftops of Medlock as Prue, Cora and Agapantha crossed the square and arrived in Sovereign Row. They stopped outside a city mansion that both dwarfed and outshone the buildings to each side. Warm ginger brickwork rose five-storeys tall, and the front was ornate with balustrades and a variety of arched and rectangular windows. At the top were triangular, cone and bell-shaped roofs. In the centre of the building, marble steps led to a dark blue door. Prue and Agapantha followed Cora, who strode confidently up to the entrance and knocked loudly. Beside the door was a plaque with the encircled silver arcs which stated: Imperial Personifate Guild of Medlock, Founded by Master Hannah Woolstenbury.

  She had read about Master Woolstenbury, the greatest technician and inventor that the world had ever known. Hannah Woolstenbury had been ridiculed by other inventors for most of her life for believing in ghosts, let alone her lifelong ambition to connect with them; people had said her methods were unscientific. But she ultimately found a way to bring them back into this world.

  As they waited, Prue’s eye was caught by a brightly coloured peacock and lemur making their way along the pavement. She marvelled at how their movements had an edge of human characteristics in their relaxed chatter and gesturing. How Hannah Woolstenbury had proved everyone wrong.

  Footsteps sounded beyond, and the door swung open. A woman with grey-brown streaked hair flowing over her shoulders stood there. She wore an apron covered in flour over a voluminous skirt with some flour smudged on her nose. Was this Master Woolstenbury? After surveying them for a moment, the woman clapped her hands together, a large smile broadening on her face.

  “Well, here you all are – and what fine young apprentices!” She brushed her floury hands on her apron. “I must say, I was expecting two girls and a boy, but there you have it!” Before Prue knew it, they were engulfed by warm embraces. Cora stiffened, but when it was Prue’s turn, she welcomed the scent of roses and yeast, which instantly reminded her of home.

  “I’m sorry, I should introduce myself. I’m Lavender Luckhurst, head of boarding. Well, half of the head, that is.”

  “I’m Cora Duval, this is Agapantha Young, and this is Frances…” she turned to Prue. “I’m sorry, what even is your family name?”

  “Haywood,” Prue said.

  “Oh, I see, hay, as in farm!” said Cora. Then she lowered her voice just a touch, as though somehow Prue wouldn’t hear it. “She’s from the country.”

  “Well, that’s just lovely,” said Lavender. “I’m from Bimbledown, a small village north of Gawthorpe myself. A warm welcome, my darlings. Now come along and I’ll show you what’s what.” She ushered them inside.

  Prue stepped into an enormous hallway. It had a chequered blue-and-white floor, mahogany paneled walls and a great staircase that climbed the walls in a squared spiral, leading to door upon door. Prue couldn’t help but turn and look up as she walked inside, taking in the intricately carved posts, candy-twisted spindles, and the walls filled with gold-framed paintings. Were the secrets of creating personifates behind these doors – her way back to Francis?

  Footsteps sounded beyond a door at the back of the hallway. It started to open.

  “One hundred? Are you quite sure, Amelia?”

  “Indeed. It’s certainly going to be the most challenging few moons we’ve ever had.”

  Craftsman Primrose entered, now wearing the mustard-gold jacket of a craftsman, along with a woman wearing a long red skirt with a silk trim matching her ruby Guild jacket. They noticed the girls and smiled warmly.

  “Ah, here you are!” said Craftsman Primrose. “Good to see you’ve met some other apprentices, Frances. May I introduce Master Amelia White.”

  The young woman had a relaxed look about her – blonde hair half tied back with strands loose around her face, cheeks pinched with pink, jacket unbuttoned.

  She smiled and approached them, shaking Prue’s hand first.

  “You have an excellent mentor. Craftsman Primrose is an absolute marvel at design and construction.” She spoke briskly.

  “I’m apprenticed to Master Sollentude,” said Cora, stepping forward. “I’m Cora Duval.”

  “Ah, of course, you must be Larkin’s sister,” said Master White. “A tough act to follow.”

  “I think I’ll manage,” said Cora with a tightened smile.

  “Fighting talk, Apprentice Duval,” said Master White. “Excellent.” She turned to Craftsman Primrose. “Now you must meet my new apprentice. I found Agapantha in your home city, Gawthorpe, although she’s originally from Medlock. I persuaded her parents that with her remarkable mathematical flair I just had to give her a try at the Guild.”

  Master White smiled at Agapatha, and Craftsman Primrose shook Cora and Agapantha’s hands and said he was very pleased to meet them.

  “Right, let’s get you settled in,” said Craftsman Primrose. “We can get all the paperwork signed in the morning. We must stick to the protocol. The Sovereign Chancellery is very particular about form-filling and secrecy, that’s why the Guild is—” he stopped himself. “Best you find out for yourselves tomorrow. Over to you, Mrs Luckhurst.”

  Lavender clapped her hands together. “Leave your cases there and we’ll get you fed, then I’ll show you to your rooms. The other apprentices have all eaten, I’m afraid, but I’ve set some food aside for you. Will you be staying, Craftsman Primrose? Master White?” She threw them a knowing glance.

  “We’ll be off, thank you, Mrs Luckhurst. We have lots to prepare for our first day of teaching tomorrow.”

  Master White turned to the apprentices. “Meet us here at eight a.m. sharp and we’ll show you to the Guild. Then the hard work begins.”

  “But…” said Prue.

  “Yes, Apprentice Haywood?”

  “But I thought we were at the Guild?”

  Craftsman Primrose exchanged a grin with Master White. “You’ll see soon enough.”

  Craftsman Primrose and Master White left through the front door, and the three new apprentices followed Lavender towards one of the rooms coming off the hallway. “That Primrose and White have such a flame for each other – warms my heart, it does,” she said.

  The group paused as a spritely lady walked down the stairs towards them, about the same age as Lavender but with short grey hair and a more serious expression. “Don’t be daft, Lavender, I’ve never known a pair as committed to their work. Master Woolstenbury would never allow romance between her craftsmen.”

  She stopped before them. “My name’s Liddy Luckhurst. Welcome to your new lodgings.” She frowned. “Lav, weren’t we expecting two girls and a boy?”

  “Oh, I think it’s my fault,” said Prue hurriedly. “I’m Frances, with an e, and Craftsman Primrose assumed it was an i and that I was a boy.”

  “Ah, easy mistake. Well, I’m sure I can make a quick rearrangement with the beds,” said Liddy.

  “We could take one of the doubles from the girls’ room and replace it with two singles from the empty boys’ room?” suggested Lavender.


  Liddy nodded. “I can ask a couple of the older apprentices to help. I’ll take your cases to your room while you tuck in.” She picked up a couple of cases and started up the stairs.

  “Right, then,” said Lavender. “The room to the right is the parlour; you’re welcome to use it anytime. It’s a good place to mix with the other apprentices and get to know them.” A cosy glow shone from underneath the closed door and laughter sounded inside. “We’ll not overwhelm you by introducing you to them just yet – all in good time. The kitchen is down the hall there, and ahead through this door is the dining room.”

  Lavender led them into the dining room. The walls were set with shelves bending from the weight of ancient-looking books and various objects: glass orbs, beads, dangling crystals, lamps, goblets, jars of dried herbs and flowers, claws, and a stuffed crow. Prue looked around in wonder at the many chaos lamps hanging from hooks; they were different here, producing a sunnier, more orange light than the lamps at home – perhaps they used a different oil?

  There was a large rectangular table surrounded by at least twenty chairs. It was laden with bowls filled with peas, carrots, marrow, corn, potatoes, golden-brown pies and steaming jugs of gravy. It smelled like Sunday at the farm.

  “Do sit down,” said Lavender.

  Prue pulled out a gold painted seat nearest to her.

  “Best not sit there, dear,” said Lavender swiftly.

  “Oh, sorry,” Prue said, wondering if it was perhaps a very precious antique chair. She sat in the next empty chair and the others all took seats.

  A delicate cough came from under the table. Lavender stood up. Prue looked to Agapantha who shrugged. Lavender gestured to them to stand too.

  Something furry brushed past Prue’s legs, making her jolt.

  The gold chair beside Prue creaked back slightly, then a cat jumped into it. The cat was grey and white, wearing a lace-trimmed red velvet dress with a gold piccadill collar, jewelled tiara and ruby necklace. The cat observed the table with piercing blue eyes, then waved her paw and said, “You may be seated.”

  Prue marveled at the way the cat’s face moved with such precise detail, her voice graceful and polished.