“That’s because you’ve already got the best name in the house. We need to keep this all top secret,” Prue said seriously. “It’s going to take lots more research to find a way to Francis. I know the odds are against me, but I need to try. And perhaps there’s a way to read the wildsparks from beyond; we all saw the signals when Master Woolstenbury harnessed the ghost. We may be able to read them and select who comes back.”

“Prue, this is amazing. Can I help? We might be able to improve it, if we all put our minds to it,” said Agapantha.

“I can show you my memory lab at the Guild tomorrow, if you’d like? Everything is hidden over there, and it’s where we can work in secret.”

“Memory lab?” Agapantha said in awe.

“It sounds grander than it is. It’s really just the end storage room on the design lab corridor.”

They heard shuffling outside and fell silent.

The door swung open. It was Cora.

“What are you three up to?”

“Just chatting about Sahwen. It’s next weekend, you know,” said Agapantha, flashing the others a quick grin. “We were just saying that we still haven’t sorted out what to wear.”

Cora breezed over to the wardrobe. “I know the feeling. I have to choose between six outfits.” She took one out and held it against her. “I overheard Queen Adelaide say there has been another sighting of a weird creature in the streets of Medlock. Something with horns, apparently.”

“Horns?” said Edwin, throwing Prue and Agapantha a frown.

Prue knew he was thinking of what she’d seen the night of the spirit lights.

“Strange,” Prue said, giving a sly sideways glance in Cora’s direction. She was certainly trying to press their buttons. “Anyway, what are we going to wear to Sahwen?”

Agapantha stood up. “I can’t believe we forgot. Come on, there’s still time to go to the shops before sundown.”

Edwin jumped from the bed. “We’d best get going then.”

Chapter 24: Stag-Man

STAG-MAN

“So, this is where you’ve been sneaking off to,” Agapantha said, looking around the memory lab.

Prue went to her hiding place and opened the box. Her heart missed a beat. “It’s disappeared!” The GODAR was there, but her journal had gone.

“What?” said Edwin, hurrying over.

“My journal – it’s got all my notes on restoring memories! Check the other boxes!” said Prue.

“But no one knew about any of this, apart from us three and Luella.”

Prue put her hand to her mouth.

“What?” Edwin urged her.

“Cora; when she came back yesterday. What if she heard more than we thought before she came into the room?”

“You should search her things back at the house later,” said Edwin.

Prue stood up. “Or now.”

They hurried back along the corridor.

“Halt!” someone called.