Prue was wearing a red dress that she’d bought in town the previous weekend. Although Agapantha had said she’d pay, Prue insisted she use her own money as she didn’t want any jibes from Cora about not being able to afford one. Agapantha had chosen a similar dress in green.

“If dresses reflect personalities, hers would be made of mouse traps,” said Prue. She and Agapantha laughed.

“It’s a shame craftsmen don’t wear green, Ag. It suits you so well.”

“I think you’ll be a craftsmen before me!”

“Don’t be daft.” Then Prue had a sudden realization and looked down at her feet. “Err, I don’t have any shoes?”

Agapantha shrugged. “Well, the dresses are long, and I personally feel pretty comfortable in my boots.”

Knowing that Agapantha must’ve had shoes and was just being kind, Prue smiled. “Me too. I wonder if there will be dancing?” She twirled and made herself dizzy, then flopped down on her bed. She felt something under her head. Sitting up, she pulled the pillow back.

It was her journal!

“Ag, look what’s turned up! I think someone had a guilty conscience, don’t you?”

“At least you got it back,” said Agapantha “But what if she’s told Sollentude about all your notes on memory?”

“I’d probably know it by now,” said Prue. “I guess I’ll just have to wait and see.” She stood up and hooked Agapantha’s arm. “Let’s forget about strange things in the wood, memory machines, and Cora Duval just for one night and have fun.”

Everyone gathered in the hallway of the house. Lavender wore a purple puffy skirted dress, and Prue thought how nice it was to see her out of an apron. Liddy had opted for trousers and a lilac shirt. They smiled at the girls as they came down the stairs. Edwin was waiting at the bottom, wearing his electric blue bow tie and waistcoat made for him by Bard’s Precision Tailouring.

“Very dashing!” Prue remarked.

“Likewise! Loving the boots, girls!”

The apprentices made their way to the pneumerator. It seemed strange, all the apprentices sitting in the red leather seats in fancy outfits rather than in their Guild uniforms. When they stepped out of the transport hut, they stood in awe – the factorium looked spectacular. Thousands of fairy lights streamed the length of the walls and drooped between chimneys, coloured lights lit up the fountain, and huge pumpkins carved with animal shapes lit the path from the hut to the main factorium building.

“Wow, it looks magical,” Prue said.

“Look, even the messenger tower is sparkling,” said Agapantha, pointing.

“And the trees!” Edwin sprang forward. “I can’t wait to see inside!”

As they neared, sweet music filled the air. A choir of personifates and people sang together outside the factorium. Their harmonies were wonderful, with tenor and soprano melodies entwining in a sonic dance.