“Goodness, I hate to admit it, but she’s pretty good!” said Prue. “Look how happy she looks.” Every line of her looked relaxed and at home, like a different person; Prue realized this must be Cora’s real passion.

They got pulled into a stream of people and personifates dancing in a loop around the glittering box hedges. When Prue couldn’t dance another step, she made her way to the fountain and sat on the edge, running her hands in the cool stream of water. Agapantha was dancing happily with some of the first-year apprentices – her shyness seemed to have been washed away by the lights for a while.

Edwin jumped up beside Prue. “I’m glad to see you happy.”

“It’s funny, isn’t it?”

“What?”

“How music helps you both forget and remember.”

Edwin tilted his head. “I think I know what you mean.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be insensitive about your first life!”

Edwin laughed. “It’s all right.”

Craftsman Primrose came out of the factorium and joined them. “Ah, I’m glad to catch you both alone. I’ve been meaning to speak to you on a matter of some importance, but it requires your absolute trust and discretion.” He surveyed the crowd.

“Of course,” said Prue.

“You were both at the Inventors Parade a while back?”

“Yes.”

“And you saw the incident?”

Prue frowned. “The leopard personifate?”

“Yes. I wanted to ask you how you really felt about it? I mean, Rights for Personifates is one thing, but to actually attack the float of the Guild with the Governor in it is something else.”

Prue glanced at Edwin. “Well, it was a bit extreme, but,” she took a breath, “I kind of thought the personifate had a point.”

“I agree,” said Edwin.

Craftsman Primrose put a hand to his chin.

“Please don’t misunderstand us, Craftsman Primrose. What the Guild is doing is marvellous, but perhaps the Sovereign Chancellery and the Governor just need to consider the feelings of the personifates a little more,” said Prue.

“Indeed. I suspected you would both feel the same as me. I would have spoken to you both about this sooner, but I had to be sure of your position on the matter, and I’ve seen you share similar opinions to me, Frances, with your Rights for Personifates badge. There is much going on beneath the surface.” He paused and looked around, then continued, “The one hundred personifates is an unprecedented act of treating personifates almost like factory machines to be produced and exploited. And things will only get worse. The ASL is growing stronger by the week. I think it’s time to empower the personifates. If we on the inside can’t do it, who will stand up for them? I want you to meet me at the factorium entrance at day-break. But this must be top-secret. I could be arrested. Do I have your trust?”