“The only available qwortzite is in those fallen machines. We’d need to test it before reharnessing, and there wouldn’t be time. I’m afraid the only possibility at this moment is to send someone who’s already here, and that’s quite out of the question.”

Silence fell for a moment, then Edwin said boldly, “I could do it.”

“Oh no, we’d be breaking at least seven Sovereign Chancellery rules,” said Master White.

“I think we may have broken quite a few already this evening, Master White,” Agapantha said quietly.

Master White fixed Edwin with her stare. “And there’s the chance of things going wrong in the procedure, the risk of losing the frequency altogether, let alone what it may do to your psyche to move bodies. You may not realize how much your mind and body are intrinsically linked now.”

“But it has been done successfully before? Without losing the second life memories?” said Edwin.

“There were some developments around thirteen years ago when we were experimenting with transferring qwortzite. It’s not the same as harnessing a new wildspark – the frequency is already retained in the qwortzite – therefore the second life memory isn’t broken and should remain. Indeed, the Guild managed to change a few personifates and keep their memories intact, but I must reiterate that there is still the risk of momentarily disrupting the signal. The research wasn’t extensive because Master Woolstenbury realized the stress of having new bodies was too difficult, so the Chancellor and the Guild decided to stop the practice.”

“But it did work for those few you tried,” Edwin said keenly.

Master White nodded reluctantly.

Prue looked at Edwin. She couldn’t believe he would be willing to do this for her and her family. Her heart was tugged by hope, yet also torn at the thought of any risk to Edwin. “You can’t do it,” she said.

“Prue, I’ve never been surer. If I could remember my family, I would do this for them, but I can’t. You are my family now, and I want to do this. And if something goes wrong, then I will have lived two lives and I’ll be the luckiest ghost in the world.”

The lawns of the factorium felt frozen in time.

Then Edwin coughed. “Come on, Prue, who am I kidding? I have the chance to become a flying lion! Of course I want to do it!”

Prue and Agapantha exchanged a look and smiled.

“If you’re absolutely sure, Edwin?”

“I’m certain.”

“Hold on, I haven’t agreed yet! And why are you calling Frances Prue?” said Master White.

“Oh, we can explain that later,” said Prue. “Please, Master White, they are the only family I have left.”

“We did just save the Guild, and the Governor,” said Agapantha.

Master White looked to the sky and breathed out loudly through her mouth.