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.

Chapter 6: The Guild

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.