Prue thought of how she’d left her parents so suddenly – and hardened her heart.

“Where are you from?” Queen Adelaide said, turning to Prue.

“I’m from a farm north of Medlock.”

Queen Adelaide looked Prue up and down. “A farm girl as an Imperial Personifate Guild Apprentice?” She blinked several times in quick succession.

Cora smiled snidely.

“Don’t be such a snob, Queen Adelaide!” said Liddy as she walked into the room. She sat down next to Agapantha. “I’ve swapped the beds between rooms and put your cases on the beds. It was completely random, so the bed your case landed on is the bed you’ll get.”

Shortly, a boy walked in quite as though he owned the place, chin high, and firm strides. His hair was dark at the sides and roots, with bright blonde spikes, his eyebrows dark as night – the same as Cora.

“Heard you were here,” he said, nodding at Cora.

“Larkin has scored one hundred percent in all the tasks he’s ever been given,” Queen Adelaide said proudly.

“That’s impressive,” said Prue, trying her best to sound like it really was, when actually her initial thought of Larkin was that he seemed a bit stuck-up, like his sister.

Larkin turned to Prue and Agapantha. “I’m with Master Sollentude. If you ever need expert advice you should come to me.” And with that, Larkin left.

“There must be so many masters and craftsmen, but does anyone apprentice for Master Woolstenbury?” Prue said quietly to Lavender.

“Oh, Master Woolstenbury doesn’t take on apprentices, dearie. She’s far too busy.”

Once the apprentices had finished, Liddy showed them upstairs. Their bedroom was on the fourth floor at the very top of the house. It had dark wood-panelled walls and three beds with posts. There was an enormous tapestry on the wall depicting a forest with woodland animals including rabbits and squirrels, but some unrecognizable creatures too, like fairy-tale pixies.

“Here we are. The bed by the tapestry is bigger, but as I said, the first case to land there is the lucky recipient.”

It was Agapantha’s case. Prue’s bed was by the window with Cora’s beside her. They were small beds, but she didn’t care.

“The washroom is on the third floor. Just shout if you need anything. Breakfast is laid out from seven until nine, so come down when you like. I’ll leave you to it.”

Cora commandeered the wardrobe, insisting she needed to hang everything in her suitcase and it needed space to breathe, so Agapantha and Prue decided to share the chest of drawers.

“It’s exciting, isn’t it?” Prue said, starting to unpack her few possessions.

Agapantha nodded.

“Do you miss home?”

“A little,” said Agapantha.

“Me too, but it’s just so thrilling to be here, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is,” Agapantha said.