Prue laughed and copied him. “I’ve got them too.”

“One day, sis, we’ll go to the big city, and we’ll show them what we can do.”

Francis would have jumped at the chance of going with Craftsman Primrose. He should be here. Prue tried to close the chasm opening in her chest again. It felt as though she was plunging off the edge of a precipice, being dragged in.

She pulled the curtain shut.

As she climbed into bed, she focused on the thought that she would soon be at the Guild – the place where she could find a way back to her brother.

If she didn’t get found out as an imposter first.

Chapter 7: The Imperial Personifate Guild of Medlock

THE IMPERIAL PERSONIFATE GUILD OF MEDLOCK

Prue, Agapantha and Cora arrived promptly for breakfast at seven the next morning. A couple of apprentices also came down early: Sira, who had long, shiny black hair and was sixteen, about to be made a craftsman; and Wil, a second-year apprentice who told them about all the best books to read first.

After breakfast, Craftsman Primrose was waiting for them in the hallway.

He observed them through his thin-rimmed glasses then looked at his pocket-watch. “Right on time. Don’t worry, you two, Masters White and Sollentude will meet us later. We’re a little ahead of the other apprentices today, as I thought it would be nice to avoid the morning rush on your first day. Now, if you could sign the papers laid out for you on the table.”

They approached the table where three forms titled Secrecy Statement were placed, the Guild Symbol stamped in silver in the corner. Prue started reading it:

I hereby declare that anything I see within the walls of the Guild from this day forwards until such time as my first life comes to an end, will remain secret and not be passed beyond those walls.

It seemed straightforward enough. Prue picked up a pen and began signing.

Like a bolt of lightning to her chest, she realized she’d started writing Prue. Craftsman Primrose was standing not far away, while Agapantha and Cora were busy signing their own names. Quickly, Prue tried to turn the P into an F. She looked at the signature and decided it was passable, if a little scruffy.

“All finished?” Craftsman Primrose asked. “Excellent. Follow me.”

Prue had no idea where they were going or what to expect, and excited butterflies were dancing inside her. This was what she had come here for – the Guild was her way back to Francis; it was really happening!

Craftsman Primrose came to a stop by a stretch of wall covered in paintings, then pulled one edge of a small picture of a mouse back, revealing a keyhole behind.

“Something about secrets being quiet as mice,” he said.