The handwriting was her dad’s. They were angry and exasperated with her, he wrote, for leaving without even discussing it with them. But, he continued, they understood she was safe, and cross as they were, they had decided after a long debate not to come after her. He finished by saying they hoped to hear from her soon. Prue exhaled the breath she’d held while reading. She would give it a day’s space and write back tomorrow.

She tucked the letter in her pocket and headed upstairs to join Agapantha and Edwin who were in the girls’ room. They sat on Agapantha’s bed.

“I’m glad Cora’s not back yet,” said Prue.

Edwin looked over his shoulder as though to check Cora wasn’t about to walk in. “She’s not the friendliest person, is she?”

“If by not friendly you mean totally stuck up, then you’ve already got the measure of her,” said Prue.

They laughed.

“It’s been an interesting first day as an apprentice,” said Edwin.

“You must’ve felt right in the spotlight at the meeting this morning,” said Agapantha shrinking back a little at the idea.

He nodded. “It was a bit daunting, but not too bad.”

“Craftsman Primrose and Master White are nice, aren’t they?” said Prue. “I think we got the best mentors. I definitely wouldn’t want Sollentude. Master White was so fascinating with all that knowledge of the moons and the qwortzite.”

Agapantha turned pale. “I actually found it hard to concentrate, you know, what with the height.”

Edwin nudged her with his paw. “You’d better hope she doesn’t take all her lessons up there.”

“Oh no! She wouldn’t, would she?” Agapantha said, wide-eyed.

There was a pause then they all giggled.

The jollity soon faded to silent thought, their minds now on what had occured afterwards.

“What do you think happened back at the factorium with that poor personifate?” asked Prue.

“I think Master White was right and it had been attacked by a wild animal,” said Edwin.

“Sorry, Edwin. It must’ve been pretty distressing to see that,” said Prue.

Edwin gave a small nod.

“It was probably a wolf or something that thought the jackalope would be real food,” said Agapantha.

“But didn’t Craftsman Primrose tell us that wildlife stayed away from personifates?” said Prue.

Agapantha nodded. “Yes, that did cross my mind.”