Prue watched him frisking elegantly, leaving a trail in the leaves, and tried to follow the pattern he was making with her own feet. She imagined what it would be like to be in the body of a stoat, to be so fast and athletic – she wondered if it would suit Francis. Having got to know Edwin, she was pretty sure if she came back for a second life, a stoat body would suit her well.

Suddenly, Edwin froze, rearing up on his back paws, his body rigid.

“Ed?” Prue whispered urgently. Her skin prickled.

He pointed upwards. “There’s something in the trap!”

Prue rushed over. “If we’re careful, we can keep it contained in the netting, and show the masters, then…”

Her elation quickly melted into disappointment as she took a closer look. It was a deer.

“I’m pretty sure deer are herbivores,” said Agapantha, frowning at the writhing body above.

Prue sighed heavily. “We’d better release it.”

They lowered the trap and after a few tense moments of untangling itself, the deer sprang away into the forest.

“Well, it’s lucky we’ve got a spare hour to reset it!” said Edwin.

Chapter 16: Harnessing

HARNESSING

There was a shabby sophistication to Master White’s room. It had a forest green, leather lounge chair, glass jars, red velvet curtains, and chaos lights in fringed lamps. Master White and Master Woolstenbury stood in their ruby jackets by a mahogany table where the machine body of a golden eagle lay beside a piece of equipment that Prue had seen pictures of before but had yet to see in real life: a spectral oscilloscope.

Prue’s heart jumped. It was the full moon; they were at a harnessing!

“Please sit down,” said Master Woolstenbury. She had a voice which commanded in its assured, snipped tone. “You are here as observers, there will be no need to comment, or move, and no need to take notes. You are here to purely experience.”

The four of them sat on the green lounge chair, hardly daring to breathe, while the two women proceeded to set up their equipment and talk to each other in hushed voices.

After a few moments Cora leaned in towards Prue. “Your boots look a bit muddy for library study,” she said quietly, her mouth pinched.

“Oh, we—” Prue began whispering.

Cora put up her hand. “Spare me. If you’d rather gallivant around the grounds than study…” She paused while there was a brief break in the Master’s conversation. “Then it just means that your exit from the Guild will come all the sooner.”

Prue let out an agitated breath.