by Vashti Hardy
“It’s taken a while to make it into a workable environment, but as long as it serves its purpose.”
“Purpose?” said Edwin.
“Come along, I can’t wait to show you.” Craftsman Primrose grinned.
An eerie silence clung to the village as they walked towards the largest building.
“I think it was the old village hall,” Craftsman Primrose said. He unlocked the door and pushed it open.
Prue’s leg muscles turned to liquid at the sight inside, as though she had fallen headfirst into a nightmare.
“This, my friends, is my army of stag-men. One-hundred of them, to be precise.”
Even perfectly stock-still, the bodies looked terrifying. They were all of the exact same personifate body – it was the antlered creature that had attacked them in the forest. Edwin glanced at Prue. She suddenly recalled that he had said the creature in the forest had looked like something from the Ancient Mercia books. Prue remembered her very first weekend at the Guild, and how enthusiastic Craftsman Primrose was about Ancient Mercian myths at the library.
“Don’t look so afraid, they are merely shells, waiting to be inhabited. Come along inside.”
Primrose walked about the stag-men proudly. “It’s been quite a task getting these ready for the blood moon, especially with all the extra work at the Guild.”
“Why are they so terrible looking? Human-like bodies and skull-like faces, and why the huge antlers?” Prue said, trying to keep her voice calm.
“They may seem a little fearsome, but we need them to be. The Guild won’t just hand power over to us.” Craftsman Primrose patted one proudly as he passed it. “Don’t look so worried, Prue. Imagine if we were in control of all of Medlock and the Guild, every available technology at our fingertips. We can find a way to bring back memory. You want rights for personifates? This is the only way to get them.”
“You’re planning to bring these back too on the blood moon?” said Edwin. He kept flashing looks at Prue and mouthed, He’s mad! Prue mouthed, I know.
Craftsman Primrose paced back towards them. “Not too, but instead. Qwortzite is enormously expensive and rare, so there will only be enough for one set of a hundred. Luckily I’ve secured the code for the vault.”
Prue thought of his relationship with Master White. Was that how he knew the code?
“And what will you do with the stag-men?” Prue said, trying to keep her voice steady.
“We will harness the army together when the blood moon rises. All the most esteemed and powerful members of the Sovereign Chancellery will be at the factorium that evening. The Guild plans to start harnessing at ten p.m., but we will start sooner, at sundown. By the time they realize the qwortzite has gone, we will be finished, and they will have no option but to surrender power to the personifates. Then I take over as Governor and head of the new Guild, and you both become instant masters of a new personifate-empowered guild. You’ll have all the resources to fulfil your research and unlock the memories.”
“Right,” said Prue, “so, you just need us to help harness the stag-men so that you can grant the personifates more freedom. Except, in order to grant more freedom, you need to create an army that will imprint on you, so you will actually be in charge.” She paused. “It doesn’t sound that free for them.”
Craftsman Primrose’s eyes were wide. “All for the greater good. Don’t we all do extreme things for something bigger than ourselves sometimes … Prudence?”
Edwin looked at her. Craftsman Primrose knew her real name!
“I was aware from early on that you weren’t Frances, when I saw you write the letter home on the train, and it didn’t take long to guess at your motivations in coming here once I did some investigating to find out about the real Francis. But I saw your technical skills at work on your parents’ farm, and I knew you had talent anyway. Then when I heard about the name service you were providing the personifates, and the remarkable invention you’ve created – it’s an astonishing breakthrough! I knew you would understand the plight of personifates. Imagine what we’ll achieve. Remember, if you assist me, I will help you develop your machine and find a way to your brother.”
“Isn’t bringing back all these stag-men on one night a little ambitious for just three of us?” she said, trying desperately to hold her nerve.
“We won’t need all the ridiculous ceremony that Woolstenbury insists on, and besides, there will be four of us.”
Prue frowned. “Four?” Then it came to her, “Master White.” Of course; they were in it together.
Craftsman Primrose shook his head. “Oh dear, no, she is quite tied to the ways of the Guild.”
The door creaked open.
Finblewick stepped inside. “We could do this on our own, Charles.”
“We’ve discussed this. Apprentices Haywood and Snow-Moon are necessary for the plan to succeed; our timing during the blood moon will be crucial.”
“How long have you been planning this?” asked Edwin.
“Ever since I came here. I’ve had one goal and that is to liberate the personifates and lead a revolution against the Guild and the Chancellery.”
Prue felt so horrified she wanted to run, but it was as though her panic rooted her to the spot. She understood the cause, but this was all too extreme.
“On the blood moon you will come here before sundown. The Guild will be busy, and no one will miss two novice apprentices so early in proceedings.”
“Well, it seems like you’ve rather thought all this through. There’s lots to prepare for, so perhaps if Edwin and I get back; we wouldn’t want anyone to miss us and become suspicious, and of course we won’t be saying a word to anyone – no, not a thing – will we, Edwin?”
Edwin shook his head emphatically. Finblewick observed them with narrow beady eyes.
“Good. I’m so pleased to have you on board,” said Craftsman Primrose.
They both turned to leave.
“One last thing,” Craftsman Primrose called.
Prue turned to face him again, a cold trickle of sweat running down her back.
“I know you wouldn’t, but as security, the stag-man you met in the forest before…”
“Yes?”
“It’s rather a wild one, that spirit. After its rogue actions, I had to remind it that it’s completely under my command, although I rather have enjoyed the ripple of unease it’s set among Medlock with its sneaking around. I’ve instructed it to take a little trip north to Haywood Farm where it will wait. One signal from me and I’m afraid it might take action.”
Prue’s heart stopped beating. That creature was heading to her farm!
“I want to do this with your cooperation, Prue; it’s so much easier for everyone that way. But you do understand that I need a little insurance, just in case. Of course, the stag-man is simply watching, but things could be quite different.” He held up a small device. “Some technology I’ve been developing to carry long-range signals. A swift turn of the crank will power it up and send a frequency to the stag-man on your farm. It will know what to do.”
Fear and hopelessness swelled inside of Prue.
“Oh, don’t look so alarmed, Prudence. They are quite safe, until I give the word. But I’m sure you understand I need to ensure your cooperation.”
Prue nodded. “Are you sure that going about this by force is the way? Isn’t harnessing ghosts into these machines to get what you want going against everything you are trying to achieve?” she said, hoping that there just might be a glimmer of hope to dissuade him.
“Hannah Woolstenbury and the Governor have prevented research like yours on memory for many years. Think about it – isn’t it in their interest to keep things as they are? A people without history have no ties, no bonds to bring them together, they are no threat. The force we have to use is a sacrifice for the greater good. In every battle there are casualties.”
“Battle?” said Edwin.
“No one is going to give us anything if we ask nicely, Edwin
. You’re a second lifer. You of all people should understand. Together we awaken the stag-men at the blood moon, but you won’t need to play any part in the fighting – I wouldn’t ask that of you.”
Prue just couldn’t understand. She looked at Craftsman Primrose, who had always seemed so calm and approachable. Nothing on the outside had reflected what was going on inside.
She glanced at Edwin. “If we help, will you promise me you’ll make it your priority to find a way to bring back my brother?”
Craftsman Primrose put a hand to his chest. “Cross my heart.”
“Then I’ll help.”
“Me too,” said Edwin.
Craftsman Primrose gave a single nod of approval. “Good. Don’t breathe a word to anyone.”
Prue agreed, hoping that the lie didn’t show in her eyes.
Craftsman Primrose escorted them back through the forest to the transport hut. “Return to the house and await my instruction.”
When they were back at the house, Prue checked that the parlour was empty, then she and Edwin went inside and closed the door.
Prue sat on the sofa, taking deep breaths. “I can’t believe this is happening. I just can’t,”
“Your poor parents, Prue,” Edwin said, pacing back and forth.
“He won’t hesitate to set that creature on them. What are we going to do?”
Prue kicked herself for coming to the Guild at all, for leaving the farm and putting everything at risk. She longed for that feeling of normal, of not having a worry in the world. Like it had been when Francis was alive.
She shook her head sadly. “What choice do we have but to make Craftsman Primrose think we are going along with it? But we need our own plan, and quick. I just don’t understand how he created the stag-man we saw in the forest with only the masters having access to the qwor—” suddenly Prue straightened up. “Of course! Edwin, he was behind the dead personifate jackalope! He stole her qwortzite to make the first stag-man as a test run!”
“He killed the jackalope … but how could he use qwortzite that had lost its frequency?”
Prue stood still for a moment, her mind whirling. “It must be possible to reuse qwortzite. Perhaps that’s why he chose to kill a personifate not far into its second life?”
Edwin cocked his head, considering the idea. “Of course!”
“Well, we know how he created the first one, but that doesn’t help us stop him creating another hundred.” She looked at Edwin. “We’d better get thinking.”
PRUE’S PLAN
The clock was ticking, and Prue and Edwin had been wracking their brains, looking for an answer that was growing more elusive with every hour. They were in one of the mechanical labs working on adding the last feathers to the winged personifates of the hundred.
“You’ve both been exceptionally quiet since Sahwen. What are you up to?” Agapantha said suspiciously.
“Nothing,” they both said quickly.
Agapantha tapped her hook tool on the table. “Well, secrets are nothing new around here and something’s going on, you’re both acting really strangely.”
“Absolutely not, there is nothing going on whatsoever,” Prue declared, finding it hard to keep her voice hushed in her urgency.
“By which you mean there absolutely is something going on,” Agapantha said.
Prue looked back down at her book. It was so close to the blood moon. She had snuck away with Edwin at every opportunity, trying to work something out, and they were still getting nowhere.
“How much will they want us to do on the blood moon?” Agapantha asked. “I’m not sure I could harness a ghost on my own.”
“I don’t think they’ll expect that of new apprentices. Maybe some of the older apprentices like Larkin and Sira. We’re just there in a supportive role,” said Edwin.
“Good, because I’d likely be so nervous that I’d reverse the signal and blast them straight back to where they came from,” said Agapantha.
Prue looked up. “What did you say?”
Agapantha’s cheeks flushed red, “Oh, I wouldn’t really do that. I’d honestly be very careful if I had the chance.”
“I know, but what you said about reversing the signal – is that possible?”
“Mathematically it is – you could break the loop. The signal, even though it’s harnessed within the qwortzite, is a continuous movement from this world to the spirit world. If the loop was interrupted, the qwortzite would lose the frequency for ever, and let’s face it, it would be near on impossible to pick it up again.”
Prue and Edwin looked at each other aghast.
“Did I say something wrong?” Agapantha whispered.
“Ag, you’re a genius of few words, but what you say is mighty powerful.” Prue smiled. She whispered something to Edwin who nodded in agreement, then she wrote a note on a piece of paper and passed it across to Agapantha, looking around carefully to make sure they weren’t being watched.
Meet in the memory lab at lunch.
Make sure no one sees you or follows,
especially the craftsmen and masters.
Later, in the memory lab, Prue, Edwin and Agapantha sat away from the door so that no one could listen in from the hallway. Prue quietly explained everything that had happened to an aghast Agapantha.
“You’re completely stuck,” said Agapantha, eyes wide. “If you tell anyone, he’ll send a signal to the stag-man to attack your parents. But if you go along with him, you’re half responsible for bringing down the Governor and overthrowing the Imperial Personifate Guild.”
“Yes, something like that,” said Prue, her heart rate quickening at the mere thought of it all.
“Your poor parents,” said Agapantha.
Prue nodded. “What you said in the library earlier gave me an idea, but we can’t risk getting it wrong. And I’m going to need your help, both with the machine, and on the night. Ag, do you think you could create something that would interrupt the signal?”
She thought for a moment. “We could use one of the GODAR machines and connect it to each stag-man.”
“But I’m not sure we’d be able to do them one at a time without them, you know, killing people,” said Edwin.
“So, we’ll need to transmit the signal to interrupt the loops of the stag-men, then focus it at the same time,” Prue suggested,
“We could use a parabolic reflector to target an area!” said Agapantha.
“Brilliant. But I need you to do it all, because Edwin and I need to pretend to be going along with Craftsman Primrose. When he awakens the stag-men, they will march on the factorium and take it by force. As they emerge from the forest, you’ll need to be ready to transmit the signal. But we must make sure the plan stays between the three of us. No one in the Guild can find out what’s going on or we risk Craftsman Primrose hearing about it.”
They fell quiet.
“This machine could kill dozens of personifates at the flick of a switch,” Edwin said quietly.
Prue nodded. “We have to get this right.”
“How about using the messenger tower? Agapantha could sneak away when all the craftsman and masters are busy at the pre-harnessing gathering. It’s the perfect place to transmit a signal from,” said Edwin.
“We don’t want to risk hitting the Guild personifates,” said Agapantha. “Including you.”
“They will all be helping at the factorium. As long as we focus the signal correctly with the parabolic reflector,” said Prue. “Meanwhile, Edwin and I will go ahead with Craftsman Primrose’s plan. We take, or break, his transmitter, so he can’t contact the stag-man on my farm. When the stag-men army is taken down, Craftsman Primrose will be powerless, and the masters can capture him. Then we send help to my parents and take care of the last stag-man.”
“What was that?” said Edwin.
“You mean, how do we take care of the stag-man?” Prue asked.
“No, I get that, I just thought I heard rustling.”
A box creaked nearby.
“Surprise!”
Prue’s stomach lurched.
Cora stepped out of the box and brushed herself down. “What interesting schemes of fantasy you all seem to be concocting! Honestly, you should learn to be more careful with your correspondence: throwing that note in the library bin was pretty obvious.”
Prue stepped towards her. “Please don’t say anything, Cora – you don’t know what you’re messing with. Craftsman Primrose is dangerous, and people’s lives are at stake.”
“Dangerous? Craftsman Primrose?” Cora stifled a giggle.
“I know he doesn’t seem like it, but he is. He’s a personifate rights fanatic, and he’s got Prue’s parents hostage,” said Edwin.
“Craftsman Primrose wouldn’t harm a fly. You’re making up lies about a craftsman just to amuse yourself and your friends in your little fantasy. Perhaps I’ll tell Craftsman Primrose what you waste your time doing. Stag-men, ha! I think you might have actually wanted me to find that note, just so you could have an audience for your games.”
“Cora, it’s all true, I swear,” Prue pleaded.
“It is, Cora. What possible reason would Prue and Edwin have to make up something this huge?” said Agapantha.
“Honestly, you three really need to get a life.” With a flick of her hair she left the room.
There was a tense silence in the room before Edwin asked, “Do you think Cora will say anything?”
“Well, there’s nothing we can do about whatever she thinks.” Prue sighed. “Let’s focus on reconfiguring the machine to transmit the reversal signal.”
*
Later, Agapantha managed to sneak into one of the labs and take one of the many GODAR machines gathered ready for the harnessing.
“Strictly speaking, it’s not theft, just borrowing. And this one was in the spares box, so I’m sure they won’t miss it immediately.”