“Well you know, paperwork is fascinating and all but it can hardly compare with Pie Week.” Emmaline laughed, “it is a shame we only get to do it once a year.”

“We get one Pie Week yes, but what about Second Pie Week?” Malcador asked as though asking a question of his master.

“Pie Fortnight?” Emmaline suggested with a grin. Malcador laughed.

“That might lead to a shortening shortage,” he quipped. Emmaline giggled.

“The economy might crumble,” Emmaline suggested, “leading to a collapse of the public crust?” It was Malcador’s turn to chuckle.

“So how come I haven’t seen you around before now?” he asked, as they paused to listen to an Araybian looking apprentice play an odd tune on a flute. As he did so a length of rope rose from a basket and swayed back and forth as though it had a life of it’s own.


“My Master doesn’t let me out much,” Emmaline admitted. That wasn’t strictly true, Albrecht probably let her out into the city more than most apprentices but usually because he had something for her to do. He preferred that she didn’t wander the college unsupervised, and only occasionally took her to visit other wizards, usually when he wanted them distracted.


“Well who can blame him,” Malcador flirted as they ambled along. The pair of them parted briefly as a celestial wizard with an aristocratic sneer marched between them, on the way to something far more elevated than a rabble of apprentices amusing themselves. Emmaline bowed slightly as he passed, then bounced the heavy coin purse she had lifted from him on her palm.


“Did you just…”

“Well he obviously didn’t see that coming,” Emmaline said smugly, dropping the purse into her satchel with a satisfying clink. Malcador, with vastly more experience with the prognosticating celestial college snickered in amusement. Doubtless the theft would be blamed on one of the Shadow College apprentices.


“I can blame him,” Emmaline said, “but not today. What do you say we get out of here and safely dispose of this purse? If he knows any Golds he might be able to track the coins, best make sure they are widely dispersed.”