the location of a rogue troll in Yorkshire. The Department of Trade was again completely different. The Institute had many valuable assets, and the Traders used these to bargain with the Unseens for goods and, most importantly, spells. Even the Department of Scholars proved to be fascinating. There was a lot more to it than just reading books – they were constantly investigating and researching unsolved mysteries, and often went travelling to dangerous places to solve them.
The next two weeks passed in a blur, with both Ben and Charlie so busy with cleaning in the mornings and learning in the afternoons that other than the trip into Taecia Square to buy watches, they had little time for anything else. Ben had wandered the Institute a few times in the hope that his Guardian status might trigger something, but to no avail. The Institute was huge, and he had no idea where to go or what to do. Natalie's suggestion of searching for architectural designs of the Institute had proved fruitless. Even the prospect that the Shadowseeker might still be searching for him became secondary to progressing with the apprenticeship. But that all changed at the beginning of the third week.
“What's the plan today?” Charlie asked.
They were in the locker room, picking up their handbooks. It was Monday morning and Ben and Charlie were both bubbling. They were probably two of the few people who preferred weekdays to weekends.
“We're a bit behind on Trade,” Ben said, flipping through his book. “We've got a practical step where we have to successfully haggle with one of those devious gnomes in the Southern Quarter to purchase a level two spell for no more than thirty quid.”
“That sounds— ow!” Charlie jumped back, shaking his wrist. “Ayla, stop it!”
Charlie's locker gave a lazy blink of her huge green eye, and then shot another spark, which crackled and hit Charlie square on the chest.
“I'm warning you!” Charlie said, pointing a finger at the eye. “I went out and bought some olive oil spray, and I'm not afraid to use it.”
Charlie retrieved his handbook, and closed the locker with a last meaningful stare at Ayla, who replied with one more cheeky wink.
“Graduating from this apprenticeship will be worth it just to get another locker,” Charlie said.
“You don't have any family in the Institute, do you?”
The question came from Emily. Her locker was just three away from Charlie's, and she had been watching him, combing her long brown hair.
“No, why?”
“Oh well. You're allowed to share lockers with family members,” Emily said. “Olivia, my locker, is almost as bad as yours. She completely shuts down on the weekends, so sometimes I store my stuff with my older sister up in the Department of Wardens.”
“So your sister's locker opens for you?” Charlie asked.
“Yeah. My sister just had to order her locker to grant family access. It's really handy.”
“How long does it last for?”
“Forever, I guess, unless my sister cancels the order. It's not uncommon for families to share lockers, especially if someone ends up with a troublesome one.”
Charlie was starting to look unusually interested, which Ben found peculiar, as he had no family within the Institute.
“So, if your sister left the Institute for a while, you'd still have access, right?”
“Yeah, I guess,” Emily said, slightly taken aback by Charlie's intensity. “Listen, I gotta run. Good luck with your locker.”
Charlie watched Emily leave the room with a thoughtful smile. He turned to Ben, tapping a finger on his chin.
Ben gave him an odd look. “What is it?”
Charlie gave a warning glance at the handful of apprentices still in the room. They quickly left and headed for the stairs. Charlie gave several surreptitious glances as they worked their way up the marble staircase, searching for anyone who might be able to overhear. They spotted Natalie, just in front of them, chatting animatedly with some friends. Ben called out to her. She immediately saw the meaningful looks on their faces and excused herself.
“What's going on?” she asked.
“Not here,” Charlie said. “Let's find somewhere quiet.”
The Department of Trade often had empty negotiating rooms and it didn't take them long to find one. The room had one small table and a window looking out on to the Institute courtyard, lined with heavy curtains that were half open.
Charlie double-checked the lock and made sure nobody was hiding in the curtains before he was satisfied.
“So, what's up?” Ben asked.
“Emily,” Charlie replied, making Ben and especially Natalie give him confused looks. “She said her sister had granted family access