WayWocket and Stillwater head on to another one of the Engineers on the list, Sadzi Van Dutual. It has been quiet since leaving Peregrine’s. Stillwater tried to start up a conversation with WayWocket, but he just ignored her or rambled on for a while until she gave up.

Turning into Blacksmith Street, they see a sign that seems to be a liquid batch of metal. For a second, Stillwater can almost see the metal dripping down the sides. She points at it. “Is that real, Way?”

In his vague state, WayWocket looks over at the sign. He sighs. “It is nothing, just a simple visual illusion.” Pointing over to a window of the shop, he continues, “He must have a whatchamacallit in there that projects images on to a surface. Clever but pointless.”

Something is wrong with Way, Stillwater thinks. He doesn’t talk like this unless we are on patrol. Stopping before the door, Stillwater asks, “Are you okay, Way?”

“Just peachy! Can even see peaches, hmm is that orange? And you, Pure Heart?” WayWocket cheerfully says.

Stillwater breathes a sigh of relief. “Guess it’s time to talk to this Sadzi.”

Stillwater opens the door, thinking it will be like Peregrine’s workshop. At the entrance she stops, smiling to herself. Inside are large, weird, curved glass spectacles, but only one lens. Some even shine light through them, and a rainbow comes out the other side.

“Ooo, pretty, that is refraction! Splitting of light into its individual components.” Way skips over to another bench. “This is a lens for distance, virtual images are created with the eye.”

“Yes, a small one. That is a lens for a telescope I have been working on.” A wiry, dark-tanned man with a black beard and bald head walks out from a back room. “I am Sadzi Van Dutual, Journeyman Engineer of Opticksmetry. Can I be of service?”

Stillwater gives a small smile, while WayWocket stares at the rainbow. “Engineer Van Dutual, I am Joan Stillwater of the Charter known as the Rejects.” Sadzi nods. “I was wondering if you know anything about alloys or metalwork?”

Arching an eyebrow, Sadzi replies, “I have a passing knowledge of common alloys, but after my first year, I fell in love with—” he picks up a piece of curved glass “—the modest lens. Not the most popular path, but I love seeing the uses of prisms and lenses, how they create images or refract light. I was hoping to harness it with some ideas.”

Motioning to WayWocket, Stillwater continues. “My learned friend, Mr WayWocket, has some questions if you would be able to enlighten us.”

Sadzi nods, eyes lit with curiosity. WayWocket pulls himself away from the prism. “Ah, yes, hmm,” he pulls out a spoon, “I have discovered a new alloy forged into pieces of cutlery, the composition of said spoon is mainly copper, a presence of nickel and zinc with a touch of silver.”

“Could I have a look?”

Way hands the spoon over to Sadzi, who then turns to pick up an odd-looking device off the shelf, a miniature spyglass on a little stand with the viewing port pointing down. Sadzi places the spoon under the spyglass and peers through the viewing port.

Not looking up, Sadzi exclaims. “Ah, I see you have scraped off the covering of silver. Without analysing it myself—as I would have to dissolve it in the acid, spirit of nitre, which would take days—I wouldn’t know whether that was silver underneath or not. One thing I can tell you is the creator has not simply dipped the spoon in melted silver, as you couldn’t achieve such a thin coating by dipping. This technique takes real skill.”

WayWocket’s eyes widen, and with an excited squeal, he says, “Really, the pattern in swirls and swirls, spiralling into the light. New, new.”

Van Dutual raises an eyebrow at WayWocket, but Stillwater steps in. “Thank you, Journeyman Van Dutual, for this information. Would you know of anyone in town with this skill?”

Sadzi shakes his head. “No, and this would be a highly skilled Engineer of Metallurgy from the Core’s University to even think of using this technique.” His eyes roll up and to the right, “But if someone has good knowledge of the use of chemicals, maybe it is possible.”

Feeling a little lost in this conversation, Stillwater nods. “Thank you for your time. May I ask how you made that sign look alive?”

Smiling a wide grin, Sadzi points to a light and a rotating wheel. “It is a little project I am working on, moving pictures. Using a type of see-through picture, I create multiple versions of it with some slight alterations, and it seems that it moves as the light shines on it. Also, I have a special lens that makes the image short and hangs there. Unfortunately, you can only really see it in the shade; natural light would overwhelm it.”

WayWocket jumps in and spreads a small amount of liquid on his hands. As he lifts them, a tiny, dancing ballerina rotates in his palm. “Magiks through science, what a marvel!” Whistling a little ditty, Way turns and allows the dancer to spin on the spot, then he walks out of the shop with a massive smile on his face.

Stillwater nods at Sadzi, who stands still, staring at the ethereal image.