I was just tidying away when Four fluttered into the stable space. I received its weight on my forefinger, whereupon it chirped a completely incomprehensible phrase at me (or perhaps it was a completely comprehensible phrase at an incomprehensible speed). I frowned and asked it to repeat, but was met with exactly the same result. Still frowning, I transferred it to my shoulder and set off for the Messagemaster’s chambers.

Fervently hoping I wasn’t intruding, I knocked smartly on the door and stepped back. The Master answered only a little slower than usual.

“Sir.”

He noticed Four’s presence on my shoulder and raised an eyebrow, then said something to it in Farstai. It responded with a longer but equally nonsensical burst of noise. The Master beckoned to Four, who leapt from my shoulder to his hand in one motion, and nodded to me.

“There’s been a development. I need you to get yourself and get some men ready for a rescue mission.”