BEGIN MESSAGE STOP
LIGHT CLIPPER “SILVER SKIES” TO RECEIVE URGENT MESSAGE FROM MESSAGEMASTER IRWELL STOP
GMC 020 ER STOP
THIS MESSAGE ON RUA STOP
END MESSAGE STOP

“RUA? ER?” Elletra asked when Hawkeye had finished.

“Repeat Until Acknowledged,” he said distractedly, “with literal meaning. They signalled us endlessly until we got the message. They sent a message hawk for security, and it’s En Route.”

Their own heliograph turret had rotated to aim at the Aery behind them, stuttering through the acknowledgement; the signal had blinked off instantly.

“So who is this Irwell person, and why does he want to talk to us?”

Hawkeye rolled up his sleeves and pulled a heavy-looking leather gauntlet onto his left hand.

“The Master of Messages at Aery Irwell happens to be my brother, and if he’s sending a message this urgent it had better be good.”

There was a sharp cry from above that made many of the deckhands look up, and a fast-moving shape skimmed low over the deck and settled on Hawkeye’s outstretched hand.