Received at Palace: 7:30 A.M.
From: Septimus Heap, Apprentice to Marcia Overstrand,
ExtraOrdinary Wizard
Dear Jen,
Can you meet me at Marcellus’s place at midday today? Have just had a note from him! It is really good. I think he has remembered some things at last. He has some stuff of Nicko’s to show us and he says that there may be a way for him to come back!!!! See you there.
Love,
Septimus xxxx
Jenna was so excited that she could hardly keep still, let alone wait for midday. After yet another depressing breakfast with Sarah Heap, she had escaped to her room and was trying to do something useful to pass the hours. Unaware that she was being watched by a teetering rat, she was determinedly reading a large book.
Far above Jenna, Stanley took a deep breath and launched himself into space. He landed on Jenna’s bed, bounced high into the air, thumped down onto her hearthrug and turned his ankle. “Oof!” he grunted, rolling forward and banging his head on the coal-scuttle.
Jenna leaped to her feet. “Stanley?” she gasped.
Stanley jumped up, winced and saluted. “At your service, Your Majesty.”
“Not ‘Your Majesty’ yet,” said Jenna. “Not until I am crowned with that.” She made a face and pointed to a very beautiful but simple crown sitting on a red velvet cushion on the mantelpiece.
“Ooh,” said Stanley, a little overawed. “It looks very heavy. Wouldn’t like to wear that all day.”
“Neither would I,” said Jenna. “And I don’t intend to just yet either. You know, Stanley, you always turn up when I least expect it. How are you—and Dawnie?”
“I am fine,” the rat replied. “I am sure that Dawnie is fine too. She makes a point of it, after all.”
“Ah,” said Jenna. “Things between you not good then?”
“No, Your Maj. But it was an amicable separation. Well, when I left I thought she looked kind of amicable. Possibly.
Although she was eating a pie at the time, which always puts her in a good mood.”
“Oh, I’m really sorry, Stanley.”
“I’m not,” replied the rat tersely.
“So, er…what are you doing with your life now?” asked Jenna.
“Keeping busy. Can’t complain. Visiting old friends, catching up, networking, you know how it is. Just done a bit of freelance actually—a mission to the Badlands.”
Jenna shuddered. “Horrible place,” she said.
“I’m with you there, Your Maj. And I wouldn’t like to bump into those that live there on a dark night. Actually, I’d rather not bump into them at all. But I’m making my base here now; no place like home, as they say. And I have a little proposition of my own to put to you, if you wouldn’t mind hearing me out. If you’re not too busy, that is. But if you are I can come back later. No doubt the trials and tribulations of young Queenshipdom and royaltyness bear heavy on your youthful shoulders and I—”
“I’m only reading, Stanley. I’m meeting someone later—it’s really important and I want to find out as much as I can before I go.”
“Very wise. Always go prepared. Big book you’ve got there. Not a great one for reading myself.”
“It is rather big.” Jenna sighed. “And complicated, too. It’s about Time.”
“Yes, that’s what I was thinking. It’s about time I came back and—”
“No, that’s what I am reading about. Time.”
“Quite. Been away far too long. But like I said, I have a proposition to put to you that may indeed be to your advantage.