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sandwiches at once. Don’t forget our guest Bramble – make sure you leave some for Archie.’
    Archie made a grab for a sandwich, just beatingThistle to it. Thistle roared with mock indignation and grabbed some crisps from under Bramble’s nose. Bramble meanwhile was cutting a piece of birthday cake with one hand and pouring some elderberry squash with the other. Archie was impressed.
    ‘How do you do that?’ he asked, admiring her ambidexterity.
    Bramble grinned. ‘Years of practice!’ she said. ‘Would you like some of
your
birthday cake before Thistle scoffs the lot?’
    Archie helped himself to a large slice, cramming it into his mouth like his cousins. The sardine filling was unexpected, but it went surprisingly well with the chocolate sponge and blueberry icing. He wondered again why Loretta had made him a birthday cake. How had she known that he would be coming to Oxford? Perhaps the book was from her?
    ‘So, Archie, tell us about this book that Granny Greene mentioned in her letter.’ Loretta said.
    Not from her, after all. Archie had the full attention of all four Foxes now. Even Woodbine stopped chewing and trained his crinkly eyes on him.
    Archie explained about the visit from Horace Catchpole and the mix-up over the message, and how Horace had come back later that night. Atthe mention of a Special Instruction, the Foxes exchanged looks.
    ‘So you were a day late?’ Loretta asked thoughtfully.
    ‘Yes,’ confirmed Archie. ‘Gran was a bit worried about that. Do you think it matters?’
    ‘Well, it wasn’t your fault it arrived late, dear. The important thing is that you followed the instruction as soon as you could,’ Loretta said, but Archie thought she gave Woodbine a worried glance. ‘What happened next?’
    Archie told them about Veronica Ripley and Arabella, her sullen-faced daughter.
    ‘And they brought a book like me, and Veronica said that it was a Special Instruction, too,’ said Archie.
    ‘Hmmmm,’ muttered Woodbine. ‘One Special Instruction is rare enough but two on the same day – that is unusual. I would have expected Geoffrey Screech to have been there to receive them in person.’
    ‘Marjorie Gudge said he was meant to be back yesterday,’ said Archie, ‘but he was delayed. Marjorie sent the Ripleys away. I think they were a bit annoyed. And then this funny little man called Old Zeb offered me some silly job.’
    ‘A job?’ said Loretta, sharply.
    ‘Well, I took some books to his workshop forthe shopkeeper and he kept going on about it. I thought he might’ve been a bit crazy, to be honest.’
    The Foxes were watching him intently.
    ‘Did you touch the flame?’ Loretta asked, urgently. ‘Show me!’
    Archie held out his hand and she peered at his palm. ‘You’re Old Zeb’s apprentice,’ she said, glancing at Woodbine. ‘There can be no mistake about it.’
    ‘How do you know?’ asked Archie, staring at the tattoo-like mark, which he noticed resembled a tiny needle and thread.
    ‘Because the flame is binding,’ said Woodbine. ‘Once you have the firemark you are bound to your apprenticeship. You’ll have to show up tomorrow.’
    ‘Bramble has one like it,’ said Loretta. ‘Show Archie your hand.’
    Bramble held out her palm to reveal a blue mark with a symbol of a ladder. Next to it was another one in green with a symbol of an eye.
    ‘Bramble is in her second year,’ Loretta explained. ‘She’s a second hand – that’s why she has her second firemark. And Thistle, here, will start his apprenticeship next year when he turns twelve,’ Loretta continued. ‘That’s the age that all the apprentices start.’
    Archie’s brow furrowed. ‘I can understand why you like books,’ he said. ‘I like books, too. But do you really want to make your hobby your job?’
    Loretta gave him another sharp look. ‘Hobby?’ she cried. ‘It isn’t a hobby, dear. And they’re not just any old books. We’re the Flame Keepers of Alexandria. We look after