Book Three, The King’s Emissaries, shows Cristo and Allard putting together a writing system. They are able to extend the use of symbols for numbers to sounds then combine them into words. The symbols are written on sheepskin to make the first written words. Cristo is sent to Duke Nextor as a peace emissary to teach the new counting system. The Duke has a nefarious scheme, but he is thwarted by Cristo’s ability to send written messages.