Page 20 of Royally Hacked Belle & Flame
I jog forward, then stop short in surprise. “Mrs. Hilde?”
The baker I met this morning is standing in the doorway squinting through the snow at me. Her face splits into a smile of recognition, and before I can explain what we’re doing onher porch during a blizzard, she’s ushering us inside. “You poor things! You must be freezing out there! Come in!”
She doesn’t have to ask us twice. I lead the way, my friends trailing after me, and we crowd into the small cottage. Mrs. Hilde slams the door behind us, cutting off the wind.
It’s really too small a room for all of us, and our shoulders brush the walls on either side, barely leaving room to turn without elbowing each other. The ceiling is hung low and Fox, the tallest of the four of us, has to duck to avoid the rafters. At least it’s warm. A fire crackles in the stone hearth, logs shifting with soft pops that send sparks dancing upward. The air smells of baked goods, and I breathe a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”
“Of course! Sit down by the fire!” Mrs. Hilde fusses.
I smile. “I’m sorry to bother you like this.”
She beams at me, flashing white teeth. “It’s not a bother, but what are you doing out here in a storm? This isn’t about the cake, is it?”
I shake my head and icy droplets go flying around the cramped room. “No, not at all.”
I briefly explain that we’re looking for two missing children. Mrs. Hilde’s face falls. “Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that.”
“Did you happen to see anyone come this way?”
“I’ve been here baking all day. Except for when I came to speak to you, and bought new ingredients in the village, I haven’t left my kitchen.” She gestures behind her and I notice a wedding cake on the small wooden counter. It’s five tiers high, and the icing looks nearly finished.
I clear my throat, wishing Alix were here since I have no idea what the cake is supposed to look like. “Er, that looks excellent.”
She smiles tightly. “I only wish you’d seen the first one. I will never forgive the boy who smashed my window.”
“Boy?” I ask, my interest piqued. “It couldn’t have been one of the children, was it?”
She shakes her head. “Er, no. I wasn’t actually here when it happened.”
My brow furrows. “Wait, what?”
She laughs lightly. “Sorry, my mistake, I’m just so flustered you’re all here. I should have said that I assumed it was a boy who broke my window. Who else would be throwing rocks?”
I frown. “Alright…”
“Would you like some tea or something to eat?” the baker asks quickly. “Surely there’s something I can get you.”
I glance back at the dark, frosty windows and frown. “Actually, no. We should probably keep looking for the children.”
Jett makes a squawk of protest. “What? Are you insane, Ashwater? I thought we were going to get warm.”
I grimace. We were, but now I suddenly have the strangest feeling that I don’t want to be here.
“I don’t think we’re going to find them in the dark while it’s snowing,” Kastian points out. “We can try again in the morning.”
“Fine,” I growl. “Then we should go back to the manor. Alix might be back by now.”
“Please, at least stay long enough to get warm,” Mrs. Hilde insists. “And let me make you some supper. You must be starving.” As if on cue, Jett’s stomach growls loudly. The baker notices and smiles at him in a motherly way. “Just give me one moment. I’ll run downstairs to my pantry. I’m sure I can whip something up for you.”
She turns, dusting her hands on her apron, and reaches for a small door I hadn’t noticed before. The hinges groan as it swings open, revealing nothing but darkness and the first few wooden steps of a narrow stairwell descending into shadow. Her plump figure disappears through the doorway, the sound of her footsteps fading with each creak of old wood, until only the four of us remain in the suddenly quiet room.
“I don’t want to stay here,” I say immediately.
“Why?” Kastian asks curiously.
“Just a feeling. Let’s go.”
Jett groans. “She’s a nice old lady. And she’s making your wedding cake, Ashwater. You’re paranoid.”
