Page 13

I enter the kitchen, a sense of disappointment passing through me at the realisation that Nate isn't waiting for me when I step inside. Even though he's been gone a few weeks, I still find myself hoping that he'll be here when I come to the kitchens.

Ember doesn't have the same kind of feelings and lets out a small screech, launching herself off my shoulder and gliding over to the oven.

She stretches out her wings before turning around in a circle a couple of times and flopping down with an exhausted sigh on top of it.

It brings a smile to my face. It seems like I'm not the only one who likes being in the kitchen.

Everything is exactly the same as it always has been, but it doesn't feel that way.

I let out a sigh and flip through my journal, looking for the perfect recipe to make.

There are notes in the margins of some of the recipes, most of them in my handwriting, but every now and again, there's a note written in Nate's. It just makes me miss him more.

Footsteps sound from the doorway, and I look up, half hoping that it's my best friend telling me that there's been a mistake and that he's not already back.

I know that's a selfish thing for me to wish for, especially when this is an opportunity for him to further his career, and I'd never want to take that from him.

"Hey, Evie."

"Artie," I respond with a weak smile in my brother's general direction.

"Do you like my new hat?" he asks, touching the rim and smiling in a way that makes it seem like I should know what he's on about.

"It looks a bit impractical to me," I respond. "The feather is going to be ruined the moment it gets wet."

He shrugs. "Then maybe I'll get Veronica to replace it."

"Why would she have anything to do with your hat?"

"I won it from her," he says.

"Right. So, did you come to the kitchen just to show me your new hat?" I ask. I assume not, he has to know that I don't particularly care about hats.

"I didn't," he responds. "I came to give you this." He holds out a letter.

"What is it?"

"I don't make a habit of opening your letters."

"I never get letters."

"It has your name on it," he says.

I take it from him, my curiosity outweighing any confusion. My breath catches in my throat as I recognise Nate's handwriting even when it's only Her Highness, Princess Evelyn of Falhaven written across the envelope.

"So, who is it from?" my brother asks.

"Does it matter?"

"Ah, it's from your baker," he responds.

"If you don't want anything else, then maybe you should go."

He chuckles and heads over to the oven to tickle Ember behind the horns.

"I'm sorry the delegation didn't give you a dragon egg," I say.

"It's all right. At least I get to see a dragon. I never imagined we'd have one living in the castle."

"I'm going to teach her how to bake," I say.

Arthur raises an eyebrow. "You want a baking dragon?"

"She likes the oven, and she'll breathe fire properly when she's older. Why can't I teach her to make meringues?"

"I guess?" He sighs. "Anyway, I should get going, I'm heading out to the stables for a ride, that's why I said I'd bring you the letter."

"Thanks." I smile at him and wave him off, content to be alone so I can open Nate's letter.

I'm surprisingly nervous as I break the seal and unfold the letter. There's a second piece of paper folded inside, and I take it out so that I can read everything he says.

Evie,

You'd love the kitchen here in Gaullesse, it's bigger than the one we have at Falhaven Castle. The head pastry chef is already working me hard, and you wouldn't believe the amount of butter that's being used, we definitely haven't been putting enough in our pastry.

There's not much to update you on, as I spent most of the past fortnight travelling, but the first night I was here, I made blackberry and apple pie again.

I know we only made it the week we left, but I was missing home and it made me feel like I was there again.

I even found our original recipe. I've enclosed it in case you wanted to take a look.

I hope Ember is behaving for you, I look forward to hearing about her adventures in the kitchen along with yours.

Nate

I smile to myself as I read the words. He may not be here, but he's thinking about me just like I'm thinking about him, and that's reassuring in a way.

And now I know what to bake. I pick up the recipe and unfold it.

The recipe is printed in someone's handwriting, but I can't remember whose.

The notes in the margins belong to both of us, and I find myself smiling as I read them through the smear of blackberry juice on the top corner of the recipe.

I can't believe he still has this. Or thought to take it with him to Gaullesse, but it means the world to me to have it here with me.

I'm going to make sure I look after it as if it's the original, so that when he comes back to Falhaven, it will be waiting for him, along with any other recipes he thinks to send me.

As much as I'm going to miss him, I can still feel close to him by baking and writing to him. And before I know it, my best friend will return.

Thank you for reading Dragons & Dumplings , I hope you enjoyed it!