Two days before the meeting, she was working in her apartment kitchen—practicing the Hearthstone Loaf that Henrik had taught her, trying to memorize the proportions and techniques—when Millie stopped by unexpectedly.
"You're stress-baking," the rabbitkin observed, leaning against the doorframe. "That's new. Usually you stress-cook soup."
"Henrik wants me to make this from memory before I resume regular classes," Marron said, kneading the dense, sticky dough. "It's struggle meal bread. Maximizes nutrition from cheap ingredients."
"Looks heavy."
"It is. That's the point." Marron shaped the dough into a rough loaf. "One slice fills you up for hours. It's designed for people who need maximum sustenance from minimum resources."
Millie watched her work for a moment, then said quietly, "You're worried about something. I can tell."
"Edmund Erwell invited me to lunch," Marron admitted. "Two days from now. He wants to 'discuss' my equipment and methods."
