“Bloody hell, of course it’s closed, it’s almost evening. Damnable bakers and their hours,” said James. Then he saw a young woman inside the shop puttering around, no doubt starting on her baking for the next day, though he could hardly understand why when it looked as though she had already created so many beautiful cakes, and he wondered if she wasn’t a poor soul from one of these fairy tales, cursed to continue baking or some other such nonsense.

“Excuse me, good woman!” said James, tapping on the window. “Please, can’t I just buy one of your delicious-looking cakes? I will pay you handsomely.” James rapped on the window harder and harder. Within moments the jolly-looking woman made her way to the door and unlocked it.

“May I help you?” she asked, eyeing him suspiciously. “You’re not from around here are you, sir?” James could see she was looking at his clothing and seemed to be taking measure of him, and decided she didn’t know what to make of him.

“No, good woman, I’ve just recently arrived in your magical kingdom. I’m sorry to disturb you. Are you Mrs. Tiddlebottom? I’m looking to buy a cake, perhaps the almond cake there in the window? I’m on my way to visit the Queer Sisters, and I don’t want to show up without the cake they requested.” James shoved coins into Mrs. Tiddlebottom’s hands, hoping it would persuade her, but she hardly noticed; she just looked at him as if she had seen a ghost.

“Do you mean the Odd Sisters?” Mrs. Tiddlebottom gave James the strangest look. He realized his choice of clothing was probably a misstep. His pirate gear would have probably gone over much better, seeing the way people dressed in these lands. It seemed to James they didn’t dress much differently than they had in his own lands, but during more antiquated times, so it was no wonder this woman was looking at him strangely; she had never seen clothing such as this.

“Yes, I suppose I do mean the Odd Sisters,” said James, chuckling. At this point he took delight in saying their names wrong. Something about it made him feel less nervous about meeting them.

“Are you sure it was the Odd Sisters who made this request? May I ask the manner in which you received it?” she asked, squinting at James in a way that told him she didn’t believe him.

“I’m quite sure, Mrs. Tiddlebottom. And if you really must know, they sent the message with a crow.” This made Mrs. Tiddlebottom’s eyes grow large.

“Was she a delicate creature, with black feathers that shined blue and purple in the light? Did she seem otherworldly to you?” Mrs. Tiddlebottom seemed as if she was afraid of his answer.