It turns out Carol does do food, but it’s not the usual pub menu of pies and scampi. Instead she serves two things: stew and ship’s biscuit, and stew and no ship’s biscuit.

The food comes in wooden bowls and it’s hot and filling; I can’t imagine anything tasting better, not even scampi and fries. Before we’ve finished, the bear decides her day’s work is over. She wipes our crumbs onto the floor with a filthy rag, then drops a key on the table. “Arrgghh!” she says as she stomps up a rickety staircase.

Rose picks up the key and we take the remaining stub of candle and go upstairs to investigate. The key opens the first door we come to.

Moonlight streams into a room, revealing one bed with a dirty blanket, two windows—one facing the sea, the other the mountains—a small fireplace, a hammock strung from the ceiling, and a stuffed parrot.

“How very piratical,” says Rose, running a finger through the thick dust on the parrot’s beak. “I’m so glad we didn’t end up at my fairy kingdom with its cozy tree dwellings and magical fairies.”

“Who bit,” I remind her.

“Well, at least there’s a fire,” says Win, and he tries to use Mister Flambaygo to bring it to life. When this and several other spells don’t work, I suggest he tries the candle and the wood catches immediately. “My magic must have warmed it up,” he says cheerfully.

Rose looks out of the window that faces the mountains and announces that it’s perfect for keeping watch. She’s right. From here we can see right across the plain; there’s no way Hati and the wolves will be able to sneak up on us.

While Rose lies on the bed staring up at the ceiling, Win fiddles with the fire and I investigate a hatch in the floor. When I pull it open a blast of cold air hits me and I’m surprised to see that I’m staring down at the sea. It looks particularly inky and deep. Chunks of ice knock against the wooden posts holding up the Bucket of Blood, and there’s something else down there too. At first I think it’s a boat, but then I see a cracked beak and two large eyes, and I realize that it’s a swan paddleboat.

I decide not to mention it to Rose. The paddleboat is covered in green algae and it looks ancient; I don’t want her to suggest we set off in it right now. Still, it feels good to know we’ve got an escape hatch and a getaway vehicle.