After a few minutes of conversation with Grace, it was clear that Alice was going to make a full and quick recovery. Jem warmed some pine tea over the fire and poured it into the metal cans they’d brought with them from the lighthouse. Grace gazed at the cans with a nostalgic glint in her eyes. ‘I can’t believe we’re going back. I honestly never thought I’d see it, or you, ever again. And I certainly didn’t think that if I did make it back, we’d be dragging along a pair of freeloaders with us for the ride…’ She smirked.

Jem grinned at Grace’s quip as he reached into his pack. He pulled out several packages that looked like they had been haphazardly wrapped in brown paper and string, for they were crumpled and squashed. ‘If anything can get us all up and moving, it’s these. Why did you think it took me so long to come to the rescue?’

‘Ha! Rescue? Lily had it in hand, didn’t you?’ Grace smiled.

‘Of course, if I hadn’t been tied up and set on fire, I’d have broken us out of there in a matter of minutes…’

‘Anyway, before you steal any more of my glory, take a look at these.’

Jem unwrapped the packages to a cacophony of joyful shrieks. Inside each parcel was a different baked treat. The first he opened was a huge, gooey bun that smelled of warm spices and sugar. The next was a beautiful, round loaf of bread, made with light, pale flour rather than the tough, hard rye. In the others was a variety of cakes and loaves of different sizes, colours, and flavours. He then pulled out armfuls of apples, a hunk of cheese and some other fruit that Lily didn’t recognise. It was a feast the likes of which none of them had seen before nor were likely to see again. Their empty bellies growled at the sight.

Grace helped Alice to sit upright, and she and Lily each took one of Alice’s arms in their own so she was supported. The sweet smell of the spiced, gooey rolls seemed to have properly awakened her, and her eyes lit up at the banquet.

‘Where did you get these?’ Alice asked. Grace leaned forward and tore off a piece of the pale bread, throwing on a piece of cheese before stuffing the whole thing into her mouth.

‘The kitchens. I had to find another entrance instead of the one Lily managed to go into, so I figured I’d look for a vent: all kitchens need one, especially if it’s underground, otherwise they’d all cook themselves, rather than just the bread. So, I found the kitchen vent; it was open anyway.’

Grace and Alice exchanged a knowing look, and Lily could have sworn she saw Alice blush.

‘I found the entire place empty; presumably they’d all gone to watch the commotion unfold. I thought if we were going to make it out alive, we’d need sustenance. Lily and I finished the last of our food on the walk yesterday morning so I grabbed whatever I could, and wrapped it all up so my bag didn’t get sticky—’