A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic: Adenashire, A Cozy Fantasy Book Series by J. Penner

Author:J. Penner [Penner, J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2023-11-12T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter sixteen

The second round was about to begin, and the arena bustled with activity. However, Arleta’s heart thundered in her chest so loudly she was positive everyone present could hear it. Although the fact was that most of the other fifteen contestants appeared to be fully focused on their own baking stations and their closed and locked basket of mystery ingredients.

Not Arleta.

She was watching the three judges pacing the room. Devdan, who Arleta remembered from her first encounter at the castle, trailed behind them dutifully. As the head judge’s personal assistant, he clutched an imposing pile of notebooks in his arms, displaying impressive balance. Every so often the judges would swivel towards him, a question hanging between the group. With uncanny precision, Devdan would whip out the correct tome from the stack, flipping to a relevant page while the remaining books teetered precariously in his grip. The judges would nod, seemingly satisfied for a few moments, and then the entire process would begin again like some strange dance. Behind the spectacle was a viewing gallery, and inside it was what appeared, by their luxurious clothing, to be rich sponsors who’d been given the opportunity to watch the competition. Some of them appeared interested and chatted with those around them, but others yawned and stretched, likely due to the early hour.

Somehow, Arleta had been placed smack in the center of the room with Jez on her left and Doli on her right. Neither of them had said a word to her since they’d all arrived in the arena, even Doli.

Arleta finally glanced around at her station, first at the mystery basket that contained the base ingredients for the day’s bake, and then at the box labeled ‘secret ingredients,’ her herbs and tea that she’d gotten with Theo.

Theo.

Just the thought of the elf stung at her mind. She’d nearly forgotten about him the day before, hanging out with Doli and Jez.

Not seeing him was the right thing to do.

Wasn’t it? Ugh.

Something inside her tugged at the thought of Theo, but it was only a silly crush, something for children.

But Theo was handsome, he smelled delicious, and the thought of being with him sort of sounded amazing. A shiver ran up her spine at the memory of how he’d taken care of her when she’d panicked at the inn. No judgment, he’d just taken care of her needs.

She shook aside the thoughts. The idea of keeping away from him was to ensure she could focus on the Battle, but instead there he was, distracting her when he’d done nothing but what she’d asked him to do. To her knowledge, he hadn’t even come to the castle yesterday.

She bit the inside of her cheek until it pinched just slightly and shook her head back to the present.

Taenya was across the way, next to a high elf from the south. Something about Taenya looked frazzled, too, though not really in appearance. That, like always, was immaculate. Her long, reddish-brown hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail, and her pale face maintained the all-business attitude.

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