Meg's smile widened and she sighed in relief. "Oh, thank the gods." She took Tiana's hand with barely a word and lead her to the bar, where the door to the kitchen stood waiting. "I had someone come earlier who thought they might be able to wrestle this beast, but no luck. You have any idea how angry people get when you tell them there isn't any breakfast? I swear, you deny someone something and it's like the end of the world."

They were inside the kitchen at this point. Meg set aside the tray of broken glass and ceramic and gestured towards the room. The old-fashioned wooden stove lay waiting, unused, in one corner. The counters were weathered wood, the utensils quality but undecorated steel. The only slightly modern conveniences were the double sinks and the ice box on the opposite corner of the stove.

Meg glanced at Tiana, folding her arms. "So...think you can handle the challenge? I'll pay you a little more."