A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking

Mona’s magic experiments work better with dough she can knead and mold with her own hands, though the figures are soft and sticky because she cannot bake them. She makes people and animals, though none of them are as smart and long-lasting as her gingerbread man. After a while, she realizes she can feel the dough creatures pulling on her magical power and her physical energy. She tries to make a dough bird, but when she pushes magic into it to make it fly it explodes, raining dough all over Mona.

Further experiments show Mona that bread and dough made in different batches do not work well together. The magic adheres better when the figure is all made from one thing. That evening, Spindle arrives with news and hands Mona a poster he stole off a lamppost.

Mona stares at the poster, which is printed with an illustration of her own face and the word “WANTED” (115) in big letters. Spindle, who cannot read, asks her what it says, and she explains that she is being accused of murder and treason. Spindle is unsurprised.