Thimble’s cinnamon rolls have made the shop popular. Despite the heat from the overworked oven, Viv feels things are going well. She tells Tandri about having felt like things were right once before, when she found Blackblood. She trails off when she realizes the story is violent. Suddenly, Thimble emerges from the kitchen to ask for a larger stove, but Viv says there is little room for the expansion. She doesn’t want to run him ragged, and Tandri muses about being able to preserve the rolls. As they talk, Cal visits to sample a cinnamon roll. He’s happy Viv made use of the stove. She asks if he has a way to alleviate the heat from the stove, and he promises to try something.

Later, a large man enters the shop. He looks like a farmhand, and he’s holding a strange lute. He nervously introduces himself as Pendry, whispering the word “bard” as though it’s a bad word. Pendry wants to know if he can play for the people in the shop, and Viv decides to give him a shot. His music is strange, putting off the guests.