15
Dad was back in their room when Ridley returned from showering. It felt good to be clean again, but she couldn’t enjoy the feeling while her stomach was loudly demanding a proper meal. She lunged for the other half of the energy bar on her bed just as Dad said, “There’s a kitchen downstairs if you want to get some food.”
“Oh, fantastic. How does that work? Do I need to, um … pay for it?”
Dad shook his head. “It’s okay. I’ve already worked things out with Christa. I made a contribution that should cover us for the next few days. It’s different for everyone who comes down here. Some people can pay, some people can work. I offered to fix a few things—items that require some complex, intricate conjurations—and also gave her some money.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“There are no set meal times or an
