Streuselkuchen: an old-fashioned German crumb cake
Inspiration!
No, I am NOT Scott Westerfeld...
"Then he entered the cold castle, thinking it would be his home for the next ten years or so. But he didn't know—" Alek's narration was cut off as the sweet smell of pastries drifted through the air. He sniffed the air, following his nose to where Deryn was standing, pulling a tray out of the oven.
She smiled at him, and waved the tray in the air. "I found this recipe, and it looked tasty. It's called stru...steu..."
"Streuselkuchen?" Alek suggested.
"Aye...that." Deryn replied meekly.
[Deryn] smiled, though the thought of Volger sent a squick of nerves through her—he knew her secret. The man could still betray her to the officers, or Alek at any time. But...she could always toss him out a window if it came to that...
"Please come to my stateroom, Alek, and bring your friend Dylan with you." The message lizard relayed the message to the two of them in Volger's crisp voice.
"I thought he was afraid of message lizards," Alek muttered, not noticing Deryn's shocked expression.
"Um...what do you think he wants?" she asked nervously.
"I don't know, but let's go."
"Uh..."
"Ah, there's nothing to be afraid of," Alek reassured her, and practically dragged her away.
"That's what you think," she muttered, but allowed Alek to bring her to Volger's room.
. . .
Volger was impatiently waiting for them, standing by his open window.
"What is it, Volger?"
"There's something about your friend here that you need to know. He—ack!" Volger shouted as Dylan nudged him out the window.
Alek ran to the window in horror as Volger's figure shrank to a pinpoint, until he grabbed a rope and was able to pull himself into the ship through a window. "Er...what was that for? And what was it that he wanted to say about you?"
"Eh...he probably wanted to criticize my fencing." Dylan shrugged.
"Um...will he be okay?"
"I think he can take care of himself." Dylan laughed and walked out of the room.
Well, you can't say he doesn't have style, Alek thought.
I've really got to stop starting my spoofs with dialogue...