Cedric came barging into the Kitchen with an armful of things, and Ron's eyes lit up at once.
With the shop quiet that morning, Ron had slipped into the Kitchen, claiming he wanted to see if Cedric needed a hand. His real aim was obvious: he wanted to steal a few tricks.
Cedric glanced at him. Watch all you like. Without a gift like God's Hand, you could stare until your eyes popped out and still learn nothing.
He pushed the dragon liver and the black lump aside, found a basin, and pulled open the bag of Biting Cabbage Juveniles. They tumbled into the basin with a clatter.
The little things squealed and shrieked, snapping their tiny teeth at thin air. The sound alone sent a chill down Ron's spine.
One Biting Cabbage Juvenile on its own was rather cute, a tiny little thing.
But dozens of them writhing together in a basin were another story. Goosebumps rose all over Ron.
Cedric did not even frown. He reached barehanded into the pile of little monsters and plucked one out, deftly dodging the teeth lunging for the web of his hand. His knife plunged in and sliced along its edge.
He cut out the roots of its teeth and the surrounding flesh, then slit the cabbage open, leaving it attached by a little bit at the back. He set it on a tray. One down.
And that was only the beginning. Cedric's hands grew faster and surer, his knife rising and falling in a blur. With his strength and reflexes both improved, his speed was jaw-dropping. Ron could only stare.
There was no learning this. Just trying to follow Cedric's hands with his eyes was enough to overwhelm his brain.
Before long, Cedric had prepared all fifty Biting Cabbages. He glanced at the tray, took another basin, and poured in a generous amount of sugar. Once he had dissolved it in water, he dropped all the prepared cabbages in to soak.
This was clearly different from how he had prepared the Biting Cabbage yesterday.
Ron, who had been holding back his question, finally asked, "Cedric, what are you making today? Why are you doing it differently?"
"Yesterday's flavor wasn't quite there. Besides, you saw that today's ingredients are different." Cedric paused and turned to Ron. "When that lot comes in, pass along a message for me. Tell them not to compete with the cook for ingredients."
"Huh?" Ron blinked, not following.
Ron was an old hand at kitchen magic, but he knew his limits when it came to cooking. He loved Cedric's food and knew Cedric had real skill, so it had never occurred to him to stockpile ingredients himself. Naturally, he missed Cedric's point.
Cedric left the Biting Cabbage soaking in the sugar water. While Ron stood around with nothing to do, he heard a customer place an order outside the Kitchen.
He hurried out of the back. It was a familiar face, and he was about to say hello when he spotted the bandage on the man's hand.
"Good heavens, Hawke! What happened to your hand?" Ron cried.
Hawke wore an awkward smile. "A Biting Cabbage bit me."
"A Biting Cabbage..." Ron blinked at the regular's greenish face. "Was it any good?"
"Absolutely awful! I've never eaten anything so vile!" Hawke's temper flared. He felt thoroughly cheated. "I even bought a book on kitchen magic and followed it. Fat lot of good that did me. I didn't get anything tasty, and the damned thing bit me. You said Biting Cabbage was delicious! How are you going to make this up to me?"
"Don't pin that on me. I said the Biting Cabbage Mr. Cedric makes is delicious." Ron spread his hands. He was not taking the blame.
"I don't care. You owe me an extra serving today!" Hawke's expression changed, and he grinned as he pressed his luck.
"Dream on." Ron rolled his eyes and nodded past Hawke. "Look for yourself."
Hawke turned and finally noticed that the wizards behind him were all sporting injuries. Some had hurt their hands, others their arms. One had even injured the tip of his nose, as though a Biting Cabbage had nearly bitten it off.
Every last one of them had heard Ron rave about Cedric's Biting Cabbage the night before.
At the sight of them, Ron could only laugh helplessly. "Mr. Cedric wanted me to tell you he doesn't want to see this happen again. He doesn't want anyone competing with him for ingredients."
"We won't! We won't!" The whole group shook their heads furiously.
Cooking took skill, and after learning that the hard way, none of them wanted to go looking for more trouble.
Having delivered Cedric's message, Ron happily mixed their drinks and chatted for a while before he could no longer resist ducking back into the Kitchen.
His timing was perfect. Cedric was laying the sugar-soaked Biting Cabbages out on a baking tray to dry.
"Starting now? What are you making today?" Ron asked, leaning closer.
Cedric thought for a moment. "Something sweet."
"Rock Sugar Biting Cabbage."
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