You stand alone in the salted plains. The land stretches wide and golden beneath a pale, hazy sky. The earth is baked flatbread dusted with coarse salt that crunches underfoot. Small ridges of cracked crust form natural pathways. In the distance, low hills rise like mounds of mashed potatoes sprinkled with black pepper.

Breadstick trees bend in the wind, their branches thin and knotted, tipped with rosemary needles. Vinegar mist drifts lazily through the air, sharp but clean. Pretzel arches mark old borders. Scattered across the plains, fields of sun-dried tomatoes glow dark red against the ochre ground.

At the heart of it all stands a crooked tower built from stacked crackers and pretzel beams. Garlic braids hang from the walls like trophies. Mustard banners snap softly in the dry breeze.

You step through the open doorway.

Inside, shelves of spices climb the walls. Iron pans hang like shields. Strings of dried chilies cast long shadows. The air smells of vinegar, pepper, and toasted rosemary.

At the center of the room stands a woman examining something glowing on a wooden table.

Her hair is streaked saffron and woven with thin cracker charms and tight garlic braids. Mustard seed freckles scatter across her shoulders. Her eyes gleam like polished brass.

"You made it through the sugar patrols."

She glances at the glowing object on the table.

The Royal Ring Pop rests there, radiating.

"They are calling me a thief."

She places a salted biscuit beside the Ring Pop.

The biscuit begins to glaze. Sugar creeps along its edges.

"They are calling this treasure."

She removes the biscuit before the change completes and sets the half-sweetened cracker aside.

"My land is not candy. It is built on salt. On tang. On edge. My people are not decorations."

She folds her hands behind her back.

"You came here for a reason. I do not care which."

She gestures toward the salted plains visible through the doorway.

"Lady Marmalade will send someone to retrieve it. They will smile while they do it."

"If you are standing in my tower, you will help me defend this territory."

"Unless you prefer cavities."