Autor also has a routine. He's been leaving Oswin rose tea and homemade lebkuchens with cinnamon and cloves--treats to suit her favorite scents--for days to entreat her out of her room. It's not unusual for her to stay in her room for extended periods of time, but this time, the boy knows he's the one who chased her here.

He accused her of spying on him--when she was helping him, no less!--and made her feel unsafe.

Autor draws a breath through his nose and knocks on the door, balancing today's tea tray in his other hand. "Oswin? I'm not scared of you. Please come out."