The Mirror Mage

48. Changing Times

Ben woke in Lucian's narrow bed to discover his lover spooned cosily behind him. He grinned and stretched carefully, turning over so that they were face to face, their noses almost touching.

"Fair morning, my lord."

Lucian blinked sleepily then woke up, smiling as the night's memories returned in a rush.

"Fair morning, Ben Lucas." He brushed a lock of Ben's hair from his forehead. "Sleep well?"

"I did. And you?"

"Like a top."

Ben snorted with laughter, unable to help himself.

He was sure that phrase had a different meaning for Lucian.

Some time later, after a laughing explanation and a lively discussion of language through the ages, both men rose and went downstairs to the refectory for breakfast.

"When do you want to return to Wentworth Manor?" asked Lucian. "I'll come with you, if I may. I need to pay a call on the Guild Master this morning, but after that I should be free to accompany you. I've changed my mind about visiting the manor. Perhaps Lady Melissa will have time to show me over the grounds."

"That's a good idea, you'll both enjoy that," Ben replied, mopping up his plate with a piece of bread. "I think we should go early this afternoon. That should allow the Rider around a month at Wentworth, if my calculations are correct, plenty of time to heal. I hope! I need to check with Ciara first, though, to make sure the new mirror has arrived at Rider's Keep. I might be able to squeeze through a small one, but that wouldn't work if I'm carrying the Rider."

"No," agreed Lucian.

Unfortunately, they discovered the replacement mirror had only departed from Vierrac that very morning, and wouldn't arrive at Rider's Keep for a further three or even four days.

"That's too long," Ben fretted. "That would be equivalent to several more months on Earth. I'll have to bring him back here, and then journey to Rider's Keep."

"That's sensible. You could ride if he's well enough, or take the coach if not, the coach I used when we came here."

Ben nodded. "I'll go down to the stables in a moment and introduce myself to the stable master. And ask what horses are available, just in case."

Their plans proceeded smoothly for the rest of the morning. The Guild Master was slowly recovering and the Healer expected him to be able to leave his bed soon, perhaps the following day, if all went well.

~~

After lunch, Ben led the way up to the scrying room. That had become his favourite pathway into the world between. He climbed lightly up on to the rim of the glass and took a good grip on Lucian's hand. Although Lucian had managed to find the portal to the manor by himself once before, Ben didn't want to take any chances.

"Ready?"

"I am." Lucian smiled.

Both men slipped easily through the glass. As before when carrying the Rider, Ben couldn't feel Lucian's hand in his from the moment they entered the glass, but he knew it was there. This time, the trail Ben had left between Vierrac and Wentworth Manor was clearly visible. Perhaps he was becoming accustomed to journeying between the worlds but their destination seemed to appear almost immediately, the light shining brightly.

Ben stepped cautiously out of the mirror into the attic at Wentworth manor, relieved to discover there was no cloth covering it this time. Lucian followed a moment later and together they went downstairs in search of Melissa and the Rider.

Remembering the shotgun, Ben called out as he went.

"Hello? Melissa? Rider? Is anyone here? It's Ben Lucas."

They found their way to the kitchen without meeting anyone. It was empty.

"I hope they haven't gone out for the day!" Ben was worried, but there hadn't been any way of letting the others know their plans in advance.

"Perhaps they're outside, in the gardens."

"Let's check."

They left the kitchen, passing though a small room which Ben called the mud room and Lucian said had been the scullery in his day.

Outside, the air was fresh and cool, grey clouds hanging low in the sky.

"What in heaven's name have they done to the gardens?" exclaimed Lucian, in tones of outrage. "It's half the size! Maybe less. Where are the rest of the greenhouses? I had one specially built to cultivate pineapples."

Ben, who had just been thinking how extensive the gardens were, swallowed what he had been about to say. "Pineapples? Really? How did that work out?"

"I don't know," admitted Lucian. "I left before the plant was fully grown. It cost me a small fortune to have the heating installed, but it was going to be worth it."

He looked around the garden. "I can't see it. I wonder what happened?"

"You'll have to ask Melissa if she has any records, but I expect it was down to a matter of money and staff. Times have changed. How many gardeners would you have had in your time?"

"Only one, one Master Gardener."

"But what about assistants, apprentices? He would have had helpers, wouldn't he?"

"Oh yes, perhaps twenty. More at certain times of the year, of course."

"Well, there's your answer. I'd be surprised if Melissa has more than one gardener at any time, maybe two if she's lucky."

Lucian looked astounded.

"You're not bamming me?"

"What?"

"You're not spinning me a tale?"

"No, that's the truth, you can ask her yourself."

"I'll be damned. One gardener for all this! No wonder..." Lucian shook his head. "Well, I suppose we should go to the stables, that will be where we'll find the Rider, I'm almost certain."

Ben bit his lip. "Ah well, there's another thing. Luke said they don't stable horses here anymore. They use a livery service, a couple of miles away."

Lucian appeared even more shocked. "No horses? How do they travel into the village then? Walk?"

Ben bit back a laugh, Lucian looked so outraged.

"Time have changed. Now we have cars for transport instead of horses." As soon as he said that, Ben realised Lucian probably had no idea what a car was, they weren't invented until the end of the nineteenth century.
He hunted through his memory for an explanation which might make sense. "They're mechanical, a bit like small locomotives."

Now it was Lucian who burst out laughing. "What a bouncer!" He punched Ben lightly on the shoulder. "Let's find those stables!"