The Mirror Mage

52. Stand Off

Ben and Lucian hurried forward to greet the others.

"What the devil is happening?" Melissa asked, looking from one to the other.

"It's Eldor. He has a gun."

"Mage Eldor?" The Rider was incredulous. "Here? But how-?"

Crackk!

A bullet whizzed through the open door of the Smoking Room and smashed into the opposite wall.

"Get out of my way!" Eldor screamed. "I won't tell thee again!"

"He's lost the plot!" Ben hissed.

"Stupid idiot! He could have killed someone!" Melissa was furious.

"He's already had one try," Ben told her, turning so that she could see the blood on his back.

"Why didn't you say anything? Do you need a doctor?"

"I'm okay... it's just a flesh wound."

Melissa rolled her eyes. "Let me take a quick look."

She handed the gun to Lucian in case Eldor made a move, and hauled up Ben's shirt. A quick look was enough to reassure her.

"You're right, it's just a graze. You were very lucky!"

Melissa retrieved her weapon from Lucian, a determined expression on her face. "Get behind me. Better still, everyone get out of the passage while I sort this out."

She strode forward and stopped just before edge of the doorway.

"I've got a shotgun. Put down your gun and come out with your hands above your head." Her raised voice carried clearly.

Crackk! Eldor answered with another bullet.

"Crazy man! He came through the mirror, did he? From your world?" Melissa whispered over her shoulder. Rider, Lucian and Ben were all lined up behind her, none of them having obeyed her instruction to get out of the passage.

"He must have," Rider whispered back.

"If he wants to go back there, couldn't we all just clear out and let him leave?"

"Well, we could," Lucian answered. "Except that now he's got weapons. He emptied the gun case and found another gun in the desk."

"Rhillion is a technologically primitive world," Ben explained. "They don't have guns of any sort. Yet. We can't let him take them back there."

"I see." Melissa sighed. Personally, she would have been quite happy to go and enjoy a cup of tea in the kitchen until the intruder left, but she could tell that wasn't going to be an option. Not with three angry men breathing down her neck.

She raised her voice again. "This is the only way out. If you want to get past us and return to your world, you have to put down your gun. All your guns. Then we'll step aside and let you go up to the attic. You have my word."

"I don't think that's going to work," Lucian warned. "This isn't the first time he's tried to kill me."

Crackk!

"I don't know thee! But I do know I have many more projectiles. If thee want to live, go away, down the stairs and let me be."

Melissa was frustrated. "Looks like we have an impasse. He won't come out without his weapons and we can't let him leave with them. We'll have to wait him out."

"What about the servant's door?" Lucian asked in a low voice.

"What do you mean?" Melissa stared at him.

"Most of the rooms on this floor have a second door. One for the servants to use, or for the owner to make a discreet exit."

"I heard stories about secret passages in the house, but I thought they were just that. Stories."

"Oh no, they're real enough. I've seen them."

"It's been a long time since you were here. Do you think they'd still be accessible?"

"I'm sure the passages are still there, but I suppose the doors might have been filled in or blocked by furniture. Still, if I could find my way to the one in the Smoking Room, I might be able to distract him enough for you to get a clear shot."

"A clear shot?" Melissa swallowed. The gun dropped slowly to her side.

Firing a weapon to defend herself from imminent danger was one thing. To be prepared to shoot a man in the back, quite another.

"Would you like me to take the shotgun?" offered Ben, seeing her hesitation. "I know how to use one, and I know Eldor. I won't hesitate, if I have an opportunity to use it. It's not fair for us to expect that of you."

"I think that might be a very good idea," Melissa said thankfully, and passed the gun to Ben.

Lucian had already disappeared downstairs to search for the servant's entrance.

They could hear nothing from the Smoking Room and the Rider put a comforting arm around Melissa's shoulders.

"Do thee want to stay here? Or go downstairs?"

"I'll stay. If something goes wrong, I might be needed."

~~

Lucian discovered the servant's entrance tucked away in the scullery, behind a rack for muddy boots. Three coat hooks held outdoor gear. He hauled the boot rack to one side, and took down the coats. One of the hooks looked older than the others and he twisted it until he heard a click. It must have been a long time since this entrance was used as it took several hard pushes with his shoulder to force it open. The wood scraped noisily across the stone but that couldn't be helped.

The space was dark and musty. He could see the first couple of steps leading up but nothing further.

He took a lantern down from the shelf and spent a few minutes looking for the wick before he found it lit up with the twist of a knob. Lantern in hand, Lucian began to climb up the stone staircase, brushing away the cobwebs as he went.