The Mirror Mage

54. Consequences

Lucian recovered his voice first. "That's your choice, of course," he addressed Melissa. "Though perhaps you could consider storing the mirror in a more secure location, instead. The cellar perhaps. Behind a locked door."

"Maybe. We'll see. When it was just people like you coming through, people with a connection to this place, that was one thing. But if it's a gate that anyone can use...that's frightening. Your world, Rhillion, isn't the only one out there, is it? What if our next visitor is someone, or something, far more dangerous? A monster?"

"I guess that's possible," Ben had to agree. "Though I don't think the risk is high, considering we're the only ones to come through in two centuries."

Melissa looked unconvinced.

"But you're the one living here. It's your decision."

Ben and Lucian exchanged a glance.

"I don't think we should wait for tea. We should go."

Lucian crouched down to extract all the items Eldor had stored in his pockets and hand them to Melissa, then buttoned the coat across Eldor's chest.

"He'll be easier to carry that way. Could you give us a hand to get him up to the attic?"

With all four of them helping, they managed to carry Eldor up to the mirror. There was an awkward moment as Lucian tried, and failed, to push Eldor through the glass.

"I'll have to carry him, like I did the Rider," Ben decided. "We can't take him to Rhillion, not with shot inside him, and I don't think it would be a good idea to leave him floating around in between, either."

Lucian gave a shudder. "No, you're right. Who knows what effect that would have! He might be there for ever."

"I'll take him to one of the other worlds, the one on fire."

"Do you have a large strap? Or a long belt? Something I could use to tie Eldor to me?" Ben asked Melissa. "I want us to be back-to-back." He grimaced. "I couldn't cope with him the other way." He felt queasy at the thought.

"Of course." Melissa left the room.

Ben seized the opportunity to talk to the Rider. "Are you certain you want to stay here, permanently? If Melissa breaks the mirror, I won't be able to come back for you."

"I'm sure." The Rider looked serious. "I love Melissa and..." he hesitated, then added in a low voice. "I couldn't bear to go back to the Keep as I am now, unable to ride properly. Here, I can ride. The horses are tame, not half wild and used to roaming free-"

They all heard the sounds of Melissa approaching and the Rider raised his voice, speaking cheerfully. "I know I can leave the Keep and my horses in thy care, Ben Lucas. I'm certain thou will look after them."

"I will," Ben promised.

"Will this do?" Melissa handed him a wide strap, over a metre long.

"Perfect."

They all looked down at Eldor.

"Right, let's do this! Lucian and Rider, can you lift him onto my back and Melissa can you wrap the strap around his chest and loop the ends over my shoulders? I only need to take his weight for a few seconds until I step into the mirror. And I want to be able to let him go without any fuss."

A few minutes later, Ben staggered through the glass, leaving Lucian to make his farewells, Eldor a literal dead weight on his back.