So they wanted her to do both magicalandclerical work?
“Is this some kind of punishment?” Zani looked at the old witches and scanned the letter again. “Will I even be permitted to travel?”
“I honestly don’t think that you’ll have the time for a while,” Minerva said. “Between cataloguing the entire collection and coordinating with your aunt to renew all the wards, you will be very busy. The insurance company wants a complete inventory within three months.”
“Well, after that, then?” Zani felt like a child, seeking to bargain with authority.
“We’ll see.” Minerva smiled patiently. “But curating the archives is a full-time job. There are always items arriving and being checked out. I barely could travel to the continent once a year. And that was before the burglary. I’m not sure who’d be able to cover for you.”
“How aboutyou?” Zani asked. “Couldn’t you mind the archives for a bit? You’re certainly familiar enough with it.”
“I have a cheese shop to oversee now.” Minerva blinked innocently and waved her hands limply, as if they were tied. “I’m afraid my talents are needed there. There’s nobody else with the skills to manage the mites on the rind of the mimolette.”
“Mimolette, you say?” Minodaura’s ears perked up, and she turned to look down at Minerva. “You wouldn’t have any Romanian cheeses?”
“In fact, we just got in some lovely Cascaval.” Minerva nodded with a small smile. “It’s always been one of my favorites.”
“Mine as well.” Minodaura beamed. “Perhaps I can be of help setting up the wards for your display cases and refrigerators? It would be my pleasure.”
“Oh, that is so generous of you, Minodaura! That would be most appreciated.” Minerva clapped her hands together.
“Good. I think we’re done here for now, then.” Minodaura clunked her wooden-heeled clogged heels together, like she was banging a gavel to close out a hearing. “Perhaps you’ll come down to see us at the lighthouse once you’ve settled into your new routine?”
Minodaura reached forward and aimed her crooked ironwood wand at the train case. As she flicked it, the lid flew shut again, and it locked itself.
“Even though the stone’s not in there anymore, I can still smell it.” Minodaura’s nose wrinkled and her lip twitched into a sneer. “I don’t like it. Not one bit. It’s toxic! You know what I always say. Better safe than–”
“Sorry.” Zani finished the sentence for her. She wanted to shout.Yeah, yeah, yeah Auntie M. We get it, already!
The obvious irony was that although she was safer than she had been in ages, she was also presently far, far sorrier. If only she could convince Will to use his newfound talents to take her back to the train to prevent the theft.
I’ve been called a heretic for suggesting we can move through time as easily as space. But I ask you this: have you ever truly been “on time” for anything important in your life? Or did time somehow expand or contract to put you exactly where you needed to be? The excitement you feel when first discovering time’s malleability is natural. It’s the universe whispering its secrets directly to your soul. Embrace that wonder.
But remember this, young porters: The connections formed across timelines carry obligations more burdensome than any passenger you’ll ever carry on your back. When time brings two souls together, there is always a purpose in the meeting, always an exchange to be made. Your wariness is wisdom, not weakness. The question isn’t whether you can travel through time. It’s whether you’re prepared for what time expects from you in return. For every door that opens across centuries, a promise is made, whether spoken or not.
Burnside Porter,The Way of the Ley
Chapter9
A Reset
The aunts had finally departed, but not without Will committing the heinous faux pas of offering to take Minodaura back to Montauk via a portal. He was still chilled from the glacial glare that his offer had been met with. That had been a first! Given that porters were a rare and dying breed, and those that still offered their services tended to charge a fortune, most folk jumped at what might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Minodaura had told him she’d rather walk the entire way home naked and barefoot, through a frozen briar patch. So that provided some clarity on how she viewed him and his offer.
It was just as well she’d refused. Offering to take her back had been an almost knee-jerk reaction. Will was a people pleaser. He’d really wanted to win over Zani’s prickly aunt. But his offer had been imprudent. He still wasn’t sure what had triggered the time slip in that last port. He knew he shouldn’t be carrying passengers until he was reasonably certain it wouldn’t happen again.
After a quick tour of the Mudpuddle, Maida led Will and Zani past the mudroom where they’d arrived. Gemini, the shop cat, greeted them and was now following them down the long hallway, purring and winding between their legs.
“The archives are through that door at the end.” Maida pointed toward an imposing door at the end of the hallway.
“Right. I recall. But let’s save that part of the tour till tomorrow.” Zani held up a hand, indicating that she’d seen enough for one day. “What I could really use now is a shower and a nap.”
“Of course.” Maida’s tone was soothing and apologetic. “I don’t know what I was thinking, trying to show you everything so fast. Let me take you right up to the guest apartment.”
“Isn’t Arthur Hart staying there with his daughter?” Zani stopped and turned toward Maida, a perplexed look on her face. “Last we talked, you said you were putting them up?”
“Arthur and Rosiewerestaying there for a while, but they recently moved into the main part of the residence with me.” Maida blushed. “So the apartment is empty now.”
