Sebastian

turn."

    Daylight , Sebastian thought, what's he doing here ?
    Teaser stepped forward, his cocky grin just shy of malicious. "No one comes to the Den of Iniquity by mistake."
    "The Den!" The man trembled. "Guardians and Guides!"
    "What's in the wagon, hayseed?" Teaser asked.
    "His name is William Farmer, and he's not a hayseed," Sebastian said, stepping through the circle.
    "There's no need for pretense here."
    William studied him. "I know you."
    Sebastian nodded. "You gave me a ride up to Wizard City."
    "Well, now. Well. If you'll just explain to these fine gentlemen that—"
    "Been traveling long?"
    William hesitated, then nodded.
    "Then step down and rest a bit. We can't offer any feed for the horses at the moment, but we can provide a bucket of water."
    "That would be a kindness."
    "You boys get down from there," Sebastian said. He recognized the hard look in their eyes, that blend of arrogance and fear. He'd seen it often enough in a mirror at that age.
    The boy up on the driver's seat opened his mouth to say something Sebastian was certain would get him into trouble, but William put a hand on the boy's arm and said, "Mind your manners."
    The farmer set the brake and climbed down from the driver's seat. After a moment's hesitation, the boys climbed down too.
    "Teaser," Sebastian said as he eased around the horses, "keep the boys company and see they get something to eat." He shifted his focus to the farmer. "You come with me."
    As the circle opened to let them through, he asked, "Is it morning in the landscape you came from?"
    "After midday now," William replied.
    "Breakfast is the first meal of the day," Lynnea said, falling into step with them. "So you can still have bacon and eggs. If Philo has bacon and eggs."
    Philo reached the table at the same time they did—and just in time to hear that comment. "He wants bacon and eggs?"
    "He does," Lynnea said.
    Philo scowled at Sebastian.
    "Why don't I give you a hand?" Lynnea said, smiling brightly.
    Philo continued to scowl at Sebastian. "If the man is going to start getting fussy about what's put before him, I suppose he'll have to have his own cook."
    "I didn't say…" Since Lynnea and Philo had already headed for the kitchen and he was talking to their backs, he turned to William. "I didn't say I had to have bacon and eggs."
    William's smile was sympathetic, but his eyes twinkled. "All good women have a measure of grit and sass."
    "Do they?" Sebastian said sourly.
    "That they do. Or so my dear wife tells me often enough."
    He laughed, since the alternative was banging his head against the table. Pulling out a chair, he sat down where he could keep an eye on the street. "So now that we've settled that much, what brings you here?"
    William settled his bulk in a chair on the other side of the table. "Didn't mean to come here. Didn't know I'd end up here. But—" He stopped when Lynnea approached the table and set down two cups of koffee along with sugar and cream.
    "There's not much besides koffee to give to boys that age," Lynnea said, indicating the other cups on her tray. "I hope that's all right."
    "They'll drink whatever is put before them," William replied.
    "Well, they're too young to be drinking whiskey or ale," Lynnea said primly.
    Sebastian brushed a finger over her wrist. "Never tell a boy he's too young for whiskey or ale. He'll need to prove you wrong and drink himself sick."
    "I'm not going to tell them anything. They're just not getting any." She headed for the other table, where Teaser was keeping an eye on the boys.
    "She used to be a little rabbit," Sebastian muttered. "I liked the little rabbit."
    "I'm thinking you like the side of her that nips and nudges even more."
    The truth of that pinched a bit, so Sebastian just drank his koffee.
    "It's like this," William said. "I was on my way to Wizard City, like usual, but…" He lifted the cup, then set it down without drinking. "I couldn't get there. Took the same road, crossed over the same bridge, but as soon as I crossed the bridge, day turned to night and… I ended up here."
    Lee's doing, Sebastian thought. Had to be. "If you managed to reach the Den, I don't think you'll be able to get to Wizard City. The landscapes have been altered."
    William paled. "Altered?"
    "Places you could go before may no longer be within reach."
    "Home," William whispered. "My wife. My children." He clamped a hand over Sebastian's. "Can I get home?"
    "I think so." He hoped so. He didn't know how long it would take Lee