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Lydia was a bit puzzled to find Darya and Alban standing on the stairs to the attic together. Alban had his ear pressed to the door.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

“Keep your voice down,” Darya said quietly. “Kaz just dragged Kyle in there and shut the door in our faces. We think they’re talking about their relationship and if they still have one.”

“Well, good,” Lydia said. “They do need to sort it out. And it’s really none of your business so stop trying to eavesdrop.”

“We just want to be ready to break up a shouting match if it starts,” Darya said sheepishly.

“It sounds promising,” Alban said. “I can’t make out what they’re saying but they aren’t screaming and shouting.”

“I never thought they would be,” Lydia said. “You should trust your heart friends more. Anyway, go downstairs, there’s pop and sandwiches in the conservatory. I’ll drag these two out as they need to eat as well.” She rapped on the door hard.

A moment later Karen opened the door and stared at Lydia. Kyle was standing beside Karen with his arm around her waist in a way that made it clear what resolution had been reached. Lydia suppressed a pleased grin.

“Mum says there’s a snack in the conservatory as dinner will be late this evening and we haven’t had chance for lunch,” she said. “Sandwiches and pop.”

“Great!” Karen said. “I am a bit peckish.” She frowned at Lydia. “What about your other appetite?”

“I’m fine,” Lydia said. “Dad fed me earlier.”

“That’s good,” Karen said. “Let’s get down there and see what sandwiches there are.”
***
Matthias was already sitting in the conservatory talking to Sonia when they came in.

“Yes, we will need a lot of soil won’t we?” he was saying.

“Yeah, I didn’t want to scoop it out of the garden when I made the pocket,” Sonia said. “We’d have been left with a huge hole and it might not have been enough.”

“Maybe we can import some from the other world along with the mabain,” he said. “Though that’s not ideal because it will start to fade without constant reinforcement we can’t spare the energy for.”

“It’s not,” Sonia agreed. “But I fear it will have to do. We can gradually mix in compost and sand to replace it as it fades.”

“Stuff from the other world fades here?” Lydia gave Bennu a worried look but the phoenix seemed unconcerned. “No one mentioned that.”

“Only non-living things do and even them slowly,” Sonia said. “Speakers and things made directly from mabain are fine. We wouldn’t have brought them here if it wasn’t safe, Lyd.”

“Ah.” Lydia gave a relieved sigh. “So we use soil from the other world at first and gradually bring in organic material to replace it.”

“That’s the plan,” Sonia said. “At least it’s autumn so we can collect leaves to make leaf mold for a start. It’ll be a nice change of pace after the last few weeks.”

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