“We’ve probably got a few hundred years of happy reconciliation balls,” Caspar said, and then, turning to me, he explained that Oliver wanted to come with him. “Although I keep telling him he doesn’t have to.”

“And I keep telling him I’m not doing it because I have to, I’m doing it because I want to. Besides, I’m dying to see this place. And no one is going to stop me.” He glared at the blond twins who had taken up places besides the two pipers. Their lips curled in identical smirks but they made no move to stop Oliver from stepping through the door with Caspar. As soon as they stepped through I saw a group of stocky white-haired men and women waving from the bank and Caspar lifting a hand in greeting.

The denizens of Faerie were coming forward to greet their long lost friends and relatives. As the Brownes passed through, they were greeted by a flock of diminutive creatures clad in leather pelts and peaked caps. Dory, the last of her family to reach the door, arrived hand in hand with Brock.

“We only just got you back,” I said to Brock. “I promise I’ll keep the door open so you can both come back.”

“I know you’ll do your best, Callie, but don’t worry. If we have to stay, we’ll be all right – and so will you. I hear you’ve found a good handyman.”

I blushed, wondering what else he had heard about my new handyman, and then I hugged Brock and Dory, trying not to cry. They stepped through the door hand in hand. Another group had gathered on the bank – tall blond men and women, a one-eyed man with a spear, a giant carrying a hammer, and a cavalry of women on horseback with winged helmets on their heads. As Brock and Dory walked toward them, the Valkyries saluted them. I turned away, my eyes overflowing with tears, and saw Diana Hart standing at the door, surrounded by a herd of deer, the golden-eyed stag in the lead. Liz stood beside her, holding her hand. Although it was summer, Liz wore her fur coat around her shoulders. Not just any fur coat – it was her familiar, a bear named Ursuline. Of course Liz wouldn’t leave without her.

“Don’t worry,” I told Liz. “I won’t let them close the door forever. I have a spell to stop them.”

“I’m sure you’ll do your best,” Liz said, patting my arm. “But just in case I’ve asked Joan Ryan to step in as interim dean – and I’m hoping you’ll help her. Goodness knows what will become of the college …” Her eyes filled with tears and I squeezed her hand.