The Apprenticeship of Julian St. Albans

by Crook, Amy

  “Ooh, new sugar,” said Alex, going straight for the peda.

  Julian laughed, feeling the shaky post-adrenaline hit him, along with the ache in his shoulder. “He really meant to knock me out,” said Julian, rolling his shoulder.

  “Are you okay?” asked Alex, sweet forgotten in his concern.

  “I’ll be fine, but you’re going to put some of that bruise cream on for me later,” said Julian, rotating his arm to be sure he was telling the truth.

  “I promise to spoil you extra rotten,” said Alex, putting action to words by feeding the little morsel he was holding to Julian instead.

  “Mmm, oh, this is good!” said Julian, tasting sweet milk and nutty pistachios in the soft treat. “You have to try one.” He picked up another to feed to Alex, and then they both fell to, eating their various treats quite as though they hadn’t just had a huge meal.

  Partway through the cops arrived and took Julian and Alex’s statements, getting served tea and a plate of snacks of their own compliments of the house. Padma stopped by to lament the decline in the area’s safety, and Julian made sure to mention he’d been a witness on another case recently. Alex added that Agent Lapointe might want a copy of the report.

  “If you’d be kind enough to send it over,” added it Julian, “please.”

  The female officer blushed. “Yes, of course,” she said, writing down the info.

  Alex didn’t roll his eyes, but Julian thought that was because he couldn’t have done it without one of the cops seeing him. There was a little more paperwork after that, and Alex and Julian both signed their reports.

  “You’ve been very professional with me,” said Julian, as they all stood and shook hands. “Do you know Officer, um…” He tried to recall the big man’s name from the nursery murder. “Tiny?”

  They both laughed. “Yeah, we know Tiny. We’ll tell him he made an impression,” said the other officer, whose name last name was unpronounceable and had insisted they call him Bob. His partner, Officer Gupta, was a tiny Indian woman who gave Julian the impression that she would have had their mugger in cuffs in about five seconds and never broken a sweat.

  “And thank you again for the treat,” she said, gesturing to the table, where not a single crumb had been left uneaten.

  “Thank Padma, she’s the one who sent them over,” said Julian.

  “We will,” said Bob. They left, pausing to talk to the owner, who insisted on giving them a little to-go box of peda that she’d already had prepared.

  Julian sat back down with a whoosh of breath. “That was more excitement this year than I was hoping for.”

  Alex came around to rub gently over his shoulders, mindful of the fresh bruise. “I’m sorry it was you that got hurt,” he said.

  “Don’t be silly,” said Julian, kissing one long-fingered hand. “Your amulet saved me,” said Julian, patting the warm metal under his shirt.

  “I’ll have to look it over when we get home, once I’ve tucked you in bed,” said Alex. “It might need some repair after that discharge, that was more energy than I expected it to have.”

  “Maybe it’s like Horace, and it got a little more from all the time I spend with you?” said Julian.

  “Maybe,” said Alex, shrugging. “I’ll look when we’re home.”

  Padma came over and informed them they wouldn’t be allowed to pay after their ordeal, and that their cab had arrived. Alex insisted on leaving a tip for the waiter, at least, and they left with thanks and a few extra treats for home.

  The cab ride was quiet, Julian mostly concentrating on being in mostly one piece and safe with his Alex, and it wasn’t until they got upstairs to change that he felt calm enough to complain.

  “That’s going to hurt for days,” lamented Julian, looking at the giant purple bruise in the mirror.

  “I’m so sorry, love,” said Alex. He gently spread bruise potion over the mark, and Julian shivered with the tingle of magic. “Why don’t you have a bath, and then we can put more of this on after?”

  “All right,” said Julian, bending to start the water. “I take it you’ll be busy in your lab?”

  Alex looked sheepish. “Well…”

  “Go on, but I want Horace to keep me company,” said Julian. He pressed a kiss to Alex’s mouth, then handed off the amulet, which was looking slightly scorched. “I find myself very interested in the continued function of this particular trinket.”

  Alex laughed. “All right, you’ll be safe enough in here, the bedroom wards are almost as good as the work room ones now.”

  “I know,” said Julian, stripping off and getting in the tub. He lay back against the tub gingerly, but the potion had taken the edge off the pain, and he had high hopes that a couple of paracetamol would dull the rest enough to sleep.

  Alex stole another kiss and left, and a few moments later Horace flew in and settled on the edge of the tub next to Julian. “You’re rust-proof, you know,” teased Julian, when the little bird studiously avoided being splashed.

  Horace chirped, then carefully hopped over to Julian’s unbruised shoulder to preen at his hair. Julian was constantly surprised by how natural Horace acted, and he couldn’t help but be thankful to a younger Alex for spending so much time and care on Horace’s construction. Julian made a show of drying his hand before stroking the little metal bird, and Horace responded with a series of cheerful little chirps.

  Julian told Horace about his day, and this time he ‘listened’ as carefully as he could while Horace chirped back, trying to use that sense he used on plants to feel the things Alex heard off the construct. He thought he could feel concern and warm affection, but he couldn’t be sure he wasn’t just projecting his own hopes instead of feeling what was really there. He definitely felt the plants around them, their green aliveness showing an appreciation for the humidity, and for the daylight-spell Alex had constructed to make sure they didn’t starve in the windowless room.

  “At least you’re safe,” said Julian, kissing Horace’s head before gently coaxing him back onto the tub’s edge. He still remembered the sight of Horace’s crumpled body, and he was determined not to let that happen again. “I’m going to wash now, go on.”

  He could swear he got a burst of fussy amusement as Horace hopped further away, then flew up to perch in one of the hanging plants where he’d be safe, and it made Julian laugh with delight. “Maybe I am learning to listen to you,” he said happily.

  Somehow that one small thing made the rest of the day seem worthwhile.

  CHAPTER 7

  Julian woke the next morning to the sound of Horace chirping, and his phone trying to vibrate itself off the bedside table. “Oh, thanks,” he said sleepily, rescuing it and checking the screen. “Where’s Alex?” he asked with a yawn.

  Horace flew over and rubbed his head against Julian’s cheek, then presented his chest, which held a note. Alex had folded the paper into a little heart, which made Julian smile, and he read it before bothering with his messages.

  Dear Julian,

  It feels like ages since I wrote to you, do you ever miss it?

  Lapointe called me, there’s been another murder. I’ve gone to the crime scene, but you were so tired you slept right through the phone call and me putting more potion on your bruise.

  I love you, and I wish I could leave a kiss with Horace along with my note.

  See you soon,

  Alex

  Julian beamed, hugging the little note to his chest. “Oh, Horace, he really is the right one for me,” he said, stroking the little bird’s head. “I hope he never stops being this sweet.” Julian sat up properly with a yawn and stretch, though the latter was rather less stretchy than usual. Even with the potion, his shoulder was stiff and sore with a deep ache right at the centre of the bruise.

  Julian checked his missed calls and texts, then decided he wasn’t ready to deal with strangers before breakfast. He texted Alex that he was awake and ignoring his messages for now, and then went to make himself a little more h
uman. Once he had clean face and teeth, he put on warm slippers and dressing gown and headed out for breakfast. Alex had returned his text saying if Julian stayed inside the wards until Alex got home, he was welcome to ignore everyone else.

  Julian giggled. “Alys, is there breakfast?” he asked the thin air.

  He heard the kettle start to fill, and followed the sound into the kitchen. Alys came strolling out of the laundry room where she and Nat had set up their own little home, and more things started to emerge from cupboards and set themselves up. “You need protein, so it’ll be a proper fry-up for you, young man, and then you’ll let me look at that bruise.”

  Julian sat, feeling very grateful indeed to have so many people who cared about his well-being. “Alex put potion on it already, before he left, but I wouldn’t mind another dose,” said Julian. “I took some paracetamol, too.”

  “Human medicine,” she said dismissively. “Though Alex’s potions do work, he’s a very good mage.”

  “I know,” said Julian proudly. “My life is full of magic now.”

  “He wasn’t ready for a brownie before you, but he’s interested in life now,” said Alys.

  Julian thought about this, and the way Alex talked sometimes about life before they’d gotten together. “He was interested before, I think, he just didn’t know he was allowed.”

  Alys chuckled. “Wise,” she said. A cup of tea floated over to him, already made up the way he liked, which usually meant he’d done something to please her.

  “What’s Nat up to today?” asked Julian curiously. The cabinets all had their new hardware now, with a floral theme that made him feel quite at home; the finials on the hinges were rosebuds, with full rose blossoms for the doorknobs. “The kitchen is looking really nice.”

  “Oh, this and that,” said Alys, busy adding things to the anodised aluminium frying pan. One of the first things they’d requested Alex buy was some non-iron cookware, though the cast iron pan still had a place of honour in case of future difficulties. They’d told him that brownies had less problem with iron than some fae, having spent many years on such tasks as cooking in big iron pots or repairing hobnail boots, but it was still a bit of a discomfort. Alex had set up an account online and let them get whatever they thought was best, which made Julian like him even more.

  “Well, I’m sure it’ll be wonderful, whatever it is,” said Julian. “We’re lucky to have you both.”

  Alys grinned, “It’s a good place for us, too, safe as houses and well-appointed, not too much work nor too little.”

  “Good,” said Julian cradling his tea and taking a sip. They talked a little bit about this and that, mostly the food and any special requests. Alys didn’t seem to mind that they still ate out a fair amount, which was good because Julian hesitated to think what she’d do if she did take it amiss. He really didn’t want to be turned blue.

  Breakfast was a huge fry-up, and Julian thought he couldn’t manage to eat even half of it until he realised he’d eaten all of it instead. “I swear, I never used to eat like this,” he said, wiping his mouth on his napkin before finishing off his tea.

  “You’re using your magic properly now,” said Alys, and she sounded highly approving. “The only fat magic user is a lazy one who never does any good work.”

  “I’m glad you think my work is good,” said Julian shyly. “I’m never quite sure of myself when I’m working yet.”

  “Your magic’s all about nurturing and listening to the heart of things,” she said.

  Julian smiled. “I suppose it is,” he said happily. “More tea?”

  She laughed. “More tea, then you go listen to that message machine of yours, it went off about a dozen times earlier.”

  “Yeah,” said Julian with a big sigh. “Oh, but I can write Alex a letter as my reward,” he added, perking up. He let his teacup go so she could float it over to the big pot and make it up, then stood and caught it midair when it came back to him.

  “I might bake some biscuits later,” she said, by way of dismissal, already busy cleaning up after breakfast.

  Julian grinned. “I’d appreciate that very much,” he said, which they’d decided didn’t count as thanking, especially in advance. He wandered out and plopped in the big, comfortable chair, curling up and wishing he could see out the window from this angle. It was too heavy to move around, though, so it lived in this spot, facing the conversation group instead of the two big windows that flanked the fireplace.

  He started with his texts, telling Alex he’d had a giant fry-up thanks to Alys, then telling Lapointe that he was safe and sound in the flat and had no intentions of leaving unaccompanied, especially as Alex had yet to return his amulet. Then he started in on the voicemails, of which there were nine. Nine! Ugh.

  First was Lapointe, looking for Alex, which he listened through and then deleted unanswered because obviously she’d found him. Then there was the sweet Officer Tiny, who had called to ask if Julian was all right after the attack last night, and then assured him that he knew Julian was taken. Julian wrote down his number and saved that one to answer later, finding he rather liked the idea of having his own friend in law enforcement. Maybe it would make Alex a bit more aware that he could still have competition, which Julian sometimes felt very keenly around the handsome doctor.

  Two more messages were from Lapointe, asking after his health, then saying she had more questions for him about last night, which Julian thought was weird. He deleted those, but made a note to call her back once he’d listened to the lot. Alex was the next three, telling him to stay home keep himself safe, then asking him if he wanted to come down, then telling him not to come down. That made Julian giggle, and he didn’t delete them just so he’d have Alex’s voice for a bit longer.

  The second to last message was, unsurprisingly, from Fischer. He seemed very concerned about Alex and Julian’s whereabouts last night, and Julian was tempted to delete this one and pretend he’d never gotten it. He definitely put it at the bottom of his callback list, anyway. The last message was Father Stephen, sounding very sad, and it wasn’t until then that Julian realised the other murder had happened at one of the smaller Temples. The big one had really good wards, but the smaller ones were often untenanted at night and sometimes weren’t kept up as well as they could be. Julian had always liked the ones where the plants were allowed more free rein than the carefully tended gardens at the main Temple, and it made him sad to think of more plants hurt by whoever was doing this.

  Julian took a breath, then called Lapointe back first, figuring he might get three calls in one that way if she’d take care of Fischer for him. She was always happy to hand the phone off to Alex if he wasn’t busy, anyway.

  “Julian, how are you?” said Lapointe. “Shoulder still hurting?”

  “Yeah, but it’s not so bad. Alys said she’d look at it once I’d done my due diligence and called everyone back,” said Julian. “It’s just bruised.”

  “That’s good,” she said, sounding relieved. “Geoff wanted to go haring off and wake you up to make sure nothing was cracked, but Alex talked him down.”

  Julian smiled, then frowned. “Oh, no, does this mean we’re bailing on poor Thomas?”

  Lapointe huffed a laugh. “We’re trying not to, we drafted him to come help here so the plan is to collect you on the way to his. Alex said he only needs a little longer to fix your amulet.”

  “Good,” said Julian with a little shiver. “I’d hate to go out without it. But did you need me today?”

  “No, tomorrow will be soon enough, Alex is going to bring you by after you do whatever it is you’re doing at the nursery. He thinks walking through it one more time will give you perspective here or something.” Julian heard some voices in the background, and then she was talking too distantly to hear properly before she came back. “Sorry about that. Fischer is still determined to talk to you, but he’s been told to stuff it.”

  Julian laughed, surprised. “By who? He’d never listen to Alex.”

>   “By our boss, who was impressed that Alex got out of bed early on a Saturday to help us while the scene was fresh, and apparently has also received a reminder from someone even higher up that you’re still peerage and not just any plebe.”

  “Ooh, no wonder he sounded so pissy,” said Julian. “Good, I’m not going to call him back, then, you can tell him whatever you like.”

  “Well, not whatever I like, as I’d like to tell him to shove it up his… Alex! Your boy’s on the phone and I’m certain he’d rather talk to you than me.”

  There was the sound of fumbling, and then Alex’s voice replaced hers on the line, low and warm as usual. “Julian, how are you?”

  “Better, and Alys is going to look at it, and apparently I’m to be cornered by Geoff later as well?” said Julian. “How are you? Did you eat?”

  Alex laughed. “I did, Alys wouldn’t let me leave without some food in me, she cooked while I took a quick shower. You were sleeping so soundly, I didn’t have the heart to wake you.”

  “I liked my note,” said Julian softly. “Horace was very pleased to have something for me, too.”

  “I think he misses our letters a little, too,” said Alex fondly. “I should be no more than another hour here, then I’m going to come fix your amulet while they finish up and we’ll all meet at MacLean’s, which he assures me is now fit for company.”

  Julian giggled. “Why don’t you bring Geoff, he can prod me here in the privacy of my own home.”

  “Oh, good idea,” said Alex. “He’s been loitering around here for a while, the coroner was running late and they wanted some medical thing so Thomas dragged him in. Did you know Thomas has one of those silly giant SUVs? He could hardly even park the thing in the lot.”