The Apprenticeship of Julian St. Albans

by Crook, Amy

  Alex and Lapointe got their gloves on and carefully pried it up, though the stone proved much looser than expected. The dirt beneath it was loose and moist rather than tightly-packed as you would expect for being trodden underfoot for so many years. “There’s definitely something here,” said Lapointe.

  Father Stephen vanished for a moment, returning with two of the techs. They immediately began to process the area, photographing and testing, and alerting the others to keep an eye out for loose flagstones. Once they were satisfied, Alex was allowed to dig in the earth with his fingers, whistling and listening until he pulled out an old, bent coin. That, too, was photographed and put in a magic-proof box, and then the rest of the little patch of earth was thoroughly checked for either magic or plant life.

  “I hope there’s nothing like that at the nursery,” said Julian worriedly.

  “It would have shown itself when we did the blessing,” said Father Stephen. “Everything in the nursery was connected at that time, and although the web is very loose to allow people and plants to come and go, we identified everything magical being tied into the web.”

  Julian relaxed, and then his phone chimed with a text. “Oh, Jones! You don’t need me, right?”

  “You’re more needed with the plants,” said Father Stephen.

  Lapointe waved him on, and he went out front to thank Jones and get the vial of liquid fertiliser. “Ooh, this is good stuff,” said Julian; there was a tiny glow of magic even through the dark blue glass.

  “They asked that you also use it on the crime scene, if you’re allowed,” said Jones. “Father Stephen can take the rest back.”

  “Thank you,” said Julian. “Are you staying for dinner?”

  “If I’m invited,” said Jones with a grin. “You guys might be working past that, anyway, at this rate.”

  Julian chuckled. “Yeah, true. All right, back to your book, I’m off… There’s some nice benches inside, if you fancy a change of pace.”

  “Nah, I never did like sitting on stone,” said Jones. “I’m used to the car.”

  Julian headed back to talk to Lapointe and Stephen, just to make sure he was allowed to affect either or both of the relevant crime scenes. He was given permission, and so he decided to start with the grotto with its water lilies and cool atmosphere. The plants welcomed him when he came in, and he took off his shoes and socks again so he could better connect to them. He let his plant-sense stretch out and eclipse the rest of his senses, so he could give them all just what they needed. It was different without Alex helping, more draining, but it also encouraged him to connect deeper with the earth itself and draw reserves from there.

  Julian felt a profound sense of peace when he was done, and he sat on the bench next to the pool and dipped his toes in, feeling that the water didn’t mind taking care of him after all he’d done for its beloved plants. It was a little disconcerting to sense more than just plants so easily, and he made a mental note to talk to Alex about it. That thought brought his attention to the amulet under his shirt, and the keep-safe charm he still wore with it. He could feel them, too. The keep-safe was a simple hum of contentment that Julian was, indeed, safe; the amulet was a more complex creation, not as sentient as Horace, but with a real sense of purpose and determination. It was satisfied to have protected Julian last week, and grateful that Alex repaired it, and it also felt smug that it was being strengthened somehow.

  Julian put that on his list for Alex as well, then pulled his feet out to air dry. He grabbed his shoes, socks tucked inside, and left wet footprints that vanished into the flagstones as he walked from the grotto to the crime scene and its unhappy clover. He was reluctant at first to step off the path, but he compromised by sticking to the clean leaves as he walked. He felt the clover bouncing back from each step as it was meant to, which made him think more about the way it was crushed and trampled where the body had lain.

  He scattered the glowing potion over the leaves, watching it slide away to be absorbed by the earth and from there into the plants, and felt their gratitude. He shook droplets like Father Stephen’s water-blessing, sending his own energy with them, pacing all around the room, though he avoided walking on the actual bloodstains. Even those plants got their flung droplets, and he could feel that they’d survive, and even the blood would provide some nutrients, once it was washed away into the soil.

  “Almost done?” said Alex from the doorway, and Julian jumped.

  “Oh! Yes, sorry, you startled me,” he said with a laugh. “They should wash the leaves here as soon as they can, it’ll help.”

  “We’ll go tell Father Stephen,” said Alex with a smile, waiting for him to put his shoes back on. “They’re pretty much done with me, but Lapointe wants you to fill out another of her maps with your impressions of the plants.”

  “Oh, right,” said Julian. “Is it ready now?”

  Alex led him on a shortcut back to the room where they’d found the talisman. “I don’t think so… Murielle, when will you have the map ready?”

  “I have to take my blank back to the department to make copies,” she said, “Will you remember everything if we wait until tomorrow?”

  Julian nodded. “I’ll remember,” he assured her. “Are you coming to dinner? And you, Father?”

  “You’d both be welcome,” echoed Alex. “I can tell Alys, I got them a tablet that gets messages, though they still won’t let me get them a phone.”

  “They use it to shop online,” said Julian with a giggle. “No more sending me and Alex to the grocery store.”

  “Well, unless she’s short something,” said Alex. “Then I still get sent to fetch.”

  “I’d love to,” said Father Stephen, looking very amused at their banter. “I’ll just call the Temple and let them know.” He pulled out his phone and wandered into another of the little rooms to make the call.

  “I’ll come if I can get away,” said Lapointe. “Let me wrap things up here and I’ll call before I drive over.”

  “I’ll let Alys know,” said Alex, pulling out his phone and texting.

  Julian talked to Lapointe about the other impressions he’d gotten from the plants, remembering to request that the clover be watered enough to wash the blood away, which she promised to do as soon as things were wrapped up. She got called away and waved them off. The three of them headed back to Jones and the car, and the much-depleted bottle of fertiliser was tucked away with Father Stephen’s other things.

  They were quiet on the trip home, all of them worn thin by the day, but Julian was looking forward to dinner at home. Alex would go hide in his lab afterward, but Julian had always found that a good meal with people you cared about went a long way toward restoring his equilibrium after a bad day. Not that today was all bad, the blessing had been amazing to be a part of, but it had been exhausting and he hated the reason they’d had to do it at all.

  Julian cuddled up to Alex in the elevator up. “I promise to let you go hide after dinner,” he whispered, wanting Alex to get a little of that feeling of being noticed and cared for.

  Alex smiled down at him, then kissed him and whispered in his ear. “I knew I loved you for a reason.”

  They let everyone in, Alex pausing to whistle a welcoming little tune at his wards so everyone could enter safely, and Julian headed straight for the bedroom. “I need clean feet,” he explained.

  “Whatever makes you comfortable,” assured Father Stephen. Tea had already appeared on the low table, and so he sat and poured, after checking the pot to be sure it was brewed.

  Julian smiled and headed off to get cleaned up, letting the soft murmur of voices follow him. He changed into fresh clothes as well, coming out in a light summer sweater and a comfortable pair of trousers to find them talking about Alys and Nat.

  “We’re very lucky,” said Julian, taking a seat and accepting his tea from Alex in exchange for a kiss. “They’ve been quite tolerant of us while we got used to them.”

  “Except for the blue thing,” said Jones
, amused.

  “That was actually pretty tolerant, too,” said Alex. He usually found it funny, now that the colour had faded. “Angry fae can do a whole lot worse.”

  “There’s quite a few cautionary tales along those lines,” said Father Stephen. “It’s wise of you to appreciate your good fortune.”

  “Did Murielle call yet?” asked Julian plaintively, even though he knew it wasn’t really soon enough. Sitting where it was warm and comfortable had made him aware of how depleted he was.

  They laughed when a small plate of starters appeared in front of each of them, Julian’s piled the highest for once, though Alex and Stephen both had more than Jones.

  “I’d complain about getting the short plate, but I know where you guys get your metabolisms,” teased Jones, picking up his plate and popping one of the little bite-sized morsels into his mouth. “Mmmm, and if the starters are this good, I want room for dinner.”

  Julian giggled and picked up his plate. Alys had made some sort of tiny baked dumplings, full of good-smelling things. He bit into one and made a sound of happy surprise at the sharp, early apple baked in with cheese and herbs. “Oh, these are good, there’s apple!”

  “Probably from Emmy,” said Alex, taking a bite of one of his own. “Mmm, and this one’s mushroom, so definitely Emmy.”

  “The cheese is Benedict,” said Alys, though she didn’t deign to appear, so her voice floated disembodied on the air. “Dinner will be at least another hour.”

  “These will tide us over,” Julian assured her. “They’re amazing.”

  “Good,” she said, sounding smug.

  A rain of compliments from all of them followed, and Julian got an impression of satisfaction from the direction of the kitchen. They set to eating, chatting all the while about things other than the case, about Alex’s latest experiments in charms and amulets, and Julian’s studies, Jones’ promotion and Father Stephen’s new group of acolytes. Julian snuggled up to Alex and let the warmth of the room fill him up until he was glowing with happiness.

  Eventually Murielle joined them, and they moved into the kitchen to eat the magnificent pot roast that Alys had made. She’d flavoured it with more fresh herbs and red wine, and there were new potatoes, caramelised onions, and big chunks of carrot that had roasted with the meat. She’d made rich gravy and fresh bread, and there was a big bowl of greens sautéed with garlic and mushrooms that Alex tried to skip and ended up with some on his plate anyway. Everything was rich and delicious and plentiful, and Murielle went with their tacit exclusion of the case as a topic for discussion.

  Everyone left after a dessert of more of those lovely little pastry bites, these filled with peaches and cinnamon, pears and ginger, or late summer berries. Jones volunteered to take Father Stephen home, and when they closed the door, Alex pulled Julian close.

  “That was a good idea, love,” said Alex. They shared sweet kisses until Julian was purring and ready to drag Alex off for a different sort of alone time.

  “Do you really need to work tonight?” asked Julian, rubbing against Alex with his whole body.

  Alex grinned down at him. “I really don’t,” he said, and they made their way into the bedroom for a very different sort of renewal.

  CHAPTER 10

  The next morning, Julian woke with his alarm to find Horace waiting patiently by his phone. He checked it, but there were no new messages, and then he noticed that another note was tucked inside the bronze cage of Horace’s body. “Oh, I see,” he said, quietly so as to let Alex, who was determinedly sleeping curled in a ball away from the alarm, continue to do so.

  “Come on,” said Julian, putting out his hand so Horace could hop up onto his shoulder. He took his phone and the bird into the bathroom to freshen up, then brought both out to the living room to read before he got dressed. A cup of tea was waiting for him along with a big plate of last night’s pastries, a mix of sweet and savoury that made a perfect breakfast. Julian opened Horace up and read Alex’s note to himself as he ate.

  My Dearest Julian,

  I thought of telling you in person how much your letter meant to me, but instead I put it with the others where I can look at it any time I want and I’m giving you another keepsake in return. Assuming you keep them, of course.

  You’re off to work today where you belong. It’s been a luxury to have you at my side these past days, but I can’t say that it’s one I want all the time. I see how the violence eats at you, and I don’t want you to have to toughen up your tender heart.

  It was beautiful to see you giving life back where it had been stolen away. I feel like that sometimes, you know, that you renewed me when I had let myself wither.

  And now I wonder if that’s romantic or I just sound like a prat.

  I love you, my Julian. I’ll see you later.

  Yours always,

  Alex

  Julian was grinning fit to burst as he folded the letter back in the elaborate little design Alex had made for him. He went to the writing desk he shared with Alex and pulled out his big keepsake box, unlocking it with a key before slipping this note in with the rest of Alex’s letters. He had his other Courtship correspondence in a different box; this one was entirely devoted to him and Alex. He thought about writing back right away, but instead he decided to let it sit for a while and write back later, when he’d had time to figure out what he wanted to say.

  It would give him something to think about today at work besides the reason for his precipitous vacation.

  Julian woke Alex enough for a nice long kiss after he finished getting dressed. Alex smiled sleepily at him and promised he’d be up in time to get some work done, then pulled the duvet over his head and went right back to sleep. Julian rubbed his head through the blanket and headed out to the nursery, feeling strong enough to face whatever would come. Alys appeared to assure him that she didn’t mind the extra guests, give an extra pastry, and get him to switch out their fairy-bread offering.

  The nursery felt bright and welcoming when Julian went in, with no sense that the wards had been broached overnight. He decided to walk his rounds barefoot, wanting to make sure there were no disturbances, so he stowed his shoes in the office before starting to walk the paths. “How are you all today?” he asked the plants, extending that strange sense of his and finding he could ‘hear’ much better than he had before.

  The plants were very happy with the new blessing and wards, with the sunny August day, the good watering they’d gotten the day before, and Julian’s presence among them. The lucky clover was already looking fuller, and Julian could feel it working extra hard to grow fast and populate the huge plot it had been given. “We’ll bring you some friends soon, too, but you’ll be the heart of our lucky clover,” said Julian. They’d put a decorative garden stake next to the plant so that they’d always know not to sell that one, though Julian had a feeling he, at least, wouldn’t need the visual.

  “And you,” Julian said, going around the bend to where there were other magical plants waiting, “you are all doing so well, not a wilting plant in sight.” He could feel the glow of potential coming off of them, along with a contentment that made Julian feel very at peace. He gave back some energy to each of them, though he was careful to just give a sprinkling and not drain himself the way he had yesterday.

  The rest of his walk went the same way, plants reporting health and happiness and Julian rewarding them with a little bit more energy. The virgin greenhouse had been cleared out of anything that didn’t require its controlled environment, and Julian spent some extra time in there making sure the fire orchid and other delicate plants were in balance and growing well after their ordeal. He spent an equal amount of time in the other greenhouse checking on the flowers there, talking to them while he made sure they had everything they needed.

  Mary Margaret was at the front counter when he came back, a pot of tea brewing and a big smile on her face. “Everything must be fine, you’ve got that look they get up at the Temple, like you’re all full
of the peace of nature,” she said cheerfully.

  “It is, thank you. I should visit our ward-thistle again, though. I was concentrating on the other plants, but I wanted to make sure you were ready to open,” said Julian.

  “And get a cuppa,” said Mary Margaret, not fooled for a moment.

  Julian grinned. “And that,” he allowed. He gave a big stretch and felt something in his back pop, then came over to pour their cups while she made sure the till was ready to go. “Does it feel better to you?”

  “Does what?” she asked, distracted by counting the change.

  “The nursery. It feels so much better to me today, full of sunshine and just… cleaner. Happier,” he said, putting her tea on the counter. They had sturdy clay mugs for everyday work, and kept a supply of paper cups for anyone else who might want a spot of tea. It was one of the things Julian had liked when he first started, that anyone who might want a cuppa would be given one, purchase or not. The tea wasn’t anything fancy, but she bought it in big tins and always kept sugar and fresh milk on hand.

  Mary Margaret closed up the cash drawer and picked up her tea, then leaned against the counter and gave his question careful consideration. “I didn’t notice it right away, but I was more worried about whether we’d remembered to get change and if anyone would show up. Now that I’m thinking about it, though, I reckon you’re right.”

  “Good,” said Julian. He kissed her cheek and took a shortcut back toward the middle of the nursery, squatting down next to the ward-thistle with his toes curled in the dirt.

  “Look at you, you’re doing marvellously. You’ll be twice as tall in no time, and all properly tangled up in your ward-fence,” said Julian. The plant sent back warm contentment and pride, and a little curious inquiry. “Oh this? It’s tea, here, you can have a little, too much is bad for you, though,” he said, dripping a bit onto the soil around the plant. He charged it with some extra energy as he did, and his next sip of tea had a strange ozone kick to it as a result. “Oops, guess I got the whole cup,” he said.