by Crook, Amy
Jones turned off the car and asked, “So, how are we going to do this?”
“I’ll carry Julian,” said Jacques. “That’ll be the safest, since Alex hasn’t got his flute.”
“I can do some magic without it,” said Alex, “but you’re right, he’ll be inside your Guardian magic that way. I’ll go ahead and check the wards, and then whistle you in individually.”
“You can add us to the wards properly once Julian’s in bed,” said James. “I’d rather they stayed strong until then.”
“But really,” said Julian, “this next bit’s the dangerous part, between the car and home.”
“Right,” said Alex. “So you, me, and Jacques will go ahead, and then James will come along after with everyone else.”
“And I get carried,” said Julian dubiously. “I’m not broken, you know, I can walk.”
“You’re hardly a burden,” said Jacques. “What do you weight, two stone? Three?”
Julian stuck his tongue out, but that seemed to be that, so there was a moment of paranoid eyes scanning the garage for anything out of place before doors were opened and Julian was carefully handed off to Jacques, with Alex following after. The rest of them went about locking up the car while Alex and Jacques hurried them to the elevator, which Alex had used a whistle of magic to call down to their floor.
The doors opened just as they got there, and it was blessedly empty. Julian swallowed, feeling a little tug of something at him, and he whispered, “Hurry.”
“I see it,” said Jacques, and they piled in and pushed the buttons. Another whistle from Alex got the doors closed without the usual delay, and up they went. Rising up away from the earth seemed to weaken whatever was pulling at Julian, and he startled when the door opened as they approached.
“Alys, you’re an angel,” said Julian, too worried to laugh at himself.
The three of them hurried inside, Alex whistling all the way to let Jacques through without pause. The wards brushed away the sensation like pushing away someone’s hand that had been tugging at his sleeve, and Julian relaxed finally and wiggled to be set down.
Jacques deposited him on his favourite chair, and Julian kicked off his shoes and curled up, trying not to feel ridiculous as he pulled a blanket over himself. “Thank you,” he said to Jacques. “It was a lot weaker that time, but I could feel them trying again.” He shivered.
Tea appeared floating in the air in front of him, and Julian took it gratefully. “Will you be hiding until my Guardians leave, Alys?”
“Probably not,” said Alys tartly, “but the rest of ‘em are on the way up.”
“Right,” said Julian, chuckling. “Well, you do whatever you need to stay as wonderful as you are.”
A plate appeared before him with a sticky-sweet honey cake on it. “You’re learning,” said Alys.
Julian laughed and pulled the cake into his lap. “I’m trying.”
Jacques and Alex were standing by the door, conferring no doubt about this second, much weaker attempt on Julian’s magic if not his life. Julian decided to just ignore them in favour of the honey cake and hot tea, and he had them warming his belly by the time everyone made it upstairs and through the wards.
“So,” Julian asked, once chairs were brought in and tea distributed, “What now?”
“Dinner,” said Geoff, Alex, and Jacques in unison.
“I meant, how are we going to get me out of the flat without that spell coming after me every time?” said Julian.
“I’ll fix it into your amulet,” said Alex. “Jacques got a look at the spell, and it was my second time listening, so between us we’ve got a pretty good handle on how it works.”
“Which means you can make a specific protection against it,” said Julian. He gave a relieved laugh. “I was worried I’d have to stay here forever.”
“That won’t do,” said Alex, kissing his cheek, then snuggling up with him in their chair. “We promised Father Stephen.”
“We did?” said Julian.
“Of course, you promised to do the work, and I promised to make sure you’re loved.” Alex looked annoyingly smug at his own cleverness, but it worked as intended to make Julian melt, so he kissed him anyway.
“I’m worried about this doctor appointment on Thursday,” said James, once the kissing had subsided.
Geoff looked thoughtful. “It’s for Alex originally, he had some weird spikes in his magic profile when I did his physical, but Julian really does need to be seen by someone more specialised.”
“And he probably can’t haul all those weird instruments here for a consultation, even if he’d do a house call,” said Julian with a sigh. “Well, we’ll call him tomorrow and talk about it.”
They changed the subject to more mundane things, like whether or not Jacques would be allowed to occasionally use Alys’ kitchen, and whether their sneaking in to bathe in the mornings would wake Julian. The brownies had no problems with the Guardians’ presence, though Alys and Jacques were still negotiating kitchen rights when dinner was served on floating trays.
Alys had managed to convince the butcher to deliver, and everyone had a lovely rack of lamb beautifully roasted and encrusted with herbs, a pile of mashed potatoes thick with cheese and more herbs, an even bigger pile of assorted summer squash dripping with butter, and a little side salad with crumbled cheese, fresh berries, and Alys’ wine-and-honey vinaigrette.
“At least I know your brownie feeds you right,” said Jacques, looking pleased. “I’ll just sneak in and do a meal or two and some sweets for a treat.”
“Alex isn’t capable of feeding himself without takeaway,” said Alys, though she remained stubbornly invisible.
“I can make breakfast!” protested Alex, but it was weak and no one was fooled.
“Alys makes it better.” Julian chuckled and dug into his salad first, making a happy noise at the surprise of fresh herbs hiding among the greens.
“So does Jacques,” said James, carefully cutting up his chops and setting the bones aside before starting on his food.
Lapointe was busy tasting a little of everything and making happy noises at all of it. “You guys are lucky all these herbs for strength taste so good, wow.”
“The ones that don’t get used in potions instead,” Alex assured her. “Along with a lot of other things you don’t want to know about.”
“I have to admit, these young men have strained my ability to use the herbs in ways that don’t get monotonous,” said Alys, amused. “Creative challenges are good for me, though.”
That got her and Jacques talking cooking, and though the conversation was peppered with commentary and compliments from everyone else, mostly they were all too busy eating the delicious meal. Julian was just finishing off his last bites of lamb when there was a knock at the door.
The two Guardians immediately went on alert, and their trays floated to rest on the coffee table, out of their way. “Are you expecting anyone?” asked James.
The knocking was repeated, though this time it was an authoritative pounding that managed somehow to convey irritation.
Alex and Lapointe looked at each other. “Fisher?” guessed Alex.
“We’ll find out,” said Lapointe. “Can’t you check your wards?”
“Oh, right,” said Alex with a laugh, and he whistled a complicated little tune so that they could see a faint image against the door of whoever was beyond it. There was Agent Fischer, scowl firmly in place, with Ms. Eberly at his side. “Okay, that’s a strange combination.”
“Your home is already too full of humans,” groused Nat’s fading voice. “Let me know when there’s less of you.”
“I can’t help but agree,” said Alex. “I don’t suppose one of you would answer that? They can’t come in unless I open the wards.”
“We’ll do it,” said James, standing and straightening himself, pulling his Guardian medallion out of his shirt.
Jacques followed suit, and they went to the door looking unimpressed and implacable
as stone.
Julian had to stifle a giggle. “I always forget they do that,” he whispered to Alex.
“They’re good at turning it off,” Alex agreed.
They hushed at a glare from Jacques, and then the door was opened a tiny bit. “May I help you?”
Fischer’s voice carried easily into the room, and all his annoyance with it. “Is Benedict hiding in there?”
“Mr. Benedict is busy. Who are you?” said James, completely unimpressed.
Julian hid his face in Alex’s chest and tried not to laugh loud enough to be heard.
“I’m Agent Fischer, and I need to speak with him now,” he said. There was a little sizzling noise followed by a curse, as apparently Fischer attempted to shove his way through the door and hit the wards. “Did you just assault an Agent?”
“No,” said James, cold and professional. “You attempted to enter a warded private residence without invitation. What do you want from Mr. Benedict?”
Jacques moved so he was looming behind James, blocking all view into the living room, not that there had been much. James was carefully holding the door to show only an unoccupied sliver of the interior.
“That’s none of your business,” said Fischer, belligerent now. “He’s not your Charge.”
“That’s not for you to decide,” rumbled Jacques, pitching his voice low.
“The Temple protects whoever it chooses,” said James. “State your business or leave.”
Julian wanted to cheer.
“One of our Agents reported he was doing something suspicious outside the Agency this afternoon,” said Ms. Eberly, her voice cutting Fischer off. “I collected evidence that seems to be burned hair from one of the victims.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” said Geoff, getting up and stomping over, narrowly avoiding his floating dinner. “That was after the attack, and Alex was doing a spell I asked him to do, to break the tie between the victim and his attacker.”
There was a short silence. “What are you doing here, Dr. Tamlinson?”
“I am seeing to my patient, Agent Fischer, who doesn’t need any more of your bellowing when he’s trying to recover. I assure you, Ms. Eberly, that Benedict’s spell was not only harmless, but Agency-sanctioned and will likely appear on his next invoice,” said Geoff.
There was a little bit more bluster, but in the end both agents left unhappy, despite having the information they purportedly came for. “Well, that was stupid and annoying,” said Geoff, slipping back into his seat on the couch and tugging his tray over. “Ooh, you kept it warm, th- uh, that’s great, Alys,” he said, after a bite of his remaining potatoes.
“All in a day’s work,” said Alys, sounding amused at his near-slip.
Julian sat up and applauded, with Alex and Murielle joining in after a moment. “You guys were all awesome, getting rid of them like that. Thank you.”
“It was rather enjoyable,” said James with a wicked smirk.
“I wonder, though,” said Lapointe, “who it was that ‘saw’ you doing the spell.”
“It wasn’t Wu, he wouldn’t do that to us,” said Julian, referring to the Agent usually stationed at the front door during working hours.
“Plus, I told him what I was going to do,” added Alex.
Lapointe sighed, nibbling on a last bit of lamb. “Did anyone go in or out while you were working?”
“Probably,” said Alex, “but you know how I am when I’m working. I’d never have noticed.”
Julian chuckled. “You really wouldn’t have,” he said, kissing Alex sweetly. “You’re even worse when you’re doing spells than when you’re just listening.”
“Wu might know, though,” said Geoff. “We’ll bring him some coffee tomorrow and ask.”
“He likes treacle tart,” said Julian. “I heard him mention it.”
“Good memory,” said Lapointe, pulling out her phone and making a note. “If there’s someone else with it in for Alex, we’ll want to know.”
“Might it have been, what’s his name, Army-something?” said James.
“Armistead?” said Alex. “I don’t know, he’s very disruptive. I might have actually noticed him.”
“He does tend to break your concentration,” said Lapointe, sounding amused and exasperated. “But I always thought that was the bickering.”
Alex shrugged. “No, there’s something about him that just sets me on edge, he’s like a background noise I can’t tune out.” He gave a little shudder, face scrunched up in displeasure.
“Like a car alarm,” said Geoff. “You can’t turn it off or tune it out, you just have to endure until it stops.”
Alex laughed. “Yes, exactly.”
“Finish your food, or you won’t get pudding,” said Alys. “I’ll put on a fresh pot of tea, since you were so kind as to get rid of those extra humans.”
“Horrible humans,” muttered Julian.
Everyone made short work of their remaining food, with the promise of one of Alys’ sweets as a reward. One by one their plates vanished, and teacups refilled. Glasses of cold water appeared on everyone’s trays as well, and then finally the dessert. Dishes of steaming bread pudding materialised in front of all of them, with cold ice cream nestled in the bowl and thick caramel sauce drizzled over both. There were raisins and pear bits studding the treat, and bits of spice visible in the ice cream, which proved to be cinnamon vanilla to go along with the gingered caramel sauce and spiced pudding.
“There are so many reasons I’m glad you live here right now,” said Alex, “and this is at the very top.”
“As it should be,” said Alys tartly. “Now eat it all up, and I won’t make you boys all take a potion.”
“Yes, Alys,” said all seven of them in singsong tones, and then they fell to and there was nothing but sounds of sincere appreciation.
Once that was done and cleared away, Julian took a cushion and sat on the floor by the coffee table so he could go over Lapointe’s map. Alex produced some coloured pens from his work room, and after some ribbing about him having one of everything in the universe hiding among his shelves, Julian got to marking. He let himself sink into an almost meditative state, calling up the memories of their tour and the plants, the earth beneath him and the antique stone of the Temple itself.
When he was done, he found a cup of herbal tea next to him, and Alex and the two Guardians had repaired to Alex’s work room, though they left the door open. “I hope they’re working on my amulet and not just checking to see if Alex actually has one of Merlin’s balls hiding in there,” said Julian wryly.
Lapointe chuckled. “They are, and thank you, this is really good. Detailed, and your handwriting’s better than, well, anyone’s.”
Julian had used the careful copperplate he’d learned for formal correspondence, so the writing was legible even small. “Thanks. Alex could probably do the same, it’s one of those things they make the peerage learn as children,” he said, sipping his tea and trying not to feel self-conscious.
“Ah, a posh kid thing,” teased Geoff. “I should’ve known. Now, finish your tea, then I want to try something, if you’re game.”
“Depends on what it is,” said Julian. “Alex wouldn’t object, would he?”
“Or demand to watch,” said Jones dryly.
Geoff laughed. “No, no, I want to feel Julian’s magic while he’s resting, and then while he checks on his houseplants. I think he’s restored enough to spare them a little energy.”
“Sure, as long as my keepers approve,” said Julian. “I don’t want to get yelled at for putting out energy when I’m supposed to be hoarding it.”
“I’m glad you put ‘energy’ in that sentence,” said Lapointe with a chuckle. “And I’m pretty sure your doctor gets to tell you when you’re healthy enough, regardless.”
Julian giggled. “Dirty mind, Murielle. Have you been thinking too much about our lovely Agent MacLean?”
Lapointe looked surprised at that, and Julian despaired of Thomas and his inabili
ty to just ask the woman out. “I’m a bit old for the lovely Agent MacLean,” she deflected.
Julian snickered. “If you say so, but I doubt he’d agree.”
“I never knew you had a matchmaking streak,” said Geoff. “Maybe I should get you to introduce me to more of your eligible friends.”
“Any time you like,” said Julian. “Maybe you can soothe some of my brokenhearted suitors, though you don’t seem the consort type.”
“I don’t come with lands and titles and pots of money, either,” said Geoff, “not that you’re not enough on your own.”
“Nice save,” said Lapointe, rolling up the map and sealing it away in its evidence tube. “Finish your tea, I want to get home sometime tonight.”
“Yes, Mom,” said Julian, taking another big sip like a good boy.
“I’ll go let them know what our plan is,” said Geoff, getting up and wandering into the lab, where he was immediately caught up in their conversation.
Julian chuckled. “Think they’d notice if you left and I went to bed?” he asked Murielle.
“Eventually,” said Jones. “Though it would be nice to get out of here before it’s too much later. I’ve got things to do at home to make sure I can be at your beck and call indefinitely.”
Julian finished off the last of his tea as Geoff emerged with approval for their little experiment. “Let’s start with the fairy flower,” said Julian. “That’s how I usually do it, fairy flower, window box, and then Alex’s lab. I leave the bathroom plants for when I’m in the shower.”
“Lead on,” said Geoff, gesturing toward the kitchen where they kept the flowerpot.
Julian stood up, swaying just a little when he first got vertical, but the vertigo passed and left him feeling basically normal. “To the plants!” he said, covering for his lapse with silliness.
“Let me… Hm, would Alex’s ego survive if I put my hand on your waist, under your shirt? That will get me skin contact without interfering,” said Geoff, putting on his best clinical face.
“I’m sure that’s fine,” said Julian, and there was a little fidgeting for Geoff to find the right spot, his pinkie hooked through one of Julian’s belt-loops to help anchor his hand along Julian’s hip.