by Crook, Amy
Julian took another sip, savouring the strange sensation, like drinking sunlight. “Feels nice, anyway. Don’t you think so?”
The plant radiated pleasure at him, and Julian took a moment longer to enjoy it before he headed back to the front counter to start the day’s work.
Mary Margaret was already ringing up someone’s purchase, so Julian slipped around the counter to help her pack the plants onto a flat box for the customer.
“Can your lad carry these to the car for me?” asked the older man, pocketing his change. He looked familiar, but there were a lot of regulars that had known Mary Margaret for years and mostly ignored her assistants, so Julian didn’t bother to try to dredge up the association.
“I can, I just need to get my shoes back on, sorry,” said Julian, embarrassed. The man looked put out, but Julian scampered back to the office and washed his feet in the sink there, barely bothering to dry them before he donned shoes and socks and came back out.
“There you are, I was about to give up on you,” said the customer crabbily, gesturing to the flat of plants.
“Sorry, sir, the parking lot isn’t safe to go barefoot,” said Julian, testing the balance on the flat before hefting it. “After you.”
“Don’t know why you’d have your shoes off, anyway,” muttered the man, scurrying out the front door. He didn’t bother to hold it for Julian, who had to catch the edge of the door with his foot before it closed, then struggle to get through it with the awkward box. The man was waiting impatiently at his car when Julian got to him, but Julian forced himself to smile brightly. “Back seat or trunk, sir?”
A curt gesture indicated the open car door, and Julian managed not to roll his eyes until he had turned away to get the box settled. He got a little tingle of warning and turned back with another toothy grin just in time to see the man snatch his hand back. Julian checked his pockets with no subtlety at all as he asked, “Is there anything else I can help you with?”
“No,” said the customer, looking grumpier than ever.
Fortunately, whatever he’d been after he hadn’t managed to take, as Julian’s things were all still where they belonged. “You have a nice day, then,” said Julian cheerfully, pointedly watching him drive off before he went back into the nursery.
“He was a bit of an arse, wasn’t he?” said Mary Margaret. “Finish your tea, and I’ll pour you another before we start on herb-lore. Those gardens are intact, so it’s a good time to explain why it’s arranged the way it is.”
“Yes, ma’am,” said Julian with a smile. “Plus, we can see the door from there.”
“That had crossed my mind.” She gestured for him to hurry up, so he finished his power-laced tea, feeling it rush through him and then fade to a warm glow. She refilled their cups and checked that everything was safe up front, and they made their way to the herb garden for the day’s lesson.
She’d just started her explanation when the bell over the door rang three times in a row, and they were both needed to help customers. One would have made a special order, but the mage needed it that day, so Julian spent several minutes calling around until he could find someone who had the plant in stock. After sending that woman’s money to the magical ingredients hothouse across town, Julian rang up several cheap potted plants for a man looking to suck up to his wife but unwilling to pay for something better.
Then came a string of irate people who couldn’t believe they’d been closed for a whole week because of some silly murder, which was exhausting for Julian even though Mary Margaret fielded most of those. “I’m going to order in lunch,” said Julian, when Mary Margaret had a moment between complainants. “Fancy a pizza?”
“Oh, you are a love, I really do. One piled high with everything you can stand, I’d even eat the little fishes if you really wanted,” she said with a grin and a wink.
“I’ll get something good,” Julian assured her. He called the place around the corner, but they were so swamped that delivery wasn’t going to be for nearly 90 minutes.
“I’m sorry,” said Julian, emerging to see two people trying to yell at Mary Margaret at once. “Can I help you?” He directed himself at the man, who seemed the most intent on talking over everyone.
“I’m here for my special order,” said the man, and it clicked in Julian’s mind why he looked so familiar. This was the customer who’d ordered the virgin lilies, and who’d taken such care with his lucky clover choices. “You’ve had more than long enough to acquire my lilies.”
“I’m afraid your lilies were a casualty of the unfortunate incident the week before last,” said Julian, leading him a few steps away from where Mary Margaret seemed to be making progress with the woman. “We’d have re-ordered, but you didn’t answer our messages, may I double check your information?”
“No!” he said irritably. “I need them today, I can’t wait any longer.”
“The main Temple of Purification should have them available for a suitable donation,” said Julian. “Do you know where it is?”
“Of course I know, that thing’s an eyesore when there’s any sun at all.” The man huffed. “You’re sure you don’t have them in?”
“I’m sorry, sir, we’re having to re-stock that entire greenhouse,” said Julian apologetically. “We have the plants, but they’re no longer suitable for spell use.”
They had moved even further away from the counter, now, along the path toward the greenhouse in question. The customer, whose name Julian remembered as Jack something, huffed and crossed his arms over his chest. “Well, at least I can get more clover, you’ve got to have that, at least.”
Julian had a sinking feeling, and he sighed. “No, sir, that’s the other thing that was damaged. The whole patch was a loss.”
They rounded the corner, where you could see the one lush plant standing in the middle of its plot of bare earth. “Well, what about that one?”
“That one’s not for sale, sir, surely as a mage yourself you’re familiar with the need for a seed plant for the luck to grow strong,” said Julian. He wasn’t explaining it well, but honestly, the annoyance was starting to grate. “We’ll be getting new plants as soon as possible, but that one isn’t for sale.”
Jack’s eyes narrowed, and he looked like he was going to protest when Mary Margaret’s voice interrupted him. “Julian! Can you come here for a moment, dear?”
“In a second!” he called back. “I’m sorry, sir, was there anything else?” he asked, gesturing for Jack to precede him back the way they’d come.
“No, I suppose I’ll have to go to the Temple,” Jack grumbled, looking almost angry at being denied his purchases. “I’ll remember this in the future.”
“We’ll be sure to keep that in mind, next time someone’s murdered here,” said Julian pleasantly.
Jack harrumphed again, huge and put-upon, and stomped out, ending up on the heels of the woman Mary Margaret had been talking to. She didn’t look much happier, but at least she’d left holding a plant.
“What did you need?” asked Julian, joining her and the three men who had replaced the unhappy woman at the front counter.
“Julian St. Albans?” asked one of the men.
“Yes,” said Julian, resisting the urge to take the other customers’ moods out on these men and point out that his identity should be obvious at that point, having answered to his own name already. “How can I help you?”
“Why don’t I pour you all some tea?” said Mary Margaret suddenly, giving the men a strange look. “I’ll make up a fresh pot.” She turned and began the business of dumping the old tea bags and starting the kettle boiling without waiting for an answer.
“Ah, thank you,” said one of the other men. Their body language had shifted subtly, and now it was clear that they worked for the man who’d spoken to him first.
“I’m Grandmaster Elkhort, with the Grower’s Guild,” he said, holding out his hand for shaking.
“It’s an honour to meet you, sir,” said Julian, taking the man’s h
and and getting a little jolt of something from the contact. It hadn’t been magic, precisely, nor quite the same awareness he had with his plants, and it made him feel off-balance. “What can I help you with?”
“Are you aware that both of the recent victims of ritual murders were apprentices with our Guild?” he asked.
“Oh, no,” said Julian, feeling the shock like cold water down to his toes. “The second one, too?”
“I’m afraid so,” said the Grandmaster. “We’re talking to all of our apprentices, especially those with magical talent.” His voice was gentler now, as though whatever he’d seen in Julian’s reaction had mollified him. “The Guild will arrange for you to be protected, but you may have to stop working until the perpetrator’s been caught.”
“But I just got back to work!” protested Julian, and then he sighed. “I know, though, even with the new wards it’s not very safe here. Did both of the victims have magical talent?”
“They did, and Julia was almost ready for her journeyman’s trials,” said Elkhort sadly. “I’m coming to you in person to impress upon you the seriousness of the situation. We only had eight talented apprentices, and another fifteen without, though most of those are in more rural situations.”
“Had, oh,” said Julian sadly. “So there’s only six of us now?”
All three men nodded gravely. “You’re to head straight home, if Master Stone can handle the nursery without you?”
“If you pause for a cuppa, I’ll call and make sure Raul’s coming in on time, he starts in fifteen minutes, anyway. We’re usually slow the first few hours, so their shifts are staggered.” Mary Margaret poured them all tea, using ceramic mugs for everyone, just this once. Julian had a feeling no one would object with a Grandmaster here, and whoever the other two shadows were.
“I usually open, though, will you be able to cover that?” asked Julian.
Mary Margaret smiled. “Although Mr. Stone will miss our lazy mornings in bed for a while, I can go back to opening on my own, don’t you worry.”
“Oh!” said Julian. “But I can’t go home, I mean, I’m meant to go by the Agency to give a statement. Agent Lapointe asked me to walk the Gainesbury Temple to see if the plants felt the same as they did here, and she’s got a map for me to fill out.” He took a sip of tea to stop his own babbling.
The three men conferred in low tones. “I doubt much will happen to you at the Agency. As long as you promise to take care of yourself getting there and home again?” asked Elkhort. “I have to call on the other apprentices so their Masters don’t object to losing their labour.” His voice was wry, and Julian had a feeling they’d tried a few phone calls first, not that Mary Margaret would have protested for a moment.
Julian nodded. “Alex will be there, and we can call the Benedict driver, he took care of Alex during my Courtship when they were trying to assassinate him.”
One of the subordinates’ eyes went a bit wide at that, but the Grandmaster didn’t appear fazed. “As long as you take care,” he repeated.
“I promise,” said Julian.
“I’ll stop by some afternoons and give you lessons,” promised Mary Margaret. “You’ve helped out enough with your magic and Alex doing the warding for us that you’ve more than earned it, anyway.” She turned to the Grandmaster. “Why don’t I show you Julian’s good work while we wait for Raul? Can you watch the front, lad?”
“We’ll stay,” said Elkhort’s left-hand shadow. The man on the right had yet to show much sign of life, and Julian fancifully wondered if he was a golem.
“I’ll be fine, Master Stone,” said Julian. “Oh, we need to order in another set of virgin lilies for that man Jack, he was very insistent, and some more lucky clover, too.”
“If we must, we must,” said Mary Margaret. “Write it down for me, would you?”
“Yes, ma’am,” said Julian, and he let her take the Grandmaster off to tour the nursery while he went back behind the counter for the order book. He made a note of the order and drank his tea and finally he couldn’t stand it anymore and asked, “So, who are you two, anyway?”
The one on the left laughed. “Sorry, we’re the Grandmaster’s Guardians. We’re assigned to him whenever it’s deemed he requires protection, since he’s the strongest talent in the Guild and does many invaluable services for the Temple.”
“Oh!” said Julian, relaxing. “I was Guarded once, well, sort of by proxy. James and Jacques, they were taking care of my Alex last year.”
The Guards both relaxed minutely, though he could see neither of them dropped their alertness. “I’m Archibald,” said the quiet one.
“I’m Rory,” said the other. “Jacques and James are friends of ours.”
“Mine, too, now,” said Julian, smiling shyly. “Have you ever had Jacques’ cooking?”
They raved happily about Jacques’ food until Raul arrived, and by then the tour was done and Elkhort was back with Mary Margaret.
“Your work is very impressive, my boy,” said Elkhort. “Your power is developing admirably. I’ll be calling on you again when this is over. Good day, Master Stone, Apprentice St. Albans.”
“That’s our cue,” said Rory with a wink, and they all headed out, Archibald in front and Rory taking up the rear and looking much more like Guardians once they were moving.
“And that’s my cue, as well,” said Julian with a laugh. “Call me a cab?”
“Not your Jones?” asked Mary Margaret, sounding concerned.
“He’ll be out at the estate right now, but I promise to call him while you call my cab,” said Julian, making puppy eyes.
She laughed. “All right, you win. But do be careful, I’d hate to lose you now that you’re doing so well.”
Julian laughed, too, as he was meant to, and got out his phone to call Jones. It was late enough that at least Lapointe would be at the Agency, and likely Alex with her, so he’d be safe enough once he got there. Jones promised to pick them up at the Agency later, and arrange with Victor to be at their disposal.
“I never thought I’d be worried about protecting my passengers again,” said Jones wryly. “Maybe I should take some bodyguard classes.”
“At least you’ve got your paired amulets from Alex, those will help us all stay safe,” Julian reassured him. The tale of Julian’s amulet saving him from the mugging was enough to keep them talking while Julian waited for the cab, and he barely had time to give Mary Margaret a kiss on the cheek goodbye before he headed out.
Julian hopped in the cab and tried to be confident that he was safe as houses for now, though he felt a little paranoid until they got close enough to the Agency that the turnings were properly familiar. He paid and headed inside, figuring he could maybe lure someone out to lunch if they weren’t too busy. Having an Agent with him should qualify as keeping safe.
“Julian, you’re early!” said Alex, getting up off Lapointe’s uncomfortable couch. “Did something happen?” he asked worriedly.
“Grandmaster Elkhort of the Guild is personally visiting all the talented apprentices and asking us to hide away until everything’s over,” explained Julian, sounding petulant even to himself. “So I’m back to being not allowed to work!”
“You’ve got something very specific in common with the victims,” said Lapointe, her face serious. “I’m glad your Guild is taking it seriously.”
Julian sighed dramatically. “Anyway, since I can’t have my plants, can I have lunch? If you’re both with me no one can say I’m taking risks.”
Alex pulled him close for a kiss. “We’ll take you to the Temple to start Father Stephen’s garden, there’s nowhere safer than there.”
Julian felt his irritation draining away, as it always did when Alex was there to hold him and help him make it better. “You’re a very smart boyfriend,” said Julian, claiming another kiss. “I’ll call him after lunch and make arrangements. Jones is going to be at our disposal, too, I already called.”
“Good,” said Lapointe. “I’m going to pu
t a call in to the Guild, letting them know that officers can be made available to any apprentices in less secure situations, you two see if any of the usual suspects want to join us for lunch.”
“Yes, ma’am,” said Julian with a chuckle. He and Alex slipped out to find their friends among the Agents, Thomas and Smedley both agreeing to join them and, after a quick text, Geoff as well.
“Are we just heading over to the diner?” asked Thomas, shuffling his paperwork and getting it all put away.
“I figured we would,” said Julian. “Everyone here knows what they like there, and they’ve got good coffee.”
“Really good coffee,” agreed Smedley. “Crap for wards, though, or so I’m told.”
Julian huffed. “I’m hardly going to be kidnapped out from under your noses,” he said. “Alex even fixed my amulet after that stupid mugger,” he added, tapping his chest.
“Are you sure it was just a mugger?” asked Thomas.
“What d’you mean? He definitely wasn’t a criminal mastermind,” said Julian.
Alex, however, looked thoughtful. “That is an interesting point, though, if our killer uses hired help and wasn’t aware of Julian’s protections.”
“Or wanted to test them,” pointed out Smedley.
“You’re not comforting me,” said Julian crossly. “I’ll be fine for lunch.”
“You’ll be fine for lunch,” agreed Thomas, “but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t pull the police report on your mugger and look at it with fresh eyes.”
“Are you on the case now?” asked Julian, pleased that at least someone he liked was going to benefit from all the chaos.
Thomas ducked his head and the tips of his ears turned pink. “Yeah, Agent Lapointe pulled me in when I finally finished the paperwork on my last one.” He chuckled wryly. “Though of course there’s more paperwork on this case.”
“You’ll be a paperwork expert someday, just like the rest of us,” said Smedley. “I am not on the case, so I’m just here for the food.”
