"Recreational?" said James, disbelieving. "I mean, I sort of get the prophet-priests who use it, but forfun?"
"She's got some other potion to keep from throwing up after," said Alex. "I was, unfortunately, not given any."
"Poor baby," said Jacques, almost sounding sympathetic. "Did your prophecy have anything fun to say?"
"Just that our power issues away from the Source are growing pains and will even out," said Alex. "We're having trouble with magical exhaustion, not badly, but I won't be doing any more big spells while I'm out here."
"So that's valuable knowledge that in no way helps you with the murder thing," said James.
"It hasn't been the same poison each time," said Julian. "The first one, the person milked a snake that Chudleigh's brother has and used its poison, some kind of super-lethal magical thing."
"Iridescent Western Viper," said Alex. "Very rare, slim chance to get ahold of one and know how to handle it."
"You'd think that would be something really probative," said Jacques, "but how would we even know someone's got snake training?"
"Maybe they did some advanced bio in uni and learned for the lab section," said Alex. "Maybe they have their own pet snakes and collect the venom for personal, poisonous reasons."
"Maybe they collect it to sell to potions makers," said Julian with a shrug. "Maybe they volunteer at a zoo."
"No way to know now," said James. "Do you want us out there?"
Julian sighed. "I don't know."
"What he means is, of course we do, but we're not sure it's worth the effort on your part to get assigned," said Alex.
"We should be allowed out of here tomorrow," explained Julian. "We are not suspects, and Alex has done all he can already."
"We'll call again in the morning, then," said James firmly. "We can get the assignment, you got poisoned already, so that's not the issue."
Alex sighed and then went with his heart instead of his head for once. "Then come out? Lapointe will know when the roads are passable. We'd love to see more friendly faces."
"It's been nothing but snobbery and suspicion since we got here," said Julian disgustedly. "There's a few agreeable people, but they all feel like they're trying to figure out whether we're worth cultivating, even the nice ones."
"Sounds tedious," said James. "We'll come out. It'll be nice to see you two, and we can go to the house with you and hang out for a day or two afterward."
"Sounds perfect," said Julian. "I'm going to call Lapointe and warn her, and text Chudleigh, too, so he's not surprised."
"See you tomorrow," said Jacques, and then they hung up.
Alex sent off texts to Geoff and Chudleigh both first and then he was just about to call Lapointe again when someone knocked at the door. Again.
"My turn," said Alex, getting up and only swaying a little as he got his bearings. He made sure he was decent enough and answered the door, hoping he didn't look as annoyed as he felt.
Either way, it melted into welcome as he saw it was Geoff himself.
"She's awake," said Geoff. "She asked for you two."
"Do we have time to dress?" asked Julian.
"We weren't supposed to have to see anyone," said Alex, only a little crossly.
"Just come as you are," said Geoff. "Winterson doesn't seem the type to stay offended when she learns you were also poisoned."
"All right," said Julian, pocketing his own phone as they headed out. They locked the door, since there was still a bit of food and drink waiting inside, and headed down the hall after Geoff.
There were far too many people in the room already, between Alice and another maid, and two of the other ladies who had somehow found out Winterson was awake and descended upon her.
"Out," said Geoff, entirely in doctor mode. "Both of you, out. For fuck's sake, one of you is still a suspect!"
