"Did you get your bathroom things?" asked Smithson. "That's what gets left behind most often, in my experience, not that I do the rooms but you know, we all talk."
"We did not," said Alex, going in to grab their various bottles and brushes and whatnot and pack them back in their little magical carrier that would keep everything dry and germ-free. Alex had made it after one of Geoff's bottles had opened in his luggage and left Alys with a challenge, and then made them for all his friends for the holidays. He'd called it fibre magic practice, and the Ward Father had approved, so Julian had let him have his fun.
"We should visit the Guardians again soon," said Julian idly as he tucked the little fabric pouch into its spot in their fancy trunk. "We haven't spread cookies and cheer among them since the holidays."
"After the snow's cleared more," said Alex. "I am not driving until everything's properly plowed, at the very least."
"Fair," agreed Julian. He knelt down to check on their snoozing cats and got his hand batted at for opening the basket, which Sage then pointedly closed herself. "These ladies are all set, anyway."
"Now we just need to solve the murder so we can go home," said Alex, making a face. "Lapointe might release non-suspects sooner, though. Speaking of whom," he added as his phone rang, "What's up?"
"What was the second poison again?" asked Lapointe.
"Magical baneberry, we think, why?" Alex came around the bed to snuggle up with Julian, which in turn sent Horace from Alex's shoulder to Julian's as well.
"Apparently there's some in one of the holiday wreaths that hadn't been taken down yet, here in the private areas of the house," she said. "Forensics found it."
"We haven't been in that part of the house before today," said Alex. "But that means all of the poisons came from the house, and nothing was brought in for that purpose."
"That's good to know," said Lapointe, and then she hung up on him.
Alex laughed and shook his head, pocketing his phone. "She says there's magical baneberry in one of the wreaths in the private areas, which our killer likely saw when going to milk the snake."
"I feel like that's what's going to get her," said Julian. "Who knows how to milk a snake, anyway?"
"That's a deep background check question for Murielle's little minions," said Alex, "which means we all may get to go home sooner than later."
Smithson checked his phone and said, "Your friends are here, they're in the entry hall."
"We'll go down, you make sure our driver's taken care of?" Julian made sure his cuffs were shot and cravat neat. If he was going to dress up nicely, he wanted to look as good as possible, even for their friends.
"Of course, and I'll bring up that fresh pot and cups," said Smithson, heading out with an aborted bow.
"I wonder who's been insisting on bows and curtsies?" asked Alex. "It's not us, that's for sure, but it's someone."
"Chudleigh doesn't, or at least no one did before," said Julian, leading the way while Alex got the door locked. Horace flew ahead, going from sconce to sconce along the hallway as they headed to the middle stairs and down.
"James! Jacques!" called Julian as soon as he spotted them loitering in the big foyer. They all hugged, even Alex, at the comfort of a friendly face that wouldn't immediately abandon them for the investigation. "How are you two? You look well."
They were in their work uniforms, not the formal ones, but without a doubt dressed as Guardians on duty. Horace took it upon himself to preen at their hair, though, and got his own little greetings before they bothered to answer the humans.
"We're better than you two, though Alex looks pretty recovered," said James, giving them both the usual once-over.
"You're a little depleted, both of you, but you said that was growing pains?" asked James, doing the same.
"Yes, or at least, the supposedly prophetic belladonna dream said so," replied Alex dryly. "Let's go back upstairs for now, you two can have the chairs and we'll sit on the bed, it'll be like old times."
They chuckled and continued to chat as they headed upstairs, James and Jacques telling them about how their week off hadbeen going until they'd been called up to take care of their old friends.
"Will you be taste-testing everything?" teased Julian, as they let everyone in, including Smithson with a second entire tray.
"Better," said James. "We have bezoars for everyone." He handed out little stones on chains to all of them, each smooth rock inscribed with the magic that made it a true bezoar and not a mere namesake.
"Much better," said Alex.
"What's a bezoar?" asked Smithson, pouring fresh tea for everyone and then stepping back to let the newer guests go first with the milk and sugar.
"It's a magical stone that neutralises all poisons," said Julian. "I guess it would be some standard Guardian kit in a situation like this."
