"He's got to write the letter still, sorry," said Alex. "We just missed you."
Horace looked even happier at that and hopped between them, preening hair and snuggling from one to the other.
James chuckled. "You two and your strange pets," he said. "I'd envy you, but even Horace wouldn't fit right into our lives."
"I don't think I'd feel right making another, anyway," said Alex. "Our Horace is one of a kind."
He'd rejected a request for a lovebird just a few weeks ago, Julian recalled, though he'd used the excuse that it was too much work for his small space. Others could make the basic sort if they came back in fashion, but no one else would make one quite like Horace.
Julian kissed him sweetly for it, and said, "All right, so tea and cookies and bath, and then I'll write to Emmy."
"You should probably call Father Stephen, too," said Jacques. "See if he wants to lure you out for a purification."
"Oh, I could go for one," said Julian honestly. "It's been awhile, what do you think?" He turned to Alex and made puppy eyes.
"I can be persuaded tomorrow," said Alex. "We'll get Jones to take all of us, if the Father is free."
Julian got out his phone as their tea and cookie trays began to float out from the kitchen, parking themselves floating in front of the recipients. Julian prepared his tea and then made the call, tasting the good, strong brew with great appreciation for the warmth it gave to his belly as well as the flavour on his tongue.
"Julian, my boy, how are you?" said Father Stephen, the call connecting as soon as it rang.
Julian couldn't help but smile. "Father Stephen, we're all well here now. I wasn't the one poisoned, after all."
"Of course, of course," said Father Stephen. "I hear you've got Guardians out there just in case?"
"Yes, though they're going back home tomorrow. We thought we might come along if you're free for a bit and get purified?" Julian made sure to sound hopeful but not demanding; too many people made demands on Father Stephen's time as it was.
"Oh, yes, I just so happen to have some time free tomorrow," said Father Stephen cheerfully. "We can purify you boys after a nice lunch. Perhaps I'll even put my old bones into the cold pool, it's been far too long for me, as well."
"That sounds perfect," said Julian. "We'll treat somewhere, of course. The Atrium, perhaps, they've always got space for us."
"Oh, that's too fancy," Father Stephen prevaricated. "You don't need to do that."
"But we want to," said Alex, leaning over to put his two cents in. "Let us treat you and then you can treat us, as it were."
"Well, I suppose, if you insist," said Father Stephen. "Will you meet me at the Temple?"
"Yes, we'll have Jones come pick you up and then drop us all off." Julian took another sip of tea before it cooled. "Thanks for making time."
"You are not a burden, my boy, none of you." There was the noise of someone talking in the background. "Oh, yes, sorry, I've got to go. I'll see the four of you tomorrow around lunch time!"
"See you then!" said Julian, hanging up with a lighter heart. "Well, that was a brilliant idea."
"I've been told we do have them sometimes," said James wryly.
"We'll take him a tin of treats, too," said Jacques. "Then Jones can drop us at the Guardian Temple after everything, and bring you two back before you get tired."
"It takes more than a few hours of not doing much magic," said Alex, "but the thought is appreciated."
Julian dug into his cookies now that the phone call was over, finding that she'd made soft molasses spice cookies that practically melted in the mouth, covered in crunchy sugar and baked to perfection. "Mm, these are so good," he said, swallowing the bite down and then having some tea. "Perfect fortification."
There was a chorus of agreement, and they all settled in to enjoy their treat.
Chapter 38
The bath water was warm on Alex's still-chilled limbs, the cold having settled into his bones in the lulls between exercises. The disadvantage of having very little body fat from magic use was getting cold like this and needing full-body immersion in hot water to recover.
Not that he minded.
