Chapter 39 #2
"I've heard more mages have started eating here when they can," said James, when that was done and they'd been served their main courses. "Someone let it get out that they don't judge when you eat a mage's portion."
"They don't, it's really nice," said Julian, cutting into his first steak. He'd been given one big plate of steak and asparagus, but Alex had to juggle two plates with his eel pie steaming gently on its own. "This looks delicious as well as sustaining."
The steak was perfectly browned on the outside and tender as anything inside, well-salted and covered in buerre blanc sauce and, he thought, some extra butter as well in the cooking.
Julian felt a little bit of the cow and its farm, and the decent life it had lived before becoming dinner, and he sent up another feeling of thanks, this time to the spirits that he knew existed, and the magic of life itself.
The asparagus was in the same sauce, and Julian bit off one succulent tip and then wolfed down the rest, making a happy sound at the roasted green flavour.
"You look happier now," said Alex fondly, sending love along the bond. "Perhaps you just needed to be fed."
"Having a plan to help people also works," said Julian, sticking out his tongue. "We'll get that info from Father Stephen and have our accountant send over a donation."
"Places like that can always use a surprise infusion of cash," said Father Stephen. "I'm afraid the Temple has grown used to you two donating regularly, or I should say you two donating time and your Victor sending along cash."
"Does he still do that?" asked Alex. "Huh."
"Oh, yes, we got a nice little donation yesterday since you were being Guarded again. He's very conscientious, your brother." Father Stephen looked pleased as he dug into his own food, just as delicate in his manners as Julian.
"He's always been that," said Alex. Julian gave the bond a teasing little tug, enjoying this extra communication with his mouth full of delicious steak.
He didn't want any of it to get cold, though the plates were warmed to keep that from happening.
Even a place as posh as the Atrium couldn't afford keep-warm charmed plates for hundreds of settings, so it would happen eventually if he didn't keep eating.
"The money is always put to good use," said James.
"If it's feeding and clothing you guys, of course it is," said Alex. "I never worry about it, because I've met few truly unpleasant priests at the various Temples."
"There was that one Mother who couldn't stand you," said Julian. "She accepted my service in the gardens but just gave him make-work, so we haven't been back."
"Yeah, I didn't say none," said Alex wryly. "She wasn't venal, anyway, just kind of unpleasant."
Father Stephen chuckled. "Well, you do give us your service as well, though I believe we haven't got anything scheduled right now."
"Unless the luck garden needs me, we're waiting until spring," said Julian, eating another asparagus spear immediately afterward.
"No, no, it's doing just fine in our care," said Father Stephen. "If we need Alex sooner, I'll be sure to contact you."
"Even though this was more of a show Guarding," said Alex, "I'm always happy to help out with the Temples. I usually learn something new, which has its own value to me."
They all laughed at him for the mercenary attitude, but Julian didn't mind it. The willing service was better than begrudging, he suspected, especially from someone with a mind as clever as Alex's.
"I do have to schedule another visit with Father Mordecai," said Alex, giving Julian time to cut into his second steak. "We had a couple of cancellations between us and haven't set up a new meeting date."
"Sometimes it happens like that," said Father Stephen. "I am very happy to have a free lunch hour to give to your company."
"We're glad you did, too," said Alex. "Will you join us for purification?"
"Yes, I believe so," said Stephen. "Nothing's come up yet, and no one would interrupt once I've begun, so we'll be safe once we get into the locker rooms."
"Better eat up and get to dessert, then," teased Julian, though they'd all been making steady way through their large lunches.
Alex had finished his steak and gone on to the eel pie, and both of the Guardians were on the second half of theirs, too.
Even Father Stephen had made headway, so Julian wasn't too worried that they'd take too long.
"Eating well and taking care of one's body is another small good we can do in the world," said Stephen lightly, after which he ate a big bite of steak with an impish little smile.
"It's true," said Alex. "Keeping myself well-fed also keeps others from having to deal with cranky Alex."
There was more laughter, and more banter, but soon enough everyone had a fresh cup of tea, even James, and a dessert of some sort.
Alex had gotten a double serving of poached pear bread pudding, Julian had two giant warm fudgey brownies covered in melting vanilla ice cream, both Guardians had gotten trifle, and Father Stephen had a brownie and ice cream of his own.
It was a good day to treat oneself, Julian thought, taking a bite of the dark velvety treat with a hint of cool vanilla cream.