Kingsbury

[wizard_howell]

By the time Sophie and Angela get back not only is the wagon spell completed, but he's had time for a bath.

With powders.

And lotions.

And potions. In fact, he's been playing with his hair. Ever since Sophie described his natural hair to him as mud brown, he's been determined never to let it show that color again and now... now it's a lovely

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[wizard_howell]

An entire afternoon enjoyed with his favorite lady of all time and one strongly in the running for next-favorite, and not a single spell demanded by the King: the day hasn't been squandered after all. After taking tea in a nearby and highly gilded shop where the three of them are treated with the requisite amounts of respect, awe, and fear -- to his credit, the only magic Howl works in the shop is charming their waitress into bringing extra sugar and cream and maybe, maybe folding a paper napkin into a small swan that darts through the air round the tea shop for a few minutes before disappearing in a puff of golden sparks -- it's time to return to the long-suffering Davis (who gets a most excellent orange scone pressed into his hand, almost as an afterthought) for the carriage ride home.

And here he'd almost thought to summon a wind to take them, but that would have been showing off and at any rate, Davis deserves to make the trip twice in one day. He's surly and obnoxious and people like that need to be killed with kindness.

And they do. Once inside the carriage, the conversation slows: it's been a long and full day, and Howl, full of pride and love, puts his arm round Sophie and coaxes her into resting her head on his shoulder: she's been on her feet all day. The trip is lovely: fairly smooth and quiet, punctuated by the occasional story of Howl's describing the evening landscape as it goes by, the occasional bemused noise from Sophie's lips, the occasional question from Angela. By the time they're dropped off at the castle with great fanfare and much bowing from the beleaguered but scone-filled Davis, everybody's tired.

There's still a cake from Cesari's to look forward to, and they will get to it... eventually. That's one thing that never, ever goes to waste in the Pendragon household.

It's hours later when Angela's finally escorted back to Milliways and seen to safety. The dress from Market Chipping is, of course, hers to keep as is the rest of the cake and all the other little trinkets that serve as mementos of the day. And when she gets to wherever it is she's going next, she just might find another folded paper swan in among her belongings ready to take flight when she least expects it.