Chapter 33 #2
Alexander snorted. “Of course you’ve had that discussion.
That actually bodes rather well, though.
When I set about putting the idea into your head that now was the proper time— and the proper seat— for you to consider, I was working with a future that did not yet exist. You understand?
I would argue— and I am glad to do so at length, especially when you have additional reference points— that the Tower, more than any other seat, needs a certain approach to it.
You’ve spoken to Cyrus about Hereswith.” He deliberately put emphasis on the ‘when’ and this time Claudio didn’t argue. No point.
“I have.” Claudio waved a hand. “Told Gabe and Orion what I told you.” Gabe chuckled, because that particular conversation had been while doing a bit of painstaking work taking down a ritual setting that had gone wrong and done increasingly confusing things with the flow of time.
“It gave me some thoughts about the variation in mode, and what might work for me.”
He considered how to put this. “I’m quite aware of how I’ve hedged myself around, with limits and expectations and other people’s opinions.
I’ve had the excellent good fortune to find people who find the places I ignore those interesting, and Matty’s encouraged me in more of that.
” He added, “Boar. Definitely a Boar. Magni and Gil approve, as Gabe said. And Thesan and Isembard, though of course they had him in school.”
“I’ll do some recalibrating. But yes, there are a number of things in what you’ve said Silvia might take issue with.
Male, not female. Boar, not Fox. Not from your sort of family.
” Of course, Alexander had that information handy.
“And working for the Ministry. I assume you’re factoring in that she might find out. Or other people.”
“Oh, yes,” Claudio said it with a bit of weight, and then heard Orion chuckling behind him.
“But we both live our lives in Albion. He’s reasonably confident about his position.
He walked me through it the other night.
Matty knows those dynamics best, but I also think he’s right.
He might lose out on the senior sort of promotions, but maybe not, at least in time.
” Claudio took a breath. “And well, if I am successful, the Council is in a weight class all its own when it comes to gossip. And honestly, I think it’s rather less scandalous than a number of people who’ve been on in my lifetime.
” Saying it felt brash, in a way Claudio never was, but it also had an edge of truth to it.
“I,” Alexander said cheerfully, “am a model of probity, discretion, and commendable behaviour. Well, compared to some.” He did seem amused, though.
“All right. In that case, we need to talk about how you’ll navigate the ritual dancing with your mother.
We shall set aside for the moment of who might partner you come December.
That can wait. You remember my arguments about pairing in and out of the Council? You might consider asking Thesan.”
It made an interesting question. Most of the dances for the rites were not actually reliant on gender, though the later additions had that element.
The earlier ones just went pair and pair without particular expectations of who danced which role.
But Thesan knew the dances exceedingly well.
She would no longer be partnering Alexander, and it would not be the scandalous choice.
It would leave Mother wanting a partner, and that was a consideration.
Claudio spread his hands. “Worth talking about, certainly. But the thing about the rites is that they’re about a negotiated agreement.
Not fondness, not flirtation, as a social dance might be in some settings.
And not relying on a particular flow of emotion to be effective.
Which, as you have mentioned, was good design on someone’s part, since the Council is not historically made of the most emotionally congruent people.
My parents. Garin and Livia. The Watts brothers. I could reel off another twenty names.”
Alexander started chuckling at that. “Including me, for many years. Quite right. Let’s see. Gabe, can you take the second part with Orion here? I’d rather work it in pairs.”
Gabe pushed himself to stand. “If you’d wanted three pairs, we could have arranged to have Rathna and Hypatia come along. Though Rathna would have made faces at me, she’s busy with the Southampton portal again.”
Orion added, “And Hypatia’s working on an article.
Not going to get in her way. I’ve more sense.
We’ll manage.” The four of them set up into their places, taking it step by step.
Alexander asked Claudio to pay attention to specific angles of step and inclination every other measure. Or so it seemed.
When they finished, a good ninety minutes later, Claudio was dripping with sweat— he’d been running most of the magical work, where the others had just been marking the places.
He dried his face with his handkerchief, and looked up to find Alexander grinning impishly.
“Come along, then. I want to see Geoffrey’s expression when he realises exactly which books you’re asking for.
Can you stay for supper? He hasn’t had nearly enough scope for this particular topic in ages. ”
It would at least be tremendously educational now, and likely equally fascinating later, when Claudio and Matty could put some of it into practice.