Chapter 47 #3
“Both,” Claudio admitted, smiling. “Or there might be options like putting together a potion from available materia for a given purpose.” He nodded to Silvia.
“Or something to deal with a scenario, as the Healers or Guard do in training.” That would open it up to a number of people, including Vidya and Nonus.
He paused, and when there were no further comments, he turned back to the front.
“Silvia, I like the idea of additional smaller committees considering specific locations and communities in more detail. But perhaps some time to think about that for next week would be best. I return the floor to you.”
Before she could say anything, Paul pushed himself out of the chair he’d been in. “I don’t think you need to sit in the usual seat. You seem quite clear on both the background and how we do things. Besides, Gabe can fill you in on anything you missed.”
He was grinning as he said it, before he slid into the seat next to Silvia. She didn’t make a comment beyond a slight smile. Claudio bowed once, then turned to drop into the chair between Gabe and Ivor, what must have been Alexander’s seat before.
From there, the rest of the meeting went on as laid out in the agenda.
There were some upcoming points to consider, some scheduling for various aspects of the treaties, offerings, or exchanges detailed in the Pact.
Some of that involved dividing up what Alexander had generally been taking the lead on, scattering the responsibilities among four different people, including both Gabe and Orion.
Claudio would ask about that later because the other two were Paul and Vidya.
Once they finished— five minutes before time— everyone broke up into smaller conversations.
There would be time for that on other nights.
Right now Claudio wanted to get home, see Matty, and be somewhere he didn’t have to keep everything together and smoothly perfect.
As he was closing up his notes, Silvia paused by his chair.
“Will you walk out with me? A couple of minutes. I just need to set up my office for tomorrow.”
It took him aback. She often went out for supper after with one or another of the Council for additional discussion, but he nodded. “Of course.” She went off without further comment.
Orion clapped him on the shoulder. “See you tomorrow. We’ve a fair bit to talk through.”
Claudio snorted. “This is different from any other day how? But we do.” He went off to have a quick look at his new office so he could sketch the layout and consider furniture beyond the desk.
Then he went along to the Head’s office, knocking on the door.
Silvia came out, giving him a glimpse of the room, and they went downstairs in silence.
Everyone likely to be leaving had apparently done so, though he could feel a good ten people still in the upstairs of the building.
As they made it outside, halfway across the courtyard, Silvia stopped. “I thought that was done well. Getting people to think about things in a new way. May I ask something? You needn’t answer now.”
“Of course.” That was the thing. She could ask.
“Sometime, would you consider telling me more of what you did during the war? In particular, the way it shaped how you look at problems.” Her voice was even, but there was a hint of a quaver in it.
Claudio took a breath before answering. She could theoretically find out.
Or, for that matter, demand an answer from Orion or Gabe.
Though admittedly, they hadn’t told her yet and weren’t likely to without what they considered excellent reason.
But the way she’d asked, that was another indication of things changing.
It was like a great glacier thawing, a dramatic move he didn’t know how to take in, but he would have to work through the implications more later. Now, he needed some answer. “In a few weeks, we’ll find time to discuss it. I’ve a number of things on my list that are more pressing.”
“That is quite true.” She began walking again, waiting for him to set the portal for home before she went through. On the other side, he paused, checking to see where Matty was with the charm. Somewhat to his surprise, there were two people in the sitting room.
Mother raised an eyebrow. “A regular habit?”
“When people might be around.” Mostly her, not that he’d say that.
“Tiberius and Matty are in the sitting room.” She came along with him, not that he could tell her not to.
It was her sitting room too, and had been for far longer.
The two of them were chatting, chairs next to each other, Tiberius making gestures as Matty leaned forward.
Claudio cleared his throat. “Had an interesting evening, then?”
“Excellent supper, of course, and Tiberius was explaining some of what he’s been learning.
The materia’s a shared interest, obviously, but talismans need an entirely different layer of quality and sourcing considerations than much of what I know.
” Matty sounded relaxed, at least, and he was smiling.
Tiberius stood promptly. “Father. Grandmother. I hope your evening went well?”
“Quite,” Mother was brief, but then she smiled. “I’ve some reading to do. Have a good night, all of you. Claudio?”
“Yes?” He expected some comment about Sunday supper, or perhaps some other event.
Instead, she faced him directly. “One more thing to think on. Perhaps we might get on better if I am Silvia to you in general?” Before he could come up with an answer, she turned and disappeared down the hall, leaving Claudio staring after her.
Matty’s voice came behind him once she was well back towards her own courtyard rooms. “Drink, then, before we go upstairs?”
“Gods, yes. Tiberius, you’re welcome to stay if you like,” Claudio turned back to see Tiberius going for the decanter. He knew where it was, of course, and Matty didn’t yet. “It was not the evening I expected on several fronts, but all the better for that.”
The explanation, even just the parts he could talk about, took him the better part of half an hour.
And then there was a bit of strategy for tomorrow evening, and Matty’s plans for seeing how his family handled things.
Tiberius had several useful suggestions on that front, actually.
By the time Claudio and Matty made it upstairs and into bed, they could make a solid attempt at setting the day aside and enjoying each other’s company.