Chapter 44

MAY 17TH

A nnice was outright antsy. Griffin hadn't turned up at four, which was the earliest likely time. Nor at half four or five. He'd warned her he might be late, and he hadn't sent a note with a messenger, so she assumed he'd be back by six, but that didn't help. She was on the list for one of the magical journals, but they were backlogged, so it'd be another week or two before she had one of her own.

She'd been worried about him yesterday. The magical work had been exhilarating on one level - and Lamont's decision, even more so. But he'd put off people who'd wanted to go celebrate. Not yet, he'd said. When they'd got in, he'd immediately washed up, and she put together a tray of things he could eat in bed. When she'd asked how he was, he'd shrugged and said, "It was worth it. I didn't - well. I couldn't have gone out. We can go out some other time. And besides, I shouldn't make it obvious yet. Not until tomorrow."

Annice didn't know how to play the politics of the thing, and besides, it was Griffin's life. He got to make the choices. She'd settled in, bringing some mending in, and working on it quietly while he ate and then read. He'd fallen asleep early, of course, though that was at least partly because of one of his potions. Griffin had seemed much better in the morning. He'd got up early, and while she was sleepily putting breakfast together, he said, "I made arrangements for an hour in the baths at the Temple this morning, yesterday. You can come if you like, or walk me over. I'm due there in half an hour."

It gave her something to tease him about. How he could have let her know last night. It brushed the cobwebs off. She'd walked over with him before picking up some pastries to bring to Niobe's. She was apparently already a person who had preferences about bakeries in two different areas of Trellech, and she suspected it'd be more before too long.

Finally, about twenty past five, she heard the warding and lock shift, and the door opened. Annice had been reading - well, not reading but pretending to - on the sofa, and she immediately got up. Griffin wheeled himself in, looking pleased. It wasn't a smug sort of pleased, exactly, it wasn't a ‘better than'. It was Griffin, joyful at the world. He immediately pulled up short. "Sorry for being late. There was a fair bit of talking after the meeting, several ways round."

Annice took a breath. "I was worried, and I knew you'd let me know if you'd be much longer, and I'm glad you're back, and tell me about it?" It came out all in a burst, and Griffin just grinned at her.

"Give me a minute, and is there something for supper, or do you want to figure out takeout? I can journal the local." The pub around the corner, down to the west and south, would put things together for them quickly enough. Annice shook her head.

"There are potatoes and some chicken cutlets in the warmer when you're ready." Not that she'd had to do much with them. The housekeeper was a wonder. "And asparagus, you liked it so much on Sunday."

"Tis the season." Griffin beamed at her and then went off to wash up. She heard the shift from the chair to the crutches and the opening and closing of the bathroom door. Five minutes later, he came out looking refreshed, joining her in the kitchen. She set a mug of tea down in front of him and took the other chair.

"Tell me about it? The main meeting, I mean. Were either of them horrid? What was everyone else like?" She had so many questions.

"It's..." Griffin let out a breath. "Nestor's a prick. But we knew that. He was all rigid and formal and exquisitely polite, so Lamont made his options exceedingly clear yesterday. I hope he gets over it. Lamont and I are going to talk about that more tomorrow." Griffin considered. "I wish he'd be more honest about things. With himself, first. It'd do him some good."

"Honest?" There were a number of things that might apply to.

"He comes from one of the newer families with aspirations. Him being Heir would be a coup, and also I think they're a little uncertain how things are going right now. One of the nephews and, hm, I think one of Nestor's in-laws found themselves in a bit of trouble a few years ago. Nothing that involved Nestor, and he made all the proper oaths on that. It was a web of related cases. But he feels he needs to prove himself, I think. Being Heir would be tidy. Steady work in an area of the Courts that's rather abstruse to anyone who doesn't do contract law, that's not so visible." He shrugged. "If he settles down, good. If he doesn't, I am currently assuming Lamont has a plan."

"And Harriet?" Annice considered. Supper would take another twenty minutes, so she went and brought out two savoury scones from the keep-fresh box, and two plates and the butter. She nudged that and the butter knife over to Griffin, who cheerfully buttered a scone, not entirely at her, but certainly in punctuation.

"Harriet's most of why I'm late. She came round to my office - well, still my office, for a few days more - to congratulate me. She's sorry it's not her, and she said so - see, that's useful honesty. But she's also glad it's not Nestor, and we talked about what she'd really like to accomplish with the Court of Equity. My support would make it more likely, so we're planning to have a number more conversations."

Annice wrinkled her nose up. "Lots of figuring out how to get things going the direction you want, then. Give me stones, please. I understand stones. Or at least, I'm learning to. Each one's a bit different."

"It'd be terribly boring if we all did the same thing. Though that brings us to your part in this. For supper Friday, how about Percival's? Traditional food, a good portion rather than one of those places where every dish is about three bites. It's the right sort of fancy for the people we want to be seen by, but it doesn't require an excessive number of forks."

"I appreciate that. What's my, um. Obligation? That's not the right word." Annice fumbled for it. It wasn't as if he hadn't talked this part through with her before, but now it was real. Now people were going to be looking at her.

"Mostly, you smile and nod and you let me introduce you and mention you're apprenticing with Niobe, and that will carry about nine parts in ten of the necessary conversation. For supper, other events will vary. We are very much both expected to make an appearance at the Council rites at Solstice. Though after this one, you don't need to come every time. I mean, I hope you won't hate it and you're willing to come, but making the right show to start off is a thing."

"And what does that involve?" Annice had run out of scone, and it left her hands to fidget.

"There are formal dances - the Council and chosen partners, not us. Don't worry about that. There's a time when everyone goes and presents a token from their lands, the Lord and Heir, or Lady and Heir or whatever, and we go down the line. You'd sit that part out, but I have some ideas about who to introduce you to."

"Oh?" Annice considered. "More people you know. That I haven't met yet, or it wouldn't be an introduction."

Griffin grinned. "Quite. As to who, several people who came up via their own skills. And one who didn't. The odd one out is Healer Rhoe Belisama. Her brother's on the Council, Cyrus Smythe-Clive, and she oversees the baths at the Temple. That's why I could get a slot on no notice. She'll take a message from me outside of her usual hours."

"Hah," Annice said, amused. "And you don't abuse it."

"No. She helped me demonstrate I was fit to come back to the Courts when I did. Her brother helped too, he's a ritualist. Anyway, she'll be there. There's Rathna Edgarton, she's just had a baby, two months ago, but she should be there in June. She's a Portal Keeper - she can talk about stones day and night. And her husband's a Penelope. Mason had some of the training of Gabe, though not officially. He's his father's Heir. You've heard me mention Captain Edgarton. That's his father. And then there's Thesan Wain - well, socially, Fortier - but I heard from Seth she's expecting, so she might not be there. They've not announced it formally yet. She's the astronomy professor at Schola."

"Right. Explains why you know her."

"Also, she enjoys knowing interesting people?" Griffin shrugged. "And I do try to be interesting. And interested. Anyway, her husband Isembard is his brother's Heir, and Garin - that's the brother - is also on the Council, and his wife as well. Dour fellow, barely smiles. But Isembard's always got good stories. He's also a teacher at Schola. Protective magics. He might be interested in your big jet stones, sometime, if you wanted to talk more about them."

"Huh." Annice leaned back. "So a range of people. But they don't sound too terrifying."

"There are plenty of other people, but Thesan's from good farming folk a generation or two back. You met her brother, she's a lot like him in manner. Easy to be with if you're a decent person. And Rathna's parents worked in East London." Annice knew how to translate that well enough, as decidedly not posh. There was a story there, somehow. "And Lamont's wife, too. Her name's Magdalena, she's a little younger than he is. She does a bit of consulting as a theoretical magical researcher, but mostly she works on her own projects. There's some family money on her side. She knows a lot of interesting people, though, too."

"You think they'd be willing?" Annice asked, finally. "That's the part I don't know about. I mean, that and the clothes, though you have plans for the clothes. Oh, I got the confirmation - final fitting for that frock you thought I'd want tomorrow, so I can wear it Friday."

"That, now, is excellent timing on my part, and Mistress Castalia's. And I'll check with her about settling up the account."

It wasn't just one frock - Annice had been promised several dresses, suitable for a range of events, and then some ordinary day clothes as well. But they'd aimed at having one ready sooner, for whatever came up, or a nice evening out like that summer. Annice hadn't been able to resist a sea-blue, with little tiny round jet beads, proper jet, just enough to be subtle and decorative. There was a much fancier frock coming in a paler blue, suited for something more like the Council rites. She'd put herself entirely in Mistress Castalia's hands, and Griffin's, in terms of what she might need.

Shoes, at least, were simpler. Magical shoes were so much more comfortable and easy to walk in. She already had a comfortable pair from Griffin's friend Owen, and a dress pair in the works. And, well, she and Niobe had some plans for jewellery. With any luck, she'd have not only Griffin's piece done, but something to match it. And there were apparently such things as hairdressers and people to help with cosmetics. "So what do I need to know before Friday, then?"

Griffin grinned at her. "Well, we can talk through the menu. Charlus got me one. And the space. We can decide what topics you'd feel comfortable talking about, and which you'd rather avoid. A united front."

Annice nodded. "Facets," she said. "Oh! I should tell you about that. I learned something new today."

"Bring out the food, then, if it's ready, and tell me. Though I suppose potatoes are not the ideal medium for demonstrating gem cutting, they might give a gesture at the shape, with a little deftness." The idea of it made her laugh, and now she'd have to try that. She stood to go get the food out of the warmer and pour more tea, while Griffin leaned back and watched her, entirely appreciative.