Page 70 of Brave Truth

“Well,” It was Tess’s terse voice. The people who worked at the Courts were generally better about not showing that sort of thing than most people. Their various professions benefitted from studied neutrality in a particular way, even more than the more senior Ministry positions. But then, well, Matty had heard more than once that Tess was not best in her class at that part of her work.

He turned around to the door and said pleasantly, “Good afternoon, Tess.” A week ago— no, two— Matty had listened to Claudio and Orion run down the ways to respond to someone being difficult. Claudio had said, laughingly passing it off, that he found a great deal of pleasure some days in being impeccably polite. He enjoyed using just the right amount of social warmth and watching people flounder with it.

Orion had clapped him on the shoulder and said this was why he let Claudio talk him out of trouble. That had turned into half a dozen stories about their time during the war. No specifics on the work they’d been doing, but several about the way Claudio and Orion played off each other’s strengths as easily as breathing.

All right, possibly he’d also picked up the trick of letting other people make the silence awkward from Claudio. It was a useful one. Besides, it was Tess’s turn. She sniffed, and then grudgingly said. “Afternoon.” Then she looked around. “He’s not here?”

“Not yet, but on his way, I’m sure.” Matty considered how to play this, and added after a moment. “We’re not actually joined at the hip. And he had several other places to be today, and more later tonight. Things that apparently need doing before tomorrow’s Council meeting.” That wasn’t giving anything away. “I gather you’ve seen the papers, then.”

She twitched, but she was saved from having to comment by Isa Brown appearing behind her at the door. Tess went to take her usual seat, while Isa glanced around, as if uncertain. Matty added, “Same seats as usual, Isa, we’re not switching up people until next week.”

Isa seemed not at all sure how to deal with him, as if he had somehow turned into a large and brightly coloured bird rather than a rather dull-coloured bureaucrat. Or possibly some sort of monotreme, not seen outside of Australia or a zoo. On the other hand, he had not said anything terribly unusual. Thankfully, Caroline, the current Guard representative, came in just behind, holding up a box from the bakery. “I got lucky. Apple honey cakes for Myrtle’s last meeting.” Then her mouth twitched. “Also?—”

“We’ll get to that, don’t worry. Thank you for the cakes,” Matty said, glancing around. The last couple slid in, with Claudio last through the door. He turned and closed it, then came along to his usual chair to Matty’s left as if it were any other week. Matty could feel the very real charge between them, but he set it aside deliberately. Meeting first. Broom closet later, if necessary. Or desired. Probably desired. “Right. Everyone want tea to go with the honey cakes?”

There was a minute while that got sorted out. Tess made herself useful, pouring out mugs from the waiting pot. Then Matty launched into the business of the meeting, first those things that were old business, like the final materia distribution to the schools. There was some debate about that, but not as much as there might be. That was partly because Claudio had gone to some lengths to propose several alternatives that did actually work out for all involved.

After twenty minutes, everyone declared themselves satisfied. Then there were reports on the various harvests. They were now at the stage where various plants could be tested after being dried and processed from the earlier part of the summer. And there were the reports on harvests that were coming in the next fortnight. They’d been able to implement three trials of the new system, and those reports were coming back in extremely promising ways.

Finally, in the last quarter hour, they got to the last item: the changes. Myrtle cleared her throat once Matty turned things over to her. “I must say, it’s been rather more of a pleasure to be here than it was last time. Matthew, you’ve done an admirable job keeping us all in line, and I’m a trifle sorry I won’t be seeing you all regularly. Do arrange to come out and visit. I won’t be sorry to get a couple of hours back in my Tuesdays, though.” It made half of them laugh, though Isa and Tess were still rather tight-lipped.

She went on cheerfully. “My replacement will be Ella Ford from Snap, as next in the rotation.” There had been some reason that it was Snap then Forvie, not the other way around, but Matty hadn’t chased down why. It had just been like that for several decades, and there was no reason to change it. “She’s looking forward to it, but she’s a fierce bargainer. Be warned. There.” She waved a hand at Claudio.

“And for my part, yes, this will be my last meeting.” Claudio picked up immediately. “Unfortunately for me, because I have also enjoyed this, and I think it’s been useful for everyone. Unfortunately for those of you remaining, because I’m the current Penelope who is least annoyed by meetings. But after a little discussion, Anne Betts is going to take it on, at least for the next six months or so. Dunwich, so you know she’s better with the record keeping than some.”

Claudio had talked through the couple of likely people with Matty last night, and Anne had been his pick. Claudio hadn’t been sure she’d be willing, or whether Doyle would press the point. Apparently that part of his morning had gone well. That was good. Claudio went on, “I’ll be briefing her later this week, and of course turning over my notes. And it’s not as if I’m going very far. If there’s something you need from me, don’t hesitate to ask.”

There were murmurs all round, a few specific “Congratulations”. Though in this room, people were apparently not entirely sure if congratulating was quite the right mode. Everyone shared out the cakes— small, given the rationing— and Matty ran them through a few upcoming pieces.

He ended with the one reminder he wanted to make on his own account. “I’m still intending to continue in the project of fixing the process for a number of pieces of documentation. But let’s plan to talk about that again at our first September meeting, to give the new folks a chance to get settled.” Also, because he had a dozen or so hours of work that needed doing on it still, and several parts he wanted to talk through with Claudio when they got a breather.

Everyone nodded and agreed. Then it was time for everyone to gather their things and file out. Claudio let out a breath as the last to leave, Tess, departed. “That went well enough. The conversation with Gabe was terrifyingly informative, adjective chosen with reason. The rest of the day’s been fine. You’ve heard the relevant bits. You?”

“Lots of people coming to ogle me for gossip. Drink, then, before you go off? And you can meet me at the pub after?” Matty had grabbed a small valise yesterday when they’d come through Trellech, enough for a couple more nights away. They’d need to figure that out sooner than later, but certainly not today.

“Ogle, is it?” Claudio laughed. “Drink sounds great before dealing with Mother. Do you need to stop by your office?”

“I have everything.” Matty finished packing up, and they walked down together. As they were coming around the corner of the stairs down to the ground floor, Matty stopped suddenly. Beside him, Claudio was instantly at attention, stopping as well.

The voice that came next was sharp and pained, but in that earnestly polite way that some women— like Mum— used when they were not getting their way. It was definitely Mum, given the content, too. “I do not need an appointment to see my son.” He put a hand on Claudio’s arm, and Claudio shifted slightly, not as intensely dangerous.

The guard at the front hall said something Matty couldn’t hear, then Mum said, “I’ll wait here until he comes down then.” Matty could see her in his mind’s eye. She’d be dressed well, one of her blue frocks. Now she’d be going to sit on one of the wooden benches along the side of the entry hall, purse balanced precisely on her knees, hat on her head. And she’d be looking quickly at everyone who came through.

Without looking at Claudio, he said, quiet as could be. “Best let me deal with this. Drink later when you’re done. Meet me at the pub. I’ll write if there’s something you need to know sooner, know you might not see it. Or I’ll write if they do last call and you’re not done yet.”

There was a pause, a count of five, then Claudio said, just as quietly. “Your battle, you set the strategy. See you later.” There was a soft kiss on his cheek, a hand on his shoulder, one squeeze. Then Claudio’s steps retreated, going back up half a flight so he could go around to one of the side exits. Matty took a deep breath and prepared to go into the known and unknown. He knew, fairly well, what Mum was going to start with. He had a solid idea of what he wanted. The question was how to get there from here.

Chapter 45

Later that day at Dinas Emrys

“Mother,” Claudio stood smoothly from the bench he’d been waiting on as his mother opened the door. He had, one way and another, spent a fair bit of time in this hallway over the years. Waiting for Father, waiting for Mother, waiting for both of them. He always had a book.

Today, however, he had not been waiting long. He’d come through the portal to the keep after leaving Matty at the Ministry. Then he’d taken himself and a book out through the curtain wall to a spot by the stream that wound around the stones and crags and down toward the bay. He’d read until about a quarter hour ago, pausing only to get Matty’s note by journal that the conversation with his mother was ongoing, but not currently horrible. Matty thought he’d be at the pub until closing, which at least gave Claudio a later target.

Now, though, he brought his focus to his mother. She was wearing a simple purple dress, a sleeveless creamy white ritual robe over it, both of linen rather than silk, her hair pinned up into a low bun. Not her usual mode at all, though of course he’d seen her like this before. It meant she had changed before this, that she felt it was something that needed preparation, but not elaborate ritual. “Would it be better if I changed?”

The question took her aback, but then she shook her head slightly. “No, that’s not necessary.” Then, unexpectedly, she added, “That’s what you were wearing on Sunday, more or less. We are going to the same place. Do you need anything before we go up?”