Valeria
The summary made it sound as though Embercrown had offered to support the entire arrangement.
Valeria had offered to read a schedule.
She laid the two pages beside each other before Edric could begin his explanation.
"Which part of my message gave you this?"
He glanced at the summary. "It's a proposed description."
"Then propose another one."
The council room was still being prepared. At the far end, Tessa Marrow placed three voting slips beside three chairs. Her own place had a writing board and no slip.
Edric lowered his voice.
"Your house benefits from visible support for recovery and practical training."
"My house benefits from many things. You don't have authority to choose them."
"You could secure it."
"I'm here to discuss the hour I control."
He looked at her long enough to make the disappointment deliberate. She had been trained by people considerably better at that.
Valeria took her seat and placed her own booking confirmation on the table.
