Mr.Barnes stood, beamed, and held out his hand for Conrad to shake.It was more along the lines of how Conrad met people in his own station, which put him instantly at ease.When it occurred to him that this was likely the gentleman’s intention, he relaxed even more.Roger excused himself and bustled out of the room, closing the door behind him with a quiet snap.
They both sat and Mr.Barnes turned his smile fully to Conrad.He looked very much like his son—the same light brown skin, the same dark eyes and dark hair, the same roundness of face and figure, and the same gentleness of spirit.Conrad recognized that this was what Torquil had been trying to tell him the previous day.If he could get along with Roger, he would likely get along just fine with Mr.Barnes.
“I’m told you wish to apply for the vacant position on the Council,” Mr.Barnes prompted him.
“Yes, sir.”
“Everything I’ve heard about you is very promising.Why don’t you tell me a bit about yourself?”
Conrad launched into a brief summary of coming from Bristol, his work on the docks, his dream of doing more, how learning about the new rubrics gave him hope for families like his own, and how he had developed his plan to come and apply for the position on the human side of the Council.“I have a number of ideas.I’ve talked about them at length with Roger, Wyndham, Torquil, and Silas.I’d love to be a part of launching the rubric.I realize the Council is in a stage of change at the moment, what with a number of members leaving and another group joining; I’d very much like to be a part of that change and help to mold what we make of the future.”
Mr.Barnes’ smile grew.“That’s exactly the sort of thing I wanted to hear.Anything else I need to know?”
Conrad hesitated.“I confess that my magic is not as strong as I’d like it to be.I was educated at home by my parents, so I had no formal training.My Hastings score was quite low, but there was nothing for us to inherit anyway, and the jobs we work don’t require any particular score.When working with raw materials, my magic is stronger.And I’ve been experimenting with another fae in residence here—under Roger and Wyndham’s supervision and guidance of course—and my magic is significantly stronger when I do that.But I don’t wish you to be under any illusions as to my magical prowess.Though I cannot sense magic like Roger, I am eager to learn whatever I can.”
Mr.Barnes’ expression sharpened at the mention of raw materials and the experiments with Sage, but he chuckled at the end of Conrad’s speech.“I cannot sense magic either.And I would prefer to have someone of the right temperament and vision than simply picking someone with a certain level of magical power.Besides, having someone from a humble background is a good thing.You would provide a much needed perspective in terms of what ideas might be feasible for people in different financial situations.It didn’t occur to me what a lack of inheritance might mean for a family with an informal education or low scores.We would need to take that sort of thing into account when we prepare the rubrics.”
Conrad breathed out in relief.“I am glad I’m not alone in not being able to sense magic.”
“Not at all,” the other man said.“Truth be told, I’d be relieved to have another member on the Council who cannot.I am now decidedly in the minority where that skill is concerned.”
Conrad beamed in response.“Is there anything else you wish to know?”
“I would like to hear more about your work with raw materials and this experiment with another fae, but that can wait.I’ve been impressed with you since my son wrote of how you traveled all the way from Bristol to inquire about the position.I was pleased to hear of your amiable disposition and how you seemed to get along with everyone you met.He is far more complimentary when discussing your magical skills, though I won’t deny that humility is a good trait,” he added with a wink.“I had honestly all but made up my mind before my arrival.”
Conrad clasped his hands together in his lap, barely daring to breathe.“You had?”
“Oh, yes.A determined, intelligent, amiable, kind, and skilled young person such as yourself?One with a vision for a better future, who’s willing to work for it?I couldn’t ask for a better applicant.”He held out his hand, “Welcome to the Council for Fae and Human Magical Relations, Mr.Moore.”
Conrad grasped Mr.Barnes’ hand with both of his own.“Thank you,” he breathed.“I cannot tell you what this means to me.”
Mr.Barnes gave a kindly chuckle.“After hearing what you went through to get here, I can imagine.As I understand it, you’ve been staying here until we could talk.So if you need an advance on your salary to tide you over in London, let me know.”
“Thank you,” Conrad repeated.“I may take you up on that.Torquil has offered for me to use their townhouse when I go, so that will help considerably.”
“I imagine so.I’m glad to hear it.”He stood.“I certainly don’t want you struggling before you’ve even had a chance to start.And it’s good to know that you have Torquil’s good opinion.They are an excellent judge of character.”
“They are quite wonderful,” Conrad said.
“Indeed.”Mr.Barnes flashed him a smile.“Now, unless you have any questions for me, I should sneak back out.Roger has been adamant that my arrival be a secret.”
Conrad laughed.“Nothing comes to mind.”
“I’ll be at the…” He lowered his voice to a whisper for the next word, “...partytonight,” he resumed at normal volume.“So if you think of anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”He shook Conrad’s hand again.“It was a pleasure meeting you.”
Conrad thanked him again.Mr.Barnes opened the door, greeted someone on the other side of it, and then left.Conrad stood in the center of the room, feeling dazed by how swiftly and easily his dream had come true.
“Conrad?”Sage’s voice stirred him out of his thoughts.
“Hm?”
“How did it go?”Sage poked his head in the door, frowning with concern.
Conrad broke into a grin so broad it almost hurt.Sage was at his side in a moment, arms wrapping around his waist.“I knew you could do it,” he whispered against Conrad’s neck.
Conrad wrapped his arms around Sage’s neck with another bright laugh, bouncing on his toes as he did so.“I can hardly believe it.It happened so quickly.”
“You were the only one who doubted it would happen,” Sage reminded him.His voice lowered as he said, “I’m proud of you.”
Conrad blinked away tears as he pulled away enough to frame Sage’s face with his hands and kiss him.
