The meeting went better than Henry had expected. Guildmaster Gumptor leant his full support, and even the most stubborn people came around to his ideas after a while. They knew it made sense to work together to support Central Command rather than expecting everything to be provided for them like before. They had to adapt to their changing environment.
Annie enjoyed herself too. She had mixed readily with the guilds, helping out wherever she could. Henry hoped it would be the beginning of a new start for her. Everybody needed a purpose. He knew from his own experience how good it felt to be part of something new.
Annie returned to her quarters in Tower Two after the meeting and Henry had spent the rest of the evening in his own lodgings. He had eaten a supper of jam and bread and then rested on his bunk for a while, taking the weight off his swollen knee.
He remembered how he had felt in the middle of the Kamari war, walking between the shelters as war raged on around him. The fighting had been brutal and it had lasted for so long. The fless had frightened the life out of him, but he had been lucky compared to many in the city. He was still alive. He had lost his home in the towers but he had the chance to make a new start.
The fighting had given him a new perspective on life. He had been a self-serving diplomat for most of his adult life but now he felt as though his eyes had finally been opened to the suffering that existed all around him. It wasn't enough to seek status and wealth for himself. Such things had been cheapened by events in the city. It was time for him to give back to the people. Rachel had put her trust in him and he was determined to make her proud.
The Council of Cinnamon City wasn't like other organisations that Henry had ever been part of. It felt real and tangible, with the power to do actual good for the city. He wouldn't let it go to waste this time. He intended to make things happen.