Both Uses

however
in
The Last Battle
(Edited)

Dinner was, however, a dull meal, for the best they could do was to pound up some of the hard biscuit which they found in a locker and pour it into boiling water, with salt, so as to make a kind of porridge.
Chpt 5 *

however = a word used to connect contrasting ideas as when using though, in spite of that, in contrast, nevertheless, etc.
Whatever she looked at, however far away it might be, once she had fixed her eyes steadily on it, became quite clear and close as if she were looking through a telescope.
Chpt 16 *

however = regardless of how

Definitions:

(1) (however as in: However, complications may...)
though (or another expression that connects contrasting ideas)

Based on idea 1 we might not expect idea 2, but this is a way of saying that even though idea 1 exists, we still have idea 2. Synonyms include in spite of that, despite that, nevertheless, nonetheless, on the other hand, in contrast and but.
(2) (however as in: However much she tried...)
to whatever degree (regardless of how much; or whatever unspecified amount)
(3) (however as in: However you do it, get it done!)
in whatever way
(4) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)
Much more rarely (and arguably incorrectly), however can be used to intensify the word how, as when one says "However did you find her?" Grammarians would suggest using two words for that usage: "How ever did you find her?"