by Amy DuBoff
His grandson evaluated him. “Yeah, hey. I guess we meet at last.”
“Technically, I did meet you as babies,” Cris pointed out. “But I realize that doesn’t count.”
“And there were the vid calls, but…” Raena murmured.
“That was hardly a substitute for being there with you in person. We wanted to—” Cris tried to explain.
“It was on us,” Saera cut in. “But you’re very lucky now because you’ll get ultra-concentrated grandparent spoiling. And they’re two of the most awesome people I’ve ever met.”
Cris perked up. “She’s right. We have a lot of time to make up for.”
Raena seemed to catch herself. She leaned toward her mother. “Wait, were we supposed to do the things in the videos now?”
“Stars! Please don’t,” Cris said.
Saera held in a laugh. “Yeah, that’s just for your great-grandparents.”
“It shouldn’t even matter,” Cris continued. “We’re family and should be able to just talk to each other like people.”
“You’re also TSS High Commander, so I’m not sure how that factors in with us being Trainees,” Raena ventured.
“Do you regard your mother any differently now?” Cris asked.
Raena shook her head.
“Well, she’s Lead Agent, so things shouldn’t be any different with me, either.” He smiled at his grandchildren. “Now, let’s get you settled in. Kate’s waiting for us inside.”
Cris let Saera walk ahead with the twins, beckoning for Wil to hang back. “They’re absolutely stunning, Wil.”
“I’m beginning to understand the fathers in fairytales that sequestered their daughters in towers. I’ve already had to start scaring off TSS trainees from Raena,” Wil replied.
“She’s hardly a child anymore. You’ll need to let her grow up.”
Wil sighed. “I know.”
“All the same,” Cris continued, “their appearance is going to make the next few days even more difficult. It was one thing when it was just their name, but seeing them now—”
“What are you talking about?” Wil asked.
“My parents are planning something and you’re not going to like it.”
CHAPTER 12
The Sietinen estate always felt far too formal for Wil’s liking. As the party passed through the three-meter-tall double doors leading into the central corridor from the gardens, he braced for unwanted news. What have my grandparents planned this time?
When they decided to bring the twins to Tararia, he had no doubt that they would be thoroughly assessed as suitable heirs. Though Saera had been officially accepted as his partner, just being the daughter of someone from a lower-dynasty would never carry the same weight as someone truly high-born. Since Wil himself wasn’t deeply connected to Taran politics, the entire family descended from Reinen, by extension, carried far less political firepower than previous generations. For the Sietinen name to be secure going forward, one or both of Wil’s children would need to be paired with the right family offering continued strategic alliances. However, Wil had promised himself that he’d never let his children be used as bartering pawns for political gain. He desired for them to be able to marry for love, as he’d done. How political necessity could be balanced with a self-directed future remained to be seen.
As Wil’s eyes adjusted to the interior light, he noticed his mother approaching from the western wing. She wore a flowing teal dress with silver accents that was quite suited to the temperate weather. Accompanying her was Marina in one of her trademark green gowns.
“Welcome!” Kate greeted, fixing her gaze on the twins. She admired them for a moment in silence. “I can’t believe you’re all grown up.”
Raena and Jason smiled tentatively.
“This is my mother, Kate,” Wil explained.
Raena’s expression warmed. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“You too!” Kate stepped forward and embraced her. She pulled out of the hug and held her granddaughter at arms’ length. “You’re lovely, dear.” She looked to Jason. “And you…” Kate released Raena and gave Jason a hug in turn. “There is no doubt you are your father’s son.”
Jason glanced at Wil and Cris as Kate released him from the hug. “Yeah, I wasn’t going to question it.”
“And this is your maternal grandmother, Marina,” Saera introduced her mother.
Marina smiled and inclined her head. “I know I haven’t been in your lives, but I hope we will be able to become acquainted.”
“There’ll be plenty of time for us all to get to know each other now,” Saera said, placing one of her hands on each teenager’s shoulder.
“Have you told them yet?” Kate asked Cris.
“Tell us what?” Wil replied.
Kate flashed a heartfelt smile at the twins and Saera. “Give us just a moment.” She gestured toward the door and led Wil, Cris, and Marina outside.
Once in private, Kate took a slow breath. “Reinen and Alana have been somewhat… difficult regarding the twin’s arrival.”
“Not that that was any surprise,” Cris interjected.
“What have they requested?” Wil asked, jumping straight to the point.
“They’re expecting a formal presentation of the candidate heirs this afternoon,” Marina began. “But they’ve also scheduled a reception ball—for tonight.”
Tonight? “No. There’s no foking way I’m agreeing to this!” Wil exclaimed.
“I know, I don’t like it either,” his father replied in a smooth tone of feigned calm. “However, we don’t have much of a choice.”
“We can turn around and leave right now,” Wil shot back, taking a step for the door to retrieve his family.
Cris raised an eyebrow. “And what good would that do us when they denounce Raena and Jason as heirs?”
Wil hesitated. “They can’t do that.”
“It’d be an extreme measure, but it’s not impossible,” Marina stated.
“They were born in TSS Headquarters, which is regarded as a Taran outpost, but the argument could be made that it’s technically Earth territory,” Kate pointed out. “Bloodline or not, they’d need to go through a citizenship confirmation hearing.”
Wil crossed his arms. “I was born in TSS Headquarters, too.”
“Exactly,” Cris stated.
“I’ve been formally named as an heir, though.”
His father nodded. “Yes, but I named you as my heir. So long as my father is Head of the Sietinen Dynasty, he can meddle in the ascension lines as much as he likes.”
Wil glowered. “So we’re stuck playing along or all of our plans might unravel.”
“I’m afraid so,” Cris said. “But, the good news is that I genuinely believe my parents are on our side when it comes to matters involving the Priesthood. Really, trying to arrange some marriages is them just keeping up appearances—they have to know we’d never let anything get too serious unless it was something Raena or Jason actually wanted.”
Wil shook his head. “That won’t keep them from holding out hope.”
“Well, let’s be reasonable. We couldn’t expect them to change everything about themselves. Old ways die hard,” Kate said.
Wil sighed. “Fair enough.”
“But hey, if nothing else, this will give us a chance to get an updated count on votes,” Cris pointed out.
“I guess it will,” Wil yielded. He took a deep breath and released it in a huff. “Fine, let’s just get this over with.”
* * *
Everything about the Sietinen estate looked like it was out of a fairytale, as far as Raena was concerned. From the perfectly manicured grounds to the expansive structures in gleaming white stone, every detail was too precise to be real.
“It’s almost becoming a tradition to have Sietinen children grow up elsewhere and return when they’re of age,” her grandfather was saying to her father up ahead in the corridor.
“Not that everyone supports that practice,” Marina
stated with a prim smile.
“For what it’s worth, it’s not really a tradition I’m eager to carry forward,” Wil replied with the shake of his head.
“When did you first come back, Dad?” Raena asked.
“I’ve visited here several times,” he said. “The most time I spent here was when I was fourteen.”
“Any particular reason?” questioned Jason.
Wil hesitated. “I was… recovering from an injury.”
“This has always been a safe place for our family,” Cris added.
“Yes, but even so, it hasn’t been ‘home’ for any of us for two generations,” Wil countered. “TSS Headquarters will always have that affinity for me.”
Will Earth always feel like home? Raena glanced at her brother. “After where we grew up, this seems so…”
“Overdone?” Cris completed for her.
“I felt the same way when I first got here,” Saera said, brushing a gentle hand over Raena’s shoulder. “Even decades later, I never felt like I fit in here.”
“My parents didn’t exactly make you feel welcome at first,” Cris muttered.
“We’re all welcome here,” Kate quickly cut in.
“Of course you are!” Marina added.
So that family drama really does go way back. Raena looked to her mother for guidance. “I’m not sure how to relate with someone who takes living in this sort of place for granted.”
Up ahead, Wil turned around and smiled back at her. “That confirms that we made the right decision to raise you away from all this.”
“Just nod and smile like we showed you,” Saera said. “Superficial appearance will go a long way.”
The party strode down the ornate passageway, passing by windows looking out over the gardens and terraces adorned with comfortable seating and fountains. The entire estate reminded Raena of a resort out of a “luxury living” article for the elite. Nothing about it came across as a home where anyone would raise a family.
“We have some formal clothes set aside for them,” Marina said to Wil.
“No, they come as they are. The whole notion of formal acceptance is ridiculous enough already. They’re not dolls to be dressed up.”
Raena smiled to herself. At least someone is going to have our backs—whatever we’re walking into.
Eventually, the corridors led to a set of double doors carved with vines and flowers, accented by metallic silver highlights.
“Everyone ready?” Kate asked.
“Let’s get it over with,” Wil said and stepped forward, telekinetically swinging open the doors to either side.
Raena gulped as she took in the reception room.
The two-story room had all the ornateness from the previous corridors replicated and multiplied into one ostentatious presentation of superiority. The white marble floor gleamed with an almost mirror finish, reflecting the details of the carved columns up the walls and the crown molding that transitioned into an abstract mural of a lake with forested hills beyond. Windows spanned three walls, and at the back of the room was a dais topped by a carved, white wood table and two chairs facing toward the entryway.
Seated in the chairs behind the table, two figures robed in dark blue surveyed the party. They rose, their keen eyes fixed on Raena and Jason.
The man on the left and woman to his right projected an aura of age and wisdom, though there were few signs aside from their gray hair to denote their advanced years.
“Welcome,” the man said in a commanding voice as he continued to examine them with his cobalt eyes. “I am Reinen Sietinen, Head of the Sietinen Dynasty and SiNavTech.”
Raena gave a little courtesy while Jason bowed next to her. “We are honored to finally meet you,” she said like the videos had indicated, keeping her gaze cast down slightly.
“And I am Alana, your great-grandmother,” the regal woman next to Reinen stated. She glided around the table in her sky blue dress. “Let’s have a look at you.”
Raena walked forward toward the dais, trying to feign confidence. “Yes, my lady.”
Reluctantly, Jason stepped forward with her. They stopped three meters in front of the dais as Reinen and Alana came to meet them.
Raena ventured a slight smile, but her advance was ignored as the two elders circled around the twins. To her right, Jason was tense and trying to fight a scowl.
This is so weird. I figured they’d want to talk to us, not perform an actual visual inspection, Raena thought to herself when Alana brushed Raena’s ponytail aside to inspect the back of her neck. Her great-grandmother then completed the circle around her side and looked her square in the eyes.
Reinen performed a similar inspection of Jason. “There’s too much green,” he stated.
“Pardon?” her brother questioned.
“Hers, as well,” Alana said.
Do they mean our eyes? Raena glanced over her shoulder at her parents for help.
“I don’t think eye color is really a deal-breaker,” Cris said, stepping forward.
“It’s a defining feature of our line,” Reinen replied. “Wil was deviation enough, but this—”
“These are your great-grandchildren,” Cris continued. “Times change. One minor feature isn’t worth getting hung up on.”
“It’s not just one feature. They weren’t even raised on a recognized Taran world,” Reinen retorted.
“Here we go…” Wil said under his breath.
“Let’s look at this another way,” Kate said as she came to stand between Cris and his parents. “There is now some diversity, both in terms of genetics and upbringing. All of us in the High Dynasties could use a little outside perspective.”
“Still, others have expectations,” Reinen insisted.
“So, what, you want us to alter their eye color?” Cris asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Well—” Reinen began.
As the situation continued to escalate, Raena couldn’t keep quiet any longer. “Sorry if I’m speaking out of turn,” she cut in, “but I’d like to say that I’m very happy with my eye color just the way it is. And yes, Jason and I were raised on Earth, but writing us off just because we weren’t born here suggests a complete unwillingness to get to know us as people, and that’s not good business. You don’t hire someone on resume alone, but rather go through an interview process. If you don’t like us, fine. But at least go through the motions.”
Everyone stood in shocked silence for several seconds staring at her.
Finally, Reinen cracked a smile. “All right, you got my attention. If you can bring that kind of spirit to the negotiation table, we might be able to make a proper executive out of you yet.”
Cris’ shoulders rounded and he let out a slow breath. “We really do need an outside perspective.”
“Does this mean we get to keep our eyes?” Jason asked tentatively.
Reinen bowed his head. “Forgive me. Sometimes I forget that the old ways aren’t also the ways of the future. I know you’ll be far more valuable intact.”
“Yeah, let’s watch the commodities language,” Wil pointed out. “And remember, we’re all on the same side here.”
“Our intent was only to make the most compelling argument possible for your other endeavors,” Alana said. “To sway others you need the foundation of the familiar.”
“It’ll be familiar enough,” Wil replied. “And what better way to make a point than by leading with evidence of that evolution.”
What are they talking about? Raena’s brow knit and she looked to her mother for an explanation.
“There’ll be time to discuss those details later,” Saera said.
“Yes,” Reinen agreed. “You’ll have all the right delegates to evaluate at the ball tonight.”
Wil groaned a little too loudly. “Does it have to be tonight?”
“The arrangements are made,” Alana said. “You best prepare yourselves. Guests will arrive at 17:00.”
“And you,” Reinen held out his hands in a gesture encompas
sing Raena and Jason, “will be properly introduced as the Sietinen heirs. But who will have primary inheritance?” he asked Wil.
“I haven’t decided yet,” their father replied.
Wait, one of us is named heir over the other? Raena and her brother exchanged confused glances.
“Quarters have been prepared for you in the guest wing,” Reinen continued before Raena could seek clarification. “You’ll find appropriate attire for this evening waiting for you.”
“Thank you,” Raena said, though she wasn’t sure the statement was specifically addressed to her. “I hope we’ll get to speak more this evening.”
“Yes, I’m sure,” Alana said with a slight bow of her head and warm smile.
“See you then,” Cris said and led the way out of the reception room.
When they were down the hall and the doors had thudded closed in the distance, he sighed loudly. “Seriously? Eye color? What the fok—”
“Dad,” Wil interrupted. “Language.”
“It’s okay. We went to public school, remember?” Jason pointed out. You probably don’t want to know how people talked in the hallways.”
“Anyway,” Cris continued, “that was ridiculous. Just when I think we’ve finally made some progress they’ll randomly revert like that.”
“They came around and that’s the important thing,” Kate said.
“Yes,” Saera agreed. “All things considered, I expected it to go much worse.”
“Worse than suggesting surgical operations?” Raena asked, incredulous.
“Eye color modification is easy. Worst case would have been demanding removal of your Dynastic Marks,” Wil said. “If you’d been disavowed as heirs entirely that would have been a whole other mess.”
“Yeah, what was that about picking one of us as a primary heir?” Jason asked.
“Right, that…” Wil looked down. “Another tradition that doesn’t account for alternative ways of thinking.”
Raena examined her father. “What do you mean?”
“It’s a product of business merging with politics,” Cris said. “Since the Head of a Dynasty is also the heir to the family’s corporate interests, an official successor needs to be named as the deciding vote on the board. While that sounds reasonable in theory, the tradition originated through somewhat questionable practices as a means to circumvent a firstborn child if they didn’t live up to expectations.”
