Path of Justice (Cadicle #6): An Epic Space Opera Series

by Amy DuBoff

  He looked confused but rose, as well. “See you later, Jason.”

  Jason just scoffed and shook his head as Raena led Ryan into her bedroom.

  She closed the door. “Sorry.”

  “What was that about?” Ryan asked.

  Raena sat down cross-legged on her bed. “He’s always been a little protective of me, I guess. Where we grew up, there were some people that just wanted to get in someone’s pants and then would move on to their next conquest.”

  “Yeah, I know all about that.” Ryan sat down next to her. “Does he really think that’s what’s going on here?”

  “No. I think he’s worried it’s more than that. We’ve always been close, and casual dating didn’t get in the way. But if I’m in an actual relationship…”

  “He won’t be able to talk to his friend in the same way anymore,” Ryan completed for her.

  “Exactly.” She sighed and lay back on the bed. “Why didn’t anyone warn us that growing up was so complicated?”

  Ryan reclined next to her. “Seriously. It was tough enough without throwing in all the dynastic heir stuff.”

  “So let’s ignore all that,” Raena suggested. “No one’s actually imposing any mandates or forcing us to do anything.”

  “It doesn’t feel that way.”

  “I know…” She rolled to her side to face him, propping her arm under her head. “But we like each other, right?”

  He nodded.

  “So, let’s forget about everything going on outside and get to know each other like normal people—just like we’ve started to do.”

  Ryan rolled over to face her. “I’d like that.”

  She inched closer to him. “Besides, we really are just two Trainees here in the TSS. Nothing in our outside lives is supposed to matter.”

  “Good point.”

  “So who we are, and what we went through on Tararia, let’s just keep that between us.”

  Ryan grasped her free hand in his. “There’s no one else I could possibly talk to about it.”

  “Me either.”

  She shifted around to bring her head to his chest. There was still so much to process, but she felt better knowing that someone else knew what she was going through. Regardless of what lay in store for them, they were now bound by that shared experience. Maybe, with time, it could be even more.

  * * *

  Cris reviewed the test data on his desktop while Wil sat in the visitor chair across from him, awaiting his assessment.

  “This is… surprising,” Cris said at last. Any commentary would be an understatement. Raena was already on pace to match benchmarks Wil achieved as an advanced Junior Agent. Though she was the same age he’d been at the time, she had none of the formal training.

  “She might actually be stronger than me,” Wil stated, vocalizing what no one had wanted to say aloud since her remarkable escape from the Priesthood.

  “I didn’t think that was possible.”

  “The Aesir knew she was special. At the time, I thought letting them test her would have been a death sentence, but now I’m not so sure.”

  Cris collapsed the testing logs and placed them back in a secure file. “If she were anyone else, I’d hesitate to have her with the other Trainees.”

  Wil leaned forward. “The thing is, I don’t even think she realizes what she can do.”

  “And you don’t want to tell her?”

  “I know what it’s like to be handed a fate.”

  So we let her find her own way—what we never had the chance to do. “Okay.”

  “We keep this between us,” Wil said. “Not even Saera or Mom.”

  Cris despised keeping anything from Kate, but in this matter, he had to agree. They had one chance to let Raena grow into a true leader for Tararia, and dangling that power in front of her would only distract from the bigger goals at hand.

  “We’ll guide her as best we can,” Cris said.

  Wil hung his head. “I wish I’d never had to find out what I can do.”

  “Whatever power Raena masters, it won’t be for destruction.”

  “I hope you’re right.”

  CHAPTER 23

  A week was too long to mull over a final decision. Wil knew he had to decide what to do with Raena in regard to her training, but he didn’t take the decision lightly. In an ideal world, he’d train her personally—intensive one-on-one coaching that would likely have her ready to meet or exceed his own CR within a year or two.

  However, there was more to consider than just her prospects as an Agent. More pressing was the need for someone to handle the delicate political dealings that would ensue in the coming years on Tararia. While Jason was an exceptional heir prospect by most standards, Raena’s temperament was far more suited to a life of politicking. Compounded by her budding relationship with Ryan, there was no denying that she was the better choice for that life.

  It’s not mutually exclusive, but would she really step into a life of politics if she knew her power? She might be more inclined to join the Aesir.

  The open offer he’d been extended appealed to him in the darker moments—an escape from the often mundane existence of administrative duties and politics. He wondered what it would be like to be among others so advanced in their knowledge and understanding of the fabric that made up their reality.

  Yet, there were too many loved ones in his home to seriously consider joining them. Saera, his children, his friends… The ties were too numerous and the danger they still faced was far too great for him to turn his back on them.

  He paced his office as he mulled over the options: tell Raena her true potential, let her discover it on her own, or intentionally keep her from tapping into that potential.

  The latter was the safest, but it would also be the easiest to backfire. If he was to guide her, he needed to be viewed as a trusted advisor. Betraying that trust would ultimately drive her away.

  Telling her about her true potential could equally backfire. She was too curious by nature to not want to push the limits of her abilities, especially since the advances came so effortlessly.

  That left the option of allowing her to discover her strength at her own pace. Her realization could come at any moment, but so long as it was a natural progression, she was less likely to harm herself or others by reaching too far, too fast. She would almost certainly remember the time he tested her and ask what he had learned, but he could figure out what to say when that time came.

  He ran his fingers through his hair as he came to terms with the decision. She’ll advance so much faster than the others, but maybe they’ll benefit from her presence in the way that Saera and the Primus Elites did from me.

  His mind made up, Wil left his office and strode the short distance down the hall to the High Commander’s office. He knocked on the door and Cris bid him entry.

  “Hey, what’s up?” his father asked.

  Wil closed the door. “Raena should stay and train like we planned. Either accelerating her or holding her back could cause her to drift from us. We need to keep her close.”

  Cris nodded. “That’s the direction I was leaning, too. Agreed.”

  “That brings us to the matter of the Primus Elite cohort,” Wil said. “I’ve gone over the potential candidates and have made a selection. Ten men and ten women.”

  “To share Initiate quarters?”

  “Yes. And given Raena’s abilities, I’d wager that the constant proximity will benefit all of them.”

  “Okay,” Cris agreed. “Upload the list and we’ll pull them when they arrive. We should get a few early arrivals tomorrow and the rest by the end of the week.”

  “I guess I’ll get the twins and Ryan moved over, then.”

  “Good idea.” He paused. “Are they still getting along?”

  “Ryan and Raena are great. I think they’re taking things slow and getting to know each other properly, which I appreciate. I haven’t been able to get a good read on how Jason is taking everything.”

&nbs
p; His father folded his hands on the desktop. “It has to be strange for him seeing Raena branching out on her own. Their lives were once so intertwined.”

  “I hope they’ll reconnect once they start training together. I’d also like to see a good relationship between Ryan and Jason—we need a secure alliance between Tararia and the TSS.”

  Cris tilted his head. “Is your intent to groom Jason for High Commander?”

  “It’s occurred to me. We’ll see how things play out.”

  “Indeed. I’m not about to give up the job yet.”

  “I’m well aware that you’ll avoid getting into Taran politics at any cost.”

  Cris smiled. “Guilty.”

  Wil chuckled. “All right. I’ll go talk to them about the move. I’ll get you the other seventeen names this afternoon.”

  With a parting nod, Wil headed down to Level 2 to speak with his children. The halls were still relatively empty as the older trainees took advantage of their down time between terms to catch up on video games and mindless entertainment from across the Taran worlds, locking themselves in their quarters to play undisturbed.

  Wil arrived at the door to their quarters and hit the buzzer. Five seconds passed before the lock clicked open.

  Jason answered the door. “Hey.”

  “May I come in?” Wil asked.

  “Yeah, of course.” He stepped aside. “Dad’s here!”

  The door in the back left slid open and Raena emerged with Ryan.

  Wil glanced between them and Jason, gaining a new appreciation for the awkwardness of the arrangement. Still, he couldn’t fault Raena and Ryan for hanging out in her room when he had stolen a spaceship to get some alone time with their mom.

  “Everyone have a seat,” Wil said, deciding to shrug off whatever may be going on behind closed doors.

  The three teenagers sat down on the couch facing the door and he took the one adjacent to them.

  “Like I said, these quarters were temporary,” he began. “The other Trainees will start arriving soon, so I think it’s time you move into the suite you’ll share with the other Primus Elites in your cohort.”

  Raena let out an exaggerated sigh. “I’ll have to share a room, won’t I?”

  “With four other lovely young ladies.” Wil grinned. “I’m sure you’ll love it.”

  She scoffed and tossed her head back on the couch.

  “How many total?” Jason asked.

  “Four rooms, five a piece,” Wil replied. “Since coed quarters are new for the TSS, I think we should at least keep the rooms divided. Jason and Ryan, you can decide if you want to room together or not.”

  “When do we head over?” Ryan asked.

  “I can take you now, if you like,” Wil said. “You can move over your things later.”

  “I’m game,” Raena replied.

  “All right, let’s go.”

  Wil led them through the halls and across the lobby to the Initiates wing. He’d managed to secure the same suite his previous Primus Elite trainees had occupied. Since many of those men would play an integral part in training the new generation, it only seemed fitting.

  He palmed open the door and ushered them inside.

  The copper-colored walls no longer held the memorabilia that had decorated the room for years, but Wil had no doubt that the new group would find their own way to make a personal mark on the space. The furniture had been updated in the recent TSS remodel, but the new couches were still gathered around the main viewscreen like always and a round conference table with a central holographic projector still dominated the back of the room.

  “Girls on one side, boys on the other?” Raena asked after making a brief assessment of the space.

  “Works for me,” Jason said.

  Wil noted that Ryan and Jason headed for separate rooms, with Ryan across from Raena at the back of the common room and Jason in the front left.

  That actually worked out to his benefit, per his preferred method of having Captains share their room with a squad. The three of them were natural fits for the leadership positions, though he needed to make sure the other students responded to them before making a final determination.

  Raena was the first to emerge from her chosen bedroom. “This is going to be an adjustment.”

  “You have been pretty spoiled your whole life. Remember, you were all geared up to go to college and live in a dorm.”

  “That would be one roommate, not four,” she countered. “At least it’s pretty spacious.”

  “You’ll get used to it,” Wil assured her.

  Jason and Ryan walked out from their rooms.

  “What’s the best bed?” Jason asked.

  “I always preferred either one of the back corners across from the door,” Wil replied. “That way you don’t get anyone walking by.”

  “All right, claimed,” Jason said.

  “It’s always nice knowing the right people so you get first pick,” Wil jested. “This will be home for quite some time so get to know it and treat it well.”

  Ryan looked around the room. “We’ll do our best.”

  Wil admired them in the familiar space. A whole new generation… It’s hard to believe. “With that, welcome to the TSS.”

  * * *

  Ryan settled onto his bed in his new quarters. The room seemed entirely too large and empty with just him in it, but he figured he should enjoy the privacy while he could. In a matter of days, he’d have four new roommates and be on the path to becoming a TSS Agent.

  I still can’t believe how much has changed. I never would have dreamed this kind of future was possible. Joining the TSS was a radical enough change, but the future prospects of reviving a fallen High Dynasty was still too much for him to process.

  Coming to terms with that eventuality was further hampered by Raena’s distance from her own heritage. When spending time together, he often forgot how different their lives had been. She acted like any other teenager most of the time, giving no hint of her ancestry. For that matter, Wil and Cris seemed to keep their Sietinen lineage at arm’s length when it came to day-to-day interactions. While Ryan appreciated their openness and casual attitude, it didn’t provide a useful model for how a dynastic heir was supposed to behave. Or, maybe they were the perfect role models and all of his preconceptions were wrong. Only time would tell.

  He turned on his tablet and began scrolling through the myriad of course offerings for his first term in the TSS. The flexibility to choose his own course of study was appealing in theory but he was overwhelmed by the options.

  Do I study what interests me or what will give me the skills I’ll need to run a High Dynasty? For either route, he had no idea where to begin.

  Ryan’s thoughts were interrupted by a light knock on the door. “Come in,” he said, figuring it was Raena.

  To his surprise, Jason entered. “Hey. Have a minute?”

  “Sure, of course.” Ryan set his tablet off to the side and sat up cross-legged on the bed. “What’s up?”

  “I don’t feel like we got off on the right foot,” Jason said. “We’re going to be spending a lot of time together, so we should probably be able to carry on a conversation.”

  “Agreed. I’m sorry if my presence has caused any hard feelings.”

  “Nah, it wasn’t you.” Jason sat down on the adjacent bed in the middle of the room. “At any rate, I realized that I never thanked you.”

  “For what?”

  “For getting my sister out of there safely.”

  Ryan shook his head. “Really, she’s the one who rescued me.”

  Jason chuckled. “Yeah, she likes to do that.”

  “I will do what I can to look out for her, even though she does a plenty good job taking care of herself.”

  “I can see that. You really care for her.”

  “Yeah, I do,” Ryan admitted. “I know all of this has happened fast.”

  “It has. I was pretty shocked when my parents adopted you practically overnight.”


  Ryan hesitated. “They didn’t tell you, did they?”

  “What?”

  “About who I am.”

  Jason’s brow furrowed.

  “I guess with all the Priesthood craziness it didn’t come up directly.”

  “Yeah, I was sort of sidelined as soon as you were captured. I think my parents didn’t want me to worry, or something. I did wonder why they took you, too.”

  Ryan nodded. “Well, apparently, I’m the lost heir to the Dainetris Dynasty.”

  “The what?”

  Of course, he wouldn’t know all the history. “It was a seventh High Dynasty.”

  Jason frowned. “That doesn’t make any sense.”

  “How do you think I feel? I grew up as a servant, for planets’ sake!”

  “I’m guessing there’s a long and convoluted explanation that would make little sense to me.”

  “Yeah, to say the least.” Ryan laughed. “It’s been a foked up week. I don’t even know where to begin.”

  “Dude, you’re telling me. As of a week ago, I thought Earth was the only populated planet.”

  “All right, you have me beat there.”

  Jason smiled. “Life can be weird sometimes. But seriously, secret High Dynasty heir?”

  “So I’m told. But I’m not supposed to tell anyone.”

  “I’ll keep it to myself.” Jason crossed his arms. “So wait, if you’re an heir that means you and Raena…”

  “Yeah, everything took on a very different meaning as soon as they made that connection.”

  “Damn. Have they been forcing you together?”

  “No. I mean, they laid out the political case pretty clearly for us. They want us to be together, which is crazy to me because in my head I’m still a servant and all of you are people I’m not supposed to talk to because you’re in a whole other echelon of existence. But, Raena and I like each other. I knew there was something between us the moment we met.”

  Jason nodded. “I could tell. She’s always been very… selective about the people she’s let into her life. When she took to you so suddenly, it was obvious she cared.”

  “I care about her, too. And going through what we did, I think that’s made us even closer.”

  “Yeah, that happens.” Jason stared down at the floor.