Empire Reborn (Taran Empire Saga Book 1): A Cadicle Space Opera A.K. DuBoff (guided reading books TXT) 📖

hand, and together they led the others to the smaller of the two formal dining rooms, reserved for more intimate gatherings. The other space was more like a massive ballroom, capable of seating hundreds at one time. She had yet to attempt planning an event at the estate with such an extensive guest list, but it was inevitable. For now, though, she enjoyed meals around the oval table in the Gathering Hall, as she’d taken to calling the smaller space. Even without guests, she and Ryan would have dinner with select members of their staff at the end of each week to celebrate their accomplishments together. She enjoyed the new tradition and hoped it would continue even as their lives became more complicated.

A server came around to offer drinks as they got seated, and Raena decided wine was a definite requirement after the day she’d had.

The conversation meandered while they waited for food to arrive. Eventually, Kate asked Ryan about his mother.

“She wasn’t able to make it on short notice,” he replied.

“We’ll get her feeling comfortable here eventually,” Raena told him telepathically by way of support.

“I know.”

Kate was the kind of person who’d keep working on Ryan’s mother, Marie, until she was her best friend, so it was best not to broach the topic that there was any discomfort there.

Raena understood where Marie was coming from; if she’d found herself suddenly hanging out with celebrities she’d admired as a kid, she’d feel out of place. To anyone on the outside, their little family dinner could be characterized as having an exclusive guest list consisting of the figurative King and Queen of the planet, the most decorated war hero of the past millennium, and the lone descendant of a bloodline that had been resurrected from the ashes. Stars, if Raena didn’t know them as Grandpa, Grandma, Dad, and her husband, she would have been intimidated, too.

The food arrived, and they served their own plates from the communal platters, how Raena preferred it for these casual gatherings.

“I’m so glad you inherited my taste in what makes a good dinner,” her mother said as she finished piling her plate with lasagna—one of the family dinner favorites from her childhood.

Raena hurriedly swallowed an overly ambitious bite. “And your metabolism so I can get away with eating like this!”

Kate took a dainty bite; though her grandmother was never one to complain, Raena knew she was partial to more sophisticated dishes. “Being around the same table is the real treat.”

“Indeed. Oh, Kalin and his partner send their regards,” Cris said as he began eating.

Wil smiled. “I’m glad it’s worked out having him there.”

“I wasn’t about to turn down the chance to have a TSS Primus Elite Agent remain in a permanent post.”

Raena had trained with Kalin, a member of her father’s first cohort of Primus Elite trainees, after she left the TSS to continue studying on Tararia. She and Ryan had been declared on an extended TSS ‘internship’ so they could officially train in telekinesis without breaking the Priesthood’s ban on such abilities. She’d been a natural, so the lessons had been more for show than necessity, but the training had been a fun diversion from studying economic policy and corporate accounting. Even after she and Ryan graduated, Kalin had elected to stay on Tararia.

“Making him your head of security for the estate doesn’t exactly quell the concerns about the Sietinen Dynasty and TSS being too closely entwined.” Wil shrugged.

“We can’t very well dissolve the Dynasty, and you are, without question, the most qualified person to be leading the TSS,” Cris countered. “People can complain all they want, but that’s the reality of it.”

“It’s the same issue we ran into when considering what kind of government structure to install when we were planning the overthrow of the Priesthood,” Kate said. “While a true democracy is appealing, there’s too much complexity in the interplay between infrastructure, commerce, and security concerns for the Taran Empire to have an elected leader step in without training and experience. It’s why we decided to declare the High Dynasty’s corporate interests public services and keep the Heads of those Dynasties in charge of their pieces of the larger infrastructure.”

“Speaking as someone who had to jump in to learn all of this stuff, I can attest that a four-year elected term, or whatever, would be absolutely impossible,” Raena chimed in. “I spent almost five years shadowing Grandpa, and even after another three mostly on my own with regular check-ins, I still don’t feel like I understand it all.”

Ryan let out a long breath. “Don’t get me started! I would have gladly gone back to start studying for this position in primary school.”

“There’s something to be said for grooming successors from a young age to take over,” Cris said. “I resented many aspects of my education while I was growing up, but it gave me an incredible foundation, looking back on it.”

Kate nodded. “We’ll see how our arrangement plays out. Keep training our heirs and heiresses, knowing the people have the power to vote us out from power if we mess up.”

Ryan laughed. “No one in their right mind would want these jobs.” He took out his frustration from the day with a purposeful stab of his fork into his meal.

“Makes me wonder how the old monarchs I read about in school on Earth felt,” Raena mused. “Sure, it’s great to be rich and powerful, but how many of them took the responsibility seriously?”

“There’ve been good rulers and bad, no matter which planet you’re studying,” her father said.

Cris nodded. “The best leaders are always those who act in the best interest of their people. It’s what I always strive to do.”

“It’s been wonderful to see the other Dynasties following suit,” Saera chimed in. “I never thought we’d have so many new dynastic scions enroll in the