The presentations at Annual Conventions are an opportunity for Holdings to show off and brag.

  They have passed the Wall, something of importance in a SmallPond where such is seen as a rarity. They are a newly landed Holding, they are now of note to the rest of the Pond.

  But Fully Awakened Heirs, Descendants and Territorial Expansions? Those are pure vanity. They are a way to show off to others that you have succeeded, and that perhaps they have not.

  Partners are announced last for they are the one category that carries both the weight of bragging and of true success. Announcing a Partner is announcing you have found an equal that you trust. It is a sign of success, but also one of pride.

  ~ * ~

  Lysandra stared out at the crowd and reminded herself to keep breathing. Her cheeks had been sore from all the smiling she'd had to do prior to the announcements and now she had to pretend this was the happiest she'd ever been.

  She didn't want to be the Princess, she didn't want to be the Heir. That was Lisa's place. Lisa hadn't wanted it either, but that was because everyone talked about her behind her back. But Lisa had left, had finally gotten free of court and so she was the Princess now.

  She missed her sister. She missed the time they'd spent together talking, the fact that even though she'd been a little kid at the time she'd never felt like one. She hoped Lisa was doing well, that the boy, well man, that had been waiting in the Holding halls when they said goodbye was as kind as he'd seemed.

  Breathing out she curtsied, the moment finally over. She made her way down the stairs, keeping her balance with ease as she made it past the few tables and back to the one reserved for their Holding.

  She bowed her head to her mother, saw the approval in her gaze, saw the Seneschal's hint of a smile as she took her seat. Her two closest friends, actually her retainers but they had been friends first, leaned in to whisper how lovely she'd looked, how wonderfully the light had caught on her hair, on her dress. How they were sure that at least some of the young men in attendance had been smitten, because of course they would be.

  She felt her smile try to crack and took a drink of her water. The glass let her relax for a moment before having to smile for everyone in attendance to see. This was her moment, this was her day. They'd even been moved up in the order of presentations, she'd heard Mother trying to discover the reason only to be told it was at the request of Holding Syl.

  "Presenting Lady Lysanya, Sovereign Syl. Presenting Lord Sebastian, Partner Syl."

  The words rang through the hall and she heard more than one gasp from those around her. Lysanya, that was her sister's name. But her sister wasn't a Sovereign, her sister didn't have a Partner. Who else could it be though, Lysanya was an unusual name to say the least, just as strange as Lysandra. There was a reason they called her sister Lisa, why everyone called her Sandra.

  Could it be? Was her sister at this same Convention to announce her Holding? It had been a few years and you were not expected to do so until you felt comfortable with your stability. Had she met someone in this time? If it was her would she even remember the little girl who used to come crying to her when she fell, who talked to her about her dreams, about how she hated fighting and just wanted to build?

  "Announcing the passing of the wall by Lady and Lord Syl."

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  The wall? That couldn't be her sister. Her sister was level 3. Their mother had been stuck at the wall since long before Lisa was born. Lisa had always been so stubborn though. She'd fought the guards, shown them she was faster and better. She'd shaped her Husk so court would accept her, not that they had. She'd talked Mother into letting her live outside the Holding. She'd been given a small Holding and allowed to leave entirely after whatever it was Rios had done.

  She craned her neck, trying to get a better view of the stage, to see this mysterious Lysanya, to see if it was her sister. And if it was her sister, to see who her Partner was.

  ~ * ~

  Lyselle kept her face composed as she watched her daughter take the stage. She'd been here five years ago, she'd been watching Lisa climb the same steps and force a smile onto her lips. Lisa, she knew she wanted to be called Anya now but she had been Lisa at the time, had been so nervous.

  Her Husk had barely been presentable, barely passed muster despite being flawless on the surface. It had been shaped to match what the court wanted, shaped to look like Her Majesty, Sovereign Lys. Lyselle had wanted her to be herself despite the pain it would cause, had wanted her to be able to show the Holding who she was, but her daughter had surrendered to the whims of the court, to the voices that criticized her deviations.

  Sandra looked much calmer, much more composed. She knew her daughter had no interest in ruling, no desire to be a warrior. She was aware of her desires, of the fact that her tutors could only sing her praises while her trainers despaired at her ability to defend herself.

  There were Sovereigns who did not fight, who relied on their retainers when might of arms was needed. They were successful Holdings, both in size and significance. She forced herself to blink before her thoughts could turn into a scowl. This was not the time to consider future politics. Tonight was Sandra's moment.

  Her daughter came down from the stage and paid her respects. Her entourage tittered away, believing themselves to be subtle in their attempts to draw the attention of the others of their generation. Her daughter sat there with a smile on her face, listening without engaging. They were her friends, they were future resources, but at times she suspected her daughter would rather do without.

  "Presenting Lady Lysanya, Sovereign Syl. Presenting Lord Sebastian, Partner Syl."

  Her composure cracked, her water frosting over as she took in the words. Holding Syl was her daughter? Had only Lysanya's name been spoken she might have wondered, but to heard his name as well left no doubt in her mind. He had challenged her in her own hall and won. He had stood up for her daughter against not only her mother but the entire establishment that the Holding represented.

  "They made it."

  She doubted anyone else at the table heard Tomas's comment. She nodded her head, her gesture just as discrete.

  "Together," she answered.

  "Announcing the passing of the wall by Lady and Lord Syl."

  The frost on her water cracked before the words finished echoing through the room. The following silence left her hearing her heart thundering in tune to her thoughts.

  Her daughter had passed the wall. Her daughter had advanced beyond her. Her daughter hadn't yet turned 25 and had passed the wall. She registered the entire sentence and felt as though the world had fallen away from her. They had both passed the wall. The Adult Awakened they had planned to keep busy, the curious case of a stranger exposed to their world with the ability to do things she'd only heard rumors of Seers managing.

  He'd been a charity case until he stood up to her. He'd been a set of hands that would have helped Tomas keep the Holding running. Yet they had just announced he had passed the wall in, if she was not mistaken, under four years. She'd known her daughter's Awakening Gifts had potential, she'd know Anya had potential.

  Her eyes caught Tomas's and saw his shock mirrored in them. They had both failed, both misjudged. They would have to reconcile, to reconnect and perhaps learn what they had overlooked.

  Despite all that she found herself on edge as she waited for Anya to step onto the stage. Her daughter was a Sovereign, had found love, and had done something no one in Holding Lys had done in living memory.

  And her daughter still cared about her family. Holding Syl had insisted that Holding Lys go first. Anya had ensured Sandra took to the stage without residual fanfare. She had delayed her own moment to let her sister be seen.

  She hoped Sandra would understand once she realized who was about to appear, she knew Tomas would and she doubted any of her other retainers would see the action for the kindness it was. Anya would still be seen as the problem. Perhaps, now that none could dispute her achievements, she might finally have the leverage she needed to act without political convenience staying her hand.

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