Chapter 7: Hearing (3)

Manhattan, NY

“You’re just all thieves in suits.”  I said quietly.

Granny Valentine’s gaze snapped to me, so did Grandpa Ryu.  As well as their grandchildren, the girl looked at me with undisguised loathing.

“That’s all you are.”  I went on, unperturbed, “You’re all just cowards, trying to benefit from my parent’s death.  But where were you all, when they died?  When you could’ve had the inheritance by… by…”  

I struggled to find the words.  To even subtly touch on the age-old wound was so painful, so embarrassing that I was actually about to even suggest that I would’ve wanted such a thing.

I stopped there, ashamed and angry, unable to finish.

“...Mr. Hallow’s personal feelings aside,”  Charlotte broke the silence first, “We won’t compromise on the Hallow estate.  There is no Shin estate to speak of, everything is registered under the name Hallow.”

“Then we are at an impasse.  I was warned that it might come to this.”  Emyrith shook his head, “If this matter escalates, the Queens will move.”

“For this?”  Granny Valentine said incredulously.

Charlotte shook her head.  “Debts and Obligations.”  She said, like that explained everything.

“Even in death,”  Valentine said looking at me, “William Hallow proves to be a nuisance.”

I wish I had the guts to say something back, but I didn’t.  So I pretended to ignore her.

…Bitch.

Hwan said hurriedly, “The last thing we want is for this matter to be escalated to the Queens’ attention, to any of the Courts.”

“Then we must come to a compromise.”  Emyrith repeated.

Grandpa Ryu said something in Korean again, to which Hwan nodded.

“Is there truly no chance of compromise?  We have no interest in the Hallow portion of estate.”

“Ms. Valentine?”  Charlotte asked, “It might be best to put this matter to rest.  If the Queens get involved…”

“The family’s intent is clear.  The Hallow Estate must be returned to Valentine control, out of the States and into Europe.”  She said curtly.  “The entire Hallow Estate.”

Grandpa Ryu glared at her, his bushy brows hiding most of the expression.  He finally let out a breath and shook his head.  His answer was clear.

“Again, an impasse.”  Emyrith joined in, “To break it, we must reach a compromise.  But no one is willing to sacrifice.”

No one answered, which was an answer in itself.

“We are lucky, because I predicted such an outcome.”  Emyrith heaved a sigh, then gestured to me politely, “The appeal was found valid, because Mr. Hallow was found to be lacking.  His parents’ untimely death have left their Heir without sufficient training to oversee the estates to which he is charged with.”

“Like leaving a nuclear weapon in a toddler’s hands.”  Charlotte said.

“Fair point.  But that is not to say that the toddler cannot learn.”  Emyrith replied.

“Just what are you suggesting here?”  Hwan, this time.

“I have already spoken to the Queens and they have agreed.”  Emyrith cut off the other lawyer, continuing, “In the case that a compromise cannot be reached between the two houses, the simplest solution would be to prove the heir capable.”

I looked up, numb confusion giving way to hope.  Bolts of nervous excitement streaked across my body, jumping my stomach so hard that it quenched.  I recognized what this was, some kind of chance for me.

Emyrith’s green eyes were shifting somehow, turning more blue.  It could’ve been just my imagination, but everything that happened so far made me believe it wasn’t.  Right then, a particularly strong gust of wind battered into the windows, howling something foul.  I jumped in my seat, a pure knee-jerk response.  No one else even flinched.  Nor did they answer.

The executor of my parent’s Will grinned wolfishly, “If there are no objections, shall we discuss the details?”

Granny Valentine spoke first, “This is madness.”

Emyrith tone was level, but it scared me more than when any of my foster fathers yelled.  “Careful, Ms. Valentine.  You speak in the presence of not one, but two agents of the Courts.”

She shared a look with her lawyer then focused her ire on Emyrith, which included me apparently.  “The whole point is to keep power out of Hallow hands.  Yet, your suggestion runs in direct contradiction to the need.”

“Want or need?”  Emyrith’s smiled returned.  “Two different things, Ms. Valentine.”

“Need of the greater wizarding society as a whole.  The Hallows were–”

Wizarding society?

Easy, Jain.  Don’t get distracted.

It took all I had to just keep up with the conversation.  Questions could be asked later.  I had to stay on my toes, keep my ears open and eyes sharp.

“What the Hallows were does not matter to me.”  Emyrith snapped.  I was seeing him in his element, a man who could change his tone at the drop of a hat, depending on his need.  “What matters is the execution and arbitration of the Hallow Will.  Your families have pulled in every favor and debt in the Courts to get your contests to be valid.  Now it is up to me to make sure it is honored.  Do not think the Queens approving of your contests is synonymous with their agreement of your end-goals.”

“But it is your job to make sure the contests are treated fairly, else it’d be no better than if they were invalid in the first place.”  Charlotte argued.

“Three times.”  Emyrith said, “I offered a compromise three times.”

I saw the side of Charlotte’s nose wrinkle in distaste and she wasn’t the only one.  The Ryu and the Valentine kids near my age shared a confused look.  Only the adults seemed to realize what was going on, nodding amongst themselves.

“Ok.  I’ll bite.”  Some of the tension went out of Hwan’s shoulders.

“The arbitration will take the form of the aforementioned trial, consisting of three tasks.  Tasks which Mr. Hallow here will complete.  Upon completion of the aforementioned trial, Mr. Hallow will inherit the Hallow Estate in its entirety.”

“And we’re supposed to just watch as he completes these… tasks?”  Ms. Valentine spoke slowly, haughty with a hint of outrage.

“No,”  Emyrith shook his head, “You will be participating.  And by you, I mean heirs, scions or any champion close to Mr. Hallow’s age.”

That got Valentine Jr. and Princess Ryu’s (my new nicknames for them) attention at once.

Charlotte nodded and Hwan mirrored it.  Hwan spoke first,  “And I suppose this way, the Hallow Estate does not need to get divided up between our clients.”

“I thought you had no interest in the Hallow portion of the estate?”  Ms. Valentine commented.  

Ryu Senior responded by showing his teeth.

“We have questions.”  Charlotte said.

Emyrith held up a finger, holding her off.  “The trial will begin a week from now, each task to be kept secret until the day of.  The three tasks will be decided by neutral third parties; if any of the families are observed trying to make contact with said third party, they automatically forfeit their claim over the assets.  The same can be said for evidence of foul play.  The first family to complete two tasks will automatically claim rights over the Hallow Estate in its entirety.” 

Everyone in attendance exchanged looks.  More so than being ignored and feeling out of place in this entire discussion, I could practically smell the greed dripping off of them.  The air felt tight and I could hear them thinking.

“These neutral third party members… Court?”  Hwan ventured.

“No.”

“Why a week?”

“Standard rules of engagement.  For details and giving each family time to mobilize their forces, as well as the choice of a champion.”

“Any other details?”  Charlotte asked, but she was already buttoning her suit jacket, preparing to leave.  The Valentines and the Ryus were doing the same.

“No.  Couriers will be sent out with details and further instructions.  But before you leave, there are some things we must discuss.”  Emyrith sent a meaningful look at the lawyers and their clients.  “The potential trial candidates should leave the room now.”

On cue, Valentine Jr. and Princess Ryu got up and left.  It took me a second to figure out that I was supposed to leave too.  I grabbed my bag and looked to Emyrith to make sure I guessed correctly.  When he nodded, I quickly followed after the other two.

The door closed behind us.