The Regnant, The Queen Consort, their siblings, the rest of their children, and the principal heads of government joined everyone in the Monadori Sanctuary Artifacts Room as people took in the revelation by Destiny that Bo would be the next Regnant. Bo sat on a bench thinking to herself while Trick and Vex stood nearby conferring with the others.

"So what happens next? We haven't had a Princess Royal in centuries. I mean centuries!" Bearnard asked still shocked from the revelation.

"Was Her Majesty not a Princess Royal?" Vex asked

"No." Regent Saladin answered.

"Your Majesty, with respect, may I ask how you were anointed by Destiny?" Vex asked.

"Now that was a glorious moment in battle!" Bearnard chimed in enthusiastically. The Queen Consort smiled, stepped closer to The Regnant, and wrapped her arms around The Regnant's left arm.

"As you may know Ari's family is also descended from the Rainhotep Dynasty, Regnant Einiah's Dynasty before it was reconstituted. Nassor, Ari's father, commanded the right flank of the battle formation during the War of the Five Ranas. As members of the Knights of the Guard, Ari and Saladin served at the center of battle. Even though Trick and I are not members of the Knights of the Guard we were both at their sides." The Queen Consort explained proudly as she looked lovingly at her wife.

"To the utter fury of our father, Padraig, who insisted she remain at the Arasgain Ancestral Home out of harm's way." Lillian added.

"See what I mean?" Ina said to Bo. Bo offered a faint smile at the recollection.

"The battlefield was awash in bodies, both of the dead and mostly dead. Blood mixed in with the mud like milk in a batter." Eshe described as she shook her head.

"The battle came down to a confrontation between Regnant Einiah and Rana Desalin Mourux the Rana who instigated the War of the Five Ranas, and led the Opposition Army. They had engaged in direct combat when Regnant Einiah tripped himself up and had fallen backwards. Mourux saw the advantage and swung down with his sword, but the blow was felled by Regnant Einiah's shield. However, the blow broke his shield in two, leaving him to defend himself only with his sword as he crawled backward trying to repel blow after blow from Mourux while trying to regain his balance." Regent Saladin continued.

"In the milieu, Ari saw that Regnant Einiah was about to be overtaken, rushed over, jumped in between them, and defended The Regnant with an axe in one hand, and a shield in the other, beating back Mourux. As Ari battled Mourux the Amulet around the Regnant Einiah's neck started to glow. It is the same Amulet that seized both Ari and Bo a few minutes ago." The Queen Consort said.

"One of the few insights we know about the Amulet is that it serves like a library, housing extracts of both the powers and essences of previous Regnants." Jock added.

"The Amulet shot out its power encasing Ari the same it did here and set her entire body aflame in the same luminous blue. The light blinded Mourux causing him to stumble back. Then the luminous flames shot out in all directions of battlefield, the Presidium and the Realm, calling all to recognize Ari's anointing by Destiny as the next Regnant, exactly as Bo experienced here today." The Queen Consort said.

"Regnant Einiah's Fae power was the ability to transfer his life force into others so after Destiny had anointed Ari, he dropped his sword, grabbed the Amulet with one hand, stood up and touched Ari's back with his other. In doing so he channeled not his life force but also the powers contained within the Amulet." Regent Saladin said.

"Armed with the combined powers of the previous Regnants, and Ari's own Ranoruk abilities, Ari defeated Mourux in a single combat battle that was simply glorious to behold. The battlefield came to a screeching halt and victory was had." The Queen Consort said with pride. Their siblings nodded their heads in agreement.

"The Amulet is a rather neat concept, really; a Regnant really never stands alone." The Regnant commented.

"My love, you never have and you never will stand alone." The Queen Consort said. The Regnant smiled at her wife.

"It was a sincere honor to witness history. Then as well as now." Trick recalled.

"One of Regnant Einiah's last orders was to have Mourux imprisoned rather than executed so we did just that." The Regnant said.

"And Regnant Einiah?" Vex asked.

"Unfortunately, soon thereafter Regnant Einiah died of his battle wounds. Once the bereavement observances were met, Helen and I married and I was crowned soon thereafter." The Regnant said.

"Because of the way Regnants are chosen machinations for the Throne are futile. That is why you will never bear witness to my children or anyone else in the realm vie for my Throne for Destiny itself anoints the occupant. That is unless you are as presumptuous and as arrogant as Mourux."

"Your Majesty, how did you not know sooner?" Bo asked.

"Because Destiny is not simply about whom, but of the moment." The Seer answered as shere-entered the room helped with her cane. Those who were standing stood up. Bo followed suit. Everyone, including The Regnant and The Queen Consort offered a respectful bow to as she sat on a bench next to Bo.

"Destiny only strikes when the time is fortuitous. It was at that moment that Destiny chose to anoint Ari, just as Destiny has now chosen this moment to anoint Isabeau."

"If Regnants are chosen by the Amulet why didn't we wave it in front of Bo the moment we arrived?" Vex asked.

"In all of Fae history, only twice has Destiny anointed a Regnant by way of the Amulet, once with Ari, and now with Isabeau." The Seer replied.

"What does all this mean?" The Queen Consort asked the Seer.

"Only as revealed." The Seer responded.

"Why now? Most revelations occur when the current Regnant is near death or dead." Nehanda asked.

"That is an answer only The Queen can answer." The Seer replied.

"Before today, I would know you were referring to me. But now I do not know which Queen you are referring to. The one that reigns now, or the one that will be." Ari said.

"You know, the difference between Ari's anointing and Bo's was that Destiny spoke. That did not happen when Ari was anointed." Aline noted.

"That is true." Ina joined.

"Destiny's words seemed to convey as if you two were joined." Eshe said as she looked at both Bo and Ari. Ari looked at Bo.

Bo still seemed out of it as she sat there with the Seer on one side and Trick and Vex standing on the other.

"Are you okay?" Trick asked. Bo said nothing.

Trick was about to ask again when Ari raised her hand to let Bo catch her bearings. Everyone stood quiet. After a few minutes of silence Bo turned to Trick as she clapped her hands together.

"Honestly, Trick I thought this all would be just another vague sign, another portent. I really wasn't mentally prepared for this. I didn't believe it. I thought this – all of this – was just too surreal." Bo said still stunned. She pondered her thoughts for a long moment then looked up at everyone.

"But now I am staring at the proof. I have experienced the proof, and I still don't believe it." Bo said still floored.

"Bo..." Trick started.

"Trick, this is real! How am I supposed to lead all of this?!" She raised her hands in the air in a sign of frustration.

"How am I supposed to follow you?!" as she shook both her hands in the direction of The Regnant.

"How am I supposed to carry all of this?!" as she spread out her arms as if enormity of the Presidium finally set in.

"Bo…" Trick said as he tried to get her to calm down, but Bo shot up from the bench.

"This has got to be wrong! There has to be another test, another way! I am many things…the Warrior part I get! I have accepted that! But this! Are you kidding me?" Bo said as she went into a rage.

"Bo…" Trick pleaded.

"Damn you, Trick! And my destiny can go to hell!" Bo said as she stormed out of the room. Both Trick and Vex were about to go after her, but Ari stopped them with one hand held up.

"Allow me to speak with her." The Regnant said. Trick nodded.

The Regnant saw Bo ahead of her query a Guard as to the nearest exit. He point to her left and she turned in that direction. The Regnant had both the Guard and the Seneschal who followed her everywhere to hang back so she could speak with Bo alone.

The exit led out to a garden area and The Regnant saw Bo sitting on a bench with her head collapsed in her hands.

"May I join you?" The Regnant asked as she slowly approached. Bo was about to stand and curtsey when The Regnant stopped her.

"This is about you." The Regnant said.

The Regnant sat on the same bench but a couple of feet apart to allow Bo space. Bo was bent over again shaking her head.

"My apologies, Your Majesty for my behavior. This is a lot to take in."

The Regnant said nothing.

"I thought I was mentally prepared for this, but Trick was right. I am not even close to being prepared. Just being here these last couple days, taking in the sheer enormity of this place, and all that it does." Bo sat up threw her hands in front of her.

Then she stood up and walked for a moment with both hands on her sides, and looked up at the sky and back down at the ground several times. The Regnant sat and watched her and said nothing.

Finally, Bo turned around and said, "Honestly, when they said I would be THE Queen. I thought at best it would be over the Six Counties and the Elders. Not this! And not to this scale! I didn't even know you existed! How am I supposed to rule over this? Look at this place! 200 billion Fae! We only have seven billion humans and Fae on my plane period, and now I am supposed to rule over 28 times that amount." Bo said still shocked.

"Bo, I need you take a deep breath." The Regnant finally said.

"How am I…"

"Bo. Take a deep breath." The Regnant said again. Bo did as she was told and took in a deep breath.

"Now take another." The Regnant said. Bo took in another.

"Yes, the Presidium is big, and then it is not so big. But let me tell you a secret. The Presidium is only as big as you allow it to be in your mind." The Regnant said. Bo shoulders dropped.

"Helen is right; I am not alone in sharing the responsibility of rule, and neither will you be. When I was anointed I was just like you. Had no idea how I was going to manage." The Regnant said.

"But you at least had exposure. I have had nothing." Bo replied.

"That is why I believe your anointing came at a fortuitous moment. At a time where you can prepare and grow. That is the message I took from Destiny." The Regnant said.

"I am glad you garnered something from all that." Bo replied.

"Very few people are afforded a clear view as to what their destiny will be, but you have been afforded that opportunity. It will not come all at once, but it will come. If you were not suited to the task you would not be here." The Regnant said then stood up and walked over to Bo.

"We will be with you every step of the way. And Destiny permitting we will have time to acclimatize you in your new role." The Regnant said. Bo exhaled.

"Deal?" The Regnant said.

"I need to warn you, I am a lot to take on. Are you sure you want all of this? All of me?" Bo asked.

"Destiny tapped you. You are ready. And trust me, you are easy. Try taking on the full weight, depth and breadth of Helen's family." The Regnant quipped. Bo laughed.

"Speaking of family. Now that you are about to become an integral part of mine. I need to take a moment to meet yours, don't you think? On you home turf." The Regnant said.

"I would be honored, Your Majesty." Bo replied.

"From now on, unless we are in broad company, call me Ari."

"Thank you, Your Majes…I mean Ari." Bo replied. The Regnant smiled.

"We should get back before they all think you really ran away." Bo laughed as they turned to walk back inside the Presidium.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Bo said.

They smiled at one another and walked back inside.