Bo, Trick and Vex returned to the County after spending a very packed three days at the Presidium: first meeting with Regent Saladin, then with The Regnant and the entire Ruling Family and then attending the Parliamentary Banquet, meeting the key heads of government and dignitaries of the Presidium, and then of course the revelatory visit to the Monadori Sanctuary. Bo felt tired from the whirlwind of her trip. She had come face to face with her destiny. That much was certain. But now she had to come face to face with the reality of that destiny: transition.

Trick had his own transition issues. The Grand Ducals of the Quedarin Dynasty had recommended him to be the next Rana during the Parliamentary Banquet, and he had accepted their offer before events at the Sanctuary. Upon their return to the Presidium Trick would then travel the Regional cities of the Quedarin Dynasty to be installed as their next Rana. Trick's was going to be a tad easier since all he had to do was handover the reigns to Dyson, which meant a promotion for Tamsin and subsequently for Reed and so forth. Erik would have to find a new partner, though as Dyson would no longer be able to remain a cop as the new Ash.

Lauren was prepared one way or the other when Bo informed her of what happened at the Sanctuary. Lauren expressed more concerned about how to break the news to Bo's mom that they were moving to a whole new plane of existence. Bo said she did not want to face that conversation until she could better manage the impacts.

The thing that bugged Bo the most was leaving Kenzi. Before Bo left for the Presidium she and Kenzi discussed the worst case scenario, realizing hard decisions would need to be made about the Dal if Bo's destiny proved true. Now that has all come to pass with Bo and Lauren and their family moving to the Presidium it still pained Bo deeply to leave Kenzi behind.

Bo arrived at the Dal to find Kenzi and Beatrice upstairs taking an inventory. When she walked in Bruce greeted her first with a deep bow.

"Let me be the first to welcome you back, Your Royal Highness." Bruce said.

"Oh Bruce, you have got to be kidding me. Call me Bo." Bo said as she and Bruce hugged.

"I can for now because we are in excepted company, but you will be the next Regnant, and must treat you accordingly." Bruce replied. The he looked behind Bo at the Regnant Guard behind her and the Seneschal.

"I see the Presidium has assigned you staff already."

"Yes. This is Bas Kadine, he is the head of the small army that surrounds my home. And of course, the Seneschal." Bo introduced.

"Of course. Welcome to the Dal!" Bruce said as he offered a slight bow. They returned the gesture. Beatrice then came up and curtsied.

"Your Royal Highness." Beatrice greeted.

"Really? Do we have to do this?" Bo said as she and Beatrice hugged.

"Better get use to it BoBo." Kenzi came up and she curtsied.

"Stop it, Kenzi." Bo said with a smile as they hugged long and hard.

"Congratulations!" Kenzi said with tears in her eyes.

"Thank you!" Bo said meeting tears with tears.

"We were all here when all of the Fae here were struck with Recognition. That they saw you anointed by Destiny. When I saw that I knew something happened. And when they came out of their trance they confirmed you were anointed." Kenzi said.

"I wanted to tell you myself. In person." Bo replied.

"I know, but Destiny beat you to it." Kenzi said.

Just then another tall, rather athletic built man with short dark hair wearing all black clothing, entered the room. He surveyed the room then five more men and women dressed the same also entered the room.

"Your Royal Highness, Bas Kadine the perimeter is secured." Bo took in a deep breath as Kenzi and Beatrice's eyes widened at their presence.

"Thank you." Bo replied. Beatrice and Bruce saw Kenzi and Bo needed their private time while still keeping a side eye on the new people that entered the Dal.

"Bruce and I can finish up the inventory." Beatrice said.

"Thanks Beatrice." Bo replied. The Beatrice and Bruce left the room.

"Drink?" Kenzi said as slapped a hand on Bo's shoulder.

"So, yes!"

When they turned around and were about to head for the bar, the Seneschal served them with two glasses of 100-year whiskey and then handed the bottle to Kenzi.

"How did you know that is what I wanted to serve us?" Kenzi asked the Seneschal.

"It is our duty to anticipate your needs." They answered.

"My bad, Kenzi. These are the Seneschal. They support the Household at the Presidium. They have the ability to anticipate people's needs."

"Well, that…is…cool…and a bit…creepy." Kenzi said then promptly added, "No offense." The Seneschal nodded.

"I take it the rest of the guys in the black coats are Guards?" Kenzi asked.

"The Regnant Guard. The head of my Guard contingent is Bas Kadine."

"Are they all at the house as well?"

"As we speak. Lauren's reaction was the same as yours. Except at home we have a small army. The Regnant insisted. Says it befits my rank. I had to establish some quick boundaries, though at the house before I came here. Both the Regnant Guard and Seneschal came in rather hot. They meant well, doing their jobs, but Lauren was taken aback. I had to ask them to just stand back until I get Lauren more acclimatized. Otherwise, Lauren would have packed the children up, and went to my Mother's." Bo said. Kenzi laughed.

"I can just see it too. It is so cool how Mary and Lauren have such a close relationship."

"And I am glad for it. Let's go have a seat. We have a lot to talk about." Bo said as she took Kenzi by the arm, and went into an adjoining room and sat on one of the couches, facing one another.

They sat down as Kenzi placed the bottle on the table and offered a toast.

"Congratulations on finally finding your destiny. Or shall I say Destiny finding you?" Bo smiled as they clinked glasses, and both downed their first shot, and Kenzi grabbed the bottle again and topped off their glasses.

"So, while I want you to tell me everything that happened while you were away, I think we better focus first on the next steps." Kenzi said.

"Well, I was thinking, Bruce could take over me here, and I know that Zachary and Janet are keenly interested in taking on more managerial responsibilities and helping more with the program side. They have been asking for a while, so this would be a good time now for them to move up." Bo replied.

"I concur. So when is everything supposed to happen? Will we be able to thrown you a 'Hail and Farewell' before you go?" Kenzi asked.

'Boy, you are taking this all in stride." Bo noted.

"I am not. Trust me. But with all the changes we have been through over the last ten years, what can you do." Kenzi replied.

"This is a big one Kenz. This will be the first time in fifteen years we will truly be apart."

"I know, but Destiny calls. Hard to argue with all that. Plus, this is what it has been all about, right? Finding your destiny. I am happy that you have found it, or that it found you. No more reading of confusing poems, blood, vague riddles or maps. You are the next Queen of the Fae world. You will be the next Regnant. That deserves another toast."

They toasted again, downed their drinks and then filled their glasses again.

"Well, we do have a few days before The Regnant arrives." Bo said.

"What?" Kenzi said surprised.

"She wants to meet you. All of you. Plus, she has a few things to accomplish here. The Fae on the plane came from the Presidium. The Regnant has never been here so this will be a good, old-fashioned Royal visit."

"Holy crap! How will we prepare? Do we need horses? Chariots?" Kenzi asked. Bo chuckled.

"No. None of the kind. Trick has the details of her arrival covered, and I am sure he will be contacting you once he breaks his own transition news to Dyson."

"What?"

"Yeah, Trick got a new job back on the old block. He will be the new Rana for the Quedarin Dynasty."

"Rana what?"

"Rana means Monarch. He will rule a Dynasty of over 24 billion Fae." Bo explained. Kenzi spit out her drink in shock.

"24 billion! That is three time more people that we have on this planet!...I mean this plane!" Kenzi nearly choking on her drink. Bo laughed again.

"Apparently, the previous Rana died and they had yet to select a new one when we arrived. Trick fit the bill apparently."

"You will so have to fill me in on the deets on that."

"Oh, yes! You should see this Presidium. Tamsin was right to leave me to my own impressions. It is amazing! And everything is so big. I mean big. You will be amazed when you see it all."

"When will I get the chance?"

"At my Installation Ceremony."

"And I am sitting here? I should be part of that, helping with the planning."

"Trust me, if the Parliamentary Banquet is anything to go by they have it fully covered." Bo said. Then her attention was perked up when she saw a lady approach from behind Kenzi.

"Agent Chennai!" Bo said as Kenzi turned on the couch to see who had entered the room.

"Your Royal Highness." Agent Chennai replied as she curtsied. Bo rolled her eyes, stood up and acknowledged the bow with a nod of her head.

"I will give you real money if you can tell me how to stop all this curtsying business." Bo said.

"I am afraid you are stuck with it now, Your Royal Highness." Agent Chennai replied. Bo smiled.

"Kenzi, this is Agent Chennai. She works at The Agency within the Grand Strategum. Agent Chennai this is Kenzi Malikov, my dearest friend, and who co-manages the Dal with me."

"Welcome to the Dal Riata!" Kenzi said with enthusiasm.

"Thank you, Ms. Malikov."

"Please, call me Kenzi. I will be forced to think like a grown-up if you call me Ms. Malikov." Agent Chennai smiled

"What brings you here and how did you find me? Wait, strike that last part of the statement." Bo said. Agent Chennai smiled.

"I am here as part of the advance party to receive the Regnant." Agent Chennai replied.

"That must be quite the effort for someone who reigns over nearly 200 billion Fae." Kenzi commented

"Yes, it can be quite involved if the trip is a formal one. But because this a private visit, plus this plane of existence is largely unaware of the Fae arrangements have to be more tailored."

"So what brings you here?" Kenzi asked.

"This will be one of the places the Regnant plans to visit while here. I am just scoping out the lay of the land." Agent Chennai replied.

"Do you want me to take you on a tour?" Kenzi offered.

"Thank you." Agent Chennai replied

"May I ask how long the Regnant will be staying in town?" Kenzi asked.

"It is my understanding a couple of days. The Regnant is very efficient when it comes to Royal visits, especially if the Queen Consort is not with her." Agent Chennai replied.

"I take it the Regnant will be staying at the Ash Compound?" Bo asked.

"Actually, no. The Ash's Compound is in the middle of the City. His Excellency has identified a separate residence on the outskirts of the city for the Regnant to allow for privacy and freedom of movement." Agent Chennai replied.

"Does the Regnant realize the biggest residence we have will still be quite small for her?" Bo asked.

"Does size matter?" Kenzi asked.

"Wait til you see the Presidium. The entire Dal would probably fit in one of her closets." Bo replied.

"Are you serious?" Kenzi queried.

"Oh, yes." Bo replied.

"I saw the background from your calls. I thought you were just calling from a large conference room or something." Kenzi said. Agent Chennai smiled.

"The Regnant is quite flexible. Prior to her anointing she was a warrior and a farmer so she is not as aristocratic as one may think." Agent Chennai informed.

"Great! Well, we shall have to really spiff up the place. Shall we start the tour then?" Kenzi asked.

"That would be great." Agent Chennai replied.

"I'd better get back to the house and get Lauren situated with the Seneschal." She turned to Kenzi and kissed her on the cheek. "Catch you later."

As Bo walked out Kenzi looked to Agent Chennai. "Let's begin."

XXXXXXXXX

"Will you being seeing her?" Helen asked Ari as the Seneschal made preparations for Ari's departure in the background while she looked over some last-minute paperwork with Regent Saladin.

"Yes." Ari said as she briefly looked up from her paperwork.

"And you will discuss what we discussed with her?" Helen asked.

"That will be my principal focus. Aside from the fact things are still unresolved between her and me."

Helen walked up closer to her love, locked her left arm inside of Ari's right arm.

"I thought you had resolved things?"

"I tried." Ari replied.

"You have to be successful this time." Helen said.

"Yes, I know. And yes I will. I will not leave the County until I have succeeded." Ari leaned over and briefly kissed Helen on the lips.

Antony, Dakari, Jock and Julian then walked in dressed in field gear. Ari looked up.

"What's this?" Ari asked.

"I asked the boys to accompany you." Helen replied with a tone that brooked no argument.

"Oh." The Regnant said then turned to Regent Saladin.

"I need to see Evony. Can you contact Fitzpatrick? Have him arrange it. Make sure it's a quiet place?" Ari asked.

"It will be done, Your Majesty." Regent Saladin replied.