A month later Grand Ducal Evony Marquis held a meeting inside the Conference Room at Cotadela House with Stasio, Dyson, and Tamsin to discuss both the transition process and the incorporation plan within the Presidium. Trick was installed as the Rana of the Quedarin Dynasty and Evony, Dyson and Stasio attended his Installation Ceremony.
They had returned a little more than two weeks ago, but did not return empty-handed. The Regnant sent Deputy Agent Prime Gerrelt de la Brosse from the Agency with a contingent of Agents along with her son His Serene Highness Julian Prescotti, who other job was within the Pillar of Politics, and her daughters, Her Serene Highness Atia Prescotti who worked within the Pillar of Intelligence, and Her Serene Highness Rimma Prescotti, Third Regent of the Presidium who also worked within the Pillar of Business, and Communities of Health. They were also in attendance at the Grand Ducal's meeting along with their requisite contingent of Seneschal and Regnant Guard.
Tamsin and Reed greeted the arrivals starting with Deputy Prime de la Brosse, 6'2'' tall man who had a combination of bluish-green eyes, short black hair, and possessed a lean, muscular build. His eyes fascinated Tamsin the most. They were very piercing. Tamsin had first seen and spoke with Atia when they first tested the new comms system back at the Clubhouse, and thought she was both beautiful and young-looking, really young looking for someone who was 1300-years old. When she met her in person her eyes must have betrayed her because Atia had smiled in response. Atia struck Tamsin like a mini-version of The Queen Consort. Meeting Rimma was like meeting a mini version of The Regnant. Tamsin understood Rimma to be a little over 1170-years old, and while Rimma, Jock, and Julian all looked young even in Fae years she found it hard to believe that, in comparison, they were younger than Atia.
Everyone finally settled around the Conference Table, and after the formal introductions Evony started the meeting.
"Thank you all for coming. We are pleased at the Ruling Family's attendance as we begin this transitional process." Grand Ducal Marquis said as offered a brief nod to Julian, Atia and Rimma. "Since we have the security web up around all Fae communities, now we need to start the process of emplacing the Fae Agents we've brought back in key positions in all aspects of human life. Business, intelligence, political, social, and most assuredly scientific." Everyone smiled. "Stasio, Dyson? Please start us off."
"Thank You Grand Ducal Marquis," Stasio began. "His Excellency Thornwood, County Regent Tamsin, and Chief of Operations Evangrassi have developed the broadstrokes for emplacement, and have identified the obvious and not-so obvious positions we can start. The easy ones will be in those areas where a Fae presence already exists."
"When I was here last some of your Elder Fae leaders were opposed to transparency. How will their cooperation be assured as we make this transition?" Julian asked.
"Because they themselves will be deposed if they are not, Your Serene Highness." Stasio replied. Julian nodded.
"When will the emplacements begin?" Atia asked.
"As soon as possible, Your Serene Highness. Dyson, Reed and I will be working with Deputy Prime de la Brosse to begin the process." Stasio replied.
"Your Serene Highness, We have a targeted list, and are in the process of aligning placement of Fae Agents in these arenas." Deputy Prime de la Brosse added. Atia nodded.
"Your spoke of social emplacement, will that include community leaders, entertainment sectors? It is my understanding from Julian that humans value their entertainers as much, if not more than their spiritual sectors." Rimma asked.
"Those areas are already heavily seeded with Fae. Even the Grand Ducal here has a stake in the industry with her musical talent agency, Your Serene Highness." Stasio replied.
"As I understand it her agency serves as a feeding pipeline for the Grand Ducal to sustain herself." Atia replied.
"Correct, Your Serene Highness." Grand Ducal Marquis answered.
"So how will the insertion of Agents be managed on a broad scale inside that specific industry?" Atia asked.
"While my Agency is small, contained, and limited to aspiring musical acts, there are entertainment agencies that have a broader, global reach. While we do have Fae working inside those larger agencies they will now become our supportive eyes and ears as we emplace Fae Agents that are actually trained for this kind of work." Grand Ducal Marquis replied.
"I want to return to the more fundamental concern about how some of the Fae Elders here are opposed to transparency." Rimma said.
"There is power in obscurity, Your Serene Highness." Dyson replied.
"Granted, but my concern is sabotage, particularly in efforts to maintain that obscurity. Transition will happen. How smoothly it will happen will depend upon the acceptance of the Fae Elders. All of them. Their capitulance need not be genuine, but their support regardless of their personal views must be absolute." Rimma said.
"We understand the position of the Presidium, Your Serene Highness." Dyson replied.
"I don't think you do, Your Excellency. These Agents are being staged like beacons so when transparency happens we will be able to activate them like a web, so to speak. We do not mean to simply work hand in hand. We mean to swarm. This plane is part of the Presidium now, and all Fae need to accept it as surely as they draw breath." Rimma replied. Evony and Stasio smiled.
"Yes, Your Excellency." Dyson replied.
"The other purpose for our visit is to establish the fundamentals as to how to support the Humans in some of their more specific needs as this transition occurs." Julian said.
"We have drawn up a list of items that we can go over." Stasio replied. Then Seneschal entered the room.
"Your Serene Highness? His Excellency Regent Saladin." Then Seneschal informed.
"Excuse me. I need to take this." Rimma said as she rose and departed the room.
"We can take a short break here, and resume when Her Serene Highness returns." Grand Ducal Marquis said as she stood and everyone else followed suit. She then turned and stepped out from the room while everyone mingled and grabbed refreshments. Tamsin and Reed followed her out of the room.
"Grand Ducal Marquis, a moment?" Tamsin asked. Evony stopped and turned.
"Yes?"
"We want to speak with you about this still missing relic. In all of the chaos with the Monoliths, and now with The Regnant back at the Presidium we thought we can resume the hunt for it." Tamsin said.
"I think it is safe to assume the relic is gone. With the Monoliths. Good riddance to both of them. Causing way too many dead bodies. I wouldn't concern myself about it anymore." Grand Ducal Marquis replied.
"We should verify at least because it has caused so many dead bodies." Reed said.
"Expending resources that could otherwise be tasked to assist with the transition? No. We need need to stay focused on the task ahead, and not the past that is behind us." Grand Ducal Marquis replied.
"But Grand Ducal Marquis…" Tamsin started.
"I trust I do not need to repeat myself?" Grand Ducal Marquis replied. Tamsin held her gaze for a brief moment.
"No you do not, Grand Ducal." Tamsin replied.
"Good." Grand Ducal Marquis said and then walked away. Tamsin and Reed watched her walk down the hall and then exchanged looks then went back inside the Conference Room.
Evony turned the corner, stopped for a moment looked, back briefly, smiled and then continued on her way.
"So Kenzi and I will take the children tomorrow after breakfast." Bo said as she packed her gym bag to head out for her morning workout.
"I want the children to stay here with me." Lauren said matter of factly. Bo looked up at Lauren briefly then resumed packing her gym bag.
"I thought we agreed I would take them ahead to get them settled. You will have a lot to do over the next couple weeks." Bo said.
"I know. But I would be too worried about them if they were away from me right now."
"They will have both me and the Seneschal tending to their every need. They will be fine." Bo said.
"I know. Nevertheless, still, I want them to stay here with me." Lauren replied. Bo looked at Lauren concerned.
"Honey..."
"Bo, please. My mind is settled on this."
"Is it the Seneschal? I know they weird you out." Bo asked.
"I can't explain why I need the children with me but I do. You will be away already, and having both you and the children away as we make this very significant transition would just pre-occupy my mind." Lauren replied. Bo eyes narrowed as she put down her gym bag and walked up to Lauren.
"Lauren, are you okay? Really okay?" Bo asked. Lauren said nothing, but averted her eyes. Bo gripped her by the shoulders.
"My concern is that you may be overwhelmed, that is all." Bo said. Lauren exhaled, broke from Bo's embrace, and went and stood by the window, looking out. Bo came up behind her and put her arms around her, and rocked her.
"Okay. I plan to stand here and rock you until you are ready to speak to me." Bo said. Lauren chuckled through a sudden burst of tears. Bo turned Lauren around but kept her arms around her. Lauren rested her arms on Bo's chest.
"What is it?" Bo asked.
"Okay. I am going to say this, and you better not mock me." Lauren said as she wiped her eyes.
"Honey, I would never mock you." Bo replied. Lauren gave Bo a quick look.
"Okay. I would feel naked, alone, if both you and the children were gone." Lauren said.
"Oh. I think I see now." Bo replied as she finally understood.
"The rational part of me knows everything will be fine. But the irrational part of me…"
"You do not need to say another word. The children will stay remain with you."
"I don't even want you to go yet. But I know you need to do what you need to do. But if the children went too then this house would be empty, and I would feel so alone no matter what was going on. Maybe, once I come to know the Presidium, we settle in, separations will get easier, but right now..."
"You need not explain anything. I understand. Why didn't you say something earlier?" Bo asked.
"I don't know. I thought I could suck it up. But as the day neared for your departure, I started to panic. We have been through so much over the last ten years to build our home, our family, our lives. Then to see everything I hold dear leave me at once..." Lauren trailed off as she wiped her tears. "I love you and our family, and that is all that matters."
"I know." Bo replied as she gave Lauren a kiss and then they rested their foreheads together for a moment.
"I am so sorry for being such a putz about this." Lauren said as she raised her head.
"You are their mother and the love of my life. Never apologize about being protective of us." Bo replied. Lauren nodded as she wiped her eyes.
"Life is good now?" Bo asked.
"Yes."
"Good. Remember, when you bring them don't forget to hide Ethan's favorite teddy away when you travel, because you know he cannot hang on to it, but will have a fit to have it if he sees it." Bo said. Lauren let out a burst of laughter through her tears.
"I love you."
"I love you." Bo replied as she and Lauren embraced in a kiss.
When they broke their kiss, Bo said, "I better get going so we can meet everyone at the Clubhouse on time before heading to my Mother's. Okay?"
"Okay." Lauren replied.
Four hours later Bo, Lauren, their four children, Kenzi, Tamsin and Dyson all met at the Clubhouse. The reason for the meeting was to discuss the disposition of the Clubhouse now that Kenzi would be moving to the Presidium, and Tamsin would be moving in with Dyson at the Compound. While eating lunch they decided to shutter the place rather than rent it out or get rid of it altogether.
After lunch, Bo and Tamsin went upstairs to Bo's old room and found themselves waxing nostalgia as Bo tried to determine what she wanted to take with her if anything.
"We are truly leaving the place." Bo said.
"Yes, we are. But we'll keep it together for visits now that you and Lauren will be selling your house. So I understand, you and Kenzi are taking the children tomorrow morning?" Tamsin queried.
"We are not. They are staying here. Lauren will bring them with her when she arrives after she finishes coordinating the transition of her work at the JFM, and closing up the house." Bo replied.
"What? What happened?" Tamsin asked.
"She feels she would be too distracted if both the children and I were away from her. So the children will remain behind with her." Bo replied.
"Well, there is a lot of going on. I am sure she is feeling nervous. She is about to meet her destiny just as much as you are about to meet yours." Tamsin said.
"You know, I have never thought of it in those terms." Bo replied.
"Understandable. And just think, for all intents and purposes the Presidium will be the only way of life the four amigos will ever know."
"Now I really didn't of that." Bo replied.
"Probably a good thing, really. Best way to approach transitions is just to forge head." Tamsin said.
"That is great advice." Bo replied. Just then Kenzi and Lauren joined them upstairs.
"Hey! We need to get going if we are going to make it to Mary's on time, Presidium transportation technology notwithstanding. And you know she'll want us to stay for dinner." Lauren said.
"Have you told her about the big move?" Kenzi asked.
"That is today." Lauren replied.
"What are you telling her?" Kenzi asked.
"Still working on the script." Bo replied.
"Are you going to ever tell her the rest?" Kenzi asked.
"Still haven't figured that out. Not this round for sure." Bo replied.
"You know I was thinking. We should take a piece of the Clubhouse with us."Kenzi said.
"That's a great idea. What do you suggest?" Bo asked.
"What about the very first mantle we acquired?" Kenzi said. "We could put it in one of our new offices. Since Tamsin is moving into the Compound with Dyson and since they plan to shutter this place unless and until we need it might as well."
"Sounds like a plan." Bo said. Bo looked at Lauren.
"I thought we could take the giant, clawfoot bathtub?" Bo suggested.
"I think not." Lauren said as she turned and walked out of the room then called back, "And don't even think about your old bed either!" Everyone chuckled.
"So, knowing you, what are you taking with you?" Kenzi asked.
"The Beast!" Bo gave a snarky grin. She leaned over and kissed Kenzi on the cheek.
"Gotta run. See you at the Presidium." Then walked out to join Lauren.
When Bo reached the outside she saw Lauren and children preparing for transport and turned to the Seneschal.
"See that yellow car over there?" Bo asked.
"Yes, Your Royal Highness." The Seneschal replied.
"Grab that on the way out." Bo asked.
"Yes, Your Royal Highness." The Seneschal replied as they watched Bo depart with Lauren and their children on the transport.
In the later afternoon, Clio and Julia met up with County Regent Tamsin and Operations Chief Reed Evangrassi at a Café Julia recommended on the other side of town away from their usual haunts.
"You wanted to see us?" Julia said after their drinks were delivered.
"I need for you to keep working on finding this relic." Tamsin said.
"I thought the higher powers that be considered that matter pretty much resolved." Julia replied.
"That is what the higher powers want us to believe, and for external facing purposes that is what we will continue to allow them to believe. However, my gut tells me this is far from over. In fact, I've rescinded my order to have all the items we have cataloged thus far inside Engelram's Warehouse transported to the Presidium." Tamsin replied.
"Don't you think they will be safer under the Presidium's protection?" Clio asked.
"With what happened with the discovery of the Athenaeum, my mind has shifted from an issue of protection to one of providing bait." Tamsin replied.
"You don't believe this is over?" Julia said.
"Far from it. And now we have all sorts of Fae keeping all sorts of secrets all over the place. Bad enough with just Trick." Tamsin answered. They all nodded their heads in agreement.
"Both Tamsin and I are of the minds this missing relic may one day rear its ugly head again, and we want to get a leg up on as much information as possible if it does. That means a two-pronged approach: start background histories on all of the items at Engelram's Warehouse, see if there is anything else correlates with it, or proves to be just as important, or just as dangerous. We need to find this relic before others that we don't want to find it, do." Reed said.
"They told us to let sleeping dogs lie." Clio replied.
"Our jobs are to protect this County, and now with the advent of Presidium rule that responsibility has expanded to all of the Fae on this entire plane of existence. We cannot protect the Fae if we do not trust the motivations or intent of the Fae hierarchy. When Fae that ancient tell you to let something go, that means you do the opposite. We also suspect that even though we were told to let it go I am sure the Presidium has agents deployed searching for this relic as well. No, there is something greater at the heart of this matter, and we mean to discover it starting with finding this relic." Tamsin said.
"Remind me never to cross you." Clio said. Tamsin smiled.
"One key piece: this has to be 'off the books.' No one must know, and I mean no one. Not Bo, not Kenzi, not Dyson, not your staffs, not anyone, just the four of us." Tamsin said.
"We have bought ourselves some time, and this will take real time, but Tamsin is right this whole relic business will rear its ugly head again. Where and when we may not know, but our intent here stay ahead of the game, and keep our search quiet." Reed said.
"We will meet as needed, but we will have one objective." Tamsin said.
"And what objective is that? Clio asked.
"Find the sleeping dog and kick it awake!" Tamsin replied.
