"Do you still have that small paddle I gave you?" Antony asked when they had arrived at a dock along the Choralis, the main river that ran along the City of Nahala.
"Yeah, it's right here." Kenzi replied as she took it out of her clutch purse.
"Good. Now throw it into the river." Antony directed.
"What?" Kenzi replied.
"Throw it into the river." Antony repeated.
"Okay." Kenzi replied and she threw it into the river. The water started to rumble then bubble up which made Kenzi take a step back. She could see a bright light in the water then two poles one on her left and one on her right emerged from the water. Then the casing of a bubble emerged and then she could see a very large ship within the bubble. When it was fully emerged the bubble receded and Kenzi eyes went wide.
"Oh. My. God!" Was all Kenzi could muster.
It was a large, sleek ship, a little over 1000 feet in length Kenzi surmised made of wood, with a dark mahogany color. But what captured Kenzi's eye was the flames of fire that seemed to be embedded inside the wood and streaked throughout its hull.
"Is that fire inside the wood?" Kenzi asked astounded.
"Yes." Antony replied.
"How is that possible? Wait, nevermind!" Kenzi stopped herself as she held up her hands. She was beginning to learn some things at the Presidium were best left unanswered.
"Welcome to the 'Red Fire.' It belongs to my parents. It used to belong to Regnant Einiah but after his death Mummy took it for her own, renamed it 'Red Fire' in honor of Mother, and presented it to her as an anniversary gift. Antony informed.
"It's huge! Like Titanic huge!" Kenzi said amazed.
"Titanic?"
"A really big ship back in its day." Kenzi informed.
"While my parents have eight ships the "Red Fire' holds special meaning. It was on this ship that Mummy took Mother sailing for the first time. Regnant Einiah offered up its use when he saw my parents growing closer as a gesture of appreciation for Mummy's loyalty in his service."
"Eight? Your parents have eight of these?"
"Different styles of course, but yes.
"Wow!"
"Well when you have been married as long as they have been anniversary gifts have a tendency to repeat themselves."
"You mean, all eight belong to your Mother?" Kenzi asked incredulous.
"Yes." Antony replied.
"Now I know the secret to their amazing marriage. Lots of fantastic, incredible gifts!" Kenzi said amazed. Antony let out a hard laugh which made Kenzi smile.
"We also have a family ship called the 'Aa'ila.' It's the largest one of the Ruling Family line of ships. That one is over 4,000 feet in length. It's one of the modes of travel we use to visit the Prescotti Homelands or the Arasgain Ancestral Home. But the Prescotti family ship back home, the 'Usraahl' is even larger at 5,000 feet in length. That one is used to carry the Prescottis across the homelands on visits."
"Isn't that like a moving city?"
"It has to be. Even though our family rules over the Fae Realm we still have our separate duties as the ruling Dynasty over ten delegations for over 70 billion Fae."
"Do you have a ship of your own?" Kenzi asked.
"Mine is called the 'Tempest." It's 400 feet in length."
"Sounds small in comparison to the others. Why is that?"
"It's a racing ship. When we all travel on the 'Aa'ila' we take several of our individual ships with us. Mummy loves to sail competitively, and takes advantage whenever she can."
"Wait, all of you have your own ship?"
"Sailing is a requirement, not only from Mummy's point of view, but as part of our training as Knights."
"The scale of this place is mind-boggling. Are you sure I'm not dreaming or something?"
"You are not in a dream." Antony said gently then waved her forward. "Shall we?"
They walked up the gangplank and were greeted by the Seneschal.
"I will leave you to explore the ship while I clean up and change out of my gear." Antony said.
While Kenzi waited for Antony to reappear she replayed the conversation she overheard during halftime in her mind and wondered whether she should inform Antony, and more so Trick over what she had all heard. But then to reveal what she heard would require an explanation as to how she had heard, and she couldn't answer that. Not yet, anyway because she didn't even know herself. She just needed to wait until she returned to the County and could speak with Savina.
Kenzi walked along the top deck of the ship. There was not a single thing on the top deck that reminded her of a ship or the ones she was use to back home. It was like an entire ecosystem had come alive. It had pathways tentacled that led to a pool that look like a small lake, there was small park with lounge and recreational areas, gardens, to include one with a very large canopied bed. It was like a part of the private residences were picked up and placed on top of the deck of the ship.
When Antony emerged thirty minutes later he was dressed in a simple white tunic with a belt that reached down past his knees and wore sandals. It reminded Kenzi of something out of the Roman empire. Kenzi didn't mind though. She could see just enough through his tunic to admire his well-chiseled physique.
"Did you tour the ship?" Antony asked.
"Only the top deck here. Are all your ships like this? Garden-like?" Kenzi inquired.
"No. Some have sleeker designs to them." Antony replied as the Seneschal presented him with a goblet of Chela Wine and refilled Kenzi's glass.
"So did you really enjoy the game?" Antony asked.
"Yes, I did. Once I got past all the broken bones and punctured lungs." Kenzi said Anthony smiled.
"You scared me out there." Kenzi admitted.
"Comes with the territory." Antony replied.
"A warrior's game, I know." Kenzi said.
"Are you truly disturbed?" Antony asked.
"It's just…it's very different than what I'm use to that's all."
"I understand."
"You know you could've warned me that pretty much the rest of your family would be there too."
"Thoughtless of me. Juggerbol is a family event. Nevertheless, I shall be more considerate in the future." Antony replied without hesitation. Kenzi blushed.
"Well, it's not that egregious." Kenzi said softly with a bit of a flirt.
"How are you faring with your Agency training?" Antony asked.
"I'm doing well. Ian and Gunnar are great mentors."
"They should be. After Nadu and Naomi they are the best."
"I know. I'm very fortunate. By the way, I seem to notice that each of you have an Agent assigned to you personally, but not Bo? Where's Bo's?"
"That would be you." Antony answered. Kenzi blushed.
"I see."
"Shall we continue your tour of the ship?" Antony queried.
After they completed their tour of the rest of the decks of the ship Antony and Kenzi returned to the top deck to find dinner waiting for them on ornately decorated table with candles and flowers and the backdrop of the evening sky. Kenzi smiled at the presentation.
"That's quite a lovely set up."
"You make it even more so." Antony replied then he turned to the Seneschal, "I will take from here." The Seneschal bowed and left.
"More wine?" Antony offered.
"Please." Kenzi replied as she held out her glass. After Antony had poured her drink Kenzi stared at it for a moment.
"Is something wrong?" Antony asked. Kenzi took in a deep breath.
"This! All of this! Is so wonderful. The game. The tour. The dinner. The whole evening! Why me?" Kenzi asked flustered.
"Because you are you." Antony replied.
"And Theodosia?" Kenzi ask pointedly.
"What of her?"
"I've met her. Again. Tonight. During halftime. She's this…incredibly stunning woman! Tall, blonde, regal, gorgeous! And oh, by the way, a Grand Ducal! Why me when you can have her? Or someone like her?"
"Because you are you." Antony repeated softly.
"You keep saying that, and that is very flattering but…!"
"There is nothing else to say." Antony replied softly as he approached her closer. "Kenzi, from the first moment I saw you I knew. Don't you realize how loving, beautiful, intelligent, and fiercely courageous you are? Don't you see? You have no equal."
Kenzi looked at him astonished, hopeful, vulnerable. Then Antony took Kenzi in for a light, long kiss. When they broke the kiss Kenzi looked up at Antony.
"I'd say Your Serene Highness you are trying to seduce me." Kenzi said softly.
"Is it working?" Antony asked gently.
"Quite." Kenzi replied then they embraced in deep kiss.
After her evening with Antony Kenzi returned to her chambers late that night, walked upstairs and instead of heading to her auditorium-sized bedroom she walked out onto one of the number of balconies on the second floor and took in the dark night sky. Kenzi couldn't believe her evening, the world she lived in, the scale of it. She felt she might have a heart attack. She felt that way during her Agency training, but instead of dwelling on it Kenzi kept focused on forging ahead. She feared if she ever stopped to think about it would all fall away as a fantasy and she'd wake up to a Baku trying to bring her back to reality. Then Kenzi suddenly thought: of all places to fantasize about existing entirely in a wholly Fae world was not one of them. In any case she felt giddy enough to want to call Bo and share all the details of her evening. Kenzi realized it was late but figured Bo might still be up from her evening with Emilia. Kenzi was just about to call Bo when the Seneschal appeared on the balcony.
"Milady, a message from Agent Prime de Lucia." The Seneschal said as they handed her a note.
"Thank you!" Kenzi replied and took the note. The Seneschal bowed slightly and then disappeared back inside her private chambers.
Kenzi opened the message and when she read it her heart fluttered and she sank into the nearest chair.
She read it again just to make sure and then her heart dropped.
She had received the name of her first assignment: Sturgis Santiago of the Clan Zamora.
