Bo and Lauren returned to their private chambers after the dinner with the senior aristocratic families, said goodnight to the children then went and prepared for bed while the Seneschal moved about them.
"Welp! There it is. I have to go home." Lauren said as she collapsed in a nearby chair and took off her shoes and earrings.
"If you go home and make yourself known, you'll be arrested." Bo replied as she threw off her shoes as well.
"That's the risk I must take."
"Lauren!"
"Look, I can't keep running. It's time I faced what I've done."
"You don't have to run anymore."
"Why? Just because I live on another plane of existence?"
"Well, yes!"
"Doesn't make my actions any less accountable."
"Once we take over the Human Plane…"
"If we take over the Human Plane." Lauren amended.
"My word would be law."
"Oh dear. Queen already?"
"You know what I mean." Bo replied. "You have a career. A family. Children. Us."
"Bo, do you really think I want to lose everything we have built? Because I don't. But for me to have all of this I must be free from my past. Truly free!" Lauren declared.
"I don't care what she says! She cannot stand trial!" Bo complained to Trick the next day in his offices.
"I agree. How soon until she feels she has to go back?"
"Well, she needs to make some sort of contact as soon as possible, especially since they have their bloodhounds knocking practically at the front door."
"But long-term?"
"We can stall for time."
"Good. After the Convocation Ceremony but before your Installation would be a good window." Trick said with a broad smile. Bo knew what he meant by that smile.
Bo recalled earlier that morning at breakfast with Their Majesties and Regent Saladin within Their Majesties private apartments how Lauren was about to pass out when they heard the news: they would rule over the Realm while Ari was in hibernation. The four amigos joined them and were being dutifully entertained by the Seneschal while they talked.
"These periodic trips to our respective homes are to appease our families. Stops the familial complaining they never get to see the children. Especially, from her side." Ari added.
"Everyone goes?" Bo asked.
"All of them." Ari replied.
"Do they have an option not to go?" Lauren asked.
"Of course, provided there's a war on, the Realm is about to end, or they're dead."
"Ari!" Helen gently chastised. "What a thing to say." Bo and Lauren chuckled.
"That rigid?" Bo asked.
"More for her side. Padraig, her father, thought I was just another knight in service, and all I offered his daughter were zero prospects but a life waiting for me to return home from duty."
"Do not listen to her." Helen said.
"He thought I was unworthy to walk Helen to end of the Arasgain Ancestral home grass. Even when I was about to ascend the Throne he still thought I was useless." Ari continued.
"He did not!" Helen firmly chastised then looked at Bo and Lauren. "My father was just overprotective."
"Your father gave a whole new definition to that word." Ari said. Bo and Lauren chuckled again.
"My father was actually quite impressed with her. And don't let Ari fool you. She was not simply a Knight among the ranks. She and Saladin served the Regnant Einiah as his Kapudans."
"Kapudans?" Bo asked.
"His chief Knights. An esteem bestowed upon them both for loyal and faithful service, and an authority rivaled only by the Bashan, and the Ruling family themselves. In short, they were the best of the best." Helen clarified.
"My father would accept nothing less." Ari added.
"Nor my mother." Saladin joined.
"What?" Bo asked.
"My mother was a Knight." Saladin replied.
"After we had Antony there was an…unplanned visit to my family's ancestral home, and when Ari's side heard about it…" Helen said.
"They had a fit over it." Air added.
"Familial favoritism?" Lauren queried.
"Precisely! When there was nothing of the kind." Ari replied. "I see your familiar with it?"
"Both sides of my family warred like that." Lauren replied.
"To settle all that we decided to conduct periodic visits to each of our ancestral homes. There were a few times Ari needed to enter her Great Sleep during her visit to mine so we built a den there for her as well." Helen said as glanced at Ari. "And it helps reduce any excuses for not visiting." Then Helen looked at Ari. "Your mother never made it easy for me either.
"It was the first time my mother ever saw red hair up close!" Ari replied as she laughed at the memory. "She stared at Helen nearly the entire first day after she had met her."
"Like she thought I was a witch or a seductress." Helen replied.
"Well, the seductress part she got right." Ari said with a wink to Helen then continued, "My family adores Helen though. If I come home and she's not with me I just hear it."
"Even Yammy?" Bo asked.
"Yammy is the oldest, so she protects and loves all of us siblings, but she has real respect and affection for Helen." Ari replied.
"And my siblings adore Ari as well." Helen said.
"Bearnard's love is clearly evident." Lauren replied.
"My brother's love for Ari has no limits." Helen replied.
"You are blessed to have families who war over seeing you." Lauren said.
"We are indeed." Helen replied.
"The reason for this breakfast is to inform you that we are leaving you in charge while we are away for my Great Sleep. You will travel with us to the Prescotti Homelands so you can see it for the first time, attend me when I enter my Sleep and then return to the Presidium. Helen will remain in the Homelands until I awaken." Ari said. Bo and Lauren's jaws dropped again.
"Your Majesty, I must…" Bo started.
"Sometimes you just have to be thrown in with both feet. That's how it happened with me, it was good training for me, and so it will be good for you. Remember, Destiny has selected you to follow me. You will be fine. Also, Saladin will be here to help you along." Ari replied.
"How long?" Lauren asked.
"About five to six weeks." Ari replied.
"This will be an opportunity for you to handle what I do and an opportunity for the Realm to observe you." Lauren's jaw dropped again. Helen focused on Lauren. "Are you okay?"
"Honestly, no. While I've shadowed you over these past weeks my exposure has been limited to parliamentary committee meetings related to issues of science and health. I do not have the broad exposure Bo has had nor the experience you have in coordinating the tie-ins between the governing bodies and the goals of The Regnant." Lauren replied. Helen smiled.
"Nevertheless, it sounds as if you have been certainly paying attention."
"I try to keep abreast where I can." Lauren replied.
"You will need to know how to support Bo in her work, and then learn how to support one another if anything should ever happen to us. I have every confidence you can do the job." Helen said.
"What happens if I encounter a crisis?" Bo asked.
"Handle it…that is unless the world is about to end then call me." Bo's shoulders dropped.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Bo and Lauren looked at one and took eachother's hands
"How much latitude will I have?" Bo asked.
"As much as a Regnant is allowed. One good piece of advice: while you've been anointed to reign, you still must earn the respect to rule. Don't allow others to push decisions aside until we return. If they do that means they either do not respect your authority, think the decision is not real one, or that we may overturn a decision. When a decision needs to be had, make it. We will support you." Ari replied.
When Bo shook herself out of her recollection she looked back at Trick. Tears had welled into his eyes. Bo went to him and kneeled in front of him.
"Proud grandfather?" Bo asked.
"You have no idea. Your first time up at bat." Trick replied.
"Hmp. Hope I don't screw it up too badly." Bo said then stood up. "Besides if things don't work out in our favor with the petition, the Marriage Question, and with Lauren's return home, I could use that window of opportunity to…right some things.
"The Queen entrusted you with this responsibility in the expectation of exercising wisdom, not tyranny." Trick replied.
"We are talking about Lauren here."
"I know your ability to think rationally goes out the window where Lauren is concerned, but summary intervention by the Presidium without proper preparation will endanger everyone on our plane." Trick pleaded.
"She will be charged with murder the moment she steps foot on the ground and makes herself known. She cannot go to jail!" Bo insisted.
"Look, if Lauren stands trial I will have Dyson send the Glaive to defend her. Will that calm your concerns?" Bo nodded her head.
The first Glaive Bo met years back turned out to be a traitor to the Fae, in league with the Garuda, and was eventually imprisoned by Lachlan. Her replacement was Justice Lars Saunderson, a Hellene who hailed from a long lineage of Fae litigators. His "human" job was in the Chambers Section of the International Criminal Court that ensured fair trials.
"It would help." Bo replied.
But after meeting with Trick Bo still wasn't fully settled, and when she returned to her offices she paced the floor for a while then called out for one of her principal aides.
"Landon!"
"Yes, Your Royal Highness?" Landon answered when he entered her office.
"I need Kenzi. Find her please."
"Yes, Your Royal Highness."
Ten minutes later Landon returned.
"Your Royal Highness? Agent Malikov is on the comms."
"Thank you, Henry." Bo replied. Landon closed the door behind him and then Bo called into the air. "Call on!" Kenzi shimmered into view.
"Hey, Your Royal Highness!" Kenzi welcomed with a flamboyant curtsey.
"I'm so glad to see you." Bo replied.
"What's up?"
"After the Convocation we're heading back home. Lauren's home. It's going to be problematic, and I need your help."
"Talk to me."
