Demon King's Gardener

"Good morning, Your Highness, I am Petty Princess Aelesies of Mesmavas."

Aelesies was a traditional demon with blue skin and wavy, red markings; her equally red, wavy hair was tied up in a bun. As she rose from her bow, her sharp purple eyes landed on Braelin.

"Good morning," Jurao greeted, "It is unfortunate you were not able to attend the Golden Sun Feast with us."

"Yes," Aelesies agreed. After a moment, she turned her gaze to Jurao and said, "While I would be more eager to meet Lady Sciekles as my city's patron, it would have been an honor to witness King Maenscul."

"Do you know the city patrons, Lord Braelin?" Voyvok asked. His tone was too neutral for the question to be considered a demand, but his slight glare made it clear it was still a challenge.

"I believe I do," Braelin replied, "Gaevoyga's patron is Vemera, Goddess of Judgment," his eyes moved back to Petty Princess Nevoni before continuing past Voyvok to the other petty royals, "Messaonar's is Iescula, Goddess of Sieges and Plants; Engapoylao is Enaroy, God of Hunting; Coujieul is Porscil, God of Travelers; Mavasnier is Maemavul, God of Commerce; Mesescima is Soken, God of Blacksmithing; Naengaquena is Mahen, Deity of Artisans; Noskanar is Carmesso, Goddess of Storms…"

Braelin looked up a moment as he considered, then continued, "Mesgaesculs is Vislaelos, God of Romantic Love; Naovojo is Naosuli, Deity of Death; Scagesmaes is Cegae, God of Fire; Lajaonar is Vasculas, Goddess of Medicine; Gnomesaroy is Aeganes, Deity of Combat… ah, and Caslavven is Maenscul, of course."

Aelesies snorted, then said, "I suppose I did just say my own, so there would be no point repeating it."

"And do you know why each city's patron is their own?" Voyvok asked.

Saerma scoffed and said, "I want to eat. If you want to challenge Lord Braelin to another duel, make it physical instead of this test bullshit."

"Should the King's betrothed not know the history of the realm?" Aelesies demanded, taking her seat – a new space left open between Voyvok and Sculaes.

"What does the history of our patrons have to do with ruling anything?" Saerma scoffed.

"Because it speaks to our cities' values and beliefs," Hane replied, "Though some are rather obvious on that front. The city of smiths having the God of Smiths as a patron hardly needs explaining. As simple as their prince."

"Exactly!" Saerma agreed, "All the cities are like that, so why bother asking?"

"Um," Voysh hesitated, then said, "Hane was calling you simple, Saerma."

"I am simple," Saerma replied, "I like what I like and I don't like what I don't. If Hane thinks that makes me dumb because I don't want to get into a political dick measuring contest over bullshit, she can go on thinking that."

Hane shrugged, but seemed to be reconsidering her opinion of Saerma, based on her calculating expression.

Jurao signaled for the meal to begin, allowing the representatives to continue amongst themselves.

"You believe the political knowledge of the King's betrothed is 'bullshit'?" Aelesies demanded.

"I think springing random questions about our cities on him at breakfast because you're pissed Maenscul supports the King marrying a human is bullshit, yeah," Saerma replied, digging into his meal as it was placed before him. He hummed, tail wagging in pleasure at the food before he added, "No one would think it was weird if a demon partner didn't know that before they were actually wed, so you're just trying to give Lord Braelin a hard time for being human with tests you don't actually care about, because you'll still think he's a bad choice even if he does know."

Jurao thought the assessment sounded correct, though he would admit surprise at the straightforward petty prince of Mesescima to be the one to deliver it.

"Most would not think it odd for a royal spouse to still be learning about the realm for the first half century after wedding," Sculaes agreed, with the gentle smile he usually had on his face, "If they are a demon."

Aelesies growled, then pointed at Kylse and said, "And what of him? Can I not expect a future ruler to know the history of his own city, at least?"

The human petty prince flinched, then cleared his throat and asked, "Are… uh-"

"She won't care if you know, either," Saerma said, "I bet she's extra pissed because she intended to challenge Lord Braelin to a duel, but won't dare so soon after Maenscul's show of support. So she's trying to take her frustration out by bullying anyone she can."

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Aelesies rose from her seat with a growl, "Saerma, I challenge you to a duel."

A very active morning, Jurao thought.

"Sure," Saerma said, "After I finish eating. Can't shoot my arquebuses off in here. Would you moderate, Your Highness?"

"I will," Jurao agreed.

Aelesies growled again – but sat with a huff to eat her own meal angrily.

Doys leaned towards Sculaes and asked, "To the death, you think?"

"Absolutely," Sculaes agreed, also leaning towards cer, "She should be glad she was waylaid and did not repeat Voyvok's mistake."

Voyvok offered the pair a glare – but an admittedly short and weak one, also focusing on his meal.

Aelesies glared as well – though her gaze then shifted to Voyvok.

After a moment, Voyvok admitted, "Lord Braelin spared me in a duel to the death. I doubt any making such a challenge could best him."

"The plants did all the work," Braelin said.

Aelesies snorted.

Voyvok stared at his food, then growled and said, "They're loyal to you because of how well you've cared for them. That effort is part of your victory."

Aelesies's stare hardened back into a glare at the admission.

Braelin hummed, then asked, "Why is Carmesso the patron of Noskanar, Kylse?"

"Oh," Kylse flinched, then said, "Well… uh, since the city is carved into a giant tree, whenever it storms, we're right in the middle of it. Lightning hits the tree sometimes, too – it's usually too wet to start a real fire, but it's still pretty dangerous. So King… ah… Vogajur made the Grand Temple to her as a way to ask for her mercy and leniency, and offer thanks when it is granted."

"Thank you, Kylse," Braelin said, offering the younger human man a smile.

It was a clever play on his gardener's part – it allowed Kylse to prove he did know his city's history without acquiescing to Aelesies's, as Saerma put it, bullying.

Kylse opened his mouth to say something, then frowned as he closed it. After a moment, he nodded to himself and said, "I heard there's no priesthood to Enaroy, Sculaes."

"There is not," Sculaes agreed, "It is believed Enaroy himself raised the Great Temple in Enga for hunters and beasts to honor him and find shelter. Some of our elders look after it, but there has never been a formal order. We believe Enaroy prefers it that way."

"It's… a different name, for a city," Kylse said carefully.

Sculaes chuckled and said, "It was founded as Ae°Vonomes Gasenaos – Hunter's Rest. Perhaps His Highness would like to share the story of the name change – coming from a Beast Hunter line?"

"'Dried meat' is what Beast Hunters call old hunters," Jurao said, "After the city was founded, some hunters began retiring – with so much 'dried meat' in the city, that eventually became its name."

"That… makes sense," Kylse said, nodding. He hesitated and said, "Thank you?"

Sculaes nodded in acceptance with a smile. Then he added, "As a note of caution, you should not call any hunters dried meat. Beast Hunters enjoy insulting each other in a good-natured way, but they do not take kindly to non-hunters doing so."

"Devae does call Raoyl 'old lady' often," Braelin said.

"They are not old enough to get away with calling her dried meat," Jurao said – then amended, "Though that is more due to most children no longer traveling with the bands. It is only after one's first hunt that ruder terms can be used by younger hunters without reprimand."

"How can you call me dried meat before you're even fresh meat?" Sculaes quoted, chuckling before he added, "The elder hunters will even put Enga citizens' children to training exercises if they try – 'if you want to talk like us, then you'll train like us'. I myself learned that lesson in my errant youth."

"Oh?" Doys asked, "Did you continue the training after the punishment was over?"

Sculaes smiled and said, "Perhaps."

Jurao knew from his grandmother that the petty prince had continued with Beast Hunter training – though he never intended to become a hunter himself, he thought it would give him a better understanding of the way hunters operated. As the city of Enga did still consider itself the rest of hunters first and foremost, such an understanding would help him make improvements on that end. He had even gone on a hunt with Ena in the Mafokuraes band before coming to Caslavven – so he did now have the rite of camaraderie to call Raoyl 'dried meat', if he wished.

Breakfast concluded without any other challenges being made, and Jurao went to the training yard to oversee Saerma and Aelesies's duel as planned. Aelesies carried a glaive as her weapon, and Jurao did wonder how the match would go. As they usually did, soldiers gathered nearby to watch the match – though one person approached the King directly.

"There's a duel happening?" Meir'ril asked, "Your Highness."

"Yes, Petty Princess Aelesies challenged Petty Prince Saerma," Jurao replied – the asked, "Were you training."

"Yes – this is usually when Ieki trains me in Body magic," the elf-human young man replied, waving back towards the soldier.

Fos offered the King a bow from a foot or so away, as was polite.

"And who is this?" Aelesies demanded, glaring at Meir'ril over her shoulder.

"My betrothed's brother, Lord Meir'ril," Jurao introduced.

Aelesies scoffed, but said nothing else as she took to the field.

As both combatants briefly stretched to prepare, the King asked, "I heard Maenscul spoke to you."

"Ah, they did," Meir said, blushing as he scratched at his chin, "I… well. I tried to take some of their celestial magic off them. I just… wondered if I could, being Disaffinitied."

"Can you," Jurao asked.

"I can!" Meir'ril replied, a shine in his eyes as he added, "Maenscul didn't mind; they said they were only stopping me so that I didn't take too much and hurt myself. I was even able to store a little in my arcanum – probably since it's divine, too."

"Yes, that seems likely," the King agreed.

"If you please, Your Highness," Aelesies called out – apparently ready to begin.

"Excuse me, Meir," Jurao said.

"Of course, Your Highness," Meir'ril said, nodding before he jogged a little back to Ieki.

Saerma had his arquebuses in his upper hands, and their attached forks in his lower set. Jurao knew they were modified – rather than a traditional matchlock, they used magnets to produce a spark. Like Malson's pistols, magnetics were also used to increase accuracy and firepower. Jurao was certain there were more modifications, but those were the two he recalled.

Aelesies still appeared annoyed, but Saerma did not appear bothered in any way by the match about to occur. The petty prince did offer the King a nod – agreeing that he was ready to begin.

Jurao returned the gesture and raised his arm above his head as he gave the count, "Three… two… one… begin."