Demon King's Gardener

This chapter takes place before In Which a Proposal is Made.

"So," Minaz said, taking a seat on her sofa, "What have we learned about the representatives so far?"

"Well, Petty Princess Hane is attempting to seduce Braelin," Vajur said, already lounging on the sofa across from her in their sitting room.

Soth, looking rather comfortable in the spymaster's lap, added, "I'm surprised she's still at it."

Minaz was really coming to enjoy the kinfolk's company. While Vajur was still the only one of the three of them in a relationship with the retired assassin, their quick wit and disarming charm was endearing - though the way they managed to poke at Vajur while making the man more relaxed instead of tense was a far greater boon, in her opinion.

"It makes sense, in a way," Vajur shrugged, "Everyone knows the King's never been interested in romantic or sexual relationships before, but Braelin's still largely unknown. Makes him open to possibility, in her mind."

Hujur chuckled, setting a tray of blanket fruit and joy blossom tea down before sitting with Minaz. He said, "Yes, and Braelin is not likely to discourage her directly, is he?"

"He'd 'ave ta pick up on what she was about first, yeah," Soth agreed, accepting a cup that Vajur picked up for them.

"Jurao doesn't even stop people he knows are flirting with him half the time," Minaz snorted, "Just tells them he won't be interested."

"Kloy is taking Petty Princelin Voysh as a mentee," Hujur said, "It seems fos is a practitioner of hand-to-hand combat, and Petty King Cokor intends to introduce the practice as a new 'art' through fos. Jurao would like to know if you would teach fos Star-style."

"I'll ask Ovvislae," Vajur replied. Which meant no, unless the deity actually did respond.

"Some day, they're gonna reply 'n tell ya to do somethin' ya don' want ta," Soth said, as though reading the Right Hand's mind.

"I only ask them when I don't feel strongly either way," Vajur said.

"Isn't Star-style supposed to be a secret, though?" Minaz asked.

"Well," Vajur grumbled and said, "Yeah, but Ovvislae is Mahen's grandchild. Maybe they would want it spread as an art. How should I know?"

Minaz chuckled, "Fair enough. Petty Prince Saerma is helping Feyl and Nevve with the magic engine - him and his partners."

"Sirens workin' with magic," Soth snorted, "I woulda sooner expected ta be tied up like a hog."

"Their families have been here for generations," Minaz said, unsure how many strange sayings the kinfolk used were real or made up for the assassin's own amusement, "So I'm not too surprised their views of magic and technology being separate are less strict."

"And you are hardly a 'model' kinfolk," Vajur said, poking their cheek. Referring, of course, to the general view of kinfolk as genial and peaceful.

Soth turned to bite the offending finger, but Vajur had anticipated that and pulled his hand back before they could. They chuckled and said, "'Spose that's true. What's the prince tha' challenged Braelin to a death duel been doin'?"

"Petty Prince Voyvok?" Hujur asked, then chuckled, "Mostly, he's finding that the castle's conservative faction is harder to convince into starting a true campaign against Braelin than he expected."

"Sure, they like to grumble and made plenty of complaints in the beginning," Minaz said, waving a hand dismissively, "but after the show the gardens put on when Milve made Braelin a member of the Iesculan faithful, none of them want to risk Iescula or the gardens' ire by doing more than that. Voyvok being stubborn enough to walk around covered in stinging vine welts after the duel didn't exactly encourage them to change their minds."

Soth chuckled, "Sorry to 'ave missed it."

"It was quite the sight," Hujur said with a chuckle. He added, "His parents were also not pleased with his attempt - they had only wanted a duel to make their displeasure known, as Prince Ergirri said. Speaking of, that is who Petty Princelin Doys has been spending time with."

"Yeah, I heard Petty King Melikas got along with Prince Ergirri pretty well when he was here," Minaz said, "So Doys has been unofficially shadowing his highness."

"And asking him for stories about Melikas," Vajur added with a snort.

"Those the same kinda stories tha boss tells?" Soth asked with a grin - 'the boss' being Kloy, for them.

Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

"Probably, considering more recent stories I have heard of Petty King Melikas," Hujur replied.

Doys, Saerma, Hane, Voysh, Voyvok, Minaz mentally counted off before asking, "Petty Prince Kylse has made friends with the twins, of course. And Jurao gave him access to the Royal Archives."

"I got a notice about that," Hujur nodded, "I believe it was because he has magic similar to what King Lavven used, and the King thought it might help Kylse learn to master his own power by studying Lavven's notes."

Vajur scoffed.

"I've 'eard magic is a very personal thing," Soth said, letting their tuft-ended tail land on the spymaster's face, "So I wouldn' be surprised if it did."

Vajur grabbed the appendage, and there was a brief bout of wrestling between the pair that somehow ended with Soth laying on top of Vajur in roughly the same position otherwise, a wide grin splitting their face as their tail flicked mischievously.

"Petty Prince Sculaes has asked me for mentorship directly," Hujur said, smiling at the pair in amusement as he sipped his tea.

"Makes sense, in a way," Minaz said, "Enga and Mesgaesculs being similar cities."

"Yes, though Mesgaesculs does focus more on tourism than internal hospitality like Enga," Hujur agreed, "I only turned him down because I don't actually know much about the things he wanted me to teach him. He didn't seem to mind."

"Too bad I missed Jurao's duel with his grandmother," Minaz sighed - as she'd been attending a meeting for Feast preparations at the time.

"It sounded like a good one," Soth said, "Aya even got to show off a bit, or so she says. Meir ain't too keen on her wantin' to duel him now, though."

"He could win," Minaz said, "If he had more confidence in himself."

She'd seen him working with some of the soldiers that were teaching him magic - Meir'ril was more level-headed than his sister, but he frequently second-guessed his actions. In terms of strategy and skill set, she thought they were likely about even - but Aya would win simply because she took action where Meir'ril hesitated. She wasn't even reckless, as many young warriors could be, just self-assured.

"Petty Princess Nevoni has been attending many social events, to Gavven's delight," Hujur said, "Though I think Petty Prince Oresti isn't as fond of her company as she is of his."

"It's because she keeps trying to force a friendship on him as two parents of infants when they have very little in common," Vajur said, carding a hand into Soth's thick, wavy hair roughly - then almost immediately gentled as he stroked his partner's hair.

Soth chuckled, kissing Vajur's cheek before resting their head on his shoulder.

Cute, Minaz thought with a smile.

"Gavven does think Oresti is… more tolerant of her overtures because her support of Braelin has extended to support of Kylse," Hujur agreed.

"That has been the general trend," Minaz agreed, "Progressives supporting Kylse and conservatives being against him. He's been challenged to several duels, his guards taking care of most of them - they're both very competent, despite how immature they are with each other."

Invaokka had a plant affinity, so used that, earth, and wind magic in combat. Deyk had no magic, but he did fight every battle like his life depended on it, which it often did not. Minaz was sure there would have been more challenges if the pair were less forceful. And if the threat of Exmarre taking on anyone making a more serious challenge wasn't in force.

"They're planning on attending the Royal Orgy," Vajur snorted, "Not sure how well that'll go if they can't stop fighting each other."

"It doesn't seem to be stopping you two," Minaz snorted.

"They'll also have a person between them," Hujur added in amusement.

"One a y'all could fit that bill here," Soth said.

Minaz considered, then stood with a sniff.

"Min," Vajur said, in a protest he didn't really mean.

Minaz grinned as he picked them both up - tossing Vajur over her shoulder, holding Soth in the crook of her arm, and carrying both to one of their two bedrooms. There wasn't room on the sofa without her crushing one of the two, so settling on the bed with one on either side was the clear answer.

Vajur huffed but settled easily against her side - holding a hand back for Hujur.

Hujur chuckled, taking the hand and curling behind Vajur's back after following them. He only paused to take off his glasses and set them on the side table behind him.

"Was that all the representatives?" Minaz asked, experimentally running a hand through Soth's hair. It was a nice feeling.

Hujur hummed as he considered and said, "All those here, I believe. Jaevve believes Lajaonar has likely sent someone already, and Mesmavas might have as well. Whether they will arrive in time for the feast is yet to be seen."

"Which just leaves Mesgaesculs, who we know won't send anyone until Rainbow Day," Minaz said, "Scagesmaes, and Naovojo."

Soth yawned, stretching their spine before settling more against Minaz's side. They said, "What d'y'all 'spect they'll think about Braelin?"

"My family have found my stories about Braelin amusing, so I expect they will be in support," Hujur chuckled.

"The other two are anyone's guess," Vajur snorted, "Naovojo usually doesn't give a shit about anything relating to the King besides when they die so they can be interred in the Grand Mausoleum, and Scagesmaes tends to focus more on religious holidays than anything."

"The southeastern cities do tend to present a united front," Hujur said, "So I imagine they will, at the least, be unopposed. Though…"

"Though?" Minaz asked.

"Though my brother believes that Petty Prince Gakke may be Naovojo's representative," Hujur said.

"The prophet that predicted they needed to declare intent to cede?" Minaz asked.

"The same," Hujur said, "It turns out that Jurao's siege revealed weaknesses in their Field Walls by how easily they fell, and the rebuilt walls later prevented an unexpected flood from reaching the city where they would have crumbled before."

"Well. That's the gift of prophecy for you, I guess," Minaz snorted.

"And they want to use it here," Vajur said, "Don't know if that bodes well or poorly."

"Bit a both, eh?" Soth suggested.

"I suppose we'll see," Hujur said, kissing Vajur's cheek before settling back and closing his eyes for sleep.

Minaz chuckled, leaning up to kiss Vajur's forehead as well - as they often spoiled him with the most kisses.

"Want one fer yerself?" Soth asked with a grin.

"Knock yourself out," she replied with an answering smile.

Soth chuckled and kissed her cheek - then leaned over to kiss Vajur on the mouth.

Vajur grabbed them by the nape to continue the kiss.

"Are we sleeping yet?" Hujur asked, something warm and sly in his tone.

"No," Vajur replied.

Minaz laughed - well. She was ready to explore something new. And she was pretty sure plenty of new experiences were in her future.