After the successful birthday feast, there was only a month left until the Golden Sun Feast - which meant that most of Jurao’s previously free time went into overseeing preparations. The rger Great Hall - built after the castle expanded, repcing the original now Grand Hall - needed to be properly cleaned before decorations were pced. A replica of Maenscul’s throne would be brought out from storage, with any necessary maintenance completed.

  Grand Priestis Losse arrived to oversee the tter - and the general preparations, though e was primarily concerned with the throne. E also agreed to allow Sculos to shadow em at Milve’s request - so that the young acolyte could get a broader wealth of experience studying under the head of an order, even briefly.

  Though the preparation Jurao found most daunting was perhaps not the grandest in scale.

  “At least we already know how to modify the dances for your height difference,” Forvi chuckled, acting as Jurao and Braelin’s tutor in that regard.

  “And human feet,” Ae mused, paired with Imena to help guide them.

  “It might be easier if you were the shorter one in that regard,” Braelin chuckled, gncing over to watch the secretary and valet’s form again - causing him to bump into Jurao and nearly nd on the floor.

  Though Jurao could not very well bme his partner on that account as he caught the human - as he too was unfamiliar with the pattern of the steps.

  Forvi waved for the musicians to pause, calling out, “I think that’s enough for today.”

  Imena and Ae politely bowed to each other - Jurao helping Braelin back to his feet.

  “You’ve actually improved a lot, for it only being a week,” Imena decred with a ugh.

  “By the time the feast arrives, your steps should be fairly decent,” Ae agreed, “To dance with each other, at least.”

  “I have never been much of a dancer,” Braelin sighed.

  “Nor I,” Jurao agreed, “But I do not think Maenscul will be upset by poor dancing.”

  “As long as the dance is done joyously and earnestly,” Grand Priestis Losse called from refelting some cloud for Maenscul’s throne nearby, “Maenscul will be pleased.”

  “Though it’s not as though they’re likely to make an appearance,” Forvi chuckled, “That has not occurred since Lavven’s time.”

  “Do other demon gods show up to their events?” Braelin asked, wiping his face and neck with a cloth. The human capacity to sweat was interesting - with how small human ears were, Jurao supposed another cooling method made sense.

  “Not frequently, but it has been known to happen,” Ae replied, lightly panting from how long they had been practicing.

  “Maenscul, Nosu, and Vouscu show up the least,” Imena added, “And Porscil shows up the most.”

  “Your highness!”

  They all turned as a guard rushed into the Hall, bowing at the appropriate distance before continuing, “A wyvern bearing a rider has been spotted - they appear to be making to nd within the cavalry grounds.”

  “Thank you,” Jurao nodded to the guard. He turned to the others, “Excuse me. Snip, Snap, come.”

  “A wyvern?” Braelin questioned.

  “Very rge birds,” Forvi replied, “A rider indicates someone from Noskanar.”

  Further replies were lost to Jurao as he jogged outside with his hounds at his heels, spotting the wyvern circling lower overhead. As the guard had reported, its rider was using the slow descent to foretell their nding point - and Jurao made it to the rge clearing for the calvary just as the wyvern nded. Jurao had seen the animal from a distance during the Royal Trials - no.

  As he approached, he realized he had seen this wyvern from a distance before. He recalled due to its coloration - reptilian skin a bright cobalt blue with purple feathers compared to the usual red. It shook its long neck as it dug the talons at the joint of its wings into the ground, making a rough-sounding call as it settled.

  Jurao had Snip and Snap sit a few feet back as he approached, unsure how the wyvern would feel about the hounds.

  As Jurao expected, its rider was Petty Prince Exmarre of Noskanar - a traditional demon of the rare height of ten feet, with dark purple skin that darkened to bck at the extremities of his limbs and on the top half of his face. His hair, as Jurao recalled, was enchanted to look like fire rolling down his head - though he had briefly seen it was a brilliant red on its own during the trials.

  “Good morning, your highness!” the man greeted with a bow upon spotting the King, “And might I thank you once again for beating me in the Trials?”

  “If you wish,” Jurao replied, nodding to Gnori as the Captain of the Guard warily joined him. He said, “This is Petty Prince Exmarre.”

  “I’ll get Hujur!” Gnori nodded, making to jog away.

  “And Festi,” the King said.

  “Festi, my lord?” Gnori asked.

  “Petty Prince Exmarre is coming on as the Royal Tailor,” Jurao reminded his guard captain.

  “And thank you for that, as well!” Exmarre grinned, white eyes shining as he helped a human out of the wyvern saddle, “I would have arrived sooner, but my brother asked me to pick up his heir as a representative!”

  “Yes, and Kylse will need a motion sickness draught,” a person Jurao had almost missed called from near the head of the wyvern. Fos was an inspired demon with pale pink skin marked heavily by pox scars and white hair that grew in patches.

  Exmarre chuckled, patting the nauseous looking human on the back as he dug into the saddlebags, “That lovely man reminding me to mind my charge is my husband, Oresti - this here is Petty Prince Kylse, my brother’s ward and heir apparent.”

  “A human heir,” Jurao wondered, tilting his head as he cautiously approached.

  “Slipped through a rift,” Exmarre stated, handing the young man a draught while helping him stay upright. He went on, “Much like, I hear, your romantic partner did, your highness.”

  “Indeed he did,” Jurao confirmed.

  Kylse downed the vial of draught at once, making a gagging noise afterward - though Jurao did not know if it was his current nausea or the taste of the draught. The young human man looked up at Jurao and flinched in surprise, leaning back into Exmarre. He had dark brown skin with heavy freckles and coily brown hair pulled back in a thick tie - flight goggles currently resting on his head. His hazel eyes were wide as he stared up at Jurao, though the King was uncertain as to why.

  “Exmarre,” Oresti called, “Come check on Marcut.”

  Exmarre chuckled, patting Kylse on the shoulder and leaning the young man against the wyvern before jogging over to his husband. The Petty Prince pulled a beastly demon child from a pack on his husband’s back, cooing over the babe a moment before taking his husband’s hand and saying, “You also need to greet the king, wellspring.”

  “Of course,” Oresti sighed, allowing himself to be led. As they approached, Jurao saw his eyes were a milky, cataracted white - expining the guiding hand of his husband.

  “Here,” Exmarre said, pausing at an appropriate distance.

  Oresti bowed, “Good afternoon, your highness - apologies, I am also the groom for my husband’s wyvern.”

  “You must have flown a long way,” Jurao nodded, “I understand wishing to check on his well-being first.”

  “This is our son, Marcut,” Exmarre said, indicating the drowsy baby as he tapped his husband’s shoulder, “Though Oresti was the one that found him abandoned in the aries.”

  Released from his bow, Oresti went back to tending the wyvern - feeling along its neck as he added, “Which is why he’s named for my father - he was half human, though I don’t remember my grandfather well.”

  “Good afternoon,” Hujur cleared his throat as he approached with a slight bow, “I’m the castle Steward, Hujur - I’ll be handling your accommodations.”

  Exmarre’s eyes narrowed before he asked, “You’re a Gaevisevas, aren’t you? Vise’s younger brother?”

  “So you do recall,” Hujur mused as he rose, “Yes, I am - though we only met briefly before.”

  “Yes, I didn’t stay long after my arrival as a representative,” Exmarre agreed, swinging Marcut onto his back, “I had no pns of ruling Noskanar, not really, and I’m very gd it never came to pass.”

  “We set up a studio for you,” Festi sniffed, just behind Hujur, “Though Jouvi’s the only one that has any experience with tailors, so it might be shit.”

  “I’m sure I can make it suit my needs,” Exmarre grinned.

  He does seem much happier now, Jurao thought - considering he had only seen the man smile after he’d been beaten before.

  “This is Kylse Naolosnaonar,” Exmarre introduced, gently pulling the young man forward again, “My brother’s ward and heir - now that his highness’s intended Wish will make it possible.”

  Kylse cleared his throat and bowed awkwardly, “Um, good afternoon.”

  Hujur’s brows rose as he made notes, “My, Petty King Joron is certainly making bold moves.”

  “Just following the King’s example,” Exmarre grinned.

  “My lord,” Hujur said, “Prince Ergirri and the representative for Gaevoyga have also just arrived - they’re waiting for you to greet them in the Grand Hall.”

  “Thank you, Hujur,” Jurao nodded. He turned to Exmarre, “If you would excuse me.”

  “Of course,” Exmarre chuckled, “I’m sure we can get settled well enough on our own.”

  Jurao nodded again before heading off once more - tail swaying in anticipation at seeing his predecessor again. Snip and Snap seemed to pick up on his good mood as they followed, yipping at him a few times.

  “Jurao!” Ergirri grinned upon seeing him, “Good afternoon, my boy!”

  “Good afternoon,” Jurao replied, remembering at the st moment that he no longer needed to use a title.

  Ergirri was much as Jurao remembered him – standing at exactly six feet, making him extremely short by demon standards, with a stout figure and shorter limbs than most, even in comparison to his frame. He had bright red skin, wavy golden markings, and wavy orange hair pulled back into a thick braid.

  “He’s terribly put out that someone made a more sensational entrance,” Lordis Vallen chuckled next to eir husband. E was an arcane demon of an average height of seven and a half feet, with powder blue skin, white coily hair pulled half up in two buns, and purple spotted markings.

  “Never mind that!” Ergirri said, leaning down to give Snip a good scratch behind the ears, “Where’s this human partner of yours?”

  Snap approached Vallen more cautiously, the lordis holding out a hand for him to sniff.

  “Braelin was in the Great Hall st I saw him,” Jurao replied, “We were practicing dancing for the Golden Sun Feast.”

  “Yes, but he went back to the gardens already,” Forvi said, chuckling as he approached them, “Welcome back, Father.”

  “How’s the court?” Princess Klone asked her brother. While an arcane demon rather than a traditional demon, she otherwise mostly resembled her grandmother Worgae rather than either parent – with wine-red skin, bck banded markings, golden eyes, and bck hair – though it was coily like her zanis’s. She, too, had inherited Ergirri’s height, another difference from her grandmother.

  “Slowly coming around to having humans as peers,” Forvi chuckled, “How was Gaevoyga while I was gone?”

  “The same as ever,” Klone sighed, “Ergi remained behind, as you can see.”

  “Given he’s only newly wed, I’m not surprised,” Forvi chuckled.

  “My mother is very in favor of their match,” Vallen sighed, “As though our family needs so much more rank after I married the former King.”

  Jurao knew Ergi, the youngest of the five princelins, resembled Vallen’s mother – with cyan skin, dark purple spotted markings, and matching gray hair and eyes. He differed from her in being a traditional demon, as well as also sharing his father’s stature.

  “That’s ungenerous, raindrop,” Ergirri ughed, “She supported us even when I was only a prince no one thought would amount to anything!”

  Vallen smiled, “You’re right, my thunder, she did.”

  “I had heard you’d returned,” Kloy said in amusement, joining their small group.

  “Kloy! My friend, how have you been since we st wrote?” Ergirri ughed, pyfully punching the doctor’s arm, “Keeping my successor out of trouble?”

  “Fortunately, our current King tends to avoid trouble,” Kloy smiled, “At least, the kind one needs to be gotten out of.”

  “You must be so bored,” Vallen replied dryly.

  “Terribly,” Kloy agreed.

  Ergirri ughed again, “Guess I need to make things interesting again!”

  Someone cleared fos throat loudly.

  “Ah, yes,” Ergirri rolled his eyes with his back to fos. He stood and smiled wryly as he said, “May I introduce Petty Prince Voyvok Jiedoyva, Gaevoyga’s representative?”

  “Your highness,” Voyvok bowed stiffly, as though he’d rather not. He was a traditional demon with cream-white skin and pale yellow spotted markings that almost blended into his skin tone. His dark blue hair was in stark contrast for its saturation, and his yellow eyes were hard as he said, “I would also appreciate the opportunity to meet your… partner.”

  “If you mean to challenge him to a duel, his brother will champion him,” Jurao replied, patting Snip’s head as she returned to his side.

  “Must you?” Klone sighed, leaning next to her zanis to pet Snap.

  Voyvok rolled his eyes, “Yes.”

  “Very well,” Jurao said, turning to lead the way.

  sbdrag