Demon King's Gardener

They all grew quiet in anticipation as the carriage approached them. Like most demon carriages, it was a covered affair built of metal with a rounded top pulled by a single armored heavy hound. It made its way slowly, which caused the feeling of anticipation to grow until it finally reached them.

“I see you brought out the whole welcome wagon!” a woman who had to be Jaevve declared with a laugh as she exited the carriage first.

“You’re the one who asked me to!” Malson scoffed with a grin of his own as his wife easily lifted him off his feet into a kiss.

“Sorry,” she said as she set him back down with a second kiss to the top of his head, “I’ve missed you, raindrop.”

Jaevve was a trollish demon with pink skin and wavy yellow markings, straight white hair pulled half back with a few braids. Her eyes were a lighter pink than her skin, and she grinned as she straightened up. Jurao was surprised to realize she was a few inches taller than him – a rarity for the Demon King.

“Daddy!” two young voices called out, and two children barreled their way into Malson, knocking him off his feet.

“Hey, did you two get taller?” Malson asked, voice dropping to a normal volume.

“Before you get too caught up,” Jaevve said gently, picking up both children before turning back to the carriage, “You should see who we ran into on the way.”

Jurao watched curiously as two more figures emerged from the carriage – and knew who they were immediately.

Ebener Ealdwine stood slightly over six feet and, as his children had said, greatly resembled his second oldest son. He was broad-shouldered with a square face, wavy brown hair graying at one temple pulled back into a low horsetail. Other than that, there was nothing particularly remarkable about him aside from his unusually pale blue eyes.

Eweylona Ealdwine stood a foot taller than her human husband, and even Jurao could see her reputation for beauty was well-earned. She had skin the same brown as her daughter and onyx eyes that shone like the gemstone itself. Her cat-like feet were white with gray-black spots, and her tail’s coloration matched, swaying gently behind her. Framing her face were the same gray-black spots, in the same manner as Meir’ril and Ayelma’s elven spots. Her long black hair, braided and pulled over one shoulder, had a silken sheen to it.

For a few moments, they all stood in silence, no one making a move.

“Mom!” Ayelma broke the silence as she rushed forward with a sob, hugging her mother tightly.

The other three siblings were quick to follow; all six of the family members soon huddled together.

“My daughter,” Eweylona sobbed herself, “My sons.”

“You’re okay,” Meir’ril breathed, “You’re really okay.”

“Yeah,” Jaevve sighed, “That’s about what I expected… and is that Laesar I see?”

“Cousin,” Kloy snorted, “Welcome home.”

“Look at you,” Laesar said lowly, no one wanting to interrupt the reunion, “All grown up with a husband and kids. Feels like yesterday you were trying to tail Kloy around the city.”

“Henes,” Jaevve said, kissing the temple of her half-demon child, “Say hello to your cousin, sweetheart.”

“Hello,” fos mumbled, curling into fos mother. Henes had skin slightly too pink to be a natural human shade, and fos wavy markings were more beige than Jaevve’s. Fos platinum blond hair was less wavy than fos father’s, and fos had two eyes on the left but only one on the right – though such variance was common with dual species children. All three eyes had black sclera and were the Ealdwine Blue. Henes did not have a tail, but did have digitigrade legs like fos mother.

“Hi, I’m Amancia!” the human daughter held on Jaevve’s other side declared. She had dark brown skin and cloud-textured black hair pulled into two buns on top of her head – like her sibling, she too had the Ealdwine Blue eyes. She shifted forward to add, “Jaevve said Daddy and Grandpa and Grandma haven’t seen each other in a long,loooong time, even longer than when we saw him, so we should let them hug first!”

“Well, she’s pretty smart most of the time,” Kloy chuckled.

“Thanks,” Jaevve grinned.

“This my daughter, Klesmi,” the physician introduced, “But I really should have started with his highness, the Demon King Jurao.”

“Good afternoon, Petty Princess Jaevve,” Jurao greeted, though most of his attention was still on Braelin, his siblings, and their parents. He felt…

He was happy for his partner, of course – there was no question. But watching the family in their large embrace had also caused an old, odd pang of… sadness. It seemed silly, with how long it had been, but…

No matter how long Jurao waited, he could never reunite with his mothers this way.

“No need to be so formal, your highness,” Jaevve said, following his gaze with a chuckle, “It’s a heartening sight, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” Jurao agreed, “I’m glad the former King and Queen of Jost were alright.”

“So very formal!” Jaevve laughed, “Is there a better place for them all to catch up than just in front of the castle?”

“Yes,” Jurao repeated, spurred to action himself as he pushed away his melancholy, “Pardon the interruption; perhaps you would like to continue at the cottage.”

“Oh,” Braelin said, pulling away and wiping at his eyes with one hand, the other reaching for his partner, “That’s a good idea – Ben and Uncle will want to know you’re alright, too.”

Jurao helped Braelin to his feet, moving closer when he realized his partner was less steady than he’d first thought.

“You must be the Demon King,” Eweylona smiled, voice rumbling with how loudly she was purring, standing with an arm around each of the twins.

“Jaevve mentioned you and Braelin were courting,” Ebener added, a hand on both of his older sons’ shoulders, “But… it still seems unexpected.”

“Aw,” Ayelma huffed, “I was hoping you’d be surprised…”

Meir’ril laughed, “I think they’re still surprised, Aya.”

Their voices were all still heavy with emotion despite the lighter tone.

“We’ll find our own accommodations, Lona,” another frost elf person said, exiting the carriage with a chuckle.

“Thank you, Nua,” Eweylona said, then added, “Nua and Edhaidua are Eleamera priestesses who traveled with us.”

“I’ll help them get settled, my lord,” Kloy offered.

“Thank you, Kloy,” Jurao said, then turned back to his partner’s parents, “And yes, I am Demon King Jurao. A pleasure to meet you both.”

“So formal indeed,” Eweylona grinned, still purring loudly.

Jaevve chuckled, joining their little group, “You mentioned a cottage, your highness?”

In short order, they all made their way to the cottage Owren, Beneford, and the twins stayed in – surprising Owren and Milve gardening outside. Milve went to find Beneford, while Owren had an equally emotional response to seeing Ebener and Eweylona alive and well. Beneford arrived when the twins were partway through their retelling of leaving Jost – dragging Milve inside with him when the priest seemed like he would leave otherwise.

“Ebener, my friend,” Beneford smiled with watery eyes, clasping the other man’s arm as Ebener stood to meet him, “It’s good to see you well.”

“And you, Ben,” Ebener nodded, looking past him, “And this is…?”

“Priest Milve,” Beneford explained, “Owren and I’s new third.”

Ebener’s eyes widened in surprise, and he looked to Owren.

“What?” Owren huffed, face red despite his attempt at being gruff, “It’s a new realm, isn’t it?”

“Oh my,” Eweylona laughed, “I see the children are not the only ones with new stories to tell, Owren.”

Beneford continued to drag Milve, pulling the priest down between himself and Owren on the floor – with how many people there were, the furniture had been pushed back rather than used.

“Ah,” Milve cleared his throat, “Nice… to make your acquaintance.”

“And you as well,” Eweylona said, “But, forgive me – where were you, Aya?”

The twins continued their retelling, which led to Braelin’s story, then Malson’s. Before Ebener and Eweylona got to their story, a few runners arrived with a midday meal – courtesy of Kloy.

“Ferrick had been planning his usurpation for a long time, I fear,” Ebener started, “He even went to the trouble of procuring a poison that disrupts a mage’s ability to use magic and generate magicka.”

“He had to,” Eweylona snorted, “He may be a vile sort of man, but he was never a careless one. He made sure to time the dosages with the new moon since, as a priestess, I tied my powers to Eleamera’s cycle. It makes me more powerful as it waxes, but less so when it wanes – though I did think I had been feeling weaker than usual.”

“Though he hadn’t accounted for my wife’s anniversary present to me being a protective artefact,” Ebener smiled, taking his wife’s hand to kiss her knuckles.

Eweylona purred with a grin, “Yes, the look of shock on his face when he attempted to stab my love in the back and his blade froze was rather satisfying.”

“He tried to stab you in the back!?” Malson demanded, “Literally, too!?”

“Yes,” Ebener sighed, “He had called me to the throne room, claiming he had discovered traitors to the crown.”

“I’m sure he was pleased with the irony,” Eweylona sneered.

“I improvised a weapon out of a candelabra,” Ebener continued, “And fought with Ferrick while Eweylona used what power she did have to keep his men back. As you know, Malson arrived shortly after the start of the coup with a contingent of men, and Beneford helped us escape through a servant entrance.”

“Ferrick had more men waiting outside the castle,” Beneford sighed, “With Eweylona tired from overexerting her magic, the best I could do was create a distraction – that was how I ended up in a healer’s hut by myself.”

“And I don’t know how I could ever repay you for that – nor for looking out for Malson all these years, my friend,” Ebener said, bowing his head.

“You already have by staying alive,” Beneford chuckled, “Didn’t let my hard work go to waste.”

Ebener smiled briefly before continuing, “We weren’t sure where to go at first – who we could trust outside the castle or even abroad. Ferrick had always been close with King Heim, so Kaber was hardly an option, and Gresma was scarcely better.”

“We went to the Empire first because it was easiest – elves having free entry to Gate province,” Eweylona sighed, “But when Ferrick secured his alliance a few years later, that no longer felt safe enough.”

“Wesran had staged his own successful usurpation by then,” Ebener nodded, “But we had no way to secure safe passage to Kaber, so we decided the Elven Realm would be the safest place.”

“And the Eleamera Priestesshood was able to keep ears out for all of you, though limited by the realm of separation,” Eweylona concluded, “That’s how we heard his highness was looking for the Ealdwine family.”

“I suppose it’s not a very interesting story, all things considered,” Ebener concluded, “Nua and Edhaidua had graciously offered to travel with us as cover, in the off-chance that this was some kind of trap – but then we ran into Jaevve in Asalban.”

“I’m sure there are plenty of interesting details you’re leaving out,” Beneford snorted.

“Henes found fos grandfather all by fos-self,” Jaevve chuckled, “And was very put out by how long it took me to notice.”

“Same eyes!” Henes declared proudly, wrapped around Malson’s back.

“That’s right, Hen,” fos father snorted, reaching up to pat fos head.

Amancia was settled in her father’s lap and sound asleep, clinging to his shirt.

“He’s so quiet with them,” Ayelma said, leaning towards her twin.

Meir’ril leaned back, “I know, it’s so weird.”

“I mean!” Malson huffed, blushing, “I started yelling as a kid because it felt like no one could hear me – I wouldn’t want my kids to think I wouldn’t be able to hear them!”

Braelin, leaned into Jurao’s side, chuckled, “That sounds right.”

Jurao hummed, gently pushing his partner up so he could stand, “I’m sure you would all like to catch up further, but I have some business I must attend to. I look forward to getting to know you better in the future.”

Braelin frowned as he looked up at the King, “Alright?”

Jurao tousled his hair, “I’ll see you later.”

Eweylona chuckled, “You’re really courting.”

“It’s still weird!” Malson declared.

“Oh, hush, they’re adorable, and you know it,” Ayelma rolled her eyes, pushing her oldest brother’s shoulder.

“That doesn’t make it not weird!” Malson replied.

Beneford chuckled, “Eb, you should have seen the first day I got Braelin training again.”

“We don’t have to discuss that….” Braelin sighed.

Jurao closed the door softly as the banter continued – in truth, he did not have any pressing business to take him away. He had simply not wanted to ruin the happy mood with his persistent melancholy of missing his own parents. So, rather than his office, he made his way to the Civil Smithy, Snip and Snap trotting dutifully at his sides.