“Are you nervous?” Ebener asked.
Malson jumped – nearly tripping as he turned away from the mirror, steadied by his wife, “I’M NOT!”
Ahua chuckled, patting her husband’s cheek before releasing him. She was in an Erenese-style gown in Jost’s light blue and white, but her long black hair had been done in a Reaches style, covered by a pearl hairnet. She offered her father-in-law a bow of her head as she passed him, “I’ll let the two of you speak.”
“Thank you, Ahua,” Ebener said, returning the slight bow. He was glad his son and daughter-in-law got along so well – it reminded him of his marriage with Amalia, Malson’s mother. She had been his best friend, and while romantic feelings had never blossomed between them, they were very happy during the time they’d had together.
Though, of course, Amalia had not taken over and then expanded the Jostian navy – creating a force that could even rival their larger neighbor of Kaber thanks to the sloops her brother had sent as a wedding gift. She spent at least half the year at sea, but she and Malson sent many letters through their communication bracers whenever she was away.
“What do I have to be nervous about!?” Malson interrupted his father’s brief reverie, fixing the heavy chain of his cloak.
“You are becoming King,” Ebener observed, clasping his hands behind his back as he stood beside his son. He nodded as the servants making last-minute adjustments bowed and took their leave as well. He went on, “With the Kings of Kaber, Gresma, and Vede, Monarch of Lown, Emperor of Erei, Pirate Queen Abbay, and the Demon King himself in attendance – a very prestigious lineup for a Jostian King.”
Ebener had been surprised by the turnout himself – the monarchs of Kaber and Gresma were expected; upon hearing that the new King of Jost would be… well, the sort of man Malson was, the Monarch of Lown had felt compelled to show their support, especially after Ferrick’s failed usurpation some fifteen years ago. With their success in joining the Strongarm Coalition – and Malson and Ahua having had their second child last year – Emperor Lhiu had decided to pay them a visit to meet his niece and nephew in person.
Malson had told Abbay – who turned out to be the actual Pirate Queen, much to everyone’s surprise – who had relayed this to the King of Vede, who in turn sent word to the Demon King. Kaber and Gresma, following Jost’s lead, had begun their own talks with the Coalition – so it was decided all would meet for the coronation and have a summit afterward. Eweylona had taken on the role of Chairwoman – so that her husband and oldest son could focus on the transfer of power.
“Yeah, but that’s from your hard work, Dad!” Malson replied, huffing as he examined himself in the mirror again, “It’s not for me!”
Ebener smiled, “But you’ll be the one representing Jost during the summit – not I.”
“I know! That’s why the coronation has to be perfect!” Malson nodded, apparently satisfied – until he glanced again and went to fix a stray hair.
Ebener settled a hand on Malson’s shoulder, meeting his son’s gaze in the mirror, “I know you’ll do well. I wouldn’t be stepping down if I believed at all otherwise. I’m proud of you, son.”
Malson puffed out his chest a little at the praise – though he stood nearly a head shorter than his father. Amalia had been a small woman and passed her stature – and her pale hair and slightly upturned nose – unto her son.
Thinking of her, Ebener added, “And your mother would be proud of you as well.”
Malson swallowed, then cleared his throat, “Well then! We should…!”
“Yes,” Ebener nodded, squeezing his son’s shoulder before releasing him, “Let us get to our places.”
Ahua was waiting for her husband in the hall – they would enter the throne room together when it was time. Ebener nodded to her again as he left, heading to the throne room himself. He had been concerned, when his son was still a young man, that Malson’s temper and yearning for adventure would make him unable to assume the throne – or that he would need rely heavily on his younger brother Braelin for counsel, tying both his sons to the throne.
But Ferrick’s betrayal had significantly changed Malson’s romanticized view of ‘adventure’ in a way stories could not – and Ahua was an astute strategist herself, perhaps one of the best in the Human Realm. Over the past decade, Malson had begun turning to his wife for counsel first, rather than his technically illegitimate brother; which eased Ebener’s guilt at having broken his promise to Aesly to keep their son at a distance and away from politics.
“Was he nervous?” Eweylona asked, leaning down as she took her husband’s arm to kiss his temple.
No woman had ever made Ebener feel the way Eweylona did – Amalia and Aesly had been good friends, but Eweylona had made him finally understand the fine words of the bards and poets. His wife had a reputation for being one of the most beautiful women in all nine physical realms – and while Ebener could recognize the truth in this, it was not her face that had captivated his heart.
Unless one counted her sharp-fanged grin when she was stealing the last pastry off his plate, or the way her dark eyes glittered when she smiled – usually when watching one of their children. Or even how she gathered herself up to look haughtily down on someone who had disrespected her or her family – or when her long elven ears twitched in embarrassment if she overreacted, though it was rarely so. Or the way her face glowed as she did magic – not literally, but with a serene, dignified aura, the ends of her mouth tipped just up at the ends.
Well… perhaps not solely her face.
“Very,” Ebener replied, giving his beautiful wife a smile, “But he’ll be fine.”
Eweylona chuckled, “I’m sure he will – Braelin, however…”
Ebener sighed but fondly. His second oldest son was terribly shy in front of crowds – and normally, Malson would find an excuse to keep Braelin out of such an event. But Braelin had insisted that he wanted to take part – which, of course, he did, as the brothers had long been close.
Ebener took the lead into the back of the throne room – curtains had been drawn to separate this section from the rest of the long room so that all the assembled royalty might arrange themselves in peace.
A few feet from the back door, however, the twins stood huddled together – Ayelma giggling and Meir’ril struggling not to do the same.
Eweylona stepped away – sneaking up on their youngest children on her soft-padded leopard feet and leaning down just behind their huddled heads to ask, “What are you two doing?”
Meir’ril yelped in surprise, clapping a hand over his mouth as he turned.
“Mom!” Aya complained, a hand to her chest – then laughed, “Don’t do that!”
Eweylona chuckled, taking Ebener’s arm again – cat-like tail swaying in pleasure that she still could sneak up on them.
Ebener smiled as well and asked, “Yes, but what were you whispering about?”
“Oh,” Ayelma giggled again, stepping around to jerk her head towards the other side of the room, “Look at that!”
Ebener and Eweylona followed their daughter’s gaze to… an odd sight.
Demon King Jurao made everyone around him seem small – even other demons tended to be a foot or so shorter than the man, at least of those that had come with him. At over nine and a half feet of height, he was over half the height of the fifteen-foot tall ceiling above them – though the longer hall portion of the room was a bit taller. Being the only demon in this section, Jurao appeared especially tall. Generally, he was a man of serious countenance and few words – though, being similar, Ebener did not find this intimidating as others appeared to.
Next to Jurao was his second oldest son, Braelin – soon to take over as Castle Gardener from his uncle, Owren. It was odd to see Braelin in finery, though it suited the occasion – he usually only saw his son in his working clothes or livery. He and the Demon King appeared to be deep in some kind of conversation – Ebener guessed having to do with plants, particularly of the demon variety.
“When Braelin mentioned how nervous he gets at events like this,” Meir’ril cleared his throat, blushing in embarrassment from his outburst, “The Demon King heard him and suggested he stand on the side behind him – then he’d be out of sight of the crowd.”
“From all the way over here?” Ebener frowned.
“Demons have good hearing, love,” Eweylona reminded him, “Better than me – and even I can hear them from here.”
“Are they talking about plants?” Aya asked, tilting her head to try to hear, “I just can’t imagine anyone looking that engaged about it besides Braelin or his friends.”
Eweylona chuckled, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her daughter’s ear, “I would say it’s more accurate to say Braelin is talking about plants, and the Demon King is listening.”
“I’ll bet he tries to convince the King to see his little demon garden,” Aya snickered.
“He already has,” Wesran, the King of Kaber, snorted as he approached, “Though it didn’t take much convincing.”
Ebener nodded to the younger man – Wesran had led an usurpation of his own, though a bloodless one. He was the bastard son of the previous king, Heim, who had been… well. Ebener enjoyed working with Wesran more than his father, and the people of Kaber hadn’t been particularly upset by the change in power either. When it came to light that Heim had been lending Ferrick support, Ebener had felt even less sorry for his loss.
“It was kind of him,” Wesran added, tilting his head toward the pair, “To offer.”
“I agree,” Ebener nodded, having worried someone would need to catch Braelin at the conclusion of the ceremony. He supposed that wasn’t entirely out of the question, but at least it would draw less attention if that person were the Demon King.
Ebener nodded, “If you’ll excuse me, I believe I should take my place.”
“And I mine,” Wesran smiled with a bow – returning to his spot on the Demon King’s other side. In Kaber, it was common for nobles to employ their illegitimate children – mainly as covert spies to watch their interests across the kingdom. As such, Wesran had a habit of moving from place to place no matter the event, keeping abreast of all that was happening.
The twins found their spots to stand as Ebener and Eweylona sat on their thrones. Once, the King’s seat had been on a raised platform and the Queen’s next to the platform. When they’d wed, Eweylona had moved the Queen’s seat next to his – daring his advisors to question it with a glare that could freeze over a fire – literally, if she willed it. Ebener hadn’t considered the implication before she moved the seat, but agreed with the change.
The twins and Emperor Lhiu stood on Ebener’s right – showing their familial ties to the Jostian throne. Braelin should be on that side as well, but Ebener didn’t think anyone would note the change, and those that did would realize its purpose quickly. Little Amalia Hui Ealdwine, all of five years old, stood proudly between the uncle she was somewhat named for and the twins – though when Aya held out her hand, her niece took it. Malson and Ahua’s son was being held by his governess on the other side of the twins.
The visiting royals without a familial connection stood on Ebener’s left – Monarch Rahlee of Lown in front as the shortest, and Demon King Jurao in the back as the tallest… save for Braelin. Ebener offered his second oldest son a nod of approval, with Braelin returned nervously.
The High Priest of Waegar – Patron God of Jost – bowed to the king before signaling the heralds.
As the trumpets sounded, the curtains were drawn back – revealing the assembled crowd of nobility from all countries present. The demons had elected to stand in the back of this crowd, too – most being over eight feet tall and all at least seven feet.
The doors were pulled open, and Malson and Ahua entered to more fanfare. Ebener watched with pride as his son walked the length of the room with sure, even strides – head held high and eyes forward. They’d practiced a few times – and he knew Malson had practiced on his own even more, coming to the throne room during the night to ensure his gait was even and in tempo with the music.
The High Priest stood at the edge of the throne dais, and Malson and Ahua stopped before the man and knelt together as the music came to a close.
“Today, a new era in Jostian history begins,” the priest called out, “The Ealdwine legacy continues, but a new hand guides it. We ask that wise Waegar bless this new king and his queen. Long may they rule, blessed with peace and prosperity!”
The crowd clapped for the declaration – until the High Priest motioned for them to stop. He turned and bowed to Ebener and walked to the side.
Ebener rose, offering his wife his arm once more. Together, they walked to the end of the dais.
“Prince Malson,” Ebener stated, releasing Eweylona to carefully lift the crown from his head, “Today, I pass our kingdom on to you,” he placed the crown on Malson’s head, while Eweylona did the same with Ahua, “Serve our people well, my son.”
Malson rose – eyes watery as he nodded, “I will!”
Ebener nodded and stepped aside – retaking his wife’s arm.
Malson and Ahua walked past them, taking their seats upon the thrones. Together, Ebener and Eweylona bowed to their new King and Queen – and the crowd erupted into cheers.
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