“How was your shopping trip, my lord?” Gavven asked, tail swaying as e giggled.

Jurao took his seat for the evening meal, replying, “It went well.”

“You seemed to find a lot,” Braelin remarked, then chuckled, “Well, Dad and Eweylona seemed to have plenty of gifts to put away in the cottage.”

“Yes, it was very productive,” Jurao agreed, tousling his partner’s hair, “Were you successful on your trip.”

“I think so,” Braelin smiled, “Though I fear Uncle and Beneford will have more alcohol than they know what to do with.”

“Well, I imagine they needed to rebuild their collections,” Kloy chuckled, “We older men tend to keep them, you know.”

“You went with his highness, didn’t you, Kloy?” Festi asked, “What was that about?”

“Feyl was unable to go and asked me to help in his stead,” the Physician replied, “Nothing more, really.”

“Well, it’s true the King doesn’t go into the city often,” Festi shrugged, “Still weird you two are courting.”

Kloy arched his brows before changing the subject by asking, “What did your aunt think of the magical engine, my lord?”

“Magical engine?” Hujur questioned.

“We met a fae enchanter while shopping,” Jurao explained, “My aunt studied blacksmithing under her father, and she and her sibling built an engine based on theories my aunt had at the time.”

“And you brought this engine into the castle…?” Hujur asked, voice strained.

“She had already been petitioning the City Council for permission,” Kloy said, “And had the backing of a major family from Mesescima, as I understand it.”

“Yes, the Nouklesse,” Jurao nodded, “She gave me a copy of their letter of support along with the schematics.”

Hujur sighed in evident relief, making a note, “Well, that’s alright, then.”

Minaz snorted, “Have you studied engineering, my lord?”

“The basic principles,” Jurao replied, then added, “And she recognized the implementation of her ideas but is waiting to study it until tomorrow.”

Jouvi snorted, “I guess you won’t have any plans tonight, then, Kloy.”

“I couldn’t imagine what would make you say that,” Kloy replied, though his knowing smile said otherwise.

Jurao frowned, looking between them.

“Yeah, I don’t get the connection, either,” Minaz asked, arching her left brows.

“Really, Min?” Vajur scoffed.

“Really,” Minaz replied, turning to her partner, “Wait, what do you mean, ‘really?’”

Hujur chuckled, “Oh my, and here I thought it was both of you…”

“Please,” Vajur rolled his eyes, getting up and closing the doors to the Dining Hall before turning back to say, “Everyone here knows Feyl is the smithing spirit – except Min, apparently…”

“What?” Minaz scoffed, “No, he isn’t.”

“Look, I’m tired of playing this game,” Vajur huffed, taking his seat, “My lord, we all know. The rest of the castle still thinks it’s Nevve, but it’s obviously Feyl when you know him well enough.”

“We’ll still keep his secret with others, of course,” Gavven promised, “Though we would like to thank him, you know? His gifts have been so lovely over the years!”

Jurao was not sure how to reply to the sentiment.

“What makes you all believe Feyl is the smithing spirit?” Braelin asked, taking one of Jurao’s hands.

“He’s not,” Minaz still insisted, looking to Jurao, “Right?”

“I don’t know about the rest of them,” Vajur waved a hand at the table, “But it’s not that hard to piece together – Nevve teaching him as a kid is public knowledge. Ierge being his dad isn’t a secret, either. That a valet rarely spends his nights in the company of others is odd enough. Min not making the connection between him doing the smithing and having a suite full of weapons doesn’t mean she didn’t tell me and Hujur about it.

“And lastly,” Vajur snorted, “I don’t have to get into the Civil Smithy itself to note who goes to that wing of the castle with no reason most nights.”

Kloy sighed, “For the ‘rest of us’: we noticed a pattern in who was delivering our gifts. Or rather, who was nearby when they appeared. Feyl’s sleight of hand is impressive, and I’m sure personal deliveries have kept him from being found out by a loose-lipped courier, but when we all considered Vajur’s first two points, well…”

“We had a whole meeting about it,” Festi shrugged, “Since he didn’t seem to want people to know, we just decided not to say anything. But I really didn’t think Vajur knew.”

“I did!” Gnori said proudly, crossing his arms.

“He did, too!” Gavven agreed with a giggle, “Said after all this time, he could tell Vajur’s real offense from his fake for a debate! Sorry, Gnori, I should have believed you.”

Vajur rolled his eyes, “So there you have it – you didn’t give it away, my lord.”

Jurao hummed, still conflicted.

“Kloy, perhaps you wouldn’t mind joining us for a game of Ascension this evening?” Braelin asked.

“I certainly wouldn’t, if his highness would rather someone else break the news,” Kloy offered.

Jurao considered this as well, then shook his head, “No, I will tell him after the meal. Thank you.”

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“Do you want me to come?” Braelin asked.

“Yes,” Jurao replied, “I did have something else to discuss with Feyl, in any case.”

Jurao sent a runner to ask Feyl to come to his office – though the valet often stopped by either way.

“A summons?” Feyl asked as he appeared, closing the door behind him, “Did Kloy show you something you have questions about?”

“Yes,” Jurao replied, setting his lock aside, “But there was another matter, first.”

“Oh?” his best friend asked, noting Braelin had taken one of the seats before Jurao’s desk – leaving the second chair before the fire open to the valet. He took it after only a moment.

“It would seem that all of the Heads of Staff are aware you are the smithing spirit,” Jurao said.

Feyl blinked a few times, then asked, “What?”

“They put the pieces together themselves,” Braelin added, “Much like I did. It seems Vajur was tired of pretending he didn’t know in front of Jurao and the others.”

“… that does sound like Vajur,” Feyl said, sitting back with a frown.

Jurao let his best friend process the news for a few minutes in silence before adding, “Gavven said e would like to thank you - as would the others.”

“I’m sure e would,” Feyl replied, shifting his weight as he thought.

“Vajur also said the rest of the castle is unaware,” Braelin said, “The Department Heads only figured it out due to working so closely with you. And they don’t plan on spreading the word.”

Feyl sighed, tail twitching before he shrugged, “I suppose there’s nothing I can do about that.”

“It was brought up due to a device I was given earlier today,” Jurao said, “A magical engine.”

“Jouvi made a comment about how it might mean you would be spending less time with Kloy,” Braelin added.

“I see,” Feyl sighed again, considering a moment more before asking, “A magical engine?”

“It’s in the Civil Smithy,” Jurao replied, “A siren engine with an enchanted core as a power source, based on ideas my aunt had while working for a fae blacksmith.”

Feyl hummed, and smiled a little, “Any other reveals before I get too excited about engineering?”

Jurao hesitated.

“Oh,” Feyl frowned, “That was meant to be a joke, but go on, then.”

“It seems you may be Beloved of Soken,” Jurao replied apologetically.

“And why do you believe that?” his best friend asked, looking over at Braelin.

Braelin shook his head - as Jurao had not had a chance to tell his partner that information.

“Eweylona is trained in the skill of reading auras,” Jurao replied, “While looking at her children’s auras to check their wellbeing, she also saw yours - certain qualities of it mark those blessed by deities.”

“I see,” Feyl frowned.

After a few moments, Braelin said, “I don’t think anyone else knows that, at least - and Eweylona would not share it casually, either.”

Jurao nodded, then said, “Kloy was there when she suggested such to me - Ebener as well, but I do not think he knew we were speaking of you.”

Feyl hummed, then rose with a sigh, “Well, thank you for telling me. Do excuse me for the evening - I think I should have a talk with my gieuls.”

“Of course,” Jurao said, “I hope it goes well.”

“I’m sure it will,” Feyl sighed yet again, “It’s not like I would have expected him to say anything at such an early stage of a relatively casual relationship, but… well. I’ll speak with you tomorrow.”

“Until then,” Jurao said in farewell.

After the door had closed, Braelin asked, “Are you worried?”

Jurao hummed, then said, “A little. But I do not think Feyl was overly distressed by the news.”

“No,” Braelin agreed, “And it might be good. For him to have more people to confide in, I mean.”

“Perhaps,” Jurao said, though he still found himself frowning.

“And I am sure Feyl will speak to you again if he finds he’s more distressed later,” Braelin added.

“Ah, yes, that’s true,” the King agreed, feeling more at ease. It had happened in the past that way - Feyl taking time to consider something on his own before seeking Jurao’s help or companionship on the subject.

After some time in more comfortable silence, Braelin asked, “Did you find a gift for everyone on your outing?”

“Almost,” Jurao replied, “Eweylona had a request that might take longer than the party, but I found gifts for most everyone else.”

“Including me?” his partner smiled.

Jurao’s tail swayed as he said, “Not yet.”

Braelin chuckled, leaving the work he was finishing up to seat himself in the King’s lap, “I don’t need a present, you know.”

“I know,” Jurao replied, wrapping his larger hands around his partner while his smaller set continued working on his lock, “Eweylona said the same.”

“So long as you know,” Braelin said, watching the King’s hands as they worked the lockpicking tools.

Jurao did not speak with Feyl again until the following late morning, when his best friend appeared in his office.

“How did your talk go,” Jurao asked, setting his work aside.

“I thought you might be worried,” Feyl replied, flopping into one of the seats before the hearth as usual. He pet Snip as she put her head in his lap, adding, “I found several thank you notes under my door this morning from the Department Heads - and one request to share the midday meal with Min. Any idea why?”

“It seems she was the only one who truly did not know you were the spirit,” Jurao replied.

Feyl snorted, “I think I’ll decline then - today, at least,” he sighed, “The talk went well. It seems Kloy and I have more in common than I would have guessed. Such as the wrong patron.”

“He did mention his family felt that way,” Jurao hummed.

“I do wonder how Vislaelos’s influence has affected me,” his best friend said.

“You have always been very fit,” Jurao replied.

Feyl snorted, “Athleticism. I could see that.”

Jurao joined his best friend before the hearth, feeling that he was not entirely relaxed.

Feyl watched the fire a moment before asking, “Are you busy this afternoon?”

“I am not,” Jurao replied.

“I was thinking of visiting the Temple to Soken across the lake,” Feyl said, “I thought, since you have more experience speaking to deities than I do…”

“I would be happy to accompany you,” Jurao replied, getting to his feet, “Shall we go now.”

Feyl snorted as he stood, “I suppose it will take most of the day. Thank you, Jurao.”

“Of course,” the King replied, leading the way out, “Alae, I will be out for the rest of the day. Please send any urgent business to my quarters.”

“Of course, your highness,” his secretary replied - in his regular voice, rather than the tone he previously used around Feyl.

Feyl hardly gave Alae a glance, mind understandably elsewhere.

Alae, on the other hand, watched after Feyl with a slightly arched brow - an expression Jurao knew to mean concern from the man.

Perhaps they can get along, Jurao thought absently - in the future, at least.

Thanks to the power of Dominion from Jurao’s Blessing of Ascension, they were able to charter a barge directly across the lake rather than traveling around the edge to avoid larger creatures in the depths. Though he left Snip and Snap behind - not sure how the hounds would react to boat travel.

“You know,” Feyl said, looking out over the water, “I haven’t been outside the Field Walls before.”

“Are you nervous,” Jurao asked, sitting next to him.

Feyl chuckled, “About being outside the walls? No.”

Jurao hummed, then reached out and took one of his best friend’s hands.

Feyl snorted, but gave his hand a squeeze, “Thanks.”

“What do you want to speak with Soken about,” Jurao asked.

Feyl chuckled, “I’m not sure I do want to speak with Soken. But… confirmation would be… well, I would like it, in any case.”

Jurao nodded - he could understand that. Eweylona only had a suspicion, after all - though he felt the former queen was not the sort that would share such a suspicion if she were not relatively sure of it.

Even with the shorter travel time, it still took a few hours to reach the far side of the lake. The barge master had a midday meal prepared for them to share and asked no questions about the reason for their trip. Jurao was glad, as Feyl did not seem as up to creating an excuse as he usually would be.

There was a small dock at the head of the trail that would take them to Soken’s Temple. They could see the temple from the dock, and as it was the King asking, the barge master would wait for them to return.

The temple was like most demon temples - and other buildings. A large dome of packed earth and clay, though Soken’s temple included a large porch wrapped around the outside. There were blacksmiths practicing their trade - priesti, naturally.

“Your highness, I’m High Priest Hous,” a large traditional demon soft with muscle greeted them, “We did not anticipate your visit.”

“No,” Jurao nodded, “It is not I who seeks an audience, your grace.”

Hous eyed Feyl dubiously.

“If you have a test for me, I’ll take it,” Feyl said.

Hous nodded, “I do. If you-”

They were interrupted by the doors to the temple swinging open on their own volition, and Jurao felt the tingle of celestial power on the wind behind it.

“... it seems there is no need,” Hous cleared his throat - giving Feyl another cursory gaze - before shrugging and heading back to his station, “Call if you have need of me.”