“Oh,” Braelin said, “Now that you mention it, that does make the most sense.”

“Feyl suspected it and happened to mention it,” Kaenaz chuckled, “And they are of a similar age.”

“Malson does intimidate fos,” Braelin chuckled, “Though I think Aya might intimidate fos more, when it comes to courtship…”

“Why would that be,” Jurao asked, “They are already friends.”

Kaenaz laughed, “Yes, but she is very pretty, as well as bold, and I doubt Gaele is aware of her interest. Fos seems like the kind to count fos-self out before even taking a chance.”

“I agree,” Braelin said, “Fos likely also worries how I would feel about the relationship, though fos has no need to.”

“Count fos-self out before taking a chance,” Jurao questioned.

“Like when someone refuses to make a challenge because they believe there is no chance they can beat their opponent in a duel, even if the challenge would be warranted,” his partner said, “I know Gaele does think Aya is very pretty, and admires her, so may believe she is… hm, rather, believe that fos is not her equal in appearance or character, so she would not have an interest.”

“Ah, yes, I see,” Jurao nodded, “Even though their noble rank is not so different, there are other considerations.”

“You really have been reading romance novels, your highness?” Kaenaz smiled, “My brother mentioned it, and I know many focus on differences in rank.”

“Yes,” Jurao replied, “They have been very informative.”

“I’m sure,” Kaenaz chuckled, “Well unless you’ve need of me, I should return to my duties, your highness.”

“Thank you for lending Eweylona your mount,” Braelin said.

“Of course,” Kaenaz said, “But it is true that Mamesli needs more exercise, so do not think me too generous.”

“It was nice speaking with you,” Jurao nodded, “I hope your day goes well.”

“And you, your highness,” Kaenaz chuckled, waving as he headed back towards the stables.

Braelin hummed, then said, “Speaking of gifts, I realize I do not know when any of my family’s birthdays are on the demon calendar.”

“Perhaps Lady Carvve could approximate,” Jurao suggested, “I believe we have enough time to stop by the library before the midday meal.”

“Yes, I think that would be fine,” Braelin smiled.

Jurao reached out to touch his partner’s cheek, “Your smiles appear bigger without your beard.”

“Do you like them better that way?” his partner asked, leaning into the contact.

“I like them both equally,” Jurao replied, kissing his partner’s forehead.

Braelin chuckled, “I’m glad – so then, the library?”

It took them little time to reach their destination, and they found Lady Carvve returning books to their shelves.

“Approximating birth dates from the Jostian calendar to ours?” she smiled, “Certainly, I’ll just need to fetch a reference book.”

“Of course,” Jurao replied, and he and his partner waited as she did so.

She led the way to the nearest table, where Meir’ril was studying, laying out not one but two reference books along with a sheet of paper.

“How were you going to discover all of our birth dates?” Meir’ril chuckled, setting his book aside, “You never remember them.”

“Ah,” Braelin blushed, scratching at his chin, “I had forgotten I didn’t remember.”

“But you do recall, young Meir’ril?” Carvve asked, chuckling herself.

“I do,” the elf-human man confirmed, and started relaying them.

Jurao and Braelin watched as Carvve neatly wrote down each date, then cross-referenced her texts before assigning a date from the demon calendar. When she was done, she blew gently to dry the ink before holding up the page.

“Why, according to this,” Carvve said, “Your birthday is only two days away, Lord Braelin.”

“Oh, is it?” Braelin replied mildly.

Meir’ril chuckled, “Not that you always remembered back home, either…”

“Do you intend to celebrate?” Carvve smiled, “Humans have celebrations for birthdays, don’t they?”

“Mostly just nobility, actually,” Braelin replied, “So my parents and siblings had feasts on theirs, but we only had a quiet family dinner for me – though personally, I preferred it that way as well.”

“We could arrange something,” Jurao said, tail swaying as he considered what he could get his partner in such a short amount of time.

Braelin chuckled and reached out to pet the appendage, “Perhaps a celebration for all of us – all the missed birthdays. It doesn’t have to be on the actual date.”

“I like the idea, but Aya will definitely want a feast,” Meir’ril said.

“I would not mind,” Braelin replied, “Not this time.”

“Then we should arrange it,” Jurao said, “We can ask Hujur to check for an appropriate venue at the evening meal.”

“You have all made good friends since arriving,” Carvve said, closing her books as she handed the list to Braelin, “I am sure many will wish to celebrate with you, if you invited them.”

“You’d be welcome as well, Lady Carvve,” Meir’ril said, then blushed, “That is, if you wanted to.”

The Head Librarian chuckled and patted his head, “Of course I would, thank you, but I think you should check if that is what the rest of your family wants as well.”

“Right,” Meir’ril chuckled.

Braelin, Jurao, and Meir’ril left for the midday meal at the cottage shortly after, bringing up the idea of the joint birthday celebration to Ebener, Owren, and Beneford – Milve the only other attendee that day.

“It will give me some good news to go along with my apology for missing the evening meal,” Ebener sighed with a gentle smile, petting Shiny, the spider having settled next to him.

“It’s like the ratters all over again,” Owren scoffed, looking at the spider, “Even the meanest one acted like a kitten fer ya.”

“Thank you for asking after my birthday as well, Meir’ril,” Beneford said, looking over the list while seated between his partners, “And I would be happy to celebrate with everyone, of course. Though I doubt it will be as spirited as Asalban birthday feasts were.”

“Sorry, Uncle, yours was the only date I didn’t remember,” Meir’ril said sheepishly.

“’Cause I don’ know it myself,” Owren huffed, “Only you noble lot keep track of the actual day – only know the boy’s by the actual day thanks to Eb writin’ it down. Celebrating with the boy’s always been well enough for me, anyway.”

“Sometimes I do still feel like I let Aesly down,” Ebener sighed.

“In what way?” Milve asked.

“My mother asked that Dad keep his distance from me,” Braelin replied, “So that I was not dragged into noble politics,” he chuckled, “But I do not think anyone accounted for Malson’s determination that we should be real brothers after her death.”

“I’ll explain it later,” Beneford said, patting the priest’s knee.

“As you say,” Milve cleared his throat, “What kinds of presents are given on human birthdays?”

“It depends on the person, mostly,” Braelin replied, “Aya usually got dresses, though she did get her first mount on her fifteenth birthday.”

“A lot of people get surprised that she actually liked getting dresses,” Meir’ril chuckled, “But she’s always wanted to be like Mom, so she likes dressing up like Mom does. I mostly got books. And tea from Braelin.”

“Ah, lavender and mint,” Jurao recalled.  

“Yes,” Meir’ril blinked, “You’ve… spoken of it?”

“I was speaking about the plants I would grow for all of you,” Braelin chuckled, “And Jurao has a good memory.”

“Oh, I see,” Meir’ril chuckled, “That makes more sense.”

“Malson also got a mount at fifteen,” Beneford snorted, “As did I, for knight training.”

“Swords were the main gift for Malson,” Ebener added, “And a hunting hawk, when he turned twenty.”

“He did love that bird,” Beneford said, “Missed his hawk when he wasn’t missing everything else. Though I do understand – I still miss my dogs, some days.”

“You would be welcome to a pup from Snip and Snap’s first litter, if you wish,” Jurao said, petting Snap’s head in his lap.

“I would like that very much, thank you,” the man replied.

“Boy got gardening supplies and rare plants,” Owren huffed, “Try ta hold in yer surprise.”

“What did you get?” Milve asked, tail twitching.

“A lot of very fine alcohol,” Beneford replied, smiling, “And fine company to go with it.”

Owren grumbled, then mumbled, “Company was tha better end of the deal…”

Beneford’s smile grew, but he made no reply.

“We would always travel to the coast for Eweylona’s birthday,” Ebener smiled as well, “That way, we could have fresh whale meat for the feast. It’s a staple of western Frost Elf dishes, but the castle is too far inland for us to have had it regularly – other than as jerky. My more personal gifts were smaller – jewelry, mainly.”

“The public gifts, you mean,” Beneford snorted.

“What does that mean?” Meir’ril asked, then blushed, “Actually, never mind. Forget I asked.”

“You’ve always been the most difficult one to gift, Eb,” Beneford snorted, “You never had anything you wanted, and you already had the finest writing supplies one could ask for.”

“Seeing my family happy was always gift enough for me,” Ebener replied, “And it is even more precious to me now than it was before.”

Braelin smiled, then added, “Though an enchanted, self-inking siren stylus like Hujur has…”

Ebener cleared his throat, “It is a very fine instrument.”

All but Milve and Jurao laughed at the admission, though the demons did both smile. Of course, no one would ever doubt Ebener held his family above all else – but the teasing relaxed the more serious moment.

“We may be able to find whale meat,” Jurao considered, “Imported from Lajaonar.”

“That would be very kind,” Ebener said, “Though we had plenty while living in the Elven Realm, it would be lovely to start some old traditions anew.”

“I don’t know if Yheor would know how to prepare that,” Braelin hummed, “But Voga might – his cooking guild focused on aquatic plants, but it’s not as though he didn’t study meat at all.”

They spoke of plans for the birthday feast for the remainder of the meal, Jurao and Braelin returning to his office to work until the evening meal.

“Hujur, would you make preparations for an informal feast,” Jurao asked once the meal had been served, “As soon as you are able to find a location.”

“Of course, my lord,” Hujur replied, making a note, “What is the occasion?”

Braelin chuckled, “It appears my birthday is in two days – rather than a singular celebration, we decided on a feast for my entire family. For all the celebrations we missed.”

“I see,” Hujur smiled, “Do you have any specific requests?”

“Whale meat from Lajaonar, if possible,” Jurao replied.

Braelin nodded, “We’re not sure how many people we plan to invite, either.”

“Why not have one of those picnics in the gardens?” Festi suggested, “Plenty of room there.”

“That’s true,” Braelin agreed, “I would only be concerned about rain.”

“You could certainly use the main dayroom,” Hujur suggested, “The biggest one connected to the veranda.”

“Ah, yes, I think we would all be alright with that,” Braelin said.

“Very good,” Hujur nodded, “All that remains is to see how soon we could obtain whale meat, then.”

“Why whale meat?” Jouvi asked.

“It was what we always ate for Eweylona’s birthdays,” Braelin replied, “It’s common in the Western Frost Elf kingdoms.”

“That makes sense,” Jouvi nodded, “I’ve never had it – have you, Kloy?”

“Not in centuries, but yes,” Kloy replied, “It’s often served at official feasts in Lajaonar. It’s very good – very rich. Provided you do not require an entire whale, it should be a simple matter to have it sent by hearthfinder.”

“We also need to find out if anyone in the kitchens knows how to prepare it,” Braelin said, then seemed to remember, “Or if Nua or Edhaidua would know and be willing to teach them.”

“Ah, yes, the other priestesses,” Jurao recalled, having not spent much time with either since their arrival.

“An excellent idea, if the kitchens don’t know how to prepare whale meat,” Hujur nodded, “Or to simply have it prepared in the Western Frost Elf way.”

“A good point,” Braelin agreed, “I’m sure Eweylona would appreciate the thought.”

While the table moved on to other matters, Jurao considered what he would get his partner as a gift and his partner’s family members.