The Unreached Duchy

Chapter 22

Senara always took one of her Ocarinas and set of Senet with her when she was escorting a human from one city to another before an Alaiceaus, no matter how short of a distance the city was from Maimakterion. Thargelion is about a third of the way around the island from Maimakterion, so that meant it was going to be a two day journey without the use of Mimas on the way there.

Senara decided to take her pet, Patera, with her on this journey. Patera was a pet from the Huns, Makara’s Royal Family, as a pet to keep her company while she traveled for her work. Patera was not a small creature by any means because she had the body of a lion; she was light tan in color, even on her dragon wings which were about six foot long each, and she had a horn on her forehead between her eyes.

The pair made their way by air from Avesta’s temple in Maimakterion to the Temple of Arausio, the new arrivals from other cities always came through Boedromion there, because one of the humans had just arrived on the back of a Mima from Bucatius.

“Hi there Ramses. Did you bring my human from Bucatius for me?’ Senara said as she scratched under Ramses’ chin with one hand and produced a sea cucumber with the other. Ramses happily devoured the sweet treat. “There’s a good boy.”

Senara left Patera at the local stable not far from the Temple and then proceeded into the temple by the waterway Ramses had just exited from. After journeying down a Temple hallway toward the temporary housing rooms for a few minutes, Senara saw Namtao coming out of a room that was used for temporary housing humans before a Transformation Ceremony and Alaiceaus Festival.

“Namtao, I’m wondering who I see about my humans for Alaiceaus this month. There’s supposed to be one transforming to a Fir Bolg and one into a Basajaun.” Senara asked her best friend.

“Hi to you too Senara. I’m surprised you got here so fast from Maimakterion. Unless you traveled with Patera.” teased the six foot tall Merman. “In all honesty, I just left one of them in the room. She is from the Catharina shipwreck and has chosen to become a Fir Bolg. Her name is Ravana and she just arrived a short time ago on Ramses. I’m sure you passed him on the way out.”

“Yes I did pass Ramses and I gave him a sea cucumber to boot. Also, I did travel here on Patera and I gave her sea cucumbers too since those are her favorite things to eat.” Senara retorted. “I was uninformed about her being on the Catharina. Is she fit for a Transformation Ceremony?” she asked sincerely.

“She was cleared. Come, I’ll introduce you.” Namtao said as he held open the waterway gate for Senara to pass through. “Ravana, this is your escort I was telling you about as we came in. Senara, I would like for you to meet Ravana. I will leave you two alone since you have much discuss.” Namtao said as he pointed at each person in turn before he quietly exited the room.

“What does he mean by we have much to discuss?” Ravana asked with a scared tone of voice. “I thought I would be meeting up with my brother, Maneli. I was told he was here before I left Bucatius. I have not seen him since the shipwreck. Please let me see him.” she pleaded with Senara.

“Calm down. I can tell you are scared and this is by far the scariest thing you’ve ever had to deal with before. What Namtao meant by we have a lot to discuss is your questions about what happened, where you are, what happens next, and anything else you can think of. As for your brother, Maneli was it” Senara paused for a response from Ravana, who only shook her head, “I am not sure but once we are finished talking, I will gladly find out everything I can about him and what happened. I understand that you have chosen to become a Fir Bolg at the next Transformation Ceremony, is that still your wish?”

“My wish is to go home to Dacia but Maneli told me that we could never do that right before the shipwreck. Now please, I’m demanding to know what happened to my brother!” Ravana wailed as she collapsed into a pile of tears on the floor far from the waterway that Senara was floating in.

“Alright, I will go and look for information on your brother. When I return, we will discuss what I have learned and what is going to happen at the Transformation Ceremony. That is non-negotiable, because I have been an escort at several ceremonies where humans had no idea what was going to happen. It was nothing but utter confusion for them and a lot of worry that they did not need.” Senara sternly told the frightened young girl before she turned and stormed from the room.

Floating angrily down the waterway, Senara couldn’t help but almost feel sorry for the human girl despite being angry with her. Trying to put herself in Ravana’s position about if she had been forced from her home and then lost the only family she had during a hurricane. Deciding that she would also be irrational and scared, Senara knew all too well that those two feelings just complicated matters much more than they ever should.

As she made her way to check on the other human she was supposed to escort, Senara got the feeling that it was the brother Ravana so desperately was seeking information on and was desperate to see.

Upon reaching the gate for the room in the waterway, Senara took a deep breathe before opening it. She never understood why but meeting new humans always caused Senara some sort of stress, even though she was constantly meeting new humans as a duchy escort. Meeting other rescued victims that were other races besides human never caused Senara the same amount of stress.