The Unreached Duchy

Chapter 8

The quiet kingdom decided to cut all ties with the humans in the neighboring kingdom states and go into hiding, leaving without a trace of their existence. A resolution that all populace of this kingdom continue to abide by to this day. The nation’s islands were quickly sank, families were heaved apart, countless lives lost on all sides, and the treaties that were as old as the mountains fell apart.

One thing that was certain at the time the islands were sank and is still certain today, the magic that was once used to perform the race transformations allowing diversity among the citizens of Makara still works allowing a few select transformations that are earned with great service to the Makara kingdom; but mostly the magic is used to keep the duchy hidden from humans searching eyes because humans have done a grave injustice to the kingdom.

This is the story of the betrayal of this prosperous kingdom: The Kingdom of Makara.

On the way to the Alaiceaus Ceremony, Derketo came across a Leontophone so he picked it up and put it in his satchel that was carried upon his shoulder. The little creature didn’t seem to mind riding with his head sticking out of the satchel on the bronze shoulder of the 5 foot 6 inches tall man with black hair while walking along the coastal road while his escort took the water road that was parallel to the road he was on. Underneath the Leontophone was Derketo’s ocarina and his set of Senet, the only two things that he requested to bring with him to Makara.

The escort going with Derketo was a Merman named Namtao and he was part of the Trireme, the Royal Navy in Makara. Namtao was a little bit taller than Derketo. Namtao is 6 feet 2 inches tall, with blonde hair and blue eyes that was a striking off set from his tanned skin and light gray scales; he also had a dark gray stripe that went from his left hip to the tip of his right tail fin. Namtao was the rank of Hoplite in Trireme, which is the lowest rank possible and usually tasked with escorting humans between cities, city ports, Cassini, Alaiceaus, the Infirmary, and the Caserma.

“Where is Alaiceaus at this month?” Derketo asked Namtao as they traveled along the pathways.

“Maimakterion is hosting it this month. I was told that you have chosen to become a Kabouter, is that still your wish? If so, you’ll soon be able to ride on your new pet instead of it riding in your satchel,” was Namtao’s response, “Do you even know what creature you’re carrying?”

“If my studies are correct, this little girl is a Leontophone. They are usually only found in the grasslands of Bucatius, and it’s deadly to lions. Yes, I’ve chosen to become a Kabouter instead of remaining a human, a Merman, or any of the other races. Please don’t take offense by it, but the Kabouter is the race that I feel I will benefit most from. I wonder that my Ocarina and Senet set will also become a size I can still use or if I’ll have to replace them.” Derketo said as he was stroking the Leontophone in his satchel on the head. “I think I’m going to name you Ade and I’m going to take you with me. How does that sound?” The small creature looked up into Derketo’s green eyes with its black eyes wide and its fur on the top of its head clearing signaling that she did not feel threatened at all by Derketo.

Namtao was impressed and his facial expressions showed it, “Yes your studies are correct about your new pet being a female Leontophone and it being deadly to lions. Ade is not a common pet around in this part of the kingdom, even rarer for Kabouters to have as a pet since they live in extremely small hovels. I’m not offended at all about you choosing to become a Kabouter instead of a Merman. Everyone needs to make their own decision but they also need to know that they can only change their mind once. I see you have made a very well informed decision and I have no doubts that you will be quite happy as a Kabouter living in Makara. After the Alaiceaus Festival, you will have a different escort take you to the city of Thargelion. Her name is Senara, and she’s a very close personal friend of mine. You’ve been assigned to the Royal Court there and will work as a scribe keeping track of the musical instruments trades.”

The thought of still being a scribe and working with musical instruments seemed to thrill Derketo so much that his face glowed with happiness. “That is purely aether and music to my ears. Thank Avesta and Arausio for the wisdom that they gave to the Huns. I’m very grateful that I do not have to learn a new trade as well.”

The pair fell into silence again as the outline of Maimakterion came into view off in the distance even though it was still a two day long journey to get there and the Alaiceaus Ceremony that would change Derketo from 5 foot 6 inches tall to a few inches tall. With the knowledge that he could be sitting in a jail cell in Caserma because he refused to lie, Derketo was oddly at peace with how things were shaping up for his new life in Makara. Derketo had a job in the Royal Court waiting on him to get to Thargelion, he had a new pet, and he had a new outlook on life compared to back in Tzek when he first arrived in Makara. Perhaps Makara was nothing like what was being told to the humans on the mainland after all.

After arriving in Maimakterion, Derketo and Ade were escorted by Namtao to a part of the city that was clearly going to be the center of Alaiceaus this month. There was hearths with fires blazing in them all over the city, the main temple had two symbols carved all over that were clearly symbols of Avesta.

Both were simple symbols to Derketo, but they were striking all of the same. The first symbol was a pair of straight lines that ran downwards parallel to each other, there was a straight line over the top connecting the two lines and it was topped with two curved lines similar to the horns of a bull. The second symbol was one large “V” with a smaller “V” inside of it. After that the symbol varied with what was on top of the two “Vs,” some have an “I” while others had one or two squiggle lines representing flames on the top. Derketo knew without a doubt that this was the Temple of Avesta and that the Transformation Ceremony would take place in front of the great hearth that represented her in the middle of the temple.