The Unreached Duchy

Chapter 23

Opening the gate with a smile on her face and attempting to put a pleasant sound in her voice. “Good morning. I’m Senara and I will be Maneli’s escort until after the Alaiceaus Festival. Which one of you is Maneli?” Senara said as she looked around the room that had only three people in it that have chosen to be transformed into Basajaun at the next Transformation Ceremony.

No one stepped forward immediately but Senara had a feeling that she knew who Maneli was, sitting in in the corner farthest from her was a human that looked exactly like Ravana. Senara decided that if Maneli would not acknowledge her speaking then she would have to make him acknowledge her the best and fastest way she could think of.

“I am clearly in the wrong chamber. I was told that this was holding the rescued humans that have chosen to become Basajaun at the next Transformation Ceremony and one of them was named Maneli. I was also told that I was to escort Maneli and his sister, Ravana to the Transformation Ceremony and then onto Thargelion. I will continue my search in another Transformation Holding Chamber.”

Senara said before she swiftly turned to head towards the gate but before she could reach it she was spun around; Maneli had gotten up from where he was sulking in the corner, made it to the waterway in only a few steps, and had jumped into the waterway so he was eye level with Senara.

Senara looked Maneli straight in the face and asked in flat tone “How may I help you?” as Maneli let go of Senara’s arm that he used to spin her around.

“I apologize for grabbing your arm in such a manner. Please forgive me. I have been worried sick over Ravana when I lost track of her at the Infirmary. How is she? Can you take me to her since you are the escort for both of us?” Maneli said with an apologetic tone.

“You are forgiven. I asked who Maneli was because I was unable to see everyone’s face but as I was speaking everyone was looking at me but you. They had moved so I was able to see you but you did not acknowledge that I was speaking.” Senara said to Maneli in a matter of fact tone “As for taking you to her that I cannot do just yet. She is distraught and desperate for information about you. I will tell her that you are doing good considering you have been sick with worry for her wellbeing. Tomorrow we leave at dawn so I suggest that you get some rest. I will advise her of the same thing. It is a two day walk to the Alaiceaus Festival in Thargelion from here.”

“I will try my best to rest tonight and I eagerly look forward to seeing you tomorrow at dawn.” Maneli said as he climbed out of the waterway and back onto the dry floor. “I do wonder if there is something you can tell me before you leave.”

Curious about what information he could possibly want, Senara decided that there was no harm in obliging him a small piece of information about Ravana to tie Maneli over until dawn. “It is possible depending on what it is you would like to know. Keep in mind that we have a two day journey ahead of us and I will be explaining a lot of things to you both along the way.”

“I do realize that but I was wondering if you could tell me what race Ravana has chosen to be transformed into? I lied to her about the circumstances that caused us to come here.” Maneli looked almost ashamed of himself as he spoke, “I would like a chance to make it up to her if she’ll let me and if it’s possible. I understand that I have chosen an ancestral race and that I will be having certain obligations since I am to learn how to build megaliths; however, I’d still like to provide for my sister as I promised our father I would.”

Not seeing any harm in telling Maneli what race his sister chose, Senara decided she would tell him what race but not really explain anything about either race to the both of them until they were well on their way to Thargelion tomorrow morning. Since Ravana decided to become a Fir Bolg, she was only going to be about six inches tall and would need to live in a place she trusted wholeheartedly so she could have peace about not getting harmed accidentally. Senara had seen so many Fir Bolgs taken to the Infirmary because a giant from one race or another did not see the small creature.

Trying to look thoughtfully, Senara said “I will explain more along the way on our journey. For now, you will be satisfied with knowing Ravana has chosen to be transformed into a Fir Bolg at the Alaiceaus Festival.” She promptly turned and left the room through the gate before Maneli had a chance to say anything else to her.

Knowing that she needed to tell Ravana what she learned about Maneli, Senara took her time going back to the holding chamber. Senara really wanted to check on how Patera was doing, her dragon-lion pet has been terribly skittish since the hurricane.

After she left the stables from checking on Patera, she went to check on Ravana; whom Senara found pacing around her holding chamber. Ravana had clearly been crying in Senara’s absence, and judging by how Ravana was walking, Senara thought she may have tried kicking the door.

Senara entered the chamber so quietly that Ravana had not even noticed her return and continued to pace around while mumbling to herself about how Senara probably didn’t know anything about Maneli but told her she did and Ravana did not know what other nonsense Senara was going to try pulling. Ravana even made a plan to corner Senara when she returned and force Senara to tell Ravana everything she knew. That statement made Senara laugh so loudly that Ravana spun around to see what the source of the noise was and turned bright red when she saw it was Senara.