The Unreached Duchy

Chapter 27

“My big silly kitty.” Senara cooed at the creature that stood before her on the side of the MerWay and started petting the Pi-Yao’s mane. “Come on, let’s go see the leather smith about some new slings.” With that the pair started making their way to the local leather smith’s shop on their way home to Boedromion, still a day’s travel away.

Most leather smiths also work as saddlers on the smaller islands; however in Mynychion, there is always enough work to go around that a leather smith does not need to worry about working as a saddler to keep the local community well stocked in supplies.

Senara swam through the door into the leather shop from the MerWay and right up to the waterway counter in the shop to ring the bell alerting the shop workers that she was there.

Upon hearing the bell ring, a small Kabouter girl appeared on the counter. “Give us just a moment and we’ll be right with you. We just received a large order off the trader ship that came in this morning and we’re still trying to get everything up to the shop from the docks.”

“That’s alright. I was just wondering what you charge for a set of slings. I need to replace all three of mine.” Senara replied as she put her cracked leather slings on the counter.

“For the bolt sling, two silver shillings; for the rock sling, one silver shilling; and the mallet sling, three bronze shillings. That’s for replacing the leather on all three of them. It’ll take about four days to complete because we’ll have to rebraid the ropes as well.” The Kabouter stated as she inspected Senara’s sling sets that were on the counter.

“Gratitude. Would it be acceptable for me to leave my sling set here and return for them in four days?” Senara inquired.

The leather smith nodded her head and stated “Certainly. Six shillings will be the total cost of the bill.”

“I will pay for them now and simply return in four days to retrieve the slings.” Senara said as she placed the required shillings on the counter with the slings. “Gratitude for your assistance.”

Senara turned and left the leather smith shop with Patera continuing on their trek home to Boedromion after taking the Basajaun and the Fir Bolg siblings to Thargelion on the island of Mynychion in the Atargatis Region.

“Alright Patera, let’s go home now.” Senara said as she rubbed the Pi-Yao that was now happily splashing along in the MerWay at her side. “Home is this way.”

The rest of the way home to Boedromion was uneventful aside from Patera splashing in the MerWay all of the way into the Brazen. Pi-Yao’s usually have the natural cat’s aversion to water, however, Patera seemed to have gotten the dragon’s love of water instead. The isles along the Brazen that Senara stopped at, were all inhabited by different people who found living on the bigger islands troublesome. They all came to the bigger islands for the festivals and celebrations.

Senara decided that there was no rush to get back since the next Alaiceaus Festival was not for another two days in Bucatius on the island of Lemuria. Senara decided that she would stop in Bucatius for the festival and then return to the isle to pick up her fixed set of slings from the leather smith.

“Come Patera. Let’s fly to see Rusalka in Boedromion and then back to Bucatius for Alaiceaus. It’s already the eighth and Alaiceaus is on the tenth. Besides, I know you’ve been wanting to fly and stretch your wings.” Senara said scratching her Pi-Yao under her mane who started purring in response.

Patera in response crouched lower in the MerWay so Senara could climb onto her back. As soon as Senara was on the saddle on Patera’s back, she adjusted the satchel with her boomerangs so they didn’t accidentally fall out while Patera was flying in the air. Once she was satisfied that the boomerangs wouldn’t fall out and injure someone in flight, Senara picked up the reigns on the saddle causing Patera to take flight from the MerWay heading for Boedromion.

Senara used her boomerang set as a form of protection while traveling by herself on the way home after her escorting job duties were finished. So her set was always made from wood and curved that way it would always return to her when she threw one. Some people also use boomerangs for recreation and relaxation; while some people used them as weapons, including the Trirmeme.

Once they landed in Boedromion, Senara took Patera to the stables to get her food and water before continuing on her way to see Rusalka.

Along the way, Senara stopped at a small pottery shop to look at the new ocarinas to see if there was any that she could add to her collection. While there, Senara also caught herself looking at the sets of games that were fresh from the fires.

Rusalka was at volcano at the Mount Avesta mountain range, not far from Caserma on the island of Mynychion in the Samosata Region of the duchy. There was a minor lava eruption on the small isle closest to Caserma and Rusalka was summoned there to investigate the lava. Huli, her companion, went with her according to the scroll that Rusalka left at Senara’s house.

Senara decided to go back to the stables and get Patera before venturing back to Bucatius for the Alaiceaus Festival. Patera was excited to be flying with Senara again for the second time that day with the promise of more traveling in the next two days.

After retrieving Patera from the stables, Senara went to her house to retrieve an ocarina to take with her and leave her Senet set that she had taken on her trip to Thargelion. Senara had mastered the ability to fly on Patera while playing her ocarina several years before. Playing the ocarina always made Senara feel the happiest, which is why she thoroughly enjoyed playing in the Royal Orchestra.