The Unreached Duchy

Chapter32

“Can you even still carry the baskets and things that you need to with lava?” Senara asked highly concerned.

Rusalka could not help but laugh heartily at the question of her best friend, “Carry baskets of lava? Sen, do you even know what being a lava mason entails?”

Slightly embarrassed, Senara felt herself turning as red as some of her fin scales at the realization that Senara did not really know how Rusalka harvested lava.

“I..I...” Senara started stammering before chuckling and admitting, “No, I do not have any idea how a lava mason gets the lava from the volcano to the mason shops.”

“Well we do not carry lava back in baskets, the baskets would melt because the lava is much too hot for the soft materials that the baskets are made from,” Rusalka educated her best friend, “the stone masons make special types of baskets that sit on special types of carts made by the carpenters.”

Senara looked genuinely surprised at the amount tools used to move the lava to the mason shops before it could be worked into different instruments and game sets. “Gratitude Rusalka. I had no idea there was so many people involved in the mere harvest of lava to even get it to your shop.”

“Your welcome Senara. I always enjoy teaching people about my craft.” Rusalka replied with a smile on her face the size of Lemuria Island. Despite the smile on her face, Rusalka was very concerned about Namtao and his safety while he was out with his Trirmeme unit doing patrols. Rusalka was determined to not mention Namtao or how Rusalka was starting to feel about Namtao to Senara until Rusalka was sure she knew for sure what to make of it herself.

Senara giggling brought Rusalka out of her daydreaming. “I’m sorry Sen. I did not mean to zone out on you.” Rusalka said, “I honestly did not hear a single word you just said before you started giggling.”

“What I said and you did not hear is going to make you upset with me.” Senara said with a sly smile on her face, “I said Namtao should arrive to your ceremony on a Piziu with Titian riding with him and you should wear a tiara.”

“What?” asked Rusalka in disbelief that Senara had actually made such a remark with such a frank tone of voice.

“For your commitment ceremony. I think you should wear a tiara and Namtao should come riding in on a Piziu with Titian up in the saddle with him.” Senara retorted pleased with herself, “Do not tell me that you are surprised by the fact everyone in Boedromion knows you two will end up having a commitment ceremony before the end of the year. Namtao looks at you with a look he only has for you. Even I can see it and I’m your best friend.”

“You must be mistaken and delusional. Namtao does not have a certain look he only has for me. We are certainly not having a commitment ceremony. Namtao has no interest in me at all for his wife, if anything he will probably chose a wife that is actually more feminine than I am.” Rusalka said, not realizing until that very moment how much she actually wanted to be Namtao’s wife.

“That is where you are wrong sweet friend. I know that Namtao has not been to call on you ever,” Senara stated, “but that does not mean anything; especially since you two see each other almost everyday. It’s unnatural for you two to be seen out in public separately except for when you go to the volcano.” Senara told her lifelong best friend.

Rusalka could not help but smile a little bit at what Senara had said; it was true, every word of it. Namtao and Rusalka did see each other everyday, even without Senara around. So maybe, just maybe, Namtao had considered the time they spent together without Senara around as him calling on her. The thought made her giggle a little like a child before she could stop herself.

“We do spend a lot of time together, don’t we?” Rusalka said turning a dark shade of pink. “I must confess though, for my perfect commitment ceremony I always dreamed of hand-fasting with sips of honey mead. Namtao prefers ale to honey mead. I’ve always thought I would wear a tiara with a veil that I wove together myself.” She confessed to her best friend.

Senara could not help but smile and laugh along with Rusalka. “Then that settles it, when you and Namtao have your commitment ceremony the details are already planned. Namtao arrives on a Piziu, there is hand-fasting, nine sips of honey mead or ale, and you will look gorgeous in a veiled tiara.”

Rusalka could not help but notice that she got suddenly quiet and reserved when Senara mentioned the commitment ceremony. Rusalka did not know why she was suddenly uncomfortable by her best friend talking like this and Rusalka did not like feeling like that towards Senara.

Rusalka decided to flip the tables a bit and see how Senara reacted, if nothing more than mere harmless fun that the two of them usually had when they were together. “Sen, what do you want your commitment ceremony to include?” Rusalka giggled spinning to face Senara.

“Honestly, I just want a veil and to plant a tree. If we do anything else, I will be completely happy. However, I also have to stop working so much and actually be home long enough for someone to call on me.” Senara said solemnly.

Almost on cue, Namtao came back to check on Rusalka and Senara before heading back on duty but he happened to hear the girls talking about commitment ceremonies and he seemed to be slightly taken back. “Um, should I come back and check on you two girls later?” Namtao managed to stammer out while looking about as gray as his scales.

Senara exchanged glances with Rusalka before looking back at Namtao, “No Nam. I’m about to leave and head back to one of the Brazen Isles by Mynychion to pick up my slings I left at the leather smith shop. With that I bid you both adieu.” Senara said as she started to head for the door, “I will catch up with you both when I get back.”