The Unreached Duchy

Chapter 26

“This is Patera, she’s my familiar.” Senara said continuing to educate the siblings. “She was a gift to me from the Royal Family as a thank you for my service to the realm. She’s a Pi-Yao.”

“She’s an amazing creature. What’s a Pi-Yao and what’s a familiar?” Maneli asked clearly entranced by Patera who was quite happy to be the center of attention.

Senara was happy to explain what a Pi-Yao and a familiar were to someone willing to learn. “Patera has a horn that goes toward the back of her head. The older she gets, the longer it will get. A Pi-Yao is a creature that is half dragon and half what you humans call a lion. As you can see, she has the body, legs, and tail of a lion with the wings and head of a dragon. To answer your other question, a familiar is a creature given to someone, like me, as a reward for their service to the kingdom. The familiar is supposed to help make the person’s job easier and help with the work. So for me, Patera is a travel companion and helps me to escort people such as you both to the city you’re going to live in for the foreseeable future.”

“So your familiar is coming with us?” Ravana asked, trying to not sound scared and horrified.

“Yes, Patera is going to do her job and come with us to Thargelion. Then she and I will be returning to our home city of Maimakterion. Once you both have lived in Makara long enough to grow accustoms to the laws and ways here, you’ll be able to move from Thargelion to another city if you wish.” Senara informed both Ravana and Maneli.

Becoming all business, Senara turned her attention from Patera to starting the journey to Thargelion. “Do you both have everything you need for a two day journey to Thargelion?” Senara asked looking at both Ravana and Maneli.

“Yes, we do. If my understanding is correct, we will be able to find shelter and work when we arrive in Thargelion?” Maneli asked. “We used to have a working farm that we would sell the extra crops at the local market. I’d like to get back to that again if it’s possible.”

“That is correct, however, I do feel obligated to inform you that there is plenty of farmers throughout Makara but not much farm land in Thargelion. The land that is available for farming is already owned and farmed.” Senara informed Maneli in a matter of fact tone.

“Senara,” Ravana said glancing at Maneli with a nervous look, “I was not completely honest with my skills. I am much more than just a humble farmer’s daughter. Maneli is not just the son of a humble farmer either.”

“Oh, and what other skills do you both possess Ravana?” Senara said with sudden interest and intrigue.

Ravana had a sudden confident tone in her voice “I was trained as a leather smith. A most uncommon skill for a woman to have and pretty much forbidden in Thrace for a woman to practice. So my father made me work the fields with the servants.”

“Anyone can be a leather smith here, we have several Master Leather smiths that are women. I do not see a problem if you practice your craft here. What is the hidden skills that Maneli possesses?” Senara replied now quite intrigued.

“I would not consider what I do as a skill or a talent. However, I am fairly good at working with and training animals.” Maneli said quite proudly.

“Working with and training animals to do what?”

“Just about anything really. Pulling a cart, carrying a rider, tied to a plow.” Maneli answered honestly.

“Interesting skills indeed. Ones that you will be relieved to know that Makara will be happy if you practiced here.” Senara said relieved to know that the skills were actual skills that could be useful.

“Gratitude. Much, much gratitude!” Ravana squealed from her perch on Maneli’s shoulder.

“Now, we need to leave so we can make Thargelion in a timely manner. It is a two days travel by MerWay to get there.” Senara said with that being said the unlikely trio left with Patera floating alongside Senara in the MerWay.

The following two days passed without incident or mishap. Senara was quite surprised that Maneli had not been lying about his ability to work with animals. Every wild animal that Maneli seemed to come across on the way seemed eager to help him. Senara decided to mention to Maneli that he should inquire at the local stable to see if they needed any assistance with their livestock.

Likewise, Ravana was also proving to be quite skilled at working with different types of leather, metals, wood, and stones. Senara felt obligated to direct Ravana towards the local leather smiting shop when upon their arrival in Thargelion.

Senara thought they both seemed pleased with the information that she suggested to them in regards to openly being able to practice their craft. Senara was herself pleased that she was able to help them, even though they had both defiantly refused help upon first arrival in Makara.

Senara decided to make a stop on the way home in Mynychion to see the local woodworker about replacing her boomerang set and the local leather smith to get a new set of slings, the set that Senara currently owned had fallen apart from dry rot, Senara felt that both sets needed to be replaced.

Patera was quite happy to float lazily in the MerWay alongside Senara on their way back through isles between Mynychion and Lemuria. The satchel that contained the items were tied to the saddle on Patera. The dragon-lion was very happy to see that Senara received something made from silver.

Patera being a Pi-Yao meant she naturally has the ability to assist anyone who is suffering pain and she likes bringing Senara objects to ward off evil that were made from gold and silver. When Senara first exited the woodworker’s shop, she had not realized that there was a small silver metal clasps on her satchel holding it closed so her new boomerangs didn’t fall out. Patera flicked her tail, hitting the tiny metal clasps, making them jingle and she purred at herself in pleasure.