“Lo and behold, one of the lords of Kehina. Fort Quogsagihaxee’e (Kwog-sa-gi-hak-si-i). Our finest piece of expanse far away from Inglovia's reins. What can you say, Lord Ameniah? Is she beautiful?" the captain introduces his land with adulation and pride from the speck of the noticeably range facing the east directly to the sunlight and against the starboard side of the western wind of the frigid waters.
"Of course, far further from the Caliph-Grand Emperor. Yes, it is." I smile and I agree, well, not quite, as I doubt him saying that.
Quosagihaxee’e is once occupied by the Inglovians several years ago. The project later claimed to be a naval dockyard outpost for the Inglovian Navy under the corroborated plan of Admiral-Margrave Hizer Słońcesław (Hay-zer Swoyn-se-swaf). All of the preparation and colonizing ensued into fruition, according to the annals of records, Słońcesław assembled men-at-arms a thousand (1000) retinue soldiers strong. And in just a few days or weeks - in the accounts of other speculations and independent chroniclers, they conquered the land then integrated it into a marcher’s land - thus came the name… Margraviate of Quosagihaxee’e. Fast forward to ten year’s time, under the jurisdiction borders of Słońcesław’s clasp, the territory was established as a separate polity which gained a minor viceroyalty to the Crown. And as the years went by, the Słońcesław dynasty went extinct where further grasp on this border came out of hand, therefore, the people who’d settled there - gained autonomy as a colony state. Due to negligence and unsupervised actions of the past ruling dynasty and the current incumbent’s issue.
As we are near the destination, the captain adds: “You know there is a lot of history in this land, eh?”
“I’m pretty aware of some sort, yes.” in hindsight, the land is relatively interesting, I suppose. Not at all. The tale is stale - no bloodshed, no fascination.
“Well, every now and then. We do have a visit from the Inglovian emissary annually. Last month, on the same date, they must have overlooked overseeing this demesne of theirs. It is because, perhaps, of the ongoing war with ‘you’.” he emphasizes me as part of the Kehinan officials, circumventing the topic about ‘history of the land either theirs or Inglovians'.
“I would say it’s the Caliph-Grand Emperor’s fault for fabricating such surmised justification - ‘our’ side, this war is unsanctioned.” implying with clarification that the Crown messes and swerves things up in their favors, Captain Leonis agrees with me as he is bopping his head. Kehina's problems are also mine to bear.
“Indeed,” he says.
“Well, anyways, if things do go not as we have planned, we are preparing a solution to somehow depart from this safe haven of ours two hundred thousand (200,000) steps away from the Crown itself - through the sea, these waters.” he follows.
“Meaning?”
“The economy is plummeting, yes?” I nod to his statement, which he asks “My people and the rest of townsfolk are suffering from the excruciating enactment upon us.” he pauses “The Inglovians impose a heavy tax on their subjects lower than the autonomy of a dominion, which as it turns that Fort Quogsagihaxee’e has never been exempted on this severity.” I can feel his rant over this matter.
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“I see.”
“Pretty dire, right?” he chuckles, where I cast a smile on my face too.
Despite flaunting Captain Leonis’s ire towards the Inglovians, he still luminates optimistic behavior - underneath, behind, and superficial. Such a man of noble causes and kind gesture, I guess. Preferably; I desire to look myself in the face of gallantry similar to Lord Aisla’s definition of himself, the audacity displaying whether you believe what’s right or not like Lord Guan’s naivety, and presenting myself in the public - Lord Gervdas’s innocence. Those are the qualities I want to see from myself, albeit. Elegant on the inside but punitive behind closed doors. Virility. Daunt. And a brute. It is those words that best illustrate my personality based on the myriad of accounts.
“And here we are, esteemed lord of Kehina and concurrently one of the prince-consorts of Lady Anda. Welcome to Fort Quogsagihaxee’e and yet again.” our ship has arrived docking to the nearby station, the captain speaks as well presenting his city proudly.
“Thank you.”
“Likewise, Lord Ameniah, I have the same sentiment as you have. I, … I mean rather, on behalf of Fort Quogsagihaxee’e, including myself, the captain of the ship and my crew, we would like to present to you our home.” as we move ashore, where Captain Leonis spits his own hand, then in return, I apply one of my own in my hand - sealing the deal… an unexpected friendship has been established via handshake.
“So, what order of enterprise are you and your crew running?” I say it in a frank manner, as he glances back at me.
“I forgot to introduce myself in full details, milord. My name is Leonis, as I mentioned thus far. But, I also didn’t refer to myself as to which family I belong to, did I? Pardon me for that sort of mishap, milord.”
“Uh-huh… I do mind not, keep it going.”
“Well, my ancestors as well as my predecessors had erected this kind of business under the affidavit of the Crown - the Grand Imperial Seal. In order to set up a living for this kind of section, while being under Inglovia’s fingertips, she handles a partial speck of our business. Thus, her Grand Emperor should have the final approval.” still, it does answer not my inquiry, but I do agree with him about how the Inglovia is squeezing and siphoning subjects outside the supercontinent’s staple paradigm, where he elaborates it in a clear sense.
“It appears that you are having a hard time with authenticity. Well, at least, you got your own boats, perhaps.“ I say it with complacency pertaining to their way of living in this kind of scenario.
“‘Autarky’, or self-reliance, in layman’s terms. Well, actually, I think I’m wrong. We are managing to keep up the economy with mixed models of the ‘aforementioned analogy’, barter, and silver monetary system and/or Econo-Inglovies.” rectifying himself, he explains how this outpost really does work despite a trinket of subsidy and low distribution support from the parent nation. Additionally, the hefty amount of share in this island - Fort Quogsagihaxee’e… is directed fuelling the war effort of the war - between us, the Kehinans and the Crown, Inglovians.
“By the way, as far I am aware, I am dawdling too much ado conferring who I am and what my family does.” the suspense kicks in, the captain inserts himself, to top it all off.
I gulp as my body awaits for the usual response if it’s too intriguing or too bland. He opens his mouth, there’s a goading tone upon his voice, declaring: “Celamus! Celamus, it is. The name of my clan for generations, we were the first community who nourished this land. Well, technically, my ancestors did. Nonetheless, we take this dwelling place for our clan’s name - a heritage, an heirloom for my children - our progeny, Celamus’s future. Bask in the light of the two suns above us where we feel the heat radiating upon us! Fort Quogsagihaxee’e is Celamus’s holdings, anyways.“ as he is feeling too proud of himself, boasting about his family that I never, once in my life, heard of. Well, aside from its epitome, their achievement is too forsaken to remember. Fort Quogsagihaxee’e, that’s it? Then, they are making preparations to leave this island? What a waste flourishing and cultivating this arable area.