"How? They don't look anything like us. Not even remotely. Manskliga are killed on sight if they come into contact with Grampus. We can't even communicate with them."
"We don't have all the information other than the Asistan Ti gave Manskliga the power to manipulate fetuses before they are born. Sometimes they are born looking like us and sometimes they are what are called Grampus.
"To what end?"
"We don't know what it means. What changes are they creating in us? The ones they decide to keep. We ruled the whole of Varlid once. After the loss of most of our territory during the Varlid War maybe they're hoping to improve our race in some sick, twisted sort of logic. Whatever the reason it's unnatural and has created a race that is persecuted without question. We think they're also using Asistan Ti magic to build a powerful weapon."
Furstinna sagged against Ganska. "Why are the babies on the ledge?"
"We watched and Grampas do come for them. For reasons we don't understand sometimes they are left to die," Ganska said.
"Which Manskliga are being targeted for these experiments?"
Ganska tightened her arms around Furstinna. There was a long moment of silence before Befrielse replied, "It could be anyone. Kunskap believed you are the forth child born from your mother. The first three were Grampus."
Furstinna sputtered. "Yes, my mother suffered miscarriages but what you're saying is impossible. That I'm some planned mutation? My parents are involved? They wouldn't agree to these experiments!" Furstinna laughed on the verge of hysteria. "If you only knew my mother's devotion to the Goddess Gudina you'd understand how ridiculous this sounds."
Ganska looked sick with uncertainty. "I shouldn't have brought you."
"No Ganska you shouldn't have." Furstinna said pulling away. "What have you gotten yourself mixed up in?"
"Furstinna," Hem said. "I think you misunderstand our intentions. We want to understand the Grampus. We do think the common population have a right to know what their government is doing and have some voice in the matter."
"So come forward with what you know."
"Kunskap was going to do just that," Befrielse said. "Now he's missing and someone he was corresponding with is dead."
"What do you want of me?" Furstinna stared hard at Ganska. "Why involve me?"
"You're cooperation."
"In what?"
"You are in a unique position to look for information we don't have access to."
"A spy?"
"No, you're in a better position than that. You can prove us wrong. If you can, please do. If you can't, give us the information we need to make changes."
"Changes?"
"We'd like a representative government. In the end Manskliga might decide this is a just cause or use of resources. But right now royalty follows royalty in Rike and there are no avenues for questioning or seeking the truth within the Stark Harskare regime. There are those of us who think this is a strong enough issue that the common populace will demand answers or at the very least a reasonable explanation."
Furstinna took a deep breath and lowered her head. "I plan to prove you wrong and misguided."
"I sincerely hope you can," Befrielse said.
***
Kvinna hadn't lied about the Fond catacombs. Sections had been sealed off officially by the government to give the impression they were no longer used for nefarious purposes. Those who knew of other sections not officially sealed had worked to expanded the catacombs under Fond over the centuries. Entrances and exits were heavily guarded secrets. So heavily guarded, death was not an uncommon punishment or insurance against discovery.
Kunskap Forskare's group had been given the idea to meet in the catacombs by Kvinna. She knew several sections very well because she secretly worked for the Dold. The week after meeting Furstinna, Kvinna was back underground in a different section to meet Otrolig, her handler, from the Dold. She walked into the chamber and plopped down a bag stuffed with Lurazat's papers she'd smuggled out of Dohla.
"May I be the first to congratulate you on the Dohla mission," Otrolig said as he rifled through the papers.
"Thank you. How much suspicion was raised from my involvement?" Kvinna asked.
"Quite a bit from the Rektor's advisers. Which is why we need to push this forward with Kunskap's secret group. What do they know or think they know?"
"A fair amount. The magic manipulations of Manskliga that produce the Grampus and they're sniffing around the weapon you're building."
"Jakel forbanelse," Otrolig cursed. "How can they know about the Vapen?"
Kvinna shrugged. "Have you interrogated Kunskap?"
"Yes, but we haven't broken him, yet. We don't know how deep this group of dissidents goes. The Dold has determined they're the largest one we've encountered yet. What are they going to try and do next?"
"The largest? At the last meeting there were only five and that included Furstinna."
"May I remind you again, Kvinna, you are only a small piece of the whole puzzle."
"Yes, sir. If it's any consolation they've enlisted Furstinna of Rektor's house to look for clues."
"Bold move. Like I said the Dold have decided to force their hand. We don't have time to pit them against another group. We're also not ready to reveal this group to the greater Rike populace so we can't sabotage or discredit them, yet. Trust me when we're ready we'll use our full arsenal against them."
"If they get too close to the truth I can discredit the group by admitting to the assassination of Lurazat. Then you can release choice documents about their activities. No one would ever follow or take them seriously again."
"I admire your loyalty to the cause Kvinna but you're too valuable an asset to waste. Besides there have been important new developments since your mission in Dohla. We believe Kunskap's group is being helped by another group on an island off the coast of Sanddyner. Befrielse obtained three rare items from various hunting trips in Rike. We believe these items will grant him access to this group's hideout. You need to make him leave for Sanddyner now so we can follow him and discover the exact location of the stronghold."
"How?"
"Convince them they're all in danger. Shouldn't be too hard to do. Our path is clear, first, isolate Kunskap's group. Then identify and re-educate any sympathizers among the general Manskliga population. Only then will it be effective to plant evidence to drive home the point that this group and their ideas are not to be trusted."
"What about Furstinna?"
After a thoughtful pause Otrolig answered, "Take her with you. Her disappearance will weaken her family's standing with the ruling family, Stark Harskare." Otrolig held out a document with an official seal stating that Kvinna was to appear at court for questioning in the death of Lurazat Esarotarahis. "In case they need some more encouragement. This won't hold up against inquiries so don't give them time to think."
As Kvinna turned to leave, Otrolig gave some parting advice, "Kvinna during this mission you will be deep in enemy territory with no support like you had in Rasima. If you are caught remember your training: do not admit to knowing anyone from Dold, deny any association with Dold, and vigorously accuse your accusers."
***
Kvinna skipped going to Befrielse or his best friend, Hem. That would arouse too much suspicion if Befrielse did have the key to entering the island. Instead, she hurried straight to Ganska in her father's shop. She walked behind the counter, grabbed Ganska by the arm and drug her through the back door.
"What are you doing?"
"Can we get in touch with Furstinna?"
"Yes." Ganska showed her the Skal. "She got one from school and she knows some of the codes."
"Call her."
"What do I tell her?"
"If there was an emergency, what did Befrielse tell you to do?"
"Is there an emergency?"
"There will be if you don't help me."
"If it's an emergency meeting I switch a pot in the front of the store and call and say, 'My father's shop is chaotic this time of
day.' If we're to meet at night then I say, 'at night'. We're supposed to meet at a marked tree not too far from the East Gate."
"Can you change the meeting place?"
"Yes, if the tree is compromised then we're to meet in the market. But Kvinna this is only to be used in an emergency."
"I wouldn't risk being seen here if it wasn't important. Tell her to meet us at the market. The seafood stall from Sanddyner."
Ganska worked the Skal into her ear. Kvinna heard her side of the conversation with Furstinna. "Make sure she leaves now," Kvinna insisted. As soon as Ganska finished, Kvinna grabbed Ganska.
"Wait, let me tell my father."
"No." Kvinna pulled her protesting through the back alley and all the way to the market. When Furstinna met them at the seafood stall, Kvinna grabbed them and started for the catacombs.
They reached the meeting house but Kvinna didn't uncover the secret door to the catacombs. "Call Befrielse and Hem. Tell them to meet us here."
"Not until you tell us what this is about," stated Ganska flatly.
"We're in danger. Kunskap was right about everything. Our group has been targeted because of him and the government is coming after us."
Ganska and Furstinna exchanged worried looks. "How do you know this?"
"The dignitary I traveled with to Dohla is trying to frame me for the murder of the Elyun businessman, Lurazat."
"Does the group condone violence?"
"No, no our group doesn't, at all, for any reason. We're trying to stop the killing of Grampus for Goddess Gudina's sake."
"They're trying to frame me," Kvinna said slowly. "They don't care about the truth. They'll make up anything to discredit me and if they succeed then our group will be exposed."
Ganska called Befrielse. He arrived shortly with Hem in tow. "What is going on?" Befrielse asked.
Kvinna handed him the forged document and gave him her simple story. Befrielse looked befuddled. "What can we do? It's not true so you should have nothing to fear."
"Nothing to fear? As I've been saying, do you really think the truth will bother them? Do you think the truth will save Kunskap, if he isn't already dead? They're going to implicate me and destroy all the work we've done so far. We need to leave Rike," Kvinna said.
No one spoke for several minutes.
"I've worked with Kunskap and this group since the beginning. By your silence do you mean you're going to abandon me?" Kvinna's mouth trembled.
"No, of course not," Befrielse said. "I'm sure you're frightened but I don't know what we can do. Perhaps hide out here in the catacombs until things calm down?"
"I don't think murder charges are going to simply go away. What if it becomes an international incident? The government is looking for scapegoats and if Kunskap has disappeared then we've become their target. We're his group! Is there no place outside of Rike we can hide? I thought you said there were other groups in Varlid that feel similarly to us."
Befrielse eyes roamed around the room as he cleared his throat.
"Befrielse if you know of somewhere, tell us!" Ganska exclaimed.
"I was working on making contact with a larger group. It was a contact to use if we really needed it."
"I think we need it now." Kvinna said.
"They're outside of Sanddyner... ."
"Good, how long will it take all of you to get ready?" Kvinna moved toward the door.
Everyone looked startled. "Wait, you mean all of us should go?" Befrielse asked.
"If they're trying to get to me, they're trying to get to the whole group. We're all in danger now."
"Not me!" Furstinna cried. "I'm not really a part of this group."
"Yes, Furstinna, even you. And you'd be a big catch. Someone close to the ruling family caught with dissidents. Imagine."
Furstinna turned to glare at Ganska. Ganska tried to take Furstinna's hand but she pulled away.
"What is this place called?" Kvinna asked.
"Refuge," Befrielse answered.
"Never heard of it."
"It was created by a faction of Manskliga who left the Stark Harskare rule a long, long time ago."
"That's just a legend," Furstinna huffed.
"It is more than a legend," Befrielse assured.
"How do we get there?" Kvinna asked.
"We need to get to a cove in Sanddyner. Refuge is really a peninsula off of Sanddyner. There is a portal they created to seal it off from the rest of Varlid."
"This will work. We need more information and support and Refuge can give it to us. Then we'll be able to return to Fond and confront those that are trying to discredit the movement," Kvinna laid a hand on Befreilse's shoulder. "Thank you, I knew I could count on you."
"I'm not going," Furstinna said.
Befrielse stopped Kvinna from answering. "Hem, Ganska are you in?"
Both nodded.
Befrielse walked to Furstinna and guided her to a sit down with him. "Listen, none of us like what's happening. Right now Kvinna is the only one in trouble but I'm afraid she's right. With Kunskap also gone they mean to implicate the rest of this group and I can't guarantee the situation won't spread to you and your family. You might think you're not involved but Stark Harskare won't care. If you stay in Fond and they can't reach the rest of us they will pull you in just to have someone to parade to the public. Help us get Kvinna safely to Refuge and then if things turn out to be fine we'll return to Fond."
Furstinna looked at Ganska, tears streaming down her face. "Ganska how could you?"
"I'm so sorry Furstinna, I never meant for it to happen this way."
"We're all sorry Furstinna. We had no intention of including anyone who wasn't comfortable with the risks involved. Everyone gather your things and meet back here. Make certain you're not followed. Although if they're watching us we'll lose them in the catacombs. Ganska go with Furstinna."
"No!" Furstinna stood up.
"It's alright. I'll go with her," Hem said.
"Grab everything you've kept from Kunskap. We don't want it falling into the wrong hands," Befrielse said as they left their secret chamber for the last time.
Country: Varlid, Nation: The Far West Wilderness, City: Dong Tochi
The Suk Chae glowed in alternating colors of cream, blue, red, and green. The sphere sat in the middle of a miniature reproduction of the city of Dong Tochi. It's pulsing stream of colors radiating outwards. The Suk Chae was the sole source of power for the city-state of Dong Tochi and allowed it to cling to the harbor surrounded by wilderness and hostile enemies. Large stone walls surrounded the city and the outer fortified staging area, Du Beon Jae Dosi, where the beast attacks were held at bay.
The beasts, Chim Sung Saram, mounted offensives against Dong Tochi periodically to try and steal the Suk Chae. They believed by capturing the Suk Chae they could drive the Aventyrare out of the city and stop further encroachment into their territory. So far, they had not succeeded.
Anarchy reigned in Dong Tochi until the bells warned of an impending Chim Sung Saram attack.
The peal of the alarm bells rocked the air. Four generals: Ahm Rahis the Elyun, Tomutan Okuz the Kertenkele, Nwa Chapo Le Sel the Asistan Ti, Jikutokushikazu the Mikachiari were in charge of defending Dong Tochi. The bellowing voice of Tomutan Okuz with the aid of a bull horn rang throughout Du Beon Jae Dosi, "It is time! Non-combatants need to leave the area immediately."
A mad scrabble ensued while anyone not equipped or able to fight fled through a series of large gates into Dong Tochi. Merchants wrapped up their wares in large rugs and joined the hasty retreat leaving behind permanent vending stalls made out of stone.
Nwa Chapo Le Sel sent up a magic burst into the sky from the top of the gate between Dong Tochi and Du Beon Jae Dosi signaling the impending invasion. Jikutokushikazo and Ahm Rahis shouted into their horns while they strode through Dong Tochi cajoling Aventyrare to exit the bars, tea houses, and market places. "It's time to fight for the life you've enjoyed in Dong Tochi. The only home you have as Aventyr
are. Grab your armor and weapons! Damage dealers to the front, magic users to the back!" There was no use trying to issue instructions any more complicated than that to the mostly drunken rabble assembling in the main square of Du Beon Jae Dosi.
Captains with a small contingent were assigned to guard the Suk Chae. If the enemy breached Du Beon Jae Dosi, they would remove the orb and head to the second harbor to catch a boat to Seo Jog Mo Seo Li, the second city the Aventyrare were attempting to build in the Far West Wilderness. Despite the lack of organization a full retreat to the outpost had never happened since the Chim Sung Saram began attacking.
Ahm Rahis spoke through the Skal used by the Generals and Captains. "Who is it this time?"
"By the size of the dust cloud, Chim, the giants," said Tomutan Okuz.
"How much time do we have?" asked Jikutokushikazo.
"Ten minutes till they breach the outer gates."
"Are the archers in position?"
"A few."
"Do I need to round up more?"
"No, Chim can knock them off the top of the stone walls. A few archers are just there to aggravate them on the way in. Nwa Chapo Le Sel seal the gates!"
A gust of air and a blue ball of light flashed in front of the gate. The doors creeped shut inch by inch. Aventyrare squeezed through the gate from Dong Tochi at the last second. Those stragglers that didn't make it in time to use the main gate broke off to use much smaller side gates.
When the massive main gate clanged shut a light blue glow sealed it's outer edges separating Dong Tochi and Du Beon Jae Dosi. If Nwa Chapo Le Sel fell in battle the magic he'd cast on the gate would be lost. His magic also held the seal around the doors to the Suk Chae. A personal guard followed to protect him during battle.
The bells doubled the pace of their ringing as the Chim drew closer. Those that were not fighting climbed the high walls to watch the battle from the Dong Tochi side. An air of festive merriment and wild excitement ran through Dong Tochi. There was no where else to go. Either the Aventyrare held the gates or there would be a mass slaughter as they fell into the sea. Private and commercial ships pulled out from the harbor to await the outcome. The doors to the eateries, bars, and tea houses were flung open to cash in on the possible apocalypse. Those that had permanent shops closed and locked massive doors optimistic the battle would be won in their favor.
Crowning Fantasy Book 1 Page 8
