Crowning Fantasy Book 1 (11 page)

"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.

T
he 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 Aventyrare. 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.

Kirmizi Gunes and Mavi Ay made their way toward the staging area. Gumus Ay had not stirred since Mina left. Kirmizi didn't think he would make it another week. Nwa Chapo Yon Sel had recovered and floated by Mavi's side while Nwa Chapo Fo Dife floated next to him. Jikutokushikazu waved at the familiar figures as they entered Du Beon Jae Dosi through one of the side gates.

"They're here, the party can start now!"

A festive atmosphere of dancing, singing, and talking Aventyrare gathered in Du Beon Jae Dosi. They would win or die trying. Some still swung tankards of drink or finished gnawing what was left of their dinner. Friends who hadn't seen each other since the last attempted invasion waved and formed parties. The Generals tossed medical supplies and magic enhancers down to the Aventyrare. "Don't use them all at once! I can't guarantee when you'll get more," the Generals warned. Cheers rang out as Aventyrare caught and applied the various potions and ointments ignoring the warnings.

The bells stopped and the sudden lack of sound hushed the Aventyrare. It was almost time.

"Aventyrare," roared  Tomutan Okuz. "You're finest hour is at hand! We fight for our way of life in Dong Tochi. We do not invade the Chim Sung Saram. They invade us. We want only our little piece of freedom from all in Varlid. Drive them back from our home!"

A roar went up from most in the crowd, while others laughed and booed.

"Bah! I don't know why we bother sometimes," said Tomutan Okuz into his Skal. "We should just find a nice beach and settle there."

"This used to be a nice beach," said Ahm Rahis.

The ground started to tremble. From their positions at the top of the walls the Generals could see a group of Mikachiari slinging arrows at the Chim as they approached. As Tomutan Okuz had warned the Chim swatted at the Mikachiari who easily dodged out of the way. The arrows were scratched off without slowing them down one step.

The Aventyrare started to split up into parties. Some of the more adventurous ones headed toward the main gate into Du Beon Jae Dosi to be the first to attack the Chim as they entered. Other, less experienced Aventyrare, hung back and used the stone stalls, stairs and low walls for cover.

Chim were three times as large as the largest Kertenkele. The leader's voice growled as the first Chim clashed with the Aventyrare. "Pitiful vermin. Wreckers of the land. Meet the wrath of Goddess Yu Shi!"

The massive horde of Chim, their half-tamed battle animals and mechanized automatons forced their way through the entrance and scattered into the Du Beon Jae Dosi. The action was a blur of flying weapons and bursts of magic. The Generals yelled out weak points they saw from their perches above. The Aventyrare for all their faults knew how to fight.

The tide of the haphazard battle flowed back and forth. Badly hurt Chim withdrew. Their automatons fell in pieces. Chim took the time to throw the parts on the backs of their animals to be salvaged for another time.

Tomutan Okuz yelled above the din, "Who in Goddess Gudina's name is that?"

All eyes swiveled to the main gate as a blur cut through the Chim and their automatons. Aventyrare cheered. A break in the fighting showed a lone Kertenkele wielding a massive axe. He mowed a path through Chim as Aventyrare came together in his wake to clean up.

Kirmizi's party noticed the lone Kertenkele and the Generals saw them swing around to intercept. He refused their help and continued on his lone path through the Chim. Asistan Ti launched spells to assist him as best they could. The Kertenkele continued on oblivious to the support.

Tomutan Okuz caught Kirmizi's troubled eye across the battlefield.

A single horn blew and the Chim retreated. The lone Kertenkele followed them past the outer gate while a cheer went up from the rest of the Aventyrare. The drunk ones who where still standing chased after him laughing and cursing. "Our hero!" became the rallying cry along the walls were the spectators had watched the battle unfold.

Kirmizi made his way to Tomutan Okuz's perch. "Brother, we have a problem."

"We always have problems. What makes this problem so special to try and talk to me in the middle of defending Dong Tochi?" Tomutan Okuz asked as he directed Aventyrare to pick off Chim stragglers not retreating fast enough.

"That Kertenkele is Gumus Ay. He was far gone in the Cinsel Iliski when he arrived here because of Onyx Ay."

"I don't have time for religious fanatics. I'm busy repelling a hoard at the moment."

"Ofkelenmek."

"Lanet tanri!" General Tomutan Okuz cursed. "How do we stop it?"

"Other than killing him, I don't know."

T
he ship pitched up and down as it scaled waves three times as high as the vessel. Seo Jog Mo Seo Li was across another part of the Bred Hav from Dong Tochi and only the second settlement the Aventyrare were able to hold from the Chim Sung Saram.

"We are boxing ourselves into a corner," complained Luru.

Teke grabbed her glass as it slid along the table. "No one will follow us. The Kertenkele sympathized but only if we stayed within easy reach."

"I was speaking more of the Asistan Ti," Luru said with ears flattened.

"I'm counting on them following us."

Luru hissed.

"Our revenge has been a long time coming."

Mina slid into the cabin. Luru caught Mina as the ship lurched to one side and tossed Mina into her lap.

"How much farther? This sea trip is too long," Mina said not masking her distress.

Teke bared her small teeth in a smile and scooted closer until all three cuddled together. "Not long now. How are you?"

Mina turned her face away. Teke pulled closer to nip her ear. Mina swatted at her face and missed. "Not happy."

"Mina, how many times have we apologized. The Mikachiari cannot trust anyone. We had to leave. We had to give you the gift we've kept hidden all this time," Teke purred.

"Hmmm," Mina made a noncommittal tone. "We can trust Gumus. You should have brought him."

Teke and Luru both started stroking Mina's arms, shoulders, back. "You know he couldn't follow now. It's too dangerous," Teke said.

Mina broke their embrace and said on her way out, "You should have done it for me."

Luru turned to Teke and asked, "Do you feel bad about lying to her?"

Teke shook her head. "This is her fate. She had no future with the Kertenkele and now the Mikachiari have a future for the first time in many years."

G
umus Ay strode through Dong Tochi. Aventyrare lifted their hands in mock salute, swung mugs of wine, and cheered as he passed. Brackish colored liquid streamed down his body, the blood of all the Chim Gumus Ay had slain that day.

Kirmizi and Tomutan watched from the perch on top of the wall.