Crowning Fantasy Book 1 (13 page)

Gumus growled his answer.

"Hey, no offense. Just wondering why they're worth all this trouble."

"Will you protect the Mikachiari if Asistan Ti find them?"

The guard shifted his weight. "Not our business. We don't have the forces." He touched his ear and cocked his head to one side. "Understood."

"What?"

"We're standing down. Someone is talking with the Asistan Ti."

Gumus shouldered Kirmizi. "We need to find them."

"You are not to interfere," the guard warned.

The Kertenekele climbed the stairs three at a time. They knew the guard below informed his captain they had gone rogue. At the top of the wall they could see a mass of fifty or more Asistan Ti in the middle of the adjoining square. Blan Chapo Yon Sel was talking to the captain of the guard with a small contingent. The rest were taking turns floating higher than the walls getting the lay of the land outside Seo Jog Mo Seo Li.

Gumus strained forward but Kirmizi said, "Relax. They don't know where Mina is any more than we do."

"I have an idea," Gumus said. He turned and sought out some Kyun Ha Da hiding under their cart. With a swipe, Gumus had one by the throat and lifted it to eye level.

"Gumus!" Kirmizi cried in alarm.

"Mikachiari where?" Gumus asked and added a little shake so the Kyun Ha Da knew he was serious.

The Kyun Ha Da squeaked and trembled. The rest of them peeked out from under their cart but made no move to stop the assault.

"We don't even speak their language," Kirmizi said.

"Here." Gumus dug into the waistband of his clothes and pulled out a leather necklace and shoved it underneath the Kyun Ha Da's nose. "Take me to the Mikachiari who wore this."

The Kyun Ha Da's whiskered nose twitched and wrinkled and finally sniffed the necklace. Gumus set the creature down. "Where? Take us, now."

The Kyun Ha Da darted for a corner of the stairs they'd just ascended. Gumus followed thinking he had cut off too much oxygen to the creature, but as they drew near the Kyun Ha Da ran down the stairs. Gumus hurried and could hear Kirmizi following behind him.

Gumus looked over the side in time to see the Kyun Ha Da disappear. He jumped over the side to catch up and realized under the staircase was a tunnel. Ducking low he squeezed into the dark passage. At the other end Gumus popped out into a small clearing surrounded by heavy brush. The Kyun Ha Da stuck a paw out and flicked it against a bush. The rustling sound alerted Gumus and he motioned for Kirmizi to follow.

"This could be a trap. I told you they're different outside."

"We have no choice."

Even though the brush was tall, the Kertenkele couldn't move stealthily. An alarm sounded behind them.

"It's the Asistan Ti, they've seen us," Kirmizi said.

The Asistan Ti didn't descend upon them, instead they flew parallel and to the right. The Kyun Ha Da stopped in front of them and pointed. Gumus and Kirmizi changed direction and crashed through the brush following the Asistan Ti.

A clearing ahead showed a sight that chilled Gumus. Mina was in the hands of several Asistan Ti. "Mina!" Gumus bellowed. His axe swung high to try and catch the Asistan Ti floating above him. Magic flew threw the air and he was brought to his knees. He heard Kirmizi groan behind him in pain. Gumus crawled forward. Mina's eyes were closed and she sagged held up by a white mist that encircled her like a cloud.

Blan Chapo Yon Sel appeared and didn't even spare a glance at the two Kertenkele struggling to reach Mina. She swirled her child-sized hands and a portal appeared. Blan Chapo Yon Sel guided the white mist that held Mina through it and they winked out of sight.

Gumus roared his frustration and threw his axe. Gri Chapo Yon Sel sent magic to meet the axe in mid air and sent it tumbling harmlessly to the ground. One by one the Asistan Ti winked out through grey and white clouds until the clearing was empty.

Gumus sat while Kirmizi dragged himself to his feet to gather their weapons. A smoldering patch on the ground drew his attention. He struggled forward and saw Teke. He reached down to close her eyes, believing her dead, when Teke blinked.

Gumus raised both fists high in the air to pummel Teke in his rage. "You promised me!"

Kirmizi knocked Gumus to the side and gasped, "Teke, you should have let us help you."

Teke struggled to speak. Kirmizi lifted her up to his ear. When her body went limp he lowered her to the ground again. Mikachiari slowly emerged from the brush around them.

Gumus spun around. "Why didn't you defend Mina? If you were too cowardly to protect her than why didn't you keep your promise to me. I would have given my life for her!"

The Mikachiari looked grief stricken but didn't address Gumus.

"What did she say?" Noki asked.

"She said, 'Nodoshikumite.' What does that mean?"

Noki knelt beside Kirmizi. "It means we have a future."

***

T
he group made its way back to the port. Gumus pressured Noki and Luru to tell him what would become of Mina. Noki explained that Teke had implanted a virus in Mina. When the Asistan Ti tried to use her to alter their own makeup they would become infected.

"Infected how?" Kirmizi asked.

"It's something we've been working on. The Asistan Ti are magic now, their magic is written in their bones. That's how the Prezidan controls all the Asistan Ti. The Black hats may have revolted and disagreed with his plans but they can't escape it. They were no better than spies. They couldn't help it, it's how they were created."

"Will this kill them?" Kirmizi asked.

"No, but they will be weakened enough to kill."

"Will it kill Mina?" Gumus asked.

Noki looked at Luru. "More than likely, yes."

"Was she carrying cubs?" Gumus asked, his voice gravely with emotion.

"Yes, they're fine, they've been moved to a safe place. Mina didn't know about any of it." Noki's ears twitched. "We couldn't tell her. She thought we'd abandoned her in the end. Mina killed Teke, or rather, Teke let her."

"Aren't you afraid of retribution from the Elyun and Manskliga? They rely on Asistan Ti magic devices," Kirmizi said.

"They've never cared what happened to us. Some of us are headed to Port Plaj to be ready when the virus strikes. Some are going to intervene with Priestess Tado. If the High Priestess comes out of hiding then she will be dealt with as well."

"Dong Tochi and Seo Jog Mo Seo Li will fall," Kirmizi said. "The Suk Chae was made by the Asistan Ti. Without that power source the cities will fail. I must warn the Generals to evacuate before the next Chim Sung Saram attack."

"I'm going with them." Gumus motioned to the Mikachiari. "To Port Plaj and then Patri Peyi. Until I see for myself, my Ofkelenmek hasn't changed." Gumus grasped Kirmizi's hand. "Thank you, brother."

"I hope you find Mina. If you need to find me or Mavi, we'll eventually head to Dohla to deal with Onyx Ay. That confrontation is long overdue."

Noki said, "I can't wait until Varlid uses the names for our homeland again. No more Asistan Ti language to pollute the air. We'll call a council meeting at Enade once this is over."

At Seo Jog Mo Seo Li they parted ways. Noki, Luru and a small group of Mikachiari along with Gumus boarded a ship bound for Port Plaj. Kirmizi waited for a ship to take him back to Dong Tochi.

Teke had been right. The map of Varlid was going to be rewritten soon.

T
he overriding quality of the general populace of Varlid is the ability to sympathize with others.
- Manskliga scholar

Most of Varlid traveled by foot. At great expense a ram found in two or three Galen across Varlid were tamed and used to pull carts or to ride. Furstinna and the group hopped on a cart with a merchant headed home. The emerald green of the hills and trees of Rike ended at the valley leading to the Galen, Hojder. The trek across Hojder with its mountains, deep crevasses, and clear blue lakes was long and arduous but uneventful. Only small wild animals made their home in Hojder, the area had been over-hunted for ages by the Manskliga. Grampas and occasionally Vartalf roamed there as well. The northern end of Hojder led to the Galen Trask and then on to Enade. The southern end of Hojder led to the Galen Sanddyner. 

Sanddyner, hot and dry with endless dunes of white sand made Furstinna homesick for the cool green hills of Rike. After reaching Free Port Sanddyner, the group secured a campsite outside the gates. Furstinna had separated herself from Ganska during the trip from Rike to Sanddyner and spent most of her time with Kvinna. She knew it wasn't fair but Furstinna blamed Ganska for dragging her into something she was not ready to do. Sensing the tension between the two former friends, Hem usually took Furstinna and Kvinna and Befrielse took Ganska across Sanddyner to search for the secret cove that hid the entrance to Refuge.

"How much farther?" Furstinna asked.

"I'm not sure. We're checking the farthest point this time so we won't be back until very late," Hem answered.

Furstinna was frustrated. She thought Befrielse knew exactly where Refuge was and had not expected to be trampling around a Galen for weeks. She was tired of sand. Sand in her shoes, her ears, her hair, even her food. "How many more sections of the map do we need to check?"

"We're nearing the last sections on the map."

"What if we don't find it?" Furstinna asked. Refuge was a legend and the longer they spent searching a nagging doubt grew it would remain just a legend.

Hem ignored her question and they trudged on. Their feet sunk down causing a burst of sand to fly outward with every step.

"The sun is sinking fast, Hem. I think we should turn back for today."

Hem pointed to the edge of the southern most beach where mangrove trees looked as if they were walking out to sea. "We'll stop there."

When they reached the mangroves Furstinna rushed into the waves to splash water on her face. A hand pulled her back as a sword slid into the water. A gush of purple rose to the surface. "These fish bite. Be careful," Kvinna scolded.

The three plopped down on the beach letting the waves wash over their feet. Hem passed the canteen to Furstinna.

"Why would anyone live out here? The ones who do are barely surviving. I'm sure they'd have a better life in their nation," Furstinna said.

Hem grunted. "Why don't you ask them yourself?"

"I don't want to pry. They might be embarrassed at their situation. I know I would be."

"We come from wealthy families. There are many more who don't. All they have is their labor to offer and that doesn't earn much," Hem said.

"They should learn a trade if they can't get an education. That would help. There is always the military too. I think expanding trade apprenticeships would cut down on the need for charity."

"I'm sure we'll have more time to talk about it in Refuge," Hem said as he rose and pointed to an outcropping of gray rock jutting past the green of the mangrove trees. "We need to search to that point. Have your dagger ready."

Furstinna mumbled as she withdrew two daggers from her waistband. Anytime she tried to draw the others into conversation they talked about Refuge. Kvinna was the only one who at least attempted to talk with her but only in private. They'd had long, whispered conversations at night while the others slept.

Kvinna lifted the tip of her sword. "Stick close to me and stay in the sun lit water as much as you can. These fish hide in the shade of the tree roots and dart out to attack."

They made their way slowly, the setting sun shrinking the pathways lit by water. "We'll never make it back before the sun sets," Furstinna warned.

"We can make camp there if we need to," Hem in a reassuring tone.

"We don't even know if there is a place to camp."

"This is the place. I can feel it," Hem said as he pressed on. They had killed several small fish along the way and Hem had secured them to his belt.

In the fading light they could see a darker opening ahead of them. "We're going to make a dash up these roots and climb along those the rest of the way."

When they reached the edge of the trees a small, peaceful lagoon appeared. Across that stood the opening to a cave. They sprinted to the large, black opening as the last of the sunlight disappeared. Furstinna and Kvinna collapsed on the beach while Hem edged closer to the entrance. "There's a faint light at the back. Catch your breath and then we'll have a look."

Without the aid of a lamp they clung to the side of the cave as they inched forward, weapons at the ready. There was no sound of scurrying animals, even their footsteps were swallowed up by the inky blackness. Furstinna was ready to insist they go back when a faint blue light appeared and grew brighter as they approached. As they got closer the blue light expanded from a dot to a swirling, funnel-shaped mass.

"This is it!" Hem cried. "We've found it. We'll be in Refuge within the week."

"Can we enter now?"

"No, Befrielse has three objects that will activate it. Look." Hem walked forward and passed through the swirling funnel. "It's just colored mist without those objects."

"How did he get them?"

"Befrielse traveled all over Varlid to several remote areas for items. He was gone for months. I don't know what the items are, I haven't seen them yet either."

"So he's the only one that can open the portal?" Furstinna asked.

"Yes, the items are marked so only the person who found them can use them. Kunskap shared the information only with Befrielse."

"Apparently he didn't trust the rest of us?" Kvinna whispered.

"You must have a lot of faith in Befrielse that'll he take us with him." Furstinna said as she cleaned the fish.

"Befrielse's actions speak louder than his words." Hem snapped as he strode off. "I'll get some firewood."

Hem, Furstinna, and Kvinna started a fire, ate their fish and relaxed.

"How long have you known Ganska?" Hem asked Furstinna.

Befrielse and Hem had been asking these sorts of questions during the trip to try and patch her relationship with Ganska. Furstinna had avoided the ploy but now that it seemed they were going to reach their final destination, she sighed and gave in. "Since I was young. We both started classes with the Prast. I had an assignment I forgot to do and the teacher had told the class if anyone didn't have the lesson ready they were going to be in trouble and to see him afterward. Ganska noticed I was waiting and asked what was wrong. When I told Ganska she stayed with me so I wouldn't face the teacher alone even though she had already turned in her lesson."