Crowning Fantasy Book 1 (10 page)

"I just heard today from the Rektor the death was by natural causes. It could be a coincidence."

The mood of the group darkened.

"None of this makes any sense to you," Hem said.

Furstinna shook her head. "Not a clue."

"We'll just have to show her," Ganska took her hand.

The others nodded in agreement and Kvinna led the way back into the catacombs.

"It's pitch black down here, how can you tell where you're going?" Furstinna asked.

"Just follow for right now. We'll tell you what you need to know when."

The warm palm of Ganska's hand enclosed hers as she shuffled forward in the darkness. Her other hand brushed ice cold stone walls. She squeezed Ganska's hand and her friend squeezed back. It seemed like an hour in the darkness when Furstinna smelled the hills of Rike. She was about to ask when the silent group came to a halt.

Ganska was pushed back as Befrielse and Kvinna moved Furstinna forward. They formed a triangle while both held on to her arms. Furstinna wasn't sure if they meant to steady her or stop her should she decide to bolt. She was about to protest when she heard a mewling sound coming from the entrance up ahead. They pushed her forward up an incline with firm hands until she could just see over the top. The exit from the catacombs to Rike was cut into the side of a hill. In the dark Furstinna couldn't tell exactly what part of Rike she was looking at. On the ledge, exposed to the elements lay a row of babies. Not Manskliga, their bodies and limbs where shorter and thicker. Their heads were like misshapen onion bulbs with smaller bulbs for eyes, ears and nose. 

As they began to wave their arms and kick their small heels into the ground in frustration, Furstinna pushed against Befrielse and Kvinna realizing what these babies were, Grampus.

***

A
lthough Befrielse yanked on her arm several times to try and slow Furstinna, she stumbled blindly on. Befrielse relented and urged the whole group to move faster and gave up any hope of keeping them silent. They reached the chamber and Furstinna moved to the far wall, her face away from the group. Ganska stood by her side. "I know it's a shock."

Everyone in the chamber waited patiently until Furstinna was ready to face them. "How do you know they are descended from us? Maybe we're kidnapping Grampus to use in some bizarre Asistan Ti sponsored experiments. These rumors surfaced when large numbers of the Mikachiari disappeared from Rike. Maybe we're simply looking for a way to defeat them, they raid and kill with impunity in Rike all the time."

The group looked to Ganska to respond. Ganska took a step toward Furstinna. "Kunskap put the pieces together. He has the evidence and we have anecdotal evidence from nurses who reported a high number of Manskliga miscarriages. It may take you a while to grasp this but the Grampus are Manskliga. We're the same."

"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.

***

K
vinna 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."

***

K
vinna 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."