Crowning Fantasy Book 1 (12 page)

"What do you mean you don't know how to stop this?" Tomutan said.

"This behavior is old and barbaric. It was the last resort when we were overrun by the Bocek. No one has seen it since tales that Golo succumbed to the madness."

"If the other generals find out they'll cage Gumus and only let him lose to fight the Chim Sung Saram. If he gives them too much trouble they'll just put him down," Tomutan said.

"I can't let that happen. Golo was driven mad because of Onyx Ay. Gumus is different. Look at him, he seems to have his senses, unlike the Kertenkele used in the war against the Bocek." 

Tomutan had a more expressive face than most Kertenkele. He narrowed his eyes and lowered his chin. "You don't know how far gone he is or if it'll get worse. Can we take the chance he won't turn on all of us?"

Kirmizi did not answer and stared on as Gumus Ay marched stone-faced past the cheering and saluting. He headed to the port, jumped the gate blocking off the loading and unloading docks and slipped into the water up to his neck. The Elyun guards on duty looked around knowing they shouldn't have let him pass but unsure how to stop him.

"What is he doing?" Tomutan asked.

Kirmizi didn't state the obvious, he didn't know.

Gumus waved his arms to part the trash floating around him before splashing water on his face and through his hair. With long strides he made his way back to the gate. Jumped it again and strode back to Du Beon Jae Dosi. Mugs of alcohol were shoved toward him as Gumus passed but he ignored it all and marched back through the massive gate.

***

G
umus Ay saw General Jikutokushikazu screeching orders to the clean up crew. She saw Gumus and started to issue him an order to pick up loose stones that had been knocked off a staircase leading to the upper deck but never got the full sentence out. Gumus used his finger and thumb to encircle her neck, lift her up and slam her against the closest wall.

"Where is Mina?" Gumus snarled.

General Jikutokushikazu's eyes popped forward as she struggled for breath. Her nails scratched at the surface of Gumus's hand without leaving a mark.

Bystanders staggered back shocked at the gall of a lowly Aventyrare attacking a General.

"Mi-na!" Gumus banged the General against the wall twice for emphasis.

The General composed herself enough to lay her ears back flat and snarl. She pushed her legs off the wall and flung them around Gumus's wrist loosening his grip enough to take a breath. "I'll have you drawn and quartered before the sun sets for daring to lay a hand on a General of Dong Tochi."

Gumus pulled his arm back to fling her to the ground when Kirmizi and Tomutan intervened.

"Put her down!" General Tomutan shouted.

"I was just about to," answered Gumus.

A stream of Mikachiari entered into the square, weapons drawn. Generals Ahm Rahis and Nwa Chapo Le Sel followed close behind.

"Gumus," Kirmizi said. "You won't leave this square alive if you don't put the General down, unharmed." Kirmizi expected to see defiance in Gumus, instead he saw a flicker of despair followed by a slight sag of his shoulders.

"Teke promised I could stay by her side. She promised I would be allowed to watch over Mina."

General Kwa Chapo Le Sel threw a blue-white air spell at Gumus. Several more Asistan Ti appeared, magic swirling in their palms.

The magic attack flung Gumus backwards. He sprang up and was immediately hit with multiple spells: red, orange, purple. His steps slowed to a crawl and smoke rose from his skin.

"We know nothing of Teke's plans!" General Jikutokushikazu shouted to Gumus above the hiss of magic. The Mikachiari gathered around her and they blocked the Asistan Ti's attack on Gumus. "I know the real reason you cast your spells, wizard demons. Don't bother!" General Jikutokushikazu spat at General Kwa Chapo Le Sel.

"What are you talking about? We've always used our magic for everyone's benefit in Dong Tochi," General Kwa Chapo Le Sel said.

"You think by protecting us we'd take you into our confidence? We'd trust you after what you're planning to do? You must think us fools, General Kwa Chapo Le Sel."

"That's enough!" General Tomutan interrupted. "This is not the time or place for your personal war."

A popping sound overheard drew all eyes toward a swirling grey cloud. "Oh, but it is exactly the right time," Two Asistan Ti floated above, one clothed in white, the other in grey. The one in grey addressed Nwa Chap Le Sel. "The Prezidan will be pleased with this new development."

Nwa Chapo Fo Dife cried out, "They attacked Nwa Chapo Yon Sel! Blan Chapo Yon Sel you defy our own laws to follow the Prezidan's madness!"

The response to Nwa Chapo Fo Dife's words was swift. Multiple weapons and magic flew through the air. The Asistan Ti in white, Blan Chapo Yon Sel, spread her hands and multicolored shields of magic closed around her and the Asistan Ti accomplice in grey. The black hat magic sizzled against the shields and weapons clattered to the ground. Blan Chapo Yon Sel flung her arms out once more and a second later they winked out in a ball of white.

The Mikachiari huddled together in agitation. The Asistan Ti withdrew to General Nwa Chapo Le Sel's side. General Ahm Rahis took a stand between the two groups as they hurled insults at each other.

Kirmizi caught General Tomutan's arm as he rushed forward to help General Ahm Rahis. "Banish Gumus. You have bigger problems to deal with in Dong Tochi right now."

General Tomutan gave a dismissive wave. "I banish him and you. If I ever see him again I'm holding you responsible. If he becomes a massacring monster, I'm holding you responsible. Your time is done here in Dong Tochi."

Kirmizi gave a slow nod and pulled Gumus toward the massive outer gate the Chim had retreated through not too long ago. "Teke must have had her reasons. You're going to have to trust they moved Mina to keep her safe and they couldn't confide in you for the same reason. Within moments Prezidan Jules will know something is going on which puts Mina in grave danger. That was Blan and Gri Chapo Yon Sel, the two highest White and Grey hat magic users." Kirmizi paused. "Brother, what woke you? We thought you wouldn't find the strength to go on after Mina was taken."

"I felt bound in body but my spirit drifted. I saw back in time to before the Bocek invaded. Then I saw Onxy Ay tie the dead body of his mate and daughters to his waist and drag them during the Sabah Yuruyusu. My spirit gathered at a cave covered with paintings on the walls."

Kirmizi inhaled sharply. "Kutsul Magara."

"Then my spirit returned and I was no longer bound."

"Your Ofkelenmek was given a focus."

Gumus agreed. "I must find Mina and help her. She is part of something greater but exactly what is unclear to me."

Once outside the cacophony of the Chim wilderness filled the air. Kirmizi continued. "Go to the east corner of the wall and wait for me. I'll bring supplies. It's a long trek through Chim strongholds to reach the other outposts and Seo Jog Mo Seo Li."

"How will I know the way, brother?" Gumus asked.

"I'm coming with you."

G
umus was used to being a giant in his own right but the beasts here were regularly twice his size. They had to dodge and stick to the shadows, following small paths through thick underbrush to reach heavily guarded outposts. Kirmizi had transport papers from Dong Tochi so the only hard part was reaching one of the outposts without having to engage Chim or other wild animals. On several occasions they had to make a run for the outpost after being spotted and chased all the way to a fortified gate. There the guards were keen to keep Chim and animals away and repelled the attack while cursing Kirmizi and Gumus for not being more careful.

For Gumus there was a particularly nasty animal that plagued him. A tiny specimen that bit his ankles and caused them to swell. That only lasted through the heavily wooded areas. Next on their journey came a shore line they followed for days and then a hot, dry volcanic landscape that stretched on forever. When the landscape finally changed to another heavily wooded area, Kirmizi announced. "We're almost there."

"This trip has taken us many months. How do we even know they're still there?" Gumus asked.

"I've checked at the outposts along the way. There is communication with Dong Tochi. Mavi Ay said they arrived by ship and the ship left again but with no Mikachiari on board. They had to have made camp somewhere outside Seo Jog Mo Seo Li."

"Any sign of Asistan Ti?"

"No, but they just need scouts. The Grey and White hats both have spells similar to the Black hats. They can use magic to transport long distances as long as they've been their once and set up a marker."

"How do we fight their magic?"

"We don't. The Mikachiari were right. Although the Black hats are still on their side they cannot be fully trusted. Nwa Chapo Fo Dife said as much because the Prezidan still holds some kind of power over them."

"There must be some weapon or shield the Black hats can help us make."

Kirmizi shook his head. "None that I know of and they wouldn't make one that could be used against their own kind. The Asistan Ti do not possess magic. Maybe in the beginning it was so but not now. Now they are magic. The most I've seen them do is make small objects that hold power for the Manskliga and Elyun. The Black hats made the Suk Chae that powers Dong Tochi. What works in our favor is the White hats can only cast protective and enfeebling spells. The really strong ones like Blan Chapo Yon Sel can revive the dead. Since the Black hats revolted against Prezidan Jules, he created Grey hats. Their magic is similar to the Black hats but far less powerful. It is unclear if they can kill anyone but they definitely can maim."

"But the Black hats can still kill."

"Yes."

"Good thing they're on our side."

"Yes, for now."

A
door closed cutting off the panting of a Mikachiari in labor. "Mina's with at least five cubs," Nori said.

"Thank you, Goddess Jimotekuari!" Teke cried. "How soon?"

"A couple more hours."

"How soon until we can impregnate her again?"

Noki sobered, her ears turned down. "Why? No one has discovered us."

"They're looking. We know they're somewhere around Seo Jog Mo Seo Li. It's too dangerous to move any farther away. All it takes is for one Asistan Ti to let the Prezidan know and we're done."

"But this, sacrificing her, after all she's done?"

"She will be remembered forever with our words. It is her fate."

"A fate you've decided for her. What of your fate?"

"I—I will be cursed. I will be cursed for far more than what I've done to Mina."

A muffled cry sent Noki back into the small room. Hours later she brought five cubs for Teke to hand over to five Mikachiari.

"Take them to the sanctuaries, protect them with your life. Our existence depends on it," said Teke as she handed each mewling cub to it's new mother.

"Should we name them before we go?" one Mikachiari asked.

"Yes." Teke laid a hand on each one saying, "You are our hope, Ri, so your names are: Riari, Rito, Riku, Rimei, and Rika. Our hope after more than a hundred years of despair."

The Mikachiari dispersed from the camp.

"How soon can we impregnate Mina?" Teke demanded from Noki. "The sooner we hand her over to the Asistan Ti, the sooner the hunt for our Ri will end."

S
eo Jog Mo Seo Li was a smaller version of Dong Tochi. Traders called Kyun Ha Da made this area their home. They stood no taller than three feet but their features were long and delicate. Their jaws and nose tapered to a point jutting out five inches from the rest of their face. The fingers of their paws were long and ended in dull talons. They reminded Gumus of the Vartalf only more meek. They hid at the slightest change of tone even in the middle of haggling a deal. Kirmizi and Gumus were the only Kertenkele and no Mikachiari could be seen within the city. When Kirmizi questioned passersby, none had been seen in town for months. When he asked about the ones that had arrived by ship, there was no answer.

"What gate did they leave from?" Kirmizi questioned a guard.

"I think the north gate. In truth I don't remember."

Gumus wanted to start off right away but Kirmizi held him back. "There are no outposts past Seo Jog Mo Seo Li. We'll be totally on our own against the Chim Sung Saram. I know the Kyun Ha Da look docile in town but once outside, they are very different."

"But the Mikachiari made it out."

"They must have information we don't. We can't rush out there blind. Lets sleep tonight and in the morning find scouts who know more about the land outside Seo Jog Mo Seo Li."

In the morning when the Kertenkele emerged from their sleep along a far wall, the air crackled with electricity.

"Where is everyone?" Kirmizi asked a guard.

"We're about ready to sound the alarm and send everyone to the port." The guard eyed the size of Kirmizi and Gumus. "I don't suppose you'd be interested in helping us?"

"Helping against what?"

"It feels like magic is in the air. There were rumors the Mikachiari were going to bring trouble here."

Gumus shook his head 'no', but Kirmizi replied in the affirmative. "Where do you want us to stand guard?"

"Right here is fine." The guard tapped the Skal communicator in his ear and informed the rest of the guards there were two Kertenkele recruited to help with whatever arose.

They didn't have to wait long as popping sounds echoed in the distance. Gumus and Kirmizi tensed. Gumus unleashed his war axe while Kirmizi unsheathed a sword.

"What?" the guard asked.

"We've heard that sound right before Blan and Gri Chapo Yon Sel appeared," Kirmizi said.

"They're after the Mikachiari, still? I thought the war was settled. What use are a bunch of neutered pretty pets?"