Crowning Fantasy Book 1 (15 page)

Everyone nodded in agreement except Furstinna. "I still don't believe my family would have anything to do with this. My mother is a devout follower of Goddess Gudina."

"I'm not implying your mother was a willing participant. Our colony was founded on our attempt to intercede in the killing of Grampas and the manipulation of our race that produces Grampas. What we have every reason to believe is that high-ranking families in Rike take part," Maja explained.

"I can agree with you that we shouldn't be killing Grampas." Furstinna relented. "They are a race with their own culture."

"Then we will rest this discussion on that positive note."

Albin continued, "The Dold is an organization outside the Stark Harskare ruling family of Rike. Other than that we don't know much more about them. They seem to be violent and not above assignations, infiltrations of groups, and overall disruption but to what end is a mystery to us. They haven't sought to overthrow the ruling family and may have some symbiotic relationship with the higher class in Rike. If you have any more information, please share."

Everyone shook their head, no, including Kvinna.

Nova spoke next, "The Vapen is also a weapon most likely developed with help from the Asistan Ti."

"I thought the Asistan Ti's magic couldn't be weaponized," Hem said.

"We thought so too. I'm not sure if the they just expanded on the magic the Prezidan Jules originally shared. The Black hats who live here in Refuge are also unsure. We do know Stark Harskare handed over any Mikachiari they found to the Asistan Ti. The Mikachiari who live in Refuge escaped Rike during that time."

Nils cleared his throat. "The monetary system was something new. As you know each nation has it's ruling family as king, emperor, or Prezidan in the case of the Asistan Ti with a provisional government of mostly wealthy families. Lurazat Esarotarahis was studying the history of money since the end of the Varlid War. The War changed the landscape of Varlid substantially and there were promises of reform made to the general populace who fought in that war. Those changes never materialized. Lurazat started following Kunskap and was gathering data to show how the wealthy through inheritance stayed in power. Through marriage it was easier to rise in class and status than any amount of work, investment, ingenuity, or risk-taking. There have been popular uprisings based on these assumptions but without data to back it up. These uprisings have been summarily put down over the years by their governments. Some of those dissidents made their way to Refuge."

"Which is why I've been advocating building skills and apprenticeship training," Furstinna added excitedly.

"Those were a course of action promoted after the war and in some part they were implemented. We're not saying they should be abandoned since we value education in general, but the data showed those types of programs by themselves were not capable of bringing about real or lasting change for the general population."

"But we have lost that data," Befrielse said solemnly. "Kvinna worked with Lurazat in Rasima."

"Really?" Nils remarked. "Do you have anything to add?"

"I'm sorry, Lurazat showed me the data and it confirms what you've just said but I don't have any of his papers. He was planning a trip to meet Kunskap but died suddenly. I was being framed for his murder which is how we ended up here."

"That data was the last piece to our plan," Maja remarked.

"What plan?" Furstinna asked.

Maja continued ignoring Furstinna. "This is a lot of information to take in and the community will be talking about these topics today and tomorrow. You're free to move about Refuge and take part in any of the discussions. If you wish to leave Refuge, you may but you will not be able to return for any reason. If you stay and become a member in full standing you will be able to come and go within limits. For the communities safety of course."

"How long will that take?" Hem asked.

"That depends on you and the community. I'll explain how we operate. You'll choose the work you would like to do. The cafeteria, the baths and the common area are always open. You have your rooms and we have fresh clothes for you."

"What kind of work do you do here?" Ganska asked.

"Everything that needs done. There is a help wanted board in the common area with a council that oversees each area."

"Who does the work no one wants to do?" Furstinna asked.

The council members laughed. "That always adds a bit of excitement every month or so. The work no one wants to do piles up and causes a mess or interferes with other work or falls on the same people too often so they quit... . There are some interesting, often heated, discussions following one of these episodes but it always works out in the end," Maja said.

"Why doesn't someone just assign the work?" Befrielse asked.

"That isn't how we decided Refuge would run. Varlid looks like a giant upside down funnel. Everything that is produced, manufactured, and labored for is funneled upwards into the hands of the few. We purposefully set up Refuge to be the exact opposite of the rest of Varlid. That's not to say that we stay the same. We are open and willing to experiment with how we live along some basic guidelines which we'll share with you in the coming days. You've already learned one, we're committed to non-violence and part of that is no weapons are allowed in Refuge at any time other than work implements."

"What if you're attacked?" Hem asked.

"We are committed to meeting that attack without the use of violence. But we are realists. That's why the portal was created. That's why you will be worked into life in Refuge in stages," Maja said then pushed back from the table. "I'm about all talked out. Someone else want to take over?"

Albin nodded. "I think that's the most I've heard you speak in a week. Please ask questions if you have any but maybe you'll learn more by doing."

"I have a question," Befrielse added. "So who owns Refuge, how is it divided up?"

"No one owns Refuge," Albin said. "It is a small community. It's another aspect of Varlid we are trying to turn on it's head. There is no personal ownership of property or most items."

"But you can't produce everything you need here on this small area."

"No, we can't. Full members come and go into Varlid and trade or buy the things we need. We operate on mainly necessities: food, shelter, clothes, pursuit of knowledge and interests. The basics does take up most of your time but the load is shared."

"We don't claim to have all the answers," Nova said. "As you talk to other members you'll probably hear a different view on what we've been talking about and that's fine, encouraged even."

"One more question," Furstinna ventured.

"Of course."

"What about the Goddess?"

"Our first rule is to non-violence in any form. You are free to express your beliefs however you like but they cannot include sacrifice or violence. That's all we ask. Again, we don't have all the answers and we are not implying we're experts on everything about Refuge. Once you join daily life here and talk to others you'll have a better idea of what we're trying to build," Nova said. With that the council bid them farewell and they were free to get started in Refuge.

***

C
aj walked up a grassy path to a pasture overlooking the Bred Hav. The council members who had spoken to the newcomers were there plus fifty other members of Refuge. Nils opened the discussion. "We're gathered to talk about the loss of Kunskap and Lurazat."

"Is there a problem?" Caj asked.

"That's why we're here. Kunskap recommended Kvinna to be appointed to the dignitary specifically so she could facilitate a meeting with Lurazat. The fact that she is with the newcomers, was trusted by Kunskap and also had access to Lurazat warrants some discussion. The fact that two of these three people known to Refuge is either missing or dead concerns me," Nils explained.

"You're not the only one concerned," Albin said.

"It could be a coincidence," Caj said.

"Refuge is still alive because we don't believe in coincidences," Maja said. "We've dealt with infiltrators before."

"The rest of the group seems to trust Kvinna, they brought her here to save her."

"True," Maja said. "Kunskap never had any reservations about Befrielse and trusted him to add people who were trustworthy."

"Kvinna's explanation is reasonable given the history of Stark Harskare's government. They could have found out about Lurazat's research and his correspondence with Kunskap and tried to frame Kvinna to undermine their group," Caj said.

"I think Befrielse may have more information to share than he thinks. He wasn't supposed to gain access to Refuge yet. There was a broader plan with Kunskap to bring a larger group to Refuge in a couple of years. We need to ask him about that."

"Could Befrielse be a part of some plot?"

"If we really want to get paranoid they all could be."

"Caj, I'm putting you in charge. Use anyone from this group to search everything they brought with them, their clothes, their rooms, the baths, wherever they stay or work in Refuge. Maybe one of them will be eager establish contact outside of Refuge," Maja said.

"What about the Grampas?" a member asked.

"We haven't had one breakthrough in communication with them in all these years. Unless something drastically changes we'll have to put that aside for now," Nova said.

"And the Vapen?" another member asked.

"They might intend to threaten all of Varlid with a weapon like that," someone else answered.

Caj moaned. "Start another Varlid War? If the Asistan Ti withdraws their magic support it makes many more smaller machines, like the Skal, useless. The Elyun would stop shipping raw materials and could seriously disrupt the flow of money plus having the Kertenkele on their side in a fight is a huge advantage. I don't think one weapon will cripple any of the other nations enough to make them surrender."

There was a minute of silence then Maja spoke slowly and clearly so everyone gathered could hear. "There is one place they could cripple with that kind of weapon. Us. Refuge."

"The three items not only guard the portal but also our location," Nova said. "It makes a weapon like Vapen useless against us."

"We're so close to finishing what the founders of Refuge started," Caj said. "We need to take the next steps. Our secret location has kept us safe for many years, but we can't take that for granted."

Maja paused to let the murmuring among the group die down then issued a decision. "Step up the memorization of the Phases and the Ninety-nine Ways. Once we do a final check that everyone in Refuge knows those two books by heart, burn all physical copies. They can't kill an idea, they can't stop a leaderless movement and they can't purge what they can't find."

W
hatever you change, changes you.
- Mina Rinkishikamitaku

Mina floated, semi-conscious, while Asistan Ti worked around her prone form. Her homeland floated above, clear blue skies, white wisps of clouds, and snatches of green leaves on branches. She was home. How? Then Mina remembered, it had all been a trick. While she was in the Far West Wilderness she thought she'd delivered babies. Noki was by her side. Luru and Teke came and went. Small, mewling sounds of babies, alive, she was almost certain there had been babies. When she awoke again it was to a scene out of a nightmare.

Asistan Ti surrounded the clearing, floating along the tops of bushes like large insects. Teke held Mina at arm's length, offering her to the Asistan Ti. She spoke about a trade, Mina in exchange for the rest of their race. Teke assured them, Mina was whole so the Asistan Ti could use for their final experiments to heal themselves. To grab this opportunity that would not come for another hundred years since Priestess Tado from Dohla mutilated all whole females through the ritual, Nodoshiku.

Mikachiari howled in anguish at Teke's words. At her betrayal. The only thing holding them back from tearing Teke limb from limb was the Asistan Ti's magic.

Mina lost her mind at that point and wondered at how easily she was able to grab the shiny dagger from Teke's belt. Dark purple liquid flowed from the stab wounds Mina repeatedly inflicted upon her even after Teke sunk to the ground.

All that training and Teke never fought back. Mina wondered if in her heart Teke knew what she was doing was beyond the ability to forgive.

Mina's anger at what had happened throbbed like a dull ache in her belly. So much deceit from her own kind. Gumus was one of the few who'd kept his word. Where was he now? Did Gumus know she was in the hands of the Asistan Ti?

A mass of green leaves entered her peripheral vision, then larger and larger branches came into view until a massive trunk blotted out the sky. She could see magic swirls of different colors float and move around her. An archway carved from the tree plunged her into cool shade.

Chishikuku, the sacred tree. She was entering the sacred tree of the Mikachiari she'd only heard about in stories. Mina wanted to spit and swipe at the magic users surrounding her. She could not move a muscle. It had to be a paralyze spell. No one spoke directly to her.

They guided her through rooms and down a long ramp in the bowels of the tree. Once in a dimly lit room they fastened her to a table. All around the room the stench of magic filled the air, a combination of singed hair and static. Jars of every size, filled with every color of liquid and gas lined the shelves in the room.

Blan Chapo Yon Sel barked orders to the other magic users. They poked needles in her. Rows and rows of needles in every part of her body. Mina tensed every muscle to make it harder for them to insert the needles. She squirmed and twisted an inch here and there. They cut her open and took things out. When the pain grew too much she arched her neck and howled.

Mina would awaken to see Blan Chapo Yon Sel standing over her cloaking them both in an immense and blinding white and peach colored light. Then the pain would begin again.