To spend all your energy either embracing Goddess Gudina or avoiding Jakel leaves precious little for anything else. - Manskliga scholar
Rike with its rolling hills and rich forests was a feast for the eyes. The Manskliga had ruled most of Varlid before the invasion of the Mikachiari and the Elyun. When the Asistan Ti invaded and went to war with the Mikachiari, the Manskliga declared neutrality while working to profit as much as possible from the conflict. After the blood from all sides had washed away they proposed with the Assitan Ti and Elyun to maintain a jointly occupied city, Enade. Wild territories, Galen, would be used as a buffer between the nations with the added benefit of funneling off dissidents from each of their countries. There were always dissidents. Those unsatisfied or unsuited to the life they were born into could take their chances in the wild.
The Rektor was fielding an international emergency in the Dohla capital Rasima over the death of a son from the house of Esarotarahis. The Sayid and Ashiha of that house insisted that a secretary and dignitary were to blame. The Rektor had called for their immediate removal back to Fond and sent another Manskliga delegation to investigate. The Rektor didn't need the added domestic emergency that was unfolding at his own dinner table.
Gudina, the Goddess of the Manskliga was worshiped not only in Rike but in most of Varlid. Fina, his wife, was a devotee almost to the point of obsession. Rektor believed in part because of three failed births. But then Furstinna was born. Tall, shapely, perfect features like her mother. Rektor thought Fina's devotion would switch to their daughter.
Instead Fina pulled Furstinna into her worship of the Goddess. All still seemed well while the child was young. Now, at dinner, Rektor realized how futile his hope for normalcy had been.
"I won't," said Furstinna.
"What do you mean you won't?" cried Fina, fanning herself as if she'd faint.
"Now, now, dear, she has a right to not be involved as much in the worship rituals as you," said Rektor.
"But she's not saying that at all!"
"Furstinna, please tell your mother."
"I have and I will not. Worshiping any Goddess is a waste of time. Fearing the Jakel is an even worse waste of time."
"Blasphemy! How could this happen? You read the first holy book I gave you until it fell apart. You went with me every Gudina Dag to the cathedral. Helping those in need through our charities? Did you not feel the Goddess's spirit running through it all? It was with the blessing of Gudina you were even born!"
"I feel the spirit of community with my fellow beings in Varlid and it has nothing to do with the Goddess. As for the rest I've come to a logical conclusion."
Fina snorted, "Logical? Rektor it's all your fault for not being more involved in her life."
Rektor stared into his drink so as not to make a biting reply.
Furstinna looked from her mother to her father as if they were two strangers she'd never laid eyes on before. "You needn't worry. I want to be a good Manskliga but I don't believe I need to worship a Goddess for rewards, or worse, fear a Jakel for punishment in order to do that. Instead I consciously choose to be good and to do good."
"The only reason you have any idea of what that means is because of Gudina, the Prast and my guidance all these years."
"No, mother, because my idea of what constitutes a good person can and will change over time. What I decide is the right thing to do now may change in the future."
Now Rektor saw the problem with his daughter's 'logic'. "Enough! We were supposed to enjoy a rare family dinner together. We can discuss this another time."
"Meanwhile, you will continue your studies with the Prast," Fina added.
"That's what I've been trying to explain to you mother, I'm done."
"Rektor, do something!"
"Fine and then this discussion is over. Furstinna will not continue her studies or worship with the Prast. I've thought it high time she went to study with the Forskare. However, she will continue helping with the charities. Surely, Furstinna, your definition of good includes doing good works for those less fortunate?"
"Of course, but I've been thinking Father, shouldn't the government be doing more to lesson the reliance on charity?"
Fina gave the Rektor a look saying, "See?!"
Furstinna held Rektor's gaze longer than he would have liked for a pacific daughter. Instead of answering he stabbed the food on his plate and shoved a mouthful in and forced himself to chew.
***
After signing up for classes with the Forskare, Furstinna took every opportunity to be out of the house. Today she wandered the market with the excuse of buying fresh vegetables for the food pantry charity. A half hour later her basket was still empty.
Furstinna felt a jab at her ribs and turned around to see her best friend Ganska.
"How'd it go?" Ganska asked.
"As well as can be expected."
"And... ."
"I start with the Forskare the first of the week!"
Ganska and Furstinna squealed and linked arms. "So what are you doing at the market?"
"Other than hoping to run into you, to pick up vegetables for charity food pantry and spend as little time as possible at home."
"Save some kindness for your mother, there has to be a reason she leans so heavily on the Goddess." Ganska slipped a note into Furstinna's basket. "You must get into Kunskap's class, here's the information."
Furstinna looked at the note and handed it back. "I tried but they said the class was closed. It's the only class I couldn't get with you."
"That's odd. Kunskap knew I was inviting you." Ganska's face tightened with concern.
Furstinna didn't notice and exclaimed, "Ask if I can spend the night at your house. Please! The whole weekend. My mother is going to be intolerable until I finally start classes."
"I'll ask. I'm sure it'll be fine. Wait by the fountain for me."
Furstinna threw a coin in the fountain and circled it several times dipping her fingers in the water. The statue in the middle of the fountain was one of Goddess Gudina standing tall and serene looking out over the market and Fond in general. The statue did not move her as it used to only a few years ago. It wasn't any particular teaching of the Prast that she disliked, but rather the unwavering attention demanded from supplicants. At no point did the Prast ask Manskliga to contemplate or look inward, search themselves. All attention was focused on the battle between Gudina and Jakel. It was a perpetual, albeit, spiritual war. Even though Gudina was the official deity of Varlid, a holdover from when the Manskliga ruled all of Varlid, the Prast no longer sought inclusion of all who lived in Varlid. It was now strictly a Manskliga Goddess. The Elyun had brought their God Gala and he held an equal place alongside Gudina in Varlid. The Prast hinted Gala was really just an extension of Jakel. That had been the last straw for Furstinna and she'd been slowly severing ties with the church. Her declaration to her mother had been the final tie to break.
Ganska skipped toward Furstinna. A good sign that Furstinna would be welcome in Ganska's home over the weekend. "Yes! Lets get your vegetables delivered and then pack a bag for the weekend."
Finna didn't put up a fuss over Furstinna's wish to spend the weekend away from home. She seemed relieved. "That will be fine. Rektor is busy with some current crisis so I can take time to attend church."
Within minutes Furstinna had packed a bag and called a quick goodbye as she fled the house.
Ganska's house was alive with siblings jostling for position around the dinner table, to use the bathroom, and the new communication device, Skal. Her parents watched on patiently, teasing when necessary to stop any escalation to outright fights between their children over who could do what when.
"You'll get access when you start school," Ganska showed Furstinna a small ear piece that hugged her ear.
"Who can you speak to?"
"The Skal network is open to anyone but you have to belong to a Lanka. Here I'll add you to mine but we don't own two of them so we can't talk yet. Do you think Finna will allow you to use it in the house?"
"If it's assigned through school I don't see why not. Plus, I can just say my studies depend on being able to use it after school."
"Just so you can see how it works I'll call my school Lanka and hopefully someone will answer," Ganska put the ear piece in Furstinna's ear. There was a soft sound of ocean waves before a chime.
"Ganska?" a male voice asked. "It's urgent. We need an emergency meeting tonight."
Furstinna's face puckered. "Ganska someone is saying it's urgent."
Ganska took the earpiece from Furstinna. "Hello?"
"Ganska! I've been calling all day. Kunskap is gone."
"What do you mean gone?" Ganska's voice dropped to a whisper.
"His classes have been canceled. I've been trying to get in touch with him all day but there's been no answer. I think we should meet tonight."
"Can you put the signal up?"
"Not now, I can't get away. Will you do it in front of your shop?"
"Yes." Ganska removed the Skal from her ear.
"Who was that?" At Ganska's silence Furstinna said, "I realize you've had a new circle of friends for a while now since we've been going to different schools. I was hoping now I'd get to meet them. I'd love to tag along tonight." Furstinna asked.
"Follow me." Ganska tossed the Skal to one of her brothers in the hall who disappeared into a bedroom trailed by two more siblings anxiously waiting their turn to use the device.
Furstinna followed Ganska outside. Ganska took a flower pot and moved it from the left side of the door to the right side. "I'm going to ask you to trust me. I'd hoped to wait until Kunskap could talk to you personally. So the answer is yes, you're going to meet my other friends from school."
"Great!" Furstinna grabbed Ganska's hands. "I've missed you and none of my other friends will talk to me anymore since I broke with the Prast. Oh, I knew this would work out." Furstinna pulled Ganska into a hug.
"Furstinna, it's a little more complicated then that. We're going to have to sneak out of the house tonight."
"Tonight? We're not going to meet them now?"
Ganska pulled away. "No. Promise me whatever you hear or see tonight you share with no one, especially your family."
"Okay. But Ganska what are you up to? I mean are we're not going drinking are we I'm not into drinking it just makes me fall asleep."
Ganska shook her head.
"Not smoking! Please not smoking it makes me want to itch my face off."
Ganska shook her head and smiled. "No, not that. We'll be just talking."
"Talking. Oh, like a secret discussion group? Some banned book or something?" Furstinna dropped her voice to whisper. "Something that goes against the Prast?"
"Yes! It's a bit like that. These are subjects Kunskap Forskare brought to the attention of a couple of his students. We've been meeting to discuss his findings."
"Oh, you discuss school outside of school?"
"This is new material that cannot be discussed in public. I just need you to keep a secret."
"You know I'm good at keeping secrets. Remember when you told me never to tell who broke the—"
"Yes, and you never did. Thank you!"
Ganska and Furstinna returned to Ganska's house only to sneak out a few hours later after everyone else had gone to bed. The moon was high and bright but the tall stone buildings and walls of Fond cast long shadows. Ganska kept to the shadows as she led Furstinna through the alleys. Furstinna's pulse raced. She'd never done anything like this before.
After passing an alcove several streets away from Ganska's home a hand shot out, grabbed her arm and pulled her in. Another hand clamped over her mouth. She struggled briefly until Ganska's face appeared in front of her own whispering, "It's all right. We're making sure we weren't followed."
"You scared me," she said in a harsh whisper after the hand was removed.
An unidentified female voice behind her said, "Better to be scared for a second than dead forever."
Furstinna shook off the hold of the person behind her. A hooded figure stood back and introduced herself. "I'm Kvinna Speja."
"Well, were we followed?"
"Doesn't look like it. This way."
They followed Kvinna through narrow alleyways Furstinna never knew existed. She guessed they were traveling into the farthest outskirts of Fond. The moon shone unobstructed on a tiny courtyard encircled with waist high flowers.
"Moonflowers? I've never seen so many. Where are we?" Furstinna asked.
"Not much further, this way," said Kvinna.
A dark patch across the courtyard led to another short alleyway. Kvinna turned to the right and the darkness gave way to the feeble light of an opened door. Furstinna couldn't see who was holding the door open as they entered single file. No words were exchanged as the door closed behind them. The one room house was a combination kitchen, living room, sleeping room. From Ganska's description she thought the group would be bigger. There were a total of five people.
They squeezed together so the door could be closed. Furstinna tried to meet Ganska's eyes but Kvinna and the other figures blocked her view as they maneuvered around the small space. A table scraped the floor as it was moved back a few feet. In the floor hiding under the table and a rug was a hatch. Kvinna pulled it open and motioned for them to descend. Ganska took the lead and disappeared from view.
"Be careful. We don't have a light down here," Kvinna said as Furstinna started to descend.
"Anywhere?" Furstinna asked.
"These are the catacombs that run under Fond."
"They've been sealed up for years."
"You'll soon learn the official version from the Stark Harskare government is rarely the truth. In fact, none of them have been sealed up. The catacombs have been in use and very busy for years."
Furstinna landed at the bottom and traveled between Ganska and Kvinna while the other members not yet introduced brought up the rear. They wound through the catacombs until Furstinna had no idea which direction was up. Abruptly a sharp right led to a door. A Manskliga from the back came forward with a key and opened it. Everyone filed into the spacious room with a vaulted ceiling. There were shelves with books and papers and chairs scattered around the room.
Ganska turned to Furstinna and motioned her to sit in a chair. "This is it."
"This is what?"
Everyone lowered their hoods so Furstinna could finally see Kvinna's features. She was beautiful with blue-black hair. A rare color among Manskliga. "You already know me."
A male Manskliga with a long braid of red hair stepped forward. "I'm Befrielse."
The other male with short brown hair stepped forward. "I'm Hem."
"Hello."
"Please excuse us we need to talk in private for a minute," Befrielse said. Furstinna could tell by the tone the conversation was tense but when the four faced her again they appeared calm.
"There's no way we can bring you up to speed by just talking to you. There are some things by Kunskap you can read here but it would take time."
"Get me up to speed on what?"
Ganska sat down on the other side of Furstinna. "I'm afraid the Manskliga have made some dark bargains with the Asistan Ti. Kunskap found the evidence of this plus other issues happening across Varlid."
"Only Kunskap has disappeared. The school is saying he's fallen ill and taken a sudden trip to Trask Galen to recuperate. The son of an Elyun family he was corresponding with died recently," Befrielse explained. "Kvinna were you able to meet with him?"
"I was able to drop off the papers but we didn't have time to discuss them. He had found some business anomalies that mirrored those Kunskap found in Rike. Before he passed he talked about making a trip to Fond," Kvinna said.
"Do you think he was killed?"
"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.
***
Although 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.
***
Kvinna 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."
***
Kvinna 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."
"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.