The 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."
Hem stretched his legs toward the fire. "That sounds like Ganska. I've tried to treat this trip as an adventure. Tried to look at everything that happens from one moment to the next as a twist in one big adventure. That's something Ganska told me once."
Furstinna stretched out in the sand and used the crook of her arm as a pillow. She'd heard Ganska say those words too but she wasn't ready to admit it yet. She listened as Hem and Kvinna talked excitedly about what lay beyond the portal. In the morning they made the trip back to Free Port Sanddyner. The weeks of trudging through the sand were forgotten as Hem explained to Befrielse in hushed tones where the portal was hidden.
"We need to leave as soon as we can. I think a Manskliga is following me around Free Port," Befrielse said.
"Should we split up?" Hem asked.
"No, lets stay out of Free Port and leave before the first light. Give away everything except our water and weapons. We'll travel light and fast."
Before the first rays of the sun touched the white sand, Befrielse moved the group at a quick pace. "We have to make the portal as soon as possible. Kvinna keep watch to see if we're being followed."
They reached the edge of the beach where the mangroves took over. "There are fish," Hem warned drawing his sword. "Stick to the light as far as you can then climb the roots. Furstinna, and Kvinna know what to do."
The group collapsed at the entrance to the cave, their breathing ragged gasps for air. Befrielse urged them to get up. "One more push and we'll be safely on the other side, in Refuge."
The blue-white swirling funnel of mist was exactly as Hem's group had found it. Furstinna swiped her arm through the mist without altering it. All eyes were on Befrielse as he bent down over his pack and pulled out three objects: an Elyun shaped skull white with age, a small animal's tail and brown cloth with a large, purple stain.
Furstinna gasped and sought Kvinna's hand. "That's a Jakel worshiper's robe."
Kvinna squeezed Furstinna's hand but remained silent.
Befrielse laid the objects at the base of the funnel. Nothing happened. Befrielse straightened and stepped back. The funnel continued to swirl for several seconds then winked out plunging the group into darkness. A heartbeat later a pinpoint of light above the objects grew into a large oval of sparkling white like sunlight reflected in a mirror.
Furstinna squinted to try and see what was happening. A dark shape, Befrielse, stepped forward and vanished. "Lets go!" Hem cried. Kvinna stood to one side and motioned Furstinna and Ganska to enter the portal. After they disappeared, Kvinna wrapped a piece of paper with details on how to open the portal around the Skal she'd used to stay in contact with the Dold. She laid it carefully on the ground surrounded by three rocks then disappeared into Refuge.