“Thank you, Leader El’iadrylline,” Jorigul said before turning her eyes to Gevandar. “Leader Gevandar, you have heard the accusations against you. What do you have to say in response?”
“I say my record speaks for itself.” Gevandar turned his eyes to Ellie with a bored, yet smug expression. “I saw a battleship heading for Sonna and I ordered an attack. In war, that is not uncommon, nor is the possibility of civilian casualty. I find it difficult to believe you would be shocked by this, El’iadrylline. I’ve been told your primitive planet is in a perpetual state of war where lives are lost daily. We are in a war. While we are doing our best to bring about peace to the entire system, it is unrealistic to believe it possible to do so without death.”
Ellie bristled and would not have been surprised if steam began to pour from her ears, but schooled her expression. It was obvious his words were meant to goad. However, the reason for his antagonistic behavior was puzzling.
“You claim to have seen an aggressive action, but surveillance of the ship’s locations show that they did not move until after the attack was ordered, and even then, they did not move of their own accord.”
Again, Gevandar looked cocky. “I had the mission brief. I had the exact time the operatives on Du were to bring down the battleships and the coordinates of the landing party. When the ships began to move more than a day early, I did only what needed to be done to keep my people safe.”
This time, Ellie could not hold back. Though she held her tongue, her diodes flared in anger.
“Thank you, Leader Gevandar,” Jorigul said, keeping her tone neutral. “We will now call witnesses before hearing any further arguments.”
Ellie wanted to scream. Gevandar’s statement was a blatant lie. Even if he had neglected to read the emergency briefing from Ka’griannas regarding the instability of the ships’ life support systems, it should have been obvious to everyone present that the attack was premeditated. Clearly, he was angry and feeling sorry for himself, so he struck out in the only way he knew how.
Perhaps he’d even hoped he could eliminate her as well, though in Ellie’s estimation, that would have been a poor move on his part. Most certainly, whoever took control of the Kyroibi after her death would be even less likely to play his games.
“The committee calls first the testimony of former Eidyn Master El’iadryov,” Jorigul announced, much to Ellie’s great confusion. Her father came forward and nodded to the committee members before taking the empty chair that was placed at the table.
“El’iadryov of T’al Eidyn,” she began, addressing him formally. “Historical records indicate that in the universal cycle dated 23127, Emperor Svoryk of Huptsovia sentenced you to death. In the same cycle, you were publically executed by the Eidyssic assassin, Julian, who at the time was under the command of the Emperor.”
“Permission to file a correction, Leader Jorigul,” El’iadryov said with a bow.
“Proceed.”
“Eidyssic assassin Julian was never under the command of Emperor Svoryk. For a brief time, he served the Eidyn known as Andressa, believing her to be the Kyroibi master, but when the Kyroibi was transferred to me, Julian came under my control. His work with the Huptsovian Empire was under my command.”
“Noted,” the Sonnan said with an unreadable expression. “And it was under your command that the assassin followed Svoryk’s orders to kill you?”
“I gave Julian the command to assassinate me in the collus,” El’iadryov corrected.
“El’iadryov’s entire testimony regarding the assassin, his capture, as well as the transference of the Kyroibi to El’iadrylline is on record at the T’al Kyri,” Ka’griannas informed Jorigul. “All citizens of Ghowrn have access to this information if it is truly relevant to the matter at hand.”
Ellie hid her smirk, grateful for Gri’s intervention. For a moment, it seemed as if her father was the one on trial, not Gevandar and she was not pleased about that. Especially since Speaker Jorigul was supposedly opposed to Gevandar’s actions. If that was the type of treatment they would get from allies, she didn’t even want to see what would happen when his supporters took the floor.
“Understood, Leader Ka’griannas,” Jorigul said with a nod. “I am merely laying a foundation for those who may have objections to the former Master’s testimony. Postmortem sentience is a singularly Eidyssic state.”
“Understand, Leader, that my state of existence is singular to me,” El’iadryov again corrected. “What I have done is unorthodox and ill-advised. However, the very purpose for postmortem sentience, as you call it, is to provide testimony in criminal trials. It may be argued that my use of a stone, and the subsequent forfeiture of my ascension, was not expressly in anticipation of this trial, and so may be dismissed as irrelevant, however, I would remind all that the footage captured by the outward opticals on my armor is admissible, whether I live or not.”
“Thank you, Former Master. Footage from the opticals is being reviewed as we speak. We will hear your testimony, as it matters not the reason for your extended life. Please proceed.”
“A planning meeting was held on the evening of the fifth, in the community of Turss Summit. Announcement of the meeting had been restricted to those who would be serving a function to the mission and assembly leaders only, as is protocol for covert operations. Leader Gevandar received the same message as the rest of you. Upon arriving on the surface of Du, it became immediately clear to those of us on the landing team that something was wrong with the Empire’s ships.”
“Can you elaborate?” Jorigul asked.
“Certainly,” El’iadryov nodded. “The guiding arrays, which is what we had planned to use to bring the ships down to the planet’s surface, were unresponsive on both ships, even to emergency override procedure. Being familiar with the build type, Julian noted that this meant all interior ship command would as well be unresponsive. Further testing proved this to be true. The ships were dead weight and the people inside were at risk. As soon as we discovered this, we placed a call to Leader Ka’griannas, but at that time, Leader Gevandar had already called for the strike. I was asked, as was Julian, to remain in our positions upon the guiding arrays as we would be required to manually shift them as the ships would be towed to the surface.”
“And at any time did you see the Imperial ships make a move toward the planet under their own power?”
“I did not.”
“Former Master,” Tevoni said as he stood to address El’iadryov. Ellie noted grimly that he was the Korghetian who seemed to hero-worship Gevandar. “While on the surface of Du, I am to understand that the equipment we use to monitor imperial ships does not work. Is this correct?”
“It is,” El’iadryov said with a nod. “This is why we set up the analog towers for relay communication outside the volatile atmosphere.”
“So you admit, you had no way of knowing for certain that the imperial ships did not make an aggressive maneuver toward the planet Sonna.”
“Other than my own eyes and those of my crew, no,” he said with a pointed look. “However, upon gaining access to the imperial vessel directly, it was immediately clear they’d been programmed for a suicide mission.”
“Leader Jorigul, if I may take the floor?”
The other elected Korghetian stood. Ellie was wary of him as well, but his face was neutral.
“You may, Leader Fresson.”
“The analysis of the armor camera from each Eidyssic has been analyzed. None of these angles show movement from either vessel. It is likely that what Leader Gevandar saw was indeed the rescue ships making reconnaissance flights.”
Ellie watched as the video played, sped up so that the hours flew by in a matter of seconds. Between the speed, flickering, and multiple camera angles playing at once, it was enough to give her vertigo as she watched. When the footage came to an end, blue lights began to appear on the panels in front of most of the leadership delegates. This indicated their acceptance of the footage and evidence. Not surprisi
ngly, the minority who were somehow not convinced were among Gevandar’s supporters.
“The committee has accepted the evidence against your claim, Leader Gevandar, however, a decision has not been made as to Leader El’iadrylline’s claim. You may speak on your behalf and justify your action.”
“I may, or—as it seems the leadership committee has already made up its mind—I could tender my own resignation as head of the Alliance Leadership Committee.”
Gevandar’s commentary stunned the room into silence. “However, I would ask a condition.”
Jorigul nodded her approval for him to continue.
“I would ask that for sparing us all a lengthy trial, I may name my own replacement.”
“Are we now a dynastic Empire as well?” Lyett, the Sonnan refuge delegate asked. “I would think the proper procedure would be to hold an election as has always been our method of securing a leader.”
“Understandable, but as my folly put into danger the life of her daughter and the vessel holding the abstraction of her late husband, I would ask to be succeeded by Lady Isaverlline. For she is the ruler of Korghetia and was a key figure in the restructuring of the Alliance. Had she not been forced into exile by circumstances beyond her control, Lady Isaverlline would already be the Alliance’s leader. It only seems fair.”
Ellie was just as confused as everyone else, but also wary. While Gevandar had a point and did indeed seem to understand that what he did was wrong, she had little trust, not just for the captain, but if she was honest, her mother’s intentions were also suspicious.
“I am certainly willing to have Lady Isaverlline’s name on a ballot,” Lyett conceded. Ellie wasn’t entirely sure, but she thought she had seen a hint of irritation in the man’s expression. Not that she could blame him.
“May I speak?” Ellie asked Jorigul, who nodded. “As we are supposed to be fighting to win back the planets of the former Federation from the Empire, wouldn’t it make sense to govern as the Federation had? No one nation held power over the others. In fact, was it not the rose stick that was used to determine who would preside over the Federation Leadership meetings? I see no reason not to give all delegates equal say.”
“You would deny your mother what is rightfully hers?”
Ellie stiffened and for a moment, real fear peppered her cheeks. Slowly, she turned to face Gevandar, who stared at her with open contempt. It wasn’t his hostility that caught her attention, but something else. Something far more sinister was at play. She knew it. She felt it, and from his expression, Ka’griannas felt it as well, but it was an intangible and unexplainable feeling. She turned instead to her mother.
“Does my suggestion offend you, mom?”
Caught off guard, Isaverlline blinked and colored lightly. “No, El’iadrylline, of course not. I will adhere to whatever decision the committee collectively decides is in the best interest of the Alliance.”
“Then it will come to a vote. Isaverlline, Gevandar, and El’iadrylline will each have their decisive privileges returned.” The green light on Ellie’s panel returned to a soft white glow. “In the interest of economy, let us first decide whether we will accept El’iadrylline’s proposal to adopt the Federation’s Leadership protocol.”
Overwhelmingly, and without hesitation, the lights brightened on the panels in front of a large number of leaders, surprising Ellie as even Gevandar’s loyal allies voted for her suggestion. The handful of holdouts appeared to be Gevandar, Tevoni, and her mother, who hesitated and glanced nervously about the table before casting her vote in favor of Ellie’s plan.
“It has been decided,” Jorigul said as she sent the changes to the main computer that housed the law of the Ghowrn Alliance. Almost instantaneously, the amendments appeared on the screen before her an Ellie read over them briefly before signing her name to acknowledge the changes.
“Satisfied, my lady?”
Gevandar’s tone was light, almost friendly, as was the conciliatory smile he wore, but the overwhelming sense that something was off was undeniable. She threw a quick glance over to Ka’griannas, communicating in short bursts a request before turning back to Gevandar with her best attempt at a relaxed smile.
“I shall be more than satisfied to see peace and equality brought to all.”
A moment later, Jorigul formally dismissed the trial and ended the meeting. Ellie wasted no time leaving the council chamber, pausing only to catch Julian’s eye and relay to him the same message she’d sent Gri moments before: Meeting. Turss Summit. Now.
Chapter 14
As she hopped aboard the train, Ellie was more grateful for the ring Julian gave her than ever before. Despite slipping away as quickly as possible, Gevandar had managed to follow her out of the castle and down to the station, undoubtedly intending to keep an eye on her every move, which is why she headed for Valwyn instead of directly to Turss Summit. Fortunately, she managed to squeeze herself onto the outgoing train just as it sped away from the platform, leaving Gevandar to wait for the next.
Of course, knowing the next was only moments behind, she wasted no time hopping platforms and heading back in the direction of the capital, getting off the train at a small community halfway around the planet from where she needed to be. The small residential town had one well concealed lift to the surface and after making sure she was truly alone, Ellie took off, dampening her pulse signature as she headed west into the Turss Mountains.
A small jolt on her wrist pulled her up short. Gri had sent surface coordinates. Curious, she checked her location and found he wasn’t far, just through the small copse of trees that camouflaged the lift down to the city. She found him sitting at a small round picnic table near the entrance to the Turss Falls recreation site, one of the rare surface areas Korghetians were allowed to visit that was not used for agriculture.
“Ellie, I am sorry to have given you these last minute instructions, but it appears when you lost Gevandar, he decided to follow your father instead. As such, he and Julian are leading the prince on a scenic tour of the Turss market.”
“Thanks for that,” Ellie said, looking up to the trail leading to the falls. In this area of the world, it was early morning. “Won’t we soon be set upon by vacationers?”
“It is just after dawn. The falls will not open for several hours, though we may see an employee or two wander by. I am not too worried about being overheard. I’m far more concerned with Gevandar’s motives at the moment.”
“You aren’t the only one,” she muttered, turning her eyes to the crystalline hills in the distance. As beautiful as the scene was, Ellie had to wonder if the glittering rock wasn’t the same silicate structure that killed her father and grandmother. “You’re aware that my mother was affected by the Kyroibi while pregnant with me, aren’t you?”
“The council has been informed.”
“I thought that once I became the true master, she would no longer be under the influence. For the last few weeks, it seemed so, but now…” She made an expression of wary disgust. “I can’t help but wonder if Gevandar too might be under the influence of the Kyroibi’s draw.”
“The lure of absolute power is difficult to resist,” Gri noted. “Your mother was a strong leader once, and I am confident in her abilities, but she is as human as any of us. I cannot fault her for what was beyond her control. However, in regards to the young prince, well... I will freely admit I was the single voice of dissent at his confirmation hearing. I would hazard to guess his ambitions are not artificially influenced.”
“I’ve heard from several sources that he’s quite paranoid of anyone he sees as a threat. From my own experiences, it’s pretty clear he considers me such a threat. But there is something else…”she trailed off, holding back the physical display of embarrassment, but just barely. “I know this may sound stupid, what with the Kyroibi being knowledge and all, but outside of grounding stones, is there any way for a person or entity to exist, yet remain formless?”
Gri turned, studying Ellie’s face for
a moment before speaking.
“That I am aware of, no. Now, one would think if such insubstantiality was possible, there might be a record of such housed within the Kyroibi.”
“There’s not. I looked,” Ellie said with a frown.
“At least not that you can access,” Gri said with an odd look. “I’ve gathered that in many respects, the Kyroibi is as much intended to keep a great many things hidden as remembered. It may be possible that you are only given access to what you need, when you need it.”
“You know, it’s funny, but Bethany said something similar.”
“She’s rather astute, that one,” Gri said with a smile of pride, almost as if he’d adopted Bethany as his own. For all Ellie knew, he might have. But his expression became again serious. “I would also chance to guess your question was prompted because you too felt something untoward during the trial.”
Shock displayed across Ellie’s face. “So I wasn’t mistaken then. You felt it too?”
“I am not certain of what I sensed, but yes, while Gevandar spoke, a hostility emanated from the man that felt anything but natural. Perhaps you are correct and Gevandar was exposed to the relic. After all, given how little any of us understood what your great grandparents had done, it is not so hard to believe that Andryvessa could have visited the young prince and filled his head with delusions.”
“Yes, but…” Ellie trailed off and Gri gave her a knowing smile.
“But what you felt was not covetous, was it?”
“No.” Ellie shivered. “No, in fact, it seemed the opposite. I know Gevandar wants the army, but I swear, while he spoke, it felt like he wanted nothing more than to see the Kyroibi destroyed and me along with it. I probably sound paranoid,” she added with embarrassment.
“Not in the least,” Gri said as he stood. “I’d rather look over my shoulder unnecessarily than to forge ahead blindly and find that danger has been lurking all along. I do not wish to engage in tactics of a shadow government, but I am not quite ready to bring my suspicions before the other leaders. Not until I am sure I know what we are dealing with.”
The Princess Rebellion (The Kyroibi Trilogy Book 2) Page 12
