“I would have to agree,” Ellie said, turning her head to hide the sudden guilt. Shadow operations didn’t begin to describe all of the secrets she was keeping. Telling Gri about Meioak and her brother would have lifted a large burden from her shoulders, but her gut told her to remain quiet. After all, secrets ceased to be secrets when too many people were allowed in on them. “So what then should we do?” she asked, hoping whatever plan Gri had did not conflict with her own plans to better her piloting skills.
“We keep our eyes and ears open,” Gri said, looking up to the clear sky above. “An attack on Korghetia would prove fruitless, unless there was a concentrated effort to destroy our agrarian cities. Then, I suppose we would be fruitless,” he added with amusement. Ellie groaned, but laughed despite herself. “T’al Eidyn is also an unlikely target. Sonna and the inhabited moon of Cald are likely to be the Empire’s continued targets.”
“I can understand why Korghetia might be difficult, what with everything of interest underground, but wouldn’t T’al Eidyn be the obvious target for the Empire?” Given that the Eidyn were responsible for nearly all of the technological advances that allowed Huptsov to rise to power in the first place, it seemed the most logical planet to attack.
Gri cracked a proud smile. “I’m sure the Huptsovian Empire would love nothing more than to take command of the people who inadvertently allowed its existence, however, even with a taste of our technology, an attack on T’al Eidyn would prove detrimental. We did not stay hidden from our nearest space-faring neighbors for so long accidentally.”
“So Sonna is the battleground, then. It seems incredibly risky then to keep our refugee camps on the planet most likely to be attacked.”
“It is a risk, yes,” Gri agreed. “But it is where we have the means of housing large populations. Korghetia is limited to the existing cities and T’al Eidyn requires a number of genetic modifications for those without Eidyssic heritage. Your friend Bethany freely submitted, but many, especially those who had previously lived under the paranoid regime of Emperor Svoryk, have reservations.”
The population of the entire Ghowrn system was roughly five billion, just a little over half the population of Earth. Given that the planets were roughly the same size and mass, hearing Gri talk about lack of space for refugees was baffling, even if she did understand the difference between the so-called enlightened system and the primitive Earth.
Ghowrn people did not push the boundaries of inhabitable land. They didn’t cut down essential forests for grazing livestock. They didn’t irrigate the desert for the sake of golf courses and expensive housing development. And they didn’t build towering skyscrapers in an attempt to pack nearly ten million people onto a tiny island of humanity. It was what Earthlings would have seen as an impossible utopia, but in Ellie’s opinion, it was also their hindrance.
“Have we tried to take back territory?” Ellie asked. “I mean, since regaining Sonna, that is. It seems to me, every event I’ve heard of has been defensive on our part.”
“We have the majority of our armed forces engaged in trying to discover a weakness that would bring Helsyn under Alliance rule.”
“Going after the most difficult first,” Ellie muttered. Helsyn was the nearest planet to Huptsov. The two orbited Ghowrn Major in a tandem rotation that created a single atmosphere around both planets. Historically, Helsyn and Huptsov were often allies when it came to challenging Federation regulations.
“The most crippling, I believe is the justification,” Gri replied with a voice so carefully neutral, Ellie didn’t have to ask his opinion of the decision. Helsyn was an industrialized planet and responsible for manufacturing most weapons and war machines for the Empire. To have control of such a planet, especially given its proximity to the head of the beast, would be nearly a victory in itself, but it did seem an almost impossible feat. From what she knew, the Helsynnic felt themselves included in the Huptsovian beliefs of superiority.
“Can we at least rely on our local military to listen if we give orders to capture rather than kill?”
“An informed plan of action is currently being drafted for our next leadership meeting. In fact, I am to meet with our Sonnan refuge and elected delegates to finalize a proposal, so I must take my leave if I hope to be well rested beforehand.”
“Yeah, I should probably go back to Valwyn before I forget that it’s not actually early morning for me,” Ellie agreed, shading her eyes from the light reflecting off the crystal hills. “And here I thought jetlag was bad enough on Earth. Do you ever get used to this?”
“I would say you eventually learn to trust your own body’s intuition over sensory stimuli, but time and space are difficult to conquer, even in our minds.”
“Well, that’s reassuring,” Ellie quipped, stifling a yawn now that she’d been reminded her day was well past over. “I’ll leave you to rest, but thank you, Gri. I feel better knowing I’m not alone in my suspicions.”
“You are welcome, Ellie.”
Gri headed for the lift down to the village, where his room awaited. Ellie turned in the opposite direction, switching on her pulse signature suppression ring before pulsing back to Valwyn. The rolling hills were bathed in the last light of dusk, as this part of the world was just beginning night. She stopped on a hill and watched the shepherds’ lights twinkling as they rounded up the stragglers of their herd before sending off a quick message to Julian.
Lose the blowhard and meet me at home.
Within moments, she was settled on the sofa in their shared apartment, sipping a minty drink similar to calming herbal tea, watching the market lights come on for the evening, awaiting Julian’s return.
“Your father asked me to inform you that calling him a blowhard was a bit rude,” Julian said with a completely straight face as he entered the small apartment.
“So dad jokes are a universal constant,” she said with an exaggerated groan as she got up, setting her tea aside. “Honestly though, did Gevandar give you any trouble?”
“He didn’t approach us, if that’s what you mean. I think he actually believed himself to be incognito.” At that Ellie rolled her eyes, but Julian went on. “He grew bored and returned to the capital. I followed as far as his personal quarters, so I am certain he didn’t make an attempt to find you again.”
“That’s good at least,” she said with a shudder. “I may need to ask you to keep an eye on him.”
“Already done. Your father and the rangers had a conversation earlier and after the trial, it seems many were not convinced the prince stepped down out of contrition.”
“Well, yeah, that was obvious,” Ellie muttered, rolling her eyes. “But I have something else I need to ask,” she added, lowering her head as discomfort overtook her.
“Oh?”
“I’ve asked Mikk to give me flying lessons. I want to be prepared in the event that we have another misstep.”
“That seems wise,” Julian said with a nod. “The pilot’s skills are certainly unquestionable.”
Ellie felt even weirder keeping Mikk’s secret from Julian than Gri, but she remained close-lipped. Until the Fhasmyrric princess gave the go ahead, she would keep mute.
“Yeah well, I’d like to keep that a secret too, if possible. And I need you to keep your eyes open in the capital.”
“Again, wise, but I sense you’re being evasive.”
Ellie sighed. “I’m not sure I understand my mother’s motives. It seemed to me that she declined to vote because she didn’t want to have to explain why she sided against me.”
“Do you expect she is working with Gevandar?” Doubt was clear in Julian’s voice. Ellie looked up to see a quizzical expression. “I know your mother has certain loyalties to tradition, but Gevandar’s actions were inexcusable and Isaverlline expressed as much.”
“Call it my gut feeling, but there was something very off about her behavior. I think she might again be acting on the Kyroibi’s lure.”
“Very well. I’ll go now, if you’d
like.”
“No, not so soon after the meeting. It will look suspicious.”
“I would argue that now would be the best time, before those with secrets have a chance to hide them well,” Julian countered, but Ellie cut him off, shaking her head as she took up his hand.
“If you don’t mind, I’d rather you stay.”
Her tone caught him off guard. This wasn’t a playful request, nor was it guided by emotional needs. Though she turned toward the window, obscuring the lights on her face, there was an unsteady warble to her voice that seemed to suggest she was scared.
“Of course,” Julian said quietly. “But I don’t understand. Why the sudden shift in your mood?”
Ellie looked up briefly, eyes hidden by her lashes as the diodes on her cheeks flushed with the dark light of embarrassment.
“It’s stupid. Even more stupid because pulse means that technically I can go anywhere, but I don’t like to be alone. Like, truly alone and if you left for the capital, I wouldn’t know anyone in Valwyn and… I told you it was stupid.”
“That’s not stupid at all,” Julian assured, putting a hand to her cheek. “But I thought you preferred to live alone. Isn’t that why you refused your mother’s offer in New York?”
“No, that was stubbornness,” Ellie admitted with a snort. “I mean, I thought I did, but I had Bethany right next door. Things might have been different if I was truly on my own, but…” She trailed off, berating herself for babbling. She felt completely foolish for admitting what she knew was an irrational weakness.
“Ellie? It’s nothing to be ashamed of. Earth, New York especially, is a very crowded place. I can certainly understand if the vast expanse of Korghetia seems wide open and lonely by comparison.”
“It was space, actually,” she said in a tiny, choked voice. “The trip to Ia’na Eidyn was terrifying once it dawned on me how completely alone I was. I guess I’ve been jumpy ever since.”
Julian said nothing. Instead, he led Ellie from the window to the bedroom, settling himself next to her, allowing his own feelings of love and togetherness to silently communicate across their shared bond. It didn’t take long for the events of the day to catch up with her and soon Ellie was sound asleep. He stayed with her most the night, transmitting calming influence at every slight stir, despite his own mind being in a state of turmoil.
At last, knowing that dawn would soon break, Julian slipped from the room, leaving a more rested Ellie to steal the last moments of sleep before the light of the atrium made it impossible. She may not yet have been ready to accept that what she called a gut feeling was far more than the vague sense of unease humans felt, but he could not ignore the growing sense that he knew what it truly was.
A warning.
Chapter 15
Ellie watched the flurry of activity at the Korghetian transit terminal. From her vantage point, up in a tree on a high hill near the coast of the developed transit island, everyone looked like tiny ants crawling about. She’d left the apartment early, mostly because she needed a moment of fresh air to clear her mind before embarking on what was likely going to be a lifesaving lesson. After all, she wasn’t learning to fly as a hobby. They were headed into war.
A rustling in the brush below brought Ellie out of her thoughts and she looked down, surprised to see Mikk’s luk sniffing around the tree and whining up at her. At least she hoped it was Mikk’s.
“You gonna let me get down, boy?” Ellie asked, eyeing the long, tusk-like fangs with some hesitance. But instead of snarling or snapping at her, the lumpy little creature circled the tall grass a few times, made a labored grunt, and dropped heavily to the ground.
“You’ve made a new friend. I should be jealous.”
Mikk pushed her way into the clearing, shielding her eyes from the bright sun. “As soon as I let him out, he took off. It is lucky for me luks can’t mask their pulse trails.”
“Wait, he can pulse?” Ellie’s jaw nearly hit the ground just as her feet did.
“When he’s inclined, but Pouns is rather lazy,” Mikk said with an amused shrug. “So, shall we get started?” she asked with a glance at the transit terminal in the distance.
“Um, yeah, okay,” Ellie said, still distracted by the idea that an animal could pulse. Not only pulse, but apparently control where it was going and one had just tracked her across the planet.
“The only danger a luk traveling by pulse flash poses would be if it wasn’t paying attention and ran into you, but domesticated luks rarely have reason to pulse. Now, if some of the larger predators were to figure it out, we’d all be in trouble.”
“I didn’t think we had a lot of predators here. Outside the polar regions, that is.” Ellie noted, taking an unconscious step towards the tree.
“On Korghetia? No. But Fhasmyr is another story,” Mikk replied with a wink before turning her attention to the luk, who had ambled off to nap under a flowering bush. “Pouns,” she called out with a sharp whistle, patting her right shoulder with her left hand. “C’mon now, Pouns. Up!”
To Ellie’s complete astonishment, Pouns got up and stretched like a lazy house cat before springing at Mikk with reflexes that were also rather cat-like. For a split second, Ellie feared the girl was about to be mauled, but then, just as impossibly, Pouns twisted his body and it almost looked like he was collapsing in on himself. The creature that landed on Mikk’s shoulder looked exactly like the luk that had been on the ground, but was now about one eighth the size.
“Okay, that’s some Alice in Wonderland level weirdness,” Ellie muttered, unable to take her eyes off the cat-sized Pouns.
“Except Pouns requires no food or drink to change his size. Come, let’s fly.”
Mikk took off down the hill, leaving an astonished and confused Ellie behind. It was so strange that Mikk knew so much of Earth, but there was so much Ellie still didn’t know about the world in which she now lived. Perhaps one day she would find out all there was to know about the strange and secretive princess, but at that moment, she had a flying lesson to concentrate on.
The transit terminal was as busy as ever, with people coming and going in all directions and in various stages of rushed agitation. Considering that a single spaceport handled all traffic coming to and from the planet, it wasn’t so hard to understand why it would be a constant hub of activity.
“This way,” Mikk said with a wink, leading Ellie toward the ticket kiosks in the public transit terminal.
“I thought all the personal transport vessels were in the private terminal.”
“They are, but we are going to Cald.”
Cald was Sonna’s only inhabitable moon. There were three in total, but the third, Porl, was as volatile as Du. That Cald had vegetation and an atmosphere that could sustain life was a fact Ellie found interesting as she’d always thought of moons as nothing more than small rocks that orbited planets.
Why Mikk was taking them there instead of using any of the hundreds of vessels at their disposal, Ellie didn’t know, but she didn’t argue or protest the chance to get off Korghetia for a while.
“Don’t worry,” Mikk said as she purchased tickets from a bright green kiosk emblazoned with the words “Korghetian Spaceways.” “My credits are all registered with the Agri-corp family who is sponsoring my stay on Korghetia, so we should not be bothered by anyone who might come looking.”
“That’s good to know,” Ellie said, swallowing back her nervousness as she took the offered ticket. In truth, she hadn’t even considered that they could be tracked through credit transfer, even though she was well aware that credit transactions on Earth left an easy to trace trail. Again, she found herself worrying that she was in over her head.
The transport shuttle was a curious vessel, shaped much like her own ship, but smaller and elongated. Inside was exactly like an Earth airplane, except windowless and each seat had abundantly more leg room than even most first class flights. Within what felt like mere minutes, the pilot announced their approach to the landing termina
l on the Sonnan moon.
Cald itself was another curiosity. Despite being habitable, it was still small, just a fraction of the size of the planet it orbited. Much like Earth’s moon, this meant gravity was also much lower. Because of this, large domes covered much of the inhabited areas, where artificial gravity was sustained with rotating mechanisms below the surface. But as they walked through one such enclosed hallway, Ellie could see people bouncing by just beyond the glass.
“We won’t need to go outside, but if you get the chance, the jump park is a lot of fun,” Mikk said as she guided Ellie onto a moving platform just like the people movers she’d seen in airports on Earth.
“What’s a jump park?”
“Outdoor recreational facilities where one can take advantage of Cald’s low gravitational field. I’ve been told it is not possible to jump clear out into space, but it sure feels like it.”
“Sounds fun,” Ellie lied, suppressing a shudder at the thought of hurling herself into open space.
A sudden darkness overtook them as the glass walls gave way to a long metal hallway. They stepped off the end of the people mover and Mikk led the way into another corridor, though this one was much shorter, ending with a small waiting room that was drab in comparison to the commercial terminal they’d just left. Behind the counter, a man with bronzed skin, pale yellow hair, and eyes that almost shone iridescent orange sat slumped over the small screen of a personal tablet. He straightened abruptly as the door chime announced their arrival, plastering on a smile as he looked up.
But just as quickly, his smile vanished, replaced by a guarded wariness as his glance bounced from Ellie to Mikk, questioning the latter with his prominent eyebrows.
“Give me a moment,” Mikk murmured as she stepped forward and began a hushed conversation with the man. Though Ellie couldn’t hear much of it, what she did catch, along with the man’s frequent glances in her direction, told her he had little trust for her.
The Princess Rebellion (The Kyroibi Trilogy Book 2) Page 13
