“I would argue that as a parent, biological or otherwise, your say should be heard, despite whatever traditions hold,” Julian countered, playing to Richard’s Earth-based mindset. “Remember, El’iadrylline is only half Korghetian. Eidyn holds no such traditions.”
“I just get the feeling many don’t see her as a person, but a means to end the war.”
“If it were that simple,” Julian scoffed. “El’iadrylline feels the Limitless Battalion to be an overpowered solution that will only bring about a temporary peace.”
“I’m inclined to agree,” Richard muttered, taking a look around the crowded café. “Primitive or advanced, human or pan-galactic, we are all flawed in our ideals. No matter how selfless and altruistic we believe ourselves to be, there will always be dissent. There will always be war. And there will always be those who believe their every action is for the greater good, no matter the consequence.”
“I believe you speak the truth,” Julian said with a faraway look. “Even though I was created with the intention of ensuring one side’s greater good prevails.”
“Why do I detect a note of ominous finality in your voice?”
“Because like you, I believe the only way to stop war and conflict is to eliminate the source of war and conflict.”
“That may be a little more ominous than I was expecting,” Richard quipped.
“I’d like to think if cooler heads prevail, we will not get to that point,” Julian said as he stood. “For the time being, I’ve got some digging to do. You’ll tell me if you see or hear anything suspicious?”
“I certainly will,” Richard said, eyes narrowed at something in the distance. “I don’t know about you, but that certainly looks suspicious to me.”
Julian followed his gaze down the avenue to where Isaverlline stood speaking to a cloaked figure. Despite the disguise, the prince was easy to identify.
“I’d guess what we are witnessing is a prospective mother in law placating a damaged ego, but I believe there is an earthly saying about a road paved with good intentions.”
“I do hope you’re right,” Richard said as he too got up to leave. “But I’m more than familiar with that particular expression.”
Unfortunately, luck was not on Julian’s side. The large group of reporters who had been speaking in secret also decided to get up and leave at the same time, effectively blocking the only path that was not out in the open. Worse, as they ambled toward the media entrance, they spoke only of banal subjects, leaving him in the dark as to what had been so important that they used a sound shield. By the time he reached the side courtyard, the clandestine meeting was over, but Gevandar’s parting words had been clear. Chilling, but clear.
“It will be taken care of.”
Julian hid himself behind a flowering trellis and observed the Korghetian queen, who stayed behind, casually watching the river of lava flow past the castle, as if she’d just stepped outside for a morning stroll. After a moment she moved on to check on a cluster of root vegetables in the kitchen gardens. With one final sweep of the garden, in which she covertly checked to see if she was being watched, Isaverlline slipped into a little known back entrance, well hidden behind a stand of prickly down trees.
Julian followed at a distance, keeping to the shadows as Isaverlline continued to look over her shoulder. That she expected to be followed told him all he needed to know. For a long moment, he considered changing course and going after Gevandar. After all, if the prince’s words were to be taken at face value, his intention seemed to be a threat to Ellie’s safety and Julian’s first instinct was to protect her. But Gevandar was easily dealt with. Isaverlline’s intentions, however, were paramount at the moment.
When she at last reached the corridor to the private quarters of the royal family, Isaverlline again glanced over her shoulder, clearly making sure she was not watched. Julian slipped away, changing his appearance to again look like himself as to enter the castle through the main gate. Inside, he made his way to yet another hidden stairway that took him to the private quarters, reaching the Royal suite just as Isaverlline was steps away.
“Dealing in shadows again, Isaverlline?”
Julian took private satisfaction in seeing the involuntary jolt of surprise that the queen could not suppress.
“That’s a rather hypocritical question for one who is clearly sneaking around,” she replied, hardly missing a beat as she opened the door and stepped aside. “I may as well invite you in as I am certain you’ll not leave even if I ask.”
“A fair assessment.” Julian stepped into the suite. Though he did not believe Isaverlline to be the type to intentionally lay a trap, he remained on guard. If his suspicions proved to be true, there was no saying what the Korghetian queen was capable of doing. “I take it I was wrong?”
“Wrong?” Isa parroted, setting the lock before settling herself on a plush chair and affecting a casual pose that might have been convincing if her eyes did not betray her agitation.
“The allure of the Kyroibi did not dissipate fully when El’iadrylline took her rightful place as the true master.”
“I thought it had,” Isa murmured, unable to meet his eye. “Lately, however, it has become apparent that something…” She trailed off with a confused expression. “I can’t say for certain if what I am experiencing is the draw,” she said at last.
“What do you mean?” Julian asked, genuinely surprised at her willingness to speak openly to him.
“When I carried the residual power of the Kyroibi, it was not just a draw to power that compelled me,” she explained. “I actually felt powerful. I had a confidence in my ability to make decisions that I must confess, was new to me. I actually… Well, this is going to sound incredibly naïve of me, but for a time, I felt I could return here, to my people, and save the Alliance from Svoryk myself.”
To Julian, this was surprising, yet heartening. Though he’d seen little himself to suggest Isaverlline was anything other than easily lured by the draw of power, he had heard much of her benevolence and fierce loyalty to the restoration of the Federation. That even under the influence of the Kyroibi, her thoughts were for her people gave him a measure of hope.
“And now?” he asked.
“Now I feel…”Isaverlline scrunched up her nose, as if remembering something unpleasant. “I feel less like I’m being drawn and more as though I am being coerced. I don’t like it, but I don’t know what if anything I can do about it.”
“Have you told anyone?”
“No,” she replied just a little too quickly, averting her eyes. “If I am to remain in my leadership position, I can’t say anything. I can’t allow the fate of my people to be decided by outsiders.”
“And the fate of your daughter?”
“Remains my first concern,” Isa replied sharply.
“I will not pretend I did not just see you speaking with Prince Gevandar. Your husband says you believe El’iadrylline intentionally sabotaged Gevandar’s position as head of leadership in an attempt to get out of the arrangement you’ve brokered. Forgive me if I feel the evidence does not support your statement.”
Isa’s temper flared briefly, but she schooled her emotions.
“I know how my daughter feels about you, Julian, and I have done nothing to discourage her despite my own feelings on the subject. But I will kindly ask you to stay out of the affairs of the Korghetian royal family.”
“Your affairs are your own, my lady,” Julian replied with a slight bite. “But El’iadrylline is more than a simple princess, as you are well aware. I can no more ignore my master than I can—”
Julian cut off, nearly dropping to his knees as a feeling, quite similar to a knife slicing into his heart, overtook him.
“Ellie.”
Her name was no more than a whispered breath. Without knowing what had triggered it, he knew immediately that what he wished would never come to pass had happened. There was nothing he could do to stop the forward chain of events. He had to get to Ellie.
“Julian,” Isa’s voice was suddenly rigid with concern. “What is it? What’s happened to El’iadrylline?”
“I’m sorry,” was all he was able to get out before the compulsion overtook him and he pulsed away from a standstill, automatically locking in on the coordinates of his master.
Chapter 18
“This can’t be good.” Ellie’s voice was a low, shaky whisper as she stared into the small hand mirror. Her eyes, normally a deep charcoal, were a reflective and liquid black, ringed by a thin band of silver. Unlike the golden rings that swirled hypnotically around Julian’s eyes, the silver ring remained stationary, but emitted a glow so intense that Ellie was surprised it wasn’t obscuring her vision.
In fact, as she looked up and focused on a doorway in the distance, it seemed as if the changes enhanced her vision. Small details, such as a minute scratch in the wall panel across the terminal, were as clear as they would be if she was standing before them. But unlike the armor, Ellie felt no sudden instinct as to how she could shut off and hide her newest modification. Rather, her gut told her this change was significant, out of her control, and only a small part of something larger.
She closed the mirror and absently handed it to Mikk, suddenly aware that the terminal had come alive with activity. What had been a nearly empty area was now teeming with activity. It seemed as if every Eidyssic in the nearby vicinity knew that something had changed. While no one approached her directly, it seemed all of the new arrivals watched her with a cautious reverence.
Everyone, that is, except for the muscular human who pushed her way past the tall, willowy people of Eidyn.
“Okay, Princess Crazy Eyes, what the heck did you just do? Five minutes ago Reg and I were down the hall, scanning for imperial ships, and next thing I know, every single blue head in the command center turns in the same direction at the same time before getting up and heading over here. Seriously, it was like something straight out of a freaky mind control zombie horror flick. Do you have any idea how close I came to peeing myself?”
“I… I’m sorry,” Ellie sputtered, feeling a bit more grounded thanks to Bethany being Bethany, but suddenly more unnerved as she looked around at all of the Eidyssic eyes upon her. It was rather unnerving. Even the Blue Crew looked out of it. “I’m not sure what happened. Gevandar was here and he attacked me. Next thing I know, everyone is freaking out and I’ve got super-powered vision.”
“Well, you ain’t blue, so I’m guessing you didn’t go full on Incredible Eidyssic Hulk,” Bethany noted. “Those eyes are pretty bad ass, even if they turned your people into zombies, but I’m not gonna lie. You had me pretty freaked out.”
“Yeah, well, it would be helpful if I knew exactly why—” she cut off with a start as the door slid open and yet another Eidyn made his way into the terminal. This one, however, did not stop at a distance to gaze upon Ellie in reverence, but instead, strode with purpose through the crowd until he was standing directly in front of her. Eyes ringed with gold met and held her newly silver-ringed gaze.
Everything else, everyone else, fell away as she zeroed in on Julian. He too had changed, though in a much more subtle way that Ellie was sure only she noticed. It seemed he stood taller, more alert, like a tightly wound spring, ready to unleash an immeasurable force upon the worlds. And in that moment, she realized, that was exactly what he was made to do.
“No…”
The word was a cracked whisper as the floodgate in her mind again opened, revealing far too much that she never wanted to know.
“No, please, no… there’s got to be another way,” she muttered as Julian’s stare seemed to bore right through her. “There’s got to be another way.”
“Master.”
One word, spoken more in her head than aloud, as Julian fell to one knee before her, shattered her world.
“Julian, no,” Ellie said with as much force as she could muster, dropping to her knees and grabbing him by the shoulders. “Tell me how to stop this.”
His eyes raised, just enough to meet hers, and Ellie could see, through the stoic outward appearance, that Julian was suffering the same anguish and heartbreak as she.
“The battalion has been awakened, master. A threat has been made. One we cannot afford to ignore.”
“Gevandar? But he’s nothing.”
“He tried to kill you, master. His intentions were strong enough to awaken the most powerful army in the known universe. I am yours to command. My battalion prepares to do your bidding.”
“Julian, stop this. Stop calling me master.” Ellie searched Julian’s eyes for something. Some sign of the autonomous being she knew.
“Master, please,” Julian’s voice held a hint of urgency. “Your people expect strength and leadership from the one who will lead the battalion against those who would seek to harm and oppress.”
“Yes, of course,” she replied in a voice that held far more authority than she felt as relief washed over her. Though affected, certainly, Julian was still in control of his own mind and he was correct. The people of Eidyn had certain expectations, especially as it seemed there was some sort of psychic link that allowed the entire population to know that something had happened. “We must speak of our next move,” she said as she stood, affecting an air of confidence. Adding as she scanned the now crowded terminal, “In private.”
“I believe that can be arranged.”
Ellie turned to see Pendren, who was slightly out of breath and wore an expression of discomfort.
“I’m sorry, Eidyn Master,” he said quietly. “Prince Gevandar made it out past the pulse shield. I suspect he also employed an energy suppressor as he left no trail.”
“Thank you for trying.” Ellie smiled sympathetically, disappointed that the prince evaded capture, but not particularly surprised, given that he’d shown his hand.
“We will find him,” Pendren assured and gestured for Ellie and the others to follow as he made his way into a small, well-appointed room that was not dissimilar to the VIP lounges for frequent flyers on Earth airlines. “We’ll stand guard,” he added, indicating Mikk and Bethany, with a pointed look at Bethany, who had tried to follow.
As the door slid shut, Ellie turned to Julian.
“Say something to reassure me that you aren’t some kind of a robot.”
“I shouldn’t be able to, yet, I shouldn’t be able to do this either,” he replied, stepping close and taking her into his arms. “That I am torn up inside is a weakness, one I should not know, yet I find myself caring little for decorum. I will die for you, El’iadrylline, but know that I do so out of love and not blind loyalty.”
As he held her gaze, Ellie’s heart fluttered and squeezed too tight in her chest. For the briefest of moments, the world fell away and they stood in an impossible fairy tale. But all too soon, the meaning of his words came crashing down. The fairy tale evaporated, leaving the cold chill of a reality she could not face.
“Uh, you know what? No one is dying, Julian. Not for me, not for anything. Tell me what we need to do to stop this.”
“We cannot stop fate, El’iadrylline. What has transpired has awoken our destiny. You and I were created to bring peace to the galaxy. And peace we shall bring.”
“Okay, I am trying not to freak out here, but Julian, I don’t understand. What changed?”
“As the Kyroibi, you perceived a threat to peace and stability in the galaxy.”
“But that’s just it! I think this proves that the prince cares more about rising to power than he does the welfare of the Alliance, but—”
“He meant to kill you,” Julian cut in. “His intentions were clear enough that the Kyroibi saw him as something much more than the minor threat you still believe him to be.”
“Okay, so what happens now?” she asked.
“The battalion has awakened and awaits the order to eradicate all threat to peace in our time.”
“You mean we are sending a literal army after Prince Gevandar?”
“The p
rince was merely the catalyst, Ellie. The battalion will not rest again until the war is over.”
“And that means…”
“I am yours to command, El’iadrylline,” he said quietly. There was something under the surface. Something Julian was trying desperately to hide. “I am now called upon to prove this to be true.”
“Julian—” she began, but he silenced her with his lips.
“This is beyond you and me now. As we speak the battalion awakens. They will need the guidance of their leader. I will need to go to Ia’na Eidyn.”
“Then I’m going with you,” Ellie growled.
“No, my love. You must go to T’al Eidyn. The temple keeper awaits your visit and I’m sure there is much to discuss. We have a daunting task, you and I.”
“But that’s just it, Julian. I don’t want this. I don’t want to wage an all-out war. I still believe we can take down the Huptsovian Empire without killing half the galaxy in the process.”
“And you will. I promise you, Ellie, I will do everything in my power to ensure we restore harmony in a peaceful way. But this is where our paths must part.”
“You say that as if you think we’ll never see each other again.”
Julian said nothing. He instead leaned in close, brushing the faintest whisper of a kiss to her forehead as he embraced her tight.
“You are loved, El’iadrylline,” he said, pulling away at last. “Never forget that.”
“No, this is too much like goodbye,” she said, pulling away and blinking back tears. “Not yet, Julian. I don’t care how you do it, but whatever urge you have to go back to the home world, suppress it. That’s an order. There is another way.”
Julian held her gaze for a long moment, as if trying to read her innermost thoughts.
“I can delay my return,” he said at last, “but I cannot simply ignore what has begun.”
“That’s all I wanted to hear,” Ellie said, breathing a sigh of relief as she went to inform the others of her intentions. “We need to get to the capital,” she said, gesturing to the ever-growing crowd that continued to stream into the terminal. “Preferably without an entourage.”
The Princess Rebellion (The Kyroibi Trilogy Book 2) Page 16
