Bethany jumped out next, testing the controls by following the path Mikk had taken, circling back to the ship with a smile. “It’s not all that different from riding a bike, except, you know, over water.”
“I’ve never ridden a bike,” Ellie confessed as she stepped gingerly onto the vehicle.
“We’re only going through that pass,” Gil explained, pointing to a stand of tall grass that did not look anything like a pass to Ellie.
“Right,” Ellie said, trying not to notice that their transports did nothing to protect them from the elements as she followed closely behind Bethany, who followed Mikk and Gil. But as soon as they entered the tall grass, she had a moment of panic as the others disappeared completely from view. At least there was a small windshield at the front. If she kept her head low, it blocked the golden blades from hitting her in the face. She didn’t know for sure if the plant life in that particular area was dangerous, but she wasn’t going to take anything for granted.
As the grass grew thicker, so did Ellie’s unease. A small display screen between the handlebars at least showed her that the vehicles were all preprogrammed to follow the path Gil had set. Tiny dots showed their location. Despite the fact that Bethany was only feet away, Ellie could neither see nor hear her friend, which was unnerving because there was no way Bethany was keeping silent for even a moment.
At last a larger blip appeared on the display and she relaxed, realizing the ship was coming into view, except, something was wrong. She watched with horrified fascination as the larger blip sliced between Mikk and Gil and headed right for Bethany. Seconds later, she heard a scream overhead and looked up to see the top of her friend’s head crest the grass barrier.
She had no time to ask what was happening before a sound not unlike the trumpeting of an elephant threatened to burst her ears. The blip she’d been following was no ship, Ellie realized as she found herself staring into the open mouth of the largest sea serpent she’d ever seen.
Chapter 24
Without sparing a moment to think about what she was doing, Ellie threw up her arms in a defensive posture, sprouting armor from head to toe. Even so, as the serpent reared back and let out another bellowing roar, she felt rather than heard the vocal attack as the soundwaves met the already churning water, threatening to knock her off her skimmer. Her mind raced with panicked thoughts. The armor had stopped a laser bolt, but would it do any good against six inch fangs?
A wave sent the skimmer off course and Ellie held on as she was rolled beneath the vessel and found herself tangled in the undergrowth. Panic threatened to overtake her as the massive body of the serpent lifted her clear of the vines, but brought her within inches of its gaping jaws.
Time seemed to slow down as the creature lunged. Ellie ducked to the side just in time to avoid the crushing jaws of the serpent. Again she was tossed into the water as the creature sank below the surface, but this time instead of panicking, she wasted no time righting the skimmer as she fumbled for the controls. Already the creature was thrashing about.
But just as it resurfaced, the air crackled with electrical energy. The serpent gave one last ear-splitting bellow before it stiffened and sank like dead weight into the lagoon. Ellie turned, hearing the metallic whir of a pneumatic weapon powering down and gasped as she came face to face with the last person she ever wanted to see.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, lifting her weapon automatically.
“Saving you, it seems,” Gevandar replied with an arrogant shrug as he slung his gun—the same one he’d used to fire on her just days before—across his back. “But do waste time berating me instead of catching up to the rest of your party before the yuddik awakens.”
Ellie glanced at the calming surface of the water before turning her angry glare on Gevandar.
“Pardon my lack of gratitude, but as you can see, I’m well equipped to save myself.” She held one armored fist up to his face. “Are you happy now? You’re finally getting what you wanted, Gevandar. The battalion is awake, war is inevitable.”
Gevandar’s expression fell quickly from arrogance to worry. “So it is true.”
“This is your doing,” Ellie hissed. “The Kyroibi has identified a threat to peace in the galaxy and awakened the means to destroy it. You tried to kill me. The threat is you.”
“No, that isn’t true.”
“Are you really that full of yourself? Gevandar, look at me. I didn’t do this to myself. You have been marked as the greatest threat to civilization. I don’t want a war and I don’t want your death on my hands, so you’d better start talking and you better have more to say than a weak denial of your involvement.”
“Why? I don’t expect you’ll believe anything I have to say,” Gevandar replied with a sour expression.
“Try me,” Ellie growled, reaching for the weapon she hoped she’d have no need for.
“El’iadrylline, I have said and done things that you find distasteful and I acknowledge this. I am ruthless and driven, I admit, but I am not heartless, and I am certainly not a murderer.”
Ellie raised her eyebrows, an objection on her tongue, but held back, allowing him to have his full say before passing judgement.
“I will not ask forgiveness for attacking you as what happened was entirely unforgivable, but you have to believe me when I say that I was not me when that happened.”
Ellie froze, forgetting the weapon as his words filled her with dread. “What do you mean you weren’t you?”
“It’s not easy to explain, but there have been periods as of late where it feels… well… it feels as if someone else is in command of my actions.”
“Since when?”
“Since not long after your party arrived.”
Ellie’s mind raced with possibilities, but she held her expression blank.
“Seems awfully convenient, don’t you think?”
Gevandar lowered his eyes.
“I didn’t expect you’d believe me. Again, I do understand that what I did was unforgivable. I accept responsibility and I will return to face whatever punishment leadership decides is fitting, but right now, please let me help. I have as much, if not more, at stake if your mission is to fail.”
Ellie didn’t reply. Her mind spun with information. That Gevandar had found them here, in the wild jungle lagoons of Fhasmyr indicated that he’d employed deceitful methods to follow on what should have been a covert operation. Not that she’d trusted him even before the Kyroibi marked him as the enemy.
But that right there was the one thing holding her back. The Kyroibi was silent. Nothing within her cried out for war or to end what he’d started. No, the prince spoke the truth and she knew this. Granted, there was no relief in knowing there existed an entity that could overtake a living host and cause strife in an already unstable situation.
A soft buzz cut through the silence and Ellie turned to see Mikk standing a few feet away, weapon charged and trained on Gevandar.
“Imagine that, Prince Gevandar thinking only of that which he stands to lose while the rest of us fight for the liberation of worlds.” Mikk’s voice was both soft and deadly. “After all, should we fail to take Fhasmyr, you’ll have to take it from the Emperor yourself, won’t you? And who will help you after every bridge has been burned?”
“As one who proudly wears the colors of the Paisreatta, you have no right to lecture others on loyalty and honor.”
“Then I’ll spare you the lecture and kill you now,” Mikk growled, edging her skimmer up next to Ellie’s.
“Let me at least have my say before you prove my point.”
“Fair enough,” Mikk said with a shrug. “But not here. Yuddiks rarely travel alone. The raft is that way.” She jerked her head to the left through the tall grass. “Though I suspect you already know that.”
Ellie watched the exchange with curiosity. She too wanted to hear what the rogue prince’s justification for following them would be, but she didn’t trust him enough to go first into what might be a t
rap. Instead, she held back, allowing Gevandar to go first, trailed by Mikk, who still held her weapon charged and pointed at his back.
The rest of the way through the grass was quiet and uneventful, but as the grass thinned, indicating they were hitting open water, Ellie heard a loud commotion. She increased her speed and moved through the tangle of roots in time to see Hani perched on the back of Gevandar’s vehicle, knees dug into his shoulders as she wrapped one arm around his neck and held her charged weapon to his head.
“Let me go! I am here to help!” Gevandar yelled, struggling against the Merata woman’s grip.
“There were no plans made that included the hated son of Darwrn!” Hani hissed, grinding her knee in harder.
Bethany and Bas watched from the ship as it bobbed in place, tethered to a nearby tree. Bas stood on alert, blade drawn and ready to jump into the fray. Bethany’s posture was more relaxed as she watched the scene with amusement she didn’t bother to hide. From inside the shelter on the boat, Gil emerged. As soon as she saw Gevandar she leapt over the side, landing expertly onto her skimmer. Within seconds she was at Ellie’s side.
“Shall we kill him, my lady?”
“Not yet,” Ellie cut in, noticing that Mikk looked as if she was about to take her up on the offer. “He claims he was not in control when he attacked me. The Kyroibi senses no threat at the moment, so I’m inclined to believe that at least. Let him speak, if only to explain why he is here.”
Gil nodded and Hani eased up on Gevandar’s head, but kept her weapon trained on him as she stayed perched on the back of his vessel.
“You won’t get to the city by taking the lagoons.”
“You claim to know my prefecture better than I?” Mikk asked indignantly.
“Do not be so arrogant as to think you are the only one who knows how to navigate these islands, Meioak,” Gevandar replied with a haughty expression. “I may not have grown up feral as the Oakwrn children, but as a captain of the Alliance army, I made it my business—”
His taunt was cut short by an inhuman shriek as Mikk reared up on her skimmer and brought it dangerously close to his, slinging the gun behind her as she pulled a knife from her belt.
“Speak ill of my family again, gresch! I dare you.”
Gevandar didn’t flinch, but his face lost some of its color and the muscles in his neck tightened under the light pressure of Mikk’s blade.
“I’m not here to fight you. I’m here to fight with you, cousin.”
Ellie’s eyes widened in shock, but other than a muttered “oh snap” from Bethany, it seemed this was not news to any of the others in attendance.
“Oh, suddenly we’re family again? No, I don’t think it will be that easy. Not after you gave the order to kill my parents.”
“I did not give the order to kill your parents.”
“Lies!” Mikk roared, tears forming in the corners of her eyes. “You gave the order to strike the city knowing full well it was a trap laid by the emperor.”
“You are not the only one whose parents became a casualty of war, you know.” Gevandar’s voice was tight with emotion he actively tried to hide, but Mikk wasn’t moved.
“I’d offer my condolences, but let’s see, what were your exact words to me after my parents were killed? Oh, that’s right. Family is an inconvenience that hampers the weak. You’re a heartless monster, Gevandar. I’ll not be convinced otherwise.”
“You said that?” Ellie asked, feeling sick as Gevandar lowered his eyes in shame.
“I had not yet known the fate of the Oakwrn elders,” he said quietly. “But no, I will not make excuses for my crass language. Meioak and I have long been at odds. Our families have a long history of strife. When I spoke, it was not with my mind, but with the anger in my heart. I can only say that I now regret my actions.”
Ellie glanced at Mikk, whose expression hadn’t changed. Gevandar seemed genuine, but she absolutely could not blame her friend for holding onto her hostilities.
“You said you wanted to help,” she prompted, suddenly aware that she was still perched vulnerably on her skimmer. The least she could hope for was to hold off their explosive argument until they were somewhere other than the middle of a dangerous jungle.
“You’re planning to enter through the tunnels, aren’t you?”
“What tunnels would those be?” Mikk’s expression held, but Ellie could see anger brewing just below the surface. With good reason. If Gevandar knew of the secret entrance to the city, who knows what they would be walking into.
“You can continue to play dumb and waste everyone’s time if you wish,” Gevandar replied sharply. “But you’ll find the patrol corridors have been sealed. Caved in.”
“Why should I believe you?”
“Because I'm the one who sealed them.”
“You what?”
Mikk lunged from her skimmer. Her fist connecting with Gevandar’s jaw and a sickening crack echoed through the clearing.
“I… likely deserved that,” Gevandar said thickly as he rubbed his hand over the already swelling and discolored flesh of his cheek. “I cannot pretend I wasn’t callous in my handling of your loss,” he said in a rush, likely due to the coppery sheen of anger on Mikk’s expression as she balled her fist for another strike. “But the reason I called for the strike on the capital was due to intelligence that Svoryk himself was to be at the capital city. It seemed the best way to eliminate the emperor was to trap him within the prison of his own creation. Part of that included having the tunnels sealed.”
For a long moment, Mikk said nothing, but the warring of anger and grief were plain for all to see.
“And yet Svoryk lived while innocents died.”
Gevandar met Mikk’s eye and held it.
“As I said, I’ll not expect forgiveness for my actions as military captain or assembly leader. I only wish to make clear to you why the plan you have is not viable.”
“And you have another way in?” she asked.
“Not exactly. Not for all of us, at least,” he said with a glance at Ellie.
“Explain, please.”
“When I attacked you at the transit station, you should have died.”
“Sorry to ruin your plans,” Ellie replied with sarcasm to cover the chill that ran down her spine.
“What I mean is that the weapon with which you were attacked is quite powerful. Capable of bringing down ships from the ground if aimed properly. It is not common and although you’ll likely not believe me, it is not one I routinely carry.”
At that, Ellie looked pointedly at the weapon, which was clipped to his back.
“Given our present location, I thought it prudent to carry suitable weaponry,” he explained with slight exasperation. “Regardless, whatever it is that took hold, it wanted you dead by any means necessary and quite frankly, the fact that you live is scarcely believable.”
“Of that, at least, he speaks truth,” Mikk noted grimly. “I’ve known nothing to withstand a direct acidicae bolt, yet you walked away without even a scratch.”
“Okay, but what exactly are you getting at?” Ellie asked, her discomfort over the topic of conversation increasing.
“Fhasmyr is dangerous, as you’re well aware,” Gevandar replied. “Pulse travel is nearly impossible for all but the most intuitive of beasts and it is decidedly these beasts that make it difficult.”
“Wait a minute,” Ellie cut in with a horrified realization. “You want me to pulse us into the city?”
“No,” Gevandar shook his head. “Not all of us. You’re the only one with the proper protection. You would need to go alone.”
Chapter 25
Ellie remained silent as the rest of her party made vocal their opposition to Gevandar’s plan. Not that she herself agreed with it. What he suggested was not just dangerous, but sounded an awful lot like a convenient trap.
“So let me get this straight. You’re expecting me to pulse to a city I’ve never been to, despite all the horror stories I’ve heard a
s to why pulse travel is not recommended, and then once I’m there, I’m supposed to find some access point and shut down the communications myself?”
“I am.”
“And you aren’t trying to kill me?”
“Do you still not understand? Your armor is impervious to disintegration tech. You could pulse right through a dart snake and survive.”
A dart snake, Ellie discovered, was a reptile the size of a small truck with a venomous bite and caustic blood reminiscent of the monsters in the Alien movies.
“I don’t like the sound of that,” she said with a shudder. “Look, even if I can pulse through pretty much anything with this armor, I’m not exactly keen on the idea of needlessly killing whatever wanders into my path.”
As if to punctuate her words, Pouns took that moment to leap from Mikk’s pocket, twisting as he went, and breaking the silence that fell over the group. For one long moment, Ellie held her breath, heart pounding as the luk flopped awkwardly, splashing brackish water at them when his claws scrabbled for purchase. But instead of sinking in and becoming entangled in the aquatic vegetation, he found the edge of the raft and climbed aboard, spinning in circles before plopping unceremoniously down for yet another nap.
“It’s that or be eaten.”
Pouns lifted his head and growled at Gevandar’s reply. Even though he was smaller than a kitten at the moment, the mouth full of long, razor sharp fangs was enough to send the prince, who had been drifting close to the raft, scooting back several feet. Ellie expected the luk to go back to his nap, but instead he leapt onto her skimmer, perched on the handlebars, and stared at her with big, soulful brown eyes that seemed full of a learned wisdom that was far older than the creature itself.
“Um… Is he hungry?” she asked with a nervous giggle as the luk rammed its head against her knuckle.
“No…” Mikk frowned, biting her lip as she studied the creature. “He’s trying to tell you something. I’m actually impressed. He only does this with me. Put your hand on his head and clear your mind.”
The Princess Rebellion (The Kyroibi Trilogy Book 2) Page 22