The Pricess Rebellion: The Kyroibi Trilogy, #2

By Christina McMullen

Ellie only wanted to save the world; she never wanted to rule it. But as the true master of the Kyroibi and heir to the Korghetian throne, she's now expected to do both. Worse, she's also expected to play nice with the other leaders of the Ghowrn Alliance, including the overbearing Prince Gevandar, who sees her as nothing more than a weapon to unleash upon the Huptsovian Empire.
When imperial ships are discovered lurking in Ghowrn space, war becomes inevitable. Ellie finds herself pressured to use the automaton army under her command to end the battle once and for all. With only a handful of allies, she instead embarks on a mission to free the Alliance planets, determined to avoid a full scale robot invasion.
Besides, the more she learns about her mysterious battalion, the more she wonders if peace was ever truly their purpose. And if so, at what cost?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christina McMullen
• Release date: Oct 9, 2017
• ISBN: 9798223783275

Christina McMullen

Christina McMullen is a science fiction and fantasy author who dreams of flying cars, electric sheep, and one day having the means to adopt all of the world's rescue dogs. When she isn't writing, Christina enjoys travel, vegan cooking, modern and classical art (she fancies herself to be a somewhat competent artist as well as author), and of course, reading. 

Book preview

Dedicated to every girl who ever wanted to see the princess in the role of the hero.

Chapter 1

OKAY, ELLIE, YOU CAN do this. Just run. Don’t think. Just run...

El’iadrylline chanted the mantra over and over, but despite her best efforts, the world around her became nothing more than a green streak in her peripheral. She pulled up abruptly, stomping her feet with a cry of frustration, caring little if anyone saw or heard her. Not for the first time, she cursed the instinct to pulse that she’d yet to master.

In theory, she knew how to suppress the pulse. After all, inside of her was the sum of all knowledge her people had collected since the beginning of time. But much like reading the owner’s manual for a car didn’t automatically make one a mechanic, there was a big difference between knowledge of the process and practical application. It was Ellie’s unfortunate luck that the reason she wanted to learn was the very obstacle holding her back.

She needed to run. She needed to feel the ache in her muscles, sting of the air on her skin, and the burning in her lungs. She needed the freedom of release that could only come from breeching the threshold of pain. Only then was she ever able to break through and quell the anxiety that pushed her into motion.

Running had always been her only means of escaping the irrationality. Nothing else, from daily meditation to prescription drugs could compare to the calm that could only come from the physical exertion. She wondered now if her alien biology was to blame for the ineffectiveness of medications. Perhaps here, in the technologically advanced Ghowrn system, she might find a better solution, but Ellie wasn’t quite ready to get that personal with anyone and so she ran. Pushing herself to the limit and hitting her top speed seemed a surefire way to melt away the heavy brick of worry that seemed to have once again set up permanent residence in her chest.

But running only worked if she could reach the proverbial high and ever since landing on Korghetia, this was becoming harder and harder. More often than not, Ellie found herself cocooned in the numbness of pulse long before she even recognized what was happening. What had been a curious and at times comforting sensation back on Earth was now an added layer of claustrophobic distress. 

Throwing a tantrum, however, would do nothing for her mental well-being, so she instead pulsed to a point in the distance, where rolling hills obscured the horizon. If she couldn’t run, she would find other ways to push her muscles to the limit. The steep climb seemed like a good enough compromise. Each step brought a new burn until the anxious feeling ebbed and she felt her tight expression melt into a relaxed smile. Hiking wasn’t the same kind of high as running, but Ellie made a mental note to search out mountains and other rugged terrain in which she could lose herself. At least until she learned to measure and control her urge to pulse.

She stretched her arms overhead and gazed out at the Korghetian landscape. Sprawled out below her in all directions was a lush paradise of natural beauty. Rolling hills of green and blue vegetation rippled gently in a mild breeze that carried the mellow hints of the nearby freshwater sea. Knotted trees surrounded her, creating the illusion of an idyllic fantasy land where one might find fairies dancing among the brilliant blades of grass.

But there were no fairies here. There wasn’t anyone for that matter. For the moment, at least, Ellie was entirely alone on the surface of her mother’s home world. The feeling was both comforting and scary.

Korghetia was truly unique in that it was the only planet to orbit both of the twin stars of the Ghowrn system. As such, seventy-five percent of the terrain was a vibrant paradise of temperate climate. Yet for reasons that Ellie could not entirely wrap her head around, the majority of the population lived underground. According to her mother, this was to preserve the unspoiled beauty of the land. Certainly, it was beautiful, but in Ellie’s opinion, it was also incredibly wasteful.

Even worse was the location of the palace. Especially the chamber Ellie had been given. While three quarters of the planet may have been temperate, the polar caps were a hellscape of volatile weather, seismic and volcanic activity, dangerous vegetation, and some dinosaur sized carnivorous beasts. Defying all logic and reason, Korghetia’s capital city sat directly under the southern pole, adjacent to a river of lava, which was visible from nearly every vista thanks to the clear enclosure protecting the inhabitants from the poisonous vapor and molten rock.

To Ellie, the dark city—with its obsidian buildings cast in hues of red and orange—looked exactly like the Christian version of Hell she’d seen in many works of Renaissance art. It was unnerving to say the least. Nowhere in the city could she escape the harsh glow of liquid fire. Worse, her own quarters had an unfettered view of a churning lake of magma. She was assured this was an honor, but to Ellie, it seemed a punishment.

The gloom alone would have been enough to send her running to seek the sun-dappled refuge of the surface, but in truth, that was the least of her worries. Overwhelming didn’t begin to describe her new life. She was tired of meetings, tired of briefings, and most of all, tired of Prince Gevandar. The appointed head of the Ghowrn Alliance Leadership Assembly was quite possibly the most overbearing personality Ellie had ever met and that was saying something, given the number of pompous celebrities she’d known back on Earth.

To say their arrival—not to mention the news of Svoryk’s death—created upheaval was to grossly understate the level of chaos that served as their welcome to the Ghowrn system. The flagship hadn’t yet transmitted a request for permission to land before the blustering Prince’s face appeared on the view screen, demanding an audience with the Kyroibi Master. Ellie had not even been able to properly introduce herself before being interrogated about the existence of the fabled Eidyn home world. More specifically, the existence of the automaton army. Fortunately, her father stepped up and asked first for an audience with the Eidyssic representative before she could say something rude about the prince’s manners.

Sadly, that had been the last she’d seen of her father. It seemed the ship had barely touched down before Isaverlline was rushing her off to the privacy of the royal family’s personal transporter. Only a bewildered Richard accompanied them. Ellie fumed silently, furious that she’d not been given even a moment to say goodbye to her father, let alone her friends. Despite assurances from her mother that they would all meet again soon, she worried.

More than a week had passed before she heard from any of them and even then, it was through brief text messages that she received any news. Vito, or Vitokk as Ellie supposed she must now think of him, sent a short note explaining that he and Vonsse were meeting with SiFa refugees, sharing any and all information they’d picked up in the outer reaches of the galaxy. By appearances, the brothers were getting along and Ellie truly hoped whatever had divided them was on the mend, but she knew appearances could be deceiving.

Bethany had made friends with the Eidyssic soldiers and spent most of the trip firing off question after question, which they were all too happy to answer. One soldier in particular did not seem to mind the attention in the least. Ellie wasn’t at all surprised to hear that Bethany had taken up with the Eidyn and somewhat bitterly had to wonder how long before the brash New Yorker knew more of her people and home world than she.

At least she still had Julian. In the confusion of their arrival, he managed to stay by Ellie’s side, slipping unseen into the private transport just before it sped away, ignoring the pointed stare he received from Isaverlline. Had he decided he had someplace better to be than the Korghetian capital, Ellie was sure she would have gone completely insane.

Though even his behavior had become infuriating. He played the role of emotionless protector too well. While Ellie expected such in public, at least for the time being, she found that even in the privacy of her quarters, there was a formality to their interaction that bothered her. Julian assured her that he was simply showing caution until the upheaval of their arrival settled, but his words had done nothing to appease what was becoming a constant ache in her heart.

She took in another breath of fresh, clean air, savoring the sweet crispness with a sigh of contentment. As much as she adored New York, Ellie wondered how she would ever again suffer the pungent city air. Her spirits sank as she thought about home and her determination to make it back to Earth. Already weeks had passed since she’d left and the ache in her heart hadn’t lessened. She began to wonder if it ever would. 

A light breeze rustled the leaves of a nearby tree, swaying the soft, willow-like branches against her bare arm. She reached out and absently ran her hand under the slender leaves, noting that they felt more like the silky mane of a horse than any vegetation she’d encountered on Earth. It didn’t stop her longing, but she found therapeutic comfort in the touch. 

Do be mindful, Lady El’iadrylline. It will not do to be found in violation of the very conservation laws your own great grandfather drafted long ago.

Every muscle she’d just managed to relax stiffened at the haughty scolding. She bit back the imprudent comment she wanted to make and instead turned to face her intruder with an icy glare. 

Is there something you need, your majesty? she asked, not bothering to mask her displeasure over being followed. The biggest problem with uncontrolled pulsing was that Ellie had no way of keeping her whereabouts secret. The Korghetian atmosphere was so clear that the slightest trace of energy pollution stood out like a homing beacon.

There is much that I require, my lady, came the reply in a voice that dripped with sarcasm and innuendo, eliciting a physical shudder of revulsion. Though at the moment, I’ll settle for your attention.

A Sintarian by birth, Gevandar stood nearly a full head shorter than Ellie, but presented an imposing figure. His shoulders were as wide as three of her standing side by side and the thin material of his shirt made it clear that not an ounce of his considerable weight was fat. He might have been considered conventionally attractive, but his overbearing attitude and constant scowl overshadowed any positive traits in Ellie’s opinion. Worse, as she learned all too quickly, Prince Gevandar was not used to having his authority challenged.

I’ve called a meeting of the Alliance Leadership Assembly this evening, he informed her, as if that were enough of an excuse to follow her half-way across the planet and interrupt her one moment of peace.

As I’m aware, Ellie said with a clipped tone, holding up her arm to show off the personal info unit on her wrist and the calendar notification blinking on the thin display. The bracelet-like unit served much the same functions as her smart phone had back home, but without the luxury of a full display, the internet, or anything fun, for that matter. It was closer to a wearable version of the PDAs that were popular among businessmen in the late nineties with the added inconvenience of a communicator she’d not yet learned to silence.

"Yes, I am glad to see you are no longer ignoring notifications, however, my purpose for being here now is to inform you that a decision will be made as to our next military strike against the Empire. You may wish to make preparations and inform your automaton."

If Prince Gevandar meant for his words to elicit a reaction, he was to be disappointed. Yes, she was internally fuming, but she would not give him the satisfaction of knowing how angered he’d made her. Instead she simply nodded in an invitation for him to continue. After a moment, when it became obvious he would not, she raised her eyebrows.

And was there a reason this was important enough to seek me out when I clearly did not want to be bothered?

My lady, I am aware that you have just returned from exile on a primitive planet, but I must insist that you respect my position and show this respect by addressing me properly.

At this, Ellie lost her composure. Whether the prince had meant the insult or not didn’t matter. It was bad enough when her mother made comments, but she was most definitely tired of hearing about how primitive Earth was from a bunch of people that had not only never been there, but had enough dubious practices of their own to be considered primitive in her eyes. 

Do something to earn my respect and I’ll consider it, Ellie hissed.

Leading the war efforts against the tyranny of The Huptsovian Empire is not enough to earn respect, my lady?

Ellie scoffed.

You speak of tyranny, yet you yourself act as though the world should bow down at your feet. You see me as nothing more than a vessel for a weapon you only know of as a bedtime story. You refuse to acknowledge the commander of said weapon as a person worthy of basic rights, let alone respect. She turned back to the landscape, taking a calming breath as her diodes flared with frustration and anger. Losing her temper would do more harm than good. At last she turned back, keeping her expression neutral. I’ll be at the meeting, your highness, but you’ll find the Kyroibi can’t be manipulated as easily as you’ve been led to believe.

Without waiting for a reply, she pulsed away, returning once again to the gloomy castle underground, feeling as if the entire point of her trip to the surface had been for nothing. Anger and frustration radiated from her every diode.

Chapter 2

A MUFFLED THUMP, FOLLOWED by a growl of frustration tore Julian’s attention from the message he’d been reading. He looked up as the door to the suite bounced harmlessly against the tapestried wall and back into the glowering face of his master.

Where’s my ship?

Still in quarantine, he reminded her, not for the first time, as he closed the computer and got up. He understood and even sympathized with her frustrations, but hated that there was little he could do to make the situation better.

Ellie swore, fighting back tears of frustration and the urge to kick something. Is there any other way off this miserable planet?

Likely, but I doubt we would be able to procure a ship and flight clearance in time to have you back for this evening’s meeting.

Screw the meeting, she spat. I’ve about had enough, Julian. I’m ready to damn the lot of them and go back to Earth. I never asked for this.

I take it the prince ignored my warning to allow you your space?

He came here? Ellie spun around fast, eyes bulging as she gaped at Julian. Her already bad mood spiraled further south as he gave a curt nod. What is with these people and boundary issues?

She crossed to the window and drew the heavy brocade curtains closed. Without the fiery cast from the lava outside, the room vaguely resembled a normal, if not overly gaudy, suite in an expensive hotel. But it wasn’t a hotel and for the foreseeable future, it was home. The thought dipped her mood even lower.

Julian said nothing, but stood nearby, ready to be of service should his true master need him. He wanted nothing more than to transmit a calm influence and help ease her discomfort, but Ellie had on many occasions voiced her concern over the artificial emotion. Not that it would have done much good. Her will was growing stronger despite her reservations and Julian was certain she could now easily shrug off the influence.

Besides, he was having enough difficulty remembering that he too was supposed to be a cool, calm, and collected servant of peace. Returning to the Ghowrn system had brought about a whole host of complications for Julian, not the least of which was the fact that he was known only as a tool of oppression used by the former Emperor. The fear and ignorance surrounding his status was of grave concern, making it far more difficult to fulfill his purpose.  Even with Ellie and a grudging Isaverlline assuring the assembly he was an ally, the distrust remained.

That he was seen as no more than property did not bother him as it did Ellie. As far as he was concerned, he existed only for her. Whether this was because of obligation to his master or the feelings he’d developed in spite of his station mattered little in his opinion. Certainly, he had questions and one day even hoped to explore and understand his anomalous attachment. But for the time being, it was enough to simply be there for her.

Can the Eidyssic leadership force us to action? Ellie asked suddenly, catching Julian off guard as he pushed his own frivolous musings aside.

The Council of Kyri is an elected delegation meant only to govern and uphold the laws of Eidyn, he replied. I am aware that Gevandar plans to ask for action in regards to the Limitless Battalion.

And you don’t believe we’ll be forced to awaken the battalion?

Only the Kyroibi can make that decision, he explained. The only reason our leadership would intervene is if you were found to have personal motive.

So if I become mad with the power, then what, they kill me and take over the Kyroibi? Ellie asked, the dark pit in her stomach growing at the thought.

It’s not as barbaric as that, Julian assured her. Should you be found unfit, the Kyroibi can be extracted painlessly. Remember, your father assumed the responsibility from his mother with no consequence. But, Ellie, you have nothing to fear. You’ve already proven yourself to be capable and deserving.

So you say, she muttered. But Julian, what if they say something different? What if they’re just as corrupt as...? She trailed off, not wanting to sound paranoid. Her aversion to Prince Gevandar was causing her enough problems. She didn’t need to add to that by making everyone think she was unstable. I’m just saying, my grandmother was supposedly capable as well.

Your grandmother, though accountable for her actions, was an anomaly. Her corruption stemmed from her parents taking liberties they had no right to take.

And was that not exactly what my father did when he wove the Kyroibi into the gestational pattern of a child who was only half Eidyssic?

El’iadrylline, he took a step forward, wanting nothing more than to slip his arms around her, draw her in close, and give in to the emotional need that filled his heart, but he remained outwardly reticent. The people of Eidyn are not as easily lured to power as their Ghowrn neighbors, but they are not in the habit of condemning those who would display such weakness. Nor are they warlords who would defy measures held for millions of years simply because the prince demands it so. Your fear is understandable, but unfounded.

Ellie wished she could share in Julian’s confidence, but there was something in Gevandar’s tone that had sounded a lot like a threat when he revealed his intentions. In her eyes, there was little difference between the motives of the prince and the actions of the recently deceased emperor. At least Svoryk’s actions could be blamed on Andryvessa’s deception as much as his own greed. Prince Gevandar had no such excuse.

I don’t want to think about this anymore, she said with an air of finality as she closed the distance between them. For a moment, she stood unmoving, searching his eyes for any hint of emotion, but Julian’s expression remained as still and oblivious as the automatons at his command. Enough was enough. She brushed her lips against the soft skin of his neck. I need a distraction, Julian.

What is it you wish of me?

Really? She pulled back with a strangled cry of frustration. Julian, what’s going on? Did you have a change of heart or did I completely imagine that you confessed to care about me as much as I care about you?

The hurt in her hoarse whisper amplified the aching in his heart. The paradox of physical pain caused by her emotional suffering was too much. Ever since she stormed into the room, Julian had been fighting his own needs, but with hers thrown in, his stoic resolve crumbled.

Ellie, my first responsibility is to your safety.

And? She rolled her eyes and huffed. Are your kisses now venomous?

No. He could not stop the smile her words elicited, despite his own pain. But I’m afraid there are some here whose feelings on the subject are.

And you know I don’t care about that. Ellie emphasized her words by trailing her fingers up into his hairline and drawing him down until they were nose to nose.

But I do. Stars help him, she was not making his task easy. I simply feel it would be easier if we—

His words were lost as Ellie’s lips covered his. The fingertips of her right hand slid back down until the diodes aligned with those on his temple, flooding his diode matrix with her own intense emotion. It was an unfair fight and she knew it, but she didn’t care.

I’ll make a compromise. Ellie’s words were a breathless whisper against his cheek. If you insist upon playing unfeeling robot in public, I won’t protest, but please don’t shut me out because you think you are doing the right thing. I need you, Julian, not the machine you mistakenly think you are.

Very well then. He turned slightly, allowing his lips to brush lightly over hers. I am, after all, yours to command, he added with just a hint of a smile as he drew away and allowed her to lead him to the bedroom.

Oh yes you are, Ellie purred as she pushed aside dozens of decorative pillows and sank into the overly soft bed.

A sharp rap, followed by the sound of the front door unlocking brought about an abrupt end to the playful mood. Ellie jumped from the bed, knowing exactly who had the audacity and authority to intrude on the only bit of sanctuary she held in the castle. She stormed out of the bedroom, adjusted her top, and ran a distracted hand over her hair before glaring at her mother, who stood by the curtained window, arms crossed and wearing an expression that held no apology for the intrusion.

Mother, she said with a tight smile and the briefest of nods. Locked doors exist for a reason.

This is my home, Ellie, locks are meaningless, she stated without emotion even as her eyes flickered to the bedroom doorway. Julian, would you mind giving me a moment of privacy with my daughter?

By your command, my lady, Julian stated formally. Ellie held back the urge to make a gagging gesture at how much he sounded like the overbearing prince. As soon as he was gone, she turned narrowed eyes on her mother.

If you’ve come to inform me of changes to this evening’s meeting, there’s no need. The royal blowhard already interrupted my morning run.

I am not here about the meeting, but I do wish you would please be a little more respectful of Prince Gevandar.

Apparently he does as well, Ellie growled. Mom, I’m sorry, but I can’t be the only one who has a bad feeling about this guy. He’s done nothing so far to prove he’s a capable leader.

El’iadrylline, he is Sintarian royalty and I’ve read his service record, Isaverlline said in a sharp tone. He’s more than proven himself worthy as captain of the Alliance army, which is why he was elected to head the leadership assembly. Any one of those things alone would have earned my respect. It will be an honor to call him my son.

Why, are you adopting him? I’m rather fond of being an only child, thank you.

You may be the future queen of Korghetia, but you are still my daughter, Ellie. I’m not the enemy.

I’m sorry, Ellie said with a sigh, eyes downcast. But you have to see this from my perspective, Mom. We’ve only just arrived. We haven’t even met all of the members of the assembly and yet already the one I have met is making demands on things he knows nothing about. It’s bad enough I’m required to be polite when he clearly has no intentions of returning the gesture, but I won’t bow and scrape to a prince who sees me as nothing but a means to an end.

"I understand that you are not yet used to the way our system of government operates, but Ellie, at the very least