Undercover

Lucia had also managed to scoop Brom, Nephenee, Ino and Heather into this 'survey'. Now it was closer to a royal visit than a small undercover mission.

Ludveck seemed to have advance warning of the visit, suspicious in itself. There had been no public mention of the visit, and only the queen knew it was happening outside those actually going. Apart from Ludveck, it seems.

Their arrival was greeted by Ludveck himself, and followed into a large feasting hall decorated with food. Heather and Lucia noticed Ino subtly sniff and taste the food, before swallowing any of it. They both saw this as meaning the food was safe to eat, and did so, albeit slowly. Ludveck missed the entire exchange.

"So, my dear Lucia, what brings you here?" Ludveck asked with a small smile on his face.

Lucia already had a conceivable reason for the visit other than espionage. "The queen needs to have a connection with her people, and I have heard rumours of your hospitality. So I came here first."

"Ah, I see. And what of your companions?" Ludveck probed.

"The laguz embassy is searching for Ike, and sees this travel as a means to that end, and the others are my personal guards. A lady of the court should not be without any guards." Lucia replied.

Ludveck nodded. Seeking a means to end the meeting, he saw that the day was getting late. "Allow me to show you to your quarters." Ludveck bowed gracefully.

"Of course, your lordship." Lucia replied.

.

This happened again the next day, and the following night, Lucia made her move.

She found the remote cave Ludveck stored his revolution plans, and snuck inside.

Unfortunately, all her companions had found their own way of following her, as she found the vital documents.

"Leanne, be quiet!" Nealuchi hissed.

Lucia sighed in exasperation, until she heard a slapping sound from behind the familiar laguz.

Ino walked out, shaking her head with her hand seemingly glued to it. "Guess we're all here."

Lucia's eye twitched angrily. "Ok, I can see how one person can sneak past the guards, but all of you?"

Ino held a small ball in her hand. "Amnesia bomb. Knocks out anyone caught for about 40 minutes, and they can't remember anything for about 2 hours before that. Useful stuff." She smiled.

Lucia blinked. "After we get back, tell me how to make those things."

"Sure thing." Ino replied as they all headed for the exit.

Ino threw another bomb on the way out, just to make sure. Everyone waited for the smoke to clear. Sure enough, everyone was in a comatose state.

They left for the capital immediately, so they could not get caught.

Ludveck noticed their absence, as well as his documents, and decided to change his plans...

.

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A little note, I suspect this was the reason Ludveck stopped inciting rebels and decided to attack the queen. As such, the rest of the second arc storyline will remain close to canon, for a few more chapters at least.