Chapter 2

Disturbing Developments

Home. That had become a strange word for Lyude. Since he had been exiled he had lived in the embassy at Diadem, but it had not been his home. No matter how many times he may have wished it was. He pondered on this as they soared over the ocean, watching the waves in silence. He was returning now to Alfard, but would a home be forthcoming?

The house he once lived in had always been a place of sorrows for him. His brother and sister were old enough that by the time he had his first memory they were at least seven.

For some reason his brother and sister had always been distant. They had always refused to play with him and Skeed had normally done everything he could to make him cry. At first, one could have thought of this as the mere acts of an adolescent sibling, but even a bully sibling is sometimes kind and protective. That had never occurred with Skeed.

His first memory was crying in Almarde's arms after Skeed had shoved him to the floor. Almarde had been the only joy in his life. Now she was gone and he wondered if things could ever be right for him. So many dreams had been shattered, so much of what had always been important to him had been torn away. Since Almarde's death and his siblings' betrayal he had felt that every beat of his cracked and broken heart might cause it to shatter.

Since he had felt Almarde's presence for that brief moment on the Phantom Goldoba he had begun to heal, but it was a wound that would never fully mend. He was at peace in the belief that she continued to watch over him, and he was comforted by the warmth of her memory, but the pain of knowing he would never again see her in his life still threatened to overwhelm him at times.

He began to sing softly to himself, an old Azhan melody that Almarde had taught him. It had been a long time since he had used his singing voice but it rang as true and clear as it always had. Almarde had always loved to hear him sing and though they had always refused to admit it, so had Vallye and Skeed. When the song ended he noticed Kalas and Xelha staring at him. "That was beautiful, Lyude." said Xelha, fighting back a tear, "I've never heard anyone sing like that."

"I didn't think I was loud enough for you to hear me over the White Dragon's wings." said Lyude flushing slightly with embarrassment.

"I'm glad we could." said Xelha, "I had no idea you could sing."

"I received fervent voice lessons as a child as well as instruction in various instruments." said Lyude stowing away his musings. "You see, when an imperial child comes to a certain age they are taken to have their magnus read. In doing so they find what the child is best suited to do in life. Music was very strong within my magnus, as well as a strong feel of discipline. My uniform is that of an elite unit of rare weapon specialists. As you may have noticed, it looks very similar to an orchestra conductor's suit. That was not coincidental.

You know by seeing me fight that I have a very different fighting style from any other imperial soldiers you've met. In order to use a sonic rifle effectively you must have timing and a good sense of tempo. You must also be able to hit the corresponding notes in the attack. It takes a great deal of discipline and coordination. I am the first to wear this uniform in eighty years."

"Hang on, if you're the first to wear that uniform in eighty years, then what unit were you in?" asked Kalas.

"A special unit for unique officers of various talents. The emperor had very specific assignments for each of us. One of the things he had wanted me to do was to use my sonic rifle to collapse a portion of the lava caves and kill those working inside while doing enough damage that it would take a while for the people of Azha to dig it out just to toil away for him again." said Lyude his head bowed.

"That's horrible." Said Xelha.

"Yes. After my initial protest to Geldoblame I received specific orders on the operation. I was so horrified that I confronted my commander opposing it fervently and refusing any part in the intended butchery. The emperor had thought that I would cooperate after he had humiliated me in front of my peers, when I did not he ordered me court-martialed. Hours before it was to be carried out I received my new orders to be stationed in Diadem." said Lyude.

It took only a few hours for them to reach Alfard. As the white dragon approached the island Lyude looked over the land with grieving eyes. Even from their height it was impossible to miss the desolation below them. "Let's land near Azha." said Lyude suddenly. "The white dragon will not be able to remain airborne at Mintaka's dock since the return of the ocean, she'll need solid ground."

"Right." said Xelha. "We'll land outside the limits."

The white dragon landed with an enormous thud stretching out her tail so that they might just stroll the length of her back to dismount. Lyude checked his pockets to assure himself that the relief supplies still remained safely stored there. "Thank you for bringing me home." said Lyude as he turned sadly to his companions. "Xelha, I'm sure that you should be returning to Wazn, at least for a few days. Your people miss you."

"Don't you want us to stay and help you in Alfard?" asked Kalas, "Nobody else seemed to mind asking me for favors since I started this little quest." Lyude laughed. "Your place right now is with Xelha." said Lyude, "And, though she is no longer burdened with the responsibilities of the ice queen I'm sure there a few loose ends she needs to tie up."

"You're right." said Xelha, "I suppose I really shouldn't wait. Alfard has suffered the worst in this. Once I finish in Wazn, Kalas and I will return to help in any way we can."

"Thank you both." said Lyude. "Any and all help would be appreciated. Until your return then." said Lyude bowing to them in farewell.

"Yeah, see ya Lyude." said Kalas clapping him on the back.

"Goodbye." said Xelha kissing Lyude lightly on the cheek in farewell. "Take care Lyude." He nodded silently and watched as they climbed back onto the white dragon. They turned to him one final time and waved. He returned it silently and watched as the white dragon rose to the air and quickly became a speck on the horizon.

He stood there quietly for a long moment, alone once again. His face saddened as the realization hit him. He looked around him and found that he was about a mile from Azha. He did not want to return directly to Mintaka, he was more likely to be recognized there. He still wasn't sure how he would be received and well or ill, he was in no rush to find out. In Azha the villagers rarely looked beyond his uniform. No one was likely to recognize him, and even if they did they wouldn't care. They still cared little about imperial soldiers and had likely already devised a reason that the mad wolf unit had defended them in the desert.

He knew that most of the relief would have been directed towards Mintaka, that would not likely have changed, so perhaps Azha was best anyway. He began to make his trek towards the village. By the time he arrived at the border he had developed quite a thirst and drank freely from his canteen. A small boy watched him, trying to hide behind a barrel, his mouth so dry his lips were cracked. Lyude noticed him as he tried to crouch down further. When the boy saw this he stood quickly and began to dash from him as quickly as he could.

"Wait." said Lyude touching the boy's shoulder gently. The boy turned, wild eyed and frightened. "Lemme alone Imperial! We don't got nothin'. You already cleaned us out of everything!"

Lyude drew back in surprise, "What!" he said a little more harshly than intended.

"I . . . I-I'm sorry. Please don't hurt me . . ." said the boy curling into a fetal position on the ground and covering his head. Several yards away several people watched. A few wore angry expressions and looked as if they might become violent. Lyude took no notice. All he saw before him was a terrified child that needed comfort. He knelt beside the boy and touched his head. The boy flinched and looked up at him, his hands slipping from their protective position. Lyude brushed the child's hair back from his dirty, tear-streaked face , his eyes full of compassion and kindness. He held out his hand and the boy waveringly took it. Lyude brought him to his feet, handed the boy his canteen and rose silently.

The boy looked at the canteen for a moment as if he didn't know what he was supposed to do with it. When he looked up at Lyude and received an encouraging nod he greedily began to guzzle the water. Lyude turned from the boy and began his trek back toward the village. Several were muttering and casting dark looks his way, others watched him with a cautious curiosity.

As he neared the center of the village where many were working to clear the rubble of a collapsed mound he was confronted by several large and menacing looking men. Though Lyude was fairly tall he seemed frail and small next to the four men that blocked his path.

"You've got some nerve boy." said the largest of the four. "Comin' in here thinking you can just do as you please without challenge? You Mintakans were always an arrogant sort. Well, let's just see how arrogant you are after we're done with you. I think the example we've been talking about just walked right to us boys, let's show those Mintakans we're not gonna let them get away with this anymore. Lyude began to back up defensively but backed directly into the burly chest of another Azhan worker.

"Please." said Lyude. "I don't want to fight you. You have my word I haven't come to take anything from you or bring you further hardship, I came to help." he barely had time to block the burly man's swing and the man howled in pain as his fist struck a shield and Lyude's defense magnus faded and returned to card form. The fifth man behind him struck him to his knees and twisted his arm behind his back. A woman rushed out screaming. "What are you doing! Have you all gone mad? Such actions will bring the Empire's wrath upon us as it did a few years ago. Please Ricco, just do as he says."

"A little late to be turning back now." said one of the men, "If we just up and let this little snipe go, he'll tell his commanding officer." Lyude opened his mouth to speak but ended up gasping for air as the third man kicked him hard in the ribs. "Stay out of this, it's time someone paid for what they've done to us." said Ricco to the woman. Ricco turned out to be the largest man that had first addressed Lyude.

"Please . . . I mean you no harm . . . I can prove it." said Lyude, he could have broken away from the man's grasp several minutes ago but he did not want to seem hostile. In this particular case, threatened or not, it was best for him to try to reason. If that failed he would have to loose himself.

"Bah." said the man that held him throwing him to the ground. "Give us one reason we shouldn't beat you to a pulp. That little stunt out there with Nicco was clever, trying to gain our trust, but we're not as foolish as you imperial soldiers believe."

Lyude rose to his feet his face calm and collected, his lip bled slightly from his impact on the hard, dusty ground. He met the man's gaze levelly. "I have no intention of deceiving anyone." he said calmly, "Nor do I plan to report this incident to anyone. As I was telling you, I came here to help. I don't expect you to trust me, but I hope that you will make good use of these." he said pulling the relief magnus from his breast pocket and holding them out to the woman who had defended him, in the man's state of mind he would have likely destroyed then without so much as a glance. "Ricco!" said the woman, taking them, tears welling up in her eyes. The burly man looked down at the magnus and his jaw dropped.

"Water, gallons upon gallons of it, and food, so much food!" said the woman. Lyude turned from the speechless crowd and began hauling debris in a secluded area. Converting larger debris onto his blank magnus and releasing the pebbles that remained when he ran out.

He felt several eyes on him but acted as if he didn't notice. Once Ricco recovered from the shock of the magnus his eyes clouded with mistrust and he moved as if he might confront Lyude again but the woman would have none of it. She grabbed his arm and smacked it reprovingly. "You leave that boy alone. He hasn't done a thing to us." Ricco muttered something under his breath, "I don't want to hear it, we need those rations too much to care who gave them to us, and he's done nothing to deserve our hostility. Leave him be, Ricco." said the woman sternly. Ricco glared at her but turned his back on Lyude and stomped away. Lyude breathed a sigh of relief, he did not want to be forced to defend himself against these people. He was sure the woman must have been Ricco's wife. He silently thanked her for her efforts.

He toiled the remainder of that day, bothering no one and receiving no further challenge. Whatever they felt he was up to they must have decided he did not intend them immediate harm, nevertheless they avoided him fervently. That was fine with him, if someone

wished to speak with him they would. He would not press the matter. The people of Azha needed some time to get used to him and learn that he was not their enemy, just as the people of Diadem had. He felt much as he had when he had first arrived in the cloud nation, alone and out of place.

When it grew dark and the people returned to their homes Lyude walked silently toward the magnus shop where he could rest for the night. He stopped a few feet away from it looking behind him where one of the hollow vestiges that the Azhans lived in caught his eye. Someone was watching him from the entrance, but no one he recognized.

He felt a great emptiness fill him as he recalled going there once with Almarde as a child. Almarde's older brother had lived there then, but he too had been killed in operation sweep. The figure in the doorway continued to watch him as if daring him to go anywhere else. He might have considered a stroll if the village had proven less hostile, he was exhausted anyway. So he turned and walked silently into the shop where he rented a room and collapsed on the bed.

He had not been asleep long when he heard a light tapping at his door. He chose to ignore it at first, thinking that it was probably nothing, but then it became slightly louder. Lyude groaned and sat up, had he not paid the shop owner enough? "Yes?" he said opening the door. The woman that had defended him earlier stood in the doorway, she had a small bundle with her and a sweet smell was coming from it.

"I'm sorry if I woke you." she said softly.

Lyude rubbed his shadowed eyes and shook his head. "Oh, no, that's quite all right." he said. "Can I help you, madame?"

"You have already helped more than any of us could have ever imagined one wearing an imperial uniform would." She said shaking her head. "I wanted to thank you, and to apologize for my husband and his muscle bound buffoons."

"There's no need." said Lyude. "I didn't really expect much better. Though, I have to admit, I didn't expect an ambush. It is I that should thank you for defending me."

"I don't know what he was thinking. My husband isn't a cruel man by nature. He's just seen the people of Azha suffer for far too long to accept that anyone associated with the imperial army is a friend."

"I understand." Lyude said.

"I hope that you won't think too harshly of the rest of the villagers, my husband is a very strict man and most don't care to argue with him unneccessarily. It's easy enough for them to brush aside your actions when they look at that uniform...I've only seen one like it once before, it may even have been you, but, as I'm sure you've realized, few of us ever look beyond the fact that you are an imperial soldier."

"Yes...I know." he said. "Thank you for coming."

"Here." said the woman handing Lyude the basket, It's..."

"Azhan yeast rolls." said Lyude smiling, "Thank you."

"You're welcome..." said the woman looking at Lyude curiously. "Good night."

"Good night." said Lyude and returned to bed.

Over the next few days Lyude slowly began working closer to the citizens and helping when he discovered someone having difficulty with their burden. Usually, the person was in no position to complain but he was never thanked.

Eventually, some began asking for his assistance with particularly large burdens, much to Ricco's dismay. He often saw the burly man grinding his teeth in his general direction. The rations Lyude had brought were being dispersed evenly among the villagers daily. He had brought enough to last them several weeks. His personal store, however, was running low. He hadn't saved much for himself. Soon he would need to get some more water, and he was down to some stale wheat crackers and about three magnus of beef jerky. He seated himself wearily upon some of the remaining rubble wiping sweat from his brow. The cleanup was almost complete thanks to his blank magnus, but they still needed to do a lot of rebuilding. He summoned some of the beef jerky and chewed it without enthusiasm. He had been strictly limiting his food and was quite hungry, but he was tiring of the tough, dried meat. He sipped some of his water, enough to keep him hydrated but hardly sufficient to slake his thirst and then reverted both rations back into magnus.

He leaned back, stretching his sore back muscles and closing his eyes to the blinding sun. He turned when he sensed someone seating themselves beside him. It was the boy, Nicco, that he had met when he first arrived. The boy looked to him sheepishly and held out Lyude's canteen. Lyude shook his head, "Keep it, it's too dry around here to not have water handy." he said kindly.

"Thanks." murmured the boy. Lyude smiled, it was the first measure of gratitude he had received since his arrival nearly a week ago.

"My daddy says you're bad." the boy continued softly. "But I don't think you're bad at all. Even if you are from Mintaka. I'm Nicco by the way."

"Pleased to meet you Nicco, my name is Lyude." he said smiling warmly, "And thank you for saying that. I'll take that as a high compliment." he turned to the boy frowning slightly. "When I first came here, you said that we had already taken everything you had. What did you mean?" asked Lyude. "Have there been Imperial soldiers returning here to Azha since Malpercio's destruction?"

"The day before you came, a bunch of soldiers wearing gray uniforms came in and stole our food and water." said Nicco bitterly, "They said that it was needed at the imperial fortress and that they would be back for more."

"I see." said Lyude his brow knitting together. "The other nations were supposed to be sending relief supplies to Alfard. King Ladekahn had promised to send a large shipment of sea bream from Nashira within the week. He would have sent shipments to both settlements, and he seemed on good terms with those who have been aiding with the effort. This isn't making any sense. Unless . . ."

"Huh?" said Nicco, "What'd you say?"

"Your father is the head of this village isn't he Nicco?" asked Lyude frowning slightly.

"Uh huh, but don't tell him I've been talking with you, please?" said Nicco.

"I won't" said Lyude reassuringly, "But I need to speak with him urgently." he excused himself and found Ricco placing mortar on a shattered wall. "Excuse me, Ricco, but I must speak with you." said Lyude.

"I got nothing to say to an imperial." said Ricco.

"Then you should have no trouble talking to me, the Empire of Alfard is dead." said Lyude. Ricco straightened. "What did you just say?" he asked.

"I know that Azha hasn't seen much of it, except when the Mad Wolf unit guided you through the desert but after the Emperor's death and the attack on the imperial capital a lot of things changed in Mintaka.

I can't tell you exactly how Geldoblame managed it, but it seems that most so called elite citizens were manipulated into behaving as they have since the beginning of his rule. Everyone just seemed to follow his orders blindly, believing the emperor could do no wrong, thus Operation Sweep. Personally, I refused to participate in that mission and was stripped of my rank and exiled as an ambassador to Diadem, which is why I know what I do now. Please just listen to me, we are nothing more than we appear to be, countrymen of Alfard. Men trying to rebuild our country for the better." said Lyude.

Ricco grunted turning back to his work. Lyude took it as an invitation to continue, after all, he had not been openly dismissed.

"I know that you don't like my presence here but I'm very sure that this village is in danger. I happen to know that you should have been receiving relief supplies from Diadem, I believe that the soldiers that raided your village have been intercepting the shipments and falsifying the facts to the relief committee."

"Why would Diadem want to help anyone from Alfard?" asked Ricco suspiciously.

"Because King Ladekahn along with the rulers of the other nations are kind and willing to aid those in need." said Lyude. "There has been a group selected to organize relief here in Alfard but you have received none, and that troubles me. It is the other nations that have been keeping Alfard running since a week before Cor Hydrae was destroyed. They would not have abandoned it now and they would have done something about the soldier's assault on Azha. Has anyone reported it?"

"Why would we report it? It isn't as if it's something new." said Ricco glaring at him.

Lyude sighed and shook his head sadly, "I don't blame you for your mistrust, but I beg you not to take my words lightly. The fact is I was in Mintaka shortly after Geldoblame's death. It seemed that many outlooks of the citizens had changed drastically, I don't feel that any of the soldiers I talked to would have participated in stealing your supplies.

I think seeing how the other nations rose to aid them in their time of need despite the Empire's past arrogance and cruelty was humbling to them. Enough to finally break free of Geldoblame's ludicrous teachings. Though there may yet be some extremists that wish Alfard to remain as it had under Geldoblame's rule, living under a veil of self importance and conquest." he admitted. "I can't be certain, but from what I've recently heard, that seems to be the case. If those soldiers said they would return, it is certain they will. The people of Azha must be protected. We must discover what is truly happening out there and alert the committee."

"Say your telling the truth." said Ricco, "What do you want me to do about it?"

"I want you to come with me to the imperial fortress so that we may bring Azha's case to the committee. Someone has to verify that relief has not been received, and to let the committee know about the raid. As leader of the village you would be the best to represent your people there."

"So . . . you're trying to lure me away from the village, are you? I knew it was only a matter of time before your true colors would show." said Ricco rising and cracking his knuckles.

"I . . . beg your pardon?" said Lyude.

"Well, well, if it isn't Sir Lyude the traitor." came a voice behind him. "Huh?" said Lyude whirling around to face his accuser and gasping, "You!" he said in surprise as the imperial commander that had led the attack on Diadem faced him.

"I'm surprised you had the courage to show your face here after turning your back on the empire. Are you still foolish enough to think that these wretches in Azha and the barbarians of other countries are equal to the empire's chosen elite? Haven't you realized yet that it's no good talking with these mongrels? They're too dense to fathom such matters. By the looks of that ape you were addressing it appears that you haven't."

"How dare you!" said Lyude angrily.

"Silence." said the commander raising his hand and Lyude and several villagers found themselves facing a firing squad. Lyude squared himself in front of the commander and met his gaze unwaveringly. "I tire of your interfering, boy. This is the last time you shall stand in the way of the empire. Fan out men, take any useful magnus you can find.

"What? You can't . . ." said Lyude stepping forward slightly. The commander took his rifle and struck Lyude in the stomach making him double over in pain before he knocked him across the back sending him to his knees. "We'll deal with you soon enough." he said cruelly. "Tie him up, and relieve our good ambassador of his weapon." Immediately Lyude was seized roughly and bound tightly with wire that dug painfully into his wrists, he felt someone reach into his pocket and relieve him of his sonic rifle magnus.

"Leave him alone!" came a shout as Nicco rushed forward and wrapped his arms protectively around Lyude's neck.

"Nicco . . . get back." said Lyude and barely managed to push him aside with his shoulder as the commander kicked viciously striking Lyude squarely in the ribs instead of the boy's chest. Lyude clenched his teeth against the pain.

"You filthy . . ." said Ricco rushing the commander in a foolhardy attempt to bring him down. Lyude saw the commander's signal out of the corner of his eye. "No!" he shouted and leapt to his feet jumping in front of Ricco and catching the rifle shot in his chest near the shoulder. Pain exploded through him as he felt the impact and he fell painfully to the ground the wire cutting deep into his wrists. If it weren't for his gloves they likely would have sheared his veins.

The commander struck the officer that shot him furiously. "Fool! He is not to die yet!" he shouted. "Give him a stasis injection and you had best pray he survives until he has served the purpose our leader has in mind for him."

"Purpose?" said Lyude weakly. "What do you mean?"The soldier saluted the commander and knelt next to Lyude who was rapidly weakening from loss of blood.

The soldier summoned an injection gun and injected an orange liquid into Lyude's neck. In moments his bleeding and breathing slowed to nearly a stop and his face paled, his lips turning almost blue as the medic's injection took effect. Lyude's eyes fluttered once and a weak sigh escaped his lips, then he knew no more.

"There will be repercussions for your insolence."said the commander to Ricco, "But not today. He looked down on Lyude, unconscious and barely breathing. "Bring him." he ordered a soldier. Ricco watched with a mixture of fear and anger as one of the soldiers lifted the unnaturally pale form of the young soldier. He struggled to remember his name, was it Lyude? Yes that was it. He felt shame welling within him as the young man lay limply in the soldier's arms. The soldier who held him seemed disgusted at being forced to even touch the young man.

The commander glanced back, following Ricco's gaze, "If you know what's good for your village you will forget this boy ever existed." he said. "You are to disregard anything he may have said and you are not to leave this village. Pull out men."

Ricco gritted his teeth as they turned and walked away. He had never felt more shame than he did in that moment. That boy had tried so hard to aid them in their recovery, toiling for hours without complaint, asking no thanks and receiving none. Now it seemed that he may have just forfeited his life defending them. He watched them go, knowing there was nothing he could do. All he could see of the young soldier was a flash of his shocking red hair dangling limply and the glare from his gilded boots. He felt a fresh wave of fury as the boy disappeared from view. He looked down at Lyude's spilt blood and swore upon it that he would find him. If only he had realized the boy's intentions sooner.

Kalas and Xelha arrived in Azha by late afternoon. They were both shocked at what they saw. All the villagers were in the street and whispering amongst themselves looking grim. "Wonder what happened here." said Kalas, "I don't see Lyude anywhere, do you?"

"No, he said he was planning on staying in Azha for a while, but I don't see him." said Xelha.

"Maybe he went to find out why no one seems to be getting their shipments. The committee of Alfard had been reporting that despite their security efforts all of the relief supplies for Alfard have been stolen within the country." said Kalas.

"That sounds possible." said Xelha, "I hope he didn't have too much trouble coming here."

"Pshh. He probably would have had a lot less trouble if he'd ditched the imperial uniform." said Kalas rolling his eyes, "I wonder why he insists on wearing it, It's only caused him trouble."

"Well, in Mintaka it served to make us a little less suspicious." said Xelha, "But I think more than anything he just wanted to represent what was good in Alfard, a testimony that not all imperial officers had bad intentions."

"Sounds like something he'd think of." said Kalas shaking his head. "Let's ask around."

"Right." said Xelha, "Hey Kalas, look." said Xelha pointing several feet ahead of them. A small boy sat clutching a very familiar canteen with tears in his eyes. "Excuse me?" she said to him smiling kindly, "Would you tell us who gave you that canteen?"

"A nice man." said the boy breaking into open sobs.

"Hey, what's wrong? What's the trouble little guy?" asked Kalas, but the boy was too distraught to answer.

"What's going on here?" asked Xelha, "Everyone seems to be on edge and I don't see Lyude anywhere."

"L. . Lyude?" choked the boy in an attempt to halt his sobs, "Y. .You know Lyude?"

"Yes, he's a good friend of ours. We're looking for him, we recognized his canteen so we thought you might know where he'd gone." said Xelha smiling. The boy's bottom lip trembled. "He's gone." he said, "The bad soldiers hurt him and took him away."

"What!" said Xelha, "Kalas, we have to help him! Do you know where they took him little guy?"

"N. . .No." said the boy. "Pa said he was going to try to track them. But the sand's already covered their footprints, I don't know how he could."

"Where is your father? We would like to speak with him." said Xelha.

"Over there." he said pointing to a man strapping supplies to his pack. Xelha and Kalas strode over to him. Neither even cared to conceal their worry. "Which way did they take him?" said Kalas shaking with fury. "What did they do to him?"

"What?"

"Kalas, calm down. Shouting at the villagers isn't going to help Lyude." said Xelha gripping his shoulder steadyingly.

"That imperial soldier? You're looking for him?" said Ricco standing to meet them, "Looks like you must have known him."

"We're his friends. We were returning to give him a hand in helping clear things up here. It sounds like we've come a bit too late." said Xelha, "Please, tell us what happened."

Ricco led them into his home and related the whole story. Kalas paced the room barely able to restrain his anger as he heard about Lyude's troubles since he had arrived. It just wasn't fair. When he told them how Lyude had been shot and wounded Xelha jumped up as well.

"We have to find him." she said, "Who knows what they could want with him."

"What was he thinking anyway? Idiot. He can defend himself better than that." said Kalas.

"Kalas, please. He probably didn't want to risk harm to the villagers." said Xelha, "That commander knows Lyude well enough to realize that as long as he has the upper hand with civilians he wouldn't try anything drastic."

"I don't know where they took him, but someone said they saw them turn away from the imperial capital and the fortress so I'm thinking what he told me was right."said Ricco, "They aren't associated with the relief committee."

"So what do we do now?" asked Kalas, "We're hours behind them and from what you say, Lyude may be dying. We don't have time to play around here."

"Then let's get moving. It was a big unit that took off with him so their bound to have left clues as to where they've gone. I think he'll be all right for now. They said something about him being useful to them I don't think they'll allow him to die just yet." said Ricco.

"They'd better not. If we don't find him alive they'll have to answer to me." said Kalas. "I just hope that Lyude doesn't try anything too drastic."

"Come on Kalas, this is Lyude we're talking about." said Xelha, "He's too sensible to try anything too foolish. If he's alive he'll probably wait and see what happens."

"Yeah, your probably right." said Kalas, "let's go."

"Let's send a message to the committee about what's happened." said Xelha, "Maybe this group of soldiers is the reason all the relief supplies for Alfard have been disappearing. I think the committee has been wanting to speak with Lyude, so we should tell them what's happened to him and what we're going to do. Can you send someone with our message?" asked Xelha.

Ricco nodded, "Just write it out and we'll get it there." he said.