Chapter 6

Return to Mintaka

Alyssa had decided to stay with her father for a few days before she returned to Mintaka. He was in quite a state. The last they had seen of him was him washing the cosmetics from his face and muttering about Geldoblame and the organ.

Lyude agreed that she should see to her father but he felt it best that he visit the imperial capital before word of what had happened had reached it. So they said their goodbyes with the promise that they would see each other soon. Neither were particularly pleased about the separation. Ricco returned to Azha to pick up on the reconstruction.

The white dragon awaited them as they exited and they flew their way to Mintaka.

As they neared the capital Lyude noticed a large group of people gathering at the dock. He guessed the people recognized the white dragon from their past visits to the empire. The white dragon landed, settling herself into the water, folding her wings and swimming in place.

Lyude had not realized that the white dragon could swim, she appeared a reptilian swan on an oversized lake. When he looked over Lyude found that the dock and surrounding area was occupied by the entire capital's citizens and his eyes grew wide.

As Lyude stood to dismount a loud cheer rang across the dock. He heard his name shouted over and over and saw a line of officers standing in the center front to receive them. Ayme and Folon foremost among them.

"Hey, Lyude. Are you just going to stand there like a statue all day, or are you going to go meet your public?" asked Kalas with a mischievous smile as his friend stood rooted to the spot.

"All these people are here to see me? But there's no way they could know about my involvement with the organ yet . . ." said Lyude. "That means . . ." his expression was that of surprise and he remembered the words of Diadem's king at their last meeting, this had nothing to do with the Organ. "King Ladekahn told me this would probably happen, but I didn't truly believe it." he said shaking his head in disbelief, "I'm not ready for this."

"You're as ready as you'll ever be Lyude." said Kalas, "Come on, lets go." The cheers were deafening by the time they had dismounted the white dragon. Lyude felt numb, the sounds of his countrymen were a dull roar in his ears as Ayme and Folon led them through the capital to his home amid the fanfare. People grasped at him as he passed and he would manage a wave or a smile, but it all felt mechanical to him as he placed one foot in front of the other and allowed himself to be led. He wished that Alyssa was with him. He could faintly hear Ayme and Folon on either side of him ordering people to allow them through.

Lyude's boots felt like lead by the time they reached his home and got him inside closing the door quickly behind them. Lyude moved woodenly to the table and sat heavily, his hands engulfing his face.

"What just happened out there?" asked Lyude to no one in particular.

"A hero returned home." came a stiff voice behind him, "Or so the shouts outside say." Lyude stiffened, whirling around to face who had spoken.

"Brother!" he said, voice dying in his throat as he saw Skeed standing behind him, his brother's expression was unreadable. Lyude seemed paralyzed by his brother's piercing gaze.

"Lyude. . ." came another voice as another figure entered the room.

"Sister!" Lyude said standing and upsetting the chair he had been seated in. "You're alive! Oh. I'm so glad that you're both all right!" he said resisting the urge to wrap his arms around them. For all that they had done, for all the pain they had caused him, he loved them just the same.

His heart sank as he noted their hard visages, their deep frowns and hardened eyes, perhaps nothing had changed after all.

"Lyude." said Skeed bowing his head.

"Can you ever forgive us?" said Vallye meeting his eyes and he realized that their expressions had been that of contrition. For once, he had not been the object of their disdain.

"Brother. . . sister . . . I . . ." he drew back as both went down on one knee before him.

"You needn't call us that, we aren't worthy of those titles." said Skeed. "We are here for one reason only . . . to release you."

"Release me? What are you talking about?" asked Lyude.

"We'll be out guarding the perimeter." said Ayme, she and Folon exited quietly.

"It's time you knew the truth, Lyude." said Vallye, "There is no longer any need to keep it from you. It will no longer matter in this land."

"There is no pardon for what we have done to you and we can never return your mother." said Skeed.

"My mother? What are you talking about? Our mother died just after I was born."

"No, Lyude. Your mother didn't." said Vallye.

"What?" said Lyude.

"You remember when I mentioned that you had stone carver's blood in your veins?" said Skeed, "It was because your mother was from Azha. Lyude, Almarde was your mother."

"What! That can't be true, she would have told me." said Lyude leaning heavily on Kalas before sinking into another chair. "Do you mean to say that you are truly not my brother and sister?"

"We are your half brother and sister." said Vallye, "Our mother died two years before you were born. Father remarried so that we would have a mother, and then you were born. Father wanted you to have a bright future in the empire, but because of your breeding he felt it would be impossible. So he went through a lot of trouble to alter your birth records so that you would be recognized as a full blooded citizen of Mintaka."

"Almarde was content to pose as a foster nurse, she thought it would be best if you didn't learn the truth." said Skeed, "She knew that you would never be ashamed of her and she didn't want to jeopardize your future by allowing others to learn that you had originated at least partially from Azha."

"I think a part of me always wondered if that were true . . ." said Lyude his head bowed as their words sank in.

"Now that you know the truth we'll be gathering our things and be on our way, you are far more deserving of this home than we." said Vallye. "Goodbye, Lyude."

For a moment Lyude just sat silently but as he saw Vallye and Skeed picking up their military duffels and preparing to leave he jumped up suddenly. "WAIT!" he shouted and threw his arms around both of them. They jumped back in surprise. "Brother, sister, there's no need for this." he said fighting back the tears that so eagerly sought release, "I think we all know that this is not what Almarde . . . my mother would have wanted." as he stated these last words he felt a great warmth fill his heart. Just saying those words, the realization felt more natural than a shock.

Though he knew now that Vallye and Skeed were only related to him as half siblings, they were still his brother and sister. Though it was by their hand that he had lost Almarde he knew that she wouldn't have wanted him to give up on his family.

Vallye and Skeed had been influenced by the Emperor, just as surely as he had when he had thrown the second end magnus to Ayme. He didn't know why exactly he had escaped such complete manipulation, but he knew it was so. Then another thought occurred to him as he remembered Panaway running into Gibari and Kalas asking him if he had been taught to behave that way in school. Imperial citizens were brainwashed from childhood.

Almarde had known. That was why she had insisted on private lessons for him. She had home schooled him to protect him from the influence of the empire, Brianne had done the same with Scalla. Perhaps he wasn't as much of a puppet as he had believed.

He grasped them both tighter. His heart would not allow him to blame his brother and sister for Almarde's fate. They had done what they felt that they must from what they had been forced into believing. Lyude felt that the end Magnus experiments in Mintaka likely had something to do with the cruel nature that many of it's most prominent citizens had acquired over the past several years. As closely as he had worked for Geldoblame perhaps he may have also been corrupted had it not been for Almarde's loving influence and his exile to Diadem.

He finally drew back and viewed his brother and sister's stricken faces, "This family and this country have suffered enough through the influence of Emperor Geldoblame, there is so much that must be done. I need both of you now more than I ever have. Please, stand with me. It will take the combined efforts of all citizens to make this land a place that we can be proud of."

"You would still have us after what we did to you? After we murdered your mother and would have killed you as well?" said Vallye.

"The time for guilt and regret has passed, Vallye, we must live. A life of sorrows is nothing more than a living death. I realized that on the Phantom Goldoba my friends and I encountered. If we are to rebuild, we must bury that which prevents us from moving on.

I will never forget Almarde, and I will always remember her fondly. I feel honored now that I can call myself her son. I must honor her memory, as she said there are things I must do, but I need someone to stand beside me as I do. I don't think there is anything that would bring Almarde greater happiness than seeing us finally able to live and work together as a family." said Lyude his eyes warm as the love he had for his siblings, despite all that they had done lay bare before him.

"Lyude . . ." said Vallye holding him for the first time with genuine affection. "Thank you." He hugged her back tightly, a single grateful tear rolling down his cheek.

He turned to Skeed and they faced each other for a long moment. Skeed nodded and the brothers embraced. "This time, Lyude, we shall fight by your side." said Skeed.

Lyude nodded. "Thank you both, thank you for giving me my mother." he said.

He turned and saw Kalas and Xelha standing in the corner waiting quietly. "Oh, Kalas, Xelha, I'm sorry." he said striding over to them. "I would like you to formally meet my brother Skeed and my sister Vallye. I feel myself as if I'm meeting them for the first time."

"We're sorry for intruding." said Xelha, "It's good to meet you both."

"Hiya." said Kalas waving. Vallye and Skeed nodded to each of them in turn.

"It seems we owe you some thanks for standing by our brother throughout this entire mess." said Vallye. "I don't know what we would have done if something had happened to him after the emperor had gone and we realized what fools we had been."

"Our country would have been lost without you and your friends, Lyude." said Skeed.

"This was sent here for you the day after Malpercio's destruction in hopes that you would return." he handed him a sealed letter with an Imperial seal.

"What is it?" asked Kalas.

"Kalas, It's sealed for a reason!" said Xelha. Lyude opened the letter and his jaw dropped after reading the first few lines.

"It's from the group that has been organizing relief here in Alfard. It says that not only do the people support me and wish me to conduct relations between ours and the other nations, they want me as the new Emperor!"

"That's great Lyude!" said Kalas clapping him on the shoulder.

"What do you think Lyude?" asked Xelha, not looking surprised in the least.

"I'm honored but . . . Why me?" asked Lyude.

"Geez, Lyude, you really are a thickhead." said Kalas rolling his eyes. "How can you even ask that now?"

"Why wouldn't they want you, Lyude?" asked Xelha, "You were the only person to stand against Geldoblame from the beginning. You recognized the need for change and did everything you could to see that it came about. As far as I can tell you're the best candidate they have."

"Come on, Lyude." said Kalas, "Remember what my guardian spirit told you, don't sell yourself short. There's a lot of good you could do for your people. There's a lot you've already done, just in the past several weeks. Just imagine what you could do for Azha, this time you can stand with them without challenge."

"King Ladekahn warned me that this would probably happen, but I couldn't quite bring myself to believe his words." said Lyude, "For so long I have been looked down upon by my peers, I didn't think such a thing would be possible. . . even now . . . I . . .I - I'm sorry . . . could I have some time to myself for a few minutes?" he asked. "Of course." said Xelha, "Kalas and I will help Ayme and Folon."

"We'll come with you." said Vallye.

"Just think about it Lyude." said Skeed placing his hand briefly on his brother's shoulder.

As soon as he heard the door close behind him Lyude allowed his head to drop heavily on the table. It was a huge responsibility his people wished to entrust him with. If he were to accept he would never have a hope of any normal life.

"Emperor Lyude." he said to himself. The words sounded unnatural and more than a little ludicrous. After all the shame and hatred he had received from his people the idea was absurd. He had hoped that he could just go home and help his people. He had never thought it would come to this. "What should I do?" he asked the empty room. Then as if forming from the steam of the vents four words came to his mind: Have an answer ready.

Lyude rose from his seat with resolve. "One has only to find the right question." he said. He had found that question and indeed, he had an answer ready.

"So, are we talking to Emperor Lyude?" asked Kalas grinning as he and the rest, save Ayme and Folon filed in.

Lyude turned to them, the fire that only Xelha and Kalas were accustomed to seeing in him burning in his eyes. He faced them, his proud posture and level gaze proving his commanding capabilities and talents. "No." he said firmly.