Chapter 2 Sadal Suud

Lyude sailed the remainder of that morning into the afternoon. He left the ship on auto pilot for the most part, it gave him time to think. He was sailing into a lie. He was being ordered to lie to the monarch of a country to which he was supposed to be serving as an ambassador.

Not that he had counted on being able to make much of a difference there, but he had hoped, perhaps, that he could find some way to improve conditions between Alfard and Diadem. The relations between the two nations were shaky at best and bordered on hostility. Of course, Alfard was hostile to practically all of the nations, even if their relations were decent.

He sighed. He was just a boy, he knew that. What chance did he possibly have? He reflected heavily on this. He didn't wish to deceive King Ladekahn, but if he were to tell him the truth he would be cast out for sure. It would be an insult to his nation to accept an exiled Ambassador. He placed his head in his hands and allowed it to drop to his knees. "Why?" he asked the air. "Why must I always be forced into these horrid choices?" The sky, of course, held no answer.

As the light began to dim Lyude stopped his boat again and took out some rations. He ate and drank quietly watching the other ships that passed and guessing where they were from. It was not much to keep him occupied, very few ships passed between Alfard and the other nations.

He could sail for a while yet, Almarde had taught him to navigate by the stars when he was very young. He stretched, the hours of inactivity had fatigued him and he felt himself beginning to fall asleep.

He looked at the sky and consulted his navigation array, he was barely on schedule. He could afford to stop for now, but it would not allow for much more time elsewhere. "All right, a few more hours then." he said. He looked bleakly at the sky, it would be a clear night, but the chill was beginning to creep in even as the sun set. He shivered. He began to search his well organized magnus for his imperial coat, he knew that he had packed it. It took him only a few moments and he quickly summoned the material and slipped inside.

As he buttoned it up he glanced himself reflected in the gilded siding of the boat. The coat suited him well, it was black and came down just past his calves. Golden cord adorned it's collar and sleeves. Had he been older, he would have looked as if he ought to be giving orders, not receiving them. "To look at me you'd think that I was someone important." he said softly and turned from the sight.

He sailed the better part of four hours before he finally anchored his vessel and prepared to go to sleep. He searched his deck briefly until he found a blanket. The boat was far too small to even consider a mattress.

Lyude lay down on the hard surface of the deck and rested his head on his arm. It would be another day before he reached Sadal Suud, He was in for a rough night.

The stars were shining bright, that night. He could see every constellation clearly. He sighed, his hot breath a wispy cloud fading into the night. All around him was silence. It occurred to him that this was probably the most silence he had ever encountered at night. At his Mintaka home he had fallen asleep to the hiss of the vents as they warmed or cooled the house. He almost missed the hum of the security systems he had heard in the small living quarters he had been assigned in the Imperial fortress. He lay there for another hour or so, despite his quiet surroundings, unable to sleep.

He hated to admit it, but the silence was what was troubling him. He couldn't remember a night that he hadn't been lulled to sleep by the steady drones of a machine. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the small silver of Almarde's music box. He thought of her and smiled in sad contemplation. He wished she could be there. He wound the small box and listened as it played. The sound was soothing and made him feel a little less lonely. He allowed the warm memories to envelop him and drifted off to sleep.

Lyude woke that morning shivering against the cold. The ship he had been issued had not really intended for use in cold weather and the chill had not yet faded as the sun began to rise.

He stood up stiffly and stretched his cramped muscles. He had not slept well and his eyes were shadowed and lined. He guessed it to be about 7am by the position of the sun. He needed to get moving if he wanted to arrive in Sadal Suud by that evening.

As the day wore on, Lyude began to feel more and more uncomfortable about the weather. It was still cold, and that was unusual for this time of year. The sky was clouding and the look of dusk was cast in the noon sky. "I hope I reach Sadal Suud before this weather comes to a head. Why on earth did they have to put me on one of these fair weather vessels?"

As evening crept slowly forward Lyude's luck did not improve. Three hours before he was to reach Sadal Suud the skies opened with a vengeance. A deluge of rain soaked him through in a matter of moments. Lyude just stood there for a few moments dripping and stiff from the sudden chill of the water. "Wonderful." he said shaking his soaked head. "I'm going to end up going to Sadal Suud looking like a drown Hograt."

He was relieved that his gilded boots were proofed against rust, else he would have had to do some extensive maintenance work to keep them from doing so.

When he reached Sadal Suud late that evening the rain had still not let up. Cold and wet, Lyude tied his boat off near a small village. He believed it was called Cebalrai if memory served him. He saw a young boy passing by with a blue Greythorne holding a small tarp over his head. The boy stopped when he saw Lyude and waved. " Hey there! What're you doing just standing out in the rain? Ain't you cold?"

"Freezing." said Lyude with a rueful grin. "Could you tell me where I could find some place to stay tonight?"

The boy looked at him doubtfully. "Hmmm...What do you think Meemai? Should we help him?"

"Squeaaaak! Sqeeeeak!"

Lyude smiled as the blue greythorne bounced around lacing his way around Lyude's boots and squeaking. "Hello to you too." he said.

"Well, Meemai likes you anyway, and he's really smart...Okay, I'll take you to Cebalrai." said the boy. "Doc Larikush might let you stay at his place."

"Thank you." Lyude said. "My name is Lyude, by the way, what's yours?"

"Cedr. Nice to meet ya, Lyude."

"Likewise." said Lyude whipping out a handkerchief and sneezing mightily. Lyude sniffed miserably.

"Bless you." said Cedr.

"Thanks." said Lyude and grabbed his satchel. He allowed Cedr to lead him into town, shivering and beginning to cough, he felt his brow beginning to warm.

"Looks like you need to see the Doc anyway. You sound like you're getting a cold." said Cedr.

"Wouldn't surprise me in the least." said Lyude sniffing.

"Where exactly are you from, anyway? Those are some really weird clothes."

"It's my uniform." said Lyude. "I'm from Alfard."

"Alfard?"said Cedr looking puzzled.

"The Empire." explained Lyude simply.

"Oh... the Empire, huh? What are you doing in Sadal Suud?"

"I'm on my way to diadem. I've been assigned a post there."

"I thought that Diadem didn't like the Empire." said Cedr.

"Relations between our two nations have never been strong, but I suppose that's why I'm going there." he said. "To get rid of me..." he thought to himself.

"Why would you wanna go somewhere that doesn't like you?"

"Hopefully, I can find a way to change that. I'm being sent as an ambassador to try and help the two nations work together."

"Oh, sorta like a peace maker?"

"I guess so." sighed Lyude.

They reached the village a few moments later and Cedr beckoned Lyude to follow him. Despite the chill and the rain, Lyude looked around him in interest. He had never been outside of Alfard before and he felt curious about the other nations. The simple town fascinated him and Cedr had to tug at his coat to get his attention. "What were you staring at? I hope it wasn't any of the girls, if you're rich they're bound to try to get you to marry them."

"Huh! No, no, It's just that I've never been..."Lyude stopped, slightly embarrassed.

"What?"

"I've never been outside Alfard." he said after a moment. "I'm sorry, let's go."

Cedr looked at the entrance to one of the houses where a young girl was hastily preparing to go outside. "Yeah, we'd better, here comes bachelorette number one. I warned you, didn't I?"

Lyude hastily made to follow him. The boy took him to a small hut and led him inside. Lyude shivered as the warm air sent shocks to his numbed limbs. He stood where he was in the doorway, not wishing to trail water all over the doctor's floor.

"Doc Larikush! I brought a guest."

Lyude looked up groggily to see an older, yet sturdy gentleman turn from one of the beds and look at him. "Good heavens. Is that an imperial uniform? Drat. Never mind, never mind, boy." he said looking at Lyude's chilled condition and grasping him around the shoulders. The wet material of his uniform chilled him further as it made closer contact to his skin. How long have you been out in this horrible storm? Gracious, he's bordering on hypothermia. Nurse!"

A young woman came forward and Larikush instructed her to get some water boiling . He helped Lyude out of his coat and took out a screen from the corner. "Here, get yourself into some dry clothes."

Lyude thanked him and declined the white nightshirt he was offered. He went behind the screen and summoned up one of his spare uniforms. Once he had changed and dried as much as he could he stepped out and Larikush draped a large blanket over his shoulders ushering him to a bed.

He handed Lyude some hot green tea and watched him as he took small sips. "Very good, young man, that should fix you right up."

"Thank you." said Lyude. "That's much better. And thank you Cedr. You were a great help."

"You're welcome. I'd better get home, see ya, bye Doc Larikush!"

"Well, now that I think we've gotten you thawed and feeling better, what is a lone imperial soldier doing in Cebalrai?"

Lyude introduced himself and explained his mission, slowly beginning to feel he could breathe again as the tea soothed his raw throat and relaxed him.

When he finished Larikush nodded pensively. "To Diadem? Interesting. Well, that's quite a trip, I'm sure you know. I won't question you further, young man. You're fighting down a fever, you should rest."

"I truly appreciate your kindness." Lyude said.

"There's no need to thank me, just get some sleep. We'll get your things dry for you and they will be ready by the time you leave."

"Thank you." said Lyude and felt no trouble getting to sleep.

When he woke the next morning he felt well and refreshed. He stretched as he stood and straightened himself up making the bed he had been sleeping on. He was adjusting his tie when Larikush entered.

"That's an interesting uniform you have there." he said looking at Lyude curiously, I've only seen the gray ones."

"My uniform is uncommon to say the least, It's probably the only one you'll ever see again." said Lyude.

Larikush gave him a quick check and walked with Lyude into town. As they made their way to the town limits several girls came their way. Lyude realized in that moment that the boy had not been joking, one of the girls proposed to him on the spot. "I beg your pardon?" he said in shock.

"Ooooh, listen to how classy he talks, rich and refined. Wow!" said one girl.

"I saw him first, take me away handsome stranger, let us build a life in fabulous Pherkad."said another.

"Egad." Lyude muttered and was grateful as Larikush shooed them away and they were able to reach his ship.

"Fine vessel, for fair weather." said Larikush. "Not too practical for yesterday though. No wonder you were so wet."

"It definitely wouldn't have been my first choice in vessels, said Lyude, but I have to reach Diadem by this evening. Thank you again."

"Take care of yourself, young man. I hope the weather stays in your favor today."

"That makes two of us." said Lyude smiling and boarded the ship giving it his routine check as usual. Everything appeared to be in perfect working order so he bid farewell to Larikush and sailed away. Unaware of the severed wiring and small detonator hidden within the ship's base.