I wasn't sure if I had any readers. I'll get the next two chapters ready for you.

Chapter 3 Ambassador of Diadem

Lyude was surprised that he was feeling so refreshed. He had feared that he would be ill when he arrived in Diadem. After yesterday, he was surprised that he wasn't. He frowned slightly, Larikush... why did that sound so familiar to him? He brushed the thought aside after a moment, reasoning that wherever he had heard it, the simple village doctor was probably not who they were talking about.

Around midday Lyude started noticing some anomalies in the control and navigation array. Never fully trusting technology, Lyude took out an old compass and realized that the information on the navigation's array would have lead him straight back to Mintaka. Someone had been tinkering with his ship.

He began to run a diagnostic sweep of the ship's systems and heard a loud click as he did so. A moment later there was a loud blast and the boat shook, knocking Lyude off balance. Smoke began to curl upward from the seams of the deck.

"Sabotage?" said Lyude picking himself up. By the nature of the blast, it had not been designed to cause him harm, just cripple him. "Why would anyone want to lead me toward Mintaka and then disable my vessel?" he said puzzled.

He checked the computer and backup systems, but nothing was operational, not even communications. He sighed. He would be stranded if he did not improvise. He stood there a moment surveying the ship then got out his tools. He would just have to rig the ship so that it could be flown manually.

It was quite a bit of work to release the rudder and sails from their mechanical clasps, but he managed it in about an hour and released the sails. The wind was fair that day and he traveled well, consulting his charts and maps and using his compass to find his way. He was barely going to make it on time.

When he finally reached Sheliak, just as the sun was setting, his jaw dropped. He couldn't believe how beautiful Castle Elnath was. It was more amazing than anything he had ever seen.

As he went through the routine motions of docking his vessel, several knights approached him. Lyude turned to them nodding his greetings and silently asking them for their patience. The head knight nodded in return.

Lyude tied the boat off and stepped forward to meet the knights. "You are from the Empire, correct?" said the head knight.

"Yes," said Lyude, "I..."

"We were expecting an ambassador from your people, has there been some sort of delay, young man?"

"Ambassador Lyude Lyricello, reporting for duty, sir." said Lyude bowing respectfully "I am at your service. I apologize if I am at all tardy."

"You? You're the ambassador?" said the head knight unable to hide the resentment in his voice.

"Yes sir. Is there some problem?" said Lyude uneasily.

"No. Not at all, ambassador." said the head knight. Lyude could see that it was only discipline and an obligation of courtesy restraining the man from saying otherwise. He followed the knights from the dock. He stopped momentarily at the sight of King Ladekahn's statue. It was quite magnificent and Lyude looked at it with obvious appreciation.

The head knight, upon seeing this allowed his features to soften, just a little, and he beckoned for Lyude to follow him. Lyude allowed himself to be led down the busy street towards Castle Elnath. He saw many curious stares as he passed the towns people and he smiled kindly when he made eye contact with any. He stopped dead at the sight of the palace up close. It seemed structurally impossible for the castle to be standing. It seemed that Castle Elnath was constructed with just as much cloud as it was stone and mortar. Clouds seemed to billow freely from the walls themselves and the pale cast of the sun gave the palace a rosy hue.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" said the Head Knight, venturing a friendly smile.

"Absolutely magnificent." agreed Lyude."I've never seen anything like it. Great love and care has been put into the construction of this nation..." his face fell slightly as he thought of Alfard, love seemed to be the last thing that his nation was concerned with.

Lyude saw that the head knight must have seen this, because he noticed him eying him curiously. Lyude straightened. He needed to make a good first impression. At the moment he knew that he must seem an awed child. Childish was the last thing he wanted to appear. He could take in the sights later... If he was still there later, that was. He allowed his face to slip into it's military mask and nodded that he was ready to continue.

When they entered the castle, Lyude privately marveled at it's beauty. He did not pause again, however, and kept his face expressionless.

They stopped at a large set of double doors and the head knight asked him to wait there and left Lyude with the remainder of his guard. A boy about his age walked up to him smiling. He too was in a uniform. A royal page if Lyude was not mistaken.

"Welcome." said the young man. "Are you a messenger from the Empire?"

Lyude restrained a sigh, he knew they were asking him this because of his age. He couldn't blame them. Who had ever heard of a sixteen year old ambassador? "No. I'm the ambassador that Emperor Geldoblame promised." he said.

"YOU'RE THE AMBASSADOR?" said the boy incredulously.

"Matthias!" said one of the guard sternly.

"Sorry." said the boy quickly. " My apologies, ambassador, I meant no disrespect."

Lyude smiled reassuringly, "It's fine." he said. "I can't truly say I didn't expect a few eyebrows to be raised."

"Just how old are you?" asked Matthias.

"Sixteen." said Lyude.

"Wow! So am I! I'm just a page boy though, it must be really exciting to be allowed such high positions so young."

"Matthias!" said one of the soldiers again.

"Oh, right. Sorry. I'll take your things to your room. If you have any weapons, you'll have to hand them over too before you can go see the king. Lyude nodded. He took out his orders and military file from the satchel and handed it to Matthias.

"Weapons?"

"Just one." said Lyude and took out his sonic rifle. Matthias let out a low whistle as Lyude summoned it from magnus form for one of the soldiers to examine. Another one searched him to be sure he was not concealing anything. When that was complete they quietly waited for the head knight to return and escort him in.

Meanwhile inside the throne room the head knight made his report.

"Captain, has the ambassador arrived?" said King Ladekahn.

"Yes, your majesty." said the had knight bowing.

"What is your impression of him?"

"May I speak freely, my lord?"

"You may." replied King Ladekahn.

"He's a child." said the head knight, his face flushing, "No older than Matthias. I can't say much about his character yet, he just arrived, but I think he may be hiding something. He seems quite nervous."

"I'm not surprised if he's as young as you say." said King Ladekahn. "A position such as this is a great responsibility."

"It's an insult, my lord."said the head knight venomously, "He is by no means experienced enough to be placed here."

Ladekahn raised a hand in a calming gesture. "Calm yourself, Captain." said Ladekahn. "I do not foresee his presence here having much of an impact on the relations of our two nations. I believe that Lord Geldoblame feels the same way, the dispatch of an ambassador is likely nothing more than a formality. An attempt to appear as if he is extending the hand of friendship."

"Still, my lord, he is little more than a child. What can he possibly contribute? Why allow some whelp of an imperial soldier run free in our nation? For all we know he could be a spy."

"I am aware of that, Captain." said Ladekahn. "However, I shall not be so quick to dismiss or condemn him. I shall judge for myself. Bring him in."

"Of course, Sire."

It had been several minutes since the head knight had left them. Matthias had left with Lyude's things five minutes ago. Lyude forced down the panic that was rising from somewhere in his stomach. Perhaps the king would hear the head knight's report and not even bother to meet him. He pushed the fear aside as irrational. "Calm down, Lyude." he thought. He knew well enough from his studies that while King Ladekahn had been a reckless and daring youth, he was a very wise and kind-hearted king. If Lyude had even a chance to be accepted, it would be with this monarch.

The double doors opened to reveal a sentry. "You may enter now." said the Sentry simply. Lyude allowed himself to be escorted across the bridge leading to the throne room. If he'd had wings he though that he just might have flown away rather than face the king. Either way he looked at things he

would lose. He would either be cast aside and have to find somewhere he could live in exile quietly, or he would be accepted and hate himself for the rest of his life for deceiving the king with his military file. Did he even dare tell the king the truth?

When the doors to the throne room opened and Lyude set eyes on his surroundings he discreetly pinched himself. His boots made an echoing noise on the floor, but it seemed he was almost walking on water. It was as if he was walking into a dream. King Ladekahn rose to meet him and Lyude bent on one knee, bowing respectfully.

"Your majesty." he said softly.

"You may rise, ambassador." said Ladekahn. "Welcome to Diadem."

"Thank you, your majesty." said Lyude, wincing at hearing the king address him as ambassador.

"I understand that you were sent with the orders and your military file. You will have to forgive me, but they never sent your name." said Ladekahn.

Lyude looked a little surprised. "It is I that should apologize, your majesty. My Name is Lyude, sir. Lyude Lyricello."

Ladekahn nodded. "Welcome to you, Lyude."

Lyude released a breath in slight relief, though he tried not to let it show. As long as the king did not address him by his post he felt a little less fake. Perhaps Ladekahn had sensed his discomfort with the title.

The king took his file and read over it quietly. "It seems that you have come from a very upstanding family in Alfard. Several generations of Military service." he said.

"Yes, your majesty." said Lyude. "The Lyricello's have been in service to the emperor for as far back as records date. All with nearly flawless records..." he broke off there he had almost said, "until him."

"You are no exception it seems. I won't question you unduly, Lyude. You've had a long journey and I'm sure you wish to rest. We have a room prepared for you. If you have nothing further to report or no concerns you are dismissed."

Lyude paused for a moment and looked as if he might speak. "Nothing. Your majesty." he said finally and despised himself for the words. He was escorted to the room they had prepared and he collapsed on the bed. "Coward." he murmured into the pillows.