Writer's note: For those of you who have been following this story as it is being published, I need to point out that I added a part in chapter five within the last few paragraphs during a dream sequence. I have published this on the BK forums and I didn't realize that part wasn't saved on my word processor. Sorry. This will be the last inconvenience. As always, reviews are always welcome.

Chapter 7: Lyude's confession.

Lyude walked silently down the hall, his face a mask of solemn discipline.

"Hey, Ambassador!" came a voice behind him.

Lyude turned, "Hmm?" Matthias caught up to him after a moment and caught his breath.

"Good to see you awake. Those imperial rifles really pack a punch, don't they?"

"They certainly do." said Lyude ruefully, "Particularly close range."

"Who was that woman anyway? She was really rude. Didn't seem to like you much either."

"That... was my elder sister, Vallye." said Lyude. "A commander in the imperial army."

"Whoops. Sorry. I didn't mean to offend."

"You didn't." sighed Lyude. "My sister is a very serious officer. I'm afraid that I have always been a bit of a disappointment to Vallye."

"Vallye, huh? More like Viper." said Matthias under his breath.

"Hmm?"

"Nothing. The king has been waiting to see you, Ambassador, we were to inform him when you awoke."

"I see..." said Lyude quietly. "I was hoping to speak with him myself."

"Good. Follow me, then. Lyude followed Matthias with a sense of dread. He knew that he would not back down, but nonetheless, as they crossed the bridge that led to the throne room, Lyude was wistfully thinking of the advantages of wings.

"Ah, ambassador." said the head knight as they approached. "How are you feeling?"

"Well enough, Captain." said Lyude. "I would like an audience with the king."

"Of course, he is expecting you, actually. Go right in."

Lyude stepped into the throne room, once again awed by it's magnificent beauty, and unable to fathom how the floor could appear to be made of water and yet be quite solid. He noticed this because his head was held low when he first stepped in. He pulled himself together once inside and rose his head high. He heard a few more sets of footsteps behind him and knew that Matthias and the head knight had followed him in.

King Ladekahn rose to receive him and he knelt respectfully. "Are you well, Ambassador?" asked Ladekahn kindly.

"Yes, your majesty, thank you for your concern. I apologize for any inconvenience I may have caused you." said Lyude, his head bowed so low that his red tresses dangled low across his face.

"There was something you wished to discuss with me Ambassador?" prompted Ladekahn gently.

"Yes, your highness." said Lyude with resignation. "Although..."

"Yes?"

"There is something that I must speak with you about, your majesty. I would prefer, however, a private audience."

"Very well. Guard, please leave us."

The knights all turned to go, Ladekahn's Captain last of all. With reluctance. Lyude stood facing Ladekahn. His face bore a grim and somewhat weary expression. To king Ladekahn it seemed that the weight of all the gold of Mintaka must have been resting on the shoulders of the young man before him.

The door closed behind the head knight and Lyude sighed wearily, bracing himself for the worst.

"What is it you wanted to speak with me about, Ambassador?"

Lyude shook his head. "Where to begin?" he said sadly. "I suppose, first of all, I should bring my military file to your attention."

"Your military file? I've read it."

"I realize that, your majesty, but it's what's not in the file that troubles me."

"What isn't in the file?"

"Yes. You see, your majesty, my record is truly not as impressive as they made it out to be. In fact, as of late, it has been quite shameful."

King Ladekahn's expression remained flat. "Go on."

"The record is actually accurate up to a few weeks ago. Before that point I had a perfect record and a bright future in the Imperial army. Then one day the unit I once belonged to was given an order I simply could not abide. I tried to protest, but the emperor silenced me. I refused to follow my orders and was to be court- martialed for my insubordination. However, because I am a Lyricello, the Emperor decided to demote me instead and save my family the shame of a court - martial. So I was stripped of my rank and sent to take my position here in Diadem in an exile of sorts." Lyude bowed his head King Ladekahn was silent, pondering Lyude's words.

"I realize that my presence here must come as an insult to you and your nation, your majesty. I want you to know that was never my intention. I had genuinely hoped that I would be able to make a difference between our two nations, but I cannot do so under a lie. I suppose I cannot do so at all... I'm sorry for wasting your time. I must live with the consequences of my actions, but I will not do so under a falsity. I will leave Diadem quietly if that is your wish." said Lyude.

"Hmmm..." King Ladekahn looked thoughtfully over the nervous boy before him. "I won't ask you the nature of the mission that you refused, Lyude. I will ask, however, that if you had the opportunity, would you act any differently than you did in the same situation?"

"Yes, sire, I would like to believe that I would have done more than simply protest." said Lyude. "I wish I had tried to stop it."

"Your words ring true." said King Ladekahn. "Let me tell you something, Lyude. Disobedience is by no means encouraged here among the knights, but when it comes to matters of integrity it is on that knight's judgement alone he must rely. One has to be loyal to one's country, but one has also to be loyal to oneself." Lyude raised his head and met the King's kind gaze. "If you betray your heart, Lyude, then you will never feel whole. Since your arrival here, I have sensed an uneasiness about you. I have been watching you closely. I knew you were not being completely honest, yet I sensed in you no ill will. I believe that you mean my country no harm or disrespect. I believe that you are a very respectable young man. I know that you say that you do not wish to remain as something you are not. What if I were to personally ask you to remain and fulfill the duties that have been laid out for you?"

"I...beg your pardon?" said Lyude, taken aback.

"Will you remain as an ambassador of your country?"

Lyude could simply not believe his ears. King Ladekahn knew that he was cast aside by his own country and yet was willing to allow him to stay in an honorable position. He wanted him to remain in Diadem! "I...I don't know what to say, your majesty." he said falteringly.

"How does 'yes' sound to you?"

"I...yes. Yes of course!" said Lyude his voice cracking and the first real smile he had smiled in days broke across his face. "Thank you, your highness. Thank you so much!" Lyude said with a bow and lowering again to one knee. "I can't thank you enough for this opportunity, your highness. I promise you, I'll do my best."

"I believe that, Ambassador. Else I would not have asked you to stay. Do not feel yourself a burden. Perhaps you may indeed one day help to improve the relations between Alfard and Diadem. I look forward to working with you towards that goal."

"It would be an honor sir." said Lyude. His voice shrilling slightly and shaking. Lyude was mentally annoyed by it, his voice was in the middle of changing. He wished he would grow out of it. He felt he sounded absolutely foolish. But nothing in that moment could darken his mood. He felt the weight of the past several days lifting for the first time, but most of all, he felt hope. Hope that he may yet have a future.

He bowed once more and was excused from King Ladekahn's presence. He went directly to his room, barely able to contain his excitement. He could stay! He couldn't believe it. He no longer had to lie. He could be himself here. And that, he realized, was something he couldn't even have done at home.

He went directly to his desk and began writing animatedly to Almarde. He had to tell her what a kind ruler he had come to serve in Diadem and assured her that everything would be fine. Tomorrow he would come up with some ideas to try to bring the two nations together. It would have to be small, at first, but eventually he felt that they might work together as allies. In that moment, nothing seemed impossible. Perhaps one day he could atone for his failures and serve his nation, Mintaka and Azha alike, as a soldier again. Perhaps he could make Vallye and Skeed proud. He lay down his quill after an hour of writing and felt his eyes beginning to droop. Some late effects of the green tea. He closed his eyes, intending to rest them a moment, and did not open them again that night.

King Ladekahn called for his head knight and the captain took that opportunity to tell him of his findings on the ambassador and his sister.

"That was to be a private conversation, Captain, I gave you no order to eavesdrop." said Ladekahn.

"When it comes to your safety m'lord. I am willing to do anything it takes to protect you." said the head knight. "What should be done about him? We clearly can't trust him."

"On the contrary, Captain. That boy is a breath of fresh air among pollution. He means us no harm and has, in fact, already told me everything and more in his report to me. It turns out that our young ambassador is a very reluctant liar indeed."