Chapter 8: The Cloud Passage

Lyude woke that morning bent over his desk with a stiff back and his letter to Almarde sticking to his face. He grunted softly in slight annoyance and removed the paper. He stretched his sore back muscles and looked in the mirror.

"Great." he mumbled. His face had to have touched upon still-damp ink. His signature was clearly visible on his cheek. He washed his face and prepared for the morning.

It took him a few moments to realize that it was actually quite a bit later than when he normally rose. The past few weeks had been hard on him and had taken their toll, but for the first night in weeks, Lyude had enjoyed a peaceful, dreamless night. He looked out of his window, taking in the view appreciatively. He breathed the fresh morning air and felt truly free for the first time since he could remember.

He opened the door to his room, just as Matthias prepared to knock. "Oh, um...hi!" said Matthias lowering his hand sheepishly.

"Good morning, Matthias!" said Lyude brightly, "Is there something you needed?"

"Oh, I just wondered if you'd like some breakfast."said Matthias. " I could have some sent up to you, or would you like to try the food over at Anna's?"

"At Anna's?"

"Yeah, she's got some really good food at her tavern. I thought, since you haven't had the chance to get out much, you might enjoy mingling a little bit and join me. Maybe it was a bad idea."

"No, no. It's an excellent idea. If I am to live here I must learn your customs and get to know your people. I'd love to accompany you."

"Well, great! Ready to go?"

"Certainly."

The two young men walked together down the hall, Matthias enjoying the sudden change in the ambassador's humor. Up to that point Lyude had been withdrawn and somber. There was new life in his eyes today, and he seemed...hopeful. He smiled and listened with interest as Matthias explained about how the castle was built and the Jade dragon in the foyer of the castle.

Matthias informed the head knight of their plans and he gave the go ahead for them to go. "Oh, and ambassador, if you're going to be taking the cloud passage, you had best keep this with you." he said handing Lyude his sonic rifle magnus. "We've been having reports that there are a few monsters running along it lately."

"Thank you, sir." said Lyude.

As they left the castle Matthias breathed a sigh of relief..

"Is something wrong?" asked Lyude.

"Nah, it's just that I wasn't sure the captain would approve of me taking you out on a casual visit of the country. I would have hated to suggest something and then you not be allowed to go."

"I see." said Lyude. "Why did you ask, by the way? It seems a little out of your way."

"It's gotta be pretty lonely for you out here away from your friends and family. We're the same age, I thought we might be friends."

Lyude smiled warmly. "Your kindness and hospitality are greatly appreciated. I could use a

friend."

"So, how long do you expect to be stationed here?" asked Matthias.

"I don't know really, a long time. I didn't exactly leave my country on the most pleasant of terms. Hence my somewhat distracted behavior for the past few days."

"Is that what you had to talk to King Ladekahn about?" asked Matthias.

"Yes. I felt it necessary that he know the circumstances of my transfer here. I must admit I was quite surprised by his response. I feel great pride and pleasure to serve Diadem and it's king."

"I think you'll like it here. It's not really fancy like Mintaka, but we get along."

"Nonsense." said Lyude, "I felt most comfortable in Nashira. The people who live there seem to work with such passion and pride, it is truly a marvel to see."

They had just come half way down the cloud passage when two stripers confronted them, snarling menacingly. Lyude reached quickly into his pocket and summoned his sonic rifle. "Matthias, can you fight?" he asked softly, not wanting to aggravate the two stripers before them. Yes. But I don't have any good attack magnus on me now! What are you doing!" Lyude had stepped in front of him, a moment later the first striper lunged. Lyude countered the blow with a shield magnus. Lyude grunted as the striper's weight impacted with the shield. "There's no way I'm going to be able to beat both of these on my own, Matthias, you're going to have run."

"I'm not just going to leave you here!"

"You have to! You have no means of defense, I can hold them off for a few minutes."

"No way!"

Lyude blocked a blow from the other striper and his weapon charged. He pulled off a large combo and by pure luck, knocked the first striper from the cloud passage. The striper's mate, however, became easily as ferocious as both of them combined and Lyude felt himself waning from fatigue. Matthias had refused to leave and was trying to distract the final striper by throwing anything he could find in his pockets at it. This, however, only angered the beast further.

Just as the striper knocked Lyude to the ground Lyude thought he saw a flash of large, colorful fins and a boat paddle fly in front of his face and uppercut the creature. Lyude sat up as Matthias rushed to check him. He was unharmed. He looked up to see the fisherman with tattoos fighting his battle and giving the saber toothed creature the final blow. The fins had been his wings, Lyude realized.

"You two okay?" asked Gibari as he returned his oar to it's respective Magnus and his wings disappeared.

"Just fine." said Lyude with relief. "Thank you."

"Hey, no problem." said Gibari, pulling Lyude to his feet. "Just glad you two aren't hurt."

"I daresay we would have been had you arrived a moment later." said Lyude. "My deepest gratitude."

"No need for all the formal junk, Lyude, I can call you that right?"

Lyude smiled. "By all means."

They walked together down the cloud passage on the way to Nashira, only encountering one or two more beasts to battle. By the time they reached Anna's Lyude was absolutely starving. He supposed he could safely count his morning exercises completed.

As they sat and ate Lyude and Matthias talked about each of their countries and their roles within them. Lyude did not allow the stares to trouble him. It was going to take some time to gain the trust of the people but he was certain he could prove his intentions somehow.

"It's on the house today, boys." said Anna when Lyude inquired about the bill.

"That really isn't necessary." said Lyude.

"I know that, I want to. Consider it a welcome."

"Man, I'm gonna have to hang around you more often kid." said Gibari. "Nothing like a free meal."

"I wouldn't really call it free on your part. You quite possibly saved mine and Matthias' lives today."

"Aw, that? Shucks kid, you had that striper half dead by the time I got there."

"Not enough to keep it from overpowering me." said Lyude remembering the creature's putrid breath on his neck. On second more and...he shuddered at the thought.

"Good morning miss Anna." said a young woman of about seventeen.

"Oh, good morning, Katrina, how's that grouse of a grandfather of yours?"

"I heard that." said an old man as he walked inside. Lyude looked up and suppressed a sigh. It was the old man he had met in Sheliak. The last thing he wanted was a scene. Sure enough the old man spotted him seated at the table and a look of pure disgust swept across his face.

Anna noticed this and quickly distracted the old man. "So, Rolf, still insisting on fishing?"

"A man's never to old to fish." said Rolf. "What's that imperial brat doing here?"

"Now, Rolf." said Anna, "Sir Lyude has been the picture of courtesy so far as I can tell, let him be."

"Let him be? How about he lets us be? The empire has no business even setting foot in our lands. They're all self important braggarts, every last one of them!"

"Grandpa!" said Katrina. "That's enough, let's go. I'm so sorry, sir." she said bowing slightly to Lyude. "Sorry Miss Anna."

"It's all right." said Lyude standing. "He is entitled to his opinion. I'm sorry you feel that way, sir."

Rolf grumbled under his breath and exited the tavern. Katrina paused and walked up to Lyude. "You really must forgive him." she said. "He's been this way since I can remember. I'm truly sorry."

"It's fine." said Lyude. "Really."

The girl nodded and followed her grandfather out.

"Old grump." said Gibari. "A lot of the older people around here don't care much for the empire, Lyude. Rolf's a pretty vocal old guy, but Katrina can usually shame him out of his outbursts. He'll get used to ya."

"It's no surprise to me that he would be distrustful. After all, the Empire has made no previous attempts of this sort." said Lyude. "I'm sure, in time, Diadem and the Empire can place aside their differences and work together in commerce." Lyude wasn't sure if he believed his own words, but it was his duty to try. He had already failed in his personal duty once, he did not plan to do so again. He knew that the Empire would have to play along with whatever he attempted to do here, they still thought the king ignorant, after all. If he was going to make things work, it was best that belief was entertained.