Chapter 17:Treachery and Treason

When they arrived at their ships, Lyude was ordered to follow and rendevous on the path toward the throne room. Another of the guard watched him closely. Though Lyude doubted under any sort of orders. Lyude had been kept ignorant of the situation before the attack for a reason. Obviously, the Empire had feared that Lyude would inform Diadem of their plans. Which was not likely untrue.

He saw dead. Knight and soldier alike, scattered over the ground as he steered his sailboat toward the exposed walkway. He felt ill. How many of those men had he known? What good had his presence brought? The blood of his friends and countrymen alike had been spilled this day, and he had been powerless to stop it. A tear streaked down his cheek and a wave of fury rushed through him.

"Why!" He thought, clenching his fist and restraining himself from screaming. "Why did their Emperor lust for the blood of innocents? Why must so many pay with their lives over the ill-conceived paranoia of one man? How many more, good, decent people would fall never to rise for the sake of his loathsome fancies?" Lyude forced himself to stop his mental tirade. Such thoughts were not productive. He must focus on what was happening and the best way to serve in the situation.

He sighed. There wasn't likely much he could do. The imperial commander had specifically told him to stay out of the way, This did not suggest that he would have any say in anything whatsoever. When he arrived at the standoff, the Imperial commander was already there. He and his unit had fought their way through. The brunt of the attack was clearly meant to reach King Ladekahn himself, of course. But they seemed to be at a standoff. Lyude leapt from his small vessel onto the open walkway.

He saw King Ladekahn glance his way questioningly. Lyude could only stand silent. A barrage of simple, wooden spikes, and an assortment of knights were all that stood between the King and the Imperial Army. Lyude allowed himself a sigh of relief. At least Ladekahn was safe. He came forward a few steps as unbeknownst to all, a group of three cleared the balcony above.

Lyude listened intently as the Imperial commander made his demands. "Listen up, Ladekahn! Surrender peacefully, and the lives of your men and people will be spared."

King Ladekahn stood proud and silent. Doubtlessly pondering his options. With an infuriated glance toward the young ambassador the Head Knight turned to King Ladekahn. "My lord, their words are not to be trusted! I smell treachery!"

Lyude stood listening to it all, he knew what the king would do. He would come. He would deliver himself as a prisoner, and he, Lyude, would be forced to imprison the man he so looked up to. He could only hope that King Ladekahn would have better fortune in satisfying the Emperor that there was in fact, no plot against the Empire. What foolishness would that be? Diadem had little to no chance against the Empire even with the element of surprise. The accusation was ludicrous. Surely anyone could see that. Yet the charade was doomed to continue and Lyude found himself a pawn.

"I await your answer." said the Imperial Commander, "Surrender now, lest you doom your kingdom and people! The Emperor declares war on Diadem! We will not allow you to take us by surprise!"

"Take us by surprise?" thought Lyude. "What a thing to say under such circumstances." he closed his eyes and breathed a sigh.

He looked across the way and saw Ladekahn speaking to his head knight. His captain bowed his head and Ladekahn turned to face the Imperial forces. "It is I, King Ladekahn!" He announced for all to hear. "I'm coming out. Hold your fire!"

Lyude breathed a sigh of relief. He had been sure that King Ladekahn would be the reasonable one, but it was reassuring that the stalemate could now end. He watched as King Ladekahn drew near. He heard the Imperial commander mutter something to a woman Lyude had never seen before. She made a short reply as the King stopped just on the other side of the spikes.

"Here I am!" said Ladekahn, "Order your men to pull back, and take me to your Emperor."

What happened next seemed to hold as an eternity for Lyude. He saw the woman stand and raise a gun in King Ladekahn's direction. He couldn't believe what he was seeing and then her weapon discharged and he watched Ladekahn fall to his knees.

A wave of fury rushed through Lyude and he ran forward flinging his arm out in front of him. You! The king came out alone, as promised! Why did you shoot!" He demanded.

Commander Stryker turned to him. "Silence. The king must be disposed of...Emperor's orders."

"What! That can't be true!" said Lyude.

He was stopped from saying something more by King Ladekahn rising weakly. "Damn you! Is this the way of the Empire? The way of your Emperor, Geldoblame!"

Lyude looked at him helplessly. He had no answer for that.

"Shoot him! Put him out of his misery." said Stryker.

"You got it." said the woman.

"Noo!" shouted Lyude desperately.

The soldier raised her weapon again and fired, striking King Ladekahn in the shoulder.

Commander Stryker turned to the soldier suspiciously. "You...you're missing his vitals on purpose, aren't you?" he said.

"The man is spewing out his last words. Might as well grant him a little glory. So, where does his lordship want to be shot next?" Lyude couldn't believe the cruelty in her laugh.

Something moved in the corner of his vision and he glanced upward. He straightened in surprise. "You!" he said as he saw the two strangers and Gibari preparing to drop from the balcony.

"Tell me, where?" said the soldier smugly to his right.

Lyude's mind was made up in less than a second. He knew what he must do. He ran forward placing himself between King Ladekahn and the woman summoning his sonic rifle as he did so. A moment later Gibari and the boy the woman had called Kalas landed on either side of him while the young woman landed next to King Ladekahn.

"What the! It's you!" said the Imperial Commander.

"Thought you could use some company." Gibari said to Lyude smiling kindly.

Lyude stood resolutely, his eyes trained on his countrymen.

The soldier turned to the young man at Lyude's side in surprise. "You...I know you. That crazy old man's..." the woman laughed cruelly. "This is getting interesting. Must be my lucky day. It's getting more fun by the minute." she chuckled, "You won't be getting away this time."

Lyude's brow furrowed in slight confusion, but held his stance.

"That's my line! Prepare to die!" said the young man beside him.

Lyude snapped out of his puzzlement of the exchange between the strange boy beside him and the woman soldier who obviously belonged to the Elite special forces as the Imperial Commander turned to him in shock. "Ambassador Lyude! You dare to defy the Emperor? To threaten your own people? To think you'd stoop so low..." said Commander Stryker. "You're finished...traitor!"

Lyude had never felt so sure of anything in his life. The words of his commander fell hollow on his ears. "Call me what you will, but I stand only for justice!" he shouted. He would be a pawn in this no longer.

"Godforsaken fool." sneered Commander Stryker, "You seem to fit in quite well with the scum of this nation. We'll be more than happy to take you out with the rest of the garbage." he said.

Gibari glanced Lyude's way, but the boy's face betrayed no emotion. He seemed more determined than Gibari had ever seen him in the two years that he had known the young man. He had always liked Lyude, and was glad to have him at his side now. Though he pitied the boy for what it would mean for him.

"Proceed." Commander Stryker ordered and the soldier nodded. "As you wish" she said, activating her jet powered boots and lifting off the ground as she summoned an Iron beetle.

Lyude and the rest braced from the large machine's impact with the bridge. It was fortunate that the walkway was so sturdy.

"Ready to die? Hope you enjoy your trip to hell!" shouted the soldier.

Lyude cocked his rifle as Gibari and the boy called Kalas released their wings and swung their weapons experimentally. "Be careful, everyone." said Lyude. "This model is the strongest Iron beetle the Empire has to offer. It won't go down easily."

Kalas muttered something and was rewarded for his carelessness by receiving the brunt of the Iron Beetle's first attack. Lyude loaded his deck into his gun and pressed three corresponding triggers setting his attack. He managed to knock the beetle back slightly, giving Kalas time to roll aside and pick himself up.

"Nice one!" said Gibari blocking a fresh attack from the Iron beetle.

Lyude looked to their companion. The wind had been knocked from him to say the least. "Use this!" Lyude shouted to the wounded boy beside him, tossing him a minor healing magnus. They could not afford to wane so quickly in the battle. Lyude jumped backward barely avoiding the diving drill attack that had been directed towards him. "Destructive power of the crystal shot!" shouted Gibari as he attacked and summoned a large crystal of ice which he shattered with his oar and battered the iron beetle with.

"Shadow Wings!" came the young man's voice behind him as he brought forth his own attack. Lyude charged his weapon again as he dodged another heavy attack from the Iron beetle. A large chunk of the bridge was broken and struck him in the hip. He fell back and rolled back onto his feet. Finally, as Lyude used his final attack before his second shuffle, the Iron beetle began to short out. It drew it's drills to it's front and walked crablike toward the side of the bridge. It struck the side and fell soundlessly into the clouds below.

The Imperial soldier still hovered over them, watching with dismay as her Iron Beetle fell. "Damn! You'll be sorry for this!" she said angrily and disappeared into the clouds.

The Imperial commander shrunk back as Lyude and his companions turned challengingly toward his unit. "Retreat! Retreat!" he shouted.

"Hey! Where do you think you're going?" Shouted Kalas beginning to give chase.

Gibari exchanged a glance with Lyude. "Let 'em go, kid! Follow me."

Lyude stood rooted to the spot as his countrymen fled. He watched their retreating figures fixedly his sonic rifle still hefted for battle.

Gibari looked at him sadly and placed a hand on his shoulder. "C'mon, kid. King Ladekahn will be wanting to see you."

Lyude allowed his arm to slacken and his sonic rifle to return to card form. He bowed his head. "Can you ever forgive me?" he said closing his eyes. "Why couldn't I stop this?"

"Hey, this wasn't your fault. Whatever they're up to here, I'm convinced you had nothing to do with it. Let's go to the King. We need to see if he's okay."

"Of course." said Lyude softly. Now that there was time for reflection, Lyude's knees felt suddenly weak. In a single act he had doomed himself from any chance of returning home ever again. All he could find the words to say was,"I'm so sorry for all of this, Gibari. My country has done you all a great wrong."

"It wasn't your fault. Come on, Lyude."

The boy nodded silently and followed Gibari and Kalas toward the throne room. In the eyes of the Empire, what he had done this day was nothing short of treason.