Chapter 4: A Cause for Concern.

Lyude saw a movement out of the corner of his eye and Urden came to kneel beside him. "Don't move too much, Minister. I'm afraid Gravar used the rest of our healing magnus on himself, there's not much we can do for your injuries right now. Lyude allowed his head to roll wearily to the side, ignoring the comment.

He could hear Gravar and Lena arguing in the background. "You idiot!" Lena was shouting. "Do you have any idea what will happen if we bring him back in that state? We were supposed to bring him unharmed!"

"I was hired to put him out of commission, whatever it took." said Gravar.

"There was no call for that sort of beating!" said Lena. "And I swear to you if you damaged that girl in any way I'll be the one to put you out of YOUR misery!"

"It was only supposed to stun her!" roared Gravar, "It's not like I killed her, besides, we couldn't have her seeing what direction we were headed. Why do you care so much anyway?"

"Alyssa's alive!" said Lyude hoarsely sitting upright with a jolt. His ribs screamed in the sudden motion, but he gritted his teeth against the pain, his eyes pleading to know.

"Yes, Minister. She's alive. Gravar's weapon is a bit rough, but it has more than one setting." said Urden.

"Because there are some things that are sacred!" said Lena angrily in response to Gravar. "If you damaged her in that condition you'll deserve a lot worse than what the Minister dealt you."

"What condition? What are you on about, woman?"

Lena stopped and looked at Lyude who's expression was puzzled. "It's not really my right to say, but that girl is with child." she said quietly.

Lyude's eyes widened at the suggestion. "We've only been married for three weeks!" he said, "How could you even profess to be able to tell at that early a stage?"

"A woman knows. No matter how early along a pregnancy, once a woman's body has accepted it, she is bonded to it. One who was once a mother, knows what to look for. I saw it, quite frankly, in her eyes."

Lyude's expression became pensive. If indeed Alyssa was...could that woman really know?

"Now you should really lie down." Urden said ushering Lyude back to lay down. Lyude was far too grateful to hear Alyssa was alive to argue and he allowed himself to be leaned back into a relaxed position. Lyude felt dizzy as he laid his head back and his vision began to blur. His only thought as he blacked out was Alyssa. "Thank you." he thought to the heavens.

Alyssa opened her eyes slowly. Her chest ached slightly where she had been struck and it took her a moment to focus on the situation. She brushed the white cloth from her face and noticed that she had been placed in the shade. The cloth had likely been placed there to prevent sand from entering her mouth and nose.

As she remembered what had occurred she jumped up and looked desperately around her. Lyude was nowhere in sight, nor was there any traces left of which direction they had taken him. She noticed something glinting in the sand and discovered on of Lyude's decorations half buried there. She picked it up with tears in her eyes. She had to do something!

Filling all of her blank magnus with water and using the compass Lyude had given her once, she headed toward Azha with a fierce determination. There was no doubt in her mind, she was going to find Lyude, whatever it took.

Back in the former Imperial Fortress, Skeed was bent over some paperwork with Andrews. "I'm not liking this at all, Skeed." said Andrews looking at the fine print of the proposal.

"Nor I." said Skeed. "Looks like something Drell is trying to pass in Lyude's absence. How much luck are you having in keeping some of this at bay?"

"Well, Lyude left with strict orders that no major decisions be passed in his absence, so I do have that net to fall upon, but the work is piling up with some of these blamed fools trying to get through anyway."

"When is he scheduled to arrive today?" asked Skeed.

Andrews shook his head. "He's taking a few days in Azha. He's not scheduled to arrive until tomorrow."

"I think this is important enough to draw his attention. I'm going to go see him in Azha." said Skeed.

Andrews sighed. "I suppose that would be wise." he said. "I just hate to interrupt him. He's earned this break."

Skeed nodded. "Yes, but we can't have people trying to ruin what he's built in the past year either. This is something Lyude would want to know about." Skeed swept from the room and made his way down the hall.

"What's with that look, Skeeder?" came a voice behind Skeed and the man quivered in annoyance. He turned and faced Folon with a dark glare.

"Don't you have soldiers to train?" asked Skeed still glowering at Folon.

"Nah, I gave the guys a break." said Folon easily. "Lighten up a little."

Skeed rolled his eyes. "Why my brother saw fit to promote you, I'll never know." he growled. "If you've got so much spare time, why don't you join me in Azha? I have to see Lyude and he would probably like to know the state of the army as well."

"Isn't he still on his honeymoon?" asked Folon.

"Not after this, I'm afraid." said Skeed holding out the piece of paper. Folon looked at it.

"Whoah...they honestly think they can get away with that?"

"It's plausible, with Lyude being absent. Not all affairs could stop for him."

"No, you're right. He's definitely got to get back here and block this proposal. I really don't think we want the old imperial officers to be returned to their former positions. We'd have a dog fight on our hands."

"Precisely why I have to see Lyude now. Are you coming or not?" asked Skeed almost hoping that the blue skinned captain would come up with some excuse.

"Suppose I should..." said Folon. "Just let me go find Ayme and let her know what's going on. She's been anxious for him to get back to let him know about the latest weapon developments."

Skeed shook his head. "She can update him later. The only reason I asked you to come is because this legislation directly affects your position."

Folon frowned. "Hadn't even thought of that. I don't think any of us want to see Commander Stryker back in his old job. I still don't think he's changed all that much. Luckily, Ayme's been keeping an eye on him."

Skeed nodded and they headed to the ship port taking a small hover vessel that had been developed over the past year adapted specifically to move swiftly across the desert sands. Folon lounged in the back as Skeed piloted the vessel. Skeed rolled his eyes as he heard Folon in the back rattling on about some odd thing or another. Skeed was amazed that Lyude had so much faith in the unpredictable jokester. Still, he had to admit, Folon took his job seriously.

Once they reached Azha, they found the place to be as it had been. Skeed knew where he would find his brother and walked to the old Azhan hut that had been the home of Almarde as a child.

"Commander Skeed!" said Ricco, the Azhan leader. "What brings you to Azha?"

"I need to see my brother. He is staying at Almarde's old homestead, is he not?"

Ricco frowned. "Lyude hasn't been here since the reception ceremonies. We were wondering why he hadn't come as planned, but we just thought that he had some pressing matters at the fortress."

"What!" said Skeed. "Lyude isn't here? We received a communication from him just the other day that he would be here."

"I don't know what to tell you, Skeed. Minister Lyude has not been here." said Ricco.

"This doesn't smell right." said Folon. "Lyude isn't one to just disappear at whim. I don't like the sound of this at all."

"Nor I. Come on. We'd best get back to the fortress and try to locate his ship. If they've had some sort of difficulty with their vessel, that could explain things. All the same, if they're stranded, they'll need retrieved. Let's just hope it's something as simple as that." said Skeed.

Folon looked doubtful. "I don't think that's the problem. He would have gotten the communications operational anyway, unless things were completely totaled. In that case, we'd better find them fast."

"Some of my men and I will go search the desert." said Ricco. "We shouldn't waste any more time. If you can't locate the ship with your tracking systems, perhaps a thorough search will prove more fruitful."

"That sounds like a sound plan. Let us know of anything you find." said Skeed and strode off to leave Folon to follow.

Crazygirl:Thanks again for the review. I just had to have that last chapter to keep people wondering about Alyssa a little while longer.

Kalika:I'm glad you enjoyed the first story and I'll do my best not to disappoint in this one! Enjoy!