Chapter 5: The Search Begins

It was dark when Lyude opened his eyes once again. He coughed, his lips dried and cracked. Sand had worked its way into his mouth and his throat ached with thirst. Urden came to kneel beside him and allowed him to rinse his mouth with water before pouring some warm green tea into his mouth. Evidently, they had uncovered some more healing magnus. His ribs still throbbed, but he could almost feel the bones starting to knit.

He noticed that they were camped at yet another oasis. The smell of fresh torsina meat being cooked was in evidence and Lyude heard his stomach growl in response. Lyude began to maneuver himself into a seated position but Urden restrained him. "Give that healing magnus some time to work, Minister." he said. "You are to be in good condition when we arrive."

"Just where are you taking me?" asked Lyude, his voice a bit raspy from inhaling so much sand.

"I expect you know I can't tell you that." said Urden. "I was sent to obtain you and bring you safely to our destination. That is what I intend and what shall be done."

With assistance, Urden allowed Lyude to sit up and the captive leaned back against a palm tree and watched his captors as they prepared the evening meal. Urden stood watch over Lyude while Gravar skinned and stewed their dinner. Lena was seated next to the fire watching Gravar with distaste and slicing fruit into a fragrant sort of salad. Lyude had the distinct impression that Urden was keeping Gravar a respectable distance on purpose. The burly man shot dark glares at him often and pure hatred shone in his dark brown eyes whenever they fell to Lyude.

Lyude allowed himself to be lost in his own thoughts. He wondered if Alyssa was alright or if the council had discovered their disappearance yet. Perhaps he could find a way to escape before they reached their destination. He decided he had to try. He didn't like not knowing the premise of the situation, but allowing himself to remain a prisoner if he could prevent it was also unacceptable. He still didn't know what they intended. Somehow, he didn't think that it was just due to his high standing in the Alfard government.

His brow furrowed as he remembered the strange sensation that had overcome him when he had seen Alyssa fall. It was rage that fueled Sforzando, but there had been something different this time. Never before had he felt such power surge through him, except when Melodia had used the effects of the interdimensional cracks to draw the power of Alfard from his soul. Just as she had done with the other nations and his companions. This sensation had been stronger still than that. What was wrong with him? Had he been so altered?

He was drawn from his thoughts by Lena as she brought Urden his plate and seated herself next to Lyude. "There are three weapons at the ready, Minister." said Lena. "I will untie you for the present so that you may eat without assistance, but don't do anything foolish."

Lyude nodded his agreement and Lena released his bonds. Lyude stretched his cramped muscles slowly so as not to alarm his captors. He had no intention of causing any trouble while he had all three watching him. He took the plate offered him and took a small bite of the meat. He chewed slowly and thoughtfully, his eyes distanced.

Satisfied that Lyude was not going to try anything foolish Urden and Lena began to eat as well. Lyude found himself thinking back to when he had first defied the emperor. He could never look at a piece of torsina meat without remembering the Emperor's reference to it. A torsina was a very difficult animal to kill, and often killed many of the hunters that went after them. That is what had made the comment so appalling. It was the tastiest meat in Alfard, but also the hardest to obtain. Lyude switched to the fruit salad, the memory of the Emperor offsetting his taste for the meat.

The meal was a silent affair. Lyude could see discomfort in Urden and Lena's eyes. He wondered what they were in this for. Neither one of them seemed to have anything against him personally. He sighed and set down his plate which he had managed to empty. He took a small sip of the green tea he had been ordered to drink every hour until his ribs healed and felt the warm liquid seemingly spread through his wounds, soothing them. He allowed himself to lean back against the palm tree and closed his eyes for a brief moment. His ribs throbbed and his head spun slightly. The ribs were healing slowly and his breathing wasn't the best. Particularly after he had sat up so suddenly at hearing that Alyssa was still alive.

Urden glanced over at Lyude's pallid face with a frown. He was ready to shoot Gravar for injuring the boy so badly. Still, he should have known better than to accept Gravar to join them on this particular mission. He was far too much of a loose cannon. Lena touched Lyude's shoulder and he opened his eyes, his crimson stare met her blue eyes and she turned from the depth less pools. So full of hidden sorrows. "If you're finished, we'll be tying you up again." she said.

"Very well." said Lyude with a sigh and a nod and placed his hands behind his back to allow Lena to bind him once again.

Ricco wiped the sweat from his brow, his son Nicco walked close beside him. "Do you see anything father?" asked Nicco.

"Not a thing aside of sand...wait a moment. Is that?" a slender figure was racing toward them, their hands above their head as if attempting to draw their attention. "Alyssa!" called Ricco.

Alyssa reached them gasping for air. "Lyude...gone...help..." she panted.

"Slow down, Alyssa. Take your time." said Ricco his brow furrowed.

"No time!" Alyssa cried. "Lyude needs help!"

"What's happened?" asked Ricco.

Alyssa explained about the last few days events as they made their way back to Azha. Ricco listened with a darkened frown. "Skeed and Folon came to look for you two in Azha yesterday. They could not locate the traces of your vessel so we have been searching the desert blindly for over a day now."

"And you haven't seen anything?" asked Alyssa, "Nothing at all?"

"Not before you found us. I'm afraid we've encountered no sign of your husband."

"Who would want to hurt Minister Lyude?" asked Nicco. "He's done so much for everybody."

"Someone with ideas of their own on how things should be run in Alfard, that's who." Growled Ricco. "I'll bet you anything it's one of those extremists that want the old Empire back."

"There were three of them..."said Alyssa. "One was a complete madman, the other two...I'm not so sure. I hope Lyude is all right."

Ricco smiled reassuringly. "He does seem to find himself in some pretty bad predicaments, but he can take care of himself, Alyssa." said Ricco.

"I know that he's strong." said Alyssa quietly, "But that doesn't stop me from worrying. He gave himself up for my sake." she said, a tear streaming down her cheek. "He would probably have fought if I hadn't been there."

"And three on one would have been a fair fight?" asked Ricco. "They would have overtaken him. Lyude knows how to measure his options. He did what was best."

"I suppose..." said Alyssa, "But that doesn't stop me from being angry with him. I know I shouldn't be...I'm just so worried, I don't know what to do with myself."

"Let's get to the Imperial...erm, the fortress. Still getting used to the empire being abolished. Kind of strange to be free after all these years."

Alyssa nodded. "Yes, and it was my husband that made it possible. He doesn't deserve this...Sometimes I wish he had refused his stand in the government. That we could simply enjoy our lives together without the pressures Lyude is always under. I realize, though, that the Empire would have remained had he not refused the position of Emperor and presented an alternative. Who knows who would have taken the position if he hadn't." she quivered at the thought.

Much as she hated that Lyude was forced away quite often, she would much rather have him at their lead than some of the other candidates who would have tried to take the position. Lyude had prevented disaster by taking his role.

After what seemed to be an eternity for Alyssa they made Azha and took a ship to the former Imperial fortress. Vallye was standing out at the gate shouting at someone when they approached. Vallye's dark eyes turned from the retreating soldier and she saw Alyssa. Her eyes widened and a look of great relief spread across her features for a brief moment before she slipped back into her military mask. When she did not see Lyude among them however, her expression slipped again into that of worry.

"Alyssa, are you all right?" asked Vallye, "Where is Lyude?"

"I'm fine, but Lyude was taken two days ago by three strangers. I think at least one of them was a mercenary."said Alyssa. "We have to find him!"

"We'll find him." said Vallye with determination. "We'll get him back, I promise you. I will not lose my brother this way..." she trailed off. Sometimes it confused even her the feelings she had for her younger brother. So many years of resentment. She found them eroding away as a stone with each wave of the ocean. She was worried and she knew that it showed. "Let's find Skeed." she said, "He'll want to know about this immediately."

They found Skeed in the operations room having a heated discussion with James Braddock, a former admiral in the Imperial army who had been stripped of his rank and had been trying to get himself into the government. He had managed to do so as an aide for one of the council members that Lyude often had problems with.

"The world cannot stop for one man!" Braddock was shouting.

"This legislation will not pass in Lyude's absence If I have to block it myself!"

"And how do you propose to do that!"

"By bringing it to the people!" shouted Skeed and went silent himself. Realizing just how much he had sounded like his brother in that moment. He turned and saw Alyssa standing there. "Thank heavens! Something goes right! Where's Lyude?"

Alyssa lowered her eyes. "What happened?" said Skeed bracingly, poorly concealing the panic that was creeping into his voice. "Is he all right?"

"I...I don't know." said Alyssa. She explained the situation to a concerned Skeed.

As her words sank into Lyude's siblings, Alyssa fingered Lyude's decoration in her hand. The only clue that had been left on that sandy oasis. She looked at it more closely for the first time and realized that it was his office medal. The one that stated his rank and standing in the Alfard government.

A twinge of anger shot through her. She doubted it was mere coincidence that this was the only decoration he had been stripped of. Someone was telling them he would not be returning to take his post.

"Who is set to take Lyude's place if anything were to happen to him?" asked Alyssa suddenly.

"That hasn't really been determined. It would be someone chosen by the council. Andrews has been sitting in at the boards in Lyude's absence, but he's only a secretary." said Skeed in surprise. "Why do you ask?"

"Whoever took Lyude wanted him out of the way. For what?'

"I've wondered that myself...of course, capture had not been confirmed until now, of course. Let's go somewhere more private to continue this conversation." said Skeed.

"I couldn't agree more." said Alyssa with a nod.

Lyude lay sleeping, sheltered from the sand by a small tarp that had been strung in a tent like fashion he shivered against the cold and opened his eyes slowly. Gravar was on watch at the moment. He seemed to be nodding off in spite of himself.

Would this be his chance? Lyude closed his eyes again as Gravar glanced his way. Kicking his heels into the sand and shivering against the cold. After about a half hour, Gravar nodded off and Lyude slowly sat up. Ensuring that his movements were silent, he walked slowly past where Lena and Urden lay sleeping. He edged past Gravar, the throb in his ribs a constant reminder of the repercussions being caught trying to escape would bring. If Gravar caught him, he could anticipate that his ribs would be worse than before.

Silently he stole away from the encampment. Hoping against hope that he would find assistance in time.