Chapter 17: Murder at the Fortress
When Lyude opened his eyes again, he was still lying in the same white room the IV drip still in his wrist. "Ughn..."
"Hello Minister."
"Those letters...did they get them?" Lyude asked hazily.
Urden nodded solemnly. "I hand delivered them myself to one of your friends. No, I didn't read them first."
Lyude nodded. "Thank you." he said softly. Lyude shifted his arm uncomfortably. "What is this?" he asked motioning toward the drip.
"I realize the IV drip must be keeping you a bit disoriented, that is an expected side effect." said Quentin, "But that last experiment wreaked havoc on your magnus structure. It's going to take me some time to get you stabilized again."
"I see." said Lyude closing his eyes. "Ugh...I can barely move...what about Folon, and my father?"
"Your father?" said Quentin looking slightly bewildered.
"Jareth Lyricello, he's that prisoner that has been here for over a decade. He is the Minister's father."
"Please...just Lyude."
"Your friend is doing better, we have moved both him and your father from the dungeon. Braddock now realizes that Quentin is the one holding the cards here. He's the only one that knows enough about the End magnus and your particular case to be able to successfully fulfill this procedure." said Urden.
"Removing the power of the End Magnus and the Organ of the flame you mean?" said Lyude.
"Yes, I'm afraid so, it's very dangerous though."
"It could kill me, I know." said Lyude.
"We'll allow Folon and your father to come see you later this evening after you've rested a bit more. Your father has been quite insistent."
Lyude sighed and nodded silently.
My dearest Alyssa,
I wish I had words to describe my feelings when I learned of your maternity during my imprisonment. How I long to be with you now, in this journey we should be facing together. I pray every day that you will be safe and I will be able to be there when our child is born.
Please, try not to worry. I will not lie and tell you that the situation is favorable, but I assure you I am not friendless here. Unfortunately, I can divulge few of the circumstances of my imprisonment or the one who delivered this letter. That aside, I want to send you my assurances that I'm safe. At least for now.
I know you must be angry with me for allowing myself to be taken, but please understand that I was merely unwilling to endanger either one of us by fighting. The situation was futile and I did the only thing I felt I could.
I love you far too much to see you harmed, Alyssa. I couldn't let you accompany me and be endangered in order for Braddock to attempt to coerce me into doing his will. I have no doubt that he would have attempted to use you that way. There's so much I want to say to you, yet I cannot find the words. Only know that I love you and that nothing will ever separate our hearts though we may be miles apart.
I must end here. Be well, my sweet Alyssa.
With all of my Love,
Lyude
Alyssa's eyes brimmed with tears. Her heart felt as if it would burst, Lyude was alive and someone was at least trying to help him. Relief swept over her, but the grim reality that he was still very much in danger worried her terribly. She was swelling slightly, Her dress loosened to suit her growing figure. She placed a hand on her stomach. "I have faith, Lyude..." she whispered softly. "You will see your father, little one." she cooed. She walked into the room where the rest of Lyude's old companions sat and read the separate letter. Their faces were grim and Xelha handed the letter over for Alyssa to view.
My dearest friends,
I must warn you that you are all in grave danger. As genuine as my brother's intentions may have been in bringing you here, I'm afraid that it was folly to do so. You are all targets in this sordid mess. Braddock hopes to revive Malpercio and use his power to gain control. In order to do this, however, he must have all the bearers of the End Magnus in his custody.
I thank you all for coming to aid me, but you must not remain in Alfard. Whatever happens to me, the rest of you must remain safe. Braddock must not get the opportunity to carry out his vile plans. Please, return to your respective islands and forget about trying to help me. I would not ask such a thing of you if it was not of the utmost importance. Alfard is strong, and with the document I have enclosed with this letter, Drell will never be able to break through my policies' defenses. Alfard can stand on it's own. It must. If I can return, I most certainly will, but you must not endanger yourselves on my account. We cannot be united in this way, it's far too dangerous. I beg of you, my friends, do not allow yourselves to get captured as well, my welfare is not worth Malpercio's return.
I must sign off here now, see to it that my brother receives the attached document. To Vallye and Skeed, I thank you for all the support you have shown me throughout my short term serving our great nation. Please, if I do not return, continue my work. Don't let all I have worked for die. I beseech you. I have faith that we will meet again, but if that is never to be, I want to be certain that my work has not been wasted. Take care of Alyssa for me in my absence.
There is one more thing the two of you should know...
"Where's the next page?" asked Alyssa.
"Lost. So it would seem." said Skeed his head bowed. "Which only angers me more. What is it that Lyude wanted to tell us? There was so little dedicated to our benefit..."
"Evidently there was more." said Gibari. "I guess we won't know how much until we find him."
"You're still going to stay and look for him? Even after he told you about what they're plotting?" said Vallye.
"We're not just going to leave him to this, Lyude knows that too." said Xelha.
"I guess we can't blame him for trying if things are that bad." said Kalas.
"He'll be all right...Lyude will be all right. He's going to see his child..." Alyssa muttered to herself.
Xelha turned to Alyssa. "Alyssa." She wrapped her arm around Alyssa's shoulder and Alyssa welcomed the support. She was trying to be strong, but Lyude's letter to his friends was less than comforting. She realized that Lyude would try to soften the blow as far as she was concerned, but reviving Malpercio? She sat up and stood. "You're all staying? You're really all staying?" she said.
"Of course." said Savyna. "We won't leave until our comrade has been recovered."
Alyssa smiled. "Thank you. Thank you so much." she said. "Lyude could not ask for truer friends."
Suddenly they heard a commotion outside and the sound of gunfire.
Skeed and Vallye leapt to their feet and rushed out, the sound of their Imperial rifles clicking echoed in the room.
Kalas jumped up and followed them.
"An attack on the Fortress? Are they complete fools?" shouted Ayme loading her artillery and preparing the Iron beetles for battle. "I suppose I should be grateful, It's been too boring around here."
"Boring?" said Andrews looking shocked.
"Ah, shut up." said Ayme and seated herself in the cockpit of a new model stealth ship. "Time to make some progress in this search. Take some of them alive, men!" Ayme ordered over a com device.
The rest of the group followed Kalas and Skeed out to the entrance of the fortress. It was an odd assortment of mercenaries and former soldiers that greeted them.
"Some people just never learn." said Kalas. "Let's take 'em down, guys!"
"The Great Mizuti agrees whole heartedly. The Great Mizuti will punish those who hurt the Great Mizuti's friend!
With that, the battle began. Xelha couldn't help but feel this was a distraction and she proved to be correct as a cry was heard and someone fell from one of the windows to the ground below. The moment this was done, the remaining mercenaries and soldiers disappeared. Skeed was the first to the body. "Drell..." he said softly looking utterly confused. "Why would Braddock want him dead? Did he know something of use to us that Braddock did not wish us to hear?"
"Who knows." Sighed Vallye. "Ayme, organize the medics and get this mess cleaned up."
Ayme nodded and jumped from the jet, giving orders left and right.
"I think it's time we rethought our strategy here. Not that I'm going to miss Drell, but this poses a peculiar new twist on the situation. Let's discuss this privately."
Gibari nodded. "Good idea, can't have too many crooks falling out of windows, people will start thinking it's on purpose.
AN: Sorry for not updating for so long. Thanks to everyone that has been reviewing. It's much appreciated.