Chapter 18: Secret in the Fortress

Folon kicked at the floor. He'd been stuck with Lyude's former cell mate for almost three days now, and the man wasn't talking. He just stared at the wall. They had heard nothing about Lyude's condition other than he was not well.

"At least we aren't stuck in that damp dungeon now." Folon thought. Still, given the present company, that seemed to be the only improvement. Each time someone passed the man watched them in a scrutinizing way.

Finally, the man's watchfulness was fruitful as the door unlocked and Urden stepped in. "You may see him now." Urden said. "Don't try anything foolish now."

"Just take me to my son." growled Jareth.

"...Son!" croaked Folon. Then he saw it. Through the shadowed features of age and worry shone the familiar sculpt of the nose and the proud, lean profile Folon recognized in Lyude. That this half starved man was his father wasn't such a surprise considering this. "You're Jareth Lyricello...you were the most admired officer of your time. What are you doing locked up in this dump?"

"None of your concern."

Urden cleared his throat and the two prisoners turned to him. "Coming or not?" he asked.

"Coming." said Folon and Jareth in unison.

After both were securely shackled they followed obediently to Lyude's room. Lyude was sleeping when they arrived, the machines attached to him blipped and whirred.

"Son..." Jareth's shackles were released and he moved to Lyude's side and brushed back his hair gently. " Lyude?" he said softly.

Lyude's eyes fluttered and he opened his eyes as Folon joined Jareth at Lyude's side.

"Father...Folon."

"Geez Lyude, what happened? You look horrible." said Folon.

"It's...difficult to explain. A few weeks ago along with my imprisonment, Braddock started running tests on me...he's trying to find a way to remove the power of the Organ and the End Magnus from me to revive Malpercio again. Of course, my power alone isn't enough to accomplish this, he needs the rest of the bearers of the end magnus. Xelha...Gibari...all of them."

"But he can't do anything until he has the rest, right? Why is he half killing you with these stupid tests?" growled Folon.

Lyude shook his head. "The latest experiment was not approved by Braddock and would have been all or nothing."

"He nearly died." said Quentin standing off to the side. "I was able to deactivate the machinery before the test could run it's course, but he was severely effected by the radiation. He's still unstable, so be careful around the instruments."

"How much more will these people try to take away from me until they're satisfied?" growled Jareth darkly. "I lost my son once, I won't do so again."

"I'm doing all that I can to see that you don't sir." said Quentin quietly. "Minister Lyude is the best thing to happen to this country in decades. I won't have him lost if I can help it."

"Son, how are you feeling?" asked Jareth, his brow furrowed in concern.

"I'll be all right, father. Don't worry." Lyude gave him a gentle smile. "I'll make it through this."

Folon frowned. "I'd rather we didn't have to take that chance. How long did you say they've been treating you as their own personal guinea pig?"

"A few weeks." said Lyude. "It's hard to keep track of the days here..." said Lyude looking a bit weary. "Sometimes I end up sleeping for days on end."

Jareth's expression darkened once again. "You're awfully calm about all of this." he said.

"I know the gravity of my situation, father." sighed Lyude. "I'm afraid that I have little faith that my warning will go heeded by my friends. If they're captured..."

"Warning?" said Folon. "How did you send a warning?"

"Never mind." growled Urden. "That is not your concern."

Folon glanced at Urden measuringly but shook his head and didn't question further.

Folon and Jareth were not able to stay with Lyude long, he was still weak and continued treatments were necessary.

"I'm afraid you'll have to return to your cell now. I have to perform another one of his treatments and it's...best you didn't have to watch." said Quentin averting his eyes.

Folon looked up sharply. "Why's that?"

Lyude shook his head and half sat up weakly. "He's right. It's not something I would want you to witness...they are rather...unpleasant, but I can feel myself beginning to return to normal after them. In my current condition... I feel...scattered, as if part of me was blown about and scrambled. It's difficult to explain."

Jareth closed his eyes sadly. There was nothing he could say or do to help his boy and Lyude was forced to depend on these strangers... These allies of his enemy to see him through the damages that had been done to him.

Jareth finally nodded and placed a hand on Lyude's shoulder. "I'll return soon. Just get some rest, boy." said Jareth.

"I won't have much of a choice after this treatment is over..." thought Lyude bleakly.

Skeed paced his office silently...his brother's office. He shook his head. He'd been using it so long now people were beginning to call it his, including himself. It was a bad sign. He read the document Lyude had enclosed with his letter to his friends again. It was the best defense he had against the other members of the council.

But why did Braddock have Drell killed? What did the man know that was dangerous to Braddock? He already had sent Vallye to examine Drell's office. It had been ransacked and they were unsure if the murderer had found what they wanted or if they would even find something of interest.

The document was an encouragement. It strengthened Lyude's policies considerably. Lyude had obviously spent a lot of time thinking about his policies and what would be needed to see that they weren't tampered with. He had instructed in an extra slip of paper for the document to be 'found' within his pile of signed papers so the council would not know that he had been in contact with the others.

Skeed sighed and leaned back in his chair. Lyude was twenty today. Skeed had hoped that they would find him before this time. It was hard as well for Alyssa. She was currently pacing hers and Lyude's room singing to herself softly and staring out the window.

Vallye had searched every drawer in Drell's office. Nothing. Nothing had been found. She'd seen some rather annoying plans Drell had written out to try to return the Empire, but nothing that would be effective now with the document Lyude had sent them. At least they could be thankful for that. It was then she notices a scuff in the corner of the carpet. It wouldn't have been something she would have normally thought anything of, but it looked almost as if it might have been pulled up recently.

Vallye pulled back the carpet slightly and her eyes widened. There was a trap door in Drell's office! Quickly, she tried the latch. Loose! She opened the panel to find a set of steps leading down. She closed the panel silently and covered it back up. She would need to discuss this with Skeed before she could investigate further, she didn't know what she would meet down there.

Vallye swept down the hall, and told Ayme, who was passing by looking murderous to stand watch at the door and see to it that no one entered. Ayme scowled but nodded. Within minutes, Skeed and the assemblage of Lyude's friends had gathered around the hidden hatch.

"Any idea where it leads?" asked Gibari.

"How did this get in here without any of us knowing?"

"Perhaps it's always been here, even when Geldoblame was ruling. It doesn't look new." said Ayme looking pensively at the panel. "Where it leads though, I suppose we'll just have to find out."

"Who's going?" asked Skeed.

"I'll go." said Matthias, "I think I should just in case, Braddock's after these people, right?" he said gesturing toward Kalas and the others. "We don't want to risk you all getting ambushed. Please, let me do this for Lyude."

Skeed looked at Matthias pensively.

"We can't let him go alone!" said Xelha.

"Actually, that may be best." said Skeed. "One is more likely to get past defenses than several. We'll give you a com device and a weapon." he said giving Matthias a com device and a small gun.

"I've never fired a gun..." said Matthias.

"Just look and pull the trigger." said Ayme. We don't have time to give you shooting practice. Things sound as if they've been escalating from Lyude's letter. Be careful."

Matthias nodded and began making his descent. Vallye shook her head. "I'm going too. We shouldn't send someone who is inexperienced alone."

Skeed looked as if he was going to protest, but he merely nodded and watched as his sister made her descent down the shaft. "Good luck..." said Xelha softly.

When Matthias and Vallye finally made it down the steps, they were surprised to discover how deep underground they were. The walk took a full hour before they realized where they were headed. Or, at least, Vallye did. We're headed under the Lava caves..." she breathed.

Thanks to all my reviewers! Please don't forget to review! Or I may forget to update. Just kidding.

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