True to his word, Folon had indeed been given an assignment, a private and utterly secret mission involving he and Ayme and Giacomo. He hadn't told Skeed the details, but the dark-haired officer really didn't mind, as long as his Folon was brought safely home to him. The teen had left on the Goldoba the day after Vallye returned from training in the Nihal desert, which gave little time for loneliness on Skeed's behalf. His pet blue-skinned assassin had visited him the day before his departure to play the goodbye games they had promised each other. Not alone, Vallye spending that afternoon and the following day with him as he updated her on what had happened in her absence, Skeed's temper was relatively good – at least until a day or two later, when Fadroh came to visit.

He hadn't seen the Imperial commander since Lyude had been exiled, when both of them had been obliged to see that little convict off. Being as Vallye had disappeared the day before, he was in a relatively bad mood anyway, and Fadroh's sudden appearance didn't improve matters in the slightest. The blonde-streaked man's voice was solemn and official, nothing like the casual and carefree tones he adopted when he visited on business that he had not been instructed to by Geldoblame.

"Skeed." He nodded curtly, cold and distant in attitude and posture. "His Eminence Emperor Geldoblame wishes to have a private conference with you in his bedchambers."

"Then I'll be there right away." Skeed's voice was little more than a low snarl. What had happened the last few times he had been called to Geldoblame's bedroom had not bee at all pleasant for him. "And will you be staying this time?"

"As my Lord wishes." Fadroh answered, voice and face skilfully blank, and Skeed knew immediately that that meant 'yes'.

Ugh. He hated it when he was called to Geldoblame's private bedchambers. The first time had been many years ago – almost a decade, in fact – when he had been thirteen, just turned, as he remembered. He had just joined the army and automatically been promoted to Lieutenant in the forces because of his family name. Back then… he had been young, eager to please, nothing like the cold and jaded man he had turned out to be. He had been more like Lyude, back then, than the Skeed he was now.

When Geldoblame had called the younger Skeed to his bedroom for a one-on-one 'debriefing', Skeed had been ever so excited, though that enthusiasm had rapidly turned to fear and then abject terror and pain as Geldoblame had begun to use force to get what he wanted, pressing the maroon-eyed boy into the sheets so hard… Skeed had been whimpering, begging, crying for mercy. Ever since… he hadn't shed a single tear, he'd become as cold and emotionlessly jaded as the ice that the foreign travellers talked about that came with the season called winter (for Alfard was always too hot for ice, being where the desolate Nihal desert was), he would never allow Geldoblame the satisfaction of controlling him again, never allow the maniacal Emperor to have the pleasure of seeing him so wretched and helpless…

"His Eminence has asked me to inform you that he currently holds your sister Vallye in his omnipotent grasp." The young commander spoke suddenly, in a voice that said that most of his compliments to the Emperor were somewhat false, but that the information was true.

"Bastard!" Skeed clutched Fadroh's shoulders with vice-like grip, so hard that his knuckles went white with the pressure. "That's completely uncalled for! Why does he need to have her? If he's hurt her, I'll -!"

"Hurry along to this conference?" Fadroh suggested in an icy voice, as blank and expressionless as ever while dealing with official matters.

"Ugh!" Skeed all but flung Fadroh away from him, storming out of the estate, heading for the Imperial Fortress.

---

Geldoblame enjoyed his position as Emperor, probably too much – complete control of a race of people, influence over the most advanced technology in the known world and all the handsome young men he could possibly molest.

To him, Skeed was a challenge, a game he hadn't yet won. Fadroh had fought back at first, but Geldoblame had been disappointed – it hadn't taken much to beat Fadroh back into silent submission, his flame long ago burnt out. However, Skeed… every time the Emperor saw his officer, those burgundy eyes were more and more aflame with the terrible fires of hatred and defiance. Geldoblame knew that, when Skeed finally gave in, it would be the sweetest of victories.

Think of the devil – here was his challenging little game now, slamming through the door, growling and looking ready to kill.

"What have you done with her?" Skeed demanded, just as Fadroh came in to the room, Vallye by his side.

"She's unharmed. Now, I have something I want you to do…"

With a glance at Vallye, Skeed sighed, hands moving to the buttons of his hated lilac and seagreen jacket. "Why involve her?"

"Don't jump to conclusions!" Geldoblame snapped. "Although I would never refuse the wonders that you have just offered me, there is business I wish for you to deal with in Diadem. She is only here as a precaution – if you refuse to go, I am sure I shall have my fun playing with her… or letting her watch me playing with you, dear Skeed…"

"With all due respect, fuck off." Skeed's eyes narrowed. "Diadem? I'm going. There's no need for your dominance games, Sire."

"I'll have to punish you for your impertinance, boy. Not that you ever learn; you remain as feisty as ever... still, that's part of your charm.. You never know, she might enjoy watching… us…" The sentence was left hanging as the Imperial ruler crossed to Skeed, sliding one hand beneath the waistband of the redhead's trousers. Skeed inhaled slightly.

"… getcherfuckinhandouttathere!"

"Hmm..." The Emperor smirked, finally drawing his hand out after giving a squeeze. "I think you get my meaning... yes?"

"Whatever. I'll go." Skeed snarled, adjusting himself and brushing past Fadroh irately in his haste to leave the bedchambers of the man he so despised, slamming the door behind him as he left with a whip of burgundy and turquoise. He had always wanted to be a brother for Vallye - orphaned young - to look up to. How degrading it was for Geldoblame to use such mind games. Although it was hard to believe he could hate anyone more than he hated Lyude, Geldoblame most certainly topped Skeed's list of people to kill.

---

In the short time he had been in Diadem, Lyude had grown more and more accustomed to the new laws and customs that this strange country set down for him. Because of his origins, he had expected harsh retorts and so much hatred, but, contrary to the racism in Alfard, those from Diadem were not as xenophobic as he had feared. Already he was friends with several of Ladekahn's knights - but no one was as close to him as the king himself.

In a word... Ladekahn was wonderful. In several, he was amazing, understanding, responsible, noble and so, so kind. If the redhead had been afraid of what retribution he would face at the hands of the supposedly barbarian king, that seemed only like a dream now. Who could have imagined that he felt safer here than he ever had in Alfard? There was only one thing missing - Almarde, his nurse. He wanted to show her this wonder, this freedom...

And Diadem itself...! The cloud country was amazing! None of the metal and artificial sheen that graced Mintaka, instead the clouds that rolled peacefully by were every colour from gold to indigo and maroon.

Speaking of the clouds... far in the distance, the beautiful fuschia was being parted by some sort of fast-approaching air cruiser. Lyude silently wondered who it was, perhaps if it was one of the routine patrols that the knights performed around the outskirts of the island, or perhaps an emergency rescue team come back from the Greater Celestial River... No. As it came closer, the young amassador could see the Imperial colouring - but why was Mintaka sending a cruiser?

He pointed the approaching vessel out to two nearby knights, one of whom went to contact the king. The other of the two knights accompanied Lyude to the dock, so that the little redhead could see who was visiting the Land of Clouds. Lyude himself could barely keep calm - what if he was being called back to Mintaka? What if they'd forgiven him?

...Then the cruiser docked and the lone passenger climbed out. Long controlled limbs, perfectly timed movements. Every twitch had a purpose. Eyes cold and calculating. As though he was a chess player, thinking two moves ahead of any opponent. Surely these reasons were why he had made it to such a high level in the army. Such a respected strategist.

Skeed stepped onto Diadem territory.

"Oh!" Lyude gasped, eyes wide. He nudged the knight, who was on the brink of asking Skeed for his name and purpose in coming. "That - that's my brother, that's Skeed!"

"..." Skeed's face was blank. He knew what he had to do. How he would love to... no. He had to hold back. He couldn't let his control go - he knew how intricate the plan was. If he made one wrong move... he would end up worse than dead at the hands of his Emperor.

"What is the purpose of your visit, my Lord?" The knight asked, keeping politeness. Lyude smiled hopefully at his brother. Maybe he could go home...

"... I have merely come to debrief the Ambassador." Cold voice. Skeed lead his little brother a small way away. His right hand twitched. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see a group of knights making their way down to the dock. If he didn't act now, there would be no chance...

The action was surprisingly quick. It showed Skeed's skill in his work. The only giveaway was the flash of sunlight upon metal.

Lyude stared in a fascinated horror at the tip of a blade that was protruding from his middle. Had Skeed just... had Skeed just killed him? The young Ambassador made a strange gurgling noise, bubbles of blood bursting from his nose and mouth as Skeed pulled the hilt of his assassin's knife from his brother's back and watched silently as the younger Imperial sank to the ground and lay still in an ever-deepening pool of his own blood.