ishgard

[PocketFox]

If I recall correctly, Aymeric was called away because the Dravanians had launched another attack against Ishgard. I suppose you could say that that's a good excuse for him, but it could just be a storytelling device, avoiding a mostly unnecessary wrinkle in the movement of the plot. Things are already awkward enough with the Warrior of Light trying to get asylum in Ishgard. How much more difficult would it have been if Aymeric had been caught in the chaos? Yes, he would probably have used it as further evidence of why the Warrior should be allowed into Ishgard, but I can very easily see the powers that be claiming the opposite: the Warrior should be kept out, to avoid bringing non-Ishgardian trouble into the city-state.

To put it more succinctly, Aymeric's timely avoidance of the climax could just be a mild deus ex machina to avoid dealing with a storytelling complication that honestly doesn't need to be dealt with at all.

(I apologize for being such a spoilsport. :P )