Chapter 4: the search

Peter burst out of the council room in a flash his mind preoccupied with the upcoming search. As he began the rush to his room to change into suitable clothing, the queens caught up.

"Peter, I demand you tell us what is going on in that thick skull of yours!" Susan cried sounding both desperate and angry.

"Yes Peter," Lucy said quietly. "I know you think whatever's going on right now isn't something you need to trouble us with, but we're rulers too. It's only right that we should have a say in anything that concerns our kingdom. And… we're also Edmund's sisters. Whatever concerns him is our business.

Peter took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. It's just…it's just that I'm in such a great hurry to have something done for him…" Here his voice broke.

"Edmund?" Both girls said at the same time, "So this is about him then."

"Yes."

And the High King told the queens everything.

"…and that is why I've got to go to find Edmund, bring him back safely, and fight whoever dared to take him from us."

"Then I'm coming with you." Susan's determined voice cut through Peter's with a force.

Peter looked disbelievingly at her."No! Susan… I know you want to help but, with Oreius and me gone, we will need an able monarch at the castle. Yes, Lucy is a capable queen, but she will need all the help you can give her while I'm gone. Please," he begged. "I want you both to promise me that you will stay here in the castle where it's safe. I can't lose another loved one."

Susan relented and then both sisters rushed to hug their older brother and wish him luck.

"Aslan be with you," Lucy said teary-eyed as she let go.

Thus, Peter made his way into his chambers, got into the heavy armor with his valet's help, and promptly arrived at the stable yard where a few soldiers from the first troop were gathered. He saddled his black mare and met Oreius out front.

"My king, you are ready? Remember your skills with Rhindon and make me, your sword master, proud."

Peter nodded to the general and, with the hound dog in the lead, led his soldiers on the journey which, he hoped, would turn victorious.

The western woods loomed closer and with every step nearer, Peter felt dread creeping into his mind. Fineas, the hound, seemed tenser as well as he sniffed the dry ground; his haunches rose and fell continuously and a menacing growl erupted every few seconds. Soon, the party had officially entered the thicket of trees and distant barks of Fineas' pack could be heard.

"They have stopped their search as of now so that we could catch up," the hound said slowly. "Might I propose a faster pace for this party so that we may rejoin them is shorter time, your majesty?"

Peter readily agreed and spurred his horse onward so that, in only a few minutes, they met the pack of dogs, all wriggling and yapping in anticipation of beginning their search again. So the party set out at a more seemly pace and made good progress that day.

But all that occupied the High King's thoughts as they set up camp was Edmund. Were they too late? With these grim thoughts, it was no wonder that the boy had a restless night.