By Royal Decree

Chapter 6: The Tale of the Foolish Faun

"We don't know when he will act. In his time, no doubt, not ours. In the meantime, he would like us to do what we can on our own." Prince Caspian, Ch. XIII.

Tiger, Raven and Hound waited outside the Tower Library of Cair Paravel. With them was Lady Morgan of the House of Linch, Narrowhaven, Lone Islands, she with the shiny hair and silver thread that only a Crow could see.

"Lady Morgan," said the Raven, "do you know The Tale of the Foolish Faun?"

"No, Chief," said she, "I do not."

"Then it is a Tale you should hear for to know The Tale of the Foolish Faun it is to understand something of Narnia."

To the Hound, the Raven said, "Lady, would you tell the Tale?"

The Hound Bitch began in her gentle, wise voice.

"Come now Gentle Beasts and Daughter of Eve that might you hear The Tale of the Foolish Faun. To my puppies I tell it, as I learned it from my Dam, as she from hers, back generation upon generation. The Tale of the Foolish Faun was told the day after Aslan sang Narnia into being, at the Court of good King Frank and Queen Helen. It is told every day, in cave, and nest, and den, and meadow, and pond, that we might remember and heed it. Good Beasts and Creatures of Narnia, when you hear the words, you shall stop and listen with your sensitive heart so that all may know The Tale of the Foolish Faun and its Lesson. So, harken to me now."

"It begins thus."

There was once a Faun who lived in a Cave near the Great River. It was a splendid Cave, with books, and furniture, and pictures, and a fine fireplace. The Faun was very happy. He had many friends and spent fine Summer evenings dancing in the Wood and playing his pipes.

This Faun was very good indeed. He faithfully worshipped Aslan, the Great Lion of Narnia. Every day, the Faun was mindful of and would perform most reverently his devotions to the Great Lion. He would pray to Aslan, help his neighbors in need, and was kind to strangers. He showed great respect for all Aslan's good Creation, and never cut the Wood save what the Tree gave, nor fouled the Water. The Faun loved as Aslan would wish of all his Sons and Daughters; and, in return, Aslan loved his Son, the Faun.

One day in Spring the rains began, such as had never been seen in many an age. It rained and rained. Snow from the mountains melted, combined with the rain, and lent great power and energy to the Great River. The River would not be contained and, as happens, swelled, and burst his banks.

The Faun saw this flood with great dismay. The waters rose very fast and he was trapped by his splendid Cave. Trusting Aslan, he climbed on top a rock outside his Cave and waited and prayed for Aslan to deliver him from the great flood.

A mighty Gryphon came flying down and said, "Friend Faun, let me pick you up in my talons so that I might fly you away. Surely if you stay here on the rock, you shall drown."

"Friend Gryphon," said the Faun, "I thank you. But, I trust the Great Lion. He shall deliver me from the flood."

So the Gryphon flew away. The rain continued to fall, the River continued to rise, and the Faun soon found the water lapping up the sides of the rock. A Giant came, fording through the water. Even for him, the River was up to his knees.

The Giant called down, "Friend Faun, let me lift you up and take you away from here. Surely if you stay here on the rock, you shall drown."

"Friend Giant," said the Faun, "I thank you. But, I trust the Great Lion. He shall deliver me from the flood."

So the Giant went away.

The Great River rose, higher still, and the Faun still on his rock, saw that his fine hooves were now under the water. A Dwarf came, rowing in a boat.

The Dwarf called, "Friend Faun, come, climb in my boat and we shall row away. Surely if you stay here on the rock, you shall drown."

"Friend Dwarf," said the Faun, "I thank you. But, I trust the Great Lion. He shall deliver me."

So the Dwarf rowed away.

The Great River rose and swallowed the Faun. The Faun died, and so came to Aslan's Own Country.

The Faun came before the Great Lion and said, "Aslan, I love you and follow you faithfully. Why did you not save me?"

"My Son," Aslan said, "I sent the Gryphon, the Giant, and the Boat."

"And so, you see, Gentle Beasts and Daughter of Eve. Aslan does watch over us and protect us, his Sons and Daughters all. We are his most beloved children."

The Hound Bitch dropped her voice lower so that all had to lean in to hear her wise words, "But, know this, Friends…"

Raven, Tiger and Hound all completed the Lesson together, "The Great Lion wishes us to do what we may to save ourselves so he may not have to do it himself."

"Now may you understand a secret of Narnia, Daughter of Eve," the Raven said. "The Great Lion watches over Narnia and his beloved children. We are blessed beyond measure and strive always to do his will. Yet, not by Aslan alone is Narnia is defended. All who come here would do well to heed that lesson."

There were voices. Edmund pried his eyes open. It was near full dark and he was in the Library. Again. Ouch. He pulled his face up from Subtitle C of the Lone Islands Tax Code. It had not been a very uncomfortable pillow and inhaling all that dust could not have been good either. Now the Animalia and Botanica, that was a fairly comfortable headrest. The Annotated Compilation Of Laws and Governance was about the right height, too, if he was in the back third of it. Squinting in the darkness, he tried to determine if he had drooled on the Tax Code. If ever a book was deserving of such a fate, surely this one was.

Edmund had no difficulty navigating the Library in the dark. He was as likely to wake up here as in his own room.

Opening the door, the torchlight in the hall blinded him. He stood there, blinking owlishly, trying to focus. Large golden rug blocking the door. Jalur. Indeterminate green chair in the window seat. Evil Banker Morgan. Small black blob next to indeterminate green chair, Sallowpad. White, black, brown footstool, Jina.

This was quite the retinue following Evil Banker Morgan. Obviously, she had planned to sneak into the Library while he napped and do unspeakable things. Edmund pushed such unspeakable things aside as not relevant. His imagination forcefully pushed back and threw oranges at his head. I'm not going anywhere.

"Good evening, Friends, Lady Morgan."

The large golden rug slowly stood and stretched. "Good evening, King Edmund."

"Good evening, your Majesty," Jina said.

"Subtitle C?" Evil Banker Morgan asked from her seat at the window.

"Hmmm, yes, section 1575. Does it show much?" he asked, rubbing the side of his face.

"Subtitle B is the better pillow," she said. "It's not as thick and you get less of a line." Pause. "King Edmund."

"I had hoped to absorb some of it in my sleep."

"Absorption of the Tax Code never works," Morgan replied. "It leaks out too fast."

"So, why the meeting here in the hallway? Did I interrupt something?" Noticing the stack of ledgers Evil Banker Morgan had been working on earlier in the day piled next to her on the window seat, he added, "Or, were you waiting for me?"

Evil Banker Morgan looked very shifty and lowered her eyes. There were low growls from both Jina and Jalur. Even Sallowpad clicked his beak with annoyance and hopped up on top of the ledgers.

So, Evil Banker Morgan was up to something evil!

Edmund looked at Evil Banker Morgan. Jina looked at Evil Banker Morgan. Jalur growled again. Sallowpad ruffled his feathers and peered at Evil Banker Morgan.

Edmund put on his questioning, interested, but not too scowling face. I'm waiting.

The silent, uncomfortable moments slid by.

The Raven was the one who lost his patience first. Sallowpad pecked Evil Banker Morgan's hand.

"Ouch!" she muttered, more irritated than hurt. "You didn't have to do that Chief."

"I shall again if you do not speak up to the King."

Intriguing.

Jina nudged Evil Banker Morgan in the side with her nose. "You should, Lady Morgan."

Ah ha! A confession?

Jalur yawned, jaws fully extended, sharp teeth displayed to astonishing effect. "If you don't, I shall become involved, and you would not want that. There might be blood and screaming."

"Enough with the bullying, you Beasts!" Evil Banker Morgan griped.

Somehow, Edmund felt in the hour or two he had napped, a great deal had occurred among these four. "Move over, Sallowpad, if you would," and he pushed the ledgers to the side. He really wanted to peek at them. Just a bit. Well, maybe more than a bit. Sitting at the other end of the window seat, he was as far from Evil Banker Morgan as the space would allow, but still rather cozy. His imagination was enthralled; his intellect was pretty happy about the arrangement as well and for the moment, they seemed capable of peaceful coexistence.

"So, what's this all about?"

"Lady Morgan has been telling me of the Lone Islands," Sallowpad said. "You should hear of it."

Another long pause. Really, Evil Banker Morgan very easily demonstrated the principle of negotiation that if you do not say anything, the other party will try to fill the silence. It was strange to have the tactic turned on himself.

"Well," Edmund began, wanting to get this done before sunrise.

"I think you are making a huge mistake," Evil Banker Morgan blurted out.

Not the most respectful or tactful, way of expressing a view. Jalur grumbled, but did not correct her.

"As any of my Royal Siblings will tell you, I make them all the time. Can you be more specific?"

"The Code. Well, it's not just the Code, it's lot of things. But, you can't just go in and change it like you think you can. You can't begin to understand it, especially in a week."

There was that word "can't" again. Edmund was coming to dislike it heartily and knew this scowl reflected it.

"Lady Morgan," Jina said with a glance at him. "Do not stress yourself so. Speak plainly as you did with Sallowpad."

"Begin with why it is as it is," Sallowpad said.

Morgan spoke quickly. "It started over a hundred years ago in the Lone Islands as a way to protest the Witch. They did things to make Narnia more isolated and poorer, usually economic. They made it hard and expensive to sell things in Narnia, like food; anything made in Narnia was hard to sell anywhere else, like Dwarf made weapons."

"Now, explain about the Code," Sallowpad prompted, again.

She took a breath and prattled on. "The whole point of a lot of the Subtitle C you were sleeping on is to make it very difficult for anyone to have anything to do with Narnia. Some of it's subtle, some of it's obvious, but it's all deliberate and it's been that way for a very long time."

"But the Witch is gone," Edmund countered.

Sallowpad tutted. "But the Code has remained, and changing what lies behind it will not come easy."

"Friend, Narnia cannot permit her poor to continue to suffer as they are. It is unfair, and needs changing."

"Of course it should be changed," Morgan retorted. "But don't be stupid about it, because if you go blundering in not knowing what you are about, Narnia could have a very bad situation in the Lone Islands."

Jalur growled again. This time, Edmund waved him down. "Enough, Jalur. Lady Morgan is not speaking personally."

"There are other problems besides unfairness to the poor," Sallowpad said, continuing his thought. "Some, maybe many, in the Lone Islands, depend on injury to Narnia to survive."

So, a whole way of life and trade economy had developed over a hundred years or more with a decidedly anti-Narnian bias. It was very unsettling to contemplate, daunting to consider remedying.

Yet, with this context, he now understood what he had been trying to divine. "Sallowpad, it is not simply that Narnia is disfavored. Everything in the Code tilts heavily in favor of Calormen."

"These little barbarian countries that call themselves free are hateful to the gods. Every morning the sun is darkened in my eyes because Narnia is still free."

Jalur and Jina both growled. For Edmund, it was deeply disturbing to hear the slow, melodic intonation and hateful words come from Lady Morgan.

"You imitate him well," Sallowpad said eventually into the shocked silence that followed.

She shrugged a little. "I wasn't sure if you would recognize the reference. You'd better hope he lives forever, because the sons who might come after are even worse."

"That's enough on that subject," Edmund said curtly. Their intelligence on Calormen was not something to be discussed casually, or at all.

Morgan was twisting a handkerchief in her hands fit to tear it. Even he could see she was nervous. He would have to ask Jina and Jalur later what else they sensed. Realistically, what she had told them was not especially remarkable; it was not secret, it was all in the Code if someone had the wits and time to understand it. She had, however, saved them a great deal of effort and provided some important historical context. This, however, led to other concerns.

"So, answer this question for me then, Lady Morgan."

She looked up.

"Why are you saving me weeks deciphering the Code and warning us of the hazards of, as you say, doing something stupid? Why tell us these things, because I have difficulty believing it is altruism."

"There is some altruism," she countered.

"And what else?"

She hesitated; Jina and Jalur were both looking intently at her. Edmund had not fully appreciated just how difficult it might be to lie when you had a Tiger and an extremely sensitive Hound staring you down. She took a deep breath then said in the same blurting fashion, "The House of Linch has taken a position that favors Narnia. We could be hurt if you do anything stupid, like trying to change the Code without knowing what you are doing."

Morgan really could do with a bit more tact; the way she spoke was very reminiscent of a Crow. As to the substance, Edmund looked to Sallowpad. Taken a position? What did that mean? From the context, it sounded more substantive than some sort of rhetorical support.

Evidently the Raven understood what she meant, because he asked an even more peculiar question, "Are you also hedging that position?" the Raven asked.

"Yes, some, but we profit much more if Narnia succeeds."

So, a financial position. If Narnia succeeds, however that might be measured, her House does as well.

"What of the other Houses within Stanleh-Sterns-Linch-Meryll?" Sallowpad asked. "What positions do they take?"

"I don't know. I suspect more have positions favoring Calormen."

"Could you explain this please?" Edmund asked.

"Well..." Morgan began.

Sallowpad interrupted with a squawk. "This is subtle business, my King, not for here and now. The short answer is that the House of Linch wagers that Narnia wins, like a beetle in a race. To reduce loss, it also wagers that the same beetle might lose, but the House earns more if the beetle wins. This is called hedging. Nothing wrong with it; it can be sound. Others though bet that Calormen wins, and of greater concern, likely win more if that gain is at Narnia's expense."

Explained thus, Edmund immediately saw what was concerning the Raven. The problem with betting that a beetle will lose is that gives an incentive to harm the beetle.

The Raven Chief was also correct that this was not the time to discuss the issue further.

"Thank you, Sallowpad. And thank you, Lady Morgan. Narnia is in your debt. If you will, may we discuss this further after your return from the Telmar?"

Evil Banker Morgan looked quite flustered at this praise as she slowly nodded. Flustered was a very becoming look on her. Edmund's imagination wanted to fluster her some more, and regrettably it seemed his reason was becoming rather more sanguine about the idea as well. Right then.

"So, everyone looking forward to going Narnian tonight? Jalur, I know you must be especially pleased at the thought of another party." Edmund could not help teasing the solitary Tiger about social events.

Jalur curled his lip, exposing a long fang. "Are you looking forward to apologizing to Princess Even More Dim as the Queen Susan asked?"

Evil Banker Morgan snickered.

"In my dreams, I've already apologized, Jalur. I'm sure that will count." His dreams had not in fact been anything of the sort. They had most certainly featured a gown of indeterminate green hanging from his dresser mirror and clotted cream where a corset would have been.

"Should you wish to make that case to the Queen Susan, I would like to hear of it," Jalur replied.

"It is about time, I should think," Edmund said, getting up from his intimate nook with the Evil Banker, which also included a Hound, a Tiger, and a Raven. How very Narnian. "Shall we all go?" He did not intend it as a question and was actually going to do something really gallant, like offer an arm, but blast it all, everyone had gone all shifty again.

Now what?

He spoke that aloud, and knew he was impatience was showing.

"Your pardon, King Edmund," Jina said, "But, the reason we were all here in the first instance was because Lady Morgan said she wanted to work. She and I should be attending upon the Queens, and I suspect Lady Morgan thinks she can miss the Occasion entirely if she stays in the Library long enough."

He started to say, "You can't do that!" but had learned better at this point about the hazards of that "can't" word.

"Oh," Edmund said, instead. He wondered about trying that High King charm tactic his brother did so well, but thought that for him the effect would be rather alarming and lead to fainting of an altogether different, more undesirable sort. He would try clever persuasion instead. He was better at that. "You do know we are going Narnian, which means no shoes. I have it on good authority there will not be napkins either, but don't tell the Queen Susan that, as she will suspect my involvement. Although truly, on the matter of napkins, I bear no fault whatsoever."

Evil Banker Morgan continued to wring the handkerchief in her fingers. "I see."

"There probably will not be much food at all."

"Thank you, King Edmund, for reminding us of that aspect of this," Jina said, with something like an embarrassing whine.

"It is fine, Lady Hound. No apologies for that fine boy of yours. But, this does mean, Lady Morgan, that one must fill up a plate before the Dwarfs go through."

"I'm not that hungry," Evil Banker Morgan murmured, still staring downward.

"Thirsty, then. There will be plenty of wine."

"I usually drink ale."

"Twenty Red Dwarfs?" Sallowpad croaked. "There will be more ale than wine."

Trying a different stratagem, Edmund said, "Speaking of, my Good Raven, what are the odds on Fauns versus Dwarfs?"

Evil Banker Morgan looked up. Ah ha! Numbers.

"Six to one the Dwarfs outlast the Fauns, your Majesty."

To Evil Banker Morgan, Edmund said, "The Crows will wager on which musicians last longer. Well, not exclusively on the musicians' stamina, of course. Crows will bet on anything. From experience though, I'd not bet against the Fauns."

"Not at those odds," Sallowpad agreed.

"Well…" Evil Banker Morgan seemed more interested in the wagering. "Simply put, the House of Linch does not have many parties, or occasions."

"How very fortunate for you," Jalur muttered. "I may seek a transfer."

"What instead?" Jina asked.

"Meetings," Evil Banker Morgan said.

"Meetings?" every voice in the hallway echoed.

"Or then again, perhaps not," Jalur added.

Edmund's imagination stomped its feet and whined. It wanted to dance with Evil Banker Morgan, grope about for a corset, and confirm that thigh circumference measure as well. It did not want to attend a meeting. His intellect, on the other hand, enjoyed a broader viewpoint and did not necessarily consider these things as mutually exclusive. It was looking forward to many very long, very private discussions with Evil Banker Morgan about the Lone Islands Tax Code once she returned from the Telmar.

"Seminars, too," Evil Banker Morgan said. "Roundtables. Presentations." We do drink, quite a lot sometimes."

"Surely," Jina said slowly, feeling her way through something very unfamiliar to a Narnian Hound, "you must have some other activities? Dancing?"

Evil Banker Morgan blanched. "Bankers don't dance. Ever. I'm a dreadful dancer."

Edmund's imagination whined and pouted.

"Is there any entertainment, though?" Jina asked.

"Cards, puzzles, games of chance, that sort of thing."

Crow-like indeed. "Well then," Edmund told her, "if you will, Sallowpad would certainly escort you to the Beetle Races of the Narnian Murder."

The Raven hopped excitedly. "Excellent idea, my King!"

"Beetle races? I thought you were speaking metaphorically before."

"Oh no. The Crows collect beetles from the compost pile and midden. They put them in a circle on the ground and the first beetle out of the circle wins the race."

"And they bet on the races?" Evil Banker Morgan did look very excited about this. For a banker, at least. "What do they wager?"

"Shinys!" Sallowpad squawked. "Pretties!"

"Oh." Evil Banker Morgan looked quite deflated. "I don't have anything like the Princess' Pretties, Chief."

Edmund did not want to know how it was that Evil Banker Morgan knew of the thefts. The Crows, he suspected.

"You do!" the Raven said. "Any Crow would take a bet on your hair, Lady Morgan. Or the shiny thread in your gown!"

"But, Chief, I can't even see the thread or hairs Harah said were shiny!"

"Tut!" Sallowpad hopped from the ledgers to her shoulder. "May I?" the Raven asked.

"If it means I can bet in beetle races, absolutely, Good Raven."

Sallowpad picked through Evil Banker Morgan's brown hair and emerged with several strands in his beak.

Edmund did not look at her ear. His imagination did. It was a whole other part of her anatomy to fixate upon.

With a quick jerk, Sallowpad pulled her hair out. She winced, but didn't cry out. The Raven hopped from her shoulder to the window seat and placed the hairs in Evil Banker Morgan's palm.

"Now the thread," Evil Banker Morgan urged. "From the hem, I think." The Raven flapped down, carefully inspected the bottom of the gown of indeterminate green then struck, as a robin seeking a worm. Planting his feet carefully, Sallowpad pulled a long, silvery thread out from the fabric. Evil Banker Morgan carefully spooled it in her fingers.

"Thank you! Chief, can you find another?"

"Gladly, Lady Morgan."

Edmund looked over at Jina. The Hound had her eyebrows scrunched up. She was working very hard to understand this very strange behavior involving the unraveling of a lady's gown. But then, as Edmund had been saying all day, Morgan of the House of Linch was an Evil Banker and Not A Lady.

The Raven repeated this three more times, deftly removing the thread, before he called a stop. "That is enough, I think, Lady Morgan. You should have plenty for initial wagers."

The Hound pushed her nose into Evil Banker Morgan's hand. "Lady Morgan, if I may remind you, my Queens are expecting you and me, and in advance of the Occasion."

"Thank you, Jina, for being patient with me. I don't want to make you late." Evil Banker Morgan slid off her window seat.

It was worth another try. "Lady Morgan, you may leave those books in the Library, if you wish."

She was, however, already gathering them up. "No thank you." She remembered, "King Edmund."

"Sallowpad, would you please guide Lady Morgan to My Sisters? I need to speak briefly to Jina."

Evil Banker Morgan offered her shoulder to the Raven who climbed aboard. Juggling books and Bird, she trundled off.

Edmund gestured Jina into the Library for privacy and Jalur resumed his position at the door.

"I won't keep you, Lady Hound. I did want to thank you for your assistance. Will you be able to travel with Queen Lucy?" Jina still looked uncomfortable, so soon after whelping.

"I should think so, King Edmund. Thank you for asking. As I mentioned this morning, the puppies are ready to be weaned, so now is as good a time as any to leave. I have spoken to the physician already and need to take some measures, but nothing that would interfere with my duties."

"And so far, your observations, of Lady Morgan?"

"She managed the Otters and the Crows admire her. She is at ease with me and she and Sallowpad are getting on well. She has an odd manner that can annoy, such as just now with this Lone Islands business. Yet, she told Sallowpad the same thing with no difficulty. I have sensed nothing indicating she means harm to Narnia. I will know more after tonight, I'm sure, and will give you and Queen Susan a fuller report."

Jina was speaking more quickly than was usual and twitching with impatience. She was keen to be off and continue her work. That diligence was a Hound quality, and he did a disservice in keeping her.

"One last thing. I did not see Teddy the Rat Buck just now, which I am glad of. He would be a very hungry, tired Rat."

"Queen Susan sent him back to the Mischief for two days rest once I started."

"Excellent, thank you. That is all. I will see you later."

"Oh yes. Thank you, King Edmund. "

Jina trotted out the door, but not before there was some sort of rushed, whispered conference with Jalur. Edmund always wondered about these. He and his siblings had their private conversations about their Subjects; or at least he assumed they were private. It was reasonable to assume that their Staff, Guards, and personal retinue all had their own personal observations and did not, necessarily, share all with their Monarchs. Still, he did wonder, sometimes, who was really running things.

The Tale Of The Foolish Faun is, of course, a variation on an old joke.

If you are not following the bigger Spare Oom companion to this, The Stone Gryphon, the last two chapters that went up, Cross Pollination Parts 2 and 3, include many of the Beasts from By Royal Decree, including Lady Willa, She-Wolf Briony, He-Wolf Lambert, Sallowpad, Chief of the Murder, Ibiza the Hound, the promiscuous Songbirds, and the Otters.

Chapter 7: Parts 1 and 2 – Offer, Acceptance, Consideration to follow
The very Narnian Occasion and a traitor is revealed.