Disclaimer: I don't own Narnia or any characters you may recognize from the books or the movies, I wish I did but I don't... I also don't own the Narnian Calendar. It belongs to Elecktrum who was kind enough to let me borrow it for my story. Her own stories are awesome and you should go read them too.
Summary: You know the story of the Horse and his boy. But what was happening in Narnia? A northern campaign. Trouble on the homefront and a prince's invitation. Will anything be as Peter left it?
A/N: If you have not read the first ten stories in the A Light in the Darkness main story arc (Awakened, Shadowed, Revealed, Concealed, Rekindled, Refracted, Reflected, Veiled, Unveiled, and Eclipsed), I highly recommend you do so for the full experience. However, I have included a quick summary of the previous stories so if you want to give this one a whirl on its own, you can.
Chapter Eight: A Reply
26 Fairdawn 1014
"Are you sure about this, Kat?"
Alambiel rolled her eyes then shifted more of her weight to her other leg. "Lucy, you're out of practice. I'm out of practice. We need to practice." She raised her twin knives. "Ready."
She didn't wait for Lucy to respond. Instead, she went on the attack, leaping forward with knives flashing. Lucy's dagger met one but she forced the younger woman to twist and half-turn to avoid her second knife. A flash of resolve entered her blue eyes and her mouth took on a determined pout as she ducked away, briefly breaking free, before spinning back with her own attack. Her little dagger flicked toward Alambiel's arm only to be blocked.
For a while, there was only the sound of clashing steel. Then Lucy broke her silence. "Kat?"
Alambiel blocked another strike, catching Lucy's dagger between her blades and forcing them both to a standstill. She arched an eyebrow at the younger woman in mute query. Lucy puffed, moving the tendrils of hair that had fallen in front of her eyes, and then asked in a slightly breathless voice, "What do you think of the invitation?"
"What invitation?" Alambiel disengage her knives and then stepped back, sheathing them. "Hand to hand now." She continued as she tossed the younger woman a pair of protective vambraces before tying her own, "Do you mean the invitation to go visit the Shuddering Woods? I'm not really in the mood. The invitation to visit Oreius' herd? I try to avoid family reunions when the Kentauri isn't around to help me keep his relatives' names straight. The invitation to-"
She cut herself off when Lucy struck at her waist, quickly slapping her hands away. "Not bad but not quite fast enough and I've told you no gut shots during training." They started sparring again, wrists and forearms taking the brunt of blocking each blow.
"Very funny," Lucy panted. "You know the invitation I mean. From Rabadash. Visiting Tashbaan."
Alambiel grabbed her wrists, not even bothering to hide her frown as she recalled Susan's news at breakfast. "I can't believe she's even considering it." She hooked her foot behind Lucy's ankle and yanked, tripping her over. "She shouldn't be."
"You don't think she loves him?" Lucy got up, wiping the dirt and grass from her split riding skirt.
"If she does, she's hiding it very well." Striding to a nearby log, Alambiel picked up a flask and poured clear, fresh water into a cup. She passed it to Lucy before pouring herself some. Tasting the refreshingly cool water did much to soothe her temper. She glanced at her companion out of the corner of her eye, noting Lucy's flushed cheeks and the sweat causing her hair to cling to her forehead, before she took one of her handkerchiefs, soaked it in water, and then passed it to the younger woman. "I do not trust our fair-speaking prince. He's not shown his temper, not even when Corin and the twins ended up knocking the punch bowl onto him and he was wearing more delicate silk than Susan."
"Maybe Rabadash isn't like his father or brothers. That could happen."
Alambiel glared at the grass beneath her boots. "Perhaps but I cannot escape the feeling that we should have done with this poppycock and bid him well on his journey home, end of story." She sighed then added, "Not to mention the nightmare of figuring out the security for such a visit and choosing who will go and who will stay. Although, I dare say such a visit shouldn't last more than a fortnight if it's undertaken. At least, two royals will have to go, including Susan." She stopped abruptly, noticing Lucy's amused grin and the laughter threatening to brim over judging by her shaking shoulders. "What?"
"You sound like Oreius."
"Oh." Her gaze drifted from her companion to the sparring meadow that was normally reserved for her and the Kentauri. "Well, one of the hazards of marriage, I suppose. You might find yourself sounding like your spouse when you least expect it."
"Your highness."
"What is it, Ptah?"
"It is nearly teatime." The Leopard further emerged from the bushes, his ochre eyes shining with the smirk he wasn't quite letting show, as he added, "You said you wished for a warning so that you might both clean up."
Alambiel nodded. She glanced at Lucy. "In the end, it is Susan's decision no matter what you and I might have to say about it. However, there's no harm in hoping she doesn't choose what I fear she will. Head back to the Cair. Ptah will escort you. I need to finish up here."
"Will we see you at tea?"
"Doubtful."
Lucy laughed. "I'll just have to invite Tarrin to take your place then."
"Please do." Alambiel smirked at the thought of how that invitation would be greeted with absolute delight by the Cair's matchmakers with Susan in the lead. Ptah gave her a questioning look but thankfully he didn't argue before dutifully following Lucy from the glade once she mounted her horse.
Alambiel wet another handkerchief and leaned forward slightly as she draped the damp fabric against the back of her neck. She didn't like the Rabid Radish. She didn't trust him. And, she certainly didn't think any good would come of this invitation of his. Her knee throbbed as she stretched her leg out, reminding her that she wasn't quite back in top form. At least, Tuulea was away visiting some distant kin otherwise she never would have been able to accidentally lose her cane this afternoon. She held up the flask and gave some serious thought to just dumping the lot of it on herself to finish cooling down.
"Alambiel?"
She startled, thinking for one wild moment that it was Oreius, but then she met the laughing gaze of Stormwind and the equally amused eyes of his brother. Shaking her head with a laugh that was aimed more at her own foolishness, Alambiel got to her feet with just a touch of caution, calling out, "I see the perimeter guards aren't up to their normal stuff considering they let you two wander right in. What do you here?"
Stormwind chuckled, his tawny eyes sweeping over her first and then the sparring glade. "We've just returned from visiting the herd. And, obviously the perimeter guard knows that if anyone meant mischief, you are more than capable of defeating us with your grand and powerful wrath, O fairest of cousins."
She had to laugh as he finished with a very formal bow. "I've almost missed you, Stormwind. Firemoon?" She turned to the younger of her husband's cousins, grinning. "Can your greeting top your brother's?"
Firemoon snorted. "No, for if I tried, my lady might think I'm attempting to flirt."
She laughed even more when his brother retaliated by cuffing him on the back of the head. "And, how did the introductions go?"
It was always interesting to her how easy it was to make the two Centaurs uncomfortable by purposely bringing up their grandam and matriarch. Of course, they seemed to think that she shared Oreius' less-than-understanding attitude toward Despoina's attitude regarding her. "Well? How did Despoina greet Tanith?"
"She's very pleased." Firemoon grinned. "She said Tanith was an improvement over the last filly."
Alambiel raised both eyebrows. "You've brought fillies home before?"
"No. Just that she said-" He cut himself off abruptly, flushing with embarrassment.
"Well, I think it's safe to say that Despoina will like any filly who has four hooves and a tail better than the last filly one of her relatives introduced to her." Alambiel grinned. "So, tell me what else is going on with the herd. Actually, play escort for me and tell me why we go." She walked over to Pepin and let Stormwind help her into the saddle.
The Centaur gave her a curious look. "I thought Tuulea forbade you from sparring until your knee heals."
"It's mostly healed and Tuulea's not here. And, if she finds out from the two of you, I'll cut your tails." She enjoyed the wide-eyed looks and tail flicking that threat induced. Almost as much fun as yanking on Oreius' tail.
Finally parting ways with her husband's cousins outside her quarters after gaining their promises to have a family dinner with her next Seventhday, Alambiel walked into her study with an almost tangible sense of dread. Her thoughts swiftly returned to the topic Lucy had brought up during their sparring match. If Susan truly were planning to accept the peacock's invitation to visit Tashbaan, she might have to go. Ugh, she had absolutely no desire to waltz into the Tisroc's greedy hands.
Leeta met her at the door with a cold compress in hand. "For your knee, your highness."
"I don't-"
"I suggest you use it, my lady, or Tuulea will learn of your strenuous activity against orders as soon as she returns from her trip because you won't be able to hide your limp. Was tripping over Remus not enough aggravation for you, my lady?"
Alambiel pursed her lips as she snatched the cold compress and then stretched her leg out so her heel rested on the footstool that someone (probably Leeta) had placed in the room by her chair. Oreius still hadn't responded to her almost-confession of what had happened with Remus and she wouldn't put it past Tuulea (and maybe Leeta) to write the Kentauri with the healer's exaggerated report on how her knee was mending if they decided she wasn't cooperating enough. If she wanted the Kentauri to be provoked, she'd be the one to do it. "What's on the list today, Leeta? Tea with the Rabid Radish? A meeting with Stonebrook once again detailing why I'm not supposed to refer the Prince as the Rabid Radish? Confinement to my quarters until I learn to be diplomatic more often than once or twice a week?"
The Nymph shook her head, laughter sparkling in her black eyes. "I do believe that both Stonebrook and the Just have figured out how much you enjoy being confined to quarters when the Calormene prince is about and have removed that as an option because it is a reward and not a punishment."
"Too much smiling?"
Leeta tilted her head to the side. "Well, you were not very subtle, my lady."
"Hmm." She picked up the letter sitting on top of the pile on her desk. Not from Oreius. She tossed it back down as she murmured, "Next time I'll remember to practice being subtle."
A Bird's delighted shriek interrupted whatever Leeta might have said just before Tris darted in through the study's open window to land on Oreius' desk. Alambiel straightened in her chair, an unbidden smile blooming, as she reached to detach the courier pouch from the Merlin's leg. "Tris. I wasn't expecting you."
The Merlin flapped her wings once. "The General has sent an urgent message. He wishes you to make an answer posthaste then I shall fly again."
"First, take your rest or, at the very least, refresh yourself. Leeta? Would you see to her needs?"
Leeta stepped forward at once, holding out her arm for the Merlin to hop on, before she dipped her head. "At once, my lady."
Alambiel waited until Tris and Leeta had left before she finally permitted herself to slice through the Kentauri's wax seal with one of her knives. Unfolding the note, she frowned at its brevity.
Sepphora,
The colt is concerned over home life. What does the Beech suffer from?
She touched the short message with a single fingertip. "You didn't even bother to sign your name. And, you used my chivalric title for no reason. What did Peter say to get you in such a bad mood?"
Pity she had sent Tris away. Otherwise, she might be tempted to ask her what she'd heard between the two. Of course, such an action would be the equivalent of sanctioning eavesdropping on superiors, which was apparently frowned upon by the Kentauri. They probably didn't hash it out in front of Tris, anyway.
Pulling out quill, ink, and parchment, Alambiel considered what to say then she grinned. It was going to drive Oreius nuts.
Well, my love, I'm doing quite well. Thank you for asking. Cair Paravel is hopping and buzzing with all sorts of news and various announcements that I would repeat but I'll wait for a proper letter first.
As for the colt, you may tell him the following:
Nothing permanent.
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A/N: Please Read and Review!
