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: "Life is a reflection of intent. Love reflects love. Hate reflects hate." - Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Can the reflection in the ocean waves be trusted?

A/N: If you have not read the first six stories in the A Light in the Darkness main story arc (Awakened, Shadowed, Revealed, Concealed, Rekindled, and Refracted), 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 Ten: The Manor

Tarrin tried not to laugh as the Pelican clacked his beak, shuffling on grey webbed feet. Queen Lucy was smiling and even Lady Leto had a tiny smile. King Edmund nodded politely, though he seemed to also be struggling against a laugh. "What is your name, good cousin?"

The Pelican flapped his grey-white wings. "Ecbert! Ecbert, brother of Egbert, Majesty! How may I serve, Majesty?"

"Would you be willing to carry a message to Redhaven on Our behalf?"

The Pelican clacked his beak. "Too right, too right, Your Majesty! What message?"

"Take word to General Oreius and the Princess Royal that we are here at Lady Leto and her family's manor. We'll send word as soon as we've concluded some business with the lady's father."

Queen Lucy quickly interjected, "You'll find the Princess Royal at Hadassah House. Oh, do you know where that is?"

Ecbert clacked his beak again then bobbed his head. "Too right, too right, the nest with all the henless chicks."

King Edmund gave a curt nod. "Indeed. Aslan with you on this journey, Ecbert."

Ecbert let out a harsh growling squawk as he bobbed his head once more before taking flight. Tarrin glanced around the beach before Queen Lucy called for him to hurry up. King Edmund had offered an arm to each of the girls and was already escorting them up the sloping stone pathway. Tarrin hurried after them…at least with Ecbert acting as messenger, they shouldn't be in too much trouble with the General when they returned.

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The manor was large and well-kept, though they passed a few rooms where the furniture had been covered. An older woman threw her hands in the air and bustled forward to take Lady Leto under her motherly wing once they reached one of the upper halls. "Oh my wee lamb! I knew that vagabond wasn't to be trusted! I tried to tell your father, his lordship, that codfish wasn't to be trusted. But no one listens to Cora!"

Leto blushed as she glanced back at them. "Cora, please, is my father available?"

Edmund hoped he was. He had a few things he wished to discuss with the lord of the manor about that captain. Before the maid could answer, a cool and cultured voice that brought back the chilling memory of another voice spoke, "Your lord father is sequestered with his valet and solicitor for yet another attempt at losing more of my family's wealth." Edmund forced the memory of Her voice away. Nearly eight full years had passed since then…She shouldn't haunt him anymore. He turned to a see a beautiful woman, who looked like a mature version of Leto as they shared the same copper-toned hair and pale skin though her eyes were jade green and not the warm hazel of her daughter's, but there was a scornful air about her that welcomed none. Scorn that swiftly turned to fury as her gaze swept over her daughter. "What have you done to yourself? My dress is torn and stained as though you were a little doxy from beneath the docks! Do you wish to bring even more shame on this family than your father has already accomplished?"

Leto seemed to curl in on herself. "M-Mother, I-" She reeled back with a startled cry as her mother slapped her.

Edmund stepped forward. "Madam, We bid thee control thyself!" When the woman paused and turned disdainful eyes to him, he continued in a slightly less formal style but no less stern manner. "Your daughter has suffered a difficult and trying time these past days. Yet, you think nothing of striking her. Such behavior We find most reprehensible. If you've any sense of honor or decorum, much less a concern for Aslan, you would care for your daughter's plight, not berate and strike her as if she were naught."

He felt the light pressure of Lucy's hand on his sleeve and he knew she had also noticed the older woman's slight flinch at the name of Aslan. The lady of the manor parted ruby lips in a cold smile. "Of course…and just who do you think you are, boy, to presume to give me orders?"

A man stepped out of a room and wrapped his left arm around Leto's quivering shoulders. "Woman, you disgrace our family by speaking to the rulers of Narnia and these fair isles in such a manner." As the lady of manor's eyes widened, the man placed a tender kiss on Leto's brow. "Cora, see that my daughter is tended to and dressed in clean clothing." With a gentle push by her father, Leto was swept down another corridor by the maid who had probably been the only true mother to her if Edmund read the situation correctly.

The man turned and bowed deeply before he straightened, running his left hand over his bald pate. Edmund noted the scars just peeking out from under the man's left sleeve as they twisted around his wrist and the way his empty right sleeve had been pinned to his tunic, just over his right breast. Hazel eyes like his daughter's regarded Edmund with a contemplative light. "Your Majesties, I crave your pardon for this unseemly display of my house. I hope you do not look too unfavorably on us. Nor would I have you be at a disadvantage since you have been introduced only to my fair daughter. I am Lord Horatio and this is my wife, the Lady Pratima."

Edmund thought that Horatio certainly seemed to fit him better than it did Master Horatio the Wombat one of the most temperamental yet talented composers in their court. He bowed his head slightly. "Our royal Sister, the Valiant, friend Tarrin Peridanson, and Ourself were most pleased to be of aid to thy daughter, the fair Lady Leto, Lord Horatio."

Lord Horatio bowed again. "If it pleases your majesties, I should be honored to welcome you at my table for supper. Then perhaps, if it pleases you, My King, you and I might discuss in detail what fate befell my daughter whilst she was in Redhaven."

He hesitated to accept the lord's offer, but then Lucy touched his arm again, turning a bright smile on Lord Horatio. "Of course, we would love to accept your invitation, Lord Horatio."

"Indeed, Lord Horatio, we would be honored to share a meal and conversation with you. However, once our conversation is complete we should return to Brenn as the rest of our party will no doubt be expecting us." As the lord summoned his valet to show them to some rooms where they might freshen up, Edmund noted the distinct look of displeasure in Lady Pratima's eyes. There was something off about her, although he wasn't sure if it was merely her disdainful and cruel way of treating Leto or if her reaction to Aslan's name had been due to a slight prick of her conscience (if she had one) or because of a darker reason. Still, he expected Ecbert to deliver the message soon to Kat and Oreius, which should appease the General for a short while at least, and he didn't feel he could leave without ensuring this Lady Pratima was not behind that captain's dishonorable conduct toward her own daughter.

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A/N: Please Read and Review! And before anyone comes hunting for me, we WILL get back to Oreius and Kat in the next chapter as I'm sure y'all are dying to know what happens with them (aren't you?). Leave a review and let me know what y'all thought about this one.