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 Fourteen: Dalzeel

"Oi! Who do I need to talk to get outta this place? Me ship is gone, savvy?"

Oreius shot a hard look at the Faun who grimaced. "We found him down the beach from where the Wolves last saw the Royals. He was drunk and shouting about his ship. Our understanding is that he has been wandering between a tavern and that beach since yesterday afternoon and we are certain he saw something but he will not cease rambling long enough to answer our questions."

He gave a curt nod. Though he did not much like the idea of depending on a drunkard for reliable information, any information could provide the key to finding those foals before harm befell them. Entering the room, he raised an eyebrow at the sight of a man clad in a loose, dingy tan (or perhaps it had once been white) undertunic, brown leggings, and scuffed boots that were laced to his mid-thigh. His dark hair was shaggy and unkempt-looking with various wooden and silver beads strung in it underneath where a red headscarf rested. He wore no sword but Oreius knew his soldiers would have removed any weapons before bringing him here to a refuge for little foals. The man had an odd gait, swinging his arms and legs almost like some of the string puppets Oreius had seen a few vendors entertaining the younger crowd with during the tournament.

The man whirled about, flinging his arms wide. "Finally! Someone who'll listen and let me find me ship." He stopped then peered at Oreius before turning to Lieutenant Lonn. "He's gonna let me go?"

Oreius resisted the urge to shake any information out of the man that would allow him to find his foals. The scent of filth and ale clung to him in a pungent cloud that only grew worse when Oreius crossed the remaining distance between them. "My men believe you have pertinent information to our search. What did you see yesterday afternoon concerning three young people, two colts and a filly?"

The man scratched at his scraggly goatee then leaned back. "Will telling you any information I might in fact be in possession of get me ship back faster?"

Oreius frowned. The man's preoccupation with his ship was…suspicious. "You are a smuggler."

The man started in feigned and exaggerated surprise. "What?" He bobbed slightly as he threw his arms wide again. "No, no, no. I am not a smuggler. I am merely a humble and most legal purveyor of fine and occasionally mostly intact goods, savvy?"

A smuggler with delusions of grandeur…or simply delusions. Oreius crossed his arms. "Then tell us where we might find your captain so as to confirm your story."

"You're lookin' at him, mate." The man grinned. "I am Captain Dalzeel. The finest captain to sail the Great Eastern Sea."

He did not have time for this fool's boasts. "Captain Dalzeel. Did you or did you not see three young people on the beach?"

"No. I saw four of them and they weren't on the beach. They was in me ship! There I was, enjoying good ale and some lovely female company. And then I goes back to me ship to get some trinkets, little things that don't have much of a market, for this lovely. But, me ship is gone. That girl and the other three stole me ship, savvy? Then once the bloody storm's gone and blown over, I goes to find me ship and your bloody soldiers drag me here." Dalzeel pointed at Sobek. "And he bit me!"

The Leopard bared his teeth, giving a low growl. Oreius ignored it. He needed to know where the foals had gone. "Where?"

"On me-"

"Not where you were bitten!" Oreius stamped a hoof as he reigned in his temper. Information, he needed information before he tossed the drunken fool into a cell. "Where were they sailing?"

"Look, mate, I don't see any profit in me telling you if it don't let me sail off on the waves of freedom, savvy?"

Oreius grabbed Dalzeel, ignoring the stench, as he pulled the man close and hissed, "You will find no profit at all if you do not tell me what you know. Things will go poorly indeed for you, Master Dalzeel, if you continue to attempt to barter or otherwise delay my search." He released him, allowing him to drop to his feet. With effort, Oreius composed himself before repeating tightly, "Where were they sailing?"

"Captain. It's Captain Dalzeel." He stepped back, holding his hands up, as Oreius stepped forward. "However. Yes, however, I find meself inclined to be a purveyor of information at this particular moment. Now, I happen to know they was sailing in a westerly direction, toward Muil."

"I see. Now explain to me how four young ones were able to sail off with a merchant ship crewed only by themselves?"

Dalzeel shrugged. "Well, she's really more of a cutter. However, she's me only means of returning to me merchant ship. Just as important and still me ship."

He was holding something back. Oreius was certain of it, but he could not decipher what, not yet. "Why was your cutter not docked in port?"

"I moved it. I prefer the sand and the quiet. Once the people hear Captain Dalzeel is in port, all sorts of unscrupulous and dishonest types ready to steal me goods, so it's for protection."

It was far more likely that Dalzeel had been worried someone would recognize his ship and then report him as a smuggler. Before he could press for more information, flush out what he was holding back, Dame Sepphora entered the room. As soon as Dalzeel saw her, he lit up then strode toward her. "Ah, another visitor!" He swept a deep bow. Straightening, the man leaned close to Dame Sepphora. "And how shall I address you, oh goddess among lovelies?"

She did not look impressed as she answered coolly, "You may address me as 'Your Highness.'"

The man grinned and would have leaned even closer but for the fact that Ptah placed himself between the two of them. "A royal! Wonderful! I love royals! Especially when they're as comely as you."

Oreius was hard-pressed to hide his scowl but Dame Sepphora seemed no more amused than he was...she was actually conducting herself with the full severity the situation required. "Ptah will bite you if you try anything."

Now Dalzeel hesitated. Oreius took a step forward not bothering to soften his movement so the strike of his iron shoe against marble drew their attention. "Lieutenant Lonn, we shall be sailing for Muil within the hour. See this man is placed in a secure cabin aboard the Splendor Hyaline."

Dame Sepphora wrinkled her nose. "See he avails himself of a bath first, so none of ours are crippled in their ability to smell out those we seek." She glanced at him then, still serious. "I will ensure that Governor Harbrace does not take offense nor sees more than we wish."

Oreius gave a curt nod. She turned on her heel with Ptah trailing in her wake as she left. Dalzeel grinned, his gaze shamelessly lingering on the movement of Dame Sepphora's hips. "I don't know about you, mate, but the best thing about women is watching them leave."

Oreius shot him a sharp look for his impertinence.

Dalzeel merely winked. "Especially when they look and move like she does."

"In the presence of the Princess Royal," Oreius said stonily, "you would do well to keep your eyes and your comments to yourself."

"Oh, certainly, mate. Certainly." Dalzeel grinned once more. "Does she take long walks for exercise, by the way? Maybe somewhere I can watch?"

"You will show her respect or the least of your worries will be the Leopard."

"She looks like fun. A very nice, royal lovely. She's not married, is she?"

Obviously, the fool was not going to heed his warning. And, he had no more time to waste on another distraction. "Lieutenant Lonn, see that the Princess Royal's orders are carried out then place this man in a secure cabin."

Dalzeel immediately looked at the Faun. "Is she gonna be on the ship?" He grinned when the Lieutenant gave a curt nod. "Wonderful. Let's be going then. Mustn't disappoint her highness!"

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Katerina waited in the Governor's private study. She was fairly certain the guard who'd fled her presence was the same one she had intimidated into fetching Harbrace after discovering Fyren. In any case, she hadn't been waiting long when the Governor bustled in…with his new wife by his side. "Governor Harbrace, Lady Rhonwen, my apologies for taking you away from your guests, but there was no way around it."

Harbrace frowned at her. "Surely you haven't found some other nest of vile activities in Redhaven?"

"Thankfully, I have not." Katerina carefully maintained her diplomatic and congenial manner as she continued, "However, I regret I needs must inform you that the Narnian delegation has become aware of an urgent matter of state concerning some of the other islands and, by necessity, we must take our leave of you and yours today."

Face darkening, Harbrace puffed his chest out, causing the fabric of his yellow tunic to strain even further around his rounded gut, as he blustered, "King Edmund is obligated to participate in the tournament, which resumes tomorrow! As is that young lord. And what of Queen Lucy's promise to sit down at the negotiations between the Seven Isles and Terebinthia? The ideal time to do so is now when all are gathered here for the wedding and its festivities."

Katerina leveled him with a firm look. "It is regrettable, Harbrace. However, I think you will agree that their majesties' obligations were confined to attending the wedding of your son, which they have fulfilled. As far as the negotiations, you have my word that Narnia will take on the task of arranging a new date for them to take place." She slipped a hint of steel into her voice. "It would reflect very poorly on you, Harbrace, should I be obligated to report to their majesties that you would begrudge them an unavoidable matter of state over a tournament and unofficial negotiations."

For a moment, she thought Harbrace would raise more of a ruckus but then Lady Rhonwen placed a hand on his arm. Young though she was, her presence seemed enough to remind Harbrace that he would have more to lose if he continued arguing or attempted to turn this into a diplomatic incident. He grumbled under his breath (though she heard his rather ungracious comment about an uppity female just fine) then grudgingly asked, "Shall I see their majesties off?"

"Thank you but that is unnecessary. We do not wish to draw any more attention to our early departure than is unavoidable." She smiled politely. "And I do not wish to take you and your lady wife from your guests any longer."

"Then may Aslan speed you on your journey." He offered a slight bow while his wife curtsied deeply then they left.

Katerina looked at Ptah. "Well, that didn't escalate as much as I thought it might." She rubbed her forehead. "Still, we've more to do before joining the others at the ship."

Oreius and the majority of the soldiers had already left Hadassah House by the time she and Ptah returned, but that was for the better. She didn't want Lanka to pick up on the coldness between Oreius and herself and if Lanka had seen enough to feel justified in threatening Oreius, she would no doubt see more than either of them wanted. Babet and the Greyback brothers were waiting for her in the kitchens…as were Lanka and Govad. The boy was clutching a wrapped package. "Lady Star?"

Katerina quickly pasted on a smile. "Yes, Govad?"

"Would you take this?" He held up the package. "I made it for Queen Lucy."

Accepting the package, she kissed his dark hair. "I will make sure she knows, Govad."

"Are you gonna come back quick?"

She pulled him into a hug. "Queen Lucy and I will come back as quick as we may. But you must be patient." Straightening, she nodded to Lanka. "Thank you for allowing us to bring the soldiers here."

Lanka sniffed, "That Centaur better know what he's doing."

I hope so too. "He does what he must. He knows the security of Hadassah House is important and I am certain that this will not happen again."

"Well, you tell him I meant what I said."

"Of course, Lanka." Yet another reason she would not have Oreius come back. If Lanka found out Oreius was giving all the signs that he'd decided to end their courtship, she would be fetching her spear and not her rolling pin. "I will send word when I am able to next return."

As Lanka bustled Govad off to keep the boy from being able to dwell overmuch on his lost crush, Katerina turned her attention to the four Beasts. Babet was still bristling over what she viewed as her failure and the Wolves' incompetence. The Wolf twins, on the other hand, were still very much subdued. Even Remus wasn't his characteristic cheerfully spastic self. "Dame Sepphora, are we going to find King Edmund now?"

"Yes," Katerina softened her tone just a touch as she added gently, "but until we do, you must stay out of the General's way. When we are on the ship you are to stay below deck either with me in my cabin or you may stay in one of their majesties' cabins with Ptah or Babet's supervision. Do you understand? If you come above deck without my permission, I will not allow you to aid in the search on land because I will be unable to trust your ability to listen to orders."

"We'll stay below deck, Dame Sepphora!"

Their anxious eyes begged her to soften further, but she knew better. They needed to learn from their mistakes. She nodded. "See that you do."

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A/N: Please Read and Review! Okay, so if Dalzeel reminds you of anybody, it's because I am always amused by that particular morally ambiguous character and plaguing Oreius with him was too much fun to NOT take the idea and run. ;) As far as those of you who asked for Oreius' pov...well, I'll let y'all tell me what you think about his actions now. I'll probably post a chapter next week and then I'll be buried in schoolwork until the week of the 11th. Leave a review and let me know what y'all thought about this one.