A/N: Oh, hi there! Another few days, another chapter. Hope you enjoy!

Also, to the guest reviewer (since I can't reply directly): Thanks for reviewing! I'm glad you like it! As to your question...you may have to wait and see. ;) My lips are sealed.

Disclaimer: Nope, not mine. :(

Chapter XXI: Disguises and Deals

The sun had just risen. The warmth of the sun beat gently onto Edmund's face, making him feel the lack of sleep all the more. His horse's hooves clacked at a steady rhythm as he plodded on. He had decided not to start in a gallop. He didn't want to raise attention.

He shook his head, hoping to keep himself awake until he could find a darker covering. He was beginning to doubt whether coming alone was such a good idea.

"It will only take a day or two," he muttered to himself. He wouldn't take many rests, and he would continue following the map. He had it sorted.

Hours went by. Edmund stopped at a small stream, jutting out from the great river. He let his horse drink, and he splashed water on his own face. The coolness snapped him out of his daze.

He sat down against a tree and pulled out the ancient map. He was still determining which route would be the best.

He jumped when his horse pawed its hoof into the ground. Edmund slowly stood to his feet, his hand on the hilt of his sword. He heard a neigh, but not from his own horse.

His heart slammed against his chest. Perhaps Susan or Lucy followed after all. They would urge him to return, and the mystery would continue to gnaw at his mind.

Or perhaps, it was the bandits themselves.

This in mind, he clutched the hilt tighter. He slipped into a small thicket and walked behind where he heard the noise. He could catch them by surprise. Then, it would be over.

Edmund saw a figure ducking behind some bushes, stroking the nose of a horse. It seemed like a young boy. He had a worn tunic, old riding boots, and a hat that covered his facial features well. Whoever he was, he didn't want his identity found out. Edmund remembered Malikar's confession. The boys captured by the bandits and forced to join them. Maybe this was one.

The boy returned his attention to where Edmund's horse was. He looked around confusedly, obviously having lost his target. He reached for a bow and a quiver of arrows, which Edmund just noticed. Was this an attempted assassination?

Edmund shivered as the thought how he could have been dead in seconds if the boy's horse hadn't made a sound.

Deciding he would not be dying today, Edmund quietly slipped behind the youth. He unsheathed his sword and lightly placed the tip on the boy's back. The boy's hands instinctively went to the bow.

"Don't touch it," Edmund ordered, allowing a little more pressure against the boy's back. The latter obeyed and slowly lifted his hands to the side.

"State your name and intentions," Edmund said. The boy didn't answer but slowly turned around. Edmund still pointed his sword, but was careful not to hurt him. The boy's head was fixed downwards. Edmund couldn't see past the shadow of the hat anyway.

"Who are you?"Edmund repeated, pointing the sword a little higher to his throat. The boy tentatively lifted his hand higher.

"I'm warning you now," Edmund went on. "You won't have time for any hidden weapons. I'll kill you first."

The boy continued to reach upwards, but not for a weapon- for his hat. The boy removed it and flow of hair plopped to the shoulders. It seems that the boy wasn't a boy.

"What the-what in the name of Aslan are you doing here, Sheleiya?"Edmund snapped, stabbing the point of his sword into the ground. He was livid. No, beyond livid.

"Trying not to be murdered, apparently," she replied calmly. She dusted off her hat before replacing it onto her head.

"You had orders to stay at Cair," Edmund said. "You weren't to leave until you were fully healed and until word came from Anvard."

"Ordered by whom?" Sheleiya scoffed.

"Peter," Edmund replied, crossing his arms. This wasn't true, exactly. But after…recent discoveries, it was probably best that Sheleiya stayed in the area of constant guard.

"Oh," Sheleiya nodded. "And I suppose, you're following his orders to stay at the castle."

Edmund spluttered for explanation. He should have been able to easily bypass her assumption. He was a diplomat, for Aslan's sake. But no. She was right, and he couldn't argue that.

"You need to leave," he said. He grabbed her arm. "Are you even healed yet?"

She gasped in pain and pulled her arm away.

"I'll take that as a 'no'," Edmund said.

Sheleiya rolled her eyes, but held onto her arm. "Don't be daft. I'm coming with you."

"Wouldn't that be nice," Edmund deadpanned. "Unfornately, you don't know where I'm going anyway. And I'm certainly not taking you with me—"

"The Cave of Crystal Shards," Sheleiya said, her tone nonchalant.

Edmund paused. "How did you know?"

Sheleiya shrugged. "I didn't know, but now I do."

She untied her horse and led it to the water. "Besides, you've been asking questions about caves, and I saw a bunch of books in the library about old history, old diaries, maps. When I saw you riding into the forest from my window last night, I figured you would be searching for it."

Edmund leaned against one of the trees. "But how do you even know about it?"

She smirked. "Read it in a book."

She bent down to wash her hands. Edmund noticed she was washing her bruised wrists. They were black and blue now, and still a bit bloody in some places. She noticed his staring, and Edmund quickly looked away. "Rusty chains in Anvard's prison," she explained. "Took quite a bit to get them off. Probably a stupid thing to do, but I don't like being confined in one place for too long."

"There's no way you could have pulled them off," Edmund said. He watched her reaction carefully. Her lips twitched downwards.

"Well, to be honest, I didn't," she said. "They just slipped off."

"Right," Edmund pursed his lips. "And the werewolf just died?"

Sheleiya whirled around to face him. "I'm sorry, do you have a problem with me?"

"Look, I know it was your dagger," Edmund said.

She rolled her eyes. She went to her bag and procured a knife. Just a plain knife. "Wouldn't it be quite foolish to go out alone without a weapon?" She put the weapon away and started tightening the bags on her horse.

Edmund rubbed his face wearily. There was something off here. Something missing. "Where'd you get the dagger then?"

She glared at him, but said nothing. She probably figured out his motive. No doubt, the story of the mysterious dagger which a prisoner recognized went around the castle quickly.

"Sheleiya," he sighed. He ran a hand through his hair. "This is besides the point. You need to get back to Cair Paravel."

She froze for a moment before turning to face him, her lips pressed in a firm line. "I'll go back to the castle," she said, her voice clear and sweet. Too sweet. "I'm sure your sisters would love to know your direction and your plan."

Edmund tightened his hold on the reigns. He had no doubt she would tell them. And he had no doubt they'd send someone to fetch him—even if it meant Oreius carrying him on his back. He would not be winning this battle.

"You can't come," he said finally. "I've only packed for one person."

"I thought you might," Sheleiya nodded. She took a pack off her horse. "I packed for three. You can take a load off my horse, thank you very much, sire." She dropped the bag into Edmund's hands.

"Hold on a moment," Edmund spluttered. "You can't just—"

"You know, I think Queen Susan would be very upset to hear where you're going," she sighed. "Ah, well, I'm just sorry I should be the one to break it to her." She began to climb onto her horse. Edmund dropped the bag and grabbed her arm.

"Wait—just—" he rolled his eyes and sighed in surrender. "You can come."

Sheleiya smiled smugly.

Edmund narrowed his eyes. If he was going to be blackmailed, he could at least make the agreement to his advantage. "On one condition," he went on. "You tell me the full story behind the werewolf and Anvard."

Sheleiya smug façade faltered a bit. Her eyes dropped to the ground. She was thinking. It made Edmund wonder what she wanted to hide so badly.

She cleared her throat and climbed onto her horse. "Very well. I killed the werewolf out of blind terror," she said. "It attacked as I was riding to Cair Paravel, and I stabbed it."

"And the dagger?"

"I don't ask you about your dealings before becoming king, do I?" she replied coldly. She clicked her tongue and led her horse forward.

Edmund stood a few moments in stunned silence. He swallowed any biting words he had to say. He would pick his battles carefully. He mounted his own horse and followed after her.

. "Where did you get the clothes, then?" Edmund asked.

"I didn't steal them, if that's what you're implying, Your Majesty," Sheleiya said reproachfully.

"Of course not," Edmund said, with a small smirk. "I just think you should get a discount. They're very old fashioned, Sheleiya."

Her eyes went wide as she pulled on the reins. He chuckled as he passed by to take the lead. She seemed to lighten up and hit him with her hat. "Shut up."

They rode in silence for a short time. "I'm sorry for my comment about your past," she said quietly. "I—er—it was uncalled for."

"Indeed," Edmund said, glancing behind him. "But, I understand that when someone's past is painful, it is a subject they'd rather leave unsaid."

"I'm glad you understand," Sheleiya said.

Edmund stopped his horse so he could face her. "However, I believe that others can learn from the past—no matter how painful it is to relate. I won't force it out of you, but there may come a time where your past could save or condemn."

Sheleiya looked down at her hands and fiddled with the reigns. "I'm guessing you and King Peter don't trust Breeca and me."

Edmund didn't reply, hoping his silence would say enough.

She nodded and tugged on her hair. "I am sorry, but you will have to be kept in the dark for now. I won't relate something simply for the trust of two kings I barely know."

"And how about Lune?"

Edmund obviously hit a soft spot. Her countenance darkened, and she shook her head. "Has there been any word?"

Edmund shook his head gravely.

Sheleiya bit her lip. "We've wasted enough time. What's our heading?"

Edmund wasn't about to give up on his questions yet. But for now, she was right. They'd wasted enough time. "The Shuddering Wood. We'll keep hidden, take few rests, and be there in a day or two."

She pulled out the map out of his bag.

He stared blankly. "Oh, why, yes, Sheleiya," he said. "You may look at my map and go through my bag."

She glanced at him askance. "Don't be dramatic. It was sticking out of the edge."

She examined his marked route carefully. "Won't that delay us though?"

He tried to snatch it from her, but she easily dodged him. He rolled his eyes. "No, because if we

go straight, we'll be caught quicker."

"Caught by whom? The thieves are in the forests, most likely."

Edmund couldn't help but wonder how exactly she knew that.

He swallowed, his throat feeling dry."When Susan and Lucy find we're gone, they'll send a search party. Or, if they don't, Peter will whenever he gets back."

Sheleiya put the map in her own bag. "Shuddering Woods it is."

Edmund reached over his map, but she slapped his hand away. "You don't need it anymore!" he exasperated.

"I know," Sheleiya said, moving her horse onward. "But it seems to annoy you."

Edmund rolled his eyes. "Aslan preserve me."

A/N: There we are! Hope you liked it. :) Let me know in a review what you thought, and what you think will happen. :D Love hearing from you guys.