A/N: Yeah! I've gotten them to Tashbaan. I hope you like my version of the Tisroc. I was struck by his callousness in the book and thought I'd expand on it more here.

Please review - it really helps me write and improve and I'll take you up on suggestions - like putting in more of the Lovely Edmund for Fluffymarshmallows!

Disclaimer: I own nothing of Narnia, Calormene or Archenland - but it's such fun to play with them!

City of Contradictions

Edmund stood on the deck of the Splendour Hyaline, looking out at the busy port. They had arrived in Tashbaan. Lord Peridan (an Archenlandish Lord who had relocated to Narnia some years ago with his family) came onto the deck behind his King.

"So" he said, wiping his brow with his handkerchief as he peered around at the bustling crowds "this is the infamous Tashbaan?"

Edmund nodded as he scanned the crowds. The place was sweltering, even here in the harbour, the humid heat was oppressive. He could see Rabadash's ship docked not far away, but there was no sign of the Prince or his father the Tisroc.

"Yes Tashbaan" he replied. "City of contradictions. Here you can see unparalleled wealth alongside starving children, opulent palaces, mere streets away from filthy hovels."

Peridan raised his eyebrow at his King. "Your Majesty seems well informed for one who has never been here before!" he commented.

Edmund smiled wryly at Peridan "I have my methods" he told his grinning friend. Peridan knew well what those methods were, as Edmund was training him in intelligence gathering. In fact, that was one of the reasons that Peridan was there. To help Edmund in gathering information.

"I am not sure that the Tisroc, may he have cool guest quarters, will approve of Your Majesty's assessment of his city, especially when we are staying in it at his pleasure" he remarked.

"No indeed" Edmund replied. "I will strive to moderate my opinions while in Tashbaan, I just needed one little rant while still technically on Narnian territory, to get my finely tuned prejudices under control." He looked around the sweltering harbour again. "And speaking of the Tisroc, where do you suppose our welcoming party is?"

At that moment there was a disturbance on one of the side streets leading down to the harbour and Edmund and Peridan saw a large litter, carried by six muscle bound slaves being carried into the square, with many more slaves behind it, some carrying empty litters. Soldiers marched in front of the procession. Most of the crowd melted out of their path as quickly as possible, those who were not fortunate to be fast enough received the butt end of a spear to remind them to be swifter.

Edmund turned to Peridan. "Lord Peridan will you ask The Queen Susan, Prince Corin, Master Tumnus and the rest of our party to come on deck" he asked. "It seems our welcoming party has arrived."
"Of course My King" answered Peridan, as he quickly went below deck. Susan was wilting in the oppressive heat and had gone below to shelter from the midday sun for a while.

Edmund looked up at Sallowpad, who was sitting on the rigging. "Friend Sallowpad, it is time for you to disappear" he told the Raven. "Follow us from a distance and we will meet with you when we are settled in our rooms."
Sallowpad did not reply, already immersed in his disguise as a mute raven. He nodded slightly to his King and then winged off to a nearby rooftop on one of the buildings overhanging the harbour.

By that time, the procession had reached the end of the pier to which the Splendour Hyaline was docked. The soldiers cleared the dock of citizens, non-too gently, Edmund noticed with disapproval. However, his attention was diverted at that moment.

A little, hump-backed, wizened old man was emerging from the litter, with the help of several of his slaves. From the descriptions that Edmund had received, this could only be the Tisroc's new Grand Vizier – Ahoshta Tarkaan.

Ahoshta came forward to the base of the gangplank leading to the Splendour Hyaline. Puffing he made his way to the top of the gangplank to Edmund.

"King Edmund of Narnia" he gasped, clearly out of breath from the short exertion. He bowed before Edmund in the Calormene fashion with his forehead to the deck, which after the sea voyage was not exactly clean. Raising his slightly fishy head he continued "I am Ahoshta Tarkaan. Welcome oh Barbarian King to our glorious city of Tashbaan. I am honoured to meet Your Royal Magnificence. For has not one of the poets said …"

Edmund was spared from knowing what that particular poet had to say on the matter, by the arrival of Susan and the rest of their party.

"May I introduce my sister Queen Susan" Edmund said to the Grand Vizier. Ahoshta's head once more descended to the scaly deck. "Oh, most beautiful and enchanting Queen" came his somewhat muffled voice. "I am overcome by your great beauty. But has not one of our most gifted poets said, Beauty in a woman is weapon that can be both a blessing and a curse. One that man must wield wisely in her stead, that she may remain pure and untarnished."

Susan raised her eyebrow at this, but was spared replying as Prince Corin chose this moment to snort with laughter.

Edmund sighed "You have of course met Prince Corin of Archenland before." He said to the Grand Vizier. Ahoshta at last struggled to his feet, wiping his face with a silk handkerchief.

"I have indeed met the Young Prince" he replied. "His Highness was most vocal on his last visit here. Wise was the poet who said, deep draughts from the fountain of reason are desirable in order to extinguish the exuberance of youth."

Exchanging glances with Susan, Edmund moved quickly to introduce the rest of their party; Peridan, Tumnus, the two dwarf brothers; Brickle and Brocket and Lord Peridan's wife, Sara who had come to act as Susan's lady in waiting on the trip. All noted that Ahoshta, while perfectly cordial to the humans, avoided talking to or looking at Tumnus and the two dwarves.

Just as the Grand Vizier was about to launch into another speech, Susan held her hand to her brow and appeared to swoon. Edmund, who was standing nearby caught her, alarmed. "Water for the Queen, quickly" he called to one of the crew. As he brought Susan to sit on a nearby barrel, he noticed that her fingers were flickering.

'For Aslan's sake Edmund, get this tiresome windbag to take us to our accommodation. If he quotes one more poet at me, I am likely to draw my bow on him to prove just how much of a beautiful weapon I can be!'

Trying to hide his amusement at his sister's silent words, Edmund turned to the Grand Vizier.

I must beg your pardon Ahoshta. But for the sake of my Royal sister, I fear we must cut short your eloquence and make haste to our accommodations so that the Queen may rest."

Thankfully Ahoshta only bowed and nodded to this and signalled for the slaves, who came forward and escorted the Narnians to their litters. Although uncomfortable with a form of transport which was carried by slaves, the Narnians nonetheless allowed themselves to be carried in the litters.

The Tisroc reclined on his heavily cushioned throne, regarding his petulant, eldest son who stood before him.

"Oh, my Father, and oh the delight of my eyes" Rabadash was saying. "May you live forever, but I am at a loss to discover why you are wroth with me."

The Tisroc motioned the Prince nearer, so that none of the courtiers, slaves or soldiers in the room could hear him.

"Compose yourself, Oh my son" he said in a warning tone. "Surely you are not so simple that you do not understand why your father may not want King Edmund to visit here without warning sent. King Edmund who is known to be the intellect and cunning of Narnia? King Edmund who is even now making his way to this court!"

"Oh, my father, may you live forever but you must understand. I greatly desire the barbarian Queen, you must …"

"Must?" said the Tisroc dangerously, raising his voice for the first time. "You would order me in my own Court?" Rabadash subsided, knowing that he had pushed his father too far.

The Tisroc lowered his voice again. "You were to seek for weaknesses in the Narnian court, to help us if we were to go to war with them." He whispered to his son. "Not invite their chief strategist to investigate ours!" Sitting back again into his cushions, the Tisroc eyed his son.

If you were not my father, oh ever living Tisroc." Grated out Rabadash. "I would say that you feared this King Edmund"

"And if you were not my son, Oh enlightened Prince" The Tisroc answered, his mouth close to the Prince's ear. "I would tell you that you have eighteen brothers and are not as indispensable as you may think!"

Rabadash was saved answering his father, as at that moment the doors to the Throne room swung open.

"Most honourable Tisroc, may you live forever" called the court chamberlain. "May I present your esteemed guests? The White Barbarian King, King Edmund the Just and Queen Susan the Gentle of Narnia and Prince Corin of Archenland."

The arrival of the Narnians caused quite a stir among the assembled nobles. Not only because King Edmund was a strikingly handsome young man and the Queen breathtaking. What really had the courtiers abuzz was the strange goat-footed creature and what could only be two dwarves that followed in the Monarchs' wake. Such creatures were unknown in Calormen and widely regarded as demons. Unperturbed, the Tisroc watched his guests with an outwardly impassive face as they approached his throne. Gesturing to his slaves, he rose from his throne with their support and strode forth to greet King Edmund to shake his hand, thus erasing that moment of uncertainty that might have arisen from two men of equal rank greeting each other.

"Greetings Tisroc" said King Edmund. He had long since decided that he would not endorse the preposterous declaration of 'may you live for ever'. The Tisroc would not and could not live forever and even if he could Edmund would certainly not wish it. "Thank you for your hospitality. My Royal Sister and I" here he gestured to Susan who came forward and dipped her head to the Tisroc "are delighted to be able to visit your wondrous city."

The Tisroc smiled back at the young King, not missing the subtlety of the missing appellation. He looked closer at the young King, assessing him. He could see that King Edmund had the toned body of a warrior; but looking into his eyes he could also perceive that a fierce intellect lurked there. This, he thought, is a dangerous young man. "King Edmund" He answered all but ignoring Susan, a fact that was not missed by the Gentle Queen. "You are all very welcome in our court. My son, Prince Rabadash has spoken fondly and highly of you all. I would be honoured if you would all dine with us this evening, but for now Your Majesties must excuse a busy man. Prince Rabadash will show you to your palace. I hope you will be comfortable there." 'And out of my court' added the Tisroc to himself. He did not want King Edmund with unrestricted access to the Royal Palace and so had come up with the idea of housing them separately in their own palace, with guards of course – for their own safety.

Rabadash, who had yet to speak, came forward and offered Susan his arm with a bow. As they made their leave of the Tisroc, Susan noticed that Rabadash was now dressed in Calormene fashion, feathered, jeweled, and perfumed – it was most definitely not an improvement.

"I see Your Highness has returned to your country's traditional dress" Susan remarked to Rabadash.

"Indeed" Rabadash replied. "I am glad to be able to dress appropriately once more." Susan arched her eyebrow at this. Rabadash, unaware of her countenance continued.

"Perhaps you, Queen Susan, might consider following my lead in dressing in the clothing of the country you are visiting. I am sure you would find Calormene clothing much to your liking."

Susan glanced at one of the ladies she was passing. While her clothing was beautiful, it was rather thinner and more revealing than Susan was used to. She smiled at Rabadash without comment and looked around for her brother and friends. Unnoticed by Susan, she and Rabadash had lingered behind the others and they were now out of sight, following the Grand Vizier to their accommodations through the garden. Rabadash pulled Susan aside. "I have missed you My Queen" he murmured, pushing her up against a low wall. Pressing his body to hers, he captured her lips in a blazing kiss. Running his hands down her body, Rabadash moved his attention to Susan's neck, kissing a trail down to her collarbone. Susan moaned with pleasure as Rabadash flicked his tongue over a sensitive spot on her neck. Growling lowly Rabadash returned to her mouth, forcing her mouth open with his tongue, he explored her mouth as his hands moved lower to grasp her bottom. Susan gasped, she knew that she should stop him, but it felt so good! Rabadash smiled to himself as he began another sensuous attack on her neck. He had known that once he was back in his own city, Susan would succumb to his charms. The Barbarian Queen would be his. She and hers would not leave his city until she agreed to be his wife!