In the days that passed since Edmund had been moved away from working in the fields, things went by quickly. He still ached from the fight he had with the overseers in the rock field, had obvious bruising, and the popping in his hip was annoying and gnawing at him. But it wasn't unbearable and actually became something he could ignore by keeping his mind busy and keeping to his tasks. He always had been a quick learner and he became accustomed to his new tasks rather quickly.

He liked that his schedule and duties that Tarkheena Tullah had given him always seemed to be rather mixed and, at times, random. It kept things from being so monotonous. He had started by working in the kitchens, cleaning up after the cooks and running to get sacks of wheat and grain from the store houses on the property. He also helped clean the stables, mucking, feeding, and shining the leather bridles and saddles used by the family and taskmasters. He would even set tables and polish silver when needed.

He got the feeling that they were training him to do a little of everything. The Tarkheena wasn't lying when she said the family was indisposed, at the moment. They were understaffed and running him ragged.

That might have been why Tarkheena Tullah always called on him at different parts of the day. Just as she said, she seemed to be preening him to take much of Rineeda's place, just as she was training Rineeda for whatever it was exactly that she was going to be doing once taken to the house of Tarkhaan Shandeer.

Edmund had tried to ask both Tullah and Rineeda separately why Rineeda was leaving, but it was never clear. Only that "Tarkhaan Oraleth deems it right" or "It is a blessing to be serving a house as great as Shandeer's" or something else as utterly vague and grandiose sounding.

Rineeda it seemed, was keen on staying quiet and Edmund only ever really heard her speak much to Tullah. But he could tell that the Calormene girl was rather different than him. She kept her head bent low most of the time, showing what she would call respect but what Edmund believed to be fear or brokenness. She hurried about her tasks and sneered at Edmund whenever he was "too slow" or not catching on quickly enough. She acted as if she were better than him in every way when they were alone or only amongst other servants, but she knew she was to act as nothing when in the presence of the Tarkhaan or his family. And so, she did.

Edmund did not bemoan the girl, as he saw how she was simply a product of her environment. It also didn't hurt that he noticed the small bruises on her. Or how she tried to hide them behind a pretty face and long lashes.

As for him, Edmund found himself pushing harder through all of his tasks when his pain flared up or his limp made the going slower. He tried so hard to be done as early as he could because that meant more time to see Peter.

For almost a full week, Tullah had actually allowed Peter to come inside to help Edmund clean and reapply the salve to his cuts and bruises - but only late at night after he'd hauled himself from the fields and guzzled down some type of meat and mush that was given to the slaves as diner. But as the days progressed and Edmund was starting to heal, the two brothers were coincidentally finding more and more ways to see each other. Instances like when Peter had been sent to the stables to unsaddle and brush the horse of a visitor while Edmund was just beginning to muck stalls. Or when Edmund would be instructed by the cook to serve the dinner slop to the field workers and found Peter at the end of the line. Even times like today, when Peter had been given his break for lunch just when Edmund had been sent by the Tarkheena to draw water from the nearby well for watering the plants in the garden. With his limp, Edmund was struggling to hold the oxen bar over his shoulders while both buckets on either side were full to the brim. Peter saw and offered to help.

It is amazing how much time one has on their hands when one doesn't have strength in their hands to care for themselves. Though she would much prefer to do things herself, the Tarkheena Tullah was used to waiting on others to get to her, to help her, to push her around in her wheelchair or on her litter. It left her bored and frustrated and unable to find contentment in what she used to. Because of this, she started to watch those around her with more intensity than she ever had in her younger days. She'd watch all, Rineeda, Oraleth, the cooks, the ones working in the fields, gardens, and about the house. And this included Edmund and Peter.

And it was in the moments the boys got to see each other, the ones they took to be blessing from Aslan, that the Tarkheena got to glimpse their relationship. And as Peter helped Edmund carry the water buckets towards where she sat in the garden, she pinched her lips in her usual form and appraised the two boys as they rounded the corner.

They looked up from each other, the smiles slipping from their faces as their conversation went silent. The Tarkheena found herself disappointed, knowing she would not be allowed to be in on whatever secret or joke they were sharing, and it just wouldn't be the same if she demanded them to tell her. She felt the change in their mood acutely, going from lighthearted to serious the moment they saw her.

"Tarkheena," Edmund started, seeing she didn't look pleased that another was with him. "My brother was only-"

"Your brother was only skimming on his task to whisper with you, was it?" She asked with the tone that only a strict, no nonsense older woman can have.

Edmund felt slightly taken aback, but he didn't show it. "No, no I was simply struggling with the buckets-"

"So you are unfit or unable to complete even the simplest of chores?" She cut him off again, watching the ease with which he reigned in the hint of frustration on his face.

"No, Mistress. I assure you I am more than capable. Petryn was only-"

"I was taking my rest, as given to me by Hargeph," Peter stepped in coolly, "I only sought to make my brother's burden less, and to have the water make it to your plants quicker. It is a hot day and not a cloud in slight. We wouldn't want any to wilt."

Tullah raised an eyebrow, satisfied that Peter was there if only he was on his midday break. "No, we wouldn't want that at all." That was the only response she gave before gesturing with a gnarled, tight, fisted hand towards the flowers near her.

The boys went to work watering the expansive garden, occasionally whispering amongst themselves. Tullah shook her head. These Archenlanders know nothing of manners or how to act amongst the higher class, she thought. She took note that it couldn't be their fault, that they were raised in a land much different from hers. It was not something she resented them for, but she knew others would. She thought to correct them, to teach them better, but she would not do it with a rod.

No, that wouldn't do for boys like these.

She sat, continuing to watch them. She found herself confused, yet charmed, that the eldest would relinquish his break for more work - if only for his brother. There was no doubt in her mind that Edden would do the same. They had been relieved beyond measure to find one another, and Tullah saw how each interaction showed more of their personality and bond. They didn't know it, but Tullah noticed how they prodded and joked with each other even as they winced from pulled and sore muscles and dripped sweat in the suffocating heat. These were strange slaves, indeed.

But today of all days, she also noticed Peter's weariness to be greater than Edmund's. It was the hottest part of the year in Calormen, after all, and Hargeph may have loaded most of Edmund's work onto Peter since it was his little brother who "wormed his way out of duties" in the fields and quarry. It seemed resilience was something that ran in the family, Tullah thought.

"Edden, pour water for me and Petryn. It is hotter than the wrath of Tash today."

The boys picked their head up from their work, staring at her like they were surprised. Edmund quickly caught his bearings though, and retrieved two glasses that sat on top of a side table a short way off, underneath a canopy of red azaleas. He filled the glasses to the top, then gave Peter his. The elder boy looked at it longingly, though waited for the Tarkheena to take a drink first before he did.

The Tarkheena lifted one side of her mouth, happily surprised at his actions. Maybe there was hope for these foreigners yet.

She then did her best to force one balled fist open. Her hand shook and moved slowly, some fingers still crossed awkwardly, and she did her best to hide the pain. It would not do to have her face betray her.

Edmund did not hesitate when handing her the glass. Her fingers still shook as she wrapped them around it as best as she could, her twisted index finger curving over her middle finger, as the water sloshed against the sides of the glass. Seeing it - and without being asked, Edmund gently cupped his own hands around hers, helping her get a good grip, steadying the troubled water. He looked her in the face, not patronizingly as one would an old, helpless woman, and not even with a look of fear or respect, as you'd expect from a slave to a master. He simply looked kind and undoubting that she herself was capable, although she had questioned his capabilities a moment earlier with holding the watering buckets. He removed his hands almost instantly, certain that she had it.

Tullah tried not to look at him while she lifted the glass to her parched lips. But the action had been so soft, so kind and personal, so not what he was taught by Rineeda when she showed him how to help the lady, that it surprised her - something the two Archenlanders were doing a lot of, it seemed. She did not like to have help where it was not absolutely needed, opting instead to struggle more, if it meant she did things on her own.

But when being helped, Rineeda, other slaves, and even her own sons never seemed half as gentle or sure of her as Edmund had in that moment. She thought him to have a knack for such behavior, considering he was turning out to be that way with all she asked him to do for her. He was meticulous and hardworking, but did not treat her as a child - letting her do things on her own. Maybe because he too struggled with his own infirmaries. In all her watching, Tullah had notice the cooks growing frustrated with Edden's limp as he stumbled about the kitchen. And Rineeda had no patience with him at all, as he limp behind her, learning all of her tasks. And he had spent an unusual amount of time while mucking the stables, which just so happened to be the day that Peter had been putting away the horse. But they never showed such annoyance with her, as she knew they would not because of her station. But Edden seemed to not treat her that way because he understood the struggle and desire to simply do what everyone else can, no matter how slow you may be at it.

Tullah would have pondered it longer, but just then Rineeda's voice, quiet and monotoned, came from the other side of the garden, near the entrance to the home.

"She is back here." She said, then walked through the doorway with a man following her.

The man was tall, broad shouldered, and dressed in an even gaudier fashion than Edmund had seen Oraleth or Tullah wearing. A turban of white sat high upon his head with a red ruby and a golden feather centered on it. His garment and pants were of fine purple, lined in a gold that matched the feather. His trimmed, pointed beard was stained a bright crimson color that was of the highest fashion in Calormen, while numerous chains and bangles overlapped each other around his neck and wrists. Multiple diamond rings perched on his thick fingers while a decorated scimitar hung by his side.

Peter and Edmund noticed the weapon looked to be for ceremony only, though the man stood in a way that seemed to the boys like he wanted people to presume he had military experience. Though, both Pevensies thought he looked nothing like a battled weathered man in his fine silks and satins.

Peter recognized the man. He was almost certain that he was the one who Peter had seen slap Rineeda for dropping the contents of her tray on the first day Peter arrived at the Tarkhaan's home. And judging by the way Rineeda hung back in the doorway, he thought he was right.

The man strode to the middle of the garden towards Tullah.

"Ariondi." She spoke.

"Oh gracious Mother. You will never guess what I just over heard while visiting with our esteemed, if not lowered, friends in the square near the Tisroc's, may he live forever, palace."

"Then I suppose you will just have to tell me." Tullah said, looking to her son with dull and tired interest.

"I heard that my oh so wise and...preemptive older brother has been meeting with the Great Council without me." He gritted out.

Tullah let out a breath that Peter was sure to have been a sigh, had she not concealed it so, while Rineeda agitatedly motioned to Edmund to pour the newcomer a glass of water.

"Ari, my son, Oraleth was in a most urgent situation that required swiftness. And you, were nowhere to be found." Her tone changed as she finished her sentence, and it was clear to all that there was an underlining meaning to her words. She held a steady and hard gaze towards her son while adding, "Down near the docks again, were you?" It was a question, though it sounded like she already knew his answer.

Ariondi gave his mother a steeled expression, knowing he'd been caught, but refusing to concede. "It is of no importance to you what I do in my free time."

"No, it is not. But do not complain to me when your self indulging and frivolous behavior cuts into time better spent elsewhere."

He huffed and squared his shoulders, towering over the woman in her chair. "The very least you two could have done was told me, out of respect to my dignity and position. I should not have to find out from those beneath me that my own brother is discussing with the Council of all councils of those Northerners traversing our waters and now of their audacious prevalence into the Great Desert! By the Tash, Mother, it is a disgrace!"

Both Edmund and Peter's ears pricked up and turned red. They had heard Oraleth complaining about Archenlander vessels crossing water trade boundaries, but them entering the desert was as new to them as it was to Ariondi. Surely this meant that Lune and Lucy were searching for them.

"You have my apologies, son. There was no disrespect meant towards you, regardless if you meant it towards me." Tullah said as Edmund brought Ariondi his glass of water, holding it with both hands. Ariondi, ignoring the last part of his mother's words, finally looked to him, then Peter, for what seemed like the first time since he'd entered. He eyed them suspiciously.

"These look new?" He said, accusatorily, to his mother.

"Oraleth did discuss with you his buying of new slaves for our honor of being chosen as one of the few Tarkhaan families to build the temple to Tash. You should step off of the higher ground you seem to be taking, my son. You would be wise to remember that Oraleth has no obligation to discuss money dealings with you, just as he doesn't with me. He is the eldest, he inherited your father's wealth and businesses, as is his birthright. You are blessed to be as included as you are, considering how wasteful you are with your share."

The muscles in Ariondi's chaw twitched violently, but he said nothing more on the subject, only gave his mother a look that was akin to a child suppressing a tantrum. He let out a cool, even breath to calm himself, then looked to Rineeda who was still standing near the door she brought him through.

"Come, girl."

She did as she was told and stopped before him.

"Oraleth did tell me of your unhappiness over sending this one to Shandeer. Why is that?" Ariondi asked his mother, all tones of his previous argument with her gone from his voice, though something else took its place.

Tullah eyed him in a way Edmund found odd before saying, "I will be left with no lady's maid. I thought I'd get to keep that one luxury."

Ariondi turned to Rineeda, and lifted her chin with one long finger, looking her over. "Seems we all have to sacrifice for Father's debts. Besides, older brother is correct. She will be a welcomed gift to Shandeer. He may even give good praises of our family to General Khentei, and on to the sons of the Tisroc himself, may he live forever." He said this with a look that was as if he felt sorry for the sacrifice his mother having to make, but his tone was much more contrived. Almost like he wanted his mother to suffer for so outwardly getting on him a moment ago.

Both Edmund and Peter wondered at him, surprised any man would talk to their mother that way – Calormene or not. So much so, that they almost didn't question what debts Ariondi spoke of.

"We can only pray to Tash for a blessing as great as respect from our greaters. But as our noble minded philosophers say, we cannot gain such respect if we do not act as if we deserve it." She leveled her gaze once more at Ariondi in a way that made Edmund sure that she was speaking of whatever 'self indulging and frivolous' habits he'd picked up down at the docks, if not just his arrogance towards her. Edmund suddenly felt relieved at being able to discern what little he could about the woman.

But Peter picked up none of this, or rather, ignored it altogether, as he found himself growing more and more disgusted with Ariondi. First with how he had handled Rineeda's slip up days ago, then with how he spoke to his mother. He presumed him to be a man child. And Peter had little patience for him, so he was glad with the Tarkheena's next words.

"Was there anything else you needed from me, Ari?" She asked, tone finally motherly, though Edmund thought it faked.

Ariondi looked at her, pausing for a moment too long before answering. "No. Not today, oh esteemed Mother of mine." He said it with just as much fake luster as she did.

"Very well. Petryn, they should need you back in the fields, no doubt. Edden, you are to finish watering the garden. Rineeda, push me to my room. Ari can see himself out." There was a sense of finality to her words and not even Ariondi looked to be about to question her.

Lucy listened intently as Lune's leading captain - a man named Hamlin - briefed her, Lune, Oreius, and Roblen over their latest news. Over the past week, Narnian and Archenlander soldiers alike had been scouting the seas and desert, looking for their people and trying to not let on to the Calormene that anything was amiss. Now, she would know more of their efforts.

"After many attempts through the Great Desert, we have succeeded in infiltrating Calormen with our own spies." Hamlin said, a victorious smile on his face. "As planned, one man slipped through the Desert and the gate of Tashbaan by way of a merchants cart. Our scouts led him most of the way without hinderance, and it is believed to have not been noticed. A second spy sailed down the coast, a days sailing past Tashbaan, to search and gain information from smaller fishing villages in case they were sent out of the capitol city. By the looks of it, his small boat did not alert any Calormene patrols. And our third man sailed straight into Tashbaan itself aboard a trading vessel that stopped one of our own. They believed we had accidentally crossed water boundaries, and agreed to take the man abroad for a fee. All three spies are to report to some of our more...sympathetic Southern neighbors of any news they discover. Those allies will then send word through our designated channels."

"And are we sure those sympathetic helpers are sympathetic enough?" Lucy asked, pulling herself up straight. The chair she sat on inside of Anvard's court room was much too big for her and she was certain she looked ever the little girl. This was something that she often worried over, but she usually felt that she appeared older or more of a Queen with the presence of her older siblings. At the very least, others were less likely to talk down to her when her family was with her.

Thankfully, Hamlin looked to the young girl with a reverence she appreciated. "I assure you, Queen Lucy, many Calormene are sympathetic enough, just so long as they are paid enough. And it also comes as a peace knowing that they've helped us gain intel before. Those near the docks run businesses that are not of honor or respect, but for that same reason they keep their lips tight. None of them want scimitars or fingers pointed in their direction."

Lucy took this as a blessing and fiddled with the top of her cordial until the meeting was over. Then her and Oreius discussed news coming from Narnia's court.

By now it had been so long since her siblings were gone, that she had to tell the castle that they were all having an extended visit at Anvard. But she had to let her council know the truth of the matter - or at least, most of it. She was scarce with the details. Nevertheless, she trusted them to not let on, and to take care of their land well in her absence, as she was not about to leave Archenland.

For what it was worth, Oreius had thought it best she go home - at least for a short while - and tend to things as normal, to keep up appearances. They didn't want to scare any of their subjects or incite mass panic with the looming threat of war with a country much larger than their own. But Lucy didn't think she could go back alone. Not without her family. She felt as if she might fall to pieces and start crying right in front of her court if she had to go back. It would simply be too much, looking at three empty thrones. And certainly more Narnian's would realize something was wrong.

So she appointed Mr. Tumnus to act as their regent. He, along with the Beavers, would keep things in line and tend to the discrepancies that were popping up in the Western Woods between the squirrels and chipmunks. And take care of making sure their northern border was secure. And find that the correspondence between Narnia and Galma was getting on without a hitch. After all, she had left them with the advice and guidelines that she and her siblings were working on for all of these issues before things went south with Calormen.

Lucy sighed, thinking how simple such problems were in contrast to what she had on her hands now. Her heart was growing heavy as the days ticked on, and Aslan proved to be her only real comfort.

Roblen and Oreius found her just as she finished another prayer to him. She was out on the balcony attached to the sitting room that was a part of the chambers Lune gave her to stay in. She liked it out there at night. The stars were bright and reminded her to look for the light Aslan spoke of. They also reminded her of time spent learning all of Narnia's constellations with her siblings.

"Lucy," Oreius' deep, robust voice came in the gentle manner he always used with her. "We just came to check on you before bed. Do you need anything?"

Lucy smiled. She knew they were only doing this so she didn't feel so alone. And she was sure Oreius by now had told Roblen how Peter often checked in on his younger siblings before bed.

"That was kind of you. Thank you, but I am fine." She said, her thumb still absentmindedly running across the top of her cordial that was strapped to her belt around her waist.

"You know, King Peter will not be happy to find that you brought that gift of yours all the way here. And no doubt King Edmund will refuse a drop, even if he needs it." Oreius said with a small laugh, almost able to hear his Kings bickering with their little sister.

Lucy laughed too, then saw the confused look on Roblen's face. "Peter doesn't like me to use the cordial unless it is the most dire of circumstances. As for Edmund, he will get it if he needs it. And I don't care if Peter's cross with me for bringing it. I'd give anything for him to be upset with me, just so long as it meant he was here to be so."

Roblen looked her dead on, certainty in his eyes. "And he will be here, safe and sound. All of them will be. Today was a day of success. The Calormene are blissfully unaware of our comings and goings. Your family and my men will be home soon."

There it is! What do you think? How much do the Calormene know about what the Archenlanders and Narnians are up to? What is up with Tarkheena Tullah and Ariondi? What's happening with Susan? Guess we'll have to wait and see!