When they reached the bottom, the guard took him to a different room on the same hall. Teravus entered behind them. He spoke a few quiet words to Jaret. The man shook his head but when Teravus set a hand on the hilt of his sword, he relented. The brutish man left the room, but Edmund was not hopeful this respite would last for long.
As soon as the door had shut, Teravus rubbed his face, then looked at the king with eyes that shone with fear. "King Edmund…" he seemed at a loss for words. "My Lord, he will beat you to the very edge of death and still take your sisters as his own. What have you accomplished? You should have kept your head down until your people come."
"I am not immune to the fear of what may come. I am terrified of what might happen to my siblings in my absence. Susan and Lucy can defend themselves to an extent but none of us are under illusion of safety here. And Peter…" Edmund shuddered at the memory of his brother, crumpled and still. "But I learned long ago that our lives are Aslan's, and He will do with us what He wills. If Aslan wishes us to survive, there is nothing your lord can do about it. If I am not with them, I know Aslan will care for those I love because he loves them too, far more than I. And should I die, I only gain because I will go to His country and be with Him forever." He smiled in a way that he knew went against all logic in this dark place. "And if we are to be rescued, better that your lord is focused on me. It buys time for my family and my people." He hesitated, sending a silent prayer to Aslan before making his offer. "Teravus, our people are coming. And they will raze this castle to the ground. Only those who call on the name of Aslan will survive. Come with us to Narnia and live free. Tell any others who desire freedom of this offer. Serve your Creator and Savior, not Favelo."
Edmund could not read Teravus' face as the young man thought through Edmund's words. In the silence, both could clearly hear the crescendo of steps approaching the door. Terror overtook Teravus' expression, and he shoved Edmund to the center of the room. He began roughly untying the King's hands before yanking them in front of Edmund and retying the knot. "I'm-I'm sorry. I just… I can't leave. You don't understand."
Edmund just looked at him with kind eyes. "I do understand, more than you know. It's alright. I forgive you." Teravus pulled the rope tight with shaking hands, then turned his back as Jaret returned with a new friend and frightening tools.
"He's ready," Teravus declared, then left without looking back.
Jaret lifted Edmund by his tied hands and hung him from the hook. His shoulders protested but Edmund had greater concerns. The new brute approached with a whip and wasted no time in cracking it across Edmund's back. For the first few stripes he was able to hold in his cries but finally it overwhelmed him. As he faded in and out of consciousness and the hot slice of the whip collided with his skin, some part of the back of his mind became glad for how isolated his siblings were from the rest of the castle. At least they wouldn't hear his screams.
At some point, he must have fallen fully unconscious because he awoke later, still hanging from the hook. He was alone in the room. The room had no window, and his torturers must have taken the torch with them, so the only light came from the crack under the door.
His muscles twitched involuntarily, and fiery pain raced across his back as the whip's work reminded him of its presence. To distract himself from the pain and fear for his siblings, Edmund began to speak to Aslan. He thanked Him for being alive and privileged to suffer for the one who had suffered on his behalf. He asked for protection for his siblings and his people. He repented for any unrighteous anger in his heart against his captors. He prayed for Teravus to realize and serve his true Lord. He sought guidance and wisdom for Oreius and the other leaders of Narnia in their stead. There, in his dank prison cell, Edmund found comfort in the Lion.
Some time later, the door swung open to reveal the torch-silhouetted form of Favelo. He entered and took a slow lap around the hamstrung king. Sick pleasure lit his eyes.
Fear ticked Edmund's stomach, but he forced a grin and said, "Good morning. Or is it evening?"
"You'll not be so cheeky once you hear the news I bear. Your brother, the High King, is dead. I'm so terribly sorry to be the bearer of such wretched news."
Edmund's blood ran cold, and fierce anger clawed at his heart. He knew he couldn't trust the wicked man's words, but what if they were true? He lied but was he lying now? There were many avenues of manipulation available. How could Edmund know the truth? He glanced desperately behind Favelo, hoping Teravus would be there, could give him confirmation, but the young man was notably absent. Still reeling internally, Edmund forced a steely expression onto his face and returned his gaze to Favelo.
"Of course, I can only imagine the turmoil you are facing. With the High King dead, that leaves you to take his mantle of protection for Narnia and your sisters. In light of these developments, I want to offer you a chance to reconsider my offer. If you tell your army to stand down and endorse my rule, I will let you and your people live. You can even keep Cair Paravel and your servants. Refuse, and I will raze it to the ground. You will once again be the Traitor King who turned his back on Narnia and his family in their greatest need. I'll give you time to think."
Edmund hardly noticed when the door shut and left him alone. Darkness overtook the cell once more and threatened to overwhelm his heart.
Waves of anxiety flooded over Edmund, one after another. Was it true? Surely, Favelo would lie to get him to give up. But Peter had already been so beat up before his collision with the wall, it wasn't out of the realm of possibilities. He'd been so still. And what of Lucy and Susan? Even if Peter was alive, he was surely in no state to defend them. Was it all a bluff, would Favelo dare try anything? If he was honest, that was the one thing he thought Favelo was telling the truth about. Susan and Lucy were in great danger as long as they remained in this cursed place. Where was Oreius? Where was Aslan?
Where was Aslan?
Of course, Edmund knew Aslan wasn't some magic genie, responding at the rub of a lamp. But he also remembered Aslan's promise to be with them always. Where was He now?
"Oh Aslan, what am I to do?" He cried out. "Aslan, I cannot turn Narnia to this monster. But Susan and Lucy… what will happened to them? Could his forces overtake Narnia's? Is Peter alive? Can they all be saved? Oh Aslan, what do I do?"
No voice answered him, but Edmund knew deep in his soul what the answer must be. Terror clawed at his heart, so he clung to the last words Lucy had shouted.
Only one Lord holds power here.
The fear still raged, but truth held him steady.