This chapter is based the day after Susan and Peter's talk.

What was happening?

A traitor in the kingdom. Nephtali dead. Edmund behind bars. No. Not behind bars for long. Peter had no right to keep him locked up anymore; everybody knew that Nephtali was murdered, and soon, news would spread that he was the one who poisoned the High King. The whole kingdom already knew that Peter had nearly died. Iason could be kept to secrecy, but not so much the other healers.

Edmund would be freed and Judas would take him away. The bonds of slavery would wither his brother away. He'd be just as lost to them as he was before Peter even knew he was alive.

They were hopeless to stop Judas. Peter was hopeless to save his little brother.

"Oh, Aslan, help me know what to do."

Edmund's room had never seemed so dark before. Peter liked to sit here when he had much to think over. All of his brother's belongings were right where he left them before he set off for his fateful journey. Nobody had had the heart to move anything. They all liked to have that feeling that Edmund was still with them.

"Surely it is not your will that my brother be taken back into slavery."

Tears threatened to break through Peter's eyes at the thought of all that Edmund had been put through, and for what? Why would Aslan let this happen? What was there to gain through all this pain?

Trust in me, My Son.

Peter almost jolted at the strong, tender voice that broke through his head.

"Aslan."

Peter.

"Aslan, what am I supposed to do?"

Do nothing. Trust in me.

"But... how can I? If I do nothing, Edmund will be taken away."

And you do not trust I will take care of him?

"Of- of course I do." Peter stuttered. Didn't he trust Aslan?

I have carried Edmund this far. I payed for him with my own blood; I will surely not forsake him, now.

"Aslan, Ican't let him leave. Edmund is my responsibility. He's my brother. I can't protect him when he's so far away."

Not even a simple robin dies and I don't hear of it, and I don't mourn for it; do you really think that my chosen king would be beyond my care?

"No, Aslan. Of course not, but-"

But what? I have never broken a promise and I never will. Your brother is safe in my arms.

Peter sat in silence for a few moments. He cast his eyes to the wooded floor beneath him. "The Lion need only shake His mighty mane for His army to appear, ready to fight whatever battle lies before them." Peter quoted the old Narnian proverb - Edmund's favorite proverb. "Mountains crumble at His thundering roar. His enemies cower before His feet."

What else does the proverb say, My Son?

"But for the One He calls His own, He would lay down His life to provide a way. The Lion is love, and nothing is impossible for love." Peter guessed that was why Edmund loved the proverb so much; he was the One - the One Aslan called his own. Edmund would be safe under Alan's care.

Edmund is not the only One I call my own.

Peter looked out the balcony window.

You are my own, Dear Peter. Will you trust me to provide a way?

"I- I... trust You."

PSELPSELPSELPSELPSELPSELPSELPSELPSELPSEL

Agatone walked through the small camp that the Calormen had set up just outside of Cair Paravel. One of his uncle's guards had come to summon him, so he maneuvered his way around the tents until he stood before the largest and most decorated tent in the camp.

The Prince moved the tent flap and ushered himself inside.

"You called for me, uncle?"

Judas looked up from his document table across the tent. "Agatone. Come closer, please."

Agatone took a few steps closer and stopped before the table. "Something is bothering you, I take it?"

"Yes, something is bothering me." Judas grumbled some curse under his breath.

"May I ask what it is?"

The Tisroc have an exasperated sigh. "Our food crates were broken into last night and vandalized. Narnians, no doubt. I can only assume that they've learned about our attempt on the High King's life."

"Wait, what attempt on the King's life?"

"I had arranged for King Peter to be poisoned the night of our meal together."

Agatone had to keep himself from gasping in shock. "Is that why we came all this way? To poison the King? These are our allies."

"Nephew," Judas circled around the table until he was face to face with Agatone. "Narnia is a rich and plentiful land. Can you imagine if we owned such a place? You would rule it when I'm gone. It would be your kingdom."

"I don't want Narnia, uncle. They are more valuable to us as allies than they would be slaves."

"Only the ones who rebel would become slaves."

"Yeah, and you would kill the King. What about the Queens? They would not surely bend to your will."

"Well, they would have to be brought in as slaves. Perhaps, though, you would like the elder? You could do whatever you please with her. I could make her become your wife." Judas chuckled. "She's quite lovely, is she not? A beautiful gem for the future Tisroc of Calormen."

"No, uncle, I will not have it. We are to stay as allies to Narnia."

"I'm afraid that's out of the question now, boy. Narnia and Calormen are bound for war. You may consider our truce to be broken as soon as we leave this wretched place."

"Uncle, you can't think of it!"

"Narnia has wronged us. They vandalized our carts and they've imprisoned one of my best slaves - outrageous, really - when he was innocent. We've all heard it said that it was that wretched faun that layed a finger against the King, yet they still haven't given me what is mine."

Agatone furrowed his brow. "It seems an awful coincidence that the High King was poisoned the day after your attempt on his life. You wouldn't have anything to do with that, would you?"

Judas tensed up. "Well, I- uh- I may have equipped someone in the castle with the Parrowlash poison."

Agatone scoffed. "By the gods. Isn't it enough for you? You say that Narnia has wronged us when it is clearly the opposite. If war comes, it's going to be on your back."

Judas stuck one finger at Agatone, rage evident in his dark eyes. "Do not test me, boy. I can strip you of your title and take away your inheritance. I will not hesitate to carry out my threat if I hear one more word out of you."

Agatone cast away his eyes and ground his teeth to keep from talking back.

"That's better, now, isn't it?" Judas gave a light tap to the side of Agatone's face. "We leave at dawn. I've ordered my own slaves to stock the carts since it's been made clear that Narnians can't be trusted."