A/N; My sincerest apologies for not updating this tale quickly. Life has a funny way of getting into and out of all sorts of adventures at times. However without further ado I give you the next part of our tale.

8.

Spies in the Mountain

The corridor was dimly lit by the few torches that guttered in their sconces. Water dripped from cracks in the rocks above to form small pools that spread out across the floor. Musty and stagnant air filled the hallway as if the windows had been closed for far too long. Mingled amongst the dank smells were far off aromas of meat cooking over spits and mead being passed around. Lady Marion Vixen paused in her inspection of the corridor and tilted her head to one side to listen for any tell tale sounds of approaching guards. Hearing none she swiftly and silently padded through the shadows to where a stout oak door was set in the rock face. Dropping the bag she held between her teeth, it was the work of a moment for the clever Vixen to release the catch of a door flap set at the bottom of the large door. Grabbing her bundle again she backed through the flap dragging the bag in with her.

"What did you get this time Mother?"
"Did you spot the Queens?"
"Is there any way out?"

The questions came at the Vixen before she was even entirely in the cell where her daughters and friends were being held. Lady Saera quickly hushed the children. "Quiet down and let Marion get in before you go bothering her."

Rien, Helene, and Sarai quickly stopped talking as Marion turned to face them, dropping the bag as she did so. "Thank you Saera. There are a few loaves of bread, some cheese, a canteen of water, and a sausage in there. If you and Rien don't mind the bread and cheese, I'll share the sausage with my daughters."

Saera nodded to her friend. "Of course, Marion." She then looked at her own daughter. "Rien would you please help Helene and Sarai dish everything out?" As the girl turned to do as she was bidden Saera and Marion moved away to talk separately.

"Still not a hair, sight, or smell of the Queens," Marion told the other Lady.

"Are there any other passages you can explore?"

"That's the problem, there are far too many to explore. That is if the Queens are even still in this mountain stronghold. How do we know they haven't been moved elsewhere?"

"Mother the food is ready," Helene called over to the adults.

"Thank you dear, we'll be right over," Marion said back. Shaking her head she looked back up at Saera. "I'll keep looking though."

Later after they had eaten Marion turned to the girls. "To answer your earlier questions, no I still haven't found Queen Susan or Queen Lucy. Nor have I been able to find any way out of here. I promise you that I'll keep looking though."

"Did you find anything else out?" Helene asked.

Marion shook her head as she dragged the bag she had used to carry the food to the pile of straw that usually occupied the burlap sack. The Vixen dropped the sack before answering her daughter. "Unfortunately I didn't. It's hard enough nicking food without being seen to try and find anything else out."

"Perhaps, Mother, you need another set of eyes and ears?" Helene suggested.

The idea caught the Vixen off guard and she cocked her head to the side to ponder it. "Perhaps," she finally said. "But I'll have to think about it some more before I risk you or your sister coming along with me. There are many skills you two have yet to learn and your Father and I have barely begun your education."

Helene however would not be deterred. "Then what better way for you to teach us? I promise that Sarai and I would learn quickly and do everything you told us."

"We would Mother," Sarai quickly put in. "One of us could go with you and the other could stay here and keep company with Lady Saera and Rien."

Despite the situation Marion felt her heart glow a little at the determination showed by her daughters. "Very well," she relented. "The next time I go out scouting I'll take you with me Helene. Sarai will stay here, however keep your nose and ears open for any information. You never know what a passing guard may smell like or say while walking by."

The Vixen Kits started jumping and prancing at once at the news that they would be able to assist their mother. Marion however quickly put a stop to their antics. "Hush!" she said with a firm expression. "The more noise you make the easier it is for someone to detect you. There is much I need to teach both of you before your first time scouting with me." With that Marion began instructing her daughters in the tradecraft she and her husband were the masters of.


Kaloz was pacing in his throne room. His mind was racing as he tried to digest the reports that had been coming in for the past few days, or more accurately lack thereof. During the time he had built up his band of thieves he had always been aware of the politics of the surrounding lands. However due to the remoteness of his hideout, Kaloz was often in error about the news he received. Preferring to keep as low a profile as possible Kaloz had taken great pains to keep his small army of raiders secret from the established kingdoms that surrounded the mountains he dwelt in. Thus the bands he sent forth had been well versed in clandestine movement through all kinds of terrains. Secrecy and stealth were the watchwords he had drilled into his men, knowing full well that without these tactics his force would be easily overwhelmed by the much larger armies of the land. While Kaloz was the most adept at the art of stealth movement and tactics he rarely ventured out of his mountain stronghold. Instead he delegated the leadership of raids to his lieutenant, Kotep. It was this man that Kaloz now called to.

"Kotep!" Kaloz shouted. "Tell me again what news our scouts report."

The man in question had been standing still as a statue beside the tall chair at the head of the hall. "Our latest patrol is overdue. Until they return we will have no further information," he said in a cold voice that betrayed little if any emotion.

"I know that!" Kaloz snapped. "Just tell me what the previous patrol reported."

"You have had those reports told you thrice before."

Turning to glare at his lieutenant Kaloz couldn't help his right hand from darting to the hilt of his sword. "And I want to hear them again!" He fumed. Kotep remained impassive to his leaders bluster and remained standing stock still. Kaloz turned away from him and resumed his pacing. "There might have been something I overlooked," he muttered under his breath.

Kotep related the previous scouting reports in his cool voice. "Shortly after our ambush of the Narnians word reached out sources that the whole of the Narnian army had marched from Cair Paravel, save four companies to remain as a home guard. Reports indicate that messengers have reached Anvard and are presumably asking the court of Archenland for aide. Narnian scouts have been leading this force in our direction."

"And what have you done about it?" Kaloz demanded.

"Nothing," Kotep said quietly. "There force is far too large and well equipped to do anything but shadow at the moment. If our overdue patrol returns soon we should know more."

"Your patrol has been captured by the Narnians," a harsh sounding voice called to the two men.

Kaloz drew his sword at once and whirled around looking for the source of the voice. "Who's there? Show yourself!"

From underneath his chair a large Grey Fox emerged. His fur was rough in some patches and it looked like he walked with a bit of a limp in his left hind leg. When he talked his voice sounded ragged, as if he had once barely survived an attempted strangulation. "Three days ago, your patrol of ten men was captured by King Peter of Narnia."

Kaloz flicked the tip of his sword under the chin of the Fox. "And how do you know this and more importantly why should I trust you? I though all you Talking Animals were on the side of Cair Paravel now."

The Fox glanced down at the sword near his throat before answering. "Hardly," he said in his rough voice. "Though we are few in number there are still those who hate those whelps for what they did to supplant our rightful Queen."

"So it's true that four children now rule Narnia?"

"Four ungrateful, wet-behind-the-ears, unseasoned pups," the Fox confirmed. "They don't know the first thing about ruling a kingdom. Their so called instructors and teachers tell them what they should believe and they haven't the brains think for themselves. My Queen needed no advisor; she was wise and strong enough to rule in her own right."

"Some Queen," Kaloz scoffed. "To let her lands be stripped of her by four upstart brats."

Something dangerous glinted in the eye of the Fox. Regardless of the sword at his neck he gave Kaloz a hard glare. "Never speak ill of my Queen or you'll live to regret it, though not for long," he said with a voice full of malice.

"Is that a threat?" Kaloz demanded as he pushed his sword point a little deeper into the neck fur of the Fox.

"Threats are for pups," the Fox countered. "I only give hard cruel fact." At that his eyes narrowed to slits. "NOW!" the Fox shouted.

A blur of grey fur shot from beneath the chair and attached itself to Kaloz's sword hand. It was another Grey Fox, though much smaller than the first one. The second Fox bit to the bone, growling fiercely, as Kaloz was forced to release his sword with a yelp. The first Fox took full advantage of the distraction and leapt onto Kaloz's chest. The sudden impact threw the bandit leader off his feet and flat on his back. At once the first Fox grabbed the man's neck in his jaws.

"You see now how unwise it is to underestimate me?" the Fox said around his mouthful. "With just a harder bite you'll be a dead man." Kaloz said nothing for he knew what the Fox said was true. However the Fox didn't bite down, instead he released his grip and sat down on Kaloz's chest.

"What is it you want then?" Kaloz asked as he rubbed his neck and giving a pained look at the young Fox who still gripped his hand.

"Release him," said the older Fox. "We want revenge. But we want it to be sweet and slow. We want the Narnians to know the taste of betrayal before their world comes crashing down on them. We want them to suffer as we have suffered. We want them to starve as we have starved. We want revenge." The hatred that came thought the Fox's voice put a chill to Kaloz.

"We I might be able to help in that regard, but first give me your names," said Kaloz.

"I am Hasllray," said the larger and older of the two Foxes. My young companion is called Tepnikser, or Teps as I call him," he said as he jumped off of Kaloz's chest.

"Your son?" Kaloz asked.

"A whelp of a pup in dire need of my guidance," said Hasllray with an edge of scorn.

"Well it seems I am in need of information, and you two have the means to get it for me," said Kaloz as he sat up. "I propose a bargain."

"Gold and silver matter little to us," Teps said as he licked at his coat. "We only want revenge!"

Kaloz nodded sagely. "And you shall have it. In exchange for the information I need, I can provide you with anything you need."

"Anything?" Hasllray asked. "A tempting offer. Though as Teps said we don't crave riches. Though your best cuts of meat and fowl wouldn't go amiss."

"Indebted to you," Kaloz said with a flourish as he rose to his feet again. "You do have some sort of plan I take it to enact your revenge?"

"Indeed," Hasllray remarked. "Teps and I will infiltrate the Narnian army as spies for you."

"Won't they be suspicious?" Kotep asked, finally joining the conversation.

"My Queen certainly would have been. However these are not Narnians as we were used to. They're trusting fools, who leap at any chance to show their supposed compassion. They'll welcome us in with open arms without ever suspecting of our true intentions. It's not for naught that the Fox is called 'sly' you know," the older Fox said scornfully.

"I believe we have a bargain then," Kaloz said. His previous ill-temper forgotten at the chance fate had brought him. "When will you start out for the Narnians?"

"Tomorrow at sunrise," Teps said. "Though for now we both require a warm bed and a hot meal."

Kaloz turned to his lieutenant. "Kotep see to it at once." Turning back to the Foxes he grinned malevolently at them. "Hasllray, Teps, I look forward to your reports. Now go and rest yourselves."

Kotep led the two Foxes out of the hall and to the kitchens where they were given their meal. Assured that they could find a warm bed on their own the Foxes dismissed the human who returned to the main hall where Kaloz sat waiting for him.

"Do you trust those two Foxes?" Kotep asked.

"About as far as I can kick them," Kaloz replied. "But for now we'll go along with their scheme. Who knows? It could lead us to a Queen's ransom or two."