A/N OH MY GOD. I'm soooooo sorry about this long, unplanned hiatus! After my Bat Mitzvah, I never really got back to writing! I was thinking about quitting, but then I got reviews and subscriptions, and I didn't want to let anybody down! So, here's a NEW CHAPTER! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!

After a dark night and a blindingly bright day, Edmund arrived in the trade city of Ridgape. He wandered through the marketplace until he found an inn that was widely known for housing trade caravans. He walked up to the reception desk of the inn, where a young man with bright eyes stood.

"Excuse me," said Edmund. "but is a Calormene trader called Chigenda staying here? His caravan will likely be with him."

"Why, yes," said the youth, looking up. "He was just down here moments ago. He's staying in the first set of chambers on the left."

Thanking the youth, Edmund headed up the wooden staircase. He knocked on the door on his left.

"Who's that?' said a deep, but warm and friendly voice.

"Ed."

The door opened. A tall, muscular black man with long , jet black dreadlocks stood in the doorpost.

Chigenda gasped. "Ed? Ed Pevensie? My god, it's you!"

"Hello, Chigenda," Edmund said, grinning.

"Ed, my friend! Come, come in to our quarters," Chigenda, hugging his long-lost comrade.

Edmund walked into the room, which was painted gold and blue. He fell into an inviting couch, weary from his exhausting trip. A woman sauntered into the room, along with a thin-faced, yet young and strong man. She wore a flowy dress of gold; simply satiny fabric with a halter cord around her neck. She was tall and very curvy. Her hair was long, thick, shiny, wavy and jet-black. Her olive skin looked smooth, and Edmund noticed a tattoo of a black rose with crimson blood dripping from it on her left shoulder. She had high cheekbones and catlike eyes, one crimson, one purple. Her ruddy lips were full. She was an exotic beauty.

"These are my partners, Alexios and Fadiyah. The rest of my caravan are staying in a different inn, for they are caring for our animals."

Alexios shook Edmund's hand, a light in his eyes. Fadiyah smiled coyly at him.

"So, friend, what brings you to Ridgape?" said Chigenda.

"My... queen has been kidnapped by the Prince of Domor. I thought she was dead. But Lu found out that she wasn't. So I'm on a rescue mission of sorts. But it must be kept top-secret. There's no telling what would happen if that demonic man found out about this."

"Queen? Ed! When did you get married? And to who?" exclaimed Chigenda.

Edmund wasn't sure, but he thought he saw Fadiyah make a look of disgust.

"Well. I mean. I haven't actually gotten married. Yet."

Edmund thought he saw Fadiyah grin in something like relief.

"But I will once I get my Tess back. Tess, that's my girl. Tesaklara Beyitanna. She was the daughter of one of Prunaprismia's ladies in waiting. Her father was nobility. But he died, right after he had an affair with Alessa, Tess's mum. So Prunaprismia, who had been best friends with Alessa growing up, took them in. After the last time my brother and sisters and I left here, she took over as queen." Edmund explained.

"Ah, dear Prunaprismia," Alexios said nostalgically. "Not many people remember what she was like before she became royalty. What a tiger she was. In more ways than one. And by that I mean, we were very, very close."

Disgust again crossed Fadiyah's face. "Nobody cares about your sexcapades, Alexios. They were entertaining at first but now they're just annoying."

"Shut it, you two." Chigenda smiled knowingly and turned back to Edmund. "What can I do to help, old friend?"

"I want to pass as one of your caravan. If that's alright with you. As well as the rest of the caravan." Edmund replied hopefully.

"Of course, brother! You can dress like a trader, and you'll be tanned from the sun quick enough. It should be simple. We'll be going in the general direction of Ayercha. We can help you fight of Domorans if it becomes necessary. Fadiyah here may be an "exotic beauty", but she fights like a lioness. And Alexios spent years on a pirate ship. So he has experience."

"Many thanks, Chigenda."

"My pleasure, Ed. Now. You need a room, we'll be here for a few nights."

After he'd found his quarters, Edmund washed and fell quickly into a peaceful sleep. The only dream he could dream was a good one: lying in a grassy field with his arms wrapped around Tess's waist, kissing her. And when he woke up, he could almost taste Tess's mouth on his.

A/N Short, yes. But you like, right? Reviews, please!

Oh, almost forgot: I'll write as often as I can, but things should become much more frequent once school gets out this June. Feel free to message me or leave a review on containing your opinions on what I should write in these next few months!

Xoxo, Socks 