Chapter Twelve: King Nancy

Brickit eyed me keenly. "Chaos at the Cair what without you there to spread early morning cheer?"

"No." Intent on the despatches, I ignored his flippant attitude. "Not at Cair Paravel. More of a local disturbance, really."

"Disturbed he is, now," said Brint, nodding sagely.

I jabbed him with my elbow. "Here. Read this if you're capable."

Ed,

It's definitely a Werewulf and it's heading south along the Great River. It was last seen on the eastern bank not too far outside of Beruna. Oreius has dispatched some soldiers and scouts to the area under Celer. They'll find out if it's a Fell remnant of the Witch's forces or just some unfortunate that's been bitten. Given that it's been avoiding contact, I suspect the former. Luckily we haven't received word of anyone being hurt. I know you're well removed from Beruna, but please do be on your guard and don't travel east until I can get word back to you. Most Narnians are immune to Werewulf bites, but we're not.

Be careful!

Love,

Peter

I watched Brickit and Brint as they read Peter's last (and most detailed) despatch. Brint moved his lips as he made out the words and it seemed to take an eternity for them to finish. I knew there was no way they could claim they didn't understand because Peter's penmanship was worthy of envy - far more readable than Brickit's scrawl. Better even than Susan's, in truth.

"Those others?" asked Brickit, gesturing towards the stack of letters.

"More of the same."

The Chief Smith frowned at the small pile of paper, which was probably more stationery than he used in a year, and then gave me a quizzical look.

"Is this brother of yours always so nervous?"

"What?" I stared at him and hissed, "Nervous? Lion's mane! There's a Werewulf on the loose!"

He rolled his eyes dismissively. "Well south of here and across the Great River. We needn't worry, Spawn."

"La," Brint agreed. "Seems as if this brother of yours is worried enough for the lot of us."

"Last they saw it wasn't that far away from here!" I argued, trying to get through to them. "Peter's not certain!"

"Took him four letters to get that across?"

I rolled my eyes impatiently. "Brickit, you're missing the point!" Deliberately, it seemed.

"Sure he can be trusted on his own without you?"

I wasn't, but I certainly wasn't going to let them know that. "Peter is far more capable than I am! Now will you listen to reason?"

Brint shook his head. "Far more capable? Not very, then?"

Sighing in mock sympathy, Brickit gave his brother a long look behind my back and went right on teasing me. "King Peter it is? Are you sure?"

"What?" I demanded, confounded and wildly annoyed at the pair of them.

"Very anxious behavior for a king, wouldn't you say, brother?"

"La. Extreme, even."

"As if you have anyone but me to compare him to!" I defended hotly, completely forgetting my original concern at this attack on my only brother.

Brint shrugged. "We make do with what we have. Which isn't much."

"Four letters in a day? Five in a week?" Brickit goaded. "Are you sure you don't have three sisters, Spawn?"

"Perfectly!" I raged, forgetting to keep my voice low. "How could you -"

"Well, they did fulfill the prophesy," allowed Brint in a tone I didn't trust at all. "It never said the Sons of Adam couldn't fret and swoon and worry."

"He does not - oh, that is quite enough! That might have some sting if it didn't come from a Dwarf who wears an apron!"

"Nervous little Nanny he is without his Ned close by," finished Brickit with a wicked gleam in his eye. "Nancy you said he was named?"

I gave him the same look I had given the Boggles at the Stone Table the day I had been knighted. I had killed the Boggles, and Peter and I had slain over a dozen other Fell Beasts including Dwarfs. With effort I clung to what remained of my composure.

"No," I snapped. "Two things, good Dwarfs, before I give in to the desire to knock heads together. First, you will cease mocking your kings. If my brother strikes you as anxious he has good reason!"

"Oh, aye," they agreed far too easily.

"Secondly," I hissed, "my name is Edmund."

Beneath their beards they were grinning. Suddenly it struck me exactly how far I had let them goad me down this path and I felt myself blush furiously. They had planned this from the start and I had walked right into their trap. Blast!

"King Spawn it is," Brickit laughed. "Odd name, but fitting. Now does your brother prefer King Nancy or Queen Peter?"

I stared hard at the table, wondering how much damage I could with such a small fork. It wasn't a very promising weapon. I took a deep breath and grit my teeth. "Brickit?"

"Aye?"

Forcing myself to keep my voice low and even, I cast diplomacy to the wind and quietly promised, "You are going to die."

He laughed and pounded the table, and I realized that was the first time I had really heard the sound come from him or had seen him enjoy himself outside of working the forge. For all it was at my (and Peter's) expense, it was very nice to see and hear such genuine pleasure, especially out of a Black Dwarf, for there are those that claim they don't know how to laugh at all. I wondered how rare an event it was for him to let loose in such a way, because the Dwarfs around the room were casting us amused, approving glances.

"La," he agreed, "but not today, Spawn!"

I glowered. "Don't be so sure."

Both of them were laughing even harder than a moment ago and Brickit dug a fifth despatch out of his shirt. He threw it on the table before me, saying, "It arrived with the first one, which is why we let you sleep the day away."

Growling, I snatched it up, recognizing Peter's script.

To Chief Smith Brickit of the Blue River Smithy from High King Peter, greeting!

Sir,

Allow me to alert you to a possible dangerous situation arising in the neighborhood of the Great River between the Branching of Rivers and the Southern Marches in the shadow of Mt. Pier. A Fell Beast, possibly a Werewulf, has been reported on the eastern bank traveling towards Beruna. I ask that you take every caution with the safety of your people and my brother and refrain from travel in that direction until the soldiers sent to Beruna can secure the area. I am sending this same warning to other settlements in the region, and I will send news through King Edmund as it becomes available.

In thanks for the hospitality you have extended to my brother,

Peter, High King of Narnia

"Guess we have to keep you," chuckled Brickit, wiping tears from his eyes when I looked up from the letter.

They had known all along. They had known and they had taken full advantage of the situation. I didn't know whether to laugh or fume, so instead I loosed my worst glare upon the Chief Smith. "I despise you."

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

"They mean no harm or disrespect."

I turned to find Brint's sharp-faced wife standing a few paces behind me. I had stepped outside for some fresh air and to cool my temper and she had followed a few minutes later. She seemed worried that perhaps Brint and Brickit had gone too far with their taunting.

"I know, Lady Bly," I said. "My brother and sisters tease me, too, and I them."

"I have not heard my husband or his brother laugh so well since their younger brother was lost to the Winter," she continued. "That they treat you so, rough as it may seem, is just a sign of their fondness for you."

I thought of the numerous swats and smacks I had received from my Centaur teachers as they showed their fondness. At least the Dwarfs' liking didn't come with bruises. So far.

"Are they fond of me?" I couldn't help but wonder.

She smiled, and her features softened. "More than they know."