Disclaimer: I don't own Narnia or any characters you may recognize from the books or the movies, I wish I did but I don't... I also don't own the Narnian Calendar. It belongs to Elecktrum who was kind enough to let me borrow it for my story. Her own stories are awesome and you should go read them too.
Summary: Don't judge a book by its cover...or a knight by their rumors... A lesson Peridan and his family learned as they adjusted to their new life in Narnia.
A/N: This is part of my A Light in the Darkness universe. I recommend reading the main story arc (Awakening, Shadowed, and Revealed) first, but you can give this one a whirl on its own too.
Chapter Eleven
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Katerina barely kept her temper in check as she listened to the Faun Nausus speaking about why she was clearly detrimental to Narnian alliances, both with other sovereign countries and with territories. He never once looked at her though as he addressed the Four and the rest of the council. "With respect to your majesties and those of the council who have chosen in the past to support the grant of a rather large amount of authority to the Lady Katerina, her actions at Terebinthia and, more specifically, at Redhaven call into question whether she can be trusted to act within the law. While her authority in a military capacity is clearly under the sole supervision of the General and your majesties, her actions when she is supposedly serving in the capacity as ambassador and representative of Cair Paravel need to be addressed. She not only pushed a trial of a Redhaven merchant and his associates and upheld the ruling of their execution, but she also razed a building that happened to be in a place where it could be seen by most of the capital and also by the port. What is most concerning is the fact that she did all of these actions without alerting your majesties and the council so that a unified decision might be reached concerning the appropriate fate of the parties detained by the soldiers under Dame Sepphora's command and confirmed reports of the situation these men were said to be participating in. As the situation stands, her actions might have recklessly endangered Narnia's ties with one of her oldest territories by making Cair Paravel seem overly harsh or even unnecessarily ruthless. This overly aggressive interference in the local government raises questions as to what else she might do if she continues to maintain a high level of authority, whether she is part of a diplomatic party or not. Therefore, I move for Dame Katerina Alambiel Sepphora to be at the very least suspended from participating in any activities, apart from those of a military origin, where she would be in a position of authority until all questionable actions have been examined and explained to the utmost satisfaction of your majesties and the council."
The Faun sat and Edmund looked at her, "As We have heard the argument for Katerina Alambiel's suspension from her duties, We call upon her to speak in her own defense."
Katerina stood from her seat and allowed herself to meet Oreius' steady gaze first before sweeping her gaze over the rest of the room, ending with Nausus. She looked back at the Four as she began, "Majesties, it was by your order I went to Redhaven in the capacity as ambassador and the official representative of the Four thrones of Cair Paravel. When I arrived, I heard tale of orphanages and given the less than ideal conditions of some of the orphanages I had already seen on Terebinthia, I decided it was necessary to inspect the orphanages of Redhaven."
Nausus fidgeted in his chair, "This we already know. You then proceeded to recklessly and needlessly raze one of these orphanages to the ground while persecuting a very successful and upstanding Redhaven merchant and his associates to the point you had them all executed."
Edmund abruptly slammed his gavel against the arm of his throne, "Be silent! Faun Nausus, the opportunity will be provided for further questions. However, until the aforementioned opportunity arises, We order thee to keep thy tongue behind thy teeth." Edmund glared at all the occupants of the room, "Katerina Alambiel has the floor and there shall be no further interruptions until she has finished speaking."
Katerina inclined her head slightly to the Just King then continued, "I do not know where Nausus received his accounting of the events in Redhaven, but he has been misinformed. The man called Fyren was a merchant, yes, and he was very successful, yes, but no one in their right mind and of truthful character would call one such as him upstanding." Katerina paused in order to force her fury and horror of what she had seen back down, and then continued in a serious tone. "I am aware that Narnia herself is so blessed as to have no need or use for orphanages. However, that is not the case for all countries, not even the Narnian territory of the Seven Isles. Orphanages are meant to shelter and care for children who have no one else to look after them until they are of age or, preferably and ideally, until they are adopted. The so-called orphanage run by this Fyren was no such place. It was pretty enough on the outside, to be sure, but inside...on the inside it was the stuff of nightmares."
She didn't bother to hide the fury any longer as she allowed the memory of that place to rise, "The building was naught but a haven for vile monsters like Fyren and his associates to sell children into the worst kind of slavery possible. This place was supposed to be a shelter for children, both those from the Seven Isles and the survivors of shipwrecks. But it was nothing of the sort. It was a shelter where any vile customer who could pay Fyren's fee would be allowed to torment and exploit and despoil children. Helpless children...there is not one of you on this council who does not have some sort of tie with children, whether your own or grandchildren or nieces and nephews or siblings or cousins or students. Can you stand here before Aslan and say that a man who exploited defenseless innocents was an upstanding member of the community?"
Katerina paused just long enough to let her question make an impression before she pressed on. "It was mentioned that I should have allowed the governing body of the Seven Isles to handle the situation after alerting them to the situation. That was not an option. The governing body knew of what was truly happening in that so-called orphanage, but instead of putting a stop to it, they merely turned a blind eye to it all because Fyren and his associates brought in business. Those who should have been protecting the orphans, instead grew fat on the profits that came from leaving those children defenseless and vulnerable. After learning that nearly all of the governing body either ignored or in three cases participated in the continued exploitation of innocents, I decided the situation warranted my full attention in my capacity as knight, as ambassador, and as the representative of Cair Paravel. And I chose to come down on them as was warranted. We are all well aware of the Fell and we do not hesitate to put an end to them. People like Fyren and his associates and his customers are also Fell. Do not attempt to tell me otherwise, for if their hearts are Fell and their actions too are Fell, shall we not call them what they are? Fell."
She finally stopped talking and, with only a perfunctory glance at Edmund, Nausus immediately questioned, "No matter the nature of this Fyren and his associates, Lady Katerina, the fact remains that you should have sent word to Cair Paravel and waited for the decision of their majesties and this council as to the appropriate course of action as tradition dictates."
Her patience with the belligerent Nausus reached its limit and she sarcastically countered, "And, what was I supposed to do in the interim? Oh, I know. I should have sent them a strongly worded letter." She continued before Nausus could respond, "The details of my orders can be found in the reports of Lieutenants Alaois and Lonn as well as in my own report, all of which have been turned over and examined by General Oreius. However, to surmise, once I determined the situation with the local government, I issued orders for a raid to be conducted against Fyren's so-called orphanage with the two-fold goal of rescuing those children and capturing Fyren and as many of his associates as possible. After the trial and execution of Fyren and his associates, I ordered the building razed. Fyren chose that building because it could be seen by most of the capital as well as from port, where so many of his foul customers would dock. And, since I was unable to capture every last one of Fyren's associates or his customers, I made an example that could be seen from port. The message was simple and it was clear. My actions were indeed harsh and swift, but this was not a time or situation where ambiguous, lenient, or protracted actions could be afforded. And, while I may have broken tradition, tradition is not law, and every single decision I made, every action I took falls within the parameters of the laws of Narnia."
Nausus looked stubborn, "Even the execution you ordered?"
Katerina narrowed her eyes, "I did not order their execution. That would be stepping outside the bounds of my authority. What I did was push for Fyren and his associates to be brought up for trial as soon as possible, so the filth would have no chance to bribe anyone into allowing him to escape. I spoke at the trial because I was the leader of the raid. Lonn and Alaois also spoke as did the healers from both our party and Redhaven. I had no part in sentencing until the time came that the court decided Fyren and his associates were to be executed, and as the ambassador and representative of the Four, I approved the court's decision. I have done nothing that I would not do again if faced with the same situation and the same choices."
Nausus scowled at her, and then a sudden gleam of satisfaction appeared in his eyes as he questioned. "Not even your decision to keep their majesties in the dark as to your activities by not telling them when you first returned to the Cair of the incident in Redhaven and then ordering the officers who accompanied you to keep their mouths shut?"
Katerina didn't even blink as she smoothly countered. "Faun Nausus, I did not immediately spring this unpleasant development upon the Four because I thought it wise for the reports to be written so it would not all be hearsay. It was actually my intention to speak with the Four privately about the matter this morn, which is no longer necessary thanks to this impromptu pre-dawn gathering. As far as my instructions to Lonn and Alaois are concerned, what I ordered them to do was to fill out the reports for Oreius and then to remain silent on what had occurred until I had the chance to speak with the Four."
Edmund held up his hand for silence before Nausus or the other two council members could decry her as a witch, which Katerina couldn't help but think was a good thing as she reclaimed her seat. "As Katerina Alambiel pointed out, she broke a tradition, not a law, and she has not to Our determination crossed outside of her rights We have granted her as ambassador and representative of the Four of Us. There is no doubt in Our minds that Our dear friend the Dame Katerina Alambiel Sepphora is most unorthodox in her methods. However, being unorthodox and flaunting tradition for the sake of seeing justice done does not bespeak of sight cast too high nor betrayal awaiting the right moment. For are we not to seek justice, reprove the ruthless, and defend the orphan? That is what Dame Katerina Alambiel Sepphora has done in line with her oath as a knight and her tasks as an ambassador and representative of Cair Paravel. It is also clear to Us that the letter sent to Nausus complaining against Katerina Alambiel's actions was meant to be a device to discredit her testimony ere We heard it as it is well known among circles which of Our council is amicable with Katerina Alambiel and which has yet to let go of old and unfounded accusations. We shall deal with the governing body of the Seven
Isles at the next opportunity. Now, if there are no other matters for this council... Very well, We hereby dismiss the council."
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Peridan felt Marsalla tremble as a Faun from the Royals' council passed them in the gardens grumbling to a Satyr, "It wouldn't surprise me if we one day discovered the Lady Katerina did indeed bespell them otherwise she wouldn't have escaped without punishment for her actions."
He laid a hand over his wife's trembling one, "Do not be afraid. I won't let you or the children come to harm."
Marsalla leaned against his arm, "I pray you are right, but we must not let the children near her." Peridan nodded, not mentioning Marsalla's request could be considered unachievable. But he would find a way to keep them all away from the Lady Katerina until he was certain as to her true character...
He rubbed his thumb over Marsalla's hand as he guided her down a different garden path, "You should know, O queen of my heart, that General Oreius intends to introduce me to this mysterious Dame Sepphora of his tomorrow. My understanding is that she is not an archer unlike most of the Centauresses in the army." As his wife slowly began to relax again, Peridan couldn't help wondering if perhaps Dame Sepphora would be able to give him insight as to the truth of the rumors surrounding Lady Katerina, the Strega of Narnia.
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A/N: Please Read and Review! Okay, so hopefully this chapter lived up to your expectations. It was a bear to write this time. Next chapter should be lighter and then Peridan will soon learn that Kat and Sepphora are one and the same...any guesses as to how that will go over? Leave a review and let me know what y'all thought about this one.