Chapter 17 – Net of Lies
Susan fingered the diamond vial in her hand. One drop of the scarlet liquid could cure any injury. It would be a powerful weapon if it ever fell into the hands of the enemy. Susan had reached the decision to place the cordial in the care of the head healer. She was afraid that Corin would need it and the cordial would be hidden deep in the treasure room where they would be unable to access it quickly enough. She didn't think that it would be safe in her room if an assassin had been able to sneak in. Besides, if the healer had it, he could use it immediately if Corin required it. Yes, Susan felt sure that this would be the best arrangement.
Hands trembling and a voice in her head questioning her judgment, Susan stepped into the infirmary. She could see the centaur healer bending over, giving an injured dwarf a draught. Susan patiently waited for him to finish. The centaur wiped his hands on his apron and approached her.
"Can I do anything for you, Queen Susan?" he questioned.
"Master Taurin, I-" Susan hesitated. "I have Lucy's healing cordial, and I want you to keep it on hand in case Prince Corin should need it. Please, do not let it out of your sight. You know very well what would happen should it fall into the hands of our enemies."
"It would be very dangerous indeed, my Queen," Taurin replied as he slowly reached to take the vial. Susan hesitated and explained all her reasons before slowly relinquishing her grasp on the cordial. She turned to leave, but stopped.
"Master Taurin?" She pivoted on her heel to face him. "Corin seems better today. He sat up and spoke with his brother for a long while. He didn't seem tired."
The centaur rubbed his temples with his thumbs. "That is good. But do not let him over stress himself. He may feel up to it, but if he is to recover fully, he needs to continue to rest." Taurin continued, "I will come check on him in a little while and change the bandage. The stitches still looked puckered this morning." Before stitching the wound, he cleaned it as best as he could, but he was still afraid that it would get infected. And if pneumonia came sweeping down on top of that, it could very well kill the lad. If his lung didn't collapse first, Taurin added silently.
"Thank you for all that you have done." Susan smiled faintly, oblivious to the inside concerns of the healer. She glanced around, suddenly recalling something, "Oh, I nearly forgot! The captain of the guard wished to speak with you. He's waiting for you on the western veranda."
"I shall be with him shortly," Taurin replied, turning away with the cordial clutched in his hand. Susan soon disappeared in the hallway. Taurin crossed the room to a little wooden cabinet hanging from the wall. He slipped a key off the top and unlocked it. The small door swung open and he placed the cordial on one of the three shelves inside, beside several other important antidotes. Then he closed the door again and relocked it before slipping the key into the pocked of his vest.
Taurin turned around to catch the wild-haired dwarf watching him. Taurin eyed him suspiciously. "What business do you have watching me?"
The dwarf ignored his question. "Ye shouldnae lie to the Queen about a weapon like that cordial," he scolded from his place on the cot. "Not when ye know it shan't be safe. Besides, what kind of foul things do ye have on yer mind?"
"Pff!" Taurin snorted. "Won't be safe? Foul things? Are you slipping into one of your delusions again? And what would you know anyway?"
"I may be from way up north, but I ken a thing or two about deceiving," he answered. "Yer lying to the Queen. Ye have foul schemes in mind. Yer friend over there," he gestured with his head towards a dark-skinned man leaning against the wall. "He's up to no good and I shouldnae wonder if he was the one who stabbed the wee prince!"
Taurin's eyes flickered to the man, lingering there longer than necessary. Taurin turned back to the dwarf and glared at him. "He is no friend of mine. I did not even notice him until now."
The dwarf chuckled. "Tis no use to hide yer sins when I know. Donnae worry about me. I'll not tattle." He laughed again, but this time it turned into a cough that racked his entire frame. "Yer secret will die with me soon," he whispered.
Grinding his teeth, Taurin turned away in disgust. He was loyal to the crown of Narnia. How dare the dwarf, who was mad for all he knew, insult him like that! Anger threatening to erupt inside him, Taurin marched up to the stranger who slouched coolly against the wall. "What do you want?" he barked.
"I wish a word with you," the man replied.
"Well, I am not dealing with strangers currently," Taurin exclaimed. "The captain of the guard is waiting for me, and I have no time. Be gone with you at once!" The man bowed his head and stepped backwards, watching as Taurin left the room.
Edmund's hand rested on the hilt of his sword as he patiently listened to Prince Luzan's petition to remain another night in Narnia. He spoke with truth (the first Edmund had ever heard from his lips) and Edmund was forced to admit that Prince Luzan was right. It would be best if the Telmarines remained another night before they set out on their long return trek through the mountainous land to their capitol.
While the Telmarines prepared for their return trip, the Narnians too were looking forward to returning to their homes. More and more often, Edmund's thoughts returned to his home by the sea and the sister and dear friends who awaited him there.
But now, he shook his head clear of the memories and strolled through the camp. He had instructed one of the Narnian lords to see if it would be possible to bring the Telmarines and Narnians together for some sparring matches and other games to break the tension. His plan seemed to be working since he could hear loud cheering and the sounds of clashing swords echoing from the direction that he was headed in.
Increasing his stride, Edmund soon came to a circle formed by closely packed soldiers cheering for their comrades. Several of the Narnians parted their ranks to let him through so he could see what was happening.
A friendly duel unfolded before his eyes and Edmund felt pleased to see the two nations getting along. It was now obvious to him that only the leaders of the Telmarines were hostile to Narnians. The common Telmarine didn't not care.
The two swordsmen continued to parry and attack as the sun began to sink along the western horizon. Edmund clapped proudly as the match came to an end. Apparently the two groups expected another match to take place and the Narnians began to chant the name of their king and champion. Smiling embarrassedly, Edmund loosened his sword in his sheath and stepped onto the marked out area.
The winner of the previous match, a broad shouldered, wide smiling man, met him near the center. He inclined his head. "Your majesty, it is an honor to fight against such a renowned swordsman like yourself."
"Thank you," Edmund replied. "You fight with great skill. I should nearly think that you are better than I." The Telmarine didn't have an answer for the kind praise. Edmund drew his sword and took his place.
But before the duel could begin, Amon burst through the crowd, shouting at the top of his lungs. "King Edmund! The camp—it—it's on fire!"
Night came and Aravis couldn't sleep. She twisted around, trying to find a comfortable position, but she couldn't relax. Something was wrong and she knew it. Her senses were sharp in the dark as she threw off the covers. She found her dress discarded on the chair before the fire. She wiggled into it, only loosely tying the laces. Her hair hung haphazardly around her face and shoulders. She stepped out of her room, a stub of a candle in her hand as she tiptoed down the hall. She didn't stop to think about where she was going, she simply went.
Voices ahead alerted her to the presence of other creatures and she quickly extinguished her candle. She did not understand the urgent need for secrecy that overwhelmed her, but she kept quiet. The voices were soft but distinct, traveling around the corner from a spare sitting room. A crack of light strayed out from beneath the closed door and Aravis crept towards it, keeping in the shadows.
"…but the boy! You were supposed to get the Queen!"
"I know, I know!"
Aravis knew this exclamation came from no Narnian. It could only be…
"It was clever of you to not use a Calormene blade and now the Captain of the Guard suspects the Telmarines," informed the first voice.
A short chortle of laugher came. "They'll never know who took their precious healing cordial."
Yes, Aravis recognized the Calormene accent, and not only that, but his voice as well. She listened, heart pounding in her chest. They were going to steal the healing cordial!
"Here's the key to the cabinet. Only the dwarf saw it locked away. You'll find it with ease," the first voice continued.
Aravis realized now that she was terrified. But she had to tell someone before it was too late. She backed away as she heard the men rising to their feet. The door handle rattled and she turned and ran down the hall, her bare feet making only a soft slapping noise. She glanced over her shoulder as light spread into the hall as the door opened. She quickly stood against the wall, hoping that they hadn't caught sight of her.
When she saw them leave, Aravis continued down the hall to Cor's room. She knocked softly on his door, waiting for him to answer. Shifting her weight nervously, Aravis wished that Cor wasn't such a deep sleeper. She waited several minutes before trying again. At last she heard him stumbling around in the dark.
"Cor!" Aravis hissed. "It's me!" She could hear him muttering under his breath as he fumbled with the latch in the dark.
"Aravis-"
She barreled past him and quickly shut the door. "Cor, they're trying to take the healing cordial. We have to stop them," she blurted out. Cor's eyes widened in shock. He tried stammering a response but Aravis cut him off. "And it-it's my father who is trying to do it."
"King Edmund!" Amon shouted. "The camp—it—it's on fire!"
Sure enough, smoke rose in a grey column from the far side of camp. The smell of burning wood soon filled their nostrils. The crowd stood frozen for several seconds before Edmund leaped into motion.
Quickly slamming his sword into its sheath, he barked out orders. The Narnians ran towards the fire while the Telmarines seemed to slink into the shadows of the tall pine trees. The water barrels stood in the center of the encampment and to this spot the Narnians rushed. They formed a line, passing buckets of water through their ranks towards the fire that quickly spread. The flames hissed and twisted under the water, but where one section finally extinguished another would spring up to take its place.
The dry pine needles blanketing the ground provided excellent fuel and soon the Narnians could barely keep up with the blazing inferno as it spread from tent to tent, licking up every burnable substance. The popping of the sap from the pine wood echoed around the clearing as Edmund reached for another bucket. He tossed the water onto a tongue of fire that climbed up the legs of a chair. Near the foremost leg, he caught sight of something shining.
Pouring the last few drops from his bucket onto it, Edmund's hand quickly darted into the flames and snatched it up. Turning the item over his in hand, he hesitated for a few brief seconds, discovering that the item was a gold signet ring. He dropped it into his pocket and reached for the next bucket passed to him.
Edmund tried to douse the flames, but now the chair was completely swallowed up. He straightened his back, glancing around. He knew now that it was no coincidence that the fire continued to spring up. Someone had to be lighting them. The flames leaped high, most of the camp already in ashes as they spread to the trees. Shrieks began to resound as the dryads felt the scorching heat.
The fires flamed into an intentional ring around the Narnians who always kept the water barrels at their backs. Edmund knew that someone was responsible to this and he needed to stop them. Instantly the Telmarines, who were nowhere in sight, came to his mind, but Edmund figured that more than likely, they would be able to prove their innocence. No, it had to be planned secretly and known by only a few. Perhaps it was even done by the innocent.
Suddenly all the warnings Oreius gave him came flooding back, and with a very reluctant heart, Edmund knew that he had to confront Amon.
Author's note: Well, that was a rather intense chapter. What did you think? Also, I'm going to be on vacation for just shy of two weeks, so you won't hear from me for a bit. Mwahahaha, yes, I know I'm leaving you at an exciting point, but would you rather be stuck here, or not have anything? ;) See you when I get back!
P.S. I am working on redoing Chapters 11 through 13 and making changes to Ambassador/Prince Luzan's character. I do not like the way he turned out in those chapters, so in the future if you notice changes in his behavior/character/manner of speech, this is why. I'll let you know when I complete the changes to those chapters if you would like to reread them. Thank you!