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: A sorcerer challenged by Aslan. Love and friendship alike are tested by his presence. And the Gentle Queen faces her own challenge when the sorcerer's true colors are unveiled.
A/N: If you have not read the first eight stories in the A Light in the Darkness main story arc (Awakened, Shadowed, Revealed, Concealed, Rekindled, Refracted, Reflected, and Veiled), I highly recommend you do so for the full experience. However, I have included a quick summary of the previous stories so if you want to give this one a whirl on its own, you can.
A/N2: Special thanks to M.M. Chris for being kind enough to rescue Kat and Susan's conversation from the difficulties of a translation generator.
Chapter Twenty: Intrigues
Susan rubbed her hands against her skirts. "You're certain about this?"
The Oak Dryad nodded as she held a dozing Shayna. "I am, Your Majesty. Merry never mentioned a suitor."
Kat frowned. "Those letters weren't platonic in the least. But, whoever sent them may not have been a true suitor." The older women exchanged knowing looks and Susan felt her face grow warm. Kat glanced at her then leaned forward, lowering her tone, "Deianeira, did Merry ever receive gifts? Anything that stood out?"
The Nymph's brow furrowed but then Shayna whimpered, twisting in her arms. Her mother rocked her as she raised the teething necklace composed of smooth wooden beads, allowing the little one to take it and chew. Once Shayna settled back down, Deianeira gave them a considering look. "Actually there was one gift. She received it in Stormfall, if I recall correctly. I only saw it once."
"What was it?"
"It was a silver pendant bracketed by twin hinds."
Kat's eyes lit with interest. "What of the pendant itself?"
Deianeira pursed her lips then nodded slowly. "I did not get a good look at it. It had slipped free from Merry's dress when we were arranging Yule decorations. But, I did see a seated woman swathed in a veil and a crescent moon rested atop her brow. Then Merry realized the necklace had fallen out and hid it once more."
"Did you happen to see the back of the pendant? Maybe a flower?" Kat pressed.
Susan tensed as she realized what it was that Kat was searching for, but why would a Nymph accept such a gift? Deianeira shrugged as she gave them an apologetic look. "I never saw the back. Merry put it away and told me that it was a gift she'd received in Stormfall."
"Thank you for your help, Deianeira," Susan said with a kind smile. "I know you have your hands full with Shayna right now."
The Nymph smiled back at her. "It was no trouble. I only wish I had more information to offer."
Susan and Kat rose from their seats but the older woman didn't follow Susan immediately. Instead, she quietly asked, "Deianeira, have you seen Tuulea today? I looked for her this morn but she was nowhere I checked."
"Tuulea and Stonebrook returned to their home yestereve. Silverstone only knew that his sire received word that an old friend was passing into Aslan's country and Tuulea went with him since Caia is doing well in her pregnancy." Deianeira glanced at her before turning back to Kat. "I do not know when they will return, Alambiel."
Kat's smile didn't seem quite as sincere as usual as she waved her hand. "Don't let it trouble you. I just wanted Tuulea's opinion on a particular matter but it is nothing that can't wait." She quickly joined Susan at the door. "Let me know when you and Silverstone need an evening to yourselves after this bout of teething ends."
A weary smile appeared as the Nymph rose with her daughter still in her arms. "I promise we shall take advantage of your offer as soon as possible."
Kat laughed softly as she joined her at the door. As soon as the women bid their farewells and slipped into the hall, Susan glanced around. Their guards were present and there were other Narnians going about their business. No privacy from Narnian hearing but . . . Unwilling to wait until they could speak in a private chamber, Susan looped her arm through Kat's and set the pace at an easy stroll. A faint smile curved her lips out of habit, the better to keep disturbing murmurs from entering Cair Paravel's rumor mill, as she slipped into the one language she could speak due to a combination of tutoring in that Other Place and Kat's willingness to continue practicing and teaching her—French. "Qu'est-ce que tu en penses? Il ne peut pas s'agir du paiement d'un de ses espions n'est-ce pas?" What do you suspect? Surely, it cannot be payment from one of his spies?
Kat gave her a knowing look then answered in an easy tone, "Je n'en serai certaine que lorsque je trouverai le collier." I won't know for certain until I find the necklace.
The necklace's description had been disturbingly similar to one Susan herself had been sent with one marriage proposal she had resolutely but diplomatically refused. If it was the same design, then . . . She glanced at Kat out of the corner of her eye then lowered her voice out of instinct even with the added protection of the foreign language. "Mais tu la soupçonnes toujours, n'est-ce pas?" But you still suspect her, do you not?
"En effet. Son comportement était loin d'être au-dessus de tout soupçon lorsqu'elle était membre de ta cour, et avec chaque jour qui passe les chances pour que de telles circonstances soient fortuites diminuent un peu plus." Yes, her behavior was less than forthright during her time in your court and the odds of such glaring circumstances being only coincidence are growing slimmer by the day.
Susan allowed the silence to stretch as she contemplated just what Kat suspected. She almost hesitated before speaking, such was her reluctance to admit even the possibility of such a dire situation. "Tu penses qu'il est impliqué?" Do you think he is involved?
"Oui." Yes.
The way Kat did not hesitate in her answer and the hint of fire glittering in her blue eyes as she glanced down at her all confirmed Susan's fear that one of her most trusted friends and counselors suspected that the Tarkaan Babak intended worse mischief than usual for the Tisroc's schemes. And if he had found a way to plant a spy among her ladies . . .
Susan stifled a gasp as the flaw in Kat's theory presented itself. She darted a cautious glance at the older woman then hesitantly protested, "Mais il a été placé sous surveillance dès son arrivée." But he has been watched from the moment he arrived.
To her surprise, Kat smiled as though she had caught a canary. "Justement." Exactly.
She considered protesting again but then she reconsidered the theory. Logically, there was a way for the Tarkaan to be involved without getting caught by Narnia's spymasters. The rustling sound of their skirts and the heavy hoof beats of a pair of Centaur soldiers filled the silence as the soldiers bowed their heads to the women as they passed. Susan glanced over her shoulder once they had rounded the corner, confirming the soldiers were out of sight, before she tilted her head toward Kat and whispered, "Tu penses qu'il l'a contactée avant son arrivée en territoire narnien. Parce que nous n'avions aucune raison de faire particulièrement attention à elle." You think he contacted her before he arrived on Narnian soil. Because we had no reason to pay special attention to her.
Again, Kat smiled as she sidestepped slightly to redirect their path, choosing a route that Susan knew would lead them to one of the crossways that would grant access to either the Royal Wing or the rest of the palace. "Très bien. A présent nous devons trouver un moyen de recueillir des informations concernant notre hôte sans éveiller ses soupçons." Very good. Now we must devise a way to gather information on our guest without raising his suspicions.
From what little time she had spent with the Tarkaan, who was not shy about his vocal disapproval of women having power in Narnia or how disgusting he thought the native Narnians were though he always couched the insults in the flowery platitudes and sayings of the Calormene court, Susan knew that he would suspect most of the ways they might use. It would have to be something innocuous, something harmless. "Nous pourrions organiser un autre banquet." We could hold another banquet.
Even as she suggested, Susan doubted such an atmosphere would provide the answers they wanted. The Tarkaan was free with his insults but rather close-lipped about his own affairs. Kat's tone implied nothing nor was there any hint of disapproval even as she asked, "Penses-tu que c'est le meilleur moyen pour recueillir des informations?" Do you think that is the best way to gather information?
Susan shook her head as a different plan, something that held the softer, subtler touch searching out a Calormene spy's network would require if they hoped to avoid any declarations of war between Calormen and Narnia, formed. So far every skirmish between their peoples had been conveniently blamed by the Tisroc (may his schemes fail forever) on rebels and bandits who had deserted from the army and kept their armor. Perhaps, just perhaps it would work. "Non, cependant s'il ne nous révèle rien peut-être que les dames qui l'accompagnent savent quelque chose, quelque chose dont elles ne réalisent probablement pas l'importance. Nous pourrions prendre le thé dans les jardins." No. However, if he will not talk to us, it is possible that the ladies in his life know something even if they do not realize its import. We could hold a tea in the gardens.
Kat nodded once. "Ou plutôt sous la véranda." Make it the conservatory.
"Pourquoi donc?" Why?
Steps slowing as they reached the crossway, Kat looked at her and arched an eyebrow. "C'est le meilleur moyen pour obtenir son approbation: tu seras en mesure de lui assurer que ses demandes précédentes seront bien satisfaites. Envoie Lucy et Thalia: elles sont celles dont il se méfiera le moins." That will be the best way to win his approval since you will be able to assure him that his previous demands will still be met to his satisfaction. Send Lucy and Thalia. They'll be the least concerning to him.
Susan almost made a face as she recalled the ridiculous bounds the Tarkaan placed on his wives. The poor child who was his third "wife" had not spoken a single word when the three had attended the tea with Susan and her sisters last Sixthday. All she had done was shake like a leaf ravaged by the fiercest storm (as Thalia had described her after they had left the Calormene party's assigned wing). But, she quickly schooled her features into a mask before her thoughts could betray her. "Très bien. Et toi que vas-tu faire?" Very well. What are you going to do?
Kat smiled as she unlinked their arms. "Je dois assister à une réunion, sinon le Kentauri sera grincheux. Puis je vais partir à la recherche de ce collier perdu. S'il n'est pas dans le pavillon des guérisseurs, je vais tenter de trouver où Merry a établi son véritable foyer." I have a meeting I must sit in on; otherwise, the Kentauri will be a grouch. Then I am going to search for that missing necklace. If it is not in the healers' wing, then I will see about finding where Merry made her true home.
Susan watched as the older woman turned on her heel and casually made her way down the corridor while waving Ptah forward. She sighed, feeling both weary and excited at the intrigue that wrapped itself ever tighter around Merry. But, she had much to do if the tea was to meet Tarkaan Babak's demanding standards while also arranging for a way to have a private conversation with the Tarkheena and two lower wives. First, though, she needed to find her sister and sister-in-law.
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Small hands gripped a board and cipher while a tall man with dark eyes and hair bent down to study the slightly shaky runes. He nodded then offered a crooked grin as his deep voice rumbled out of him as though it were echoing up from the depths of one of the dry wells in the courtyard, "Very good, boy. Now, this spell brings fire to life. Like this." He held up his hand and flames almost as red as the sun licked along his skin then formed a ball, which hovered above his broad hand before he crushed it between his palms.
The boy jumped, wide-eyed, but then his small mouth formed a determined pout as he carefully placed the board and cipher on the stool he had slid off when it came time for experimentation. Then, he held out his own small hands and reached for the warmth inside, the spark where his magic lived. Nothing happened at first but he reached for the spark again, wishing and hoping that it will bloom into a bigger flame. And then he startled as flames appeared, almost frolicking across his palms until they crashed into each other to form a . . . flower?
The boy made a face while the man let out a booming laugh. "That is an interesting start. Your mother would have liked it."
Then the chamber doors flung open, emitting a tall, golden-haired woman in golden robes while a silver crown sat amongst the curls, which had been twisted and pinned atop her head. Her green eyes flashed with some strange emotion. The flames vanished as the boy lost concentration. He glanced nervously at the man, who only bowed to the woman. "My Queen, how may I serve?"
"Jadis is preparing an army." She paused as she turned to look at the boy. "He has a strong gift." Her gaze returned to the man. "Your son, I presume."
"Yes." The man placed a large hand on the boy's head, waiting until he finally tore his gaze away from the woman before he spoke again, "Markus, go to your room and prepare a report on how difficult it was for you to reach your magic. Then you may go play with Lucius in the courtyard for one hour before returning here for your lesson in mirror-watching."
"Yes, Otec."
Markus woke with a start. Instinctively, he reached for his magic but there was nothing. No warmth or spark. Only the cold, still block preventing him from even sensing his magic. He shook off the memories that had clung to him even after waking. Rolling off the cot, Markus strode over to the bucket and splashed lukewarm water onto his face. Anything to drive the memories back into their cages. He did not want to remember his past.
The sound of locks turning made him straighten, patting his face drive with his sleeve. He watched in silence as the kings, one golden and one dark, entered the dungeons. They looked grim. Markus wondered if they had just returned from the funeral for Lew's Daughter. The thought once more spurred a feeling of regret through his heart. He should have explained more clearly about her role as linchpin and he should have tried harder to think of who had heard him when he ranted about her refusal to fall into line with his plans.
The younger king raised his chin as the brothers entered the outer cell. "Markus, are you acquainted with a Nymph by the name of Merry?"
Markus turned to face them fully. "It depends on what you mean by 'acquainted.'"
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A/N: Please Read and Review! Okay, so I wanted Susan to have a way to talk in "code" with Kat and between her being a romantic inside all that logic and her description as basically being top of her class in her studies, I decided that French was the perfect foreign language for Susan. And Kat already used French to insult someone in Rekindled. :D As for Markus, well "Otec" means 'father/dad' in Slavic and I decided that an Eastern European language suited Charn. Anyway, more intrigue! Leave a review and let me know what y'all thought about this one!