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.

Chapter Twenty-Six: Standoff

16 Twirleaf 1009

She had thought learning to speak up more during diplomatic meetings was the most difficult thing required of her since becoming Peter's bride. She had been wrong. The way she had to smile and pretend she did not quiver with compassion and outrage to her very roots as she observed the disdain with which Tarkheena Zinat treated the sapling was the most difficult. The only good that seemed to be coming out of the tea was that she could see for herself that Shirin was still alive.

But the sapling had been slow to follow in the wake of the elder women, one arm pressed close to her ribs as she limped. Anger nearly won and Thalia temporarily distracted herself by studying Paniz again. The Calormene lady was a more subdued version of the Tarkheena. Her dress was formed of layers of silver silk that draped gracefully over her rounded stomach and were a touch thicker than the orange and gold ones the Tarkheena had draped herself in today. Silver bangles decorated her wrists and silver trinkets had been threaded through her black hair, which fell in thick luscious waves down her back. Silver coated her eyelids but where Zinat's beauty was marred by her thinly disguised disdain for all, Paniz's dark eyes held something more. Perhaps it was the fact that she was expecting, but the younger Calormene woman's eyes betrayed a gentleness tinged with sadness and resignation. Resigned to her own fate perhaps, but Thalia sensed that the woman could be a potential ally in regards to freeing Shirin. If only she could find a moment to speak with her alone.

The Tarkheena's slyly mocking laugh pulled her attention back to the conversation. Zinat's limpid gaze had fixated on the Princess Royal. "Is it true that you are recently joined to a man?"

The faint hint of a smile on Alambiel's lips did not reach her eyes as she added more sugar to her tea. "My husband and I married three months and nine days ago, so I would say that is recent."

Zinat dipped her head, gold earrings swaying gently, but her gaze never left the Princess Royal's. "How sweet, you still count the days. His beatings must be light."

Thalia stiffened but Zinat's taunt did not appear to bother Alambiel. She continued to stir her tea. "The only time my husband beats me is when we are playing a game and I permit him to win. Chess is a favorite although we occasionally play draughts as well."

"And who is your husband that he is so lenient with you?"

Alambiel sipped her tea, still holding the Tarkheena's gaze. "My husband is General Sir Oreius Cyneward."

"Then it is true you have married that demon horse who commands the Narnian army?"

Thalia darted a glance at the Queens but neither seemed capable of speaking as Alambiel responded with a smile, "I fear you are mistaken. My husband is not a demon or a horse. The descriptions given to you must have been flawed since you could not have seen him."

"Still, you cannot say you have married a man."

The Princess Royal took another sip of her tea. "The men of Narnia are rarely numbered among the Sons of Adam, but they are definitely men."

Something hard and cruel flashed in the Tarkheena's eyes. Then she blinked, her rogued lips curving into an insincere smile, as her limpid gaze held the Princess Royal's. "He has you well-trained. How does it feel to share your bed with a beast?"

Alambiel set her teacup down. Thalia had the alarming thought that she might be about to pull out one of her many knives. However, the older woman merely smiled, showing her teeth. "I feel that you have far more experience in that regard, Tarkheena Zinat." Then, she held out a plate of snickerdoodles to the Tarkheena whose eyes had hardened with rage, and asked sweetly, "Biscuit?"

Little Shirin reached out a frail hand to grasp one of the snickerdoodles, her sleeve falling back to reveal an ugly purple bruise encircling her forearm. Thalia bit the inside of her cheek to keep from crying out or gasping in alarm. Peter and Edmund had both explained to her that for now there was nothing she could do. She was not allowed to interfere yet. But she could speak to the sapling. She waited until the sapling had taken a bite before she asked, "Do you like it?"

Shirin darted a wary glance at the Tarkheena but Zinat was still seething, her dark eyes fixed on the Princess Royal as she offered the plate to Paniz. The sapling's hollow eyes returned to Thalia and then she nodded once.

Thalia considered the little one and then smiled gently. "How old are you?"

Again her gaze darted to the Tarkheena but then she whispered, "My twelfth year began at the end of the past monsoon season."

So young, so tragically young. Thalia closed her eyes for a moment and then forced a smile as she opened her eyes again. She gestured to the flowers blooming out of season in the large conservatory. "What do you think of the flowers?"

"They are very beautiful, O Mistress." Shirin glanced at some of the blue roses. "I have never seen roses colored like the sky and sea." She reached for the plate of snickerdoodles again only to stifle a cry as the Tarkheena abruptly slapped her, knocking the sapling out of her seat.

Thalia stiffened. "That was unnecessary."

The Tarkheena's rogued lips twisted into a mocking smirk. "The Consort does not understand our ways. Shirin was told that she may not eat today as punishment for disobedience to my lord Tarkaan. Her defiance of the order must be disciplined." As Paniz rose from her chair and came to help Shirin up, Zinat's limpid gaze turned to the Princess Royal and her smile somehow grew crueler. "It is a wonder that the Tarkaan finds the beauty of Narnian women so fascinating. All I see are women who are as tall and uncouth as men. Perhaps it is the fact they have stabled with animals so long they have grown like them that gives them an unusual appeal."

Then the Tarkheena rose and left the conservatory, surrounded by her guards and slaves, leaving Paniz and Shirin to follow in her wake. Susan and Alambiel exchanged a look but then the Princess Royal picked up the plate of snickerdoodles again. "My comeback was better." She held the plate out to Lucy. "Biscuit?"

Thalia sighed, feeling as though a winter chill had reached her to the roots. Then she turned to the Princess Royal. "You must do something to help her. As you did in Redhaven."

Alambiel looked at her then, a solemn light in her eyes instead of the familiar twinkling humor. "This isn't Redhaven. Zinat and I can exchange insults and walk away without endangering the diplomatic ties between our nations. In fact, it's expected for us to do so and I will admit I enjoy tweaking this woman's over-powdered nose out of joint more than usual. However, the game is entirely different when it comes to the situation with Shirin. The legal grounds are different and shakier than what happened in Redhaven. There must be a loophole but it's going to take time to find it."

Thalia glanced at the doorway the Calormenes had vanished through and sighed. "I pray it does not take too long."

ӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁ

Remus Greyback wrinkled his nose as the strong spices made him want to sneeze. He could smell fish too. Pricking his ears up, he wagged his tail as he trotted down the hall. The loud man smelled like fish and spices and sweat. And his alpha wanted to talk to the loud man. Turning the corner, he yipped then howled, "Wait! Wait!"

He heard someone growl in warning, one of the Big Cats, but he could ignore them because they weren't his alpha. He wagged his tail as the loud man stopped. "King Edmund wants to speak with you."

The loud man growled at him. "You are male!"

Remus wagged his tail again, tongue lolling out as he gave a happy grin. "So are you. How come you always smell like fish? Is that all you like? Do you burn your fish too? How come humans are always burning perfectly good meat?" He paused as he thought of something else Alpha had said. "And how come you have three mates? I don't know anyone who has three mates. My uncle said he knew a Fox who had four mates but not all at once. Do you like all your mates? Do they all like you? How many puppies do you have? Do you have mates at your den who look after the puppies?"

"Greyback!"

He yelped in alarm as Bast pounced on him, picking him up by the scruff. Then he heard Alpha speaking, "Tarkaan Babak, I apologize for the Wolf. He was only supposed to deliver you a message since your wives are having tea."

Remus whined as Bast carried him behind Alpha. Then the Tigress growled at him and hissed, "Be silent."

The loud man puffed his chest up like the roosters right before they tried to attack him and Romulus just because they were making the hens exercise. "It was agreed, O barbarian, that no male shall trespass here. None save my own guards and slaves. Was it not the poets who said 'A man whose servants break into another man's gardens shall stand as guilty as they and shall be cast off to the jackals?'"

Alpha took a long, slow breath. "No insult was intended, Tarkaan. The Wolf is young and does not always mind his words as carefully as he should. Per the terms of your agreement when coming to Cair Paravel, male messengers are permitted to enter the wing set aside for your use when your wives are not present. His presence did not breach the agreement. However, I apologize for his less than discreet questions and any insult they caused you. He will be reprimanded."

Remus whined then tucked his tail between his legs as Alpha glared at him. The loud man huffed then nodded. "Very well, O barbarian. But do not let this lowly dog enter this hall again."

Bast gave Remus the look that she saved for when she was about to swat him when he bared his teeth at being called a Dog. He was a Wolf! Dogs were very silly, not like Wolves at all. Remus ducked his head. One of the puppies with the Calormene party came running up the hall and then he went down on his belly like he was in trouble. "O my master, my mistresses are returning early. My mistress, the Tarkheena, bade me inform my master that mistress Shirin has disobeyed you, O Mighty Tarkaan."

The loud man drew himself up just like a rooster again. "The beauty of my Tarkheena and wives is not meant to be seen by other men, much less Northern barbarians. O barbarian king, take your dog and leave before your gaze dishonors their beauty, which can only reflect the light of Zardeenah herself. You shall not sully it."

Alpha bowed his head then spun his heel. "Bast, Remus, let's go."

Remus slunk after Alpha. Bast snarled at him when he passed her but she didn't try to swat him this time. Remus followed Alpha all the way to Alpha's second den (Bast said it wasn't a proper den but Remus had seen Alpha sleep and eat there). He nosed Alpha's hand. "Alpha? I'm sorry I asked inappropriate questions again. It was on accident."

Alpha rubbed his ears, which felt really good. Remus groaned in pleasure and wagged his tail as he leaned into Alpha's hand. Alpha didn't smell angry either. "I know, Remus, but you could have been in a lot of trouble if Tarkaan Babak's wives came back before you left. Next time I talk about sending a message to the Tarkaan, I want you to wait and see if I want you or Romulus to deliver it for me before you run out. All right?"

"Yes, Alpha."

Alpha stopped rubbing his ear. "Remus, where is Romulus?"

"Oh, he went to exercise the chickens. They're very fat right now."

Alpha groaned.

Remus licked him. "I'll go help!"

He raced out of Alpha's second den. Alpha shouted, "That's not what I meant!"

Remus yipped in excitement. He couldn't wait to tell Romulus that Alpha wanted them to chase the roosters and sheep too! Maybe even a cat! Oh, he hoped they could find a cat.

ӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁ

Susan rose from the little table then dismissed her ladies. Lucy and Thalia had already left, only Kat lingered in the conservatory. Susan sighed as she joined Kat in front of the climbing roses, recalling the dismal tea. "I don't know if Zinat's insult was of any use."

"The last one indicates that the Tarkaan is a bit more interested in Narnia's women than his Tarkheena likes." Kat glanced at her then turned back to the roses and lowered her voice to a whisper, "I am sending Leeta to Tuulea. Her search here as turned up nothing useful. Whatever ties Merry had, they weren't in Cair Paravel."

"Do you think Tuulea will know something about Merry's family?"

Kat laughed softly. "Tuulea knows everyone and if she doesn't know someone, she knows someone who will know that someone. And this way Leeta stops hovering."

Susan looked at her. "Have you had more dizzy spells?" When the older woman didn't answer, Susan grew concerned. "Have you?"

"And those are the questions that are giving me more motive to send Leeta to Tuulea."

Susan opened her mouth to protest but then shook her head. "All right, then I won't ask if the rumors in the healers' wing are true."

She giggled when Kat groaned in exasperation. "Alithia just couldn't help herself, could she?"

"Is she right?"

A sudden cacophony of noise erupted as a flock of chickens burst through the conservatory's west door. Susan gasped and Kat jumped as the fowls squawked and clucked, feathers flying everywhere, as they darted inside. Then two grey Wolves bounded in after the birds, howling and tails wagging with utter delight. Two hens flapped their wings and made their way on top of the still-set table, dirtying the pristine linen and breaking the fine china as plates and cups toppled to the floor. One of the Wolves howled, "Food!" He immediately raced over and began eating the spilled cakes and biscuits while his brother continued chasing the chickens.

Susan stared in horror and then anger began to slowly build. Her brothers and Peridan's three sons ran in through the same door the chickens and Wolves had come while servants and soldiers were rushing to keep the chickens from making their way inside the palace proper. "Edmund Alexander Pevensie!"

ӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁ

A/N: Please Read and Review! Well once Remus and Romulus started *ahem* exercising the chickens, they just couldn't stay out of the picture. ;) Leave a review and let me know what y'all thought about this one.