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-Nine: Communication

23 Twirleaf 1009

Edmund tapped the sealed letter against the palm of his hand as he walked through the halls. Where were the girls anyway? He followed the sounds of feminine laughter but paused on the edge of the threshold to one of the solariums. He peeked inside to see Lucy holding court with her ladies along with Mr. Tumnus. His younger sister was grinning widely as she dragged the Faun by the hand to meet with one of the Nymphs. Both Faun and Nymph blushed and looked away from each other.

Matchmaking. Edmund made a face. He had hoped Lucy would leave off all that frilly fluff once Kat and Oreius got married. Figured it wasn't meant to be. Of course, Mr. Tumnus would probably fall into line for Lucy's matchmaking conspiracy far easier than Kat and Oreius ever did. A quick scan of the room proved that the sister he actually wanted to talk to wasn't present. Edmund took a swift step back and then dodged out of sight before anyone saw him.

He stopped one of the passing pages. "Where is the Gentle?"

The Rabbit blinked solemnly then thrummed his foot against the floor as he considered. Then the buck swiveled his long ears and nodded. "The Gentle has been preparing the food packages that are to be sent to the village of Meadowbrook. She is still in the kitchens, Sire."

"Thank you, Thyme." Edmund hurried down to the kitchens. He should have known Susan was still down there, double-checking her list of the village needs and any extra supplies they could provide. Meadowbrook was perched along the shores of the Rush, its inhabitants mainly small Animals, Otters, Muskrats, Badgers, Rabbits, and a family of Boars. The little village had suffered from a flash flood a week past. No lives lost, thank Aslan, but their food stores and houses all suffered damage.

Susan was counting barrels when Edmund found her. His sister offered a distracted smile. "Can't you wait until after we have dinner before you come begging for more cake? We only just had lunch, after all."

"I didn't come down here to find food. What kind of cake? Chocolate?"

"Strawberry marble."

Edmund held out the letter and Susan took it but didn't open it. He glanced around then lowered his voice as he leaned toward her. "It's from Markus."

Susan blanched. Edmund frowned. "Su?"

She opened the letter then read it, still extremely pale. Two heartbeats later, she folded the letter into a small square and slipped it up her sleeve. "It was nothing of import, Ed."

"What do you think about him?"

"How do you mean?"

"I mean do you think Markus is being truthful?"

She turned back to the barrels and her list. "I do not know what to make of him. He is different but he holds on to information tightly. I think . . . I think he is as sincere as he can be under the circumstances."

Edmund nodded. He had the same feeling. "The council will be convened to decide his fate in a month's time."

"After your birthday, Edmund."

He smirked at the order but still bowed. "Of course, Sister." After all, he wouldn't want her to become miffed to the point of taking away the cake. He turned to go; actually, he was running late for a meeting with Peter and Oreius to discuss how the hunt for the mole was proceeding.

But he stopped when Susan's soft call reached his ears, "He is trying to help."

"I know, Su."

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Paperwork was boring. Alambiel slit another letter open. Another accusation of her being a witch. Boring. Next letter. She grimaced then tossed it to the side. "Lord Barin, I'm making Oreius respond to you. Who responds to 'I'm still married, you idiot' with 'Come visit me at my grand estate or shall I visit you in lovely Narnia?'" She pinched the bridge of her nose. She was quite certain Barin's estate wasn't all that grand and she really hated paperwork. It was always interfering.

She had thought she and Oreius could talk when they returned to their quarters last night but no, he had a delivery of urgent papers that had to be read right away. She had planted herself in her chair, intending to make sure they had a chance to talk. Of course, unlike Oreius, she hadn't slept well, tossing and turning as her dreams were stalked by the specters of the past. Alambiel rubbed her neck, feeling the knots that served as the souvenir of her falling asleep in the chair. She had woken briefly when Oreius was carrying her to their bedchamber but not long enough to do more than take off her shoes.

A Merlin swept into the room, shrieking her delight as she brought a letter. Alambiel jumped to her feet, quickly taking the letter as the Merlin settled on the back of a chair and preened her wings. It was about time Leeta sent word.

My Lady,

Your intuition is bearing fruit. My aunt bade me seek out the Dryads near the Satyr Loc's home. I have spoken to all who are old enough to remember the time of Loc's sister Merry. They could tell me little beyond the generalities of gossip as they went different ways than Merry of the past. However, I have learned that Loc and Merry had a younger cousin. The Satyr Dornic still lives and he dwells in the Western Woods. Shall I approach him?

Leeta

Alambiel smiled. "I have you now. No more hiding." She scribbled out her reply, bidding Leeta to persuade the Satyr to accompany her back to Cair Paravel. If he proved uncooperative, Leeta was to invoke both her name and Edmund's as the authority for summoning the nearest patrol to escort Dornic to Cair Paravel. "Tris."

The Merlin extended her leg, allowing the missive to be attached, and then she spread her wings. Giving another shriek of delight, she launched into the air and then darted out the open window. Alambiel laughed softly as she closed the window. The Merlin was one of her most enthusiastic and faithful messengers. She would find Leeta easily.

Alambiel's gaze fell on the letters. This time it was reports and marriage proposals only except for the monthly accusation of being a witch by one kooky old man in the Lone Islands. Harmless crackpot. She put the letters back into one of the desk drawers (Barin could wait until tomorrow) and then grabbed the limited duty roster. She needed to update it but she could do it after dinner. Besides Oreius had said he would meet her in their quarters that afternoon and he wanted to talk.

As it was he had beaten her to their quarters. Alambiel smiled at the Kentauri who raised an eyebrow at the roster. "I decided that you bring so much work home with you that I needed to start bringing some home too."

Oreius huffed. "I thought you would want to know that Ambassador Terril's ship left the harbor this morn with his nephews in tow."

She snickered at the mental image. "Were they being dragged behind the ship?"

A flicker of amusement eased the sternness of his expression. "No, more's the pity. But he was shouting at the fools loud enough that everyone on the dock could hear." He raised an eyebrow. "Apparently he had warned the upstart who attempted to proposition you last night that he was not to chase after married women and declared that he was fortunate he was leaving Narnia with all his limbs intact."

She laughed. "I wish I hadn't been busy with Thalia. I would have enjoyed watching the display." Tossing the roster onto the chaise lounge, Alambiel walked around it then rose on her toes to kiss her husband. "So, I was thinking it's not so cold today that we cannot have our talk in our garden." If she could get him away from their quarters and interruptions, they could have the other talk she wanted too. Maybe even have a picnic supper. They hadn't had one of those since their honeymoon.

Oreius stiffened then stepped back. "No."

"Oreius, I know you still have the restriction on my leaving the palace in place but I will be with you and we can take the shortcut from the small conservatory that bumps into the maze." She placed her hand on his arm, trying to find the words to persuade him without making him think that she would break her word if he didn't. "We can just spend an hour or two in our garden. We can talk. And-"

"No." He flicked his tail. "No, I can't ease the restrictions right now. They have been serving their purpose well but I will not risk you before I can ascertain whether the threat has been eliminated." His gaze softened as he touched her cheek. "No unnecessary risks as we agreed, especially now that you have the foal to think of."

Alambiel pulled away, walking toward the cold fireplace. She didn't look at the Kentauri as she finally stated, "There is no foal. I am not with child, Oreius. It was just a false alarm, probably food poisoning combined with stress."

He didn't say anything. The silence stretched between them until Alambiel finally turned around. Oreius wasn't quite looking at her but she still caught a glimpse of disappointment. Her heart clenched painfully. She had been dreading telling him that it was a false alarm all week. If the Kentauri hadn't been so preoccupied, he would have realized it too. "Oreius?"

He looked at her, still silent. The main doors were flung open and the impassive mask slid into place as one of the Fauns burst in, his brown eyes wide with panic. "General Oreius! An urgent message from the border outpost at Cherry Bluff! Giants are attacking!"

Oreius snatched the missive from the Faun's outstretched hand. His dark scowl no doubt added to the young soldier's timidity as the Faun jumped when he barked, "Send word to Lieutenant Silverstone that he is to prepare his troop for battle. They are to assemble in the courtyard. Go!"

The Faun offered a sloppy salute that usually would have earned him a reprimand then raced out, his little cloven hooves echoing a nervous tap through the halls. Oreius looked at her. "I have to go. I will return."

She nodded. What else would he do? The Kentauri crossed into their bedchamber and she followed, watching as he put on his armor and swords. He tucked his helmet under his arm then stopped in front of her. Alambiel looked up at him. "Return."

"I will." Oreius touched her cheek. "Promise me that you will continue adhering to the security measures. Don't leave the palace."

"I promise."

Oreius gave a curt nod then he kissed her forehead. Then she watched as he left their quarters. Moving to the balcony, she kept watch as the soldiers, forty in all, assembled and then the Kentauri joined them. He paused once to speak to the High King then he put on his helmet, glanced up at where she stood, and then nodded once when she raised her hand in silent parting. All professional, all General, he did not return the wave and quickly turned his face north as he called the soldiers to attention and then they left. Alambiel watched until the last of the soldiers disappeared into the woods and the darkening skies.

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Alambiel didn't leave the balcony until the sliver of moon had risen in the sky with the stars. She wished she had thought to insist on accompanying Oreius but . . . She was needed here. She still had to help find the loophole for Shirin. So far they had only run into dead ends.

She offered a silent prayer for Oreius' safe return then resigned herself to pestering Elwood the Badger and possibly Titania the Willow Dryad. If a solution wasn't in the records and laws, it might be in the stories and legends. She had only just reached the main doors when a knock echoed. Opening the doors, she found herself face-to-face with four Centaurs. The sole Centauress looked her over with an imperious light in her dark eyes. Her caramel-colored hair was streaked with grey, matching her long tail, and fell in long ringlets from the jeweled clasp holding the curls back from her face. Tasteful but elegant jewels decorated her throat and elaborate embroidery in goldthread covered her white tunic. Her body was also chestnut save for two white stockings and one white sock. "You are Oreius' wife."

It was a statement but Alambiel still heard the speculative, almost questioning tone in her voice. She nodded anyway. "I am. If you are seeking Oreius, he left this afternoon on military business."

The mare's dark eyes flashed with temper as her full mouth turned down in a scowl. She looked sharply at her companions. "Did I not warn you?"

The oldest of the Centaurs, one with steel-grey hair, tail, and beard to go with his white body, grunted. "He has always put his duty first."

The younger palomino stallion with grey eyes just looked at her. He seemed torn between awe and amusement. The fourth Centaur was actually known to her. Alambiel relaxed just a smidge. "Stormwind. Since it seems Oreius was interrupted before he could inform me of your visit, might you be willing to introduce us?"

Her husband's cousin grinned at her. Then he bowed his head. "Cousin, allow me to introduce Despoina and Stormfall, my grandparents and Oreius' great-aunt and –uncle. And this troublemaker is my younger brother, Firemoon. Grandam, Grandda, this is Oreius' wife, Princess Alambiel." He looked at her, a hint of apology creeping into his gaze. "We, uh, we were supposed to be joining you and Oreius for dinner. But since you did not know-"

"Are you saying you think Oreius' wife incapable of hosting us without him, colt?" Despoina's question may have been directed at her grandson but her dark gaze was firmly fixed on Alambiel.

Obviously, she was not impressed with what she saw. Alambiel considered what to say just as one of the Cats appeared. "Your highness?"

"Yes?" She almost crossed her fingers, hoping it was something that would give her a better reason than not ordering a dinner to delay the meal with her in-laws.

The Cat bowed her black head, green eyes focused, as she lisped, "The dinner has been laid out in the solarium as the General ordered. All has been prepared."

"Thank you, Dina."

The words were automatic as were her actions as she gestured for the Centaurs to follow her. She knew exactly which solarium the dinner would have been laid out in and, fortunately, she wasn't wrong. Unfortunately, she also wasn't wrong about Despoina not thinking much of her. She hardly ate because of the effort of trying to answer Despoina's questions.

"You mean to tell me that you know nothing of the stars?"

Alambiel met the matriarch's gaze unflinchingly and even managed to paste a hint of a smile on. "Unfortunately, my grandda's tutelage was interrupted before he began the lessons about reading the stars' dances. I can navigate by them though. Some would say that is equally important."

"Half-blind," Despoina muttered. Then her eyes narrowed. "How long did you and my nephew court?"

"Over a year before he proposed."

"And he does not know you cannot properly read the stars?"

"Oh no," Alambiel smiled, "he is well aware of it. He enjoys reading the stars and then telling me about the message they choose to share on a given night."

Despoina huffed again. Stormwind offered her an encouraging smile while Firemoon chuckled. They both subsided at their grandam's glare. She turned back to Alambiel. "And you snared him how?"

She cleared her throat. "Technically we snared each other. We were friends and then it grew into more. Once we stopped avoiding the issue, it was fairly straightforward." For us, anyway. But she didn't let that thought out. She had a feeling that Despoina would not approve. She had a feeling Despoina did not approve anyway.

"I see. And when will the foal arrive? Not too soon, of course."

Ouch. Alambiel rolled her eyes. "I am not pregnant. And I wasn't pregnant when Oreius and I got married."

"I see."

She didn't think she did. Mustn't throw something at the matriarch of Oreius' other side of the family. That would be rude. And bad. It would be bad. Satisfying but bad. Clearing her throat, Alambiel forced another smile. "How long will your visit last?"

"Until I am satisfied." Despoina looked her over once more and then rose from the chaise lounge she'd been sharing with her husband. "The dinner was filling. My compliments to the chef. We will have dinner together each evening. We would not want you to be lonely while my nephew is gone, after all. And we have much to learn about you."

I'd rather eat eel. Alambiel smiled. "I am honored, Lady Despoina." She bowed her head politely as the elder Centaurs left. Stormwind and his brother lingered. The smile she gave them was more genuine. "Go. I'm certain you don't want to be missed."

Stormwind merely looked concerned. "I am sorry about my grandam. Oreius could have stopped her—"

"Perhaps," Firemoon interjected.

His brother swatted him on the back of the head. "Hush. You are not being helpful." Stormwind turned back to her. "Grandam does not approve of those outside . . . the herd much."

"Just outside the herd?" Alambiel glanced at the door and added softly, "Funny, I was pretty sure it was the fact I am Centaur-kin and not just Centaur." The awkward silence confirmed her suspicions. She had a sneaking suspicion that Stormwind had been taken to task for not objecting to Oreius marrying her. She offered another smile. "Don't worry about it. I've faced worse scrapes and survived. Goodnight."

She waited until they left before she finally emerged. The hall was empty except for her guard. Ptah looked at her sympathetically (he had been forbidden from entering since it was a family gathering). She sighed and patted his head. Still she didn't say a word about the meeting or how it made her feel. She had won Alcippe over, surely Despoina couldn't be much harder. It was not until she had readied for bed and braided her hair that she allowed the little suspicion to make itself known. Had Oreius forgotten about his family coming or had he tossed her to the wolves on purpose?

It probably wasn't on purpose. Still she was going to have a long talk with Oreius about warning her of family reunions before they happened when he returned. And she was going to write him too. In the morn.

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A/N: Please Read and Review! More Markus and more Despoina next chapter. Leave a review and let me know what y'all thought about this one.