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 Forty-One: Answer, Question

2 Stormfall 1009

Alambiel,

Meet me in the gardens at the kissing tree.

Oreius

She still wasn't sure quite what the Kentauri was thinking. He had never actually asked her to meet him at the kissing tree before, at least not the kissing tree that Cair Paravel's military couples would use for meetings and many kisses stolen between duties and shift changes. She and Oreius preferred to use the willow in their hidden garden as their own trysting tree. Much easier for the Princess Royal and the General to just be Alambiel and Oreius when they were hidden from busybodies and gossips.

It actually wasn't raining for the moment when Alambiel emerged from the Cair. She still wasn't allowed to leave the palace (not even to check on Parvaneh), and she couldn't help being slightly surprised to not have the Kentauri glaring at her when she met him at the kissing tree. Instead, her husband merely raised his chin. "You are all dismissed."

She watched as the Beasts and Birds who had been added to her guard scattered. Ptah, though, grinned at her, his fangs gleaming, before the Leopard turned and picked his way past the lingering mud puddles. Alambiel raised an eyebrow at Oreius who didn't say a word as he took her hand. The Kentauri started to lead her away from the kissing tree. "You mean I don't get a kiss?"

Oreius tossed her one of his sterner looks but there was something lighter in his eyes that pulled all the bite from his retort, "No time for that now."

"It's a kissing tree."

"Alambiel."

She grinned. "Yes?"

Her husband's gaze swept over her from head to toe and then he leaned in close and whispered, "I will kiss you as much and as thoroughly as possible tonight."

"Promises, promises. I don't know how you think-" Alambiel stopped talking as they approached one of the smaller postern gates, one perfectly positioned for sneaking out of the Cair (she would know). Oreius nodded to the only guard on duty, a sleepy-looking Bruin, and then he pulled her through to the other side.

No sooner had they heard the heavy crossbar replaced behind them than Oreius stopped, let go of her hand, and reached under his cloak to pull out her twin knives. Alambiel caught them easily and quickly buckled them around her waist. Then he tossed her a travelling pack. She was already grinning but still she asked, "And just what are we going to do now?"

Her husband held up the map she had given him a few weeks past that led to the area containing Merry the Younger's den. Alambiel's grin was matched by an equally fierce light in the Kentauri's dark gaze as he smiled grimly. "Hunt."

"Lovely."

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3 Stormfall 1009

The Bat looked exhausted as he nibbled on the orange Edmund had offered as soon as he found his way into the Just's study. Edmund wished he hadn't told Scorx that it was urgent. But still it was with a decided amount of anticipation that he opened the heavy vellum of the scroll.

Aslan's greetings and blessing upon you, King Edmund the Just, and on your Royal siblings,

At the time of your request, no message from Aslan was given me in regards to the prisoner now in your custody. For the sake of the Four, I asked the Great Lion to reveal what He would in this matter. Hear now the message the Lion gave:

When the horn has been blown, only the unwise ignore its signal and look for another beacon.

These are the words of our Lord Aslan to His chosen Sovereigns.

Stormseer

Edmund groaned, catching the attention of the Bat and the Wolves. It would have been easier to convince Peridan, the Faun Nausus, and the other counselors who were so uneasy about Markus' parole if the message had been more . . . thorough and straightforward. Now he had to tell Peter and the girls. As soon as he managed to fend off his Wolves' concerned attention.

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10 Stormwind 1009

"It never fails."

Oreius glanced over his shoulder. "What might that be?"

His wife was leaning against the trunk of a large elm that had shed all but a few of its leaves. "What you're looking for is always going to be in the last place you look."

He huffed and turned his attention back to the remnants of the booby trap they had disarmed. He had no desire to risk Alambiel poking around before he ensured the trap was fully defunct. "Is that another law of your Murphy?"

"No. Just experience." A hint of laughter entered her voice as she added, "At least this one doesn't involve irate Squirrels in a downpour."

"You gave your word, pest." He set his shoulder to the boulder partially blocking the entrance to the cave, digging into the damp earth with his hooves, and pushed. It would have been easier without the mud. But it was not overly difficult either. Oreius turned back to inspect the solid door. It did not appear to have another trap attached to it. He tried the handle. Locked. He pressed his hand against the wood, considering.

"We don't have to break if we can pick."

Oreius frowned at his wife. "Did I not tell you to wait over there?"

"Nothing happened." Alambiel pulled out her picks and then crouched in front of the door. "Not to mention, I was getting bored. Merry counted on her uncle's affection to permit her free reign. I don't think she was paranoid enough to go overboard on the booby traps, a chara. That's more along your style. Ah ha, there we go."

Oreius caught Alambiel by the back of her skirt when she tried to open the door wide enough to go in. "Wait here."

"Oh come on, Kentauri! The door is open." She held up the shuttered lantern. "And I have the light."

He relieved her of it, ignoring her indignant protest, and then pulled her back a safe distance. "Wait here for me. Do not move from this spot until I call for you."

Alambiel crossed her arms. "Fine. Spoilsport. What fun is there in hunting if you won't let me go exploring too?"

"You can explore when I confirm it is safe."

"Stick in the mud is what you are."

He left her grumbling as he uncovered the lantern, allowing the yellow light to wash over the cave as he pushed the door open. It had been a home once. There was step down into the main living area, which was lined with shelves and a desk, all covered in stacks of documents as well as books. From where he stood, Oreius could see the faint outline of the kitchen and another room, most likely the bedroom. He stamped his hoof.

"Oh, she was set up rather comfortably, wasn't she?"

"Alambiel."

"I haven't come in."

Oreius glared at her. "Leaning halfway through the doorway does not qualify as being outside. And I told you not to move from that spot, which was far enough away from the door that you should not be able to lean through."

His wife merely waved her hand dismissively. "But there aren't any unpleasant surprises waiting for us." He sighed and she stepped inside. "Other than what might be in those dockets, of course. Hmm." Alambiel walked over to the room and peeked inside. "Bedroom, small and a bit musty. Nothing useful in here." She sheathed her knife and then picked up another lantern. "Let's get to work. I very much want to know what Merry was passing on, don't you?"

"Indeed."

They had been working through the documents for well over an hour when Alambiel called to him. "Oreius, you better see these."

"What is it?"

She handed him a sheath of papers. "These are copies from Susan's desk."

Oreius looked through them. Names, nations, dates, purpose of visits, and required preparations. He raised an eyebrow. "Itineraries." He pulled out one list in particular. "Even the guests for the wedding reception the Four prepared for us."

His wife held up another one. "And the anniversary celebration for Peter and Thalia. And this one here includes details of the Queens' care for those villages damaged by the flooding last Stormfall and Yule." Alambiel frowned. "They're trying to figure out the weakest areas."

Oreius turned his attention back to the desk, rifling through the remaining documents. "Why?"

"Susan is in charge of arranging most of the itineraries for diplomats. She also keeps track of every feast, ball, and any event the Royals are involved with unless the other three are being spontaneous (mostly Peter and Lucy). Theoretically, if I wanted a prime opportunity to exploit a weakened area of Narnia's defenses in addition to arranging for one of those 'unfortunate accidents' the Tisroc (may he only have spoiled chocolate forever) is so fond of, I would have to know what was happening during any given month or even week."

His wife started pacing as she murmured under her breath in Irish. Oreius shared her suspicions but he was also interested in discovering any hint as to who else had turned traitor. And if there were any hint of that sorcerer's involvement. But it was not the mention of the sorcerer that caught his attention a short time later. Oreius studied the parchment, a sense of disbelief growing even as he read the words again.

"What's got your tail in a knot?"

He did not react to his wife's teasing as he glared at the parchment. "They used you to arrange for the hole in our defenses."

"What? How am I at fault?" Alambiel poked at his arm and Oreius allowed her to see the document. All good humor fled from her face, leaving only a look of absolute wrath as she read. Dame Sepphora looked back up at him, eyes blazing. "When have I ever given orders pertaining to 'unusual training exercises' that were not face to face with at least some of the officers? They should have known better than to believe I would send one of Susan's ladies to inform them of any training exercise."

"You have permitted Leeta to convey your wishes in the past." He did not wait for her to respond as he pointed out the true reason the lie Merry fed the three officers had worked on that fateful day, although he did gentle his tone, "Do you recognize their names?" When she did not reply, he nodded. "They are junior officers and they only joined the army a few months before Merry arrived at the Cair. If I recall correctly, one of them arrived around the same time as she did according to your notes on her movements. Sweetheart, you have not conducted a coup or any other unique training exercise in well over a year. They would not know your protocols for such mischief."

The silence was heavy as Alambiel turned away, searching through another stack of dockets. But he did not try to break it, sensing that this time she needed to work through the implications of her playful disregard for his protocols. There was some relief, though, in knowing that he did not have determined traitors among his solders. Only incredibly naïve and foolish young officers barely out of their colthood. They should have at least thought to confer with one of the senior officers before ordering their assigned soldiers to such posts as would present the perfect hole for the Fell to slip through.

"There's only one solution."

Oreius looked up from reading about Merry's exultation at the naïveté of the Satyr officer who so eagerly fell into line with her suggestion that the venerable Dame Sepphora was moving troops about as part of a training exercise. His wife was sitting on the stool next to a shelf, a journal of some type in hand. She remained focused on turning the pages as she continued, "A coup for Yule."

Why did the knowledge that his little minx was not going to stop being an unpredictable disruption to his carefully scheduled duties warm him? Oreius shook his head as the hint of a smile turned his mouth up at the corners. Because she would not be his Alambiel if she behaved within the realm of predictability and neat protocols. He had actually missed the challenge presented by her unique way of carrying out her duties.

"I thought you'd approve. But that's the only forewarning you get, Kentauri. The actual date is going to be a surprise. If you know everything ahead of time, it's not as much fun."

He scowled at her though he knew his amusement robbed it of its normal impact. Not that his scowls ever did much besides encouraging Alambiel to continue in whatever mischief she had planned or initiated. She only laughed. Oreius flicked his tail. "Pest."

"And you love it."

It was wiser not to respond. However, all amusement faded as Oreius opened a half-finished letter.

Do not fear. The plan will succeed. Our ally remains determined to gain the Princess Royal as payment for his contribution, though. We must leave her alive until the

There was nothing more but it was enough. Oreius looked over his shoulder at where Alambiel was going over the journal, frowning as she flipped between two pages. He needed to tell her that someone was trying to steal her away. "Alambiel-"

"Oreius, did you happen to see a necklace anywhere?"

"No."

"Maybe it's somewhere in here." Alambiel hopped off the stool then handed him the journal before she picked up a candle and carried it into the bedroom. Her voice drifted back to him, "I think you will be highly interested in those two pages, Kentauri. It shows where we are going next."

He read the brief journal entry. It mainly comprised of Merry's complaint that her lover's refusal to journey north meant she was having to deal with the foolishness of an Archenlandish lord. She did not think the effort of appeasing him was worth the role he would play in the plan. Oreius pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. Archenland. Anvard.

"Relax, a chara, I'm sure it won't be as bad as all that. At least you know that Lune will want to help us resolve this matter as quickly as possible." Alambiel emerged from the bedroom and blew out the candle. Then she slanted a sly glance toward him as she murmured in a sweetly innocent tone, "I'm sure Corin's grown out of the stage where he wraps himself around the nearest leg to get your undivided attention."

Oreius scowled. "You are not nearly as humorous as you deem yourself. And did you not find what you were looking for?"

"No." His wife's smile slipped a little as she picked up her travelling pack. "It's looking more and more likely that the necklace was taken as a trophy. Not the most comforting thought but it makes the most sense considering I know that something or rather someone else got to Merry before or after the Hag who killed her and definitely before the Werewolves got involved. You just won't tell me which it was or what they did." She slung her pack over her shoulder and then looked at him expectantly. "Anvard?"

"Anvard."

He would place the boulder in front of the door until they were able to return and retrieve the rest of the documents (Alambiel had already collected the missives copied from the Gentle's paperwork). The sky was darkening with promised rain but Oreius was more concerned about the reception at Anvard. By the Lion, he hoped his wife was correct about that pesky colt growing out of some of his terrible habits.

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A/N: Please Read and Review! On to Anvard and Corin! ;) Leave a review and let me know what y'all thought about this one.