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: When memory is veiled, can the love forged between two hearts survive?
A/N: If you have not read the first seven stories in the A Light in the Darkness main story arc (Awakened, Shadowed, Revealed, Concealed, Rekindled, Refracted, and Reflected), 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 Thirty-Two: Perfidy
2 Yule 1008
Mordad stalked through the tunnels. Wait, the demon sorcerer had commanded as though he were his better. As though he, Mordad, had not wrested greatness from Tarkaans a step down from the princes, the recognized sons of the Tisroc. As though he had never stood in the presence of his worthless half-brothers and watched them vie for the rare prizes he offered, more than one seeking to curry his favor. As though he were still the street rat, Angra, scrounging for scraps beneath the tables.
He stroked the hilt of his dagger, imagining how much fun it would be to only scratch the demon and then lock him in chains so he might watch the demon sorcerer die slowly and painfully as the Mergu Tedraja, the Slow Death, worked its way through his veins. Soon, very soon, he would teach that sorcerer why the name of Mordad was feared across the Calormene Empire and Telmar. Tash willing, it would not be long before the opportunity presented itself.
"Make ready."
The demon's hiss startled him. However, Mordad only tightened his grip around the dagger. He glared at the cloaked and hooded figure barely discernible from the surrounding shadows. "For what?"
The sorcerer came closer, red flashing from within his hood. "Do not forget I control you, Angra now Mordad. I know your secrets and the Tisroc would rather kill you than allow you to challenge his legitimate princes." Mordad started to slide the curved dagger from its sheath but the sorcerer ignored him, dismissed him, as he continued talking, "Lew's Daughter almost remembered your plot to ambush the Kings had the assassins you chose actually succeeded in their tasks to remove the Queens. Consider yourself fortunate that I was able to twist her dream from memory and now the Kings and their General come to stop your ravaging of the Marsh-Wiggle village."
"When?"
"They have already left Cair Paravel. They intend to set up their own ambush north and west of the village in the same marsh as planned."
Mordad edged closer to the sorcerer. "How soon will they arrive?"
"The morn of the fourth of Yule. You must-" The demon gasped and gurgled as gloved hands reached around to grasp at where Mordad's dagger had slipped between his ribs.
A chuckle rose to Mordad's lips and then filled the cavern with a hollow echo. "I find it is time for us to part ways, demon. My thanks for your aid in luring the Kings of Narnia to my trap. I can make do without the Royals' tunnel, though. Tash will welcome you with open arms!" He grinned as the sorcerer continued to gasp, the first taste of Mergu Tedraja was always a shock to the body. Grasping the demon by the shoulders, Mordad dragged him through the tunnel to the cheers of his men until he reached the holding cells. He would ensure that the demon sorcerer could work no tricks nor see where he went from here.
The demon screamed like a mortal as Mordad put out his red eyes. In a final moment of mockery, Mordad unsheathed an untainted boot knife and cast it to the cavern floor next to the sorcerer's hand. "If you are too weak to endure the Mergu Tedraja, demon, end your suffering if you can find the knife." The demon's curses filled the air as he left. Mordad faced his men and raised his bloody dagger high. "Death to the Narnians!"
"Death!" The cry from over a hundred throats rumbled through the caverns, drowning out even the demon sorcerer. Mordad grinned. King Mordad...yes, he rather liked the sound of that, King Mordad of the North for after he took Narnia, he would easily conquer Archenland.
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3 Yule 1008
Peter reined Frost in then swung down from her back, allowing the mare to drink from the stream. It was their last halt before entering the Marshes. He rested a hand against her black neck when she raised her head with a nervous whicker, glancing back at his Tigers. Babur was watching the south where the main troop had paused to rest. Bast was...out of sight.
Lowering his hand to rest on Rhindon's hilt, Peter caught Edmund's gaze and nodded toward the copse of trees across the stream. His brother gave the slightest of nods, resting his hands on the pommels of his twin blades. "Maybe you should find a rock, Pete."
He scanned the brush for any sign of Bast or whatever had caused the woods to go completely silent. "What are you talking about, Ed?"
Edmund waded into the stream, seemingly preoccupied with scanning the streambed. "As a souvenir, of course. You can give it to Thalia and tell her that this is a rock you came across in the Northern Marshes when you were actually conscious. I'm sure she'll swoon over it."
A snort escaped him. "We're not in the Marshes yet, brother mine. Or did that Harpy knock more than your brain loose when she dropped you? Your sense of direction and wit perhaps?"
The underbrush rustled and Peter caught a glimpse of Bast creeping toward it. Then twin grey blurs exploded from the brush with joyous howls. "We found you!" Edmund yelped as the blurs bowled him over. Peter released his hold on Rhindon with a soft laugh as the Greyback twins splashed around his brother. Bast emerged from the underbrush with a look of disdain for the Wolf pups.
"Your Majesties?" A Bruin peered at them all, looking half-asleep. "Is all well?"
Edmund was too busy snarling as he staggered upright to answer so Peter quickly nodded. "We are well, Humphrey. Thank you."
The Bruin nodded once then lumbered off back toward the troop. Peter hid a smile as Bast and Babur came to flank him, their green eyes flat and muzzles wrinkled with disgust at the Wolves' continued antics. One of them panted up at Edmund. "We found you! Aren't you glad, King Edmund?"
"We almost lost you when you left without us, but not for long." The other Wolf's pink tongue lolled out of his mouth in a happy smile. "I told Remus he had to hurry if we were going to catch you."
"You did not! I told you!" Remus wagged his soaking wet tail as he splashed alongside Edmund. "How come you wanted us to track you, King Edmund? We passed, though, didn't we? We tracked you all through the night!"
"Well, almost all night. But, Remus' side was bothering him and he had to rest."
"My side was not bothering me. You were just tired."
"Don't be such a pup."
"Enough!" Edmund glared at the Wolves. "I left you at Cair Paravel on purpose! You were not supposed to come with me, especially you, Remus. I should send you home right now!"
The Wolves tilted their heads in unison. Peter had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing at their innocent confusion as Romulus said, "But, you didn't tell us not to come, Alpha."
Remus nodded. "You didn't say to stay."
Edmund groaned, running a hand through his sopping wet hair. "Why else would I leave you two in Cair Paravel?"
The Wolves exchanged a look then Remus tentatively wagged his tail. "We thought you were too busy wandering around in your sleep to remember we're supposed to come with you."
Clearing his throat, Peter barely kept himself from laughing out loud at the perplexed expression on his brother's face. Philip snorted and muttered something that sounded very much like "menaces." Edmund raised his hand to point at the Wolves then lowered it. "You'd just find even more trouble if I sent you home. Fine, you can stay." He raised his hands for quiet when the Wolves leapt to their feet with joyous yips. "However, you had better not wander off or try to get anyone to play with you. We're setting up an ambush so you two need to stay by my side and be quiet."
The Wolves both tried to look fierce as they could while dripping wet. Remus couldn't seem to keep from grinning though as he nudged his brother. "Told you Alpha would miss us."
Peter coughed then cackled as Edmund groaned.
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"Susan! You better come quick!"
"Quickly, Lucy. Honestly, you should know proper grammar by now." Susan set her knitting aside (she still had to replace five pairs of Edmund's socks) and calmly rose from her seat. "Now what is wrong?" Her calm air was suddenly difficult to maintain when she saw Lucy's wide-eyed alarm. "What's wrong?"
Lucy grabbed her hand. "Kat's missing."
Susan didn't hesitate. She ran through the corridors with Lucy until they arrived at Kat's quarters. Ptah was pacing the rooms, stopping on occasion to inhale deeply. Tuulea, Tanith, Leeta, and Peridan were all there as well. Susan turned to Peridan first. "Where is she?"
The swordmaster bowed. "I must confess I do not know. None of us do. The Princess Royal was sedated. She should not have been able to leave her bed, much less her quarters."
The Queens exchanged a look then Lucy frowned. "Why was Kat sedated?"
Peridan cleared his throat. "That was my doing. She was running through the palace in little more than her nightgown and robe intent on finding the Kings and stopping them before they went into an ambush. I feared she might harm herself if she continued to attempt to warn them of something she already informed them of and I informed Tanith of my concerns."
Susan narrowed her eyes. "Leeta? Did Kat actually take the sedative?"
The Black Elder Nymph ducked her head. "A single mouthful and then she seemed to slumber. I assumed it was due to her difficulty sleeping of late. We did not disturb her until Tuulea returned."
"For how long?"
"A little over five hours, My Queen."
Susan exchanged another look with Lucy. Knowing Kat, she had probably slipped out as soon as everyone left. "What did she take with her?"
"Nothing save a cloak. And Pepin is in his stall still."
Kat was out there in the raging storm, probably on foot. Was it not enough that Edmund's Wolves had sneaked away yesterday afternoon? Susan smoothed her hands over her skirts, trying to calm herself enough to think of where Kat might go. "Have scouts looking for her and search the Cair. We must hope that she hasn't gotten far on foot." Oh Aslan, keep Kat safe.
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4 Yule 1008
A low growl rose again. Edmund lowered his hand. "Quiet, Remus."
The Wolf ducked his head but a barely heard growl still rumbled in his chest echoing that of his brother's. Edmund twisted in the saddle, scanning the marsh. Dawn had only just tinged the east with a faint blush but they were already on the move to their chosen position. It was drizzling again with faint rumbles of thunder in the distance. But, there was no sign of anything that should set the Wolves off.
Peter's Tigers were also uneasy and even Philip kept tossing his head. Edmund rested his hand against Philip's neck, ostensibly to reassure the Horse but also taking comfort himself in the contact. He guided Philip closer to Peter and Oreius. "What do you think it is?"
The Centaur was grim. "I do not know. Be on your guard, My Kings." The words were barely out of his mouth when a Gryphon screamed a warning cry. The Wolves and Tigers snarled. Edmund raised his shield and thrust his arm in front of Peter, just in time for an arrow to shatter against the steel. Oreius reared, shouting orders. Edmund unsheathed Shafhelm. War cries not from their own troops echoed around them. Ambush.
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A/N: Please Read and Review! Dun dun DUUUUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNN! I hope this chapter has clarified some of your questions after the last chapter. Only four chapters left, by the way. Leave a review and let me know what y'all thought about this one.