"I want you to get me any information you can on the expedition that went to Calormen two months ago," said Edmund. He didn't wait for an answer and walked away from Orius, who merely raised his eyebrows at the king's retreating back and exchanged a look with Tumnus.

"The High King ordered that information to be strictly classified," said Tumnus, wringing his hands worriedly.

Orius shrugged. "King Edmund may be privy to the information."

"I do not think so."

"The Calormen expedition isn't confidential, Tumnus."

"Well. yes, but surely you know why he wants to know about it?"

"Because of Healer Liana's brother, of course," the centaur raised his eyebrows at Mr. Tumnus's shocked expression. "Did you really think I did not know he is infatuated with her?"

"I-well, I suppose…" the fawn wrung his hands helplessly.

Orius calmly sheathed his sword and trotted towards the armory. "He hasn't picked up a sword in days, Tumnus. He would never do that if anyone else were to ask him, except her."

!

Edmund flicked through the reports hurriedly, his eyes scanning the pages for any mention of her brother. Orius had not so subtly told him his name. Rinas Strom. The name originated from Archenland, which he knew to be Liana's home. He knew he was a captain and he knew he was a good swordsman, or else Orius would never have known who he was.

Sighing, he pushed aside the papers and gingerly touched his bandaged shoulder. Liana had done an excellent job. Not a single stitch had come undone and the attendants were meticulous in applying the salve. His wound was sore, however, but when he had complained half the attendants had almost fainted, so he avoided mentioning it. Liana had yet to check up on him, which didn't surprise him. After her comment the other day, he wasn't sure he even wanted to see her.

No, that was a lie. Recently, she had stopped antagonizing him as much as she used to. Her opinion of him seemed to be improving, until that day in his chambers when she had spoken out harshly against his treatment of her at the Spring Gala. He had been drunk and foolish; he couldn't understand her unwillingness to forgive and forget that day. They had barely ever spoken before that night. In fact, their friendship, for lack of a better word, had developed after his shameful behavior.

"Really, Edmund, you study too much," his sister's voice floated towards him from the door and he automatically closed the ledger he had been perusing. No need to inflame Lucy's curiosity, she was incredibly nosy otherwise as well.

"I wasn't studying," answered Edmund automatically. He racked his brains for a plausible excuse and spoke slowly. "I was planning another expedition. Perhaps to… Calorman."

Lucy's eyebrows shot up. "Liana will kill you," she said flatly.

"She's tried," he muttered, more to himself than Lucy.

She didn't hear him. "You're horribly irresponsible, Edmund. And what can you have done to make Liana reject my invitation to dinner every day this past week?

Edmund frowned. "I haven't spoken to her in days, Lucy. Did she say it was me?"

Lucy ignored him and sat down in one of the chairs, gathering her skirts about her as she got comfortable. "Well, obviously I was going to invite her after she practically saved your life because of your idiocy but she just wouldn't accept and at first I thought it was because she was busy but the other night Ronas saw her in the tavern and when he asked her again, she said point-blank it was because you wouldn't want to see her!"

Edmund blinked. "That doesn't sound like Liana. Ronus probably had too much mead."

Lucy huffed. "Yes, he did, but not nearly as much as usual because we had all the ladies from court dining with us so he didn't drink as heavily. He seemed very confident in her statement."

"Liana saved my life; I am in her debt."

"You two haven't gotten along since the Spring Gala, which was a horrible introduction, by the way, but you were so close to becoming friends!"

Edmund sat back down in his chair and faced his sister. "She is still offended, Lucy. I do not know what else to do," he shrugged.

"Have you tried apologizing?" she demanded.

Edmund frowned. "A king does not apologize-"

"Oh, stuff it, Edmund. A king also doesn't demand the prettiest woman in the clearing to warm his bed at night but you did that so I'd say all propriety is out the window."

Edmund didn't move from his desk, stunned into silence. He didn't know if it was Lucy's snappish tone that astonished him, or the fact that she was the first person to highlight his mistake so obviously from that night and put it in front of him so he could finally see it.

When she spoke again, his sister's voice was quieter. "None of us expected that from you, Edmund, and I don't think Liana did either. She may not have known you well at the time, but she knew of you. It was very considerate of her to keep discreet about the matter, and maybe she expected something in return. She's not fond of finery; Aslan knows she's one of the simplest people I've ever met. But she has an enormous amount of self-respect and you damaged it significantly."

Edmund didn't hear her leave his solar. His head was spinning with the implications of his sister's outburst. He had never said the words to Liana explicitly, but it had always been understood between them that he severely regretted his conduct. Going out of his way to speak to her was his own way of apologizing for the events of that night, and she had never even touched upon the topic until last week. For some reason, he was annoyed. He lost more sleep over that woman than anyone else in Narnia, he was contemplating bringing her brother back from the expedition to Calorman to please her and still his whole family expected him to go over and above to make it up to her for his indecent behavior of a night over a year ago.

Mind made up, he began to gather the parchments on his desk to return to Orius, when an impatient knock sounded on his solar door. "What is it?" he called out, not bothering to turn around.

"Let me in, Edmund," it was Peter.

He didn't admit his brother immediately. "How can I help?" asked Edmund.

Peter opened the door poked his head in, crown askew and a frown on his face. "Enlighten me, dear brother. Why in the name of Aslan are you interested in recalling an expedition you all but begged to be sent to Calorman?"

"I never said I was recalling it."

"Tumnus seems to think your interest in a certain Healer is clouding your military expertise."

"Interest?" asked Edmund incredulously. "What is wrong with you lot? I like Liana well enough, but something said in a drunken stupor really shouldn't be taken as seriously as this!"

Peter entered the solar fully and took Lucy's vacated chair. He raised his eyebrows at his brother. "What's up, Ed? Liana is a wonderful person and we're all very fond of her, but you seem quite taken with her. And I'm not just referring to the events of the Spring Gala."

"I'm trying to clear my debt."

"There is no debt. She's a healer. This is her job."

"She doesn't have to help me after the way I treated her, Peter."

"You're her king."

Edmund ran a hand through his hair in annoyance. "Somehow, I don't think that matters to her."

Peter sighed. "Of course it doesn't."

"What do you mean?"

"Her father was one of the most anti-monarchists ever to exist," Peter rolled his eyes. "Really, the old man was quite taken with his idea of equality, and I give him credit where it's due; he was a brilliant scholar. We have quite a collection of his works in the library, and I have no scruples in admitting that most of the taxation laws we set up are based on his ideas. But the point is," he ignored his brother's dumbstruck expression. "Liana was raised in a very different household than the average Narnian. Her brother is an exemplary military commander, from what I've heard. Archenland was loathe parting with them both, but after their father's death they asked for refuge and I gladly gave it to them. The Spring Gala was her first interaction with us all. Needless to say, it wasn't pretty."

"You granted political asylum to a soldier and a healer?" Edmund looked at his brother skeptically.

Peter shrugged. "They offered their services. Her brother was widely regarded as an experienced swordsman and Liana was one of the most promising apprentices at the institution. They both came very highly recommended and they were to take no benefits from the kingdom, it was part of the deal the ambassadors orchestrated. She isn't the only one, of course. There was quite a few others who-"

"No benefits?" interrupted Edmund. "Are you telling me-"

"The house and the salary we provide healers and soldiers doesn't apply to them. Liana has her own inheritance that she lives off, but recently I've been thinking of revoking that law," Peter frowned. "Somehow, I don't think she has much anymore since the brother married."

Edmund ran a hand through his hair again. There was a knock at the door and Peter excused himself, leaving with the unannounced visitor. Edmund spent a fair amount of time staring out of the window of his solar. He had a perfect view of Susan's rose gardens, and he faintly saw his sister walking with two other women, laughing and waving her hands enthusiastically. One was definitely Lucy. The other was taller, with dark hair. He caught sight of a mint green sash around her slim waist and sighed, turning away from the window. Liana would be the death of him, undoubtedly.