Chapter 30- Martian's suspicions
Meanwhile, back at Cair Paravel
It was now nightfall, the sun completely set. King Edmund and Queen Susan continued to carry out the monarchy duties despite it being night now while Pteranodon and his team continued to remain in touch with the assistant spies as they continued to track the boatmen. Pteranodon had brought back more reports of more boatmen taking more kidnapped victims out into the Eastern Ocean but frustratingly, their destination was STILL veiled. Additionally, High King Peter's poisoning was starting to show worse symptoms to the alarm of his medical carers. Initially, the High King had been severely nauseated with a green face, so weak that he could barely lift himself up out of bed and his speech had been slurred but now more symptoms of his poisoning were beginning to show, just as Martian had warned. High King Peter's temperature had begun to rise and he had been complaining of feeling sick via his slurred speech. Though these next set of symptoms were just in their initial stages, it was still enough to raise the alarm. If the quest goers do not return in time with the nine exclusive ingredients for the only antidote that will cure him, High King Peter will get worse and worse as the days went by.
Martian walked through the main hall of Cair Paravel and gazed at the throne area where the four thrones stood. Two of them were empty, one of them being the High King's throne for the aforementioned reason, and one of the Queens' throne for Queen Lucy had gone off on one of the quests. The only two thrones occupied were those of King Edmund and Queen Susan and they were busy giving orders to the commanders standing before them to continue with the search-and-destroy missions as well as listening to the reports from the reporters. In another room, Voltasu the Yatagasaru or Three-Winged Crow, was undergoing another episode of interrogation about his apparent attempted assassination of the four Kings and Queens of Narnia anointed by Aslan. Martian gazed into the room as Voltasu honestly answered the questions fired at him from his interrogators, one of them being Tuvok, an Eight-Tailed Kitsune.
"Martian," called someone. The Little Green Man turned his head in the direction of the caller; a Chamrosh which was a type of Bird-Mammal Hybrid beast resembled a Canid (somewhat like a Wolf or Dog) with feathered wings and a Bird's beak. The Dog-Bird fluttered in and touched down before Martian.
"His Majesty is beginning to show signs of a fever and feeling sick," said the Chamrosh, "It's clear that his poisoning is starting to worsen."
Martian, however, did not flinch with surprise for he was an expert of this type of severe poisoning he has dubbed Jadis' poisoning after the tyrannical White Witch, and for good reason.
"It doesn't take long for the next symptoms of Jadis' poisoning to start rearing their ugly heads," said the lead Little Green Man unsurprised. A worried look formed on the Chamrosh's face. "I hope the quest-goers make it back in time with the nine ingredients so that we can make the potion to save His Majesty's life.
"The quest-goer groups have arrived at their destination areas or transition ports as reported to me by my friends in those domains," replied Martian with some hope in his voice, "and they are now on their way to the exclusive areas where those ingredients are grown or held."
"My pack once met the Rainbow Serpent shortly after our Monarchs were crowned," said the Chamrosh, "It was hovering unusually low to the ground and it seemed to be accompanied by a less colourful Air-Snake and a youngster which was colourful with shimmering rainbow scales, underside and membrane like the Snake itself."
"A Rainbow Serpent can live for hundreds of years much like a Kitsune but it is not immortal," said Martian, "its population is VERY low and its reproductive ability is VERY limited. Every few hundred years, a Rainbow Snake couple will form and produce a clutch of only two baby Snakes so that there is an heir to the sun guardian role once the older Snake becomes too old to continue its job."
"I didn't know the Rainbow Serpent could reproduce," said the Chamrosh, "I thought it was an exclusive creature."
"The tiny Rainbow Serpent population and nesting site resides within one of the Four Cardinal Kingdoms, in a VERY secret place," said Martian, "And ONLY one Rainbow Snake is allowed to fly around in the Narnian world to protect the sun. It's to protect the rare creature against would-be poachers or anyone else that would dare catch the Snake for their own nefarious uses like the White Witch did the current Rainbow Snake during the Age of Winter."
"The current guardian was captured by the White Witch's minions, according to those that had managed to free it like Dionaea and Kobaruto," said the Chamrosh. As the Dog-Griffin spoke this, a red and metallic furred Dog Fox with eight tails came walking in.
"I still cannot believe that the Witch would have her minions attempt such a daring and dangerous deed," said the Chamrosh with a frown, "The Rainbow Serpent is INCREDIBLY dangerous if messed with."
"The only person the White Witch was EVER concerned about in ALL of Narnia was the White Witch," said Martian, "That is, herself. She NEVER cared about anyone else, her minions or enemies alike. You may think that the White Witch cared about her faithful and loyal minions but in fact, they were nothing more than her tools. However, it's just sad that so many of them had chosen to loyally and willingly serve her and cause trouble despite being used as tools for her illegitimate rule."
"That's right, Martian," said Tuvok, pulling the Little Green Man and the Chamrosh's gaze to him, "And unfortunately, as you've said, a LOT of them have deliberately chosen to serve her and even worship her as the Being of all of Narnia and NOT the Lion Above All Lions who is the TRUE Lord of our world."
"How is Voltasu doing, Tuvok?" asked Martian.
"We've released him from custody," replied Tuvok, "We had a talk with many of the Yatagasaru's friends and family and also King Edmund and Queen Susan and they say that Voltasu is one of the most respected members of the family, servants and friend, as well as incredibly trustworthy though sometimes he does make mistakes. But one thing that he will NEVER, EVER do is attempt to assassinate anyone, certainly not our Monarchs, either with a weapon or through poisoned or cursed food."
"But he still purchased that cursed cake, didn't he?" asked the Chamrosh with a scowl.
"We also had a serious word with the three confectionary stall owners, those two Faun sisters and the Red She-Dwarf, and they said that they had purchased that Mega Sugarplum Fairy Cake from a kind peddler woman dressed in white and grey rags. She didn't say that it was cursed and they had been horrified at the revelation reaped from Crystal the Cherub's investigation into the cake, as is Voltasu, which means one thing. We have sent out a search group to track down that woman and bring her in for interrogation."
"Then that means that Voltasu and those stall owners had unknowingly allowed a cursed cake to land in the kitchen of our Monarch's Castle!" barked the Chamrosh in outrage and realisation, "First the three stall owners and then Voltasu who purchased it and brought it to here."
"Yes, and King Edmund and Queen Susan had been OUTRAGED that someone had manipulated the poor Yatagasaru and the three stall owners into carrying that cake to here when I explained what they had told us," said Tuvok in agreement, a scowl on his face, "And once we find that the woman is guilty, she will be immediately sentenced to death by foxfire from Hagrid. Voltasu had wanted to join search party but we told him to return home and take a break for his safety."
"It's good that he is found innocent," said the Chamrosh, "I was among so many others who accused him of attempted assassination and even wished that he was put to death there and then, but I'm glad the execution method had been shelved until enough evidence was gathered."
"It's a good thing it was," said Martian seriously, "It's COMPLETE injustice to put to death an accused defendant only to find that they are innocent after all."
"And it's NOT the Lion Above All Lion's way as well," added Tuvok, "Honest balances are one of his most loved things."
The Dog-Griffin and the Little Green Man nodded in agreement.
"Something the White Witch had DELIBERATELY thrown out when she ruled our land for 100 years," said the Chamrosh.
"Indeed," said Tuvok. Suddenly, a beeping sound began in a large satchel Martian had been carrying. The Little Green Man peered into the bag. A communicator cube was flashing and beeping, indicating one thing.
"Oh, that'll be Wan and his group," he said and with that, he went out with the Chamrosh and Tuvok following.
Once the three were out in the courtyard of the castle which was lit up by outside lights for it was now dark, Tuvok and the Chamrosh went over to Voltasu and his family and friends as they prepared to leave with the rather tired and worn Yatagasaru. The group were obviously other Yatagasaru and some Martlets, legless Swallow-like birds who hovered in the air and mostly Sky Domain dwellers. However, a small group of them were friends with Voltasu hence their presence. While Tuvok and the Dog-Griffin began to talk with the group of birds, Martian set down his beeping and flashing crystalline communicator cube on the grass and stepped back. The flashing and beeping cube ascended into the air and morphed into a flat square screen tipped onto its corner. After it became a floating crystal screen, an image of a white Nine-Tailed Fox but not one of the Kitsune species appeared.
"Hi, Wan, how has your quest to Bism to get a diamond pumpkin for High King Peter's antidote potion been?" asked Martian with a smile, "Did you manage to get one?"
"We did," said the Kumiho with obvious exhaustion, a front paw on his head. Behind him, some of his assistants, among them two Blue Men, checked the group's supplies. Wan continued. "We have it in a special basket. It had NOT been an easy task. We had to go through some INCREDIBLY challenging passages like some expedition humans call in their world 'caving' for the diamond pumpkin garden is through those passages, and some of the passages were EXTREMELY narrow. I almost freaked out several times due to how incredibly narrow they were but we managed to make it to the garden, unearth one and then return to the main cavern."
"You did good in getting one of those essential ingredients, Wan," said Martian sternly, "I heard that the cavern passages to the diamond pumpkin garden demands facing narrow passages as a test of courage."
"That trip was NOT for what humans call 'claustrophobic', I can tell you," said a Little Green Man assistant next to Wan who nodded in agreement, "I'm wondering if Wan here hates confined spaces."
"These exclusive Nine-Realms Potion ingredients are NOT easy to retrieve," said Martian, "They were meant to be EXTREMELY difficult in obtaining as they are so exclusive. But still, the potion is useless and ineffective unless ALL nine ingredients are combined. But at least you have managed to get one of those essential ingredients," Martian's face then turned serious, "But now that you have got the diamond pumpkin, you need to be EXTREMELY careful in returning to Cair..."
Suddenly, screams exploded behind Martian, causing the Little Green Man to snap his gaze from the crystalline screen to the small group of Yatagasaru and Martlets behind him. The group of Three-Legged Crows and Legless Swallows were swarming around one of the former and wailing in horror. Then cries from the Yatagasaru erupted.
"VOLTASU! ARE YOU ALRIGHT!? VOLTASU!" Martian flinched while Wan tried to get a glimpse of the commotion behind the Green Man.
"What's going on over there Martian!?" demanded the Kumiho while his assistants showed concern.
"Get some medics over here, QUICKLY!" came Tuvok's voice. Martian then watched some Swallow-like birds fly off in the direction of the castle and turned to Wan.
"I'm gonna have to hang up for a bit," he said, "Sorry to cut you off like this but I need to investigate what's happening over there. I'll ring you back in a short time."
A look of confusion flashed on Wan's face but before the Kumiho or his companions could ask why, they vanished from the communicator screen and the square screen collapsed back into the portable cube. Martian picked it up, put it back in to his satchel and rushed over to the commotion.
"What's happened here!?" demanded the Little Green Man. One of the female Yatagasaru, one of Voltasu's sisters, turned to him, a horrified look on her face.
"Voltasu's been struck down with a rock to the head!" she wailed in anguish.
"It struck him with SUCH force," said the Chamrosh. Martian then began to command the Birds surrounding the downed Voltasu to move aside so that he could check on him. The moment Martian got to Voltasu, a horrified gasp entered his mouth and he flinched. Poor Voltasu lay there on the grass, a serious head wound on the side of his head; that wound bleeding badly. Shouting the Yatagasaru's name, Martian knelt down aside him and began to tend to his injury while Tuvok commanded the surrounding Martlets and other Yatagasaru back to allow space. While all this happened, Alcina appeared, a look of stun plastering her face, especially at the sounds of weeping and sobbing from the Yatagasaru and Martlets. Then moments later, the three Martlets that had been sent to get help returned with two Faun medics. The little group parted to allow them access to the injured Voltasu and Martian moved aside. Tuvok also leant a paw and he helped in stemming the bleeding from the injury on Voltasu's head.
As the two Fauns sought to the injured Yatagasaru, Martian began to question the group, a serious look on his face. He then held the thing that struck Voltasu in the head and brought him down.
"Did ANY of you see ANYONE throw this stone at that Yatagasaru!?" the Little Green Man demanded. Headshakes came from the tearful group of birds. Then one of the Martlets turned an accusing glare at a certain three-tailed Vixen with colourful fur who stood near a tree looking on. The moment the Martlet did this, the others followed his example. Alcina flinched at the lasers of accusing glares converging on her as though she was a target being locked on for missiles or stones to strike.
"Did you do this, Alcina!?" demanded one of the Yatagasaru, Voltasu's father with his front leg, the only front leg he had, gesturing to his injured son as the two female Faun medics loaded him onto a slab of wood they used like a stretcher to take him to the medical quarters of the castle. Tuvok also came in, a scowl on his face and the Chamrosh showed rage on his face. Alcina quivered at the accusing glares as Martian then came in and brandished the rock.
"Did you see whoever threw this stone at Voltasu, Alcina?" demanded the Little Green Man. Alcina continued to look around until her eyes found a small group of flying creatures flap towards the castle in the direction of the catacomb interrogation room where Chrystós the Gold-Fleeced Ram and his group were waiting, some of them carrying lanterns for light. They were a group of Winged Cats and many of them were armed with slingshots and bags of stones and three of them were carrying a large hammock made from interwoven tough leaves containing a Water Hag they had managed to capture during one of their search-and-destroy trips. They were taking the Water Hag to Chrystós for interrogation thus the Water Hag was still alive but unconscious, rendered this way by a rock to the head shot by one of the Winged Cats with their slingshots and rocks.
"I think one of those Winged Cats must have fired that rock at Voltasu," said Alcina. This directed the accusing glares at the group of Winged Felines and when a few of them saw this, they stopped to a hover, making the rest of the group stop as well. Immediately, the Chamrosh lofted into flight and flapped off in a confrontational manner to the Winged Cats who hovered there in confusion.
"Did ANY OF YOU Winged Cats FIRE THAT ROCK at VOLTASU!?" demanded the Dog Griffin with a gesture to the injured Three-Legged Crow as he was carried by the two Fauns medics to the castle. Blinks of confusion flashed on the faces of the Winged Cats.
"No," said the leader, a Tabby Tom. Like Regular Talking Cats, Winged Cats' pelt and also their feathered wings were of 'regular' colours and there was an all-black one, two pure white ones and a female calico in the group.
"We were only taking this Hag to Chrystós for interrogation regarding the Man with the Upside-Down Face, one of the other most-wanted minions of the White Witch besides the Cartoon Shadow Cat and his whereabouts," said the Calico.
The Chamrosh was about to fly at the Winged Felines to seize the leader by the throat to throttle but Tuvok barked at the Dog-Griffin to cease his temper and to move aside. The Chamrosh reluctantly did so but he flashed an accusing glare at the Winged Cats as he flew back to Voltasu's family and friends. The leader then commanded the three carrying the unconscious Water Hag in the hammock to continue to the catacombs and to Chrystós and interrogation his group, which they did.
"B-b-but it SURELY was one of them!" protested Alcina but Tuvok turned his stern gaze to her as well.
"You get back to work, Alcina," commanded the Eight-Tailed Dog Fox.
"B-b-but," began Alcina but Tuvok reinforced his command with a harsher voice tone, "BACK to WORK!"
Alcina released an exasperated huff and left to return to her tasks. As soon as she had gone, Tuvok turned to the Winged Cats and commanded them to continue to Chrystós with the Water Hag while Martian, a look of dread and suspicion boiling on his face, returned to his spot, reached into his satchel and took out his communicator cube. After he had set it down on the grass, he tapped it and the cube rose into the air, flattened into a tipped square and transformed into a crystalline screen once again. Wan and his assistants appeared on the screen.
"Hi, Wan, folks, sorry about cutting you off like that earlier, but I needed to see to a crisis nearby," said the Little Green Man.
"What's been going on?" asked Wan.
"Has a Yatagasaru been hurt or something?" asked a Blue Man next to Wan. The rest of Wan's companions also showed looks of concern.
"Yes but that's none of your concern," said Martian, before a VERY stern look formed on his face.
"Is there something wrong?" asked Wan when he saw this. His companions exchanged worried glances.
"Unfortunately there is," replied Martian, before he gazed at his Kumiho assistant in the eye. "Listen, Wan and group, listen VERY carefully; you NEED to be EXTREMELY careful during your travels through the country to here, especially with that diamond pumpkin you managed to get from Bism in your possession."
"Uh-huh," said one of Wan's Little Green Man companions.
"There are still plenty of surviving minions of Jadis still at large here, especially some HIGHLY dangerous creatures like the Man with the Upside-Down Face and the Cartoon Cat creature," continued Martian, "and if they ever... at ALL... get their hands on that pumpkin you have obtained, they will NOT hesitate to steal it from you and use it for their own nefarious schemes, so you MUST protect that pumpkin art ALL costs as it is part of the Nine-Realms Potion recipe and High King Peter's ONLY antidote to his Jadis' poisoning. If one of the ingredients is missing, the potion is COMPLETELY ineffective and useless. And furthermore, I believe there could be something or someone among us here on the grounds of Cair Paravel."
"Yes," said Wan in understanding, "But what should we do?"
"Listen, Wan," said Martian, "You need to find a place to hide to protect that diamond pumpkin from these marauding monsters of the White Witch, like a cave or somewhere. Once you do find a place, wait there until I call you once the remaining eight quest-goer groups have returned with their ingredients from the different realms of Narnia including our home realm, the Narnian Moon. Once they have returned, you leave your hiding place and come STRAIGHT to Cair Paravel with the pumpkin. However, you still need to be careful of any marauding monsters of the White Witch on the way. Do you understand me?"
"Indeed, Martian," said Wan.
"Right, you do that and wait for my call," commanded Martian sternly, "As I've said before, if ANY of those ingredients are seized by ANY of those monsters and we cannot get them back, things are gonna be UTTERLY bad for High King Peter."
Wan nodded and with that, he disappeared from the screen. The screen then collapsed back into a cube and landed on the grass. Martian picked it up and put it back in his satchel before turning to Tuvok.
"I have a BAD feeling about this, Tuvok," said the Little Green Man with dread, "I believe you could have a pesky intruder causing trouble on the grounds of your Cair Paravel castle so we must set up some search parties to patrol the grounds and catch that intruder and ANY accomplice they may have at ALL COSTS. And I am especially concerned for your two remaining Monarchs who are temporarily taking the lead until your High King is cured of his poisoning with the only antidote consisting of the nine exclusive ingredients. And if that intruder ever DARES target those two, Aslan help us."
And with that, he left with Tuvok following. The pair was going to set up some patrol groups to keep an eye on the grounds of Cair Paravel to find any possible intruder, especially for the sake of Queen Susan and King Edmund, the only two Monarchs left on the thrones.
While things happened in Cair Paravel, far away, Wan and company, who had their diamond pumpkin in their possession, went about searching for a place to hide but after a while, they had found a cave where they took shelter with watchers stationed at the entrance to keep an eye out for trouble for the rest of the night.