~ by Hannah Skipper

The “big dent” in repairs Peter had be hoping for didn’t happen until late afternoon, and the High King was fairly irritated by the time the tetrarch had cleaned up and gathered in a small conference room for their meeting with Lord Highland. Susan sat on a couch, pouring tea while Edmund slouched in an overstuffed chair, watching Peter and Lucy, who were standing just inside the doorway.

“Where is our good lord?” Peter asked with an edge in his voice, as he looked around, his expression dark. “I haven’t seen him since early this morning.”

Lucy’s face flushed a deep red. “I’m sorry, Peter. I forgot to let him know we’d finished up with repairs for the day and would be ready to meet with him after we cleaned up.”

Peter gave her a hard look. “Why would you need to let him know? Where’s he been all this time?”

Lucy dropped her gaze for a moment. Peter could be quite overbearing when he was in this kind of mood, but she snapped her head back up to look him in the eye when she answered, “I sent him to get rest—he looked so haggard this morning—as if he hadn’t slept well—”

“I don’t recall any of us getting much sleep last night, Lu,” Peter continued being cross. “The governor is stout—he would have been fine. You took away an extra body—two more hands to help clean up.”

Susan had heard enough. “Oh, do leave her alone, Peter! Come sit. Lucy—go get the governor now. No, no, don’t give me that look, Peter,” She got up, looped her arm around his elbow, and slung him to a seat beside her. “Stop your grousing—you ought to know things don’t always go the way we’d like. Here,” she handed him a cup, “and this isn’t my coffee, so drink it.”

Lucy watched as if transfixed, then snapped to as Peter took a long sip. She breezed out the door, half-walking, half-jogging to retrieve the governor. At his door, she knocked lightly with one hand, the other positioned on the handle, in order to retrieve him and get back to the conference room quickly. The harsh voice that answered her knock startled her, and she pulled back.

“It’s about time you got back!”

“My lord?” Lucy called softly.

A chair creaked from behind the door and a moment later it opened. Lucy, whose head only reached the governor’s lower chest, drew away in shock—he looked haggard, but there was something else in his expression, too. Was it danger that she saw in his eyes?

He saw her draw away from him and was ashamed to have frightened her, but in another sense, he was almost relieved—he’d had a long hard day of battling him, and if she might leave him in peace, he might still be able to gain the upper hand.

Lucy regained her composure and asked, “Ar-are you alright, my lord?” Her eyes scanned him up and down, as a parent might look at an injured child, searching for what might be wrong.

“Yes, Lucy, just—as you pointed out this morning—I’m worn out.”

She took his arm and began pulling him forward. “Well, you can stop worrying! The others sent me to fetch you—they’re waiting in the conference room in the north wing.” She flashed him a confident smile. “Between the five of us, we’ll figure something out, won’t we?”

“Yes, Lucy,” he answered softly, as if deflating.

The meeting? They were all waiting? He was stunned. Of course, he knew that this meeting was why he was here, but it had come up so quickly. He had counted on being able to concoct a story to waylay their concern—until he could completely bring him under control, but the storm had kept him busy at sea, and now he had come to plague his thoughts.

He wracked his brain to come up with something—ah, that that might do. It would have to. They were young and trusted him. He could pull it off.

As they closed in on the conference room, he inhaled deeply to steady his nervous heart. Deep down, yes, he felt badly for deceiving his friends, but they weren’t giving him any options. He had too much to lose to tell the truth—his reputation, his position. All would be lost.

He pushed the door open and allowed Lucy to step through before he confidently strode past her and hurried to shake hands with Peter and Edmund, and kiss Susan’s cheek. Lucy only stood back, looking a little bewildered at the governor’s sudden change in demeanor. Lord Highland graciously reseated Susan and then pulled an overstuffed chair back for Lucy.

“You’ll come sit here, won’t you, Lucy?” He wanted her to sit where he wouldn’t have to look directly at her.

“Uh, oh-yes.” She moved quickly to take the seat he offered.

After the girls were settled, the two kings reseated themselves, and finally Lord Highland settled into a chair. He looked supremely confident as he met the gazes of the older three.

Susan passed him a cup and saucer, and the younger three looked at Peter to begin.

Peter took a sip of tea to settle the questions running in his mind; he hadn’t wanted to have this meeting in the first place, but now it was here. He felt an odd chill in the room, but he didn’t quite understand why. Lord Highland looked confident and happy.

“I’m glad to see you looking better,” he began, staring hard at the governor, as if that might shed some light on the general weird feeling he was getting. “My sister,” he nodded toward Lucy, “told me you didn’t seem well this morning.”

“Ah, yes—well, yes, I am better.” The governor gave the older three a wide grin. “Little bout with food poisoning, I think.”

Susan turned a bit pale. “Food poisoning? Surely not from our kitchens, Governor?”

“Well, hard to say, you know, after all I just got through with a week at sea and a nasty storm, but well, maybe…” He hoped she’d take the bait.

“The poor kitchen staff will be beside themselves,” Susan murmured. “I hope that’s not the cause—was anyone else sickened?”

“No-no, I was the only one that got lucky.”

“Well, I’m glad for everyone else’s sake, but—”

Edmund cleared his throat, and Susan turned to look at him, her hair spilling over her shoulder.

“As interesting as all this is, Su dear, we do have something else on our plates…”

Susan blushed a pretty pink. “Right, forgive me, go ahead.”

“Done, and I think I’ll let the high king talk first.”

Peter, who had momentarily hoped Edmund would pick up the conversation, scowled at his cup. “Thanks, bro.”

“Welcome.”

Peter set his cup down hard and gathered himself. “To business then! One question, my lord, just one question to start off. Why didn’t you answer our inquiries before we had to call you back?”

The high king was just warming up—all their frustration and worry spilling out—now that he had a proper someone to project it on.

“Do I recall five messages that we sent?” He looked his siblings for support.” Or was it more?”

“Eight or nine, I recall writing,” Edmund said after he drained his tea and set the cup down with a thump. “Granted, we sent several together because we thought that somehow they must be getting lost at sea, or something, so I think there were five deliveries.”

“So, why then?” Peter pleaded.

The Governor, who had been smiling gaily before, became suddenly sober. “Ah, I’m afraid I miscalculated a bit, my dear friend—we were so close to catching that Ape, on so many occasions, that each time I thought if I just delayed my answer another day, I might be able to write you the good news of a capture—but before I knew it, I got your summons to return to the mainland, and well…”

His eyes started to twinkle as if he had a secret. The older three were eating it up, as far as he could tell. Lucy? Well, he didn’t really dare look at Lucy.

“And?” Peter almost growled.

“And, well, I have good news. A few days before we set sail, my men captured the Ape and I have him under my control!”

Lucy, who had been taking a long sip to finish her tea, choked on it rather indecently, in her surprise.

Everyone turned to look at her, but her siblings, who were just as surprised as she, didn’t think it was an unreasonable reaction to what they’d just heard.

“Perhaps I should have sent a message and avoided all this, but I wanted to see you all and tell you in person, and—”

“So the Ape has been stopped?” Edmund interrupted, almost unbelieving.

“Tried and convicted, yes, Edmund.”

“Was it really an Ape?” Susan asked.

No-no, a man dressed like an Ape.” He flinched at his own answer—perhaps, a bit too close to the truth.

Peter was so relieved, he ignored the strange feeling that still prickled him—after all, this was the outcome he’d hope for, wasn’t it? He leaned forward to grip the big man’s hand. “Well, I have to say, I’m stunned—and relieved—that the whole business is through…although,” he held Lord Highland’s attention with all his kingly authority, “governor, I  don’t think any of us appreciate your method of informing us. Do try refrain from such surprises next time, will you, friend?”

Lord Highland looked like a grandfather who’d been chastised by his grandchild, and gave an affectionate smile. “Oh, alright then, I’ll try to do better.”

Peter looked as if he might say something further, but was stopped by a knock on the door.

They all turned towards the sound and he said, “Come in.”

“Forgive me, your majesties,” a satyr murmured as he stuck his head through the door for a moment before stepping inside and bowing low. “But I’m afraid we’re in need of some assistance down at the wharf—it seems as though the governor’s ship wasn’t tied properly…and, well…” The satyr began looking mighty uncomfortable as Lord Highland’s eyes began bulging.

The tetrarchs gave each other wide-eyed looks before scrambling to adjourn their meeting.

Susan automatically began gathering empty cups and saucers, sweeping them across the table in a heap with one hand. Peter, Edmund, and Lord Highland made a beeline for the door held open by the satyr, and Edmund started whistling a crazy tune.

As they moved into the hall, Peter asked, “You seem to be in a good mood for having just found out there’s a ship loose in the harbor. What gives, little brother?”

“I’ve got plans for this afternoon—before the Eagles get in.”

“Oh? Do tell!”

Edmund gave a mischievous grin. “Well—you may find out later, or maybe not.”

Peter gave him a playfully rough shove.

Back in the conference room, Lucy seemed in a daze—the whole meeting had been so weird—but she startled out of it at the sound of Susan bustling about, and grasp her sister’s arm.

“Leave that stuff, Su, I’ll clean up here—surely you have something else to do.”

Susan nearly said that her cleaning up wasn’t any big deal, but she thought Lucy looked strangely urgent to do it herself. “Well…alright Lu, if you want. Are you alright, dear?”

“Y-yes.” Lucy thought her excuse was pretty shabby, but she wanted to see if she could make sense of things before she spoke openly. “I just want to think for a bit.”

Susan gave her a sister an “I know better than that” look, but kissed Lucy’s cheek and stood up. “Well, thank you—I think I’ll head to the kitchens and see about this food poisoning business.” She looked sad.” Our poor staff.”

Lucy watched until her sister shut the door behind her, then half-heartedly started setting things on the silver service tray, her mind whirling with other thoughts.

The governor—a man she had impeccable trust in—a man who loved to laugh and had been a never-ending source of good advice and love to her and her family, ever since their reign began—had, this very morning refused to look at her. He had acted in a way that was difficult for her to name when she retrieved him less than an hour before, and, she thought, had gone out of his way to avoid her eyes throughout their conference—and all for something he knew, all along, was a non-issue? Yes, of course, the man enjoyed a good laugh, but this, he should know was very poor taste.

Finally, Lucy abandoned the dishes. She walked to the end of the room and peeked around the side of the burgundy floor-to-ceiling drapes. She ignored the frantic activity on the wharf and looked out across the Eastern Ocean—far, far off—and imagined she could see the mountains at the edge of the world. She lifted her hands to rest her face on them, and realized that her cheeks were damp with tears.

“Oh, dear,” she thought as she looked down to where a pocket might be, if her gown had pockets. Here I am with nothing to wipe my eyes.

Oddly though, a lacy napkin had materialized. A hand and arm held them out to her. She turned around to meet Peter’s eyes. He looked pained to see her tear-streaked face.

“What gives, little one? I leave for a few minutes and you spring a leak.”

He hauled her into his arms and sat down in a chair, with her in his lap. “Opf—not so little, anymore.”

Lucy giggled, in spite of her hurt feelings. “I thought you were helping rescue the ship.”

“Ah, well, I thought I’d better make amends with you for this morning—it seems that you had the right idea to give Lord Highland some rest—poor fellow.”

Lucy drew a ragged breath. Peter had unwittingly touched a raw nerve.

“Oh, is that what those tears were for? I’m sorry, Lu. I didn’t realize—it’s been a long time since my scolding has reduced you to tears.”

Lucy shook her head. “No, no, not that—I was just thinking…”

“Thinking what?”

“Well—I don’t know exactly. It’s just—”

“Just what?”

“Hold your horses, Peter, I’m thinking.”

A moment later, the dam seemed to break open, and a flood of words rushed out. “It’s just that Lord Highland—I sent him to rest because I thought he was consumed with worry over the Ape. He would hardly look at me this morning. Then this afternoon, well, it was more of the same—he looked like death and he hardly met my eyes—I was almost scared of him. Then, poof! Right before we get in here, he completely changes, and he’s all smiles and confidence and, and—all for a problem solved? I don’t understand!”

Peter listened carefully, then considered his words before answering This information cast the whole thing in quite a different light—a kind of light that he didn’t like.

“Well…I didn’t realize all that was going on. Perhaps I should talk with him. I’m sorry I didn’t catch on to how he treated you in the meeting—I can’t imagine why he’d do something like that, but I promise that I’ll find out.”

“Oh-no, no, Peter—please, let me talk with him—it’s my feelings he’s hurt, after all—let me speak with him.”

Peter hesitated for a moment, then nodded his agreement.

Another knock on the door came, and Susan’s voice said, “The Eagles have landed.”

Peter and Lucy looked at each other. Already?

It was very late that night when Gawain finished tending to Lord Highland’s needs. He closed the door and stood in the hallway for several moments, his face blotchy with tears. He wanted to go home. He hated his job as a page for this evil man.

“Well, I hope you’re not upset that we didn’t get that ride in, lad.”

Gawain nearly jumped out of his skin as Edmund seemed to magically appear out of the shadows thrown by the torchlight in the hallway.

The young king looked down at the boy with love and curiosity, his hands behind his back. “Do tell me what’s up, lad?”

“You won’t laugh?”

“Absolutely. I promise.”

“I-I’m homesick.” Gawain cringed, thinking himself weak.

Edmund’s eyes, strangely, lit up at this news. He knelt down and pulled a book from behind his back. “This—I know—is not your mom or dad or even your sister, but I do hope that it will help you feel better about not having them right here with you.”

“Narnian Prophecies!” Gawain’s face lit up. “But how–?”

“It was in our library—we have a huge one, you know—and I thought that it might be there, though I’d never seen it. It took me a while—and even longer since the Eagles came in earlier than we thought—but I wasn’t about to throw in the towel till I searched every nook and cranny in that place!” Edmund beamed. “Come on, lad, let’s go find out about that Tisroc.” Here he couldn’t avoid a chuckle. “Who reads? You or me?”

“You read—my mom always read.” Then he stopped, realizing who he was talking to. “You mean, you’d read this to me?”

“Sure.”

“But why?”

Edmund gave him a squeeze on the shoulder. “Because I happen to love you, lad…and I want you to know that I care about you, and I take a great deal of pleasure in your happiness.”

Lord Highland sat alone in his room He thought the day had been successful enough—they believed his story. He was safe. But what he hadn’t counted on was how bad he would feel—he hadn’t counted on hating himself for lying to his friends. He wished he’d never gotten involved with this Ape business.

Oh, but you have gotten involved, and now you can’t quit, and I have control, her voice reminded him.

No! I still have control! Me, not you, me! He yelled inside himself. See, I’ll prove it.

He walked to the back of his room and opened the little case that held the bottles of red and green liquid. He opened one and drank its green contents. There! See? I’m in control. He would not get the better of him tonight.

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