Lost and Found

38: You look familiar

May 10th

"Surely there's got to be some news?" Peter murmured as Orious walked into his room that morning.

The centaur sighed and shook his head. "I'm afraid not your majesty." He replied. "We are unable to find your brother at the moment."

Peter swallowed hard. "You will find him eventually though, won't you?" He asked, hope in his voice.

"We won't give up searching until we do." Orious said. "Besides, the Calormens are set on keeping their side of the deal, I don't think they want any trouble."

"I don't blame them." Peter muttered. "Because I swear if we can't find Edmund, I will-"

"Sir." Orious said firmly but sadly.

Peter stopped and sighed, sitting down slowly on the edge of the bed. "Sorry." He whispered, burying his head in his hands.

"Everything will be fine Peter..." Orious told him gently. "You'll see."

May 15th

But five days later there had still been no word on Edmund's whereabouts, and that is when Peter started to take action.

"I'm going out to find him." He snapped as Orious asked him where he was going.

"Is that really a wise idea?" The centaur replied. "He could be anywhere, we can't have you wondering around Calormen alone."

"Well then come with me." Peter muttered as he walked down the corridor.

Orious sighed as he hurried along beside him. "It wouldn't be a good idea for all of us to wonder around Calormen." He said. "Last time we knew where we were headed, we have no clue this time."

"It's been six days since we got here!" Peter exclaimed, stopping and turning to face Orious. "Six days! I've had enough, they clearly can't find him!"

"Just give them some more time." Orious said slowly. "They've got absolutely nothing to go on don't forget."

"But it's been nearly a week!" Peter choked. "Edmund could be dead by now!"

"Don't say that." Orious said sternly. "You're angry, I get it. You're upset and worried and that's totally fine, but you have to stay calm, you wondering around Calormen isn't going to help get your brother back, okay?"

Peter swallowed hard, tears stinging his eyes but he refused to let them fall. "Okay." He whispered, lowering his head with a sigh.

"Thank you." Orious breathed. "Now come on, let's find you some lunch."

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Edmund hardly had the strength to lift the bucket of water to carry it across to the horse, he was too weak to do much, but knew he had to, or they'd kill him, it was as simple as.

He made it to the horse eventually and placed the bucket in front of it, watching as the animal began drinking before leaning against the wall.

He'd gathered a lot more injuries over that last five days, but the burn on his back was probably the worst so far. It was still causing him agony even now, and he found himself glad that he couldn't see it.

He'd earnt himself a dozen or so more whip lashes, a bunch more bruises and a clean split going down both lips, as well as a gash on the forehead from whacking it against a stone when he'd been punched, and a black eye from said punch.

He could barely stand by this point, and lack of food, water and sleep wasn't helping him one little bit.

With a sigh he pushed himself off the wall and walked over to grab the rake, cleaning all the hay that had been scattered across the floor.

"You boy."

His head snapped up at this, and he found himself leaning against the rake as the man talked to him.

"Sadle up a horse." He snapped. "And be quick about it."

Edmund only nodded and grabbed a sadle, walking over to the nearest horse with a sigh.

He was just about to put it on the horses back when a dizzy spell took over him and he found himself sat on the floor.

"I say are you alright?"

Edmund frowned, and after recovering a little glanced up, finding himself staring at the man, who looked very confused.

It was obvious he wasn't a guard, or even from Calormen, but it was also clear he was someone of importance, and this made Edmund panic a little, especially when he came closer.

He quickly shuffled backwards, eyes wide with fear and pain.

The man frowned at him. "What's wrong?" He asked. "Is it so hard to sadle up a horse? Why did you collapse?"

Edmund didn't say anything, but the man continued to frown at him. "You better do it quickly, the guards will wonder why it's taking so long." He said.

Fear filled Edmund's heart, and he immediately stood, swaying a little but ignoring it and grabbing the sadle.

"I wanna say you look familiar." The man said. "But with that black eye and all those bruises it's hard to tell."

Edmund swallowed hard, keeping his head down. Surely he couldn't recognise him... right?

"How long have you been here?"

Edmund took a deep breath. "A - a week." He whispered.

"Well I certainly don't recognise you from here then." The man said, frowning. "Where are you from?"

Edmund hesitated, did he tell him? Or should he lie?

But he shuddered at the thought of what would happen if he was caught lying, so in the end he sighed. "Narnia." He whispered.

"Quite far from home aren't you?" The man said, and there was something of a smirk on his face.

Edmund nodded slowly, slightly scared by the smirk as he finished saddling the horse. "Yeah." He choked out, stepping away.

The man only nodded back. "Were you anywhere before here?" He asked.

Edmund nodded and told the man where he'd been a slave for the past few weeks, and the man nodded, climbing up onto his horse.

"Well then." He said. "It's been nice meeting you... and I shall find your brother and let him know you're here."

Edmund completely froze, his eyes going slightly wider.

"I told you I recognised you." The man said with a smile. "The whole of Narnia has been searching for you, word has it that King Peter is in Calormen as we speak."

Edmund didnt know what to say.

"Don't worry, no one around here will recognise you, and I won't tell anyone." The man said. "Just stay put and your brother will be here before you know it."

And with that, he was gone.

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