Therewasamoment'spuzzledsilenceandthentheFaunlookedup,drewalongbreath,moppeditsforeheadandsaid:
"Theonlydifficultyishowtogetdowntoourship—withsomestores,too—withoutbeingseenandstopped."
"Yes,"saidaDwarfdryly."Justasthebeggar'sonlydifficultyaboutridingisthathehasnohorse."
"Wait,wait,"saidMr.Tumnusimpatiently."Allweneedissomepretextforgoingdowntoourshiptodayandtakingstuffonboard."
"Yes,"saidKingEdmunddoubtfully.
"Well,then,"saidtheFaun,"howwoulditbeifyourmajestiesbadethePrincetoagreatbanquettobeheldonboardourowngalleon,theSpendourHyaline,tomorrownight?AndletthemessagebewordedasgraciouslyastheQueencancontrivewithoutpledgingherhonour:soastogivethePrinceahopethatsheisweakening."
"Thisisverygoodcounsel,Sire,"croakedtheRaven.
"Andthen,"continuedTumnusexcitedly,"everyonewillexpectustobegoingdowntotheshipallday,makingpreparationsforourguests.Andletsomeofusgotothebazaarsandspendeveryminimwehaveatthefruiterersandthesweetmeatsellersandthewinemerchants,justaswewouldifwewerereallygivingafeast.Andletusordermagiciansandjugglersanddancinggirlsandfluteplayers,alltobeonboardtomorrownight."
"Isee,Isee,"saidKingEdmund,rubbinghishands.
"Andthen,"saidTumnus,"we'llallbeonboardtonight.Andassoonasitisquitedark—"
"Upsailsandoutoars—!"saidtheKing.
"Andsotosea,"criedTumnus,leapingupandbeginningtodance.
"AndournoseNorthward,"saidthefirstDwarf.
"Runningforhome!HurrahforNarniaandtheNorth!"saidtheother.
"AndthePrincewakingnextmorningandfindinghisbirdsflown!"saidPeridan,clappinghishands.
"OhMasterTumnus,dearMasterTumnus,"saidtheQueen,catchinghishandsandswingingwithhimashedanced."Youhavesavedusall."
"ThePrincewillchaseus,"saidanotherlord,whosenameShastahadnotheard.
"That'stheleastofmyfears,"saidEdmund."Ihaveseenalltheshippingintheriverandthere'snotallshipofwarnorswiftgalleythere.Iwishhemaychaseus!FortheSplendourHyalinecouldsinkanythinghehastosendafterher—ifwewereovertakenatall."
"Sire,"saidtheRaven."YoushallhearnobetterplotthantheFaun'sthoughwesatincouncilforsevendays.Andnow,aswebirdssay,nestsbeforeeggs.Whichisasmuchastosay,letusalltakeourfoodandthenatoncebeaboutourbusiness."
EveryonearoseatthisandthedoorswereopenedandthelordsandthecreaturesstoodasidefortheKingandQueentogooutfirst.Shastawonderedwhatheoughttodo,butMr.Tumnussaid,
"Liethere,yourHighness,andIwillbringyouupalittlefeasttoyourselfinafewmoments.Thereisnoneedforyoutomoveuntilweareallreadytoembark."Shastalaidhisheaddownagainonthepillowsandsoonhewasaloneintheroo
"Thisisperfectlydreadful'thoughtShasta.ItnevercameintohisheadtotelltheseNarniansthewholetruthandaskfortheirhelp.Havingbeenbroughtupbyahard,closefistedmanlikeArsheesh,hehadafixedhabitofnevertellinggrown-upsanythingifhecouldhelpit:hethoughttheywouldalwaysspoilorstopwhateveryouweretryingtodo.AndhethoughtthateveniftheNarnianKingmightbefriendlytothetwohorses,becausetheywereTalkingBeastsofNarnia,hewouldhateAravis,becauseshewasaCalormene,andeithersellherforaslaveorsendherbacktoherfather.Asforhimself,"Isimplydaren'ttellthemI'mnotPrinceCorinnow,"thoughtShasta."I'veheardalltheirplans.IftheyknewIwasn'toneofthemselves,they'dneverletmeoutofthishousealive.They'dbeafraidI'dbetraythemtotheTisroc.They'dkillme.AndiftherealCorinturnsup,it'llallcomeout,andtheywill!"Hehad,yousee,noideaofhownobleandfree-bornpeoplebehave.
"WhatamItodo?WhatamItodo?"hekeptsayingtohimself."What-hullo,herecomesthatgoatylittlecreatureagain."
TheFauntrottedin,halfdancing,withatrayinitshandswhichwasnearlyaslargeasitself.ThishesetonaninlaidtablebesideShasta'ssofa,andsatdownhimselfonthecarpetedfloorwithhisgoatylegscrossed.
"Now,princeling'hesaid."Makeagooddinner.ItwillbeyourlastmealinTashbaan."
ItwasafinemealaftertheCalormenefashion.Idon'tknowwhetheryouwouldhavelikeditornot,butShastadid.Therewerelobsters,andsalad,andsnipestuffedwithalmondsandtruffles,andacomplicateddishmadeofchickenliversandriceandraisinsandnuts,andtherewerecoolmelonsandgooseberryfoolsandmulberryfools,andeverykindofnicethingthatcanbemadewithice.Therewasalsoalittleflagonofthesortofwinethatiscalled"white"thoughitisreallyyellow.
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