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The_Complete_Chronicles_of_Narnia_(volumes_1-7,_in_order_of_publication)

The_Complete_Chronicles_of_Narnia_(volumes_1-7,_in_order_of_publication)

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"Yes," said Caspian.<br />

"<strong>The</strong>n put this mantle over all to hide the sword and the wallet. That's right. And now we<br />

must go to the Great Tower and talk."<br />

When they had reached the top <strong>of</strong> the Tower (it was a cloudy night, not at all like the<br />

night when they had seen the conjunction <strong>of</strong> Tarva and Alambil) Doctor Cornelius said,<br />

"Dear Pr<strong>in</strong>ce, you must leave this castle at once and go to seek your fortune <strong>in</strong> the wide<br />

world. Your life is <strong>in</strong> danger here."<br />

"Why?" asked Caspian.<br />

"Because you are the true K<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>Narnia</strong>: Caspian the Tenth, the true son and heir <strong>of</strong><br />

Caspian the N<strong>in</strong>th. Long life to your Majesty' - and suddenly, to Caspian's great surprise,<br />

the little man dropped down on one knee and kissed his hand.<br />

"What does it all mean? I don't understand," said Caspian.<br />

"I wonder you have never asked me before," said the Doctor, "why, be<strong>in</strong>g the son <strong>of</strong> K<strong>in</strong>g<br />

Caspian, you are not K<strong>in</strong>g Caspian yourself. Everyone except your Majesty knows that<br />

Miraz is a usurper. When he first began to rule he did not even pretend to be the K<strong>in</strong>g: he<br />

called himself Lord Protector. But then your royal mother died, the good Queen and the<br />

only Telmar<strong>in</strong>e who was ever k<strong>in</strong>d to me. And then, one by one, all the great lords, who<br />

had known your father, died or disappeared. Not by accident, either. Miraz weeded them<br />

out. Belisar and Uvilas were shot with arrows on a hunt<strong>in</strong>g party: by chance, it was<br />

pretended. All the great house <strong>of</strong> the Passarids he sent to fight giants on the northern<br />

frontier till one by one they fell. Arlian and Erimon and a dozen more he executed for<br />

treason on a false charge. <strong>The</strong> two brothers <strong>of</strong> Beaversdam he shut up as madmen. And<br />

f<strong>in</strong>ally he persuaded the seven noble lords, who alone among all the Telmar<strong>in</strong>es did not<br />

fear the sea, to sail away and look for new lands beyond the Eastern Ocean, and, as he<br />

<strong>in</strong>tended, they never came back. And when there was no one left who could speak a word<br />

for you, then his flatterers (as he had <strong>in</strong>structed them) begged him to become K<strong>in</strong>g. And<br />

<strong>of</strong> course he did."<br />

"Do you mean he now wants to kill me too?" said Caspian.<br />

"That is almost certa<strong>in</strong>," said Doctor Cornelius.<br />

"But why now?" said Caspian. "I mean, why didn't he do it long ago if he wanted to? And<br />

what harm have I done him?"<br />

"He has changed his m<strong>in</strong>d about you because <strong>of</strong> someth<strong>in</strong>g that happened only two hours<br />

ago. <strong>The</strong> Queen has had a son."

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