15.05.2015 Views

The_Complete_Chronicles_of_Narnia_(volumes_1-7,_in_order_of_publication)

The_Complete_Chronicles_of_Narnia_(volumes_1-7,_in_order_of_publication)

The_Complete_Chronicles_of_Narnia_(volumes_1-7,_in_order_of_publication)

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

"Plague on you!" cried Miraz. "It was not that sort <strong>of</strong> council I wanted. Do you th<strong>in</strong>k I am<br />

ask<strong>in</strong>g you if I should be afraid to meet this Peter (if there is such a man)? Do you th<strong>in</strong>k I<br />

fear him? I wanted your counsel on the policy <strong>of</strong> the matter; whether we, hav<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

advantage, should hazard it on a wager <strong>of</strong> battle."<br />

"To which I can only answer, your Majesty," said Glozelle, "that for all reasons the<br />

challenge should be refused. <strong>The</strong>re is death <strong>in</strong> the strange knight's face."<br />

"<strong>The</strong>re you are aga<strong>in</strong>!" said Miraz, now thoroughly angry. "Are you try<strong>in</strong>g, to make it<br />

appear that I am as great a coward as your Lordship?"<br />

"Your Majesty may say your pleasure," said Glozelle sulkily.<br />

"You talk like an old woman, Glozelle," said the K<strong>in</strong>g. "What say you, my Lord<br />

Sopespian?"<br />

"Do not touch it, Sire," was the reply. "And what your Majesty says <strong>of</strong> the policy <strong>of</strong> the<br />

th<strong>in</strong>g comes <strong>in</strong> very happily. It gives your Majesty excellent grounds for a refusal without<br />

any cause for question<strong>in</strong>g your Majesty's honour or courage."<br />

"Great Heaven!" exclaimed Miraz, jump<strong>in</strong>g to his feet. "Are you also bewitched today?<br />

Do you th<strong>in</strong>k I am look<strong>in</strong>g for grounds to refuse it? You might as well call me coward to<br />

my face."<br />

<strong>The</strong> conversation was go<strong>in</strong>g exactly as the two lords wished, so they said noth<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

"I see what it is," said Miraz, after star<strong>in</strong>g at them as if his eyes would start out <strong>of</strong> his<br />

head, "you are as lilylivered as hares yourselves and have the effrontery to imag<strong>in</strong>e my<br />

heart after the likeness <strong>of</strong> yours! Grounds for a refusal, <strong>in</strong>deed! Excuses for not fight<strong>in</strong>g!<br />

Are you soldiers? Are you Telmar<strong>in</strong>es? Are you men? And if I dog refuse it (as ail good<br />

reasons <strong>of</strong> capta<strong>in</strong>cy and martial policy urge me to do) you will th<strong>in</strong>k, and teach others<br />

tan th<strong>in</strong>k, I was afraid. Is it not so?"<br />

"No man <strong>of</strong> your Majesty's age," said Glozelle, "would be called coward by any wise<br />

soldier for refus<strong>in</strong>g the combat with a great warrior <strong>in</strong> the flower <strong>of</strong> his youth."<br />

"So I'm to be a dotard with one foot <strong>in</strong> the grave, as well as a dastard," roared Miraz. "I'll<br />

tell you what it is, my Lords. With your womanish counsels (ever shy<strong>in</strong>g from the true<br />

po<strong>in</strong>t, which is one <strong>of</strong> policy) you have done the very opposite <strong>of</strong> your <strong>in</strong>tent. I had meant<br />

to refuse it. But I'll accept it. Do you hear, accept it! I'll not be shamed because some<br />

witchcraft or treason has frozen both your bloods."<br />

"We beseech your Majesty -" said Glozelle, but Miraz had flung out <strong>of</strong> the tent and they<br />

could hear him bawl<strong>in</strong>g out his acceptance to Edmund.<br />

<strong>The</strong> two lords looked at one another and chuckled quietly.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!