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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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"You first!" he cried and fell upon the silver chair. That must have been a good sword.<br />

<strong>The</strong> silver gave way before its edge like str<strong>in</strong>g, and <strong>in</strong> a moment a few twisted fragments,<br />

sh<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g on the floor, were all that was left. But as the chair broke, there came from it a<br />

bright flash, a sound like small thunder, and (for one moment) a loathsome smell.<br />

"Lie there, vile eng<strong>in</strong>e <strong>of</strong> sorcery," he said, "lest your mistress should ever use you for<br />

another victim." <strong>The</strong>n he turned and surveyed his rescuers; and the someth<strong>in</strong>g wrong,<br />

whatever it was, had vanished from his face.<br />

"What?" he cried, turn<strong>in</strong>g to Puddleglum. "Do I see before me a Marsh-wiggle - a real,<br />

live, honest, <strong>Narnia</strong>n Marsh-wiggle?"<br />

"Oh, so you have heard <strong>of</strong> <strong>Narnia</strong> after all?" said Jill.<br />

"Had I forgotten it when I was under the spell?" asked the Knight. "Well, that and all<br />

other bedevilments are now over. You may well believe that I know <strong>Narnia</strong>, for I am<br />

Rilian, Pr<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>of</strong> <strong>Narnia</strong>, and Caspian the great K<strong>in</strong>g is my father."<br />

"Your Royal Highness," said Puddleglum, s<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g on one knee (and the children did the<br />

same), "we have come hither for no other end than to seek you."<br />

"And who are you, my other deliverers?" said the Pr<strong>in</strong>ce to Scrubb and Jill.<br />

"We were sent by Aslan himself from beyond the world's end to seek your Highness,"<br />

said Scrubb. "I am Eustace who sailed with him to the island <strong>of</strong> Ramandu."<br />

"I owe all three <strong>of</strong> you a greater debt than I can ever pay," said Pr<strong>in</strong>ce Rilian. "But my<br />

father? Is he yet alive?"<br />

"He sailed east aga<strong>in</strong> before we left <strong>Narnia</strong>, my lord," said Puddleglum. "But your<br />

Highness must consider that the K<strong>in</strong>g is very old. It is ten to one his Majesty must die on<br />

the voyage."<br />

"He is old, you say. How long then have I been <strong>in</strong> the power <strong>of</strong> the witch?'<br />

"It is more than ten years s<strong>in</strong>ce your Highness was lost <strong>in</strong> the woods at the north side <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>Narnia</strong>."<br />

"Ten years!" said the Pr<strong>in</strong>ce, draw<strong>in</strong>g his hand across his face as if to rub away the past.<br />

"Yes, I believe you. For now that I am myself I can remember that enchanted life, though<br />

while I was enchanted I could not remember my true self. And now, fair friends - but<br />

wait! I hear their feet (does it not sicken a man, that padd<strong>in</strong>g woolly tread! faugh!) on the<br />

stairs. Lock the door, boy. Or stay. I have a better thought than that. I will fool these<br />

Earthmen, if Aslan gives me the wit. Take your cue from me."<br />

He walked resolutely to the door and flung it wide open.

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