The_Complete_Chronicles_of_Narnia_(volumes_1-7,_in_order_of_publication)

manners, the result was dreadful. And he half knew that it wasn't a success and then
became sulkier and more awkward than ever. Meanwhile the two horses were getting on
splendidly. They remembered the very same places in Narnia - "the grasslands up above
Beaversdam" and found that they were some sort of second cousins once removed. This
made things more and more uncomfortable for the humans until at last Bree said, "And
now, Tarkheena, tell us your story. And don't hurry it - I'm feeling comfortable now."
Aravis immediately began, sitting quite still and using a rather different tone and style
from her usual one. For in Calormen, story-telling (whether the stories are true or made
up) is a thing you're taught, just as English boys and girls are taught essay-writing. The
difference is that people want to hear the stories, whereas I never heard of anyone who
wanted to read the essays.
CHAPTER THREE
AT THE GATES OF TASHBAAN
"Mr name," said the girl at once, "is Aravis Tarkheena and I am the only daughter of
Kidrash Tarkaan, the son of Rishti Tarkaan, the son of Kidrash Tarkaan, the son of
Ilsombreh Tisroc, the son of Ardeeb Tisroc who was descended in a right line from the
god Tash. My father is the lord of the province of Calavar and is one who has the right of
standing on his feet in his shoes before the face of Tisroc himself (may he live for ever).
My mother (on whom be the peace of the gods) is dead and my father has married
another wife. One of my brothers has fallen in battle against the rebels in the far west and
the other is a child. Now it came to pass that my father's wife, my step-mother, hated me,
and the sun appeared dark in her eyes as long as I lived in my father's house. And so she
persuaded my father to promise me in marriage to Ahoshta Tarkaan. Now this Ahoshta is
of base birth, though in these latter years he has won the favour of the Tisroc (may he live
for ever) by flattery and evil counsels, and is now made a Tarkaan and the lord of many
cities and is likely to be chosen as the Grand Vizier when the present Grand Vizier dies.
Moreover he is at least sixty years old and has a hump on his back and his face resembles
that of an ape. Nevertheless my father, because of the wealth and power of this Ahoshta,
and being persuaded by his wife, sent messengers offering me in marriage, and the offer
was favourably accepted and Ahoshta sent word that he would marry me this very year at
the time of high summer.
"When this news was brought to me the sun appeared dark in my eyes and I laid myself
on my bed and wept for a day. But on the second day I rose up and washed my face and
caused my mare Hwin to be saddled and took with me a sharp dagger which my brother
had carried in the western wars and rode out alone. And when my father's house was out
of sight and I was come to a green open place in a certain wood where there were no
dwellings of men, I dismounted from Hwin my mare and took out the dagger. Then I
parted my clothes where I thought the readiest way lay to my heart and I prayed to all the