The_Complete_Chronicles_of_Narnia_(volumes_1-7,_in_order_of_publication)

At that moment a low, throbbing noise began which gradually swelled louder and louder
till the whole valley seemed to be swaying with it. It was a musical noise, but so strong
and solemn as to be a little frightening.
"That's the horns blowing for the city gates to be open," said Bree. "We shall be there in a
minute. Now, Aravis, do droop your shoulders a bit and step heavier and try to look less
like a princess. Try to imagine you've been kicked and cuffed and called names all your
life."
"If it comes to that," said Aravis, "what about you drooping your head a bit more and
arching your neck a bit less and trying to look less like a war-horse?"
"Hush," said Bree. "Here we are."
And they were. They had come to the river's edge and the road ahead of them ran along a
many-arched bridge. The water danced brightly in the early sunlight; away to the right
nearer the river's mouth, they caught a glimpse ships' masts. Several other travellers were
before them on the bridge, mostly peasants driving laden donkeys and mules or carrying
baskets on their heads. The children and horses joined the crowd.
"Is anything wrong?" whispered Shasta to Aravis, who had an odd look on her face.
"Oh it's all very well for you," whispered Aravis rather savagely. "What would you care
about Tashbaan? But I ought to be riding in on a litter with soldiers before me and slaves
behind, and perhaps going to a feast in the Tisroc's palace (may he live for ever) - not
sneaking in like this. It's different for you."
Shasta thought all this very silly.
At the far end of the bridge the walls of the city towered high above them and the brazen
gates stood open in the gateway which was really wide but looked narrow because it was
so very high. Half a dozen soldiers, leaning on their spears, stood on each side. Aravis
couldn't help thinking, "They'd all jump to attention and salute me if they knew whose
daughter I am." But the others were only thinking of how they'd get through and hoping
the soldiers would not ask any questions. Fortunately they did not. But one of them
picked a carrot out of a peasant's basket and threw it at Shasta with a rough laugh, saying:
"Hey! Horse-boy! You'll catch it if your master finds you've been using his saddle-horse
for pack work."
This frightened him badly for of course it showed that no one who knew anything about
horses would mistake Bree for anything but a charger.
"It's my master's orders, so there!" said Shasta. But it would have been better if he had
held his tongue for the soldier gave him a box on the side of his face that nearly knocked
him down and said, "Take that, you young filth, to teach you how to talk to freemen." But