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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)

The_Complete_Chronicles_of_Narnia_(volumes_1-7,_in_order_of_publication)

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WHEN Shasta went through the gate he found a slope <strong>of</strong> grass and a little heather<br />

runn<strong>in</strong>g up before him to some trees. He had noth<strong>in</strong>g to th<strong>in</strong>k about now and no plans to<br />

make: he had only to run, and that was quite enough. His limbs were shak<strong>in</strong>g, a terrible<br />

stitch was beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> his side, and the sweat that kept dropp<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to his eyes bl<strong>in</strong>ded<br />

them and made them smart. He was unsteady on his feet too, and more than once he<br />

nearly turned his ankle on a loose stone.<br />

<strong>The</strong> trees were thicker now than they had yet been and <strong>in</strong> the more open spaces there was<br />

bracken. <strong>The</strong> sun had gone <strong>in</strong> without mak<strong>in</strong>g it any cooler. It had become one <strong>of</strong> those<br />

hot, grey days when there seem to be twice as many flies as usual. Shasta's face was<br />

covered with them; he didn't even try to shake them <strong>of</strong>f - he had too much else to do.<br />

Suddenly he heard a horn - not a great throbb<strong>in</strong>g horn like the horns <strong>of</strong> Tashbaan but a<br />

merry call, Ti-ro-to-to-ho! Next moment he came out <strong>in</strong>to a wide glade and found himself<br />

<strong>in</strong> a crowd <strong>of</strong> people.<br />

At least, it looked a crowd to him. In reality there were about fifteen or twenty <strong>of</strong> them,<br />

all gentlemen <strong>in</strong> green hunt<strong>in</strong>gdress, with their horses; some <strong>in</strong> the saddle and some<br />

stand<strong>in</strong>g by their horses' heads. In the centre someone was hold<strong>in</strong>g the stirrup for a man<br />

to mount. And the man he was hold<strong>in</strong>g it for was the jolliest, fat, applecheeked, tw<strong>in</strong>kl<strong>in</strong>g<br />

eyed K<strong>in</strong>g you could imag<strong>in</strong>e.<br />

As soon as Shasta came <strong>in</strong> sight this K<strong>in</strong>g forgot all about mount<strong>in</strong>g his horse. He spread<br />

out his arms to Shasta, his face lit up, and he cried out <strong>in</strong> a great, deep voice that seemed<br />

to come from the bottom <strong>of</strong> his chest:<br />

"Cor<strong>in</strong>! My son! And on foot, and <strong>in</strong> rags! What-"<br />

"No," panted Shasta, shak<strong>in</strong>g his head. "Not Pr<strong>in</strong>ce Cor<strong>in</strong>. I - I - know I'm like him... saw<br />

his Highness <strong>in</strong> Tashbaan... sent his greet<strong>in</strong>gs."<br />

<strong>The</strong> K<strong>in</strong>g was star<strong>in</strong>g at Shasta with an extraord<strong>in</strong>ary expression on his face.<br />

"Are you K-K<strong>in</strong>g Lune?" gasped Shasta. And then, without wait<strong>in</strong>g for an answer, "Lord<br />

K<strong>in</strong>g - fly - Anvard shut the gates - enemies upon you - Rabadash and two hundred<br />

horse."<br />

"Have you assurance <strong>of</strong> this, boy?" asked one <strong>of</strong> the other gentlemen.<br />

"My own eyes," said Shasta. "I've seen them. Raced them all the way from Tashbaan."<br />

"On foot?" said the gentleman, rais<strong>in</strong>g his eyebrows a little.<br />

Horses-with the Hermit," said Shasta.

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