Born For This

12. Surrender or Die

 Chapter Twelve – Surrender or Die

“At present,” the Captain of the Guard explained to Susan as they walked upon the pebbled paths in the blooming gardens, “the trained force stationed here – they number about two hundred – should be able to hold the city against smaller attacks, and if the men of the city are called upon and the numbers swell to at least four hundred, we could very well withstand the threat of a much larger force. Provisions are being carefully stored away in case of a siege.”

“How long could we hold out during a siege?” Susan inquired, thinking of dark days.

The Captain hesitated, running the numbers through his mind. “We should be able to hold out at least two months, but that all depends on the war machines the enemy use and also the number of their force. Outnumbering them could be dangerous since it would force us to use more rations.” He paused. “Sieges are always full of risks. You never can tell the outcome. You simply have to prepare for the worst.”

Susan nodded as she ducked past a low branch. “Please continue your regular report.”

“Now, King Edmund has seen wisdom in requiring the two outposts guarding the entrance of the harbor to be manned continuously in case of an assault from the sea.” He glanced at Susan’s troubled face, framed against the light pink blossoms of the short cherry trees and added quickly, “But that is highly unlikely, unless they made a terrible deal with the Calormenes.”

“What kind of deal?” Susan asked as she thought of their ancient lust for Narnia. The Captain remained silent. He knew that it was unlikely that the Calormenes sought Narnia itself since the Telmarines were invading. But perhaps a certain prince wished to reclaim a most precious jewel that had nearly been his.

The Captain shuddered at the terrible thought. He could not answer his queen truthfully. Thankfully, he was saved from explanation as loud voices rose over the wall of the training court several feet away from where they walked.

“I say, Cor! Watch your footing!”

Susan’s head snapped up as she caught sound of the familiar voices bickering. A quick smile returned to her face. She turned to the Captain. “If you are finished, will you kindly excuse me?”

“Of course, your majesty,” he answered as he bowed. “That is all.” He could not blame her. The last two months had been rough on her and she deserved a break from the worrisome possibilities of an attack on the Cair. He smiled a little as she quickly hurried to reach the practice court where Cor and Corin’s voices resounded.

Susan made her way through the shrubs onto the rough cobblestones. She paused to watch as Cor stumbled clumsily over his footwork again.

“Let’s face it,” he announced as he stopped to catch his breath, clutching his side. “I’ll never be nimble enough. The sword isn’t the right weapon for me.”

Corin swiftly glanced at Susan as he caught sight of her. “Maybe Queen Susan could show you how to handle a bow?” he suggested.

“Would you mind, Queen Susan?” Cor asked timidly.

She glanced up and smiled graciously at him. “No, of course not, Cor. I’ll fetch a bow. I could use some practice.”

~

Edmund glanced around as the Telmarine army began to slowly pass below him. The advance guard of twenty horsemen and thirty footmen had already moved ahead. The main body followed behind, marching in three sections each consisting of one hundred men. After them, he could just make out the golden crests on the helmets of King Caspian and his general. Another body of twenty horsemen trotted warily behind, forming the king’s personal guard. Trailing behind them, Edmund knew that three hundred more soldiers marched. His scouts had reported this to him earlier as well as the estimated number of about forty horsemen forming the rearguard. The left and right wings of the flank guard, numbering about sixty, rode back and forth on their horses, raking the cliffs with their sharp eyes.