Narnia: The Royal Advisor (Side Stories)

Archenland (1.8) Part 2

I sighed mounting Mayberry, getting ready to go off on this 'hunt'. Kastor trotted up next to me, "Is it wrong to assume that you are less than excited about his hunt today, my lady?"

I looked at him, "You are not wrong. I would rather be discussing defense and fortification of the castle with his Highness rather than being an amusement for his advisor."

My stallion huffed, "Cheer up, my lady, You haven't been hunting in ages, today is a good day to enjoy yourself."

I groaned, "How can I have fun when I know that every single one of these men are watching and judging me?" I trotted in the front of the group near the King as I kept my eyes and eyes open for any game.

I suddenly stopped, noticing deer footprints on the ground. I hopped down off of Mayberry and readied my bow. I heard King Lune call, "What is it, my lady?"

"Deer tracks, your highness." I took a few steps hearing the hunting party stop behind me and fall into silence. I looked into the distance and saw two bucks. I smirked, raising my bow to release the first arrow, which pierced the first buck, killing it instantly. The other looked at his friend before turning to run, but I was able to fire another arrow into the back of it's skull before it could get out of range.

I heard applause behind me, "Well done, my lady! Truly magnificent!"

I curtsied, "Thank you, your highness, but truthfully, Queen Susan would have both out with one shot. I learned my skills from her."

The King shook my hand, "Well then she must be quite the huntress. Allow my men to retrieve your spoils as we continue to an open glade for a picnic lunch."

I nodded, "That sounds lovely." I hopped back on Mayberry as we followed the King. 

Kastor came up next to me, "Impressive bowmanship, my lady. The King's royal advisor has been stunned into deathly silence. I do believe he regrets challenging you."

I smirked to myself, "As he should be, I am not some court jester you can call on for entertainment and now he knows."

Lunch was rather uneventful, except for the casual conversation with the King and Lord Torin unable to look me in the eye without shaking. However as we were mounting to leave, I heard something approaching us at a fast pace and I readied my bow, "Your Highness!"

Suddenly a boy burst into the clearing and I lowered my bow, "Prince Corin! What are you doing here?"

The King held out his arms, "Corin! My son! And on foot, and in rags! What-".

Suddenly the boy interrupted him, panting, "No! Not Prince Corin. I know I look like him...saw his highness in Tashbaan...sent his greetings."

I approached the boy kneeling down to pat him on the back as he asked, "Are you K-King Lune?" He didn't wait for an answer and simply warned, "Lord King- fly- Anvard- shut the gates- enemies upon you- Rabadash and two hundred horse."

My eyes widened as I turned to Kastor, "Bring me some water for the boy now. And we must leave immediately."

However King Lune's captain of the guard, Darrin, began questioning the boy, "Have you assurance of this, boy?"

Kastor handed me water, as the boy answered, "With my own eyes. I've seen them. Raced them all the way from Tashbaan."

I gasped, handing him the water, "On foot? Please drink this."

He nodded at me, "Horses with the Hermit."

I nodded as the King turned to Darrin, who was about to ask another question of the boy, "Question him no more, Darrin. I see the truth in his face, as does Lady Emmaline. We must ride, gentlemen!"

I turned to Kastor, "Bring him a spare horse." I turned back to the boy, " What's your name?"

"Shasta," he answered finishing the water I gave him before giving it back to me, "thank you for the water."

"Well, I should be thanking you, Shasta. You warned us of Rabadash's impending attack. Can you ride?"

He didn't answer and simply got up onto the horse as if he was born to do it. That's when I heard Darrin and King Lune's comments while mounting Mayberry. "The boy has a true horseman's seat, Sire. I'll warrant there's noble blood in him."

"His blood, aye, there's the point." I raised an eyebrow, but said nothing of it.

As we rode I called to the King, "I'll fly ahead to set up fortifications."

"Of course, my lady."

I took too the air with Mayberry and sped to the castle shouting at my men, "Battle stations men! The King is on his way with with a cavalry of two hundred Calormenes behind him. We must be ready to defend the King and fight the Calormenes."

Suddenly the hustle and bustle became over whelming as the woman and children took cover while I commanded the men, making my way up to the battlements and sent for a griffin. I told it, "Fly to King Edmund and tell him that we are under attack."

The griffin nodded, "Yes, my lady." He took off and I watched for the hunting party returning. I then commanded "Archers, Nock!" As son as I saw the hunting party race into the castle I shouted, "Shut the gates!"

I looked out into the distance only to see a faint dust on the horizon, it must be Rabadash and his two hundred men. I shouted to the men, "Do not fire until you can see the manes on their horses! We don't want to waste any arrows!"

I had no time to change into my armor, so Kastor brought it to me and helped me with it as I kept my eyes on the enemy as they drew closer. As soon as I could see the manes on the horses I shouted, nocking my own arrow, "FIRE!"

The battle went on for hours as the King mobilized a ground assault within the walls to ride out and meet Rabadash's men. I left Kastor in charge of the archers as I hopped on Mayberry, planning to ride out with King Lune's forces and my own.

However the Calormenian forces pulled back and set up camp just out of range of our arrows. It was going to be a long night.