Whisked Away

12. Shasta and Prince Corin

Shifra's POV
During the following week many river parties and feasts were thrown in our honor, but as Rabadash and the Tisroc began to see that Susan was unlikely to take his suit, the conversations became more forceful and less like honored guests. There is only two occurences during this time that I shall mention. When we met the Tisroc in his throne room he had so many buttons and jewels that he had the appearance of a fat, over bejeweled pincushion.

We all walked, a little tensely, through the hall that was about the size of our training grounds. When we at last came before the throne Edmund bowed his head respectfully and said, "Tisroc, we thank you for your hospitality upon our arrival here in Tashban. Everything has been well seen to." After the Tisroc had acknowledged our thanks, Edmund continued, "This is my sister Susan, Queen of Narnia, Lady of Cair Paravel, and Empress of the Lone Islands." Turning to me he continued, "This is Shifra, Lady of Cair Paravel, General of Narnia, and Second in Command to Aslan himself."

Edmund named the others, but I was not paying attention anymore. I was curiously looking around the throne room. The throne itself was of such splendor and riches that I made you look away when under the light. I could see Rabadash eyeing me with curiosity. I was not exactly what they were used to, but the look on his face whenever I moved my wings or adjusted my weapons with them was quite amusing.

The other event worth mentioning was our visit to the temple of Tash, the god of Calormen. When we were being taken to it I was finding it harder and harder to walk until when we had finally come to the door I could not enter. Corin was the first to notice and whispered something about it to Edmund. Both turned back to me.

"What's wrong?" Corin asked.

"I can't go in," I replied, "Something, or someone is stopping me. There is no use going against it, go and have a look around, but eat and drink nothing!" They nodded and continued in. I waited outside and had a look around. When I stopped by one of the windows, I could see the statue of Tash and suddenly I saw images flash before my eyes. I saw a stable, a lion carcass, I saw a donkey, then all faded to black.

I woke up to see Corin kneeling over me. He was panicking and the rest of our group and the Calormen crier were not far behind him. "Corin," I said as I got up, "I'm alright." None looked as if they believed me, but we went along none the less.

It became quite irritating in the days that followed when the Calormen crier would yell, "Way! Way! Way! Way for the White Barbarian King the guest of the Tisroc, may he live forever! Way for the Narnian lords and lady!"

We had finally gotten back to the house when Corin approached me and asked, "Shifra, may I go and explore for a bit? I promise I'll come back before dusk." I nodded, knowing that this was a critical part of the story. When everyone began to panic about where he was, I was the only one who was somewhat calm.

Susan had begun to cry about the situation and soon her eyes were puffy and very red. The next morning, I suggested to Edmund, "How would it be if we walked around the city to try and find him?" Everyone agreed and so we set out. We had just passed the Tisroc's palace and were on a very splendid street in one of the highest parts of the city where I knew Shasta, Aravis, and the two Talking Horses were.

Soon after our crier had called out his Way! Way! Way! call, I spotted who I knew must be Shasta. Whispering to Edmund, I asked, "Isn't that boy Corin?"

"By jove, so it is!" Edmund exclaimed and turning to Shasta, he pointed at him and exclaimed, "There he is! There's our runaway!" Edmund then grabbed him by the shoulder and sharply slapped him across the face. "Shame on you my lord! Fie for shame, Queen Susan's eyes are red with weeping because of you. What? Truant for a whole night; where have you been?"

I watched Shasta's face contort into confusion and fear, but he made not answer and we soon continued back to the house in which we had been staying. When we arrived and had started to make a plan of escape, I said, "Why don't I stay behind? I can fly back to Narnia in half a day's hard flying and if I stay, then I can keep an eye of Rabadash for his reaction and I can also stay any attempts by sea by changing the winds."

"It would be a terrible risk," said Mr. Tumnus, "but might be one well worth taking." When everyone had agreed and stood up to go off and arrange some other matters, I decided to attend to Corin, or Shasta's meal.

When everyone else had gone, I told Shasta all about the dessert and the little path that few knew about. I told him of the land of Archenland and King Lune. He listened to all of this very attentively. Then I told him to get some rest and left the room, still listening in. If I had not spent almost a year staking out the lamp post, then I could not of had the patience for this, but a few hours later I heard the crash.

Shasta, I knew, just bolted up and was staring at the window sill, where Corin was pulling himself in. When Corin had begun to interrogate Shasta about who he was, I entered into the room. "Corin!" I exclaimed, "It's good to have you back!"

He smiled when he saw me and gave me a hug before asking, "Who is he?"

"Don't worry about it, now Shasta," I continued, turning away from Corin, Cor looked very suprised that I knew his name, but I did not pay attention to that, "You must get out the way Corin got in, I suspect we shall see one another again." When Shasta had left, Edmund came in to see if Corin remembered anything new, but to his surprise, he found me patching up a bruised and beaten Corin.

"What on earth?" Edmund thundered. I flinched at his tone (yelling had always startled me more than anything) and I pulled away from Corin. He looked to me as if asking for an explanation.

"The boy who was here before was not Corin," I told him, "and before you explode with anger that our plan is ruined and whatever else, know that he can be trusted. The boy is attempting to escape to Narnia with two Talking Horses that were taken here as fouls and a Calormen Tarkheena about to be forced into a marriage she does not want." Edmund still looked distrustful, so I said, "Edmund, he will not bring us any harm. He would have spoken up, but he was too scared."

"Of what?" Edmund asked.

"You! Well and the rest of us, but seeing as you are the leader, mostly you. Shasta has been raised to never ask anything of grown ups. It has always led to him being beaten, so lighten up. He meant you no harm." When Edmund had finally excepted my words, we all retreated to our self made planning room to work out all the finer details of everything.