Whisked Away

49. A New Adventure

Eustace's POV
I took a deep breath and knocked on Pole's door. "Come in," her voice said. I opened the door and walked in with Shifra. For a moment I reflected on how much her appearance had changed. Her hair was so much shorter and her wings were solid white without the old flecks of black. Her lips had also reddened. It was like the women back at home who wore red lipstick, but I seriously doubted they had such things in Narnia or that she'd bother to use them.

"Oh here you are at last," I said, slightly irritated, "I've been trying to find you for ever so long."

"Well now you have," she replied. Oh she thinks she's so cleaver. "I say Scrub, isn't it all simply too exciting and scrumptious for words?"

"Oh that's what you think is it?" I asked, feeling sick to my stomach, "I wish to goodness we'd never come."

"Why on earth?" Jill replied, confused.

"I can't bear it," I admitted, "Seeing the king, Caspian, a doddering old man. It's...it's frightful."

"Why what harm does it do you?" Pole asked. Why can't she understand?

"Oh you don't understand," I replied.

Shifra's voice cut in, saying, "Well how could she, Eustace? She's never met Caspian before." Turning to Pole, Shifra explained to her about the time difference.

"And I come back," I added, "to find Caspian and old, old man."

"Then the king was an old friend of yours?" Pole asked, seeming suddenly to be very tense.

"I should jolly well think he was," I replied miserably, "About as good a friend a chap could have. And to think of him when we found the Lone Islands or fought the sea serpent. It's frightful. I'd rather come back and find him dead."

"Oh shut up," Jill exclaimed impatiently, "It's far worse than you think. We've muffed the first sign."
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Shifra's POV
Jill went on to explain about her meeting with Aslan, the four signs, and the task of finding Rilian. The four signs were this:

1. As soon as the boy Eustace sets foot in Narnia he will see and old and dear friend. If he speaks to him at once then we should have good help.

2. We must journey out of Narnia to the north until we came to the ruins of an ancient giant city.

3. On a stone in the ruined city, there will be writing that we must obey.

4. We will know the lost prince if we find him by this: he will be the first person in our travels to ask us to do something in Aslan's name.

The other two went on to bicker, but I only tuned in to hear Eustace say, "...fool on that cliff and jolly nearly murdered me-all right I said murder and I'll say it again as often as I like so keep your hair on-we'd have come together and both known what to do." I could not help a small chuckle from escaping my lips at his words.

The two continued to argue until the bell for supper rang out. We all made our way down and while they went in and enjoyed the feast, I simply went to the kitchens and picked up a small meal for myself. Taking it with me, I retreated to my old hiding spot on the tree. The two boys were already there and had also picked up their dinners so we all ate together.

"What haven't left us yet?" Zyanister asked bitterly.

"It's not like she won't come back, Zyanister, and she can't help it," Zyan countered. His twin merely scoffed and turned sourly back to his dinner. My appetite was now gone, so I simply played with the bread in my hands, molding it into a perfect little ball in my palm. Finally I just threw the bread back on the plate and lay back, staring at the stars.

The boys lay back as well and stared up. "Have you learned about the constellations?" I asked, not looking away from the sky.

"Some," Zyan replied.

"Well this is..." I started to explain, pointing at each constellation as I explained it's name, age, and everything it predicts. Both boys looked interested, however begrudgingly on Zyanister's part. We all talked for a few hours, but soon Glimfeather flew and landed next to me. Sadness filled me as I saw him. I looked sadly at the boys, but they both waved me off.

While Zyan was understanding, Zyanister was still angry. I just let out a sign and followed the owl. I grabbed my things and flew to get Eustace. When I had gotten him, we flew off to the ruins of an old tower. I landed gracefully and Eustace slid off my back to the ground to wait for Jill and Glimfeather.

We were greeted by a whole horde of owls that hooted and cooed at the sight of us, calling out, "Tue-whoo, tue-whoo it's one of the children and the feathered one."