〃undoubtedly　you　will　dare；〃　replied　the　tisroc。
  〃because　you　will　find　that　the　dangers　of　not　doing　so　are　at　least　　equally　great。鈥?br />
  〃to　hear　is　to　obey；〃　moaned　the　wretched　man。　〃know　then；　o　most　　reasonable　tisroc；　in　the　first　place；　that　the　danger　of　the　prince　is　not　altogether　so　　great　as　might　appear。
  for　the　gods　have　withheld　from　the　barbarians　the　light　of　discretion；　as　　that　their　poetry　is　not；　like　ours；　full　of　choice　apophthegms　and　useful　maxims；　but　is　all　　of　love　and　war。　therefore　nothing　will　appear　to　them　more　noble　and　admirable　than　　such　a　mad　enterprise　as　this　of　ow！〃　for　the　prince；　at　the　word　〃mad〃；　had　kicked　　him　again。
  〃desist；　o　my　son；〃　said　the　tisroc。　〃and　you；　estimable　vizier；　whether　he　　desists　or　not；　by　no　means　allow　the　flow　of　your　eloquence　to　be　interrupted。　for　　nothing　is　more　suitable　to　persons　of　gravity　and　decorum　than　to　endure　minor　　inconveniences　with　constancy。鈥?br />
  〃to　hear　is　to　obey；〃　said　the　vizier；　wriggling　himself　round　a　little　so　　as　to　get　his　hinder　parts　further　away　from　rshs　toe。　〃nothing；　i　say；　will　seem　　as　pardonable；　if　not　estimable；　in　their　eyes　as　this　…　er　…　hazardous　attempt；　　especially　because　it　is　undertaken　for　the　love　of　a　woman。　therefore；　if　the　prince　by　misfortune　　fell　into　their　hands；　they　would　assuredly　not　kill　him。　nay；　it　may　even　be；　that　though　　he　failed　to
  carry　off　the　queen；　yet　the　sight　of　his　great　valour　and　of　the　extremity　　of　his　passion　might　incline　her　heart　to　him。鈥?br />
  〃that　is　a　good　point；　old　babbler；〃　said　rsh。　〃very　good；　however　it　　came　into　your　ugly　head。鈥?br />
  〃the　praise　of　my　masters　is　the　light　of　my　eyes；〃　said　ahoshta。　〃and　　secondly；　o　tisroc；　whose　reign　must　and　shall　be　interminable；　i　think　that　with　the　　aid　of　the　gods　it　is　very　likely　that　anvard　will　fall　into　the　princes　hands。　and　if　so；　we　　have　narnia　by　the　throat。鈥?br />
  there　was　a　long　pause　and　the　room　became　so　silent　that　the　two　girls　　hardly　dared　to　breathe。　at　last　the　tisroc　spoke。
  〃go；　my　son；〃　he　said。　〃and　do　as　you　have　said。　but　expect　no　help　nor　　countenance　from　me。　i　will　not　avenge　you　if　you　are　killed　and　i　will　not　deliver　you　　if　the　barbarians　cast　you　into　prison。　and　if；　either　in　success　or　failure；　you　　shed　a　drop　more　than　you　need　of　narnian　noble　blood　and　open　war　arises　from　it；　my　favour　　shall　never　fall　upon　you　again　and　your　next　brother　shall　have　your　place　in　　calormen。　now　go。　be　swift；　secret；　and　fortunate。　may　the　strength　of　tash　the　inexorable；　the　　irresistible　be　in　your　sword　and　lance。鈥?br />
  〃to　hear　is　to　obey；〃　cried　rsh；　and　after　kneeling　for　a　moment　to　　kiss　his　fathers　hands　he　rushed　from　the　room。　greatly　to　the　disappointment　of　aravis；　who　　was　now　horribly　cramped；　the　tisroc　and　vizier　remained。
  〃o　vizier；〃　said　the　tisroc；　〃is　it　certain　that　no　living　soul　knows　of　　this　council　we　three　have　held　here　tonight？鈥?br />
  〃o　my　master；〃　said　ahoshta；　〃it　is　not　possible　that　any　should　know。　for　　that　very　reason　i　proposed；　and　you　in　your　wisdom　agreed；　that　we　should　meet　here　　in　the　old　palace　where　no　council　is　ever　held　and　none　of　the　household　has　any　　occasion　to　e。鈥?br />
  〃it　is　well；〃　said　the　tisroc。　〃if　any　man　knew；　i　would　see　to　it　that　he　　died　before　an　hour　had　passed。　and　do　you　also；　o　prudent　vizier；　forget　it。　i　sponge　　away　from　my　own　heart　and　from　yours　all　knowledge　of　the　princes　plans。　he　is　gone　　without　my　knowledge　or　my　consent；　i　know　not　whither；　because　of　his　violence　and　　the　rash　and　disobedient　disposition　of　youth。　no　man　will　be　more　astonished　than　you　　and　i　to　hear　that　anvard　is　in　his　hands。鈥?br />
  〃to　hear　is　to　obey；〃　said　ahoshta。
  〃that　is　why　you　will　never　think　even　in　your　secret　heart　that　i　am　the　　hardest　hearted　of　fathers　who　thus　send　my　first…born　son　on　an　errand　so　likely　to　be　his　　death；　pleasing　as　it　must　be　to　you　who　do　not　love　the　prince。　for　1　see　into　the　bottom　　of　your　mind。鈥?br />
  〃o　impeccable　tisroc；〃　said　the　vizier。　〃in　parison　with　you　i　love　　neither　the　prince　nor　my　own　life　nor　bread　nor　water　nor　the　light　of　the　sun。鈥?br />
  〃your　sentiments；〃　said　the　tisroc；　〃are　elevated　and　correct。　i　also　love　　none　of　these　things　in　parison　with　the　glory　and　strength　of　my　throne。　if　the　　prince　succeeds；　we　have　archenland；　and　perhaps　hereafter　narnia。　if　he　fails　…　i　have　　eighteen　other　sons　and　rsh；　after　the　manner　of　the　eldest　sons　of　kings；　was　beginning　　to　be　dangerous。　more　than　five　tisrocs　in　tashbaan　have　died　before　their　time　　because　their　eldest　sons；　enlightened　princes；　grew　tired　of　waiting　for　their　throne。　　he　had　better　cool　his　blood　abroad　than　boil　it　in　inaction　here。　and　now；　o　excellent　　vizier；　the　excess　of　my　paternal　anxiety　inclines　me　to　sleep。　mand　the　musicians　to　my　　chamber。　but　before　you　lie　down；　call　back　the　pardon　we　wrote　for　the　third　cook。　i　　feel　within　me　the　manifest　prognostics　of　indigestion。鈥?br />
  〃to　hear　is　to　obey；〃　said　the　grand　vizier。　he　crawled　backwards　on　all　　fours　to　the　door；　rose；　bowed；　and　went　out。　even　then　the　tisroc　remained　seated　in　　silence　on　the　divan　till　aravis　almost　began　to　be　afraid　that　he　had　dropped　asleep。　but　　at　last　with　a　great　creaking　and　sighing　he　heaved　up　his　enormous　body；　signed　to　the　　slaves　to　precede　him　with　the　lights；　and　went　out。　the　door　closed　behind　him；　the　　room　was　once　more　totally　dark；　and　the　two　girls　could　breathe　freely　again。
  w　w　w。x　iaoshu　otx　t。c　o　m
  CHAPTER　NINE
  灏弤璇磣t。xt‘澶﹡鍫?br />
  across　the　desert　　〃hove　dreadful！　how　perfectly　dreadful！〃　whimpered　lasaraleen。　〃oh　darling；　　i　am　so　frightened。　im　shaking　all　over。　feel　me。鈥?br />
  〃e　on；〃　said　aravis；　who　was　trembling　herself。　〃theyve　gone　back　to　　the　new　palace。　once　were　out　of　this　room　were　safe　enough。　but　its　wasted　a　　terrible　time。　get　me　down　to　that　water…gate　as　quick　as　you　can。鈥?br />
  〃darling；　how　can　you？〃　squeaked　lasaraleen。　〃i　cant　do　anything　…　not　　now。　my　poor　nerves！　no：　we　must　just　lie　still　a　bit　and　then　go　back。鈥?br />
  〃why　back？〃　asked　aravis。
  〃oh；　you　dont　understand。　youre　so　unsympathetic；〃　said　lasaraleen；　　beginning　to　cry。
  aravis　decided　it　was　no　occasion　for　mercy。
  〃look　here！〃　she　said；　catching　lasaraleen　and　giving　her　a　good　shake。　〃if　　you　say　another　word　about　going　back；　and　if　you　dont　start　taking　me　to　that　　water…gate　at　once
  …　do　you　know　what　ill　do？　ill　rush　out　into　that　passage　and　scream。　　then　well　both　be　caught。鈥?br />
  〃but　we　shall　both　be　k…k…killed！〃　said　lasaraleen。　〃didnt　you　hear　what　　the　tisroc　（may　he　live　for　ever）　said？鈥?br />
  〃yes；　and　id　sooner　be　killed　than　married　to　ahoshta。　so　e　on。鈥?br />
  〃oh　you　are　unkind；〃　said　lasaraleen。　〃and　i　in　such　a　state！鈥?br />
  but　in　the　end　she　had　to　give　in　to　aravis。　she　led　the　way　down　the　steps　　they　had　already　descended；　and　along　another　corridor　and　so　finally　out　into　the　　open　air。　they　were　now　in　the　palace　garden　which　sloped　down　in　terraces　to　the　city　　wall。　the　moon　shone　brightly。　one　of　the　drawbacks　about　adventures　is　that　when　you　e　　to　the　most　beautiful　places　you　are　often　too　anxious　and　hurried　to　appreciate　them；　　so　that　aravis　（though　she　remembered　them　years　later）　had　only　a　vague　impression　of　　grey　lawns；　quietly　bubbling　fountains；　and　the　long　black　shadows　of　cypress　trees。
  when　they　re〃ached　the　very　bottom　and　the　wall　rose　frowning　above　them；　　lasaraleen　was　shaking　so　that　she　could　not　unbolt　the　gate。　aravis　did　it。　there；　at　　last；　was　the　river；　full　of　reflected　moonlight；　and　a　little　landing　stage　and　a　few　　pleasure　boats。
  〃good…bye；〃　said　aravis；　〃and　thank　you。　im　sorry　if　ive　been　a　pig。　but　　think　what　im　flying　from！鈥?br />
  〃oh　aravis　darling；〃　said　lasaraleen。　〃wont　you　change　your　mind？　now　that　　youve　seen　what　a　very　great　man　ahoshta　is！鈥?br />
  〃great　man！〃　said　aravis。　〃a　hideous　grovelling　slave　who　flatters　when　　hes　kicked　but　treasures　it　all　up　and　hopes　to　get　his　own　back　by　egging　on　that　　horrible　tisroc　to　plot　his　sons　death。　faugh！　id　sooner　marry　my　fathers　scullion　than　a　　creature　like　that。鈥?br />
  〃oh　aravis；　aravis！　how　can　you　say　such　dreadful　things；　and　about　the　　tisroc　（may　he　live　for　ever）　too。　it　must　be　right　if　hes　going　to　do　it！鈥?br />
  〃good…bye；〃　said　aravis；　〃and　i　thought　your　dresses　lovely。　and　i　think　　your　house　is　lovely　too。　im　sure　youll　have　a　lovely　life　…　though　it　wouldnt　suit　　me。　close　the　door　softly　behind　me。鈥?br />
  she　tore　herself　away　from　her　friends　affectionate　embraces；　stepped　into　　a　punt；　cast　off；　and　a　moment　later　was　out　in　midstream　with　a　huge　real　moon　overhead　　and　a　huge　reflected　moon　down；　deep　down；　in　the　river。　the　air　was　fresh　and　cool　　and　as　she　drew　near　the　farther　bank　she　heard　the　hooting　of　an　owl。　〃ah！　thats　better！〃　　thought　aravis。　she　had　always　lived　in　the　country　and　had　hated　every　minute　of　　her　time　in　tashbaan。
  when　she　stepped　ashore　she　found　herself　in　darkness　for　the　rise　of　the　　ground；　and　the　trees；　cut　off　the　moonlight。　but　she　managed　to　find　the　same　road　that　　shasta　had　found；　and　came　just　as　he　had　done　to　the　end　of。　the　grass　and　the　　beginning　of　the　sand；　and　looked　（like　him