[Discussion 2/3] The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis - Chapters 5 - 9
Welcome back for Week 2 of The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis!
For a place to note your thoughts (and to keep track of events - this series spans many years!), head over to our marginalia post here -- but beware of spoilers! The marginalia post also contains links to the other discussions for this series.
Speaking of spoilers: while Narnia is an older series, that does not mean everyone has read it! Please use spoiler tags when referencing any later events in this series. When in doubt, err on the side of caution and use a tag!
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Chapter 5
Leaving Tashbaan may not be as easy as it was to get in: they entered on the premise that Queen Susan would marry Prince Rabadash, but she wants to break the engagement after learning what a cruel man he is. They are essentially trapped as they are surrounded by soldiers and Edmund knows that the Vizier is not afraid of any retaliation by Narnia, a much smaller nation.
Instead, it is agreed that Susan will fake her interest and hold a banquet on their boat in his honor. That way, no one will be suspicious of the Narnians loading their boat with supplies all day, and they can escape that night.
Shasta hears their whole plan but falls asleep after having a big meal with Tumnus. Hours later, the real Prince Corin crashes through the window – Corin wants to continue to switch places, but Shasta leaves to try and reunite with his friends. Corin points him in the right direction and tells him to seek out King Lune of Archenland, Corin’s father.
Chapter 6
Shasta is the first to arrive at the Tombs of the Ancient Kings. He meets no ghouls, but he is led by a cat who guides him through. He makes a comment about chasing a neighbor's cat, and his guide cat scratches him. He falls asleep briefly and wakes up, catless, to the cries of jackals. He’s about to run away when a giant lion steps forward to defend him. At first Shasta is afraid of the beast, but as it gets closer to him, he realizes it was just the cat returning. He vows to be nice to cats for the rest of his life.
Keeping watch at the meeting place, Bree and Hwin come into view led by a strange man – Aravis is no where in sight.
Chapter 7
Now we get to see what Aravis was up to while Shasta played prince: after running into her old friend Lasaraleen, a Tarkheena, Aravis hops into her litter and is carried off with her with two slaves leading the horses behind them. Lasaraleen reveals that Aravis’s father is also in town looking for her but offers to hide her at her home, as her husband is away. Lasaraleen asks Aravis if she’s heard of the Barbarian queen, Susan of Narnia, who Prince Rabadash wants to marry.
Aravis tells Lasaraleen her whole story, surprising her friends with the fact that she doesn’t want to marry Ahoshta (who had just been made Grand Vizier!). While Lasaraleen is distracted by planning a banquet at the home of the Tisroc, Aravis sends Bree and Hwin to the tombs. Aravis attends the banquet dressed as an enslaved girl to hide her identity.
While Lasaraleen leads Aravis to a spot to escape the palace, they are almost intercepted by the Tisroc. The two girls hide behind a sofa in a dark room before two enslaved men enter, followed by the Tisroc, Prince Rabadash, and Ahoshta.
Chapter 8
Prince Rabadash is furious that Susan and the Narnias escaped. When Ahoshta tries to get the Prince to be reasonable, the prince resorts to physical violence and kicks him. He demands the Tisroc slaughter everyone in Narnia (except for Susan, who he still wants as a bride) but the Tisroc admonishes him – he will not rage war against the powerful rulers who took down the White Witch.
Instead, the men come up with a scheme: Prince Rabadash and 200 men will sneak into Narnia and steal Susan back with minimal bloodshed and the Tisroc can deny he ever knew of the plan. After Rabadash leaves, the Tisroc acknowledges that the odds of this plan working are very slim. When Ahoshta reminds him that the throne is more important than a single prince, the Tisroc agrees; after all, he has many sons who can take Rabadash’s place.
Chapter 9
After everything they’ve heard, Lasaraleen still thinks that Aravis should marry Ahoshta, but Aravis would rather die. Aravis sneaks away and reunites with Bree and Hwin. After sending away the groom, Shasta reveals himself as well. Aravis tells her friends of the plan she overheard, and the group sets off towards Narnia, hoping to be in time to warn the Narnians of Rabadash’s plan.
They spend gruesome days traveling in the desert. Eventually, they reach a valley with a flowing river.