“IsKingCaspiananywhere?” askedPeter.
“I'mhere,” saidaratherfaintvoice.“Somethingbitme.”
, , foundthecandle (theywerenolongerusingthelamp, fortheyhadrunoutofoil), setitonthetable, , .
“Wedon'tseemtohaveanyenemiesleft,” saidPeter.“There'stheHag, dead.” (Heturnedhiseyesquicklyawayfromher.) “AndNikabrik, 'ssolongsinceI''sheadandman', Isuppose, areKingCaspian?”
“Yes,” saidtheotherboy.“ButI'venoideawhoyouare.”
“It'stheHighKing, KingPeter,” saidTrumpkin.
“YourMajestyisverywelcome,” saidCaspian.
“AndsoisyourMajesty,” saidPeter.“Ihaven'tcometotakeyourplace, youknow, buttoputyouintoit.” ,
“YourMajesty,” saidanothervoiceatPeter'.
Peterleanedforward, puthisarmsroundthebeastandkissedthefurryhead: itwasn'tagirlishthingforhimtodo, becausehewastheHighKing.
“Bestofbadgers,” hesaid.“Youneverdoubtedusallthrough.”
“Nocredittome, yourMajesty,” saidTrufflehunter.“1'mabeastandwedon'tchange.I'mabadger, what'smore, andweholdon.”
“IamsorryforNikabrik,” saidCaspian, “'tknowwhichofuskilledhim.I'mgladofthat.”
“You'rebleeding,” saidPeter.
“Yes, I'mbitten,” saidCaspian.“Itwasthat—thatwolfthing.”Cleaningandbandagingthewoundtookalongtime, andwhenitwasdoneTrumpkinsaid, “.”
“Butnothere,” saidPeter.
“No,” saidCaspianwithashudder.“Andwemustsendsomeonetotakeawaythebodies.”
“Lettheverminbeflungintoapit,” saidPeter.“ButtheDwarfwewillgivetohispeopletobeburiedintheirownfashion.”
TheybreakfastedatlastinanotherofthedarkcellarsofAslan', forCaspianandCorneliuswerethinkingofvenisonpasties, andPeterandEdmundofbutteredeggsandhotcoffee, butwhateveryonegotwasalittlebitofcoldbear-meat (outoftheboys' pockets), alumpofhardcheese, anonion, , fromthewaytheyfellto, anyonewouldhavesupposeditwasdelicious.
