Hefinishedthewine (enoughforsixstrongmen) atonedraughtandhandedtheemptybowlbacktothepage.
“Now, Roonwit, ” saidtheKing.“DoyoubringusmorenewsofAslan? ”
Roonwitlookedverygrave, frowningalittle.
“Sire, ” hesaid.“YouknowhowlongIhavelivedandstudiedthestars; forweCentaurslivelongerthanyouMen, andevenlongerthanyourkind, , norofpeace, , , , .”
“Alie! ” saidtheKingfiercely.“WhatcreatureinNarniaoralltheworldwoulddaretolieonsuchamatter? ” And, withoutknowingit, helaidhishandonhisswordhilt.
“ThatIknownot, LordKing, ” saidtheCentaur.“ButIknowthereareliarsonearth; therearenoneamongthestars.”
“Iwonder, ” saidJewel, “.”
“Wellsaid, wellsaid, Jewel, ” criedtheKing.“Thosearetheverywords: .”
.
“Woe, woe, woe! ” calledthevoice.“Woeformybrothersandsisters! Woefortheholytrees! , falling, falling.”
Withthelast “falling” '—somethingdifferentinthecolor, thevoice, .
“Justice, LordKing! ” shecried.“.”
“What, Lady! FellingLanternWaste? Murderingthetalkingtrees? ”criedtheKing, leapingtohisfeetanddrawinghissword.“Howdarethey? Andwhodaresit? NowbytheManeofAslan—”
“A-a-a-h, ” gaspedtheDryadshudderingasifinpain—, milesaway, hadbeencutdown.
ForamomenttheKing': “Come, , .”
“Sire, withagoodwill, ” saidJewel.
ButRoonwitsaid, “Sire, , —”
“Iwillnotwaitthetenthpartofasecond, ” saidtheKing.“ButwhileJewelandIgoforward, -at-arms, allwellmounted, andascoreofTalkingDogs, andtenDwarfs (letthemallbefellarchers), andaLeopardorso, .”
“Withagoodwill, Sire, ” .
