The Horse And His Boy

As they emerge exhausted on the far side of the desert, they find themselves in a place of beautiful vegetation and forests with mountains to the north. They are in Archenland. In the distance, Shasta can see the column of Rabadash’s horsemen behind them gaining ground. Though the horses are exhausted, they gallop toward Anvard, the capital of Archenland, to warn King Lune of the approaching attack.

When they are feeling almost spent, they hear the roaring of a lion chasing them, causing them to gallop faster. Ahead, Shasta can see a green hedge barrier with a gate opening into it. They gallop toward it with the lion gaining ground rapidly. When they are almost to the hedgerow, the lion catches up to Hwin, who had been distanced by Bree and Shasta. The lion slashes Aravis’s back. Shasta intentionally falls off Bree and runs back, shouting at the lion to go away. He is astonished when the lion actually tuns and leaves.

The four travelers enter the gate, where they find a pool of clear, pure water. This hermitage belongs to a tall, bearded man, the hermit of the southern march. Rabadash’ men take another path toward Anvard and do not see the hermitage.