Tammy’s Reviews > The Horse and His Boy > Status Update

Had they killed him in battle it would have been different. Edmund points out that even traitors can mend their ways. Lucy suggests having a trial and offering mercy if he promises to behave. If he does not, Edmund will be glad to lop off his head in a good, clean battle. When Rabadash is brought in, he’s in a feisty mood, even thought he has been treated humanely (room, good food, kind treatment).

He also gives proper attention to Bree and Hwin who are embarassed at being treated like persons. Queen Lucy takes Aravis to her new bedroom and apartment. She set it up and will help Aravis find some clothes (change of identity). After they have a cold lunch, they deliberate on what to do about Rabash. He has the right to strike off his head since he is a traitor. If they kill him, it could incite the Tisroc to war.

Ch. 15 Anvard’s castle is a warm, reddish-brown. Lune dresses down because he’s visiting his dogs. After washing his hands, he gives Aravis astately greeting. He’s warm and kind to Aravis and gives condolences about her having to leave her father. He comments on her valor. She ways how Cor saved her from the lion. It turns into Turkish Delight because he begins to hate the story after hearing it for the 100th time.

Red stage. New clothes, name, and identity. Air is the element. The trumpet sounds. Aravis gasps when she recognizes Shasta who blushes. He wears a red tunic beneath the white one. She asks about his wound. His old identity is burned to ash. They talk about Aravis’ wounds. His father is a brick (red). Not only does he know who he is, he knows his backstory. Shasta is in his Edenic state (before his fall in status).

I think the white stage happens off stage. We have an ascent from Shasta to Cor, from Calormen to Archenlander, from fisherman’s son to prince and eventually king. The white begins when he meets King Lune. He is still the barefoot boy who hasn’t washed in ages who has just come through the muck of battle. In the next scene, he is all cleaned up and groomed. Clearly he sat in a bath full of suds and hot water. BOOM!

Shasta has to be educated in reading, writing, heraldry, dancing, hisotry, and music. Poor Bree worries that he will never be able to roll in the grass one he gets to Narnia.

By saving Archenland, Shasta fulfilled the prophecy. Cor shares that King Lune has invited Aravis to live in Archenland and act as the lady presiding over court. Nobody has done that since his mother died. I think this book could be called the education of Shasta. They visit the horses and say good-bye to the hermit. They all walk to Narnia because Narnian horses are not ridden upon except in time of war.

It was a blessing and it became a prophecy. The Lord Chancellor has been fired for embezzling but he was allowed to stay in Archenland. He was in collusion with the Tisroc kidnapped Cor and sailed down the Winding Arrow River. His father followed in a warship and on the seventh day they battled. The lord was killed and the ship taken. Cor was not there because he had been sent off with a knight in a ship’s boat.

Shasta blushes (red stage). They also both realize they had an encounter with the Lion. She asked about the batgtle and his wound. He said, “A mere scratch” in a lordly tone and they laughed! She is impressed even though he calls himself a clumsy fool. He calls his father a brick (red). He says how, when they were a week old, his parents brought the twins to a centaur who made a prophecy that Cor would save the land.

His fair hair was encircled with a thin band of gold. He wore a white cambric tunic with a bright red tunic beneath. His bandaged left hand rests on an enameled sword hilt. Then she recognizes Shasta (with a shock). The clothing and the new names means a change in identity! His old clothes were burnt! His father is King Lun and he and Corin are twins. DUH! Aravis apologizes for being a pig to him.