SHASTA FALLS IN WITH THE NARNIANS AT first Shasta could see nothing in the valley below him but a sea of mist with a few domes and pinnacles rising from it; but as the light increased and the mist cleared away he saw more and more. A broad river divided itself into two streams and on the islaweeood the city of Tashbaan, one of the wonders of the world. Round the very edge of the island, so that the water lapped against the stone, ran high walls strengthened with so many towers that he soon gave up trying to t them. Ihe walls the island rose in a hill and every bit of that hill, up to the Tisrocs palad the great temple of Tash at the top, was pletely covered with buildings - terrace above terrace, street above street, zigzag roads e flights of steps bordered with e trees and lemon trees, roofgardens, balies, deep archways, pillared nades, spires, battlements, mis, pinnacles. And when at last the sun rose out of the sea and the great silver-plated dome of the temple flashed back its light, he was almost dazzled.
"Get on, Shasta," Bree kept saying.
The river banks on each side of the valley were such a mass of gardens that they looked at first like forest, until you got closer and saw the white walls of innumerable houses peeping out from beh the trees. Soon after that, Shasta noticed a delicious smell of flowers and fruit. About fifteen minutes later they were down among them, plodding on a level road with white walls on each side and trees bending over the walls.
"I say," said Shasta in an awed voice. "This is a wonderful place!」
"I daresay," said Bree. "But I wish we were safely through it and out at the other side.
Narnia and the North!」
At that moment a low, throbbing noise began which gradually swelled louder and louder till the whole valley seemed to be swaying with it. It was a musioise, but s and solemn as to be a little frightening.
"Thats the horns blowing for the city gates to be open," said Bree. "We shall be there in a minute. Now, Aravis, do droop your shoulders a bit and step heavier and try to look less like a princess. Try to imagine youve been kicked and cuffed and called names all your life.」
"If it es to that," said Aravis, "what about you drooping your head a bit more and arg your neck a bit less and trying to look less like a war-horse?」
"Hush," said Bree. "Here we are.」
And they were. They had e to the rivers edge and the road ahead of them ran along a many-arched bridge. The water danced brightly in the early sunlight; away to the right he rivers mouth, they caught a glimpse ships masts. Several other travellers were before them on the bridge, mostly peasants driving laden donkeys and mules or carrying baskets on their heads. The children and horses joihe crowd.
"Is anything wrong?" whispered Shasta to Aravis, who had an odd look on her face.
"Oh its all very well for you," whispered Aravis rather savagely. "What would you care about Tashbaan? But I ought to be riding in on a litter with soldiers before me and slaves behind, and perhaps going to a feast iisrocs palace (may he live for ever) - not sneaking in like this. Its different for you.」
Shasta thought all this very silly.
At the far end of the bridge the walls of the city towered high above them and the brazen gates stood open ieway which was really wide but looked narrow because it was so very high. Half a dozen soldiers, leaning on their