Chapter 2
The Chronicles
As they finally approached Anvard, the country's capital did not shine in half its former glory. How could the people of one and the same folk be so divided in their opinion? Even in the distance, the result of countless riots and fires was visible. Collapsed roofs and wads of smoke were silent witnesses of the current turmoils. In the old town, the heart of Anvard, the chaos of broken windows, doors and damaged property was distressing. The musty smell of destruction and rotting filth could not be denied and got worse by the day. At that, it hurt every proud man and woman from Anvard to see the majestic palace in the abandoned state it was in. Had Nain guessed that Archenland was going to be shattered like this, he would surely have stated his last will differently.
"We're almost there," Jhara rejoiced as they arrived at Dylan's quarter.
The streets were getting narrow, which made it impossible to ride on. They carefully tied Lestate to a peg and Jhara pulled out some apples from the saddlebag. She spread them on a small piece of cloth and patted Lestate on the back.
"When did you think of the apples?" Ria wondered.
"If you'd helped me more with saddling, you'd know."
The girls moved on through the darkness of the streets swiftly. Only a couple of old lanterns lit their way. Curtains and shutters had been closed everywhere and it almost felt as though no soul lived there at all. Only in one building, the expansive windows in the front area were dimly lit. They could see well into the tavern and the closer they came, the more muffled voices they could hear.
"That's the place I meant, over there." Jhara looked at her sister as if she had just turned four and pointed to the entrance. "Why don't you spend an hour or two in there? I know the innkeeper, he's really nice, and we wouldn't be far apart. Dylan lives right here, across the street."
Ria nodded as Jhara rummaged around in the saddlebag for a leather-bound book.
"You've always wanted to read this and never found the time, right? But I'm warning you, it's rather boring - you'll see."
When Ria took the heavy book, all about Narnian history and folk tales, she grinned and hugged her sister.
She could almost hear Jhara's heart beating fast as she passed the heavy wooden door of Dylan's house. Ria knew how much her sister loved him, and yet she herself did not know anything about love. But since she had to expect to be married to someone she probably did not like anyway, she had no intention of losing her heart to anyone.
She barely noticed the light rain as she crossed the deserted street with her head full of thoughts and timidly entered the tavern. She hoped to spend most of the evening unnoticed. But as it was so quiet inside, almost everyone turned around and looked at her. Some men were sitting at the bar, some had made themselves comfortable at tables.
Ria forced a smile. "Gentlemen!" she acknowledged them politely and relaxed when most of them did not pay any further attention.
And as the tall, chubby man behind the bar finally turned his gaze to Ria, the innkeeper seemed somewhat surprised.
"You do look familiar, Missy," he said, his eyes never leaving her face. "You look like someone I know!"
"Yes, I believe you know my sister - Jhara," Ria tried to help him.
"Ah, of course, yes, I do!" he grinned. "You look a lot like her... Come here!"
He offered Ria a seat at the bar and she gulped as she crossed the room, knowing only too well that the other guests were watching her every step attentively.
The tavern's owner took a new cup to dry and winked when he asked, "So where did you leave Jhara, young lady? Do tell me, what's your name?"
"Oh, excuse me, it's Taliah, or just Ria," she smiled and continued muttering, "my sister is… I think she wanted to… run some errands."
"Ria, nice name. Better than mine indeed, I'm Henry!" he introduced himself and drew nearer. "But considering the hour, it's very unlikely she will find any place to run her errands at, isn't it?"
He obviously wanted to let her know that the excuse she had thought of was no good, but she had already been fully aware of that when she uttered the words.
"She's meeting Dylan, that's much more likely, or am I wrong?" he grinned. "He won't stop talking about her, he's really in love."
Henry reminded Ria of her father, he was light-hearted and protective in a very unobtrusive way. It was probably the reason that made her finally nod. She shrugged, saying quietly, "I couldn't let her go all alone."
"Oh, how nice of you," groaned a bearded man at the other end of the bar, then he took another sip of his beer. "Even though you are the younger sister!"
Apparently he knew Jhara as well - or, judging from his annoyed undertone, at least their mother…
"You there, don't be so cynical!" Henry defended Ria. "Siblings have to take care of each other, no matter who is older. The girl is perfectly right!" He smiled at her as he mumbled the last part, "My brother and I, we were best friends at your age. I used to look after the old scallywag all the time… We're not talking anymore, but you know, back in the days, it was what it was."
Ria nodded. It almost felt like Henry had known her for years, not minutes.
"Oh, tell me, what would you like to drink, Missy?" he suddenly asked. "I can offer you anything. Liquor, of course only by way of exception, or tea - whatever you like!" His lightheartedness instantly lifted Ria's mood.
"Tea sounds great," she beamed.
Henry eagerly turned around and brew up a big pot of water with herbs.
"The book you brought, what is it?" he went on to ask, looking over his shoulder.
She gazed at the book critically, only for a few seconds. Then she decided it would be ridiculous to lie just because Narnia was dividing their nation these days. Nevertheless, she answered Henry as quietly as she could, so that only he was able to hear it.
"The Chronicles of Narnia. I haven't started to read them yet."
"Is that so?" Henry returned to the bar. "Are you sure this is adequate reading material these days?" He eyed her skeptically - she did not know that he was just joking.
"It's not the book's fault our country's falling apart,"she tried to take a stand, yet it sounded more like a question.
Henry grinned teasingly. "You're very right, Missy. And I'll tell you something. I couldn't think of a better King than Caspian, he should rule our country. I mean, just look at Narnia. The wealth and peace ever since he's been in power… I bet even Calormen would not dare to attack us if we belonged to the kingdom of the North. I have no idea why all these numskulls make such a fuss over it…"
"I couldn't agree more, Henry," Ria sighed. Finally someone said it out loud.
The innkeeper chuckled as he poured her some tea, he was careful not to spill any liquid on the leather cover of the book.
He winked at her and cited in a calm voice, "Oh yes. 'Make your choice, adventurous stranger, strike the bell and bide the danger, or wonder, till it drives you mad, what would have followed if you had.' Do you know that, Ria?"*
She thought about it for a few seconds, but then she shook her head no.
Henry raised a brow. "Well, then tell me, would you strike the bell?"
"I… yes, I think so, why would I not? Better than be driven mad, right?"
Henry nodded, smiled thoughtfully, then he said, "That's what Digory thought as well. He and Polly were the first cross-world travelers in Narnia. He struck the bell. The consequences were… well, I guess it was bound to happen."
"What was bound to happen?" Ria leaned forward. "It's in the Chronicles, right?"
"Maybe… Find out yourself, and don't let the tea get cold!"
"Sure," Ria chuckled and started to read, almost excitedly.
Unlike Jhara, she did not find it boring - she loved the legends and tales. After a couple of chapters she finally read the story Henry mentioned. Precisely when the consequences of the bell's struck were explained, the innkeeper came back - as though he could tell he should.
"They awoke Jadis?" Ria let out a harsh breath. "Who'd have known…"
Henry nodded cheerfully and topped up her cup every once in a while as she read on, losing every sense of time. Sometimes she mumbled along, so Henry knew exactly what she was reading. It was starting to get a little brighter outside as the dim moonlight shone through the clouds, and soon the sound of heavy rain was not to be overheard anymore. Not a good night to ride home again, Henry feared. But Ria read her book, read and read, and barely noticed how quickly the time flew by.
And when she heard the tavern's door being opened once again, she did not turn around at first. The abrupt silence that followed, however, made her look over her shoulder eventually.
A young man, he was probably about five to seven years older than herself, had entered the tavern. His eyes were tired and he seemed strained. Ria noticed the critical, almost cold expression on his face, and wondered whether it might be the grim version of a smile.
Just as the stranger started to look around to find a spot to sit down, Henry grinned and shouted, "Come on, take a seat at the bar, or do you want to keep me busy running around?"
This time, the stranger definitely smiled. "Of course not."
Henry appreciated it and pointed next to Ria, "Very well then, this young Lady could use some company, after all - she's rather lonely with me!"
Ria stared at Henry in disbelief. What was he doing?
"What a shame, seems you're right," the stranger agreed as he approached them, then he turned to Ria with an amused smirk. "Dear, would you mind?"
"No, no, do take a seat!"
"I made plenty, therefore - would you like some tea?" Henry asked as the man sat down.
"Why not," the stranger did not hesitate long and ran his hands through his wet hair. "But, please, with some lacing. And with that I actually mean a lot of lacing..."
"Tough day?"
"Tough month."
The innkeeper could not help but laugh and got to work. The young man noticed Ria's open book in the meantime.
"May I ask what you're reading? I'm curious."
"Oh, those are… Chronicles, just some tales," she waved her hand hastily.
"I like history, but I used to find most Chronicles quite boring," he replied, almost absently.
"Oh no, they're actually exciting!" Ria's face lit up.
"Are they?" he asked, his eyes holding a glint of surprise. "Which country are they from? Those of Calormen are said to be - "
Henry interrupted him with a snort, "Calormen? No, no, Sir, she's reading the Chronicles of Narnia." He served the tea and smiled. "A lot of liquor with a couple of herbs."
"Perfect, thanks a lot," the stranger said and turned to Ria again, almost in disbelief, "The Chronicles of Narnia - really? Voluntarily?"
He was quite charming. In a grim way, but charming.
Ria nodded and asked, "Do you know the stories? Would you have struck the bell?"
"Definitely," his mouth twitched. "I wouldn't have had much interest in being driven mad as prophesied."
"Our thoughts exactly," Ria agreed as Henry turned around again.
"That means you've also read them, young man?"
"As it happens," he said, took a sip of tea and looked at Ria. "Which story are you reading right now?"
"Caspian III. I have to admit that I had no idea how brutally some Kings ruled."
"Yes, indeed," the man said, dropping his voice.
"Well, Caspian X changed a lot over there," Henry shrugged after seconds of silence. "And he would change a lot in Archenland as well."
The young man drew in a deep breath as he said, "I'd try."
"I hope he'll try, too," Ria sighed and all of a sudden the stranger began to smile, somewhat amused, though she did not quite understand why.
Henry, however, suddenly crossed his arms and frowned as he looked past them towards the entrance.
"Do you hear that?" he asked.
Ria tried to listen, then she know exactly what he meant. Dull voices. Loud, angry voices.
"What's that?" she asked as she got up and walked towards one of the big windows. The noise grew louder, it came closer, but Ria could not see anyone yet. Then two torches lit the alley up, and she could see that far more people than expected were wandering through the narrow streets of Anvard.
"That's going to be another riot," Henry murmured, joining Ria in front of the window.
"But they seem peaceful," she gulped.
"Give them a couple of minutes... If they break another window, I'll get angry, believe me."
"Maybe Jhara and I should be going," Ria said as she looked at the entrance of Dylan's home across the street. But more and more people were walking by, and they would make it a lot harder for them to leave without trouble. The mob pointlessly wandered through the streets - as if torches and angry growls could solve any of their problems.
Ria gulped the longer she thought about it. But apparently all those raging, noisy people also worried her sister - Jhara stepped out of the door hastily. She saw her little sister in the tavern window and Ria knew what to do.
"You two agree, mh?" Henry chuckled. "Looks like you have to hurry."
Ria was about to look for some coins in her cloak, but Henry quickly assured her that he would not take any.
"Don't you dare - no need to pay for some herbs and water!"
She smiled. "Thank you, Henry. It was a pleasure to meet you!"
She said goodbye and her eyes met the rather dark, yet charismatic stranger's gaze once again. What was it with him? She could not help but giggle when she saw his faint smile.
"Take care, Missy," Henry said gravely, keeping a worried eye on her as she left the tavern.
* Quote from The Magician's Nephew, C.S. Lewis, 1955