Chapter Nine
It did not take Susan and Lucy long to tell Peter and Edmund all about Kylee and her strange knowledge of their future.
"So one of us is going to write a book about all of this, one day," said Edmund. "I would say it was likely to be myself, save that I have no intention of doing so."
"I am afraid no one would believe us," said Peter, glancing at Lucy with a half-ashamed look on his face.
"I did not tell you all of this so that we could argue something foolish and unimportant." Susan sat straight in her chair and gave them her most queenly look. "The question before us is, shall we take her words about the hunting of the White Stag as a warning. And if so, shall we heed that warning?"
"It is a great desire of mine to capture the White Stag," said Peter. "There are many things I would wish to have granted, among them …"
"We know," said Lucy. "A good harvest, so that our people may not go hungry. Peace for a year and a day. They are all good wishes, my dear brother, but as for myself I would wish good health on all our subjects."
"It is noble, indeed," said Edmund. "But my own wish would be, that I might be absolutely just in all my judgements, that our people need never fear to come before me."
"Edmund, none of our subjects fears any such thing," Lucy said, giving his hand a squeeze. "I am afraid that your wish is the only one that makes no sense."
"Enough!" Susan's voice rose in impatience. "We might sit here all night arguing about whose wish is best, or most needful. The White Stag gives one wish only, and only to the one by whom he is caught. For myself, if you three are resolved to go in pursuit of him, I am minded to stay here. If, as Kylee says, the hunting of the stag means our return to our own world, then we cannot leave our people leaderless when once we have been forewarned. For my wish is that we, to the best of our abilities, govern this land as Aslan wishes us to do."
"But should we not take the adventure which he sends to us?" asked Lucy.
"Hear, hear!" Edmund cried.
"Indeed, Susan speaks the truth," said Peter. "We are not private persons, who may amuse ourselves even in the pursuit of a noble thing; as the White Stag assuredly is. We must take thought for the good of our people. If Susan is resolved to stay from hunting, then I as the High King shall remain with her."
There was silence for a moment. Lucy looked around at the other three.
"I do not believe that Aslan would send two of us back, and leave the other two here," she said. "Perhaps this warning is that we may not all go on the hunt, and therefore the fate which Kylee has foreseen will not come to pass. I will hunt the White Stag. Edmund, what say you?"
Edmund stood and went to the fireplace, where he gazed into the flames. "Indeed a shadow has always fallen on my heart, whenever the stag was mentioned," he said. "Though I do not know if it is a shadow of doom, or of something else entirely. Yet I desire greatly to hunt the stag. Therefore I will not choose now. Lucy, I beg you not to go until I have resolved this thing in my own mind, to go or to stay."
"Very well, brother," she said. "You have my word."
Susan rose and took up a candle. "And now, I am sure that you two are weary from your travels. Your rooms are prepared. I wish you all goodnight."
"Goodnight, Susan," they all said.
Lucy watched her go. The hand that shielded her candle wavered a bit, though there was no sign of trouble in her face.
The other three bid each other goodnight, and went to their rooms.
