Disclaimer: I don't own Narnia, C.S. Lewis's Stepson does. All I own are Petra, Sandai and Annis.
Chapter 10
Lady Daisania
"Why did you call her Lady Daisania?" questioned Petra, as Sandai and Annis disappeared from sight.
Rilian turned to her and blinked. "She was the younger sister of a close friend of mine, Lord Danvian," He finally explained. "Her engagement to another friend of mine, Lord Sorian, was announced just before I … disappeared. When Eustace and Jill finally rescued me, I learned that both her husband and brother had perished in search of me, and that she and her newborn daughter had disappeared the night after she received the news of their deaths. I was going to send out a search for her … but more pressing matters suddenly presented themselves."
"More pressing matters?" queried Petra.
"Yes," said Rilian, with a sigh. He seemed about to explain, but, just then, there was the sound of horse's hooves, and a man rode up on a horse.
"Ghoop," said Rilian in a serious tone, as the rider slowed to a stop, "What news?"
Ghoop dismounted, he looked rather discouraged, which made Rilian look worried. "The Old Centaur," said Ghoop, "said that the Dragon's doom is to be brought about by, and only by, Susan's Heir. But there is no Susan's Heir."
"But there is," said Rilian.
"Dragon?" Petra squeaked, realizing that Rilian was speaking of her as being Susan's Heir, and wanting to know exactly what Rilian was planning on pitting her against.
"There is a Susan's Heir?" questioned Ghoop at the same time.
Rilian chose to answer Ghoop's query first. "This is Princess Petra," he said, indicating Petra. "She is the great-granddaughter of Queen Susan." Then he answered Petra's squeak. "I was just coming to the matter of the Dragon. You see, that was the pressing matter that caused me to neglect the matter of a search for the Lady Daisania and her daughter."
"Oh," said Petra in a small voice. She bit the inside of her cheek, partly in fear of the fact that they appeared to be about to fling her at a dragon, partly in annoyance at the fact that Ghoop was bowing in front of her.
"It is most fortunate that you have appeared in our hour of need, princess," said Ghoop.
"Um … yeah, I guess it is," said Petra, awkwardly. "And you don't have to bow. I'm not used to it, you see. I'm just a common, ordinary girl back home." She turned to Rilian. "I'm going to have to fight a dragon? What sort of dragon? Not a fire-breathing sort – please tell me it's not the fire-breathing sort."
"It's a winged fire-breathing sort, actually," said Rilian, not quelling her fears. "It's also red with a black underside and eyes. And it's about forty feet long."
"And you're just going to fling and innocent girl you've only just met at it?" Petra was practically frantic at this point.
"No," said Rilian. "You and I are going to track it down together. We'll leave tomorrow morning. That should give us time to prepare."
"But what if I don't want to fight a dragon?"
"Aslan sent you here for a reason, Petra," said Rilian. "This may be the reason."
"But what if it isn't?"
"What other Susan's Heirs do you think we're going to come across?" asked Rilian. "You're the only one."
"But I can't shoot her bow," said Petra.
"You have her books."
"Fine," said Petra. "I'll go. But I'll warn you … if I get killed, maimed or anything like that – I'm suing."
"Suing?" queried Rilian. "And what, pray tell, is that?"
"I …" said Petra, caught off guard. "It's something we do in my world …?"
Author's Note: And there's chapter 10, which is dedicated to MCH, by the way. Please leave a review and tell me what you think.