Author's Note- Alrighty, here ya go! Chapter Four… this took me forever to write because I didn't want to rush straight to the garden, but I didn't know what angle to go at. So I hope you like it!

Archenland

The road leading from Cair Paraval down was a nice path, almost cement and glowing like the Cair's walls. As soon as Phillip and Edmund lost sight of the palace, though, the road turned. The road became gravel, which gave way to a thin dirt road cutting through the thick trees. When asked about this, Phillip simply replied, "It seems that the people want you to be happy." Phillip was an interesting horse; but he was formal and distant with Edmund, refusing to call him anything more than 'Your Highness' or 'my Lord.'

It had been nearly a week of constant riding, eating out of the food supply they had and sleeping under the stars. But both of them had become tired of this, and by the time the first village of human company came into view, they were both happy for the break. Edmund, adjusting his clothes, dismounted and led Phillip like a normal horse (for there would be no Talking horses here) to an inn.

The landlady poked her head out of a back room with a sour expression.

"Yes, yes, wot is it?" she asked, peering down at him.

"I would like a room and a stall for my horse for the night. Maybe two nights," Edmund concluded.

"Ye will have to pay extra for food for ye and yer horse," the woman said.

"Of course, ma'am."

"And you'll have to pay up front. 've had too many people skip out on me."

Edmund pulled out a couple of coins from his pouch. "Will this be enough?"

The woman raised an eyebrow. "Those be Narnian coins. Where did ye get these?"

Edmund thought fast. "My father. He told me to…er…go seek my fortune, and gave me some coins he found years ago. Said to sell them.." he said hurriedly.

The woman stared at him, then cracked a smile. "These be plenty for both ye and yer horse, Yer Highness."

Edmund started, and the woman cackled. "Ye paid me enough to be the King of Arche'land yerself!" she said, hooting. Edmund felt his body relax, and laughed along with her.

"Oh…well, I'll go put the horse away…" he said, nodding his head and backing up.

"That was close," he said once he got outside. Phillip stared patronizingly at him. "What?"

"Your father gave you Narnian coins to seek your fortune?"

"Well…I thought it was good enough," Edmund said defensivly.

"If that woman had a quarter more sense, she would know that coins are a very new development in Narnia. Only a year old, actually," Phillip told him.

"Oh."

If a horse could roll his eyes, Phillip would have. "You'll need to learn these things. If you mess up, people may figure out who we are."

"Then I will need a teacher," Edmund remarked.

Phillip flicked his ears. "When we are on the road, I will help you with every-"

"Who are you talking to?" the landlady's voice rang out.

"Er…no one, ma'am. Just myself, actually," Edmund said, unloading the pack nonchalantly.

"Well…don't do that at dinner. I don't want you to scare away the guests."

The dinner guests ended up being the landlady (whose name was Esmeri), her husband (a sour man who barely spoke two words), and an Archenland couple who retired early on in the evening. Edmund tried to make conversation, to find out some things about Archenland, but only succeeded in making a stony silence. Finally he excused himself and went back to his room. Making sure he had a safe place for his money and sword, Edmund curled up in the bed and fell asleep.

XXXXXX

He did not sleep well. He saw startling images- Peter changing from his brother to Maugrim the wolf and back, Jadis spearing a silver apple with her wand, and a strange black-haired boy with a long curved sword in his hand. Edmund woke several times before it was finally dawn. Quietly, he snuck down to the stables.

"Phillip. Phillip!" The horse twitched his ears in annoyance.

"What do you want?" Obviously, not a morning horse.

"I think…we should leave today."

"Why today? You payed for two nights, remember?" Phillip said, struggling up onto his feet.

"Yes, I just…" Edmund paused. Why was he so worried? He didn't know; but something was nagging at him, deep in his stomach. "I just feel like we need to hurry. That the more time we waste… the less of a chance…"

Phillip nodded his head once. "That is true, Your Highness. Very true. We shall leave," and here his ears twitched, "after breakfast."

Edmund just laughed and agreed.

XXXXXX

The couple weren't sad to see the two go, but the woman sighed when she offered to give the money for the second night back to Edmund.

"Well…" Edmund started. The more money he had on him, the better. But these people barely saw customers, it seemed. "No, you keep it. Maybe when I return…"

"I'll keep a room for ye," Emeri said, smiling crookedly at him. And with that, Edmund left them.

XXXXXX

Days seemed to flit by, as did the pair's food supply. Twice Edmund had to go into a town and buy food. Once, their canteens were swept downstream when they tried to refill them, and they had to buy more of them too. About three weeks after they had left the inn, their Narnian money was painfully short, and they were still far from the garden. One of the good things was that, as the days went on, Phillip and Edmund became less like horse and rider and more like friends, able to speak freely with one another.

"We have to do something." Phillip had finally broke down and said, as they ate the last of a loaf of bread. "The less we eat, the weaker we are, and the less we ride. We need more money."

"How?" Edmund asked. "Money doesn't grow on trees…" he said, only half-joking.

Phillip cocked his head. "Why would money grow on trees?" he asked.

"Never mind," Edmund said, smiling.

"Here's what I think. I think…that you should try and earn some money. Look, there's a small city right on the way. We make some money, buy a lot of supplies, then with all haste go onto this garden." Phillip said. Indeed, from the road they could see large buildings looming over the horizon.

Edmund nodded slowly. "Yes, I think you might be right. There's nothing but desert beyond here, for at least a couple of day's ride. We'll need our strength."

"So it is settled." Phillip stated. "We will head to…" he craned his neck to see the map (for Talking horses actually can read English characters) "…Mesh'vai?" he said, pronouncing it Mey-she-ve.

"Mesh'vai." Edmund said, nodding his head.

XXXXXX

The city of Mesh'vai was enormous, if it could be judged by it's wall. Glistening white against the sunset, it rose feet above Edmund and Phillip. Three guards stood at the main gate, at full attention.

"Greetings." One said, giving a sharp salute.

"Greetings," Edmund replied.

"What brings you to Mesh'vai?" the second said, pronouncing it correctly (May-sha-vay).

"We are delivering a message from High King Peter, of Narnia." Edmund said. The story had been rehearsed the whole way to the city. They had even written up a fake letter of marquee in case of trouble.

The guard clicked his heels and saluted again. "Sir," he said, "You are welcome here. Lord Dubli is not here at the moment, but I am sure you can leave the message here."

Edmund smiled. That simplified things- no fake documents would have to be drawn up. They could go in, and out, without anyone noticing. "Where is Lord Dubli, then?"

"Meeting with the Tisroc, sir. He will be back in a few days."

"Good. I will have to leave the message. But I will need lodging for a couple of days, to let my horse rest." With that, Phillip gave a horsey grunt.

"Of course, sir. Enjoy your stay sir." The guard said, signaling a man on the top of the wall. With a long creak, the gates opened, and Edmund clicked his tongue. Phillip whinnied (Edmund almost fell off the saddle laughing) and they rode through.

True enough, Mesh'vai was enormous. Buildings of stone with metal doors lined the streets. Vendors stood on corners, with wares of clothes and succulent-smelling foods. And the people! People crowded everywhere, walking across the street, riding on horses and in carriages. To avoid being crushed altogether, Phillip and Edmund went into an alley. The noise was muffled between the buildings, making it easier to think.

"Alright. Let's find an inn and rest up. Tomorrow, we can get the supplies," Edmund said. Dismounting, he dropped the reins and gave Phillip some room to move around without them. Sitting down against a wall, Edmund looked around. Everything seemed so peaceful…

Until he felt something poking the back of his neck. Frowning, he turned around, and gasped. A boy his age was standing in the doorway, staring at him with eyes of confusion. And in his hand, pointed directly at Edmund, was a long, curved sword.