THE LAST TEMPTATION OF SUSAN

Chapter Nine: A Brother's Sacrifice

When the nasty little Calormen girl hit her from behind Susan felt a jolt of genuine fear. Rabadash was not around. No-one was going to help her reason with Rozalina. But sooner or later the two of them would have to straighten things out.

"Only a coward would throw rocks from behind the bushes," Susan said out loud. "I've often heard that Calormenes are cruel people, but I've never heard of a Calormen coward."

There was a rustling in the bushes, but no other sound.

"I wonder if your brother taught you to be afraid of people," Susan said, in a softer voice. "Are you afraid of me?"

"I'm not afraid of you!" Rozalina Tarkheena emerged from the bushes with her chin up high. "My brother was Reza Tarkhaan, and he was a hero. He was never afraid of anything!" The slim, dark-skinned little girl looked quite fierce. Her eyes were full of tears. Her fists were full of rocks.

"Tell me more about Reza Tarkhaan, please." Susan was careful to stay cool and queenly. It wouldn't do to be her weak, tender, soft-hearted self. Respect was the key here.

"Why should I tell you . . ." the girl began, but just then there was a muffled roar from the distant jungle.

"Oh dear," Susan said, forcing a smile. "It sounds as if the big thunder lizards from the other side of the river are getting closer. I'm not afraid. But shouldn't we get out of the open just to be on the safe side?"

"I know where we can go," Rozalina told her. "I have a secret hiding place."

It was a long walk back to the luxurious villa of Rozalina's guardian, Benruz Tarkhaan. A weary Susan almost suggested they have their talk indoors. After all, the secret hiding-place was just a shady spot behind the flower gardens. The rich black soil was still damp from last night's rain. But as she mopped her sweaty face with a bright yellow kerchief the Queen of Narnia reflected that Rozalina was inviting her into a very personal place. A wet bottom and muddy shorts were a small price to pay for her trust.

"My family is of the blood of the Tarkhaans, and descended from the great god Tash," the young girl began, seating herself cross-legged in the shade. It was strange to hear a saucy brat like Rozalina suddenly sound so stiff and formal and grown up, but Susan was familiar with the ancient style of Calormene story-telling. She listened closely.

"Doubtless you imagine, most beautiful queen, that all of our proud nobility are wealthy beyond imagining. But it is not so. My mother and father were so poor that they often worked in the field beside our slaves. We had little to eat, and no clothes that were not patched and mended many times over. Now when I was but nine years old, a merchant of great wealth offered to marry me. He was very old and ugly, and I was afraid. Yet I would have married him to feed my family. Instead my brother sacrificed himself to Tash for all of us."

"Oh, dear." Susan was aware that Tash was a cruel god who often demanded human sacrifice. "Your brother must have loved you very much to offer himself in your place. But I thought only slaves were sacrificed on the jeweled altar."

Rozalina nodded. "But rich men often make expensive sacrifices to gain favor with the god. Sometimes poor men sell themselves for this purpose, knowing their families will be well provided for. Reza did this, but then, on the way to Tashbaan with his new master, my brother caught hold of a runaway horse and returned it to its owner. The owner was Prince Rabadash."

"How nice! And did Rabadash reward him for his efforts?"

"He did not, O queen." For the first time in her story, Rozalina allowed a smile to brighten her solemn young face. "Prince Rabadash had in those days a very foul temper, as you may know. When my brother told him he had been riding his animal too hard, the prince attempted to strike him. Instead my brother threw him into a pile of manure."

"He didn't!" Susan laughed but then immediately felt a twinge of fear. "Rabadash didn't . . . he didn't hurt Reza did he?"

"Three times the prince attacked my brother, and three times he was thrown. You see, Reza knew the hill-fighting skills of our western scrubland. But just when the prince was beside himself with rage, the greedy merchant offered to sell my brother to him. Doubtless he imagined that Rabadash would have my noble brother beheaded, or boiled in oil, or . . ."

"But Rabadash didn't do any of those things." Susan was breathless, completely caught up in the story of a brother's sacrifice. But she knew Rabadash had changed.

"He did not," Rozalina confirmed. "Reza had no fear of death, or torture, for he was of the blood of the Tarkhaans. As the gods would have it, Rabadash came to love him like a brother. That was his doom. For when the foolish prince chose to ride north, and make war against your kingdom . . ."

"Rozalina Tarkheena! Come indoors this instant! It is time you returned to your daily chores!" The loud, strong, unmistakably commanding voice belonged to Zuleika, the immensely fat and very dignified wife of Benruz Tarkhaan.

"Oh, bother my chores and the entire house!" Rozalina grumbled, but sprang to her feet at once. Susan was still hoping to hear more of her story. Now it would have to wait.

"Rozalina," she called out softly, still sitting in the shade.

"Yes?" The girl turned in the hot sun to look back at her.

"Thanks for sharing your secret hiding place with me."

"Huh!" For a moment the girl just looked at her. Then she grinned, and went dashing off to her chores in the big house.

Susan felt good about her talk with Rozalina. Maybe the girl was finally starting to accept her as a friend. But there were other questions. What sort of plants were growing in the back fields? What kept the dinosaurs away? Did Benruz Tarkhaan really want to close the gateway between worlds? After all, he frequently traded with the people on the other side. And just what did he trade with them, anyway?

"Zuleika, do you think I could speak with your husband for a few minutes? I have some questions about the dinosaurs. You know, the thunder lizards." As she entered the villa, Susan put on her brightest smile, and pushed aside a tendril of dark hair that had fallen across her dirt-smudged cheek.

"My husband is occupied in his study," the older woman replied. "However, I will send word to him that the Queen of Narnia requires an audience. In the meantime, may I bring you something cool to drink? Perhaps a scented bath?" Zuleika's dark eyes swept Susan from head to toe, letting her know how grubby she looked. "There is no need to worry about the thunder lizards," she added, in a softer tone. "They never disturb us here. Why not rest after your bath? Perhaps a massage with sweet-smelling oils? It is very relaxing. And afterwards a little sleep might be good. It will pass the time till Rabadash returns. And I will be very sure to wake you in time for dinner."

Susan frowned, not liking the way she could already picture herself giving in, and gladly doing what the older woman suggested. "No, thanks. If your husband is busy there's no need to disturb him. I'll just take a quick shower and go for a swim." After blinking her eyes a bit sleepily, she gave Zuleika a sharp look. She wanted to remind her that she really was the Queen of Narnia. Susan was determined to get to the bottom of things around here.

She just needed a shower first.