THE HIGH KING IN COMMAND
"Now," said Peter, as they finished their meal, "Aslan and the girls (that's Queen Susan and Queen Lucy, Caspian) are somewhere close. We don't know when he will act. In his time, no doubt, not ours. In the meantime he would like us to do what we can on our own. You say, Caspian, we are not strong enough to meet Miraz in pitched battle?"
"I'm afraid not, High King," said Caspian. He was liking1 Peter very much, but was rather tongue-tied. It was much stranger for him to meet the great Kings out of the old stories than it was for them to meet him.
"Very well, then," said Peter, "I'll send him a challenge to single combat." No one had thought of this before.
"Please," said Caspian, "could it not be me? I want to avenge2 my father."
"You're wounded," said Peter. "And anyway, wouldn't he just laugh at a challenge from you? I mean, we have seen that you are a king and a warrior3 but he thinks of you as a kid."
"But, Sire," said the Badger4, who sat very close to Peter and never took his eyes off him. "Will he accept a . challenge even from you? He knows he has the stronger . army."
"Very likely he won't," said Peter, "but there's always the chance. And even if he doesn't, we shall spend the best part of the day sending heralds5 to and fro and all that. By then Aslan may have done something. And at least I can inspect the army and strengthen the position. I will send the challenge. In fact I will write it at once. Have you pen and ink, Master Doctor?"
"A scholar is never without them, your Majesty6," answered Doctor Cornelius.
"Very well, I will dictate," said Peter. And while the Doctor spread out a parchment and opened his ink-horn and sharpened his pen, Peter leant back with half-closed eyes and recalled to his mind the language in which he had written such things long ago in Narnia's golden age.
"Right," he said at last. "And now, if you are ready, Doctor?"
Doctor Cornelius dipped his pen and waited. Peter dictated7 as follows:
"Peter, by the gift of Aslan, by election, by prescription8, and by conquest, High King over all Kings in Narnia, Emperor of the Lone9 Islands and Lord of Cair Paravel, Knight10 of the Most Noble Order of the Lion, to Miraz, Son of Caspian the Eighth, sometime Lord Protector of Narnia and now styling himself King of Narnia, Greeting. Have you got that?"
"Narnia, comma, greeting," muttered the Doctor. "Yes, Sire."
"Then begin a new paragraph," said Peter. "For to prevent the effusion of blood, and for the avoiding all other inconveniences likely to grow from the wars now levied11 in our realm of Narnia, it is our pleasure to adventure our royal person on behalf of our trusty and well-beloved Caspian in clean wager12 of battle to prove upon your Lordship's body that the said Caspian is lawful13 King under us in Narnia both by our gift and by the laws of the Telmarines, and your Lordship twice guilty of treachery both in withholding14 the dominion15 of Narnia from the said Caspian and in the most abhominable, - don't forget to spell it with an H, Doctor - bloody16, and unnatural17 murder of your kindly18 lord and brother King Caspian Ninth of that name. Wherefore we most heartily19 provoke, challenge, and defy your Lordship to the said combat and monomachy, and have sent these letters by the hand of our well beloved and royal brother Edmund, sometime King under us in Narnia, Duke of Lantern Waste and Count of the Western March, Knight of the Noble Order of the Table, to whom we have given full power of determining with your Lordship all the conditions of the said battle. Given at our lodging20 in Aslan's How this XII day of the month Greenroof in the first year of Caspian Tenth of Narnia.
"That ought to do," said Peter, drawing a deep breath.
"And now we must send two others with King Edmund. I think the Giant ought to be one."
"He's - he's not very clever, you know," said Caspian.
"Of course not," said Peter. "But any giant looks impressive if only he will keep quiet. And it will cheer him up. But who for the other?"
"Upon my word," said Trumpkin, "if you want someone who can kill with looks, Reepicheep would be the best."
"He would indeed, from all I hear," said Peter with a laugh. "If only he wasn't so small. They wouldn't even see him till he was close!"
"Send Glenstorm, Sire," said Trufflehunter. "No one ever laughed at a Centaur21."
An hour later two great lords in the army of Miraz, the Lord Glozelle and the Lord Sopespian, strolling along their lines and picking their teeth after breakfast, looked up and saw coming down to them from the wood the Centaur and Giant Wimbleweather, whom they had seen before in battle, and between them a figure they could not recognize. Nor indeed would the other boys at Edmund's school have recognized him if they could have seen him at that moment. For Aslan had breathed on him at their meeting and a kind of greatness hung about him.
"What's to do?" said the Lord Glozelle. "An attack?"
"A parley22, rather," said Sopespian. "See, they carry green branches. They are coming to surrender most likely."
"He that is walking between the Centaur and the Giant has no look of surrender in his face," said Glozelle. "Who can he be? It is not the boy Caspian."
"No indeed," said Sopespian. "This is a fell warrior, I warrant you, wherever the rebels have got him from. He is (in your Lordship's private ear) a kinglier man than ever Miraz was. And what mail he wears! None of our smiths can make the like."
"I'll wager my dappled Pomely he brings a challenge, not a surrender," said Glozelle.
"How then?" said Sopespian. "We hold the enemy in our fist here. Miraz would never be so hair-brained as to throw away his advantage on a combat."
"He might be brought to it," said Glozelle in a much lower voice.
"Softly," said Sopespian. "Step a little aside here out of earshot of those sentries24. Now. Have I taken your Lordship's meaning aright?"
"If the King undertook wager of battle," whispered Glozelle, "why, either he would kill or be killed."
"So," said Sopespian, nodding his head.
"And if he killed we should have won this war."
"Certainly. And if not?"
"Why, if not, we should be as able to win it without the King's grace as with him. For I need not tell your Lordship that Miraz is no very great captain. And after that, we should be both victorious25 and kingless."
"And it is your meaning, my Lord, that you and I could hold this land quite as conveniently without a King as with one?"
Glozelle's face grew ugly. "Not forgetting," said he, "that it was we who first put him on the throne. And in all the years that he has enjoyed it, what fruits have come our way? What gratitude26 has he shown us?"
"Say no more," answered Sopespian. "But look - herd27 comes one to fetch us to the King's tent." `
When they reached Miraz's tent they saw Edmund and his two companions seated outside it and being entertained with cakes and wine, having already delivered the challenge, and withdrawn28 while the King was considering it. When they saw them thus at close quarters the two Telmarine lords thought all three of them very alarming.
Inside, they found Miraz, unarmed and finishing his breakfast. His face was flushed and there was a scowl29 on his brow.
"There!" he growled30, flinging the parchment across the table to them. "See what a pack of nursery tales our jackanapes of a nephew has sent us."
"By your leave, Sire," said Glozelle. "If the young warrior whom we have just seen outside is the King Edmund mentioned in the writing, then I would not call him a nursery tale but a very dangerous knight."
"King Edmund, pah!" said Miraz. "Does your Lordship believe those old wives' fables31 about Peter and Edmund and the rest?"
"I believe my eyes, your Majesty," said Glozelle.
"Well, this is to no purpose," said Miraz, "but as touching32 the challenge, I suppose there is only one opinion between us?"
"I suppose so, indeed, Sire," said Glozelle.
"And what is that?" asked the King.
"Most infallibly to refuse it," said Glozelle. "For though I have never been called a coward, I must plainly say that to meet that young man in battle is more than my heart would serve me for. And if (as is likely) his brother, the High King, is more dangerous than he why, on your life, my Lord King, have nothing to do with him."
"Plague on you!" cried Miraz. "It was not that sort of council I wanted. Do you think I am asking you if I should be afraid to meet this Peter (if there is such a man)? Do you think I fear him? I wanted your counsel on the policy of the matter; whether we, having the advantage, should hazard it on a wager of battle."
"To which I can only answer, your Majesty," said Glozelle, "that for all reasons the challenge should be refused. There is death in the strange knight's face."
"There you are again!" said Miraz, now thoroughly33 angry. "Are you trying, to make it appear that I am as great a coward as your Lordship?"
"Your Majesty may say your pleasure," said Glozelle sulkily.
"You talk like an old woman, Glozelle," said the King. "What say you, my Lord Sopespian?"
"Do not touch it, Sire," was the reply. "And what your Majesty says of the policy of the thing comes in very happily. It gives your Majesty excellent grounds for a refusal without any cause for questioning your Majesty's honour or courage."
"Great Heaven!" exclaimed Miraz, jumping to his feet. "Are you also bewitched today? Do you think I am looking for grounds to refuse it? You might as well call me coward to my face."
The conversation was going exactly as the two lords wished, so they said nothing.
"I see what it is," said Miraz, after staring at them as if his eyes would start out of his head, "you are as lilylivered as hares yourselves and have the effrontery34 to imagine my heart after the likeness35 of yours! Grounds for a refusal, indeed! Excuses for not fighting! Are you soldiers? Are you Telmarines? Are you men? And if I dog refuse it (as ail23 good reasons of captaincy and martial36 policy urge me to do) you will think, and teach others tan think, I was afraid. Is it not so?"
"No man of your Majesty's age," said Glozelle, "would be called coward by any wise soldier for refusing the combat with a great warrior in the flower of his youth."
"So I'm to be a dotard with one foot in the grave, as well as a dastard," roared Miraz. "I'll tell you what it is, my Lords. With your womanish counsels (ever shying from the true point, which is one of policy) you have done the very opposite of your intent. I had meant to refuse it. But I'll accept it. Do you hear, accept it! I'll not be shamed because some witchcraft37 or treason has frozen both your bloods."
"We beseech38 your Majesty -" said Glozelle, but Miraz had flung out of the tent and they could hear him bawling39 out his acceptance to Edmund.
The two lords looked at one another and chuckled40 quietly.
"I knew he'd do it if he were properly chafed," said Glozelle. "But I'll not forget he called me coward. It shall be paid for."
There was a great stirring at Aslan's How when the news came back and was communicated to the various creatures. Edmund, with one of Miraz's captains, had already marked out the place for the combat, and ropes and stakes had been put round it. Two Telmarines were to stand at two of the corners, and one in the middle of one side, as marshals of the lists. Three marshals for the other two corners and the other side were to be furnished by the High King. Peter was just explaining to Caspian that he could not be one, because his right to the throne was what they were fighting about, when suddenly a thick, sleepy voice said, "Your Majesty, please." Peter turned and there stood the eldest41 of the Bulgy42 Bears.
"If you please, your Majesty," he said, "I'm a bear, I am."
"To be sure, so you are, and a good bear too, I don't doubt," said Peter.
"Yes," said the Bear. "But it was always a right of the, bears to supply one marshal of the lists."
"Don't let him," whispered Trumpkin to Peter. "He's a good creature, but he'll shame us all. He'll go to sleep and he will suck his paws. In front of the enemy too."
"I can't help that," said Peter. "Because he's quite right. The Bears had that privilege. I can't imagine how it has been remembered all these years, when so many other things have been forgotten."
"Please, your Majesty," said the Bear.
"It is your right," said Peter. "And you shall be one of the marshals. But you must remember not to suck your paws."
"Of course not," said the Bear in a very shocked voice.
"Why, you're doing it this minute!" bellowed43 Trumpkin.
The Bear whipped his paw out of his mouth and pretended he hadn't heard.
"Sire!" came a shrill44 voice from near the ground.
"Ah - Reepicheep!" said Peter after looking up and down and round as people usually did when addressed by the Mouse.
"Sire," said Reepicheep. "My life is ever at your command, but my honour is my own. Sire, I have among my people the only trumpeter in your Majesty's army. I had thought, perhaps, we might have been sent with the challenge. Sire, my people are grieved. Perhaps if it were your pleasure that I should be a marshal of the lists, it would content them."
A noise not unlike thunder broke out from somewhere overhead at this point, as Giant Wimbleweather burst into one of those not very intelligent laughs to which the nicer sorts of Giant are so liable. He checked himself at once and looked as grave as a turnip45 by the time Reepicheep discovered where the noise came from.
"I am afraid it would not do," said Peter very gravely. "Some humans are afraid of mice -"
"I had observed it, Sire," said Reepicheep.
"And it would not be quite fair to Miraz," Peter continued, "to have in sight anything that might abate46 the edge of his courage."
"Your Majesty is the mirror of honour," said the Mouse with one of his admirable bows. "And on this matter we have but a single mind... I thought I heard someone laughing just now. If anyone present wishes to make me the subject of his wit, I am very much at his service - with my sword - whenever he has leisure."
An awful silence followed this remark, which was broken by Peter saying, "Giant Wimbleweather and the Bear and the Centaur Glenstorm shall be our marshals. The combat will be at two hours after noon. Dinner at noon precisely47."
"I say," said Edmund as they walked away, "I suppose it is all right. I mean, I suppose you can beat him?"
"That's what I'm fighting him to find out," said Peter.
13决斗
吃过早餐，彼得开口说话了：“朋友们，阿斯兰和两个女孩子，也就是苏珊女王和露茜女王，就在附近。我们不知道它什么时候开始行动。自然，它深知如何把握战机，但与此同时，它希望我们也能看准时机，有所作为。凯斯宾，你看我们有没有足够的力量与弥若兹的部队进行决战?”
“恐怕我们的力量不够，陛下。”凯斯宾答道。他非常喜欢彼得，可与他在一起时，又总觉得自己笨嘴拙舌。两个年代相差很远的国王坐在一起，凯斯宾尤其感到陌生和新奇。
“那么好吧，我向他挑战，一对一与他较量。”彼得从容地说。这主意，在场各位还没有人想到过。
“让我来吧，”凯斯宾说，“我要为父亲报仇。”
“不行，你负伤了。再说，他不会介意你的挑战，或者他会嘲笑你的。我的意思是说，我们大家都亲眼目睹了你作为国王和勇士的丰采。可是在他的眼里，你不过是个孩子而已。”
“可是陛下，他会接受你的挑战吗?他很清楚自己拥有一支强大的军队。”说话的是獾，它紧挨彼得坐着，一直默默地注视着他。
“是的，他很可能拒绝我。但可能性还是有的，即便他真的拒绝应战，我们也将照样派出使臣与他周旋，这时阿斯兰就会不失时机，给敌人以致命的打击。我们也可乘这个时机检查部队，加固工事。我一定要发出挑战，我这就写。博士先生，你这里有没有纸笔?”
“一个学者从来不缺这类东西，陛下。”克奈尔斯博士答道。
“好极了，我来口述。”
博士忙着铺开纸，削尖了笔。与此同时，彼得靠在椅子上，微闭双眼，回想着在遥远过去纳尼亚的黄金时代，他下令写这类战书的措词
“就这样写。”他终于睁开眼睛，转向克奈尔斯，“你准备好了没有，博士?”
博士提起笔，俯身在纸上，默默地一字一句记下了彼得口述的战书：
“彼得，凭着阿斯兰的赋予，凭着人民的选举，凭着古老的传统，凭着赫赫的战功，谨以如下名义——纳尼亚的至尊王，孤独岛与凯尔帕拉维尔的统治者，阿斯兰帐下的无畏骑士，向凯斯宾八世之子，一度为纳尼亚的护国公，现自封为纳尼亚国王的弥若兹阁下，致意。博士，你记下来没有?”
“弥若兹阁下，逗号，致意，”博士口中喃喃地重复着，一边挥笔疾书，“好了，陛下。”
“下面另起一段。”彼得吩咐道，“我受众人爱戴的阿斯兰的派遣，游历到此，现已证实：第一，凯斯宾王子是纳尼亚王位的法定继承人。第二，阁下犯有双重大罪——谋杀亲兄凯斯宾九世，篡夺王位并实行恐怖统治。为此，我代表纳尼亚的正义势力向阁下宣战。为了避免不必要的流血，为了避免这场战争可能引起的太多伤亡及种种不幸，我本人向阁下发出挑战。如阁下愿意同我刀枪相见、一决雌雄，本人将不胜荣幸。
“递交战书者是我尊敬的兄弟爱德蒙，纳尼亚历史上的国王，石桌大骑士。对阁下就决斗所提出的各种条件，他有权代表我作出全部决定。此战书写于阿斯兰堡垒，凯斯宾十世元年元月十二日。”
“这样就行了，”彼得长长地吐了一口气，“现在，我们要挑选两名卫士与爱德蒙同行。我想巨人可以算一个。”
“他?你知道，他并不十分聪明。”凯斯宾说。
“那倒是，”彼得说，“可是任何一个巨人，只要闭上嘴巴保持沉默别人就得注意他。再说，委之以重任，会增加他的荣誉感和责任感。另一个派谁去?”
“依我的看法，”杜鲁普金说，“假如要找一个用目光就能杀人的勇士，那么老鼠将军雷佩契普最合适不过了。”
“从有关它的那些故事来判断，它的确能做到这一点。”彼得说着笑了一笑，“要是它身材再高大一点儿就好了，敌人还没有走到它眼前就得完蛋了。”
“派人头马格兰斯托姆去，”特鲁佛汉特建议说，“从来没有谁取笑过它。”
一个小时之后，在敌人的防线上，弥若兹的两个贵族军官哥洛和索皮正在阵前，一边溜达，一边用火柴棍儿剔着牙齿，看来早餐吃得十分惬意。他们无意中抬起头来，一眼发现人头马和巨人从树林里向他们走来，不由吃了一惊。战斗中他们早已领教过这两个庞然大物的厉害，可走在中间的那个人是谁，却一时难以分辨。的确，爱德蒙在与阿斯兰相会并受它仙气点化之后，从外表到气质都变了许多，变得更加成熟，更加英俊，浑身洋溢出一股活力，一股凛然正气。就是他的同学们此时见到他，恐怕也不能一下子认出他来。
“他们干什么来了?”哥洛说，“想搞突然袭击?”
“我看像是使节，”索皮揣度着，“你看，他们手持绿色的树枝，很可能是来投降的。”
“走在巨人和人头马中间的那人脸上，看不出要投降的意思。他是谁?不像是凯斯宾那孩子。”
“当然不是他，”索皮说，“我敢说，那是个凶猛的斗土。不知叛贼们从哪儿把他找来的。咱哥儿俩在这儿说说，这人比弥若兹可气派多了。瞧他那身盔甲!咱们的铁匠哪有这个手艺!”
“我敢打赌，他是来下战书的，绝不可能是来投降的。”哥洛说。
“怎么?”索皮大惑不解，“我们已经把敌军攥在手心里了，弥若兹不会愚蠢地放弃我们的优势，去和一个不知底细的人决斗。”
或许是他们引诱他，或者迫使他这么做。”哥洛压低了声音说。
“小声点，”索皮警觉地四下望了一望，“咱们往一边挪挪，别让那些放哨的听见……现在，你能不能把话说得更明白些?”
“假如国王接受挑战，和敌人首领单独决斗，结果会怎样?”
哥洛向同伴耳语道，“要么他把对方杀掉，要么被对方所杀，对不对?”
“不错。”索皮点点头。
“如果他干掉了对手，我们就打赢了这场战争。”
“那当然。可是如果……”
“如果国王被干掉了，没有他咱们照样可以战胜敌人。这就不必多说了，大家心里都清楚，弥若兹并非一个顶天立地的英明君主。到那个时候，我们打了胜仗，却没有了国王……”
“阁下的意思是说，没有国王，我们可以更方便地统治这片国土?”
哥洛的面孔变得十分丑恶起来。“别忘了，把他推上国王宝座的正是我们。这么多年来，他享尽荣华富贵，而我们得到了什么好处?他向我们表示过多少感激之情?”
“别往下说了，”索皮打断他的话，“你瞧，有人来传我们到国王的帐篷里去。”
他们两人来到国王帐前，看见爱德蒙和两个卫士正坐在帐篷的外面享用由奴仆们端上来的美酒糕点。显然，他们已经把战书递了上去，国王正在考虑如何答复。这两个贵族军官在这么近的距离细细打量对手，不由感到一阵心悸。
在帐篷里他们当然也看见了弥若兹。只见他眉头紧锁，脸色通红，显然动怒了。
“喏!看看这是什么!”他咬牙切齿地说，一边从桌子的另一端向他们扔过那份战书来。“看看我的宝贝侄儿给我送来了什么!”
“启禀王上，”哥洛说，“假如我们在帐外见到的那个青年就是信中提到的爱德蒙国王的话，我认为这是个危险的骑士，万万不可轻视。”
“爱德蒙国王?呸!阁下是否也相信老太婆嘴里那些有关彼得、爱德蒙之类的无稽之谈?”
“我只相信自己的眼睛，陛下。”哥洛回答道。
“哼，你这话毫无意义，”弥若兹不满地说，“至于如何答复这个挑战，或许我们持有相同的意见?”
“我的确认为是这样，陛下。”
“你说说看。”
“断然拒绝。我想这是最为明智之举，”哥洛说，“因为尽管从来没有人称我作懦夫，但坦白地讲，在一场生死搏斗中与那样一个青年人交手，我的内心是不会平静的。假如，而且十分可能，他的哥哥，那个至尊王，比他更加勇猛危险，那么，为了您宝贵的性命，还是别惹他为妙。”
“放肆!”弥若兹叫了起来，“这不是我想听到的忠告，不是的!你以为我在问你，我是不是应该惧怕这个叫彼得的人(而且有没有这么个人还很难说)?你以为我怕他?我不过想听听你们的意见，在目前我们处于优势的情况下有没有决斗的必要。”
“陛下，我惟一的忠告，便是拒绝挑战，”哥洛说，“那陌生骑士的脸上有一股杀气。”
“你又来了!”这时，弥若兹已完全被激怒了，“你是不是想让我表现出与你同样的怯懦?”
“任凭陛下怎么说。”哥洛谦卑地退在一边。
“哥洛，你讲话简直像个没见识的乡下老太太!”弥若兹说着把身子转向索皮，“爱臣索皮，对这件事你有何高见?我们该如何答复这封战书?”
“不予答复，陛下。”一直默默地站在一边的索皮开口了，“这就是最好的策略，不予答复!既然陛下没有明确拒绝敌人的挑战，别人也不会对陛下的荣誉和勇气表示任何怀疑。”
“活见鬼!，”弥若兹一边大声叫嚷，一边从椅子上跳了起来，“你今天也中了邪吗?你以为我在为拒绝挑战而寻找借口吗?你还不如当面叫我懦夫。”
眼看达到了目的，两个大臣装做恭恭敬敬的样子，不再吭声了。
“我明白了，”瞪着眼盯了他们半晌，弥若兹终于说道，“你们是两个胆小如鼠的家伙，却把我也当成与你们一样无用的东西!找拒绝的理由，找不战的借口。好畦，你们还是不是军人?你们还是不是台尔马人的子孙?你们还算是男子汉吗?假如我拒绝挑战(尽管我有充分的理由这么做，而且我的经验、我的感觉都告诉我应该这么做)，你们就会认为，并且使别人相信，我是由于胆怯才拒绝挑战，对不对?”
“以陛下这般年纪，拒绝一个血气方刚的青年斗士的挑战，没有人会称之为怯懦的。”
“这么说，我已经半截入土、行将就木了，是吗?”弥若兹咆哮起来，“我要让你们亲眼看一看，我的阁下!你们这种婆娘式的劝告，结果适得其反!我原打算拒绝这挑战，可现在我宣布，我正式接受它。你们听清楚没有，我接受了!应该感到羞耻的是你们!”
“我们为陛下的安全深表……”哥洛的话还没有说完，弥若兹早已疾步走出帐篷。他们听到他大声对爱德蒙宣布应战的决定，互相挤挤眼睛，无声地笑了起来。.
“我知道，只要把他激怒起来，他就准会接受挑战。”哥洛说，“可是我不会忘记，他把我叫做懦夫!他将为此付出代价的!”
使者带回的消息不胫而走，在阿斯兰堡垒引起一阵激动。爱德蒙和弥若兹手下的一个队长共同划出了决斗的场地，并打下界桩，用绳子圈了起来。双方将各派三个人站立在决斗场的两端，作为决斗的助手和公证人。这时候，彼得正忙着给凯斯宾鼓气，使他相信自己绝非孤军作战，因为他们进行的是一场正义的战争。突然，他们身边响起了一个带点儿睡意的粗嗓子：“陛下，能听我说一句话吗?”彼得转过身来，看清那是一只年长的大棕熊。“陛下，是我大棕熊，陛下。”
“我认得你，而且知道你是好样儿的，对此我深信不疑。”彼得友好地对它说。
“不错，我是一只善良的熊，”大棕熊顿了一下，继续说，“我想提醒陛下，决斗的助手向来是由我们家族来担任的，想必你早有安排了吧?”
“别派它去当助手，”杜鲁普金小声对彼得说，“不错，它秉性善良，但是派去当公证人，它会给我们丢脸的。它会在决斗还没有结束的时候呼呼睡大觉。它还会吮它的爪子——当着敌人的面这么做!”
“哈!真没办法，”彼得说，“可是它的话一点儿不错——熊家族是有这个特权。也不知道为什么，我对此印象很深，而对过去其他许多事情早都记不得了。”
“请陛下恩准。”棕熊又说。
“这是你们的权利，”彼得说，“就委任你做助手吧。不过你要记住，不可以在那种场合吮爪子。”
“当然不。”棕熊美滋滋地答应着走开了。
“瞧，它又吮上了!”杜鲁普金指着棕熊的背影对彼得说。棕熊赶忙把爪子从嘴里抽出来，装出一副若无其事的样子，去看它在决斗场上的位置。
“陛下!”一个尖尖的声音从附近什么地方传来。彼得四下看了半天，才发现地上仰头站着鼠将军。
“啊——是雷佩契普，有事吗?”
“陛下，我的生命可以随你支配，但我的荣誉只属于我自己。”雷佩契普讲到这里，眼里流露出一丝忧伤。“陛下，我的部下中有我们大军惟一的吹鼓手。本来我以为会被挑选去下战书的，结果我失望了，我的部队也因此而士气大落。如果这次你能选我做决斗的助手，我的部下想必会安下心来。”
这时，在他们上方突然响起一阵雷鸣般的声音，这是巨人韦姆布威热那傻乎乎的笑声。直到雷佩契普狠狠地瞪了他一眼，他才意识到自己的失态，立即闭上嘴，憋出一脸苦相。彼得皱着眉头回答鼠将军说：
“这恐怕不行，有些人害怕老鼠……”“这我注意到了，陛下。”
“这样对弥若兹不大公平，”彼得继续说，“我们不能在决斗场上故意安排一名可能影响他情绪和勇气的助手。”
“陛下真是诚实的化身。”鼠将军姿势优美地鞠了一躬，“在这件事情上，我的考虑有欠周全……刚才我听到有人在笑。假如在场诸位中有谁想拿我开心，那么我随时恭候——我这把剑可不是吃素的。”
雷佩契普这充满火药味的宣言，带来了一阵沉默。最后，还是彼得先开口：“巨人韦姆布威热、棕熊和人头马格兰斯托姆将作为助手随我参加决斗。决斗下午两点开始，十二点准时开饭。”
收听单词发音 |
1
liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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avenge
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| v.为...复仇，为...报仇 | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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badger
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| v.一再烦扰，一再要求，纠缠 | |
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heralds
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| n.使者( herald的名词复数 )；预报者；预兆；传令官v.预示( herald的第三人称单数 )；宣布（好或重要） | |
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majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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dictated
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| v.大声讲或读( dictate的过去式和过去分词 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
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prescription
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| n.处方，开药；指示，规定 | |
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lone
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| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
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knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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levied
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| 征（兵）( levy的过去式和过去分词 )； 索取； 发动（战争）； 征税 | |
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wager
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| n.赌注；vt.押注，打赌 | |
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lawful
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| adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的 | |
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withholding
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| 扣缴税款 | |
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dominion
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| n.统治，管辖，支配权；领土，版图 | |
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bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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centaur
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| n.人首马身的怪物 | |
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parley
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| n.谈判 | |
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ail
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| v.生病，折磨，苦恼 | |
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sentries
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| 哨兵，步兵( sentry的名词复数 ) | |
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victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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scowl
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| vi.(at)生气地皱眉，沉下脸，怒视；n.怒容 | |
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growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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fables
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| n.寓言( fable的名词复数 )；神话，传说 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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effrontery
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| n.厚颜无耻 | |
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likeness
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| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
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martial
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| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
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witchcraft
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| n.魔法，巫术 | |
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beseech
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| v.祈求，恳求 | |
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bawling
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的现在分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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bulgy
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| a.膨胀的；凸出的 | |
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bellowed
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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turnip
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| n.萝卜，芜菁 | |
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abate
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| vi.(风势，疼痛等)减弱，减轻，减退 | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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