“What is it?”asked the King.
“Hoofs, Sire,”said Jewel.“A galloping hor.A very heavy hor.It must be one of the taurs.And look, there he is.”
A great, golden bearded taur, with man’s sweat on his forehead and hor’s sweat on his chestnut flanks, dashed up to the King, stopped, and bowed low.“Hail, King,”it cried in a voice as deep as a bull’s.
“Ho, there！”said the King, looking over his shoulder toward the door of the hunting lodge.“A bowl of wine for the noble taur.Wele, Roonwit.When you have found your breath you shall tell us your errand.”
A page came out of the hou carrying a great wooden bowl, curiously carved, and ha to the taur.The taur raid the bowl and said,
“I drink first to Aslan and truth, Sire, and dly to your Majesty.”
He fihe wine（enough for six stro one draught and hahe empty bowl back to the page.
“Now, Roonwit,”said the King.“Do y us more news of Aslan?”
Roonwit looked very grave, frowning a little.
“Sire,”he said.“You know how long I have lived and studied the stars; for we taurs live lohan you Men, and even lohan your kind, Uni.Never in all my days have I en such terrible things written in the skies as there have been nightly sihis year begaars say nothing of the ing of Aslan, nor of peaor of joy.I know by my art that there have not been such disastrous juns of the plas for five hundred years.It was already in my mind to e and warn your Majesty that some great evil hangs over Narnia.But last night the rumour reached me that Aslan is abroad in Narnia.Sire, do not believe this tale.It ot be.The stars never lie, but Men as do.If Aslan were really ing to Narnia the sky would have foretold it.If he were really e, all the most gracious stars would be asmbled in his honour.It is all a lie.”
“A lie！”said the King fiercely.“What creature in Narnia or all the world would dare to lie on such a matter?”And, without knowing it, he laid his hand on his sword hilt.
“That I know not, Lord King,”said the taur.“But I know there are liars oh; there are none among the stars.”
“I wonder,”said Jewel,“whether Aslan might not e though all the stars foretold otherwi.He is not the slave of the stars but their Maker.Is it not said in all the old stories that He is not a tame lion.”