“Yes,” said Caspian.
“Then put this mantle over all to hide the sword and the wallet.
That’s right.
And now we must go to the Great Tower and talk.”
When they had reached the top of the Tower (it was a cloudy night, not at all like the night when they had seen the conjunction of Tarva and Alambil) Doctor Cornelius said,
“Dear Prince, you must leave this castle at once and go to seek your fortune in the wide world.
Your life is in danger here.”
“Why?” asked Caspian.
“Because you are the true King of Narnia: Caspian the Tenth, the true son and heir of Caspian the Ninth.
Long life to your Majesty’—and suddenly, to Caspian’s great surprise, the little man dropped down on one knee and kissed his hand.
“What does it all mean?
I don’t understand,” said Caspian.
“I wonder you have never asked me before,” said the Doctor, “why, being the son of King Caspian, you are not King Caspian yourself.
Everyone except your Majesty knows that Miraz is a usurper.
When he first began to rule he did not even pretend to be the King: he called himself Lord Protector.
But then your royal mother died, the good Queen and the only Telmarine who was ever kind to me. And then, one by one, all the great lords, who had known your father, died or disappeared.
Not by accident, either.
Miraz weeded them out.
Belisar and Uvilas were shot with arrows on a hunting party: by chance, it was pretended.
All the great house of the Passarids he sent to fight giants on the northern frontier till one by one they fell.
Arlian and Erimon and a dozen more he executed for treason on a false charge.
The two brothers of Beaversdam he shut up as madmen.
And finally he persuaded the seven noble lords, who alone among all the Telmarines did not fear the sea, to sail away and look for new lands beyond the Eastern Ocean, and, as he intended, they never came back.
And when there was no one left who could speak a word for you, then his flatterers (as he had instructed them) begged him to become King.
And of course he did.”
“Do you mean he now wants to kill me too?” said Caspian.
“That is almost certain,” said Doctor Cornelius.
“But why now?” said Caspian. “I mean, why didn’t he do it long ago if he wanted to?
And what harm have I done him?”
“He has changed his mind about you because of something that happened only two hours ago.
The Queen has had a son.”
“I don’t see what that’s got to do with it,” said Caspian.
“Don’t see!” exclaimed the Doctor. “Have all my lessons in History and Politics taught you no more than that?
Listen.
As long as he had no children of his own, he was willing enough that you should be King after he died.
He may not have cared much about you, but he would rather you should have the throne than a stranger.
Now that he has a son of his own he will want his own son to be the next King.
You are in the way.
He’ll clear you out of the way.”
“Is he really as bad as that?” said Caspian. “Would he really murder me?”
“He murdered your Father,” said Doctor Cornelius.
Caspian felt very queer and said nothing.
“I can tell you the whole story,” said the Doctor. “But not now.
There is no time.
You must fly at once.”
“You’ll come with me?” said Caspian.
“I dare not,” said the Doctor. “It would make your danger greater.
Two are more easily tracked than one.
Dear Prince, dear King Caspian, you must be very brave.
You must go alone and at once.