“But how can he？ Does the Tisroc think our brother theHigh King would suffer such an outrage？”
“Sire，” said Peridan to the King. “They would not be so mad. Do they think there are no swords and spears in Narnia？”
“Alas，” said Edmund. “My guess is that the Tisroc has very small fear of Narnia. We are a little land. And little lands on the borders of a great empire were always hateful to the lords of the great empire. He longs to blot them out， gobble them up. When first he suffered the Prince to come to Cair Paravel as your lover， sister， it may be that he was only seeking an occasion against us. Most likely he hopes to make one mouthful of Narnia and Archenland both.”
“Let him try，” said the second Dwarf. “At sea we are as big as he is. And if he assaults us by land， he has the desert to cross.”
“True， friend，” said Edmund. “But is the desert a suredefence？ What does Sallowpad say？”
