At that moment Corin ran up to Shasta, seized his hand and started dragging him towards King Lune. “Here he is, Father, here he is,” cried Corin.
“Aye, and here thou art, at last,” said the King in a very gruff voice. “And hast been in the battle, clean contrary to your obedience. A boy to break a father’s heart! At your age a rod to your breech were fitter than a sword in your fist, ha!” But everyone, including Corin, could see that the King was very proud of him.
“Chide him no more, Sire, if it please you,” said Lord Darrin. “His Highness would not be your son if he did not inherit your conditions. It would grieve your Majesty more if he had to be reproved for the opposite fault.”
“Well, well,” grumbled the King. “We‘ll pass it over for this time. And now.”
What came next surprised Shasta as much as anything that had ever happened to him in his life. He found himself suddenly embraced in a bear.like hug by King Lune and kissed on both cheeks. Then the King set him down again and said, “Stand here together, boys, and let all the court see you. Hold up your heads. Now, gentlemen, look on them both. Has any man any doubts?”