Set during the Golden Age of Narnia, at the time of the book "The Horse and His Boy".

King Edmund's point of view

The Splendor Hyaline was almost ready to sail. Courtiers were gathered to bid us farewell. My brother, Peter, looked serious, even a bit grim. There was nothing to say because we had already had many conversations. He did not like this trip anymore than I did. Peter had considered abandoning his plans to raid the Northern giants and accompany Susan to Tashbaan. I was the one who argued that it made sense for me to accompany Susan and for Peter to go fight the giants. I could have led a raid on the giants and the army would have followed me but there was a legend around Peter. He seemed invincible. Both men and creatures followed him with great confidence. I was amazed by the creative strategies he seemed to pluck out of the air when planning a battle. He was truly the magnificent warrior king. I was the wise diplomat, "the Just". I could wield my sword well and plan battles but never the way Peter could do it. The reality is that Peter and I operate best as a team. We actually weren't as close to each other as we were to our sisters. We were not confidents with our feelings or our fears but our strengths complimented each other.

Peter, almost from the day of our coronation, had respected my advice and I had sought to learn as much as I could, to develop my critical thinking skills, to learn about laws and policy, to carve out a role for myself. My mistakes had taught me the importance of fairness, the importance of asking questions before rushing to judgment. After my disastrous experience with the White Witch, I had controlled my jealously. Peter was the High King and I was proud of his accomplishments. After all I had experienced, I could be content being the younger brother, the second king to a great king. Peter would go fight and I would go to Calormen with our beautiful gentle sister.

I was annoyed that Susan had accepted this invitation. I was amazed that she was considering accepting Rabadash's marriage proposal. Susan was usually practical but not this time. Many kings and princes had traveled to Cair Paravel to romance Susan with flattery and gifts. She shrugged most suitors aside. Why had she become so interested in Rabadash? It was a mystery to me and Lucy could not explain it. Lucy, who was usually so perceptive of all our feelings and motives, was as mystified as me.

Lucy hugged me goodbye and said in a whisper: "Be safe Ed and try to keep Su from folly."

I kissed her check and replied "Don't fear Lu, we will be back at Cair Paravel in a few weeks."

My fair sister smiled and then turned to embrace Prince Corin of Archenland who was accompanying us. Another headache I feared. Corin was a good lad at heart but often managed to cause a commotion – too much energy and enthusiasm at times. He would be an amusing companion on ship but I wasn't sure how he would enjoy Tashbaan with its formal rules. Susan had been close to Corin since the death of his mother several years ago and I hoped his presence would serve as additional tie to the northern countries for Susan.

Susan believed this would be a romantic adventure. I saw a story with no happy ending. Rabadash would not like it if Susan turned him down and we would be in his city. I suspected a bad temper behind his pleasant courtesies. On the other hand, I would not like it if Susan accepted this proposal. Aside from missing her – and I would miss her – Narnia would miss her. One of the four thrones would be vacant and that would not be good for the country. I saw no easy way ahead. But I strove to hide all these thoughts as I stood near the quay and smiled.

Before we came to Narnia, when we were children and Peter scolded me (usually for teasing Lucy), Susan was the one who intervened. She was protective, motherly of both me and Lucy. Sometimes I was weary of it but often I was secretly grateful for her care. I still remember, fourteen years ago, when I was rescued from the White Witch and returned to the camp, the tears of joy in Susan's eyes when she saw me again. The pain in her eyes when she saw the rope marks on my wrists, the whip marks on my back and legs. Now, it was my turn to protect her. I could only hope I had learned enough, grown enough in the last fourteen years that I could succeed.