The Blight spread fast in the days that followed, transforming all life in the castle.
Windows got boarded up and furnaces burned constantly in a clamour to keep the air pure of whatever miasma had poisoned the Narnian wood. The smell of smoke, sage and lavender lingering in every room and hall.
Servants darted about with brooms and tin pans and buckets full of ashes for the leaching barrels smoking in the backyards by the laundry house, billowing like gonfanons.
The still room, likewise, had never been busier; with apothecaries and physicians running around fetching ingredients for salves and potions that cured nothing but momentary discomforts. None of whom could tell Susan what caused the Sleeping Sickness and what might remedy it.
So desperate were they, that Susan had let Lucy drag her into a meeting with their diviners, which proved to be an equal amount of help.
βThe skies are unclear, your majesties.β
βThis sign may be interpreted in a dozen ways.β
βWe cannot tell.β
Attacks on the villages had doubled, and each day their soldiers returned to the castle with more injured. More ill.
Once again, Susan met with an impossible decision: to close the doors to Cair Paravel and preserve those within, or risk everything in leaving them open to continue their relief efforts in the wider country.
βWell, we canβt bloody well close our doors to our own people!β boomed Mr. Georgie Beaver from his place beside Lucy on the council table. βItβs unfinkable!β
Alec the fox, who once served as a spy for Aslanβs army toward the end of Jadisβ reign, let out a long sigh. βAs it stands, we simply cannot go on like this. If our current methods worked, things would not be so dire. Theyβre steadily getting worse, actually; and thereβll be nothing left if we insist upon this path.β He turned to Susan, hazel eyes solemn. βI have been around the country, of late. Most villages are encouraging self-segregation, to prevent the spread of infection. I myself have instructed those in the Foxgroves to do the same until new measures can be taken.β
βJust like a fox!β went Georgie. βJust like a bloody fox to hide in βis βole at the firsβ sign of trouble!β
βWith all due respect,β sighed Alec, βBeaversdam lies along the river, whichβfor youβmeans easier access to clean food and cleaner living. You cannot know of how fraught matters have become inland.β
βDonβt know, Alec? Weβre only in the middle of the whole bloody wood! Iβm tellinβ ya, itβll be the end of us, this burrowing business. Why, the Black Companyβll pick us off one by one wif nuffin to show for it but tracks in the snow!β
βNow, now,β Tumnus said, petting the air. βThereβs no need to shout. We all want whatβs best for Narnia.β
βThe fox speaks truthfully,β Thornbut the dwarf groaned on Susanβs right, silver rings glittering as he stroked his beard. βNowt weβve done so farβs worked, and weβve got to control the spread like. As for the Company, discovering their hideoutβs our only hope, really.β
At this, they turned to regard Susan, who had remained quiet the entire duration of the meeting.
βThyraβs out searching the Dancing Lawn,β Susan offered. βWeβre yet to hear a report.β
βWinnet be different from others before it,β Thornbut sighed, massaging a wrinkled forehead. βSorry to say like.β
βWhatever the result, a decision must be madeΒ now,β Alec pressed. βWe canβt afford not to act. Not even for a day.β
βWell, I agree with Mr. Beaver,β Lucy announced. βWe canβt abandon our own. Itβs barbaric.β
Alec sighed, lowering both ears and tail. βYour majestyββ
βWeΒ canβtΒ leave them to fend for themselves,β Lucy said, her voice taking on that pleading, pitchy quality that usually meant she had grown exasperated. βItβs our duty to protect all of Narnia.β
βIβm afraid itβs not that simpleββ began Alec.
βAinβt it?β countered Georgie. βEvery animal for βimself, eh? Want ta turn Narnia wild? Lion knows you predator types are half on your way to being nuffinβ buh beasts.β
βMr. Beaver, please,β said Tumnus, blinking rapidly in a flustered sort of way. βThereβs no needββ
βItβs alright, Tumnus,β Alec said with a gracious bow of his head. βItβs the beaver way to extend home and hearth to all sorts. They also canβt help but be a littleΒ near-sightedΒ when it comes to matters above the water.β
βWatch it,β growled Georgie.
Alecβs whiskers curled in a smirk. βHonestly, Georgie, you talk of being civilized and you can hardly hold a discussion without exploding in righteous anger. If dear Anne were here, Iβm sure youβd be much more agreeable.β
βGot extra pups in the dam to feed this winter. So keep your trap shut, Alec, and donβt try to be smart with me.β
βPlease. Iβm hardly trying.β
βSay vat again and Iβll knock ya up the olβ salmon and trout!β
(excerpt from Radiant, "2. The Wolf & The Brambling")
