Drinian's manners have flustered her, Caspian can see, but Susan Delgado has always been able to rise to the occasion, and indeed she does again now. He comes to stand beside her, a warm hand on her back. "Kind of you to indulge me, I think," he tells her, aware of Drinian's keen glance.

His Captain smiles, the sobers. "Sire, I hardly know how to ask," he says, carefully. "But in the time since I've been here, I've not seen your son...?"

Caspian's heart makes a queer shift in his chest, but he smiles. "And you shan't," he promises. "Not for a long while, I hope. For Rilian was returned to us, thanks to our dear friend Eustace."