(@Swan: I think that "nicer faces and voices" line might be subject to one's interpretation (unless there's something out there to specify authorial intent). My reading has been that the "niceness" was of character not appearance, especially when paired with an earlier contrast to the "grave and mysterious" Calormenes and the way they walked and talked freely and joyously through Tashbaan.)
Chapter 3
I've only just noticed this now: "My father... is one who has the right of standing on his feet in his shoes before the face of the Tisroc himself (may he live forever)." On his feet and in his shoes. This is a status symbol. John MacArthur had brought out something in his sermons and book on the Prodigal Son that I haven't forgotten: the father in that parable had shoes brought out for the returned son, a status symbol that declares the son as being from a wealthy family. Likewise, I think of Moses at the burning bush or Joshua encountering the Angel of the Lord: both were instructed to take off their shoes, for they were on holy ground. Kidrash boasts a noble lineage, "descended in a right line from the god Tash"; this is not said of the Tisroc, but I think it more than safe to assume that the royal line is even closer in "lineage" to Tash. As such, Kidrash is permitted to not only not bow in the presence of the Tisroc, but to keep his shoes on. Perhaps he's even nearly royalty himself. At any rate, I suddenly appreciate the significance of two things: Aravis' arranged marriage to Ahoshta (who is of a most esteemed position, but certainly not out of reach of Kidrash's circle) and her private thought of the soldiers at the gate of Tashbaan "jump[ing] to attention and salut[ing] me if they knew whose daughter I am".
Aravis' older brother has long been a point of interest to me. She clearly esteemed and loved him deeply, but we know so little about him, except that he died in battle and that his build was small enough to allow Aravis to wear his armour. No insights on that, just... throwing that out there, haha.
Similar to an earlier comment about Bree's kindnesses, Aravis is surprisingly gracious to Shasta despite her obvious dislike of him (and refusal to speak to him as much as possible for the first while). She offered him food in the last chapter and did not laugh at Bree's humour at Shasta's expense.
Chapter 4
No particular remarks on this one, I don't think, unless I play the contrast game again.
Oh, except that I do wonder at the Narnians having mistaken Shasta for Corin: Shasta may be fair-skinned in contrast to Calormenes and maybe Corin is outdoors a good deal, but surely Shasta's complexion would be darker and perhaps even his hair colour a little different? (But this is also coming from someone who tans easily and whose hair has not only grown lighter through exposure to the sun, but also has more noticeable highlights in the summer.)
