cor is raised under the name shasta by a stern fisherman named arsheesh, who lives on the coast of calormen, a semi-arid land to the south of narnia, beyond archenland and the great desert. during his life with arsheesh, shasta lived a poor life and was always barefoot. shasta believes that arsheesh is his father until he overhears arsheesh negotiating to sell him as a slave to a tarkaan (a calormene nobleman). he discovers that arsheesh found him as a baby in a rowboat on the beach. shasta goes to the stable and starts talking to the tarkaan's horse there. to his surprise, the horse answers him, warning that his new master is cruel and suggesting that they escape together to narnia, a land of freedom where nearly all the animals talk.