“That was the secret of secrets，” said the Queen Jadis. “It had long been known to the great kings of our race that there was a word which， if spoken with the proper ceremonies， would destroy all living things except the one who spoke it. But the ancient kings were weak and soft. hearted and bound themselves and all who should come after them with great oaths never even to seek after the knowledge of that word. But I learned it in a secret place and paid a terrible price to learn it. I did not use it until she forced me to it. I fought to overcome her by every other means. I poured out the blood of my armies like water.”
“Beast！” muttered Polly.
