The Unfortunate, стр. 38
“A peasant, like you,” her husband lied.
“You are not from this village, are you?”
“No. My home is nearly half-a-league’s distance.”
“Why have you brought your child—?”
“He is not mine,” Beadurof interrupted and continued to lie. “I found the boy. He had been abandoned. I could not let him die.”
“Why do you not take care of him yourself or ask someone in your own village?”
“I have a family which I can barely support. The same is true for many others in my village.”
The man pondered a moment before lowering his weapon and replying, “What do you think I can offer? I am an old man. How am I to raise a child?”
So many thoughts raced through Marlisa’s mind. Does Beadurof know this man? Is that why he did not lower his hood? More than anything, what is the meaning of this?
“Are you not one of the village elders?” the king replied with an inquiry of his own.
“I am.”
“Then you know all the families in this village, yes?”
The elder man nodded.
“All I am asking is for you to find this child a home and to see that he is given a chance for life.”
The initial answer was a sigh, but the man eventually nodded, placed the candle and weapon aside, and extended his arms.
A rage like she had never previously experienced mounted, and Marlisa clenched her teeth. Beadurof not only had spared the cursed child, he had made certain the boy would live, would grow strong, and would— Before the queen could finish her thought, however, she became compelled to look back to the men. It had not been the sudden movement of exchanging the child that had caught her attention. It was a mark on the child’s shoulder that Marlisa recognized immediately, a double swirl with an extended tail that curved upward and to the right, and beside it the symbol was duplicated as a reverse. Although it had been roughly cut into the child’s skin, the queen still knew the mark. On many occasions she had seen her husband draw the symbol, if that was what it even was. It was never used for official purposes. Until then the design had been a drawing, but now it represented so much more. Now Marlisa had seen the truth, and she knew the mark for what it truly was, the mark of Beadurof’s true heir.
✽ ✽ ✽
The queen awoke with a piercing scream followed by crying, but she could not tell if the tears were the product of fear, sorrow, rage, or a combination of all three. The horrible vision that had awaken me, can it be the answer of what Beadurof has been hiding for nearly two decades? Is the child still alive? She did not even want to consider the possibility, and soon the memory of the vision from years past returned. You will give birth to a son, but he will be unworthy of your husband’s title. He will be a curse, and he will be the bringer of distress. His life will be a plague of grief to all, but you will suffer most. You will be the most unfortunate.
“NO!” she screamed and cried even more hysterically. She tried to observe her surroundings and noticed what she thought were rays of sunshine pouring through a near window, but everything else was a blur because of her tears. “Where am I?” she bawled but did not receive an answer. “WHERE AM I?”
Moments later the room’s door was flung open with a bang.
She abruptly turned toward the direction of the noise, but before she could ask who had entered, the individual spoke with heightened concern.
“Marlisa? What is it? What is awry?”
Still she was uncertain of her surroundings, however, the queen recognized the voice, and she felt more relaxed. “Deogol?” she asked to clarify her assumptions.
“Yes, Marlisa. I am here.”
Slowly she regained her senses and was able to recall her recent actions. She was in Caberton, at Deogol’s house where she had been since the evening prior, and she sighed with relief. “It was only a dream.”
The man gathered Marlisa into his embrace as he had that morning, as he had the evening prior, and as he had so many nights before. He took her hand and soothed, “It is over.” Deogol kissed Marlisa’s brow and then her cheek. “You are safe. My heart is with you.”
“Yes, Love.” She smiled and returned the affection. “And yours with me. As long as I have you, I fear nothing.” Despite her response, the warning continued to haunt her. He will be a curse, and he will be the bringer of distress. His life will be a plague of grief to all, but you will suffer most. You will be the most unfortunate. Her worries at last subsided, and she rested her head against Deogol’s shoulder. Marlisa nevertheless continued to sob for reasons she could still not fully identify. She could still sense fear, sorrow, and rage, but she was now comforted by the joy of knowing she was not alone.
Several moments came and went before Deogol finally inquired, “When you came yesterday, what were you going to ask me before …?”
“Before you commenced wooing me?” she quickly countered and wiped away her final tears.
He chuckled. “It was not all my doing.”
“No,” she admitted, also with slight laughter. “I, too, played a role.”
“And how could I ever refuse the queen of Armania?”
Marlisa sighed. “You know I would relinquish my title if only we could stay like this forever.”
“I know. You have told me many times, but what is done cannot be reversed.”
“But it cannot be forgotten either,” she answered and glanced back to the window and its golden stream of light.
Deogol used his hand to make Marlisa look at him. “What is that supposed to imply?”
The queen smiled. “I was recalling the loyalty you have shown to my family.” Of course her use of family had not included Beadurof.
“Your