The Unfortunate, стр. 60

But he knew it was not possible. There was nothing that could definitively link the symbol with the child he had spared. Despite his thoughts Beadurof did not allow his emotions to betray him. He nonchalantly crumbled the parchment and inquired, “Where did you find this?”

“That symbol came to me in a dream.”

“A dream?” he sighed. “Is that all this concerns? You and your visions?”

She ignored the criticism and further explained her reasoning. “Fate provided me a revelation of years past. The truth about our first born was revealed. Everything was revealed to me. Everything. How you took the child away from the city, how you held the dagger to its neck only to use it instead to carve that symbol into the boy’s shoulder, how you then took the child to that village, and how you gave him to that elderly man to raise.”

Prior to the conversation, the king’s ultimate concern was that his wife would not regret her years of adultery. But now this? The actions Beadurof had taken, how he had marked the child and had spared him, were known by only one other, and it was not Marlisa. Even if he had been betrayed, Beadurof was the only one who knew everything, all the events of that night. So how had Marlisa learned of them?

Before the king could ponder further or even attempt to provide an answer to the repetitive claims, Marlisa again challenged, “The child was cursed!”

“ENOUGH!” the king roared. “I recall the warning. ‘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.’ Yes, I recall every word, and do you want to know what I think of your vison? I think the only individual who it matches is Banan!”

“No!” Marlisa again lashed at her husband. “It was our first born. It had to be. I received the warning while he was within my womb. That should have been all the required proof, yet you allowed him to live! You defied Fate! You call yourself a warrior, a king, but you were too weak to—”

She was silenced by a slap that caused her to stumble backward.

“You desire the truth? Yes, I saved the boy, and yes, I branded him with this mark.” He drew attention to the crumbled parchment by flicking his wrist.

“Why?” Despite the queen’s initial composure, the hysteria at last commenced, and she wailed with a wretchedness from deep inside. “Did you do it so you could find him? He is cursed! You do not need him! You have an heir. You have Banan.”

He turned his head and spat. “What do you care? You wanted our first born killed! Did you not?” Beadurof stomped toward his wife and grabbed her wrist. “And as for Banan, he is no leader! He would rather fornicate than fight! All he has ever brought me is shame. Banan is not worthy of my crown, and if you claim my words are false, then you will have again lied!”

There was momentary silence, but eventually the queen laughed. It began as moderate chuckles but quickly morphed into maniacal cackles.

The king did not know what to make of his wife’s behavior, and he backed away several paces. “Have you lost your wits?”

Marlisa ignored the question, and through bouts of cackling, she posed her own inquiry. “You do not realize what a fool you are, do you, Beadurof?” her madness briefly subsided. “You have been too blinded by hatred—toward me, toward Banan, and toward all those who refuse to conform to what you believe is just. You have failed to realize the truth.”

“What do you claim?”

“You have been cursed, Beadurof, and it is only a matter of time. I shall see to it!” The laughter resumed, and then it happened. Marlisa charged the king, bumped into his side, and robbed him of his dagger.”

“Put it down.” He advanced a few paces before adding, “Give me the dagger.”

Instead of obeying her husband, Marlisa continued to cackle as she radically swept the blade through the air in repetitive, elongated attempts.

“Need I call the guards?” the king challenged. “They will not hesitate to escort you to the dungeons!”

The threat had been effective, and in turn the queen ceased her laughter, lowered the blade, and remained calm as Beadurof slowly moved closer, remaining prepared for any sudden movement.

Eventually he extended his arm and again coaxed, “Now give me the dagger.”

Marlisa smiled briefly. Then without notice she screamed, and she slashed the weapon toward Beadurof.

The attack grazed the king’s hand, and he quickly recoiled. Before he could call a guard, however, the queen flung open the door and ran. Her maniacal cackling echoed throughout the corridor, becoming softer and more distant, and it soon faded never to be heard again.