The two children stood silent， shivering in the cold wind. “It was my sister‘s fault，” said the Queen. “She drove me to it. May the curse of all the Powers rest upon her for ever！ At any moment I was ready to make peace.yes， and to spare her life too， if only she would yield me the throne. But she would not. Her pride has destroyed the whole world. Even after the war had begun， there was a solemn promise that neither side would use Magic. But when she broke herpromise， what could I do？ Fool！ As if she did not know that I had more Magic than she！ She even knew that I had the secret of the Deplorable Word. Did she think.she was always a weakling.that I would not use it？”
“What was it？” said Digory.
