The_Complete_Chronicles_of_Narnia_(volumes_1-7,_in_order_of_publication)

and bright. Those were the only two things to be seen in the dark sky; they made a dismal
group. And on the earth, in every direction, as far as the eye could reach, there spread a
vast city in which there was no living thing to be seen. And all the temples, towers,
palaces, pyramids, and bridges cast long, disastrous-looking shadows in the light of that
withered sun. Once a great river had flowed through the city, but the water had long since
vanished, and it was now only a wide ditch of grey dust.
"Look well on that which no eyes will ever see again," said the Queen. "Such was Charn,
that great city, the city of the King of Kings, the wonder of the world, perhaps of all
worlds. Does your uncle rule any city as great as this, boy?"
"No," said Digory. He was going to explain that Uncle Andrew didn't rule any cities, but
the Queen went on:
"It is silent now. But I have stood here when the whole air was full of the noises of
Charn; the trampling of feet, the creaking of wheels, the cracking of the whips and the
groaning of slaves, the thunder of chariots, and the sacrificial drums beating in the
temples. I have stood here (but that was near the end) when the roar of battle went up
from every street and the river of Charn ran red." She paused and added, "All in one
moment one woman blotted it out for ever."
"Who?" said Digory in a faint voice; but he had already guessed the answer.
"I," said the Queen. "I, Jadis the last Queen, but the Queen of the World."
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 forever! 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 her promise, 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.
"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 softhearted 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 -"