“Dear mother,” said he, “it is I that have met with the luck. I got the king’s daughter to marry.”
“Go away out of my sight, and never come near me again!”
“Why so, mother, what ails you? Could I get a better wife than a king’s daughter?”
“My dear son, if she is a king’s daughter, you are a king’s son, so you are as high as she.”
“If I am a king’s son, why have you and I been so poor?”
She told him then that the king had killed his father and all his forces, and that the whole castle and kingdom had belonged to his father.
“Why did you not tell me that long ago?”
“I would never have told you,” said she, “but that you have married the murderer’s daughter.”
Away went the son when he heard what his mother said, and the eyes going out of his head with wild rage, and he saying that he would kill every one living about the king’s castle. The people in the castle saw him coming, and thought from his looks that his mother had said some strong words to him, and they closed every door and window against him. The young man put his shoulder to the door of the castle, and it flew in before him. He never stopped nor stayed till he went to the highest chamber of the castle to the king and queen, killing every one that came in his way. “Pardon me! Spare me!” cried the king.
“I will never kill you between my own two hands; but I’ll give you the chance that you gave my own father while the spear was going from the hand to his breast.” With that, he caught the king, and threw him out through the window. When he had all killed who did not flee before him, he could find no sight of his own wife, though he looked for her everywhere.