Chp 14

Having said this, the king was presented with a sword by a member of the court.

The old Baimei warrior walked over and pushed the man, drew his own sword and presented it to the king. The frail Baimei leaning on the hand of his warrior bowed to his lord and king.

--Your heraldry you have Baimei. Your lands you have. Kneel down although you are a woman, you will be my vassal and tribute to me you must give me, otherwise you will find death under my hand....

The young woman knelt before solemn moment, applause thundered palace. A new vassal she was. The laws did not contradict it, nor did the monks of the temples oppose it. For it was a fact. Royal Countess Baimei. Vassal of her majesty. She would not be looked at from the corner of her eye. She could choose a husband. Administer law. Tribute and taxes to collect. Immediately the drums gave her a royal salute.

The young woman waited. One hand was the right. Another the left. It did not take long for the king his real business to show.

-- To an important general "capasteis". Fierce warriors of the desert the same fate befell. They without dignity went their ways. They tell me that the humiliation was so great that some of them were even hanged. The general showed himself before his lord and wept for death. He was quickly pleased. His head rolled in judgment, and his body was degraded, in a common grave with prisoners and slaves. How low he fell among his own.

They tell me that the sons of the desert want to collect affront. The news is undoubtedly unjust. !My kingdom is so poor!. How can I help you? I claim from all the princes, counts, kinglets and governors I have. It is that nobody is in conditions to fight. To resurrect the Cid Campeador of the distant Hispania we should bring. No one by your side wants to stand. Nor next to you flag show

The young woman showed a face of despair. Countess was, so that alone it was defended and to nobody asked for help, alone it had to show efforts.

She said nothing. Her king was a poor devil. Coward and fat. Her prime minister was a coward too. He would walk away and leave her alone with the problem. That was the background of the royal appointment.

The king understood the imperceptible gesture and almost angrily attacked.

--Single, orphan and bastard," --he said hurtfully,-- "don't forget the beginnings of your vassalage. I'll fix that, too. You can choose a husband. My permission is even to marry a Count or Governor. But the time of your bachelorhood I will limit. Only 6 months of bachelorhood I accept. I myself shall celebrate the wedding. I exclude the members of this court. Out of here you will find him....

A new coming the young woman showed. Assuming that she didn't even have enough for the bed sheet, it took away her financial possibilities. Almost a sigh of relief the young woman gave. And a tear by rules forced to give ....

Laughter was what she wanted to show. She had plenty of suitors. The difficult thing would be to harmonize and look good. If she were another woman, she should give each one a wedding night. For many warriors more than a husband had behaved, risking their lives to prove their loyalty to her.

The young woman rose from her prostrate figure. The king, understanding what was painful news, in order to make amends, dismissed her.

--You can use your right heraldry, your flags show, I will not contradict it neither in an hour nor in any place. Nothing more for you shall I do. What is to come will be for you to show.