Ch 6

Who can give me a reason for our money,"-- asked the young woman. Silence was the answer. These were things that the Count patiently took care to solve and answer.

-- I think we have the wheat from the autumn harvest, it is only the cattle feed---," answered one of the soldiers with deep respect.

The young woman was confused, she was as poor as everyone else. She showed a distressed face. She alone had her secret, and in jealousy she would not tell it.

--We must give him up,"-- she whispered, her skin even whiter and her voice trembling.

-- We shall all starve to death, including his lordship.

-- Then there remains my mother's jewels and the royal symbol,---" she exclaimed fatalistically.

They all looked at her with anguish. It was also an hour that they all knew anxiously from the beginning would one day arrive to finish clouding the lives of all.

--We are dead or we are slaves. It is a very strong choice to make.

It was obvious. She was a child. She was not equal to the events they were soon to suffer and experience.

The mute forger announced that the bellows was ready.

Another silent oath he took from his soldiers and with his same dagger this time he cut his hand and their hands. They pooled their blood. First time their rough hands touched the skin of someone of royal blood. First time their rough skins touched the soft, perfumed skin of a noblewoman. The first was a kiss of blood. Now it was a blood pact. She was saying they would all die. No one would go back on their word. So they understood and spontaneously swore silent allegiance. For there was something different in that pact. They would all die for her. In turn, she would die with them.

IV

She smiled in satisfaction. The mountain was gold. Gold was what she had and to spare. She was the most powerful from that moment on. She only needed to show her potential, but she had to keep her secret.

Now she was rich. Immensely rich. Then she would become the main appetite of her distant and indifferent king and when the news got out, the lords of the desert would arrive en masse to raze her poor fief to the ground. It was all hers. It was her land. The mountain was hers too. The gold was hers.

The time had come to act.

-We must invite the priest of the village temple. Here a ceremony is to be given. The customs are to be preserved and continued,"-- ordered the young woman.

So it was made known to the whole village. A mass was to be celebrated in the castle. The reason? When they were in the castle they would hear the news from their own mouths, they would be there to pray.

The priest was one of those who had made a fiery pronouncement without naming anyone, he spoke of the unbelieving forces that had taken over the region. Of the fear that it was now frightening to walk the royal road at night. Forgetting thieves and bandits, he spoke of a greater evil.... Which everyone identified as the empty stall, right in front of the main altar of the temple.

He went nevertheless to the castle. The invitation he could not refuse.

The girl countess paid him in advance with small gold coins, which made his determination change.

The castle was open to all, his dirty servants were invited to a new ceremony that was planned by surprise without anyone's notice. The priest was filled with religious fervor. He was told the reason for the ceremony as soon as he arrived. It was his turn to perform the anointing and enthronement of the young countess. What better example of religiosity than to use the life-giving hand in communion? His concepts were further fortified...And more gold coins. For the poor temple .... of course.