11 Now, the daughter of one of Brown Goat's Councilmen was in The Hall, and came forward. "Why is it," she
inquired, "you must seek a bride in this manner? No man is refused in
your land, unless he has some..."
12 The man raised his hand. "Before these men," he answered, "I will
not speak of it."
13 "I am fair to look upon," the woman continued, "If you tell me in
private what the problem is, and I accept your proposal, would you then
make the bargain?"
14 Brown Goat stood up. "I forbid this!" he commanded.
15 "Lord," the woman argued, "this is my free will. I have the right to
choose any man I would."
16 "If it is of your own will," agreed Brown Goat, "then so be it."
17 The man and the woman went off. When they returned, the man looked
embarrassed, and the woman was laughing, but holding his hand gently.
"Lord," she announced, "I accept this man's proposal. I will be his
mate. I will fulfill that part of the bargain."
18 "I still do not like this," complained Brown Goat, "but so be it.
Show us the secret of this weapon."
19 The young man went out to the ox cart, and from beneath a false
bottom drew out a strangely shaped bundle, and came back into The
Speaker's Hall.
20 "That urn at the far end of the room," he ordered, "cover it with
breast plates, and put a shield before it."
21 Undoing the bundle, he took out what looked like a crossbow without
a bow. Instead, on the end, was a long, metal rod. One end of the rod
was hollow.
22 The young man took out a goat's horn, poured some powder from it
into a measure, then poured the