38 I have asked her, but she refuses to say
anything other than that all she does is honorable. She says she has
sworn an oath and can say no more. Lord, I beg of you, by your authority make her break that oath. Make
her say what happens in that house.
39 If she tells you, and you say it is good, then I will never question
her again. But if you find what she does is evil, make her break her
vow. Declare her contract non-binding, and let her take her children
and come home. But Lord, my heart must be at rest."
40 "Very well," agreed Brown Goat, and he called the woman to him for a
private session.
41 "Lord," she began, "I know you are the keeper of all vows, and by
your Speaker's Oath you will not speak of anything you hear unless it
breaks The Law. But I tell you now, we break no Law, and to ask me to
break my word is wrong."
42 "Perhaps," said Brown Goat, "you are right. But for the sake of your
father's heart, and, mine, you must tell me what the secret is you
keep. Only then will I know that you are not being kept against your
will."
43 "Lord," the woman answered, "I will make two statements that are
absolute truth, and if you can determine from these statements what our
secret is, then I will answer any other question you have."
44 "Very well," agreed Brown Goat.
45 "One," began the woman, "there are eight children in our house. Five
are born by me, and three by another. My mate has no other woman but
me, yet all the children in our house bear his blood.
46 Two, there is a man in our house and my mate has known him, but
neither of them has known shame. These are the things, Lord, that I
have to say."