Chapter 16: A Secret of the King’s

⁠​​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌⁠Pilar said that the oxen were idiotic dears to break their hearts for nothing, not even a percentage on the twenty pesetas. But four-footed beasts are tragically conscientious, and these farmyard martyrs accomplished their task without a groan, while the Gloria crept up close behind on her own power.

I thanked the patron saint of cow creation when the straining brutes got to the top. The summit of