NINE
Find the wealth the barons are hiding in the countryside, his father had told him. Find it, and bring it home. The words became a litany in Lubos' head as he headed back to the mill. Bachmeier wasn't so much hiding Molina as keeping her to himself, and squandering her talents besides. If she truly could create things that would make the kingdom wealthy...make women's work go faster...
Just as men looked up to their king, a kingdom's women looked to their queen. They would do their best to fashion clothing like hers, name their children after her, attend royal events just to get a glimpse of her, and maybe receive her blessing. Even his mother, who'd done little more than smile wanly as the constant pregnancies and miscarriages took their toll. Yet a wave from her could make a crowd
