The dog didn’t say a word, but the king’s daughter replied instead: “Who else would she belong to but you?  What is the carpenter’s carving without life?  And the tailor’s clothing without speech?  You gave her the greatest gift—life and speech—and so she is yours.”

“You’ve decided your own fate,” said Vanek.  “To you also, I have given speech and new life, and so you shall be my bride.”

At this point, one of the king’s ministers spoke up.  “His Merciful Majesty will give you a generous reward for untying the princess’ tongue, but of course you can’t marry her.  You are a mere commoner.”

The king repeated, “You’re a commoner.  You can’t have my daughter.  However, I will give you a generous reward.”

But Vanek would have nothing to do with this.  “The king promised, without any exceptions, that whoever could make his daughter speak could have her hand in marriage.  The king’s word is the law, and if the king wants his laws to have any meaning, he must follow them himself.  He must allow me to marry the princess.”

“Guards! Take him!” the minister cried out.  “Whoever says that the king must do something is insulting his Merciful Majesty and deserves death.  If your Merciful Majesty deems it so, let this impertinent man be beheaded.”

“Let him be beheaded!” the king proclaimed.

So they bound Vanek and immediately took him to the executioner’s block.  When they arrived, Luck stood there waiting.  Luck said slyly to Intelligence: “Look where you’ve brought him, he’s just about to lose his head.  Step away and take your place.”

The moment Luck took over, the executioner’s sword broke in two, as if someone had sliced it in half.  And, before they could find him another, a messenger arrived from the castle, followed by the royal carriage. 

The princess had convinced her father that Vanek had indeed been right: The king should not break his word or laws, and the young commoner could easily be made a knight.