The Story of One Baptism

Night enveloped the Nest. Among the forests that tightly cordoned the stronghold, one could hear the howling of wolves, the roar of aurochs, and the shrieks of drowned men and other nocturnal demons, directing unwary travelers toward the traps that awaited the unwary. There was one rule in the lands inhabited by the Polanie tribe. At night, no one in their right mind ventured into the forest; they remained in their own habitat. It didn't matter whether it was a stronghold surrounded by earthen ramparts or a forest settlement, protected only by the rough-hewn stilts of the hut walls.

The huts were safe, as the Swarożyc River protected their inhabitants from the attacks of nocturnal apparitions. Therefore, they could peacefully indulge in their nightly dreams. However, not all of the stronghold had fallen asleep. Movement was visible in front of the largest hut, almost a palace. A guard moved nervously in front of the entrance, while lit torches testified that the owner was awake. In a large room, the innkeeper, known as Mestko, sat on a wooden stool. Around him sat the rest of his council, of which his brother Czcibor, the mir, was the greatest. Great nervousness was evident among those seated, as they disliked the drink sitting on the wooden table before them. Mestko nervously glanced at those seated, and it was clear that something was not to his liking:

"By Perun, may the aurochs take you by the horns for your advice. What does this mean, that I would take Dubrawka as my wife? I don't deny that the alliance with Bolesław gave us an advantage in the field against the Veleti, but this woman refuses to let me sleep. Can you imagine this? Almost a year has passed since I sent away my seven charming wives, and I fall asleep without a woman's body in my bed. No, this cannot be. Advise, or I will return you to the state of peasants."

The council members trembled in their seats. This was the worst that could have happened. To be degraded and returned to a miserable state. Without the right to enjoy the privileges that counselors enjoyed. Minds became dusty. Everyone wanted to offer the ruler the best advice possible. The eldest brother, Czcibor, spoke first:

"Lady, perhaps you could send Dubrawke back to your kingdom and start looking for women again?"

The rest nodded in the affirmative. After all, an unconsummated marriage could be treated as unconsummated and deemed irrelevant. However, Mestko only shook his head negatively:

"To hell with this advice. How do you imagine Bolesław will react to this? Isn't it enough for us to be confused on the border with the iron-bound Germans, and we also have to go to war with the Czechs? We will expose our settlements to the Wielecki invasion. This cannot be. Use your heads more quickly, for my patience seems to be at an end."

A heavy silence fell. As everyone sat there, they pondered the best solution to the impasse. Finally, Dobrosław, the eldest in age and respect, spoke these words:

"Vladyka, however, only one piece of advice comes to mind here. You must take your other half to bed. I think that only by accepting her faith will this be possible."

Everyone gasped and began to stare intently at the ruler. Everyone knew that accepting the new faith meant rejecting their gods. How could this be? What about Perun, Sviatovit, Swarożyc, or Svarog? How can the faith of the fathers be cast aside so that the ruler can once again enjoy male pleasures? Besides, where can we find teachers who can introduce a new order in the country? However, it was clear that Dobrosław already had a solution to these dilemmas:

"Sir, we should not accept faith from the Mutes, because we would end up in a state of servitude to them. I think that only along the way we and the Czech father of your other half will be able to send him an embassy that we want to accept his faith, and Dubrawka will succumb to your desire."

The ruler's face brightened. It was clear that the vision the eldest had projected into his mind had penetrated, creating images within him, where his member, thirsting for feminine recesses, would begin to torment itself. He looked sternly at the gentlemen gathered around the table and said,

"Yes, finally, good counsel. If no one raises any objections..."

With these words, he stroked the blade of the sword he had received as a gift and added, "

Dear Lord, my mother's son, you will go to Bolesław immediately to ask for baptism, and I will go to my other half immediately to inform her of this fact."

No one even protested aloud, for the gentlemen saw that such an attempt, at best, could only end in a return to peasant status. None of them intended to return there, nor did they intend to taste the iron and blade of a sword. It was one of the shortest meetings held without such characteristic disagreements. However, its significance for the newly formed state organism was invaluable.