for the sake of abasing a certain kinsman of his, who was chief
Alcayde, and who was better and wiser than he. Moreover he made no
account of the Alcayde of the Almoravides who held the Alcazar, neither
took counsel with him concerning anything, and he gave no heed to him
except to supply him and his company with their charges, which he did
right sparingly.

II. But when King Yahia was slain, his servants and eunuchs and they of
his household fled to Juballa, a Castle which was held by a kinsman of
the Guazil Abenalfarax, who lay in prison; other some fled to Zaragoza,
and told the Cid all that had befallen. The Cid was greatly grieved
when he heard it, and without delay he set forth with all his people,
and went as fast as he could go to Juballa, and there they who had
escaped from Valencia met him, and besought him to help them to revenge
the death of their Lord, saying that they would follow him for life or
for death, and do whatsoever he commanded them. Then the Cid sent
letters to Abeniaf, saying disdainfully unto him, that by God's help he
had kept his Lent well, and accomplished his fast with a worthy
sacrifice by murdering the King his master! and he reproached him for
the shame he had done the King in casting his head into the pond and
letting the body be buried in a dunghill; and at the end of the letter
he bade Abeniaf give him his corn which he had left in his granaries at
Valencia. Abeniaf returned for answer that his granaries had all been
plundered, and that the city now "belonged to the King of the
Almoravides;" and he said that if the Cid would serve that King he would
do his best to help him that he might win his love. When the Cid read
this letter he saw that Abeniaf was a fool, for he had sent to reproach
him for the death of his Lord, and the answer which he had returned was
concerning another matter; and he then knew that Abeniaf was not a man
to keep the power which he coveted. So he sent other letters to him,