The Bossonori Resistance
The story goes that deep in the heartland of what's now Spain lived a carpenter and blacksmith named Xavi Bossonori. By all accounts he lived a peaceful life, a fair trader and a competent worker. Rarely was he found in the pub or in the saloon in discussions with other men of his age. Outside of his name little was known, he had suddenly arrived, from where no one in the town knew . His was a quiet existence...until one day!
As it happens the King decided to increase taxes on the populace after he had surveyed his treasure troves and found them not bursting to the seams. He liked his treasure houses to burst to the seams just like his protruding stomach would strech his garments. So, the king sent his great general Sergoyo.
Sergoyo a warrior of repute, a capable fighter but prone to acts of wickedness. Sergoyo went around the towns collecting the increased taxes, those who resisted facing swift and ruthless violence. Children made orphans, mothers widowed, fathers decapitated. Word soon spread and compliance was ensured in all towns but one.
In Bossonori’s town, the people wanted to comply, but they had just faced a drought, they were already facing a possible famine as things stood. Parting with their paltry resources would only speed up the process. But they heard the news of how Sergoyo disposed of those who questioned the King’s command. So, it was decided they would only pay half and plead to be allowed to pay the remainder after the next harvest. Sounded like a reasonable solution...
To Sergoyo anything other than outright compliance the king's command was a mortal offence. When he had Bossonori's town proposition, he was apoplectic and ordered all men be brought to the local pub. With all men gathered he waxed lyrical about the virtues of following commands to the latter and how not attaining to such virtue was a stain on the glorious bosom of the mother land. Such a stain needed to be removed swiftly and violently.
He the requested to know who had come up with such an idea. Silence ensured, outside of the rattling of the teeth and bones of the man standing only the sound of Sergoyo guzzling beer, he had taken from the liquor cabinet in the pub, could be heard. After consuming a whole cup in one swoop, he then asked how much he owed to the pub owner, who in the name of self-preservation said it was free for those on the king's errand. Sergoyo duly communicated how this man was an example of a true subject of the king. But still he needed to know who originated the idea, surely such a loyal subject would share details, or his hands would be separated from the rest of the body. For all present that was leniency since the common punishment was a severed head.
The pub owner could not reveal that this was a whole town decision, this would be condemning them all to certain death. So, he purposed he would rather have his hands severed. Just when the sword was being unsheathed...a squeaky voice cried out, “It was my idea good Sir!”. An amalgamated gasp and a unitary turn of heads...there was Bossonori. Sergoyo looked at the man, and laughed, “You tell me all these strong men listened to such a puny fella, l ought to execute them just for that!”
Bossonori was dragged to the front by two stern looking soldiers for him to be inspected by Sergoyo. Sergoyo took his time walking around tossing one limb up then another, that alone was humiliating. The prognosis, this was a weak man to have originated this idea. So, he was to die for lying to the king's trusted envoy. The squeaky voice again, “If l am weak then you would not mind me fighting your best warrior for the right to keep my life”. Sergoyo and his troops could not hold back their laughter, after some hearty laughter Sergoyo thought it not much of a trouble to give the fella his dying wish.
The deathly bout was organised to coincide with the sunset. Bossonori arrived with his one long spear, all he could carry comfortably. Sergoyo pointed to one of his mighty looking warriors to jump in the deathly ring. The squeaky voice, “I am sorry Sir, do you mean this is the greatest among your man. You mean he surpasses you, one thrust of my spear any shield will fall so l need your best”. Sergoyo was amused by such boldness, but his ego was excited so he decided he should take this challenge and for good measure give the puny man a chance to prove his shield falling apart assertion. Sergoyo's armour was sourced from the best blacksmith in the land, he was sure no spear would thrust through it. He didn't bother putting his breastplate. As he entered the deathly ring, he announced he felt parched so one of his solders should run to the pub get him some beer he would need it after disposing of the puny man.
Sergoyo stood shield in front, sword still sheathed and asked for the puny man to do his worst because he was going to surely do his. Bossonori did not need prodding, he came full speed spear in the front. Spear made contact with shield, then silence. The first sound heard was the soldier coming back from the pub dropping the beer. Then the body of Sergoyo falling to the ground. This wasn't the planned or expected outcome, so the soldiers were not sure of what to do. The town people were caught by surprise too. The squeaky voice, “Becausue you are man under command l will spare your lives for now, leave” The soldiers picked the body of Sergoyo and complied, this man should be some powerful magic man, you don't trifle with such.
The town people were left in jubilation. Bossonori the new hero, what had happened no one understood. The spear had not shattered the shield, just merely created a hole on the shield which went straight to Sergoyo's heart. No man had such strength especially given it was the shield of a general.
For his part Bossonori could not tell them that this was not a fit of strength or some mystical power. The general shield, all shields of man of war were made by people in Bossonori town of birth. The blacksmith kept one secret from the soldiers, they left one point of weakness and the canter of the shield. A targeted thrust on that point would not meet much resistance especially if the target is standing still. The centre of weakness was made as a contingency of instances where they would need to fight back against the king. Today the contigency had saved the day. But Bossonori would keep it a secret.
The town people gathered to honour the new hero. The new hero appeared packed to leave. Bossonori then informed them that he had to leave since the soldiers after gathering their thoughts would surely come back. A woman shouted that she thanked the gods who sent him. Then it occurred to him, he could leave them with a purpose. So, he informed them the gods had sent him to spark a revolution against the tyranny of the king. This town would lead the resistance, he was now leaving to share the news ...when the time was right the gods would send him to finish the fight.
The town people took him at his word, and they started the resistance, naming it there Bossonori resistance. Other towns joined in, for two years the war raged on until they finally captured the king’s castle. Bossonori for his part had chosen to live in obscurity in a small town in present day Portugal The man was just a misanthrope who was scared of violence , he had done what needed to be done. But he kept abreast of the resistance happening in his name. One day he had the news of the capture of the king and his castle. According to the news the leaders of the resistance were waiting for the gods to send their servant Bossonori to break the silver seal.
The silver seal was the most important possessions for any kingdom at the time. Even more precious than the crown. Upon conquering a king one needed to break the seal to mark the end of that kingdom. The broken parts would be melted and made into a new seal to mark the new kingdom. The problem was, according to the myth, it needed to be broken in one blow otherwise one would have a cursed kingdom. The business of the seal had dissuaded many would be coup plotters from carrying out their plots. The resistance had believed when Bossonori said the gods would send to finish the job he was speaking of the seal.
Bossonori made the journey to palace. His arrival marked with much fanfare. True to his word, with one blow he broke the seal. And left having warned that the new King to be chosen would face same fate as the last one if he did not put the people first.
What he did not tell them was, the blacksmith he originated from where the seal makers as well. The seal was made with points of weakness, these were only communicated to those the incoming king if the seal makers were in accord with him. This was not common knowledge though, Bossonori was just the son of the blacksmith secret keeper. What is a young misanthrope to do when bored and surrounded by all those tomes with secrets?
As he walked out of the palace gates a young boy looked at him and shouted, 'Long live the Bossonori resistance!'