Vulpes went away and became a mercenary soldier to earn enough gold to prove to Iocale’s father that he was successful in his own right, and worthy of his daughter. When he returned five years later, a hardened man with gold heavy in his pockets, Iocale was now nineteen and more clever and beautiful than ever – and Vulpes asked her father for her hand. Iocale’s father loved her very much, and was horrified by the thought of his precious jewel married to a rough, murdering mercenary, as Vulpes so appeared to him now. Once more he refused Vulpes’ request.