Ivan's day was going from bad to worse. He lied bruised and freezing in a stinking gutter.
Dragging himself to his feet, he saw a light a short distance away. He hoped he would find food and warmth there.
As he approached, he found the path littered with beggars, vagrants, and cripples begging for money. He tried to ignore them and continue to where the light is coming from, but it seemed they had other ideas.
As he pushed past, they started to chase after him, throwing aside their crutches and sticks! Ivan was herded into a large hall filled with beggars and cripples where a large fire blazed, the infamous court of miracles.
Ivan found himself in front of a man seated on a barrel. It was none other than the beggar who interrupted his play, Felix! All around the hall, the cities lowlifes were drinking, dancing, and making merry.
"Welcome to my court." said Felix
Here the old man was not a beggar, but a king, the King of Vagabonds! Felix told Ivan that he must pay a fine for entering his kingdom uninvited, or be hanged!
"What is it to be?" asked Felix.
When Ivan said that he didn't have a single coin upon him, Felix told him that there was only one way to save his life, to join their gang, but first he had to pass a test.
"You must prove yourself." stated Felix.
They hung up a gown covered in bells. Ivan had to climb a stool, reach into the pocket, and take a purse from it without making the bells sound.
"Can you pick a pocket?" asked Felix.
He failed miserably. The crowd went wild with excitement, and poor Ivan was pale with fear as the "executioner" fixed a noose around his neck.
However, King Felix offered him a final chance to be saved. It was a vagabond custom, he said, that a man could be spared from hanging if someone in the room agreed to marry him.
"Wed a wench, or it's the rope for you!" explained Felix.
Things were not looking good for Ivan until, at the last minute, the crowd parted and Mia stepped forward. She was willing to be wed to the condemned man, he was saved.
"I will take him." stated Mia.