From there Alfonso soon effected his escape, and hastened to seek refuge among the Moors at Toledo.
Don Sancho, having meantime assumed all three crowns, became anxious to dispossess his sister of Zamorra.

But the Cid refused to take part in so unchivalrous a deed, and thereby so angered the king that he vowed he would exile him.

When the Cid promptly rejoined that in that case he would hasten to Toledo and offer his services to Alfonso to help him recover all he had lost, Sancho repented and apologized.

He did not, however, relinquish his project of despoiling his sister of Zamorra, but merely dispensed the Cid from accompanying him.
Because Zamorra was well defended by Vellido Dolfos,--the princess' captain,--King Sancho was not able to take it.

He so sorely beset the inhabitants, however, that Vellido Dolfos resolved to get the better of him by strategy.