Chapter 63 Chapter Twenty Nine

Zbyszko had not slept since Danusia's death, like a benumbed man.For the first few days, things weren't too bad.He walked up and down, talking about his dead wife, looking at Jurand, sitting by his bed, answering all the questions the priest put to him about Macko's capture, and they agreed to send Tori Ma went to Prussia and Marburg to inquire about Macko's whereabouts, and paid Macko and Zbyszko's ransom in full according to the agreement Macko made with the two brothers Arnold von Peyton .There was enough wealth in the cellars of Spiehof to pay the ransom, which was Jurand's savings or spoils of war.The priest believed that if the Knights of the Crusader accepted the ransom, they would release the old knight without any trouble, and they would not insist on Zbyszko going in person.

"Go to Plotsk," the priest said to Tolima, who was about to leave, "ask the Duke to issue you a certificate of protection, otherwise, the first 'comto' you meet will snatch it from you." Your money, and even hang you." "Hey! Of course I know them," replied old Tolima. "Even pedestrians with protection certificates are robbed by them." After the old man had gone, the priest regretted not letting Zbyszko go himself.In fact, he did not dare to send Zbyszko at that time because he was worried that Zbyszko was sad and could not handle the matter properly, or that he would offend the crusader knights with his temporary anger and endanger him instead. safety.The priest also knew that Zbyszko, who had just gone through such a terrible and painful journey from Götswerd to Spychow, and was recently widowed, had to leave the coffin of his beloved immediately. is very difficult.After considering all this, he felt sorry for Zbyszko, not to mention that his health was getting worse.During Danusia's lifetime, he had been living an extremely stressful life with great physical exertion.He has traveled to many places, fought many duels, and traveled all over the deserted jungle in order to save his lover.It all ended suddenly, as if someone had split it in two with a sword, and all that was left was this memory of the futility of all effort, of the past, of a part of his being gone; of hope and happiness. It also disappeared.Loved ones are dead and there is nothing left.Everyone has hopes for tomorrow.Everyone has goals and plans for the future.Not so with Zbyszko, the future has nothing to do with him.His thoughts about the future were similar to those of Jagienka when she left Spiehof, when she said: "Alas! My happiness is in the past, it is not waiting for me!" Compared with Jinka's sorrow, it is infinite.Emptiness and pain increased his mourning for Danusia.This grief overwhelmed him, overwhelmed him, and shrank his heart to the point where there was no room for any other emotion.Then there is nothing but sorrow in his mind; he allows sorrow to grow in his heart.He felt nothing else, was silent, fell into a kind of half-sleep, unaware of anything going on around him.All his faculties of mind and body, his customary quickness and aggressiveness, were in a state of disarray.He looked and moved like an old man.Days and nights were spent either beside Danusia's coffin in the basement, or on the balcony basking in the midday sun.He often fell into deep thought and didn't even answer others' questions.Father Kaleb, who had always loved him, was startled at this sight; he was afraid that Zbyszko would be corroded like a piece of iron; It might be a good idea to go to the Knights of the Crusaders instead.He told a junior clerk in the village church: (for there was no one to talk to) "He must find something difficult to do, or he will die of grief." The clerk cautiously echoed this opinion. , and metaphorically speaking, if someone swallows a bone and gets stuck, the best thing to do is give him a good pat on the back.

However, nothing unexpected happened; on the contrary, M. de Lauches unexpectedly arrived a few weeks later.Zbyszko shuddered at the sight of him, for it suddenly reminded him of the Zemud expedition and the rescue of Danusia.De Rausch made no attempt to avoid these painful memories.As soon as he heard of Zbyszko's misfortune, he went with Zbyszko to pray beside Danusia's coffin in the basement.He talked of her constantly, too, and, being a troubadour himself, made up a song about her, which he sang at night by the latticed door in the basement, playing his lute, so plaintively, It made Zbyszko cry when he heard the tune, even though he could not understand the words.Cried all night, until dawn.

Exhausted by weeping and lamentation, and lack of rest, he fell into a deep sleep, and when he awoke, his face was seen free of tears and sorrow, and more alive than before.He was very pleased with M. de Rausch's presence and thanked him for it.He asked how the other party would know the news of his misfortune. De Rausch replied to Zbyszko, through Father Kaleb, that he had met Tolima in the prison of "Komto" in Lupodai, and that Danusia's death had been told to him by old Tolima. of.He had come to Spychow as a prisoner at Zbyszko's command. Zbyszko and the priest were shocked by the news of Tolima's imprisonment.They knew that once the money was snatched by the crusader knights, it would be the most difficult thing in the world to dig it out of their throats.In this case, it is bound to bring another ransom to go there again.

"Damn it!" cried Zbyszko.I have pity on my uncle waiting there, thinking I forgot him!I must hurry to see him now. " He turned to M. de Lauches and said: "Do you know what happened? Do you know that he fell into the hands of the crusader knights?" "I know," replied de Lauches, "because I have seen him at Marburg, and that is why I have come here." At this point Father Kaleb began to complain. "We're not doing things well," he said, "everyone's been in a daze for a while. I'm surprised at Tolima's blunder. Why doesn't he go to Plotsk to get a certificate of protection?" ? There is no guide at all, so go and throw yourself into the trap!"

M. de Lauche said nothing, but shrugged his shoulders. "Certificates of protection are not in their eyes either! The Duke of Plotsk has suffered as much from them as you have. There are constant battles and raids on the border. Every 'comto', hey, every consul They both do what they like, and when it comes to robbery, they're better together than one." "After all, Tolima should go to Plotsk first." "He was going, but he was kidnapped on the road near the border. They would have killed him long ago if he hadn't told them that he was sending money to the 'comto' in Lupova. .Luckily the money saved his life. Now that 'comto' will prove it's Tolima himself."

"How is my uncle Macko? How is he? Is his life not in danger there?" Zbyszko asked. "He's fine," De Lauche replied. "The people there hate 'King Witout' and those who helped the Zemuds. If they hadn't been greedy for the ransom, the old knight would have been beheaded long ago. The reason why the two brothers von Peyton protected him , also for this. Besides, I myself was a little bit involved in this. If something happened to me, the knights of Flanders, Geltris and Burgundy would rise up against them... Especially, I and Gerdel The Earls are related."

"Then why do you say that your head is in danger?" Zbyszko broke in. "Because I was your captive. I told them in Marburg: 'If you kill the old knight Bogdaniec, the young knight will kill me.'" "I will never chop your head off, I swear to God!" "I know you won't chop my head off, but they don't know that, they're afraid you will; so Macko is still safe with them until now. You too are a prisoner, they tell me , said they released you by your oath of knighthood, so that I should not have to come to you. I answered them, You were a free man when you captured me. Here I am! As long as I am in your hands, Then they will not hurt you, nor Macko. You pay von Peyton the ransom, but you can demand double and triple the ransom for me. They must pay. I do Say, it doesn't mean I'm worth more than you. No; I hate them for their greed, and I'll punish them. I never got to know them, and now I'm sick of them and their courtesies. I'm going to The Holy Land to seek out the adventurous life of knights. I will no longer serve them."

"Or stay with us, sir," said Father Kaleb. "I think that's the only way you can do it; and even if they bring a ransom, we won't let you go." "If they won't pay, I'll pay myself. I've brought a sizable party of servants, and several wagons laden with goods; the goods in them will be enough to pay." Father Kaleb repeated to Zbyszko what de Rausch had said; this sort of thing would have been considered very important by Maczko, but Zbyszko, being young, did not care. fortune, answered: "On my honor! It will not be done as you say. You have always been my brother and friend, and I will never take your ransom no matter what."

They embraced each other; they felt a new friendship bind them together.De Lauche smiled and said: "Well, the Germans must not know about it, or it would be bad for Macko. They have to ransom me anyway, otherwise they are afraid that I will spread the matter among the courts and knights of various countries, saying that they are so kind to invite a The knights come as guests, and once the guests are captured, they don't care about them at once. The knights are in great need of attracting guests at present, because they are afraid of Witout, and even more afraid of the Poles and the Polish king."

"Then do as you say," said Zbyszko. "You stay here, or wherever you like in Masovia, but I will go to Marburg to rescue my uncle, and I will insist on my rights to you before them." "In the name of St. Jesse! You do it," cried de Lauches. "But let me tell you first: the people from Marburg say that the King of Poland is coming to Plotsk and will meet with the Grand Master of the Knights in Plotsk or somewhere near the border. The Knights of the Crusader are really looking forward to this meeting, for they want to know whether the king will help Witout if they openly declare war on Witout in Zemud. Ha! The Knights are as insidious as vipers, but in In Witout, they had a good adversary. The knights were afraid of him, because they never knew what he was up to. 'He gave us the christmas,' they said in the congregation. "But he always puts a sword around our necks. As long as he speaks a word, he will betray us to Mude." That's actually the case. I must visit his court anyway. Maybe there will be a chance Tournaments there. Besides, I've heard that the women there are as beautiful as angels." "Your Excellency, did you just say that the King of Poland is coming to Plotsk?" asked the Abbe Kaleb to de Rausch. "Yes! Let Zbyszko go to that court. The Grand Master is trying to win the King's favor. You know very well that no one is as humble as the Knights of the Crusader when necessary. Let Zbyszko Go join the King's Retinue, go make demands for his own interests. Let him go around preaching about the evils of the Knights. Otherwise they will listen to the Grand Order in front of the King and the Knights of Krakow It’s a long story, the knights of Krakow are famous all over the world; travel around the world of knights, their judgments will not work anywhere!” "That's a brilliant idea. By the cross! How wonderful!" cried Father Kaleb. "Yes!" asserted de Rausch, "and there are ways. I heard in Marlborough that there was going to be a banquet and a tourney, because the foreign guests were determined to challenge the Polish knights to the tournament. My God, Aya John of the Nets is going there too; he is the most valiant knight in all Catholic countries. Don't you know? It is said that he sent gauntlets from Yarra to challenge your Chavisha, to make the courts of all nations Everyone knows that there is no knight in the world who is his opponent." As soon as de Rausch came, Zbyszko, seeing his face and hearing his words, immediately awoke from the stupor of pain, and the young knight listened to the news with interest.He knew John of Yarranet.A knight ought to know and remember the names of all the most famous knights; besides, the fame of the nobles of Aragorn, and especially of John, has spread throughout the world.There is no knight who can match him in the tournament field.When the Moor saw his armor, he ran away.Everyone recognized him as the number one knight in the Catholic country. Therefore, when Zbyszko heard the news, his warlike knightly spirit revived, and he asked de Rausch eagerly: "Did he challenge Charni (Black) Chavesha?" "About a year ago, John sent his gauntlet, and Chavisha sent his own." "Then John of Allaton must come." "I'm not sure, but the rumors say so. The Knights of the Crusaders have invited him a long time ago." "May God allow! How I wish I could see such a duel!" "May God allow it!" said Dehui Rauch. "Even if Chavesha was defeated (which is likely), it would be a great honor to him, ah, and to your whole country, because John of Aragon challenged him." "We'll see!" said Zbyszko. "I hope this duel will come true." "I hope so too." But their wish was not then fulfilled, for the old chroniclers tell us that Chavesia fought the famous John of Aragon fifteen years later, at Pampinan, in the presence of the Emperor Siegman, the Pope. Benedict Thirteenth, Allah held in the presence of the king and countless dukes and cardinals.Tsarvesya Czerny of Gapov dislodged John of Aragorn from his horse with one blow of his spear, and thus won the victory.But Zbyszko and de Rausch were also very happy at the time; they thought that even if John of Alaton could not come in person at the appointed time, they would still see the grand event of the knight world, because there are many knights in Poland who are not as good as Chavet. Xia Xingse; and among the guests of the Knights of the Crusaders, you can always find first-class swordsmen from France, England, Burgundy, and Italy, and they are always willing to fight anyone. "Listen," said Zbyszko to de Rausch, "I am sorry that my uncle is not here, and I must hurry to redeem him. So I will go to Plotsk early tomorrow morning. But why are you staying?" Here? You are not a prisoner here; come with me, and you may see the king and his court." "I was about to ask you about that," replied de Lauche. "I have wanted to see your knights for a long time. I have also heard that the maids in the imperial court are as beautiful as angels, not mortals." "You said that when you mentioned Witout's court," Zbyszko pointed out.