Chapter 81 Chapter Forty Seven

By the fifth year, however, all the estates were in order; the tower was completed, and the flag with the "Demba Podakwa" (horseshoe and cross) had been flying on top of it for several months, While Jagienka was happily rocking her fourth son, Jurand, to sleep, old Matsko said to Zbyszko: "Everything is prosperous. If God can allow me one more thing, I will die with peace of mind." Zbyszko looked at him inquiringly, and after a while asked: "Perhaps you mean the war with the Knights of the Crusaders? Because you don't need anything else." "I told you long ago," Macko replied, "that as long as Grand Master Conrad lives, there will be no war."

"But he won't live forever." "I'm not going to be immortal either, so I'm thinking about something else entirely." "What's the matter?" "... It's better not to say anything. I'm going to Spychow now; perhaps I'll also go to Plotsk and Trersk to see the dukes." This answer did not surprise Zbyszko, since Maczko had been to Spychow several times in recent years; therefore Zbyszko simply asked: "Are you going to stay there long?" "It will take longer than usual, because I will be in Plotsk for a while."

So Macko set out a week later, with some carriages and some good armor (in case he had to fight in the tournament).At parting, he said that he might be out longer than usual this time; he was out longer than usual.Zbyszko, disturbed by having not heard from him for six months, finally went to see him in Spychow, only to meet Macko on the road near Siraz, and they returned home together. The old knight looked gloomy, and asked Zbyszko carefully how he was doing in his absence.His face lit up when he heard that all was well, and he began to talk about himself: "I've been to Marlborough, to tell you," he said.

"You mean Marlborough?" "Where else is there!" Zbyszko looked at him for a while in amazement, then suddenly slapped his thigh and said: "Oh, God! I have completely forgotten my vow to fight them to the death!" "Of course you will, because you have fulfilled your vow," Macko replied. "But God will not allow me to disgrace my honor by neglecting my solemn vows. It is not our law to forget anything. By the Holy Cross! As long as I live, I will not break this law." Macko's face fell at this moment, and took on the resolute and terrible look that Zbyszko used to use in the barracks of Witout and Skovoro before going to war with the Knights of the Crusaders. have witnessed.

"Well," Zbyszko asked. "Did he avoid you?" "Didn't dodge, but he didn't show up." "Then why?" "He did the big 'comto'." "You mean Kunno Lichtenstein?" "Yes, they'll even elect him Grand Master. Who knows! Even now he thinks he's on an equal footing with the dukes. They say he's in charge and all the business of the order rests on his shoulders .The head of the regiment can’t do without him. How can such a person go to the martial arts arena? It only ends up making people laugh at me.” Zbyszko asked with an angry gleam in his eyes:

"Did they laugh at you?" asked Zbyszko, with a sudden gleam of anger in his eyes. "Princess Alexandra of Plotsk laughed; she said to me: 'Better challenge the Roman emperor. We know that Lichtenstein; Great men like Valla and Bashiko of Biscupitri challenged him, but they got no answer, because he could not fight. Not because he was weak, but because he was a priest, and He is busy enough with the important affairs of the Knights Order, how could he think of this matter, he would rather ignore the challenge, and lose some honor instead.' That's what she said."

"Then what do you tell her?" "I was troubled, but I said to her: 'Anyway, I have to go to Marlborough and tell God and the world.' I did everything I could. I asked the Duchess to send me an errand so that I could Take a letter to Marlborough, because I know I can't escape from that wolf's den alive without a letter. But I thought so, you refused even Chavisha, Povara, Bashiko , refused to challenge them, but I will slap your mouth and pluck your beard in front of the Grand Commander, all the 'Komto' and the guests, and you must fight if you don't want to."

"God help you!" cried Zbyszko enthusiastically. "What?" said the old knight. "There is a way for everything. Just don't get dizzy. But this time God didn't show his power, because I didn't find Lichtenstein in Marburg. They told me that he was sent to Witout. I went. At that time I didn't know what to do: wait for him to come back, or to catch up with him? I was afraid of missing him on the way. But because I was already familiar with the Grand Master and other prelates, I put my mind on Speak up and tell them why I came. But they immediately shouted: 'It can't be done.'"

"why?" "The reason is exactly the same as the Duchess explained to me in Plotsk. The Grand Master said: 'What do you think I would do if I accepted the challenge of Masovia and every knight in Poland?' Well— —he's right, and he's long gone." "The two senior priests expressed their admiration. When they told everyone about it at dinner in the evening, they immediately coaxed like a hive, especially when the guests immediately gathered and shouted: 'Quinno can't do it, we can do it! ’ So I chose three of them, and wanted to fight each of them in turn. But the Grand Master, after pleading with me, only allowed one of them, also called Lichtenstein, to fight, and he was also Kuno relatives."

"And what happened?" cried Zbyszko. "Well, I brought his armor, but it's a pity that this armor is very tattered, and a 'Grivan' is not worth it." "My God! You have fulfilled your vow." "I thought the same at first, and I was happy. But then I thought, 'No! This is different!' So I'm still upset." But Zbyszko began to comfort him. "You know, I would not relax my duty in such a matter. But I would be content in your case. And I tell you, even the greatest knights in Cracow would Confirm my opinion. Even that Chavisha himself, whose knight honor is outstanding, I believe it can only be so."

"Do you think so?" Macko asked. "Just think about it! They are the most famous knights in the world. They also challenged him, but none of them achieved as much as you. You made a solemn oath to kill Richerton Stan, has killed a Lichtenstein too." "Perhaps you are right," said the old knight. Zbyszko, eager to know about knights, asked: "Well, tell me, then: was he a young man or an old man? Did you fight on horseback or on foot?" "He was about thirty-five years old, and he sat on a horse with a long beard that hung down to his girdle. God helped me to stab him with a spear, and we fought with swords. I tell you, the blood flowed from him like a fountain. It came out of his mouth, and his entire beard was glued together into an icicle." "Didn't you keep complaining that you are getting old?" "On horseback, or standing on the ground, I can hold up pretty well. But in armor, I can hardly jump into the saddle." "But Kunno himself will certainly not escape your hand." The old man waved his hand contemptuously, indicating that he was much easier to deal with Kuno.So they went to look at the "golden mail" that Macko had brought as a sign of victory.It is a pity that the fragments are so badly damaged that they are useless, except for the part covering the thigh and the back, which seems to be the work of a very skilled craftsman. "It would be better if it was Quino's," Macko said darkly. "God knows what's better. If Kuno becomes Grand Master, you won't be able to get it, unless it's in a big war." "I heard people talking over there," Macko replied. "Some say that Quinno will succeed Conrad as Grand Master; but others think Ulrich, Conrad's brother, will." "I'd rather Ulrichi be elected," Zbyszko said. "So am I; do you know why? For Quino is cunning and wiser, and Ulrich is more irascible, and he is a true knight of knightly honor. He is mad to fight us. They say, If he becomes Grand Master, there will be an unprecedented battle. Conrad is indeed old. I saw him faint once. Hey, maybe we can see the big battle!" "May God allow! But do they have any new conflicts with the Kingdom?" "There are old conflicts, and there are new conflicts. The nature of a crusader knight will not change. Although he knows that you are stronger than him and will suffer defeat in a fight, he still wants to invade you and plot against you, because he has no way— —he had to." "The knights of the crusaders think they are stronger than all nations." "Not everyone thinks this way, but there are many people who think this way, and Ulrich is one of them. They are indeed very powerful." "Do you remember what Sentram of Mahikovich said?" "Why don't I remember. The situation of the crusader knights is getting worse every year. One mage does not treat another mage as well as the ordinary people there treat me, but the Germans can't see this. The people there have eaten Enough of the suffering of the Crusader knights." "Then we won't have to wait long." "It won't be long. But it will take some time," Macko replied, hesitating for a while and then said: "But at this time, you should work hard and increase your wealth. If there is a war, you can deal with Yuru."