Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/564

 126 time, then breathed from his full breast, and said, as if in answer to himself,—

"Well! let it be—so there is no help!"

And he went himself toward the horses. Zbyshko turned toward De Lorche, and through a Mazovian, who knew German, said to him,—

"I cannot ask thee to help me against people with whom thou art serving under one banner; hence thou art free, go whithersoever it please thee."

"I cannot help thee now with the sword against my knightly honor," answered De Lorche, "but as to freedom, I will not take it. I will remain thy captive on word of honor, and present myself at summons wherever thou mayest indicate. But do thou in case of need remember that for me the Order will exchange any captive, for not only do I come of a powerful family, but from one that has served the Order."

And they began to take farewell, placing, as the custom was, their hands on each other's shoulders, and kissing each other's cheeks, during which De Lorche said,—

"I will go to Malborg, or to Mazovia, to the court, so that thou mayest know where to find me; if not here, I shall be there. Let thy envoy just say two words to me: Lorraine Guelders."

"Very well," answered Zbyshko. "I will go now to Skirvoillo to get the sign which every Jmud man will reverence. "

He went then to Skirvoillo. The old leader gave the sign, and made no difficulty as to departure, for he knew what the question was; he loved Zbyshko, he was grateful for the last battle, and besides, he had no right to stop a knight who was of another people, and who had come through personal desire alone. So thanking Zbyshko for the notable service which he had rendered, he gave him provisions which might be of use in that ravaged country, and took farewell, with the wish that they might meet in life again during some great and decisive conflict with the Order.

Zbyshko was impatient, for something like a fever was consuming him. When he came to his escort he found everything ready, and among the people his uncle on horseback, in chain mail, and on his head a helmet. So, approaching him, he asked,—

"Are you, also, going with me?"