Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/647

 Rh "After communion the king will go to meet the Grand Master; thou art numbered with his knights and wilt go with us."

Zbyshko flushed from delight at these words, for not only did the fact of including him with the knights of the king protect him from the treachery and attacks of the Knights of the Cross, but conferred great renown on him also. Among those knights were Zavisha Charny and his brothers Farurey and Kruchek, Povala himself, and Kron and Pashko Zlodye, and Lis, with many other tremendous and glorious knights, famed at home and in foreign countries. Yagello took a small detachment, for some he had left at home, and some were seeking adventures in distant lands and in lands beyond the sea; but he knew that with them he might go even to Malborg without fearing the treachery of the Order, for in case of need they would crush walls with their mighty arms and open a road for him among Germans. Zbyshko's young heart might warm also with pride at the thought that he would have such companions.

At the first moment he forgot his own grief even, and pressing Povala's hand, he said with delight,—

"To you, and to no one else, am I indebted,—to you! to you!"

"To me in part," answered Povala, "in part to the gracious princess here, but most to our gracious sovereign. Go at once and embrace his feet, so that he may not suspect thee of ingratitude."

"In so far as I am ready to die for him, so help me God!" exclaimed Zbyshko.

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