The Knights of the Cross/Volume 1/Chapter 27
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CHAPTER XXVII. The messengers had a meeting with Yurand on the following day about noon; an hour later they drove away, taking with them de Bergov, two attendants, and a number of other captives. After that, Yurand summoned Father Kaleb, to whom he dictated a letter to Prince Yanush, with information that the Knights of the Cross had not stolen away Danusia, but that he had succeeded in discovering where she was hidden, and hoped in the course of a few days to find her. He repeated the same to Zbyshko, who since the night before had been wild from amazement and fear. The old knight would answer no question, but told him to wait patiently and undertake nothing toward freeing Danusia, because it would be superfluous. Toward evening he shut himself in with the priest, whom he commanded first of all to write his last will; then he confessed, and, after receiving communion, summoned Zbyshko and the old, ever-silent Tolima, who had been his companion in all expeditions and battles, and who in time of peace managed the lands in Spyhov. "Here is," said he, turning to the old warrior and raising his voice as if speaking to a man hard of hearing, "the husband of my daughter, whom he married at the court of Prince Yanush, and for which he has received my consent. After my death he is to be therefore the owner and inheritor of this castle, the lands, the forests, the meadows, the people, and all kinds of property existing in Spyhov." When he heard this, Tolima was greatly astonished, and turned his square head now toward Zbyshko, now toward Yurand; he said nothing, however, for he rarely said anything; he merely inclined before Zbyshko and clasped his knees lightly. But Yurand spoke on,— "Which will of mine Father Kaleb has written, and at the end of the writing my seal is placed in wax; thou art to testify that thou hast heard this from my lips, and that I have commanded thee to give the same obedience to this young knight as to me. Therefore, whatever plunder and money there is in the treasury thou wilt show him,—and thou wilt be faithful to him in peace and in war until death. Hast thou heard me?" Tolima raised his bands to his ears and bowed his head; afterward, at a sign from Yurand, he bowed and withdrew. The knight turned to Zbyshko then, and said with emphasis: "There is enough in the treasury to tempt the greatest greediness, and ransom not merely one, but a hundred captives. Remember this." "But why dost thou give me Spyhov?" inquired Zbyshko "I give thee more than Spyhov, for I give thee my child.' "And the hour of death is unknown," said the priest. "Indeed, it is unknown," repeated Yurand, as if with sadness. "For instance, not long ago the snow covered me, and, though God saved me, I have not my former strength." "By the dear God! " cried Zbyshko, "what has changed in you since yesterday? and you are more willing to mention death than Danusia! By the dear God!" "Danusia will return," answered Yurand. "God's care is above her. But hear what I say; when she returns, take her to Bogdanets, and leave Spyhov in care of Tolima. He is a trusty man, and this is a difficult neighborhood. There they will not seize her on a rope from thee, there it is safe." "Hei!" cried Zbyshko, "but you are talking now as it were from the other world. What does this mean?" "I have been more than half in the other world, and now it seems to me that some kind of sickness has laid hold of me. But my child is the question for me, for she is all that I have. Though I know that thou lovest her—" Here he stopped, and drawing from its sheath a short sword of the kind called misericordia, he turned the hilt of it toward Zbyshko. "Swear to me on this cross," said he, "that thou wilt never do her a wrong, and wilt love her always." Zbyshko, with tears in his eyes, threw himself on his knees in a moment, and putting his finger on the hilt, exclaimed,— "By the Holy Passion, I will do her no wrong, and I will love her always." "Amen!" said the priest. Yurand put the misericordia into its sheath and opened his arms to Zbyshko. "Now thou art my child too!" After that they separated, for deep night had come, and for some days they had had no good rest. Zbyshko, however, rose next morning at dawn, for the evening before he had been afraid that some sickness was coming on Yurand, and he wished to learn how the old man had passed the night. Before the door of Yurand's room he stumbled on Tolima, who had that moment come out of it. "How is your master? Is he well? " inquired he. Tolima bowed, and then surrounding his ear with his palm, asked,— "What does your Grace command?" "I ask how is your master," repeated Zbyshko, in a louder voice. "He has gone away." "Whither?" "I know not. He was in armor."
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