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CHAPTER 1
In Tyniec, a village near Poland's capital, Krakow, in the inn "Under Dreadful Urus," several people were sitting and listening to a soldier and his adventures from the last war. The bearded man was middle-aged, tall, muscular, lean, with broad shoulders. He wore his hair in a net ornamented with beads, was dressed in a leather jacket marked by the cuirass, and wore a belt composed of brass buckles. In the belt, he had a knife in a horn scabbard, and at his side, a short traveling sword.
Right next to him, at the table, sat a young man with long hair and a cheerful gaze, apparently his companion, or perhaps his squire, because he was also dressed in the same leather jacket made from armor. The rest of the company consisted of two landowners from Krakow's vicinity and three townspeople in red folded hats, whose thin ends hung on their sides up to the elbows.
The innkeeper, a German, dressed in a faded hood and serrated collar, served them a beer. He was pouring it from a bucket into earthenware mugs while listening with great interest.
The burghers were listening intently. The hatred under the previous king had separated the middle class, and the knighthood had been very much passed. Now, one would often see the merchants drinking with the knights like brothers. The burghers were always welcome, because having money easily available, they usually paid for those who had coats of arms.
They were sitting there and talking, from time to time winking at the host to fill up the mugs.
"Noble knight, you have seen a good piece of the world," said one of the merchants.
"Not many in the city have seen as much," replied the knight. "There will be plenty of them now," said the merchant. "There is to be a great feast for the king and the queen! The king has ordered the queen's chamber to be upholstered with golden brocade, embroidered with pearls, and a canopy of the same material over her. There will be such entertainments and tournaments, as we have never seen before."
