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"Then I will bow before him, because I have served enough, and if there is another war, I shall go again.
We have taken some booty and got rewarded by Duke Witold, so we are not poor, but I am getting old, and with old age and the strength is gone, one would be pleased to have a quiet corner somewhere."
"The king was glad to see those who returned from Lithuania with Jasko of Olesnica, and they feast well now."
"I did not return by then yet - I was still fighting. You need to know that the reconciliation between the king and Duke Witold was at the Germans' expense. The duke resolved all disputes and then rushed against the Germans! He destroyed and burned the castles, slaughtered the knights and a great many simple folks. The Germans wanted revenge, as also did Swidrygello, who escaped to them. There was again a great expedition. The grandmaster Kondrat himself joined it to lead a huge army. They besieged Vilnius; they tried using their great siege towers to destroy castles; they also tried to capture them by treachery — but they failed! While retreating, they lost so many that not even half of them came back. We also fought Ulrich von Jungingen, the grand master's brother, a mayor in Samland. But the mayor was afraid of the duke and ran away. From that day, there is peace, and they are rebuilding the city. One pious monk, who could walk barefooted on hot iron, has prophesied that from that time, as long as the world exists, no German soldier will be seen under the walls of Vilnius. And if that is so, then whose hands have done it?"
Having said that, Macko of Bogdaniec extended his palms, broad and huge - the others began to nod with approval saying:
"Yes, yes! It's true what he says!"
But the further conversation was interrupted by a noise coming from outside. From afar, they could hear singing, laughing, and the snorting of horses. They were surprised because it was quite late. The innkeeper rushed outside, and before the guests were able to drink their beer to the last drop, he returned, shouting:
"Some kind of court is coming!"
A moment later, in the doorway appeared a footman dressed in a blue jacket and wearing a red folding cap. He stopped, glanced at the guests, and then having perceived the host, he said:
"Prepare the tables and bring more lights; Duchess Anna Danuta will stop here for a rest."
Having said that, he withdrew. A great commotion began; the host called his servants, and the guests looked at one another with surprise.
"Duchess Anna Danuta," said one of the townsmen, "that's Duke Janusz of Masovia's wife. She was in Krakow for two weeks before she went to Zator to visit Duke Waclaw, and now she is coming back."
"Uncle Gamroth," said the other townsman, "let us go to the barn; the company is too high for us."
"I am not surprised that they are traveling during the night," said Macko, "because the days are hot, but why do they come to the inn when the monastery is so close?"
Here he turned toward Zbyszko:
"This is beautiful Ryngalla's sister?!"
And Zbyszko answered:
"There must be many Masovian ladies with her!"
