"To Radziwill." "There's a lot of them." "God give them victory." "I've been denounced in the entire Republic as a tyrant, and devoted to the Hetman." "Nobody will trust Kmicic anymore." "Therefore my name is no longer Kmicic but Babinicz." "Understood?" "Understood, your grace." "Tell your men, that even if they're beaten with straps my name is Babinicz!" "And where are we going, your grace?" "To the King." "Jesus Mary!" "Which king?" "Not the Swedish one!" "But the King has taken refuge in Silesia." "We'll go to Silesia." "It would be necessary to abjure everything." "Leave everything." "Tear down your own work with your own hands!" "Go up against the powerful Carol Gustav and fall at the feet of the exiled Jan Kazimierz." "Still..." "Still what?" "That would be the country's only salvation." "And for you?" "For me?" "For the Radziwills?" "Let it be so!" "Let it be done!" "What have you decided?" "Ask for reinforcements from the Swedes and attack the confederates." "You are a Radziwill!" "Only the powerful count with the Swedes." "Go to Taurogi, and enlist as many soldiers as possible." "Take the maiden with you, but remember if you try to enslave her, we will both be lost!" "Smile, my beautiful lady." "I wish to make you happy, here in Taurogi." "Thank you, your Highness." "Forgive me." "Sakowicz, what happened?" "Forgive me." "What happened?" "A spark fell on the powder." "Who was handling the fireworks?" "Braun, your Highness." "Have him shot." "No... your Highness." "I beg you." "You can command, my lady, and not beg." "I would have Taurogi burnt down for your smile." "Welcome, gracious lady." "His Highness, the Prince, asks that you accept this gift." "Please give my thanks to the Prince." "Tell him he has made me happy." "An affable lord." "Yes, affable..." "And who are you, sir cavalier?" "I am Braun." "The officer who's life you saved." "I owe my life to you." "I am your obedient servant." "One more word, sir cavalier." "Each one is a great honor for me." "Did you know Sir Kmicic?" "Only from hear-say." "Is what the Prince said true?" "That Sir Kmicic promised to go to Silesia kidnap the King, and take him to the Swedes?" "Is it true?" "I don't know, gracious lady." "Some officers said that the Prince met polkovnik Kmicic on the road to Keydani." "Kmicic tried to sell him a horse." "They left together, and the Prince came back disturbed." "It could have happened then." "The peasants must have resisted." "We have to let the horses drink." "Your grace!" "Must be some distinguished Swede." "A general..." "Shoot, then attack with sabers." "Keep the old man alive." "Stop!" "I am Veyhard, Count of Vjesovich." "I've been sent by the King to meet your Excellency." "My lord, His Majesty King Carol Gustav is worried about the Imperial envoy." "I am happy to meet you." "As far as what happened, you can see for yourself..." "Do you play chess?" "There is no time for that during war." "That's too bad." "It's a very political game." "It is easier to defeat kings on this board yet as an Imperial envoy I've also manipulated real kings." "Sit down, your grace." "Would you like some wine from the Imperial cellars?" "Does victory still follow King Carol Gustav?" "Some of the Polish troops have already been scattered." "Part have submitted to our command." "The entire country recognizes the authority and power of my lord, the King of Sweden." "It seems like Gdansk did not let the Swedish troops in." "A few cities and castles still support Jan Kazimierz." "On our way here, we were also told about squadrons of nobles and peasants." "What can even the most armored of groups do against the King's army?" "There have been examples of that throughout history..." "Your Excellency, we can now go." "I've heard that the King of Sweden wants to occupy the Jasna Gora monastery." "The Emperor has great affection for that place." "Orders were given to occupy all strongholds." "The nobles and peasants are mobilizing..." "Jan Kazimierz is not far from here, in Silesia..." "A new wave of rebellion is likely to rise..." "Your Excellency, the Jasna Gora monastery is a fortress!" "I'm only repeating what I heard." "The Swedes intend to attack the monastery!" "And this will happen very soon!" "May God prevent me from charging this cavalier with lying but we have assurance from the Swedes, that they will not!" "What are you talking about, cavalier?" "And why are you trying to frighten everyone here?" "I am warning you!" "And you will bear the responsibility if you don't listen!" "Calmly, cavalier, calmly." "Do not raise your voice." "You've brought us news, and we would like to confirm it." "Ask me whatever you wish." "You said you've come here so as not to serve the Swedes and Radziwills?" "Yes, that's true." "But there are people in Lithuania who won't serve him." "Why didn't you join them?" "That's my business." "Your business?" "If you're from Lithuania then you must know what's happening at the Traitors' court!" "Name those who've aided in the ruin of our country!" "One name sticks out above all others!" "Do you know nothing of this arch-villain?" "No, I don't." "How's that?" "You haven't heard of the one who spills his brothers' blood like Cain?" "You haven't heard of Kmicic?" "Reverend fathers!" "If a clerical person questions me I will answer anything!" "But, by God do not let this noble torment me any longer!" "Just one more question." "You want us to believe what you've told us." "As God is in Heaven." "And what sort of reward did you expect?" "Here!" "This is all war loot!" "I wanted to offer this to the most Holy Lady but only after confession, with a clear conscience!" "Through your anger, truth itself bursts forth." "But is it right to drive out the faithful?" "Keep the gates shut day and night?" "The evil spirits won't win over the forces of Heaven!" "The heretic's foot will not enter these Holy walls!" "And his power will be annihilated!" "It is not I who say this but the Spirit of God, speaking through me." "Reverend father!" "I, the soldier, advise you!" "Guard the walls, and keep the gates shut!" "For God's sake!" "Keep the gates shut!" "Your grace, we came to ask that your grace free us from service..." "You won't defend the monastery?" "Dogs!" "Fine!" "Take your money and go!" "We are not worthy to look at the splendors of Jasna Gora!" "The gate of Heaven, the morning star..." "Not worthy... not worthy!" "But even outside these walls, we won't stop serving you." "We'll go wherever you need us to." "You'll have servants ready outside the walls." "Get out of here!" "Your Highness." "A messenger has come from the Hetman with urgent news." "I will receive him tomorrow." "The confederates crushed us in battle twice." "The Swedes did not bring help." "We are besieged." "Our only hope is here, with Your Highness." "The Prince Hetman is bedridden." "If the Prince Hetman is bedridden he'll need a medic more than anything else." "The castle can be defended for a long time." "Please come back in a week or two." "Your Highness, if today or tomorrow..." "Tomorrow, we will be hunting a bear." "And the day after, I'm arranging a tournament where you too can try to win a laurel." "The Prince Hetman..." "The Prince Hetman has lost his head." "It's as if a great weight has been taken off my breast." "I feel lighter." "Has there been any news from Prince Boguslaw?" "No, Your Highness." "What about the Swedish King?" "The confederates might have captured his letters." "Beaten and besieged, I'm of no use to anyone." "I feel cold approaching." "I can't see her, but I can sense it." "She's here!" "Who's that, Your Highness?" "Death." "They're fighting." "As usual." "They're freezing in the snow so they would rather fight to keep warm." "Boguslaw!" "Boguslaw!" "Save me!" "What do you want?" "Take this crown!" "Save me!" "People!" "Jesus..." "Where is the Prince?" "And you, miserable man, why did you stay with the traitor?" "I loved him." "Cut me to pieces!" "Sir Officer, there are so many rumors in Taurogi that we're not sure what to believe." "Some people say the Hetman died a natural death while others say he was cut down with sabers." "What was the true cause of his death?" "The cause of the death of the Prince Hetman is you, my gracious lady." "Me?" "Yes." "Because our Prince would rather stay in Taurogi with you then rush to rescue his sick uncle." "He has forgotten about everything while near you, your grace." "Tell me, what's going on here, around me?" "The Prince loves you." "Did you not see that?" "All these feasts, hunting, balls, were for you." "The Prince loves you with an impure love because he wants to abduct you." "Will you help me escape, Sir cavalier?" "If it were not for the oath..." "Thank you, Sir cavalier..." "Lower!" "I knew that war was terrible but I didn't think it was this bad!" "Not every bullet kills." "Otherwise, mothers wouldn't have enough time to give birth." "Get down!" "You're a madman!" "If that had gone off it would have turned you into powder!" "What..." "Do we have too much powder?" "You could have just loaded me into a cannon so that I can kill some Swedes after my death!" "Bruch, can you finally tell me when the giant cannon will arrive?" "It will take some time." "I don't have any time!" "General, rebels are wandering on the roads!" "The monks will surrender sooner or later." "Their resistance is a mere pretext to get better conditions." "Let's send an envoy." "Do you want to go to the monastery?" "I'll go." "As a Pole and a catholic I'll succeed in convincing them." "I did not expect that the monks could have such officers in their service." "What is your name, Sir?" "My name is Babinicz." "And I am polkovnik Kuklinowski, you've surely heard of me." "For several wars now, that name and this saber have been spoken about here, and in foreign countries." "Yes, I have heard." "Go ahead." "There are only two, present company excluded real soldiers in the Republic." "Kuklinowski in the Kingdom and Kmicic in Lithuania." "It would please me, Sir cavalier if upon my return, you were to walk me out." "I will wait here for you, your grace." "The entire country has surrendered." "The King took refuge abroad." "Why do you expose yourselves and this Holy place with vain stubbornness, to the terrible vengeance of the unvanquished Swedish troops?" "We, Poles, came here with the Swedish army to defend this Holy monastery from sacrilege before the fortress falls." "And fall it must, because the heavy cannons draw near!" "But how can we defend it when you inflame the enemy with your stubbornness?" "Your resistance will be the destruction of this Holy church!" "My brothers!" "Reverend and most beloved fathers!" "Do not take this terrible responsibility upon your consciences!" "You did not build this sacred retreat!" "It is not here only to serve you!" "Allow that our sons and grandsons may rejoice in it!" "I wait for your answer, reverend fathers." "You've probably returned with nothing." "Our priests are very stubborn." "Personally, I think they act in error." "We cannot defend ourselves for a century." "You think they act in error?" "Then you have brains, you do." "Walk me outside the gates, I have a few words for you." "And I for you." "This house is on fire." "And whoever doesn't run from a burning house is a fool." "Maybe you're afraid of being called a traitor?" "Spit on those who would call you that!" "Come join our company." "I, Kuklinowski, propose it!" "You say that as a Swedish envoy?" "Outside the gates, I'm not an envoy, but a private man!" "That vile fortress can go to the devil!" "You say that as a private man?" "Yes." "And I can answer you, as a private man?" "As true as life, I propose you do." "Then listen to me, Sir Kuklinowski." "You are a rascal, a bastard, and a stinking brute!" "What?" "A stinking brute!" "Is that enough, or should I also spit in your eyes?" "That's for the private man!" "Not the envoy!" "What do you want?" "Reverend father." "The wall won't last more than one day." "Reverend father." "We have to blow up the siege cannons." "And who will do that?" "I will." "Polkovnik, I pray for your permission to go along with you." "It can't be." "Two will have a harder time getting through than one will." "Well then, let me go alone." "Shorten the fuse." "Your grace, you won't have time to jump aside." "Shorten it, or else they'll see it and extinguish it!" "Oh Lord!" "God!" "At the mere sight one wants to draw a saber!" "Keep the candles away!" "All we need to do is put this in the front of the cannon, light the fuse and when the powder explodes, by the devil I mean... the gun will burst." "What are you talking about, son?" "They always put powder in it, and it never bursts." "Beloved father, there is a great holy, and heroic heart in you." "Give me a break..." "But you don't understand cannons." "It's different if the powder blows up in the back because then it shoots the cannon ball forward." "But if you block the front and blow the powder up then nothing will be able to withstand the pressure!" "Isn't that right, Sir Piotr?" "It's true." "This is no secret for a soldier." "Wouldn't it be better to send out a night party grab this Hellish Dragon and and spike him?" "A party like that would be useless." "They are watching us too carefully!" "And it's a pity to lose men." "Father, who will recognize that I'm not from their camp?" "When the fuse starts to burn I will jump a few hundred feet off to the side and I'll hide in the trench." "The explosion will cause confusion, and I'll escape!" "Oh Lord!" "There are so many dangers!" "What do you think, Sir cavalier?" "One in a hundred will return from such a mission." "I've been in tougher situations." "For exhibition, for vain glory..." "Here doggie, have some sausage!" "Who's there?" "It's me, Hans." "The devils took my stamp, so I'm looking for it." "Password?" "Upsala." "The crown." "Hurry up because we're starting to shoot soon!" "I'm hurrying..." "I know him." "He's from the Czestochowa garrison." "His name is Babinicz." "My name is not Babinicz." "My name is Kmicic." "Kmicic?" "Kmicic!" "That name is known in the entire Republic!" "General, he has no equal among soldiers, except for me!" "Why do you praise him to me?" "What does your grace plan to do with him?" "I should give the order to have him hanged!" "But being a soldier myself, I know how to value bravery." "I will order him shot!" "If you have him shot, your grace then all the Poles will join Jan Kazimierz." "Kuklinowski, do you want me to spare his life?" "I want you to give him to me." "For all my services, I wish only this one reward!" "Kuklinowski, do you want to save his life?" "I want to skin him alive!" "Ruffian!" "Good, good." "We can talk." "We have time." "Well, Mr. Kmicic didn't I say there were two polkovniks in the Republic?" "Only two." "Me." "And you." "Hey, the famous polkovnik, Mr. Kmicic and Kuklinowski has him in his hand." "Kuklinowski will now roast his sides a little bit." "Ruffian!" "Yes..." "He'll roast his sides..." "How are you, little worm?" "Scream a little?" "No?" "How about a little more?" "Not too much at first." "We have some time." "Who the hell is that?" "Your grace, General Miller wishes to see you at once!" "Oh, it's you Kiemlicz." "Good then." "Was it hot?" "Take some time to cool off, worm." "I'll come back soon." "We'll talk some more." "Who's that?" "We just came to look." "Oh... then look, look." "I've never seen such a wonder as..." "Your grace, we've been waiting since morning for..." "Quickly!" "Quickly!" "You rogues!" "Free the polkovnik, now!" "Quickly!" "The horses are waiting!" "The way is clear from here." "How does your grace feel?" "My legs feel weak..." "Here, this vodka should help." "Hurry up!" "Let his grace dress quickly!" "I feel better now." "He burned me a bit, but I'm okay." "Quickly!" "I'm all right now!" "The horses are waiting!" "No, it can't be." "I'll wait for that traitor, now." "Kiemlicz!" "What the hell?" "Are you an idiot?" "Miller is asleep, the guard won't give me admission!" "What was that about?" "The officer is waiting in the barn for you, your grace." "Well, Mr. Kuklinowski." "You wanted to equate yourself with Kmicic?" "You wanted to be part of his company?" "Here I am." "I give you your life, so that you can think about Kmicic." "To your horses, and the road!" "Where to, your grace?" "To Silesia." "To see the King!" "Many come here who expecting a reward bring false and disturbing news." "There is no law in the Republic which allows a noble to tell a lie without reason." "Man!" "You're speaking with the Kingdom's Grand Chancellor!" "Whoever accuses me of lying, even if he is a chancellor I would tell him, it's easier to lie than to give your life." "It's easier to seal with wax, than with your blood." "I do not accuse you of lying, cavalier but if what you say is true then you should have a burnt side." "That is not necessary, we believe you." "Gracious King let the unbelieving see for themselves." "I believe you." "We never doubted you spoke the truth." "Neither your pain, nor your service will remain unrewarded." "God willing, we will go back to our country soon." "There were quite a few enemy spies sent here." "Even Prince Boguslaw Radziwill told us of an assassination attempt on our life." "An attempt?" "On Your Majesty's life?" "There was someone who offered to kidnap us and deliver us, dead or alive, to the Swedes." "Who was it?" "A certain Kmicic." "That's a lie." "A lie!" "Prince Boguslaw lies like a dog!" "Gracious King, do not believe that traitor!" "He said it on purpose to harm an enemy of his!" "Lift him up and call a medic." "Either he's so honest that terror alone has thrown him off his feet or he is a relative of Kmicic." "Gracious King." "God help me from saying anything bad about that noble but we should not trust him so easily." "Why should I not trust a soldier who has spilled his blood for me and for the country?" "I haven't lost the Kingdom yet since I still have such soldiers." "He will remain here." "Gracious Lord!" "Enough!" "Let's speak about why I called you here." "We have to return to our country!" "I do not wish to oppose the will of my Gracious Lord." "But I believe that waiting would be wise until there is an uprising in the country." "Gracious King." "The news that came in a letter from the confederates makes me think the time to return is at hand." "Only the presence of the King can hasten total war, and total victory!" "And the Tartar Khan has promised us help provided that our Gracious Lord returns to the country." "Mr. Czarniecki speaks like a soldier when this is about the safety of Your Majesty." "We've decided, that whatever may happen we will be moving out in the next few days." "Now give your advice on how to do that most safely." "We are therefore waiting for Mr. Czarniecki's counsel." "The enemy has occupied all the roads so we must distract the Swedes." "I will take three hundred dragoons, a few carriages and I'll announce I'm escorting the King." "Your Majesty can leave later with a small detachment while the enemy directs all his forces at me." "I heard one of Babinicz's men call him polkovnik Babinicz just looked at him in anger and the other one fell silent on the spot." "I think he isn't telling the whole truth but that's his business." "No, Your Majesty, for if he's a traitor who's planning Your Majesty's death our entire Republic will perish!" "I will question him myself tomorrow." "Polkovnik!" "Mr. Babinicz!" "The King wishes to speak with your grace." "Traitor!" "Treason!" "Wait!" "Jesus Christ!" "Gracious King, save yourself while there's still time!" "I will hold them off!" "Kiemliczes, after me!" "Sons, forgive me." "We forgive you." "And forgive us, father." "I forgive you." "Hey, people!" "Do you know who you've helped?" "This is your King whose life you've just saved!" "Your service will not be forgotten!" "Find Babinicz!" "And the other one you called a traitor!" "I made a mistake, Your Highness!" "Find Babinicz!" "I won't leave until I see him and bid him farewell." "He's alive!" "He's still breathing!" "God!" "Babinicz, how can I repay you?" "I'm not Babinicz." "I'm Kmicic." "You let Jan Kazimierz pass." "You let Czarniecki pass." "Your Majesty..." "Your Majesty has to keep fixing his general's mistakes!" "Where is my beloved brother Jan Kazimierz?" "Tell me where he is!" "Where are Czarniecki's troops?" "Is there any news about the enemy?" "No, Gracious Lord." "All we've done is beaten some nobles and peasants." "If I have to chase my beloved royal brother through all of Poland..." "I will catch him!" "To those, who were the first to raise their sabers against the treason of the late Prince Hetman!" "For the first time, and God willing, the last time that we had to mutiny." "But what else could be done?" "Even obedience has to have its limits." "Beyond which there is only guilt and crime!" "The country will not forget your deeds!" "We are preparing new troops here and you'll go to the battlefield with Mr. Czarniecki." "It is a great honor to look at your grace but we are also eager to meet the Swedes!" "Don't be so happy, polkovnik, before you leave you'll have to stay here to defend His Majesty." "Speaking of His Majesty's safety  we heard something from Prince Boguslaw..." "Was it about Kmicic?" "As a matter of fact, it was!" "Yes, it was!" "It is all untrue, and a fabrication by Prince Boguslaw." "Ask Babinicz to come here." "But tell me, what do you know about that man?" "He was a great soldier, but very lighthearted and then, in Keydani, he lost himself completely." "He's done a lot of harm." "Yes, but he also saved our lives!" "He begged Radziwill not to have us shot!" "What?" "And Radziwill set you free?" "It was Zagloba who saved us from captivity." "He told the Chief officer he was a relative got him drunk, dressed up in his uniform and brought back my squadron." "Not to brag, but I did it." "Where did you get such sharp wit?" "That is my secret, Your Royal Grace." "You have to carry a little sac of hempseed in your pocket and eat it, a little at a time." "Doing so greatly improves your mind!" "How's that?" "There is oil in hempseed and when you eat it, it improves your mind!" "Impossible!" "Oil goes to your stomach, not to your head!" "There is a method for everything!" "You have to drink as much wine as possible and oil, being lighter, will stay on top." "Wine, which goes to your head will take the oil along with it." "Can you not replace the hempseed with sunflower seed?" "You can, but sunflower oil is heavier so you would have to drink stronger wine." "I heard that Royal mead is the best." "You're a cunning man, Sir Cavalier." "You'll find a few barrels of mead in your quarters." "Jesus Mary..." "Gracious Lord!" "That's Kmicic!" "You knew Kmicic as self-willed and an associate of Radziwill's treason." "But he is the hero of Czestochowa, and my servant who covered me with his own breast." "This is the new Kmicic." "Know him, and love him, for he deserves it!" "He did not want to kidnap me, but Prince Boguslaw so that he could give him to you." "Embrace each other!" "I will love you at once, your grace!" "And I you, your grace." "What angel was it that changed you so?" "Did you find many people with the Hetman?" "Kharlamp, and some foreign officers." "For God's sake, I'm not asking about soldiers..." "Prince Boguslaw took Miss Billewich to Taurogi." "I am going mad." "She still loves that Kmicic." "It cannot be otherwise." "Everything was in vain." "That's never happened to me before." "Your Highness is a full of scruples as a baked capon is of buckwheat grits." "Idiot!" "This must be some sort of spell!" "My head is spinning." "To love such a maiden..." "to clasp her..." "To have..." "Prosperity?" "Yes." "Yes." "As if you knew." "What's the matter with me?" "Should I get married, or what?" "You shouldn't think of that, Your Highness." "But I am thinking of it!" "Then this is no joke Thank God, Your Highness, that you have a friend like me." "Did the Devil whisper something in your ear?" "Tell me." "I will be Your Highness' best man." "Don't joke around, speak quickly!" "There is a certain man here who used to be a priest but has abandoned his vows." "Why would that concern me?" "He will sow you together like a suit with its lining but since he's not much of an expert, nor part of the guild it will be easy to tear it apart later." "Do you understand, Your Highness" "You devil, I understand perfectly well." "But Carol Gustav has called me." "I have to leave in a couple of days." "You'll explain to her, that because of lack of time the first priest you run across will marry you." "Sakowicz, the hangman is waiting for you." "It cannot be otherwise." "I don't know everything, my Gracious Lady but they are plotting something about you." "The troops are ready to march." "If the Prince does anything, it will be in a day or two." "Look at how the candle burns." "What do you prophesize from that?" "That today, one virtue will melt like wax." "If the ceremony could only happen today." "Maybe even before midnight." "If the priest hesitates we'll convince him with some red-hot pincers." "He won't hesitate." "He's a scoundrel from under a dark star." "And it will be a scoundrel wedding." "When the best man is a pander it can only be a certain type of marriage." "How is everything?" "Can I go see Olenka?" "Your Highness." "She says that her grandfather's will forbids her to decide her own fate." "And even if it didn't, she would not marry Your Highness." "You hear that?" "Sakowicz?" "I laugh at your opinions." "I spit on your wills." "But we do not laugh at them." "And according to the will, the maiden is free to enter a cloister, or marry Kmicic!" "Whom?" "Kmicic?" "I'll show you Kmicic!" "Quiet, my little jewel!" "Quiet dear!" "Or else I'll cut your throat!" "Sit here quietly, and don't go upstairs because your niece's wedding is taking place right now!" "The maiden sprang to her feet she had a dagger in her hand." "I twisted it out of her hand, just like I was taught in Italy." "Suddenly I felt a terrible pain, and fell unconscious." "My head is still spinning." "The devil serves them." "But which one of them dealt with the forces of Hell?" "Surely not her, she's too virtuous!" "Maybe it was the aunt." "It could be..." "To be sure, we can order a hole cut in the ice of the river, and the women thrown into it." "Spring is near." "The stars will be different, and the nights shorter." "The evil spirits will start losing power." "I'm leaving tomorrow!" "Your Highness is sick." "I have to leave even if I don't want to." "Carol Gustav has sent angry letters." "The infantry and artillery will leave at night." "We'll leave with the cavalry before dawn." "I'll take the maiden with me to the camp." "And the aunt..." "Under the ice!" "The supplies are moving out!" "It's time!" "Go through the woods, the confederates are not far away!" "May God lead you." "Are you not going with us?" "The Prince might be a ruffian but he has not dismissed me from military service." "Are you not in danger?" "They couldn't have flown out the chimney on brooms!" "Who had access to them?" "I did, and Patterson and MacGregory, and Hagen and Braun, whose life she saved." "Kill me!" "You have to feel that you're dying." "To the road!" "I feel weak." "We are moving out today." "I envy you." "Practice with your saber everyday because it won't be easy with Boguslaw." "Death is already written for one of us!" "You bend your hand too much." "A brother would not have done for me what you have!" "I must eventually come across them and force them into a battle." "Your Royal Grace it's hard to tell who's chasing who." "The Poles are everywhere, and nowhere." "It seems like a fight with phantoms." "Your Highness, Czarniecki grows stronger everyday." "And our troops are diminishing." "I have sent for Prince Boguslaw's help." "One battle can change everything." "The cannons will decide." "Before Czarniecki initiates a battle there won't be any cannons left!" "O Lord, when will you give this Republic peace?" "And old Zagloba some nice shelter and warm beer." "Why should my stomach shake all day and night?" "Anyone else would be enjoying peace by now." "But Mr. Czarniecki has come up with a new tactic!" "Constantly chasing!" "What slave labor!" "Do not blaspheme against Mr. Czarniecki!" "It is not I who do so, but my stomach!" "Can't you hear the hunger playing music in my belly?" "Let the Swedes dance if they can hear that music!" "Let them go to Hell!" "If they give up Inflanty, and pay contribution in exchange, we'll give them back their lives!" "The Cossack caught a Tartar..." "Carolus is still holding Poznan, Warsaw, Krakow, and other noted towns." "And you want him to ransom himself?" "There will be need for a lot of strength and hard work, too before he is driven out of our country!" "I command a retreat." "The enemy defends himself with water and fire and laughs at us!" "Gracious gentlemen, whoever loves God whoever loves our country, follow me!" "To His Highness, the undefeated Jan Kazimierz King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania Prussia, Mazowie, Jmud, Inflanty and heir to the Swedish throne." "We, the mightiest Mehmed Salomed Gerey the happiest ruler of our times Nahaya, Perekokski, Czerkieski, and Semenidia." "Your Majesty's envoy reached us safely and entrusted us with many secrets worthy of our ears." "We will not neglect anything that could help establish peace for the ages and bring happiness to the sons of Allah." "To this end we send our envoy, Aga whom Your Grace is free to keep along with his soldiers as proof of our friendship." "He will convey our secret messages to Your Majesty and serve Your Majesty like a dog until the end of his days." "It won't be easy to keep them under control." "Soon, they'll start killing our people, and burning their houses." "Gracious Lord." "Put these hordes under my command." "I won't refuse your request." "But what if Aga rejects it?" "Then I'll tie him to my saddle with some rope." "Since the King has sent you here as a guide you'll show me the road." "The King has sent me here as a chief and not as a guide." "Only the Khan commands Tartars and not the King!" "Listen to me then, Aga the Khan has given you to the King like he would a dog!" "Therefore, do not disrespect him." "...unless you want to be tied up like a dog." "Akbar!" "Careful make sure you don't anger me!" "Listen, son of a goat!" "You thought you wouldn't have any superiors and that you could burn, rob, and slaughter?" "You want a guide?" "Guide?" "Guide?" "Bagadir!" "Bagadir!" "Look here, slave!" "Another horse!" "Your Worthiness, they are marching along the bank and will not be crossing the river." "Therefore, there is no need for us to hide." "Lead the way, Babinicz, and act in the name of God." "Gracious gentlemen, to your squadrons!" "To the river!" "Fire!" "Your worthiness, can I try to pass the river once more?" "Take the light cavalry, cross the river then attack the supply columns!" "Your worthiness, Kmicic will perish!" "If he has a good hand, he will win and not perish!" "Move out!" "Stop firing!" "That's what I wanted." "Do not kill me!" "I'll pay a ransom for the maiden!" "Talk!" "The maiden will die if you kill me!" "I gave orders!" "What have you done with her?" "Spare me, and I'll give her to you!" "I swear on the gospel!" "Listen to me, traitor!" "I would give a hundred like you, for one of her hairs!" "But I do not believe you, oath breaker!" "I'll give you safe conduct, and a written order!" "I would have expected death before this..." "That devil ordered Olenka killed if he were to perish here." "You're letting a traitor to our country go free." "Punish me, O Lord, for my heavy sins not according to my faults, but thy mercy." "Because if I was to sentence her..." "Never!" "What do you intend to do?" "I'm moving out to Taurogi." "Carol Gustav is preparing a great army." "I'll be back in two weeks." "The country will not perish in two weeks!" "Miss Billewich will donate all of Vodokzy as well as all the land she owns." "Everything you see will be for the cloister!" "Do they have sheep at the manor?" "Are there many of them?" "I see you're already getting ready to shear them!" "This one will be enough for you." "Stop!" "Stop!" "Is he alive or dead?" "Alive, but death hangs over him." "He was shot by Swedes." "He gave orders to be taken to Lyubich." "He said that's where he wants to die." "Go, quickly!" "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and in the hour of our death." "Amen." "Now and in the hour of our death." "Lord, pardon him, for he dies from an enemy's hand." "Pardon him, for he dies from an enemy's hand." "Have mercy upon him!" "Is it over?" "He's still alive." "Soroka." "At your service, Your Grace." "Who is in Vodokzy?" "The lady." "Praised be the name of the Lord!" "Did they ask about me?" "They were asking everyday until we told them you would get better." "And then they stopped?" "They stopped." "And what do you think, my child, of Mr. Kmicic?" "God knows I don't want to think about him." "Because, you see..." "people say different things about him." "Don't you think that your late grandfather's will should be carried out?" "Never!" "My grandfather also left me a choice to go to the cloister." "Never." "There's only blood and ashes, here." "If he hadn't betrayed the country." "If he hadn't agreed to sell-out the King." "I had already forgiven him, because I thought..." "Because I loved him with all my heart." "But I can't anymore." "Merciful Lord, I cannot." "But he fought against the enemy, and shed his blood." "When?" "When the enemy was beginning to falter." "And when his personal profit depended on it." "Where is the merit in that?" "That's true..." "Can a lucky shot erase that?" "I would let my hand be cut off for it to have never happened." "But it did, and it will always be there!" "Soroka." "Your Grace?" "Polkovnik Wolodyjowski's squadron hasn't returned yet?" "Not yet, but they'll be here any day." "And you didn't say anything about me?" "There was no order." "What day do we have today?" "Frosty, polkovnik." "That's not what I asked." "Saturday." "You'll shave me, and we'll go to mass tomorrow." "Praised be Jesus Christ." "For the ages." "In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." "On this, the third Sunday after the holiday of the Three Wise men, Anno Domini 1658 the Holy Church reads us St. Matthew's gospel, chapter eight." "On that day when our Lord, Jesus Christ walked down from the Mount, great crowds followed him." "A leprous man came up to Him, bowed, and said If you wish, O Lord, you can purify me." "And Jesus touched him with his hand, saying I do wish it." "Be purified!" "And the leprous man was cleaned of leprosy." "We, Jan Kazimierz, King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania Mazovia, Prussia, etc... etc... etc..." "In the name of the Father,Son, and Holy Spirit." "Amen." "We make it known to all that whatever accusations still rest on Mr. Andrzej Kmicic are to vanish from all human memory for the following services and merits." "Not only was Andrzej Kmicic brought to error by Prince Radziwill's insanity he never did agree to raise his hand against us and even kidnapped Prince Boguslaw to avenge our suffering country." "O God, be merciful to me, a sinner was shot, and barely recovered." "He went to Czestochowa and defended the Holy Relic with his own breast blowing up the Swedes' greatest cannon in the process." "Because of it, he was seized by the enemy... ..and burned with living fire." "He was rescued from this terrible predicament by the power of the Queen of Angels, and came to Silesia." "On our way back to the country, he defended us and had to be dragged off the field nearly lifeless." "God, oh God..." "And when, with our help, he returned to health he did not stop fighting until the enemy had been driven out of our country." "Therefore, considering all his services we decided to publish them all in this letter so that he is no longer pursued by the ill will of men and is instead shown the praise and universal love that the virtuous deserve." "Why do you cry?" "Olenka..." "Jedrus..." "I am not even worthy to kiss your wounds!" "I have something to tell you, Mr. Andrzej." "It wasn't enough to expose your breast shed your blood, and cut down the enemy!" "Since so many people have died during this terrible war you'll have to give new citizens and defenders to this great country of ours!" "I'm sure you have enough manhood and desire for such a task!" "Long live!" "I wish you happiness, polkovnik!" "THE END"