Danveld began to relate the story of Zlotorja: how during the restoration of the castle, they captured the prince with the court, and how during that fight Jurandowna's mother died; how since that time Jurand avenged himself on all the Knights of the Cross. Danveld's hatred was apparent during the narration, because he also had some personal reasons for hating Jurand. Two years before, during an encounter, he met Jurand; but the mere sight of that dreadful "Boar of Spychow" so terrified him for the first time in his life that he deserted two of his relatives and his retinue, and fled to Szczytno. For this cowardly act the grand marshal of the Order brought a knightly suit against him; he swore that his horse had become unmanageable and had carried him away from the battlefield; but that incident shut his way to all higher positions in the Order. Of course Danveld did not say anything to Sir de Lorche about that occurrence, but instead he complained so bitterly about Jurand's atrocities and the audacity of the whole Polish nation, that the Lotaringer could not comprehend all he was saying, and said: "But we are in the country of the Mazurs and not of the Polaks." "It is an independent principality but the same nation," answered the _starosta_; "they feel the same hatred against the Order. May God permit the German swords to exterminate all this race!" "You are right, sir; I never heard even among the heathen of such an unlawful deed, as the building of a castle on somebody else's land, as this prince tried to do," said de Lorche. "He built the castle against us, but Zlotorja is situated on his land, not on ours." "Then glory be to Christ that he granted you the victory! What was the result of the war?" "There was no war then?" "What was the meaning of your victory at Zlotorja?" "God favored us; the prince had no army with him, only his court and the women." Here de Lorche looked at the Knight of the Cross with amazement. "What? During the time of peace you attacked the women and the prince, who was building a castle on his own land?" "For the glory of the Order and of Christendom." "And that dreadful knight is seeking vengeance only for the death of his young wife, killed by you during the time of peace?" "Whosoever raises his hand against a Knight of the Cross, is a son of darkness." Hearing this, Sir de Lorche became thoughtful; but he did not have time to answer Danveld, because they arrived at a large, snow-covered glade in the woods, on which the prince and his courtiers dismounted. CHAPTER V.