At this moment the Czech, Hlawa, sent by Jagienka, arrived, leading a horse.
"Be blessed!" said he, with a low bow.
Zbyszko had seen him once or twice in Zgorzelice, but he did not recognize him; therefore he said: "Be blessed for ages and ages! Who are you?"
"Your servant, famous lord."
"What do you mean? These are my servants," said Zbyszko, pointing to the two Turks, given to him by Sulimczyk Zawisza, and to two sturdy men who sitting on horseback, were leading the knight's stallions; "these are mine; who sent you?"
"Panna Jagienka Zychowna of Zgorzelice."
"Panna Jagienka?"
A while ago, Zbyszko had been angry with her and his heart was still full of wrath; therefore he said: "Return home and thank the panna for the favor; I do not want you."
But the Czech shook his head.
"I cannot return. They have given me to you; besides that, I have sworn to serve you until death."
"If they gave you to me, then you are my servant."
"Yours, sir."
"Then I command you to return."
"I have sworn; although I am a prisoner from Boleslawiec and a poor boy, still I am a wlodyczka."[87] Zbyszko became angry: "Go away! What; are you going to serve me against my will? Go away, before I order my servants to bend their crossbows."
But the Czech quietly untied a broadcloth mantle, lined with wolf-skins, handed it to Zbyszko and said: "Panna Jagienka sent you this, also, sir."
"Do you wish me to break your bones?" asked Zbyszko, taking a spear from an attendant.
"Here is also a bag of money for your disposal," answered the Czech.
Zbyszko was ready to strike him with the lance, but he recollected that the boy, although a prisoner, was by birth a wlodyka, who had remained with Zych only because he did not have money to pay his ransom; consequently Zbyszko dropped the spear.
Then the Czech bent to his stirrups and said: "Be not angry, sir. If you do not wish me to accompany you, I will follow you at a distance of one or two furlongs; but I must go, because I have sworn to do so upon the salvation of my soul."
"If I order my servants to kill you or to bind you?"
"If you order them to kill me, that will not be my sin; and if you order them to bind me, then I will remain until some good people untie me, or until the wolves devour me."