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Eric Flint: Grantville Gazette. Volume 21

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In 1604, toward the start of the war with Sweden, the Polish Sejm-not for the first time-neglected to raise the funds to pay its soldiers in Livonia. What followed was one of the so-called konfederacja, which were a peculiarly Polish tradition in which what amounted to a mutiny received semi-official status and quasi-legitimacy. Lisowski had been one of the ringleaders.

This konfederacja had been more brutal than most. The mutineers decided to recompense themselves by plundering and savaging the local civilians-not caring in the least that many of the civilians in question were Polish subjects. The official response to the mutiny was ineffectual, as was so often true, and not long thereafter Lisowski and his supporters joined the rokosz of Mikolaj Zebrzydowski, also known as the Sandomierz Rebellion.

A rokosz was another peculiarly Polish institution. What amounted to a rebellion-and would have been regarded as outright treason in most realms-was given semi-official recognition in the Commonwealth. Just one of many ways in which the supremacy of the aristocracy was sanctified, even over the power of the royal family.

The forces of King Zygmunt III eventually triumphed in the ensuing civil war, at the battle of Guzow, although the Vasa dynasty thereafter acquiesced to the pretensions of the nobility. Aleksander Lisowski himself became not much better than an outlaw. Fortunately, like many such rebels and outlaws before him, he found shelter with one of the great magnate families which, for its own reasons, wanted to thumb its nose at the king. In this instance, with the powerful and wealthy Lithuanian Radziwills.

Lisowski's luck had a Russian as well as Lithuanian cast. Muscovy's Time of Troubles had begun, and it wasn't long before Lisowski and his followers were meddling in the Russian lands. He became a partisan of one of the pretenders to the Muscovite throne, the so-called False Dmitry II. In 1608, as the leader of a mercenary force consisting of soldiers of fortune from everywhere in eastern Europe-Poles, Lithuanians, Don Cossacks, Germans, Swedes, Tatars, you name it-he managed to defeat the army of Vasily IV near Zaraysk. Vasily was the legitimate Muscovite heir, insofar as the term "legitimate" applied at all during the Time of Troubles.

From there, Lisowski went on to besiege Moscow itself, but his forces were defeated at Niedzwiedzi Brod and were stripped of most of their loot. Lisowski and his men continued fighting in the ensuing Muscovite wars; sometimes winning, sometimes losing-and always expanding their reputation for brutality and pillage.

Eventually, in 1616, while encamped on the Polish-Muscovite border, Lisowski fell ill and died. His men adopted the name Lisowczycy-"Lisowski's Men"-in his honor, and continued their activities as a mercenary force. They had played an important role fighting for the Austrian emperor in his defeat of the Bohemian Winter King at the Battle of the White Mountain.

"I wouldn't think a scion of the Wisniowiecki family would have direct contact with such adventurers," said Jozef.

Opalinski's lip curled a little. "Most wouldn't. But young Jeremy is said to fancy himself as a terrifying figure on the battlefield. A veritable Achilles, reborn."

"Based on what? If I recall correctly, his military experience is limited to the recent campaign to relieve the Russian siege of Smolensk. In which he did nothing of any note."

"He claims unspecified exploits in the Netherlands, as well."

By now, Jozef's lip was curled as well. "Not bashful, is he?"

"No more than Lucifer. The point being, that it seems Jeremy Wisniowiecki believes that being associated with the Lisowczycy enhances his martial stature."

"In short, he's engaged in what the Americans call 'slumming.'"

At Lukasz's raised eyebrow, Jozef explained the term. He concluded by saying: "But I still don't see what in this news was so urgent that you needed me to come here immediately from Poznan."

Lukasz's eyebrow rose higher still. "No? I would think it was obvious. We must be off, my good and sturdy confederate. Or should I say, 'fellow cabalist'? Perhaps 'companion in conspiracy'?"

"Friend will do just fine," said Jozef, a bit stiffly. "Off where? And when?"

"On the morrow. To Prague, of course, where else?"

Seeing Wojtowicz's frown, Opalinski clapped his hand to his forehead. "Oh, I forgot. The other news." He reached into a pocket of his coat and drew forth some more sheets of paper.

"I have a spy in Prague, as well. Even more expensive, this one. And he tells me that Don Morris Roth has already begun the creation of an armaments industry in the city."

Jozef's frown became a glare. "Prague is two hundred miles away. A week's travel even in good weather-which this is certainly not. There is snow on the ground, Lukasz. It's cold. "

"Oh, nonsense. It's not that cold. It's almost April. We'll probably see flowers blooming along the way."

Some subtlety in his friend's expression alerted Jozef. He reviewed in his mind all of Lukasz Opalinski's tendencies, traits and characteristics. And his history.

"There's a woman in Prague," he said accusingly.

Opalinski rose and went to the side table. "It's time for a drink, I think. Surely, afternoon has arrived by now."

"Isn't there? Answer me."

"Well, of course there are women in Prague. It's a big city. One of the biggest in Europe. There must be thousands upon thousands of women residing in the place. Hundreds more, simply there on a visit."

"Lukasz!"

Opalinski turned away from the side table with a drink in each hand. He offered one of them to Jozef. "Oh, stop fussing at me. As it happens, one of those-must be hundreds and hundreds-of women on a visit is Izabela Teczynska. You remember her, I'm sure."

Jozef's glare might have matched Lucifer's, by now. "Of course I remember her. How could I not? Given that you made such a fool of yourself over her, when she and her family came to visit your family last year."

"Stop exaggerating. Perhaps I was a bit over-enthusiastic in my praises of her charms. I can see where that might have bored you."

"I was not bored in the least. How could I have been? When I had to prevent you from precipitating a duel with the Teczynska family's retainers."

"I said, stop exaggerating."

Jozef actually had to control himself from gobbling. " Exaggerating? You were as drunk as the proverbial lord and determined to smuggle your way into the private quarters of the lady in question."

"Would have succeeded, too, if it hadn't been for your interference." Smugly: "She was rather taken by me, you know? Told me she'd leave the window unlatched."

"Yes, I know! A duel, as I said. Insofar as a naked man running down the streets with nothing more than a candlestick for a weapon can be said to 'duel' armed retainers of a magnate family. Each and every one of whom was selected for his martial prowess. No better than Lisowczycy themselves, really."

Lukasz's hand was still outstretched, holding the drink. Jozef seized the goblet and drained half the contents in one long swallow.

"Pfah. At least promise me you won't try to smuggle yourself into her quarters, this time."

Lukacs reached back to the table and seized the liquor bottle. "Hold out your goblet," he said. "Have some more. You need it, in this foul weather."


***

Some hours later, over dinner, Jozef returned to the question that had puzzled him earlier in the day.

"But what do you really think, Lukasz? It's hard to imagine Janusz Tyszkiewicz being involved in the plot to assassinate Chmielnicki, unless the plot had the tacit approval of the king."

"Which it might well have had, of course." Opalinski shrugged. "There's simply no way to know yet. Keep in mind that there are certain to be several conspiracies underway, by now, most of which-probably all of which-are still fuzzy at the edges and unclear of their precise goals."

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