Editing With Fire and Sword (section)

===Chapters XXVIII–XLV===
Skrzetuski is dispatched to persuade some German infantry to the Prince Jeremi's side but they refuse. On his way back he attacks an outlaw camp and finds Zagłoba amongst them; he tells Jan Helena is safe in the [[Bar, Ukraine|castle in Bar]]. The Polish army passes Konstantynów (Konstantinoff) and halts at Rosołowce (Rosolovtsi) where they are now joined by the German infantry fleeing from Chmielnicki. Krzywonos arrives with his forces, the battle starts with single hand-to-hand combat, and Krzywonos is eventually defeated. Rzędzian is reunited with his master.

The King dies and a disputed succession takes place. Jeremi and his army rest at the castle of [[Zbaraż]] (Zbaraj) where, after much internal struggle, the Prince announces he will submit to the commanders appointed by the Commonwealth. Bohun captures Helena at Bar and hides her with a witch, Horpyna, at Horpyna's house. Helena threatens to stab herself when Bohun speaks to her about marriage, having tried to do so when she was captured at Bar. Skrzetuski and his colleagues go out to crush marauding bands. He is forced to split his force, putting parts of it under the command of Podbipięta, Wołodyjowski, and Zagłoba. Zagłoba is captured with his men by Bohun's Cossacks after they get drunk at a peasant wedding, but they are freed by Wołodyjowski and his troops.

The four Polish officers return to Jarmolińce (Yarmolintsi) and Zagłoba reveals that he overheard during his captivity that Helena is hidden somewhere between Jampol (Yampol) and Jahorlik (Yagorlik). Wierszułł (Vershul) arrives and reveals that the Poles, under Prince [[Władysław Dominik Zasławski|Dominik Zasławski]], have been ignominiously defeated. They make for [[Lwów]] (Lviv), where Prince Jeremi is elected leader of the Commonwealth forces, and continue to [[Zamość]] and afterwards to [[Warsaw]] with his wife, [[Gryzelda Konstancja Zamoyska|Princess Gryzelda]] (Griselda). Wołodyjowski gets into a quarrel with Charłamp over Anusia Borzobohata. [[Jan II Kazimierz Waza|Kazimierz]] and his brother [[Karol Ferdynand Waza|Karol]] (Karl) are disputing the election, and the former is elected King. Zagłoba and Wołodyjowski also meet Bohun, travelling as an envoy, and Michał Wołodyjowski leaves him for dead in a duel.