“What do you think they discussed in the castle? What matters did the Poles bring before Prokop?”

“Can’t you guess?” asked Horn, looking him up and down. “Haven’t you guessed yet?”

Prokop, as the host, welcomed the guests. The Chamberlain of Krakow, Piotr Szafraniec, gave the welcoming speech, a brief one, for shortness of breath and his six decades of life lay heavily on him. Prokop listened, but clearly with only one ear.

“First of all,” he announced impatiently, “let’s establish who you represent. King Jagiełło?”

“We represent…” said Szafraniec clearing his throat. “We represent Poland.”

“Aha,” said Prokop, looking at him keenly. “You mean you’re representing yourself.”

Szafraniec bristled slightly, was about to say something, but was forestalled by Władysław of Oporów, Deputy Crown Chancellor and Rector of Krakow Academy.

“We represent,” he said firmly, “a faction with Poland’s future at heart. And since, in our opinion, Poland’s future is inextricably linked to Bohemia’s, we would be glad to strengthen our connexions. We would be glad to see peace in the Kingdom of Bohemia, see reconciliation rather than havoc and the ravages of war. We desire for there to be agreement and pax sancta. For that reason, we also offer our mediation in the negotiations between Bohemia and the Holy See. Since—”

“Since Jagiełło has one foot in the grave,” Prokop interrupted him in a calm voice. “He is decrepit and infirm. He desires to leave a Jagiellonian dynasty, ensure his sons a hereditary throne in the Wawel. But the nobility hamper that; those plans are not to their liking. Moreover, the union with Lithuania is threatened, Witold has his eyes on the crown, which Sigismund promised him, and now he gleefully rubs his hands together at the thought of how smoothly the matter had been concocted. Emboldened by this example, Svidrigiello may come up with something recklessly stupid. Meanwhile, the Pope is calling urgently for a crusade to be launched against the Hussites, which is exactly what the Teutonic Knights are waiting for. Have I left anything out, Father Deputy Chancellor?”

“I believe not,” said the Deputy Crown Chancellor, this time cutting in before Szafraniec. “You covered everything, Hejtman. In particular, the council at Lutsk and that half-baked idea about the crown for Witold—”