“The Church of Saint Stanisław in Głogów is not subordinate to the Diocese of Saxony,” he said. “The Głogów monastery belongs to the Gniezno Diocese. The monks will inform Gniezno at once. And then they will know about everything in Krakow.”

“Never mind.”

“I understand.”

The master led them back in front of the stall where the pretty, black-haired girl was still dusting the frogs. Perhaps you are Zbrosław, indeed, thought Reynevan, but she is Rebecca.

“What’s this?” he said as an object on the counter suddenly caught his attention. “What is it? Could it be…?”

“This?” asked the Master, lifting by a string a veined stone with a spot the shape and colour of a human eye. “A Viendo amulet. Castilian-made, brought back straight from Burgos. If it’s for you, three groschen. Will you take it?”

“Don’t panic, Reynevan,” said Rixa. “We’ll make it to Bolesławiec. Raabe might have been mistaken regarding the date of the expedition and actually I doubt whether he knew it exactly.”

“He might have been mistaken the other way,” said Reynevan, his features tightening and hardening. “It might begin earlier. And I know how quickly they’re capable of moving. Six, even seven miles a day, even over rough ground. And I know what they’re capable of when they get there. I’ve been in a few towns they’ve captured. Chojnów, for example, not far from here. We must hurry, dammit!”

“And ride through the night? Senseless. We’ll stop for the night—”

“And then inform somebody else about the Hussite expedition tomorrow, you mean? Rixa, Tybald trusted us. He counted on us not trumpeting it all over Silesia. While you—”

“Reynevan,” said Rixa, her feline eyes flashing. “Don’t lecture me. And don’t meddle in my affairs.”

“And may our collaboration based on mutual trust be strengthened.”

“Understand that I know what I’m doing. And I’m on your side. Of which I have assured you several times and have had enough of repeating it. By informing Żagań about the danger I was also on your side. As I was in March in Racibórz when with your mediation I helped the hesitant Wołoszek make a decision.”

“All the same, I’d like to know—”

“You know as much as you need to,” she said, interrupting him harshly. “And you know plenty, you have eyes and ears and you’re no fool. And thus may it remain.”

They said nothing. From below came cries, laughter and the sounds of merriment from the tavern’s common room. Mice scratched and squeaked in the ceiling, the candle flickered.

“Reynevan?”

“Yes?”

“Not without reason did I suggest we sleep here. Tomorrow I’d also prefer not to slow the pace. Do you have any medicine for women’s matters?”

“You mean for your menses?”

“I mean: do you have it or not?”