De Lacy and Blackbourne, though they knew little about the Hussites and even less about their combat tactics, saw at once what had to be done. They rode out at the head of their hundred heavy horse to counter-attack and give chase. The Scots were ridden down and massacred, their dying cries echoing over the plain. On the wagons, the Welsh yelled triumphantly, cursed and stuck two fingers up as the Scots fled.

The herrings went on stinking.

Thank you, m’Lord, said Sir John Fastolf, raising his eyes heavenwards. Thank you, wagons. Praise to you, doughty Asian Bohemians, praise to you, leader Shishka, and though your name be pagan, your warcraft is great. I’ll be damned, glory to me, Sir John Fastolf, too. Pity that Bardolph and Pistol couldn’t see it, witness the day of my glorious victory. Why, this battle, fought at Rouvray on the Saturday before the first Sunday in Lent, Anno Domini 1429, will go down in history as the Battle of the Herrings. And as for me…

Plays will be written about me for the theatre.

Chapter Two

In which Reynevan schemes in the city of Wrocław. Owing to deficits in both the theory and practice of scheming, his early successes get him into trouble—serious trouble.

Father Felicjan, once known to the world as Hanys Gwisdek and nicknamed Little Louse, currently the altarist at two Wrocław churches, would visit the Walloon settlement by the Church of Saint Maurice quite regularly; more or less once a month, usually on a Tuesday. There were several reasons. Firstly, the Walloons were known to practice fell black magic and anyone hanging around in the vicinity of their homesteads could lay himself open to its effects. For strangers, in particular anyone who came uninvited or with a hostile inclination, vicus sancti Mauritii was dangerous and intruders could expect consequences—one of which was to disappear without trace. Thus intruders—including agents and informers—tended not to haunt the Walloon settlement or spy in it. And that suited Father Felicjan perfectly.