“Shut your trap!” growled one of the soldiers from the escort. “Talking’s not allowed! It’s against orders: if he begins to talk, knock his teeth out. So beware!”

“Give over,” said another, appeasing him. “Have some kindness. For he’s not talking but asking. And in any case, it’s the end of his road. He may as well know where he’s going to rot away.”

Crows flew past, cawing.

“That, brother, is Lelów Castle.”

I don’t believe any of you have done time in a severe prison.

None of you, noble knights, none of you devout and pious monks here present in this tavern. None of you, gentlemen merchants. None of you, I expect, has ever seen deep cellars, dungeons aged by putrid water or stinking, pitch-black cells. Well?

None of you.

And there is no need, I assure you, to regret that.

During the reign of good King Władysław Jagiełło there were a number of severe prisons, terrible prisons. The Krakow Tower. Chęciny. Sandomierz. Olkusz. Olsztyn, where they starved Maciej Borkowic to death. Ostrężnik. Iłża. Lipowiec.

But there was one prison, the very mention of which made folk fall silent and go pale.

Lelów Castle.

You did your time in those other prisons; you suffered in them. You eventually left those other prisons.

No one ever came out of Lelów.

Chapter Twenty-Two

In which Reynevan, freed from the dungeon at Lelów, rejoices to see the light. And goes into battle for the last time.

There was an atmosphere of anxiety and nervous haste in the royal castle at Łęczyca. Guest apartments were being prepared in the Old House, and the grand hall cleaned, furnished and decorated. Information that Łęczyca had been chosen as the site of the peace talks had reached the burgrave late, almost at the last moment, and very little time remained to prepare everything. The burgrave was rushing around the Old House, swearing, fulminating, urging, scolding and endlessly asking if the entourage of the bishop and the Polish lords or the approaching Teutonic mission had been seen from the towers.

From the Order were expected, among others, Konrad of Erlichhausen from Malbork and Ludwik of Lausch, the Commander of Toruń. Franciszek Kuhschmalz, the Bishop of Warmia, was also meant to be in the mission. Of the Poles, Bishops Zbigniew Oleśnicki and Władysław of Oporów; the Castellan of Krakow, Mikołaj of Michałów; and the Castellan of Poznań, Dobrogost of Szamotuły, were thought to be coming.

The most important representative of the Polish side had already arrived in Łęczyca. Immediately after arriving, he had locked himself away in the chambers prepared for him. And the burgrave was informed that he received in them a strange, hooded guest. And gave instructions not to be disturbed.

A December wind banged the shutters and whistled through cracks.