“Pass on my greetings to the Baltic!”

And that would be the end of the tale. Completum est quod dixi de Operatione Solis.

Finis coronat opus. I have finished. And I am worn out. Explicit hoc totum, and you, gentle lass, infunde mihi potum! Pour away, pour away! I shall drink a mug of Świdnica ale for the road. Or two.

Farewell, noble and good gentlemen. May providence protect you from misfortune and misadventure on your travels. No, no, I told you that’s the end, I shall tell no more tales. For force failed my high fantasy.

Here force failed my high fantasy.

But my desire and will were moved already.

Like a wheel revolving uniformly,

by the Love that moves the sun and the other stars.

L’amor che move il sole e l’altre stelle…

I can’t seem to get that Dante out of my head…

That’s the end of my speech. Because, as Ecclesiastes wisely states, although there is no end of making many books, I must end it. I am compelled.

It is time I went. It’s a long way to Constantinople, and I’d like to see the sails on the Sea of Marmara, the Golden Horn and the Bosporus before Advent.

I want to see my dream. Before it vanishes for ever.

I wish you good health. And on parting… I say sincerely to you, to each of you: think on Ecclesiastes. Primo: omnia vanitas, all is vanity. Secundo: having listened to all of this, Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man!

For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or evil.

Whether it be good or evil.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Which is the beginning.

Hearing the clatter of hooves and neighing in the courtyard, Elencza was certain it was Dzierżka returning sooner than intended from her visit to her neighbours, the Rachenau family. She came out onto the threshold, removing her apron. A wave of heat washed over her at the sight of the rider. Her legs turned to jelly and her hands began to shake.

“Greetings,” said Reynevan. “Greetings, Elencza.”

Elencza was unable to utter a word. She only bowed her head.

Reynevan dismounted.

He walked over.

And embraced her. Only by a superhuman effort did she hold back the tears. But even that wasn’t enough.

The sky in the east was darkening, heralding a storm. But right above them, above Skałka, the sun had broken through the clouds, flooding the world with a column of light. Reynevan glanced upwards.

“Truly the light is sweet,” he said, “and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun.”

His face was altered. Very altered. He was different, Elencza noted, with a combination of horror and relief.

“Welcome…” she said, clearing her throat and sniffing. “Welcome to Skałka… Will you be staying… long?”