“I don’t doubt it. But I have only the health of His Eminence in mind, not gossip. For Bishop Konrad is not in the first flush of youth and ought to avoid an excess of feverish vexations… Indeed, barely a week has passed since he honoured Ulrika of Rhein with his presence. Not to mention his visits to the Benedictine sisters… Are you surprised, m’lord? It is an Inquisitor’s job to know such things.”

A scream reverberated from the crypt, then broke off, passing into wheezing.

“It is an Inquisitor’s job to know such things,” repeated Grzegorz Hejncze. “Hence, I know that Bishop Konrad is not journeying around Silesia just to visit married women, young widows and nuns. Bishop Konrad is preparing another raid on the Broumov lands. He is trying to persuade Přemysl of Opava and Sir Albrecht of Kolditz to join him, and to gain the armed assistance of Sir Půta of Častolovice, the Starosta of Kłodzko.”

The Wallcreeper neither commented nor lowered his eyes.

“Bishop Konrad does not appear to be concerned,” continued the Inquisitor, “that King Sigismund and the imperial princes have decided on a different course of action, in order to avoid the errors of previous crusades by forming alliances and confederations, gathering resources and winning over the Moravian lords. And to refrain from military confrontations until they are fully prepared.”

“His Eminence Bishop Konrad,” the Wallcreeper interrupted the silence, “does not need to rely on the imperial princes, for he is their equal in Silesia—if not their superior. The good King Sigismund, meanwhile, appears busy. As the bulwark of Christianity, he is amusing himself fighting the Turks on the Danube. Or perhaps he’s trying to forget other beatings, like the one he received three years ago from the Hussites at Německý Brod and his subsequent flight from the battle. But as he’s in no hurry to launch another expedition to Bohemia, he’s clearly not yet forgotten that humiliation. So, as God sees, the responsibility of striking fear into the heretics is being left to Bishop Konrad. For as Your Excellency knows: si vis pacem, para bellum.”

“I also know that nemo sapiens, nisi patiens,” said the Inquisitor, steadily returning the Wallcreeper’s gaze. “But enough of that. I had several issues to discuss with the bishop. A few questions. But since he is journeying… Too bad. Because I don’t imagine I can count on you to answer those questions, can I, Lord Grellenort?”

“That all depends on the questions Your Reverence deigns to ask.”

The Inquisitor said nothing for a moment, as though waiting for the person being tortured in the crypt to scream again.