Reynevan, whose thoughts were mainly preoccupied by counting the days he’d been apart from his love, insisted on continuing their journey to Ziębice, either following the Sterczas or attempting to overtake them when they took a break, probably somewhere near Rychbach or in Ziębice itself. Scharley was adamantly opposed. The Sterczas’ ostentatious display, he claimed, could signify only one thing.

“They’ve been ordered to flush you out and drive you towards Rychbach and Frankenstein,” he said. “And Kyrie-eleison and Walter of Barby are probably lying in wait for you somewhere near there. Believe me, laddie, it’s the standard means of capturing fugitives.”

“So do you have any suggestions?”

“My suggestions are limited by geography.” Scharley swept an arm in a broad gesture. “That large thing to the east covered in clouds is Ślęża. Those things rising up over there are the Owl Mountains and that big thing is the mountain called Great Owl. Great Owl has two passes, Walim and Jugów. Taking that route, we could get to Bohemia in no time.”

“You said Bohemia was risky.”

“Right now, the greatest risk is you,” replied Scharley coldly, “and the men who are hot on your heels. Ideally, I’d set off for Bohemia immediately, but you won’t give up on Ziębice, I fear.”

“You fear correctly.”

“Then we’ll have to forgo the safety the passes would have given us.”

“It would have been very dubious safety,” Samson unexpectedly interjected.

“True,” the penitent agreed calmly. “It isn’t the safest region. In that case, let’s head for Frankenstein. Not by the main road, though, but skirting around the mountains, keeping to the edges of the forests of the Silesian Clearing. It’s the long way around, we’ll be riding a little cross-country, but what else can we do?”

“Take the highway,” Reynevan exploded. “Follow the Sterczas! And catch up with them—”

“Haven’t you heard a word I’ve said?” Scharley cut him off brutally. “You really don’t want to fall into their clutches, believe me.”

So they set off, at first through beech and oak forests, then along forest tracks and finally along a road winding among the hills. Scharley and Samson chatted softly. Reynevan kept quiet and brooded over the penitent’s last words.