“This atrocity might have been committed by those witches on broomsticks who fell on us last night by the campfire!” Gunter of Bischofsheim interrupted gloomily. “By the skullcap of Saint Anthony! Indeed, the mystery is beginning to be solved! For I told you that Reinmar of Bielawa was among the she-devils—I recognised him! I am certain that Bielawa is a magician, and that he was making black magic in Oleśnica and casting spells on ladies. The gentlemen there can confirm it!”

“I know nothing,” muttered Ciołek Krompusz, looking at Benno Ebersbach. Both had also recognised Reynevan among the witches flying through the sky, but preferred not to reveal it.

“Aye, that is so.” Ebersbach cleared his throat. “We seldom reside in Oleśnica. We pay no heed to gossip—”

“It’s not gossip, but facts,” said Runge, looking at him. “Bielawa was making magic. The wretch reportedly killed his own brother, like Cain, when the latter uncovered his devilish practices.”

“It is a certain thing,” said Eustachy of Rochow, nodding. “Lord Reideburg, the Strzelin starosta, was talking about it. He received word of it from Wrocław, from the bishop himself. The young Reinmar of Bielawa had lost his mind from practicing witchcraft. The Devil guides his hand, directs him towards misdeeds. He killed his own brother and those other merchants—why, he even tried to stab the Duke of Ziębice—”

“Verily he did,” confirmed Starling, “and went to the tower for it. But he escaped. Doubtless with the Devil’s aid.”

“If it’s a devilish matter,” Kunad of Neudeck looked around with concern, “let’s ride from here with all haste before evil get its claws into us—”

“Into us?” Ramfold of Oppeln patted the shield suspended from his saddle, above the coat of arms showing a silver pike pole and band with a red cross. “Into us? Into this banner? Why, we have the cross, we are crusaders on our way to Bohemia with Bishop Konrad, to fight the heretics and defend God and religion! The Devil cannot draw near to us, for we are milites Dei, the Angelic Militia!”

“As the Angelic Militia,” observed Rochow, “we have not only privileges, but also responsibilities.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Lord Bischofsheim recognised Reinmar of Bielawa among the witches flying to their sabbath. We must inform the Holy Office about it when we arrive at the rallying point for the crusade in Kłodzko.”

“Inform? Sir Eustachy! But we are knights!”

“Regarding witchcraft and heresy, denunciation does not stain knightly virtue.”

“It always does!”

“It does not!”

“It does,” stated Ramfold of Oppeln, “but one must inform. And one will. But now, let us move on, gentlemen, to Kłodzko. The Angelic Militia must not be late at the rallying point.”

“It would be shameful,” confirmed Starling in his high voice, “for the bishop’s crusade to set off for Bohemia without us.”