“It was additionally proved that Adèle had indeed tried to beguile the duke using love witchcraft. She was accused of black magic and of making a pact with the Devil. The case was investigated by the most distinguished specialist in witchcraft in the region, Mikołaj Kappitz, abbot of the abbey in Kamieniec. He found Adèle guilty, revealed in and around her devilish practices and scents. They say he disclosed it all for the one hundred Hungarian ducats the duke paid him. They arrested a herbalist and scorched her heels… She confessed that Adèle had bought love potions and other things from her. That she plotted her revenge in advance out of fear that Herzog Jan would abandon her by ordering a devilish decoct which would have caused the permanent impotence of the duke’s male member. And, just in case, also poisonous herbs. For Anka of Častolovice.

“Adèle was shown the herbalist’s testimony and an agreement proposed, but the Burgundian was unafraid. A trial for witchcraft? By all means. I’ll have plenty to testify at the trial; the judges, canons and abbots will have plenty to listen to. I know a lot and am only too happy to share it. We shall see if Duke Jan is pleased when it is trumpeted.

“Jan, who believed the case concluded, was furious. He issued orders. Before she knew where she was, the beautiful Burgundian was thrown into the town hall dungeon. She went from eiderdowns and satins to rotten straw…”

“Was she…” Reynevan relieved his tight throat by coughing. “Was she tortured?”

“Not a bit of it. She was a noblewoman, after all. Jan of Ziębice didn’t dare to stoop to villainy of that kind on a noblewoman. He wished only to frighten her with imprisonment. Force her to be subservient, to leave Ziębice politely and without making a fuss on her release. He didn’t know—”

“What…” Reynevan felt a hot flush rush to his cheeks. “What didn’t he know?”

“A gang operated in the town hall gaol.” The knight’s voice changed and Reynevan thought he heard the soft grinding of teeth. “Guards, hangman’s assistants, ruffians from the castle guard, a few commoners, a few apprentices… In brief, they had set up a free brothel in the prison. When a woman—especially one suspected of witchcraft—was imprisoned, the rogues visited by night—” He broke off, then continued in an even more altered voice. “Once, one of the scoundrels left the belt from his britches in the cell in the haste and confusion. They found Adèle in the morning. Hanged with that belt.