The Green Lady also gave the impression of being lost in contemplation. She kept silent. She only spoke after they passed through the village of Boleścin, when the thudding of the party’s hooves had quietened after crossing the bridge over the Pilawa.

“In around a mile,” she said, “we’ll come to Faulbrück. Then the town of Rychbach. Then Frankenstein. And after Frankenstein, Stolz Castle.”

“I know the area a little.” He allowed himself a slight teasing tone. “The villages of Kopanica and Koziniec lie between Rychbach and Frankenstein, I believe. Is that of any great significance?”

“None at all to me.” She shrugged. “But in your place, I’d devote more attention to the route. Every mile we cover and every town and village we pass through brings you closer to Sir Jan Biberstein and his righteous indignation. If I were you, I’d be on the lookout for a chance in each of them.”

“I’ve already said I don’t mean to escape. I’m not a criminal. I’m not afraid of standing before Biberstein. Nor his daughter.”

“Well, well.” She fixed him with a piercing gaze. “What a sincere outburst. What would you have me think, my boy? That you’re as pure as a babe in arms? That there was nothing between you and Kasia Biberstein? That though they flay you and break your bones, you won’t own up to the plump child hanging on to Kasia’s skirts at Stolz?”

“I do feel…” Reynevan felt himself blush and it annoyed him a little. “I do feel responsible. Yes, that’s it: responsible. Not guilty. But as I said earlier, I’d rather not talk about that. We may converse on other topics. The landscape, for example. That small river is the Pilawa and those are the Owl Mountains.”

She laughed. He sighed softly, having feared a different reaction.

“I am trying,” she said, “to understand the motives of your conduct. I’m curious—why, it’s a foible of my female nature. I like to know, connect cause to effect, comprehend. It gives me pleasure. Give me pleasure, Reinmar. If not out of sympathy, then at least out of politeness.”

“Madam… If you wouldn’t mind…”

“Just one thing, one matter, answer one question. How can it be you don’t fear the dungeons of Stolz? Biberstein’s fury? After raping his only daughter?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Righteous indignation again? You took Katarzyna Biberstein by force. Against her will. Everybody knows that.”

“Everybody?” He swung around in the saddle. “Meaning who?”

“You tell me.”

“I didn’t start this.” He felt the blood rushing to his face again. “With all due respect, it wasn’t me who started this conversation.”

She was silent for a long while.