“That’ll do,” growled Horn. “Restrain yourself. A little goes a long way.”

Rzehors restrained himself. In any case, there was no one left to agitate, for the road had emptied. And a little later they saw two similar columns of black smoke rising high into the sky beyond a wall of trees.

“Nová Cerekev and Kietrz.” One of the last refugees pointed with his head. He was driving a wagon bearing his wife and a Minorite monk, their belongings and children. “They started burning yesterday… They say bodies are lying in heaps…”

“It’s divine retribution,” pronounced Rzehors. “Run, people. Waste no time! Flee far from here. For verily do I tell you, it’ll be like it was two hundred years ago: the invaders will march all the way to Legnica. Thus does God punish us for the sins of the clergy.”

“What are you saying?” The monk bridled. “What sins? Have you lost your mind? Don’t listen to him, Brothers! He’s a false prophet! Or a traitor!”

“Run away, good people, run away!” Rzehors spurred his horse onwards but still turned around in the saddle. “And don’t believe monks or priests! And don’t drink the water outside the castle walls! The Bishop of Wrocław has ordered the wells poisoned!”

They passed Głubczyce, silent in terror, rode on and saw to their right the Opava Mountains and the Hrubý Jeseník massif. Their route was marked by more and more columns of smoke. Not only Nová Cerekev and Kietrz were burning, but at least five other towns and villages.

They rode up a hill and saw the Tábor advancing: a long column of cavalry, infantry and wagons. They heard the singing in Czech.

O knights of God, make ready for the fight!

Sing ye in praise of the Lord’s peace!

The Antichrist is abroad, fomenting unrest,

Be heedful, his trickery will never cease!

At the front rode standard bearers with banners fluttering above them, including the pennant of the Tábor—white with a gold Chalice and the motto “Veritas vincit”—and a second standard, this one of the field army, also white, with a red Chalice and a gold Host sewn onto it, surrounded by a crown of thorns.