After landing on the rock, the Wallcreeper changed shape. The strong wind ruffled his black hair. He raised both arms and uttered a wild, loud, long-drawn-out cry. The whole of Radunia appeared to tremble at the sound.

In a remote wilderness, at the top of a distant mountain, red flames flared up in the windows of Sensenberg Castle, towering over a rocky cliff. The sky above the old stronghold glowed red. The gates thudded open. There were demonic cries and a tramping of hooves.

The Black Riders responded swiftly to the call.

“I have decided,” said Jan, Duke of Ziębice, playing with a dagger, “I have decided to give you a chance, Reinmar of Bielawa.”

Reynevan blinked, his eyes painfully blinded by the glare of candles after many hours spent in the dungeon. There were other men in the chamber apart from the duke, though he knew only Borschnitz.

“Although your crimes are grave and call for the harshest penalties,” said the duke, still playing with the dagger, “I have decided to give you a chance, that you might atone a little for your sins and merit God’s mercy with remorse. Jesus suffered for us, and God is merciful; he forgives us our sins and purges us of all immorality. Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Everybody may count on the intercession of Jesus and the mercy of our Lord, even a dissenter, blasphemer, sorcerer, demoralised bastard, rat’s spawn, chancre, scum, cunt, whoreson and dog’s prick like you. But the condition is remorse and a firm resolution. I’ll give you the chance to repent, Reinmar of Bielawa.

“The Hussites,” said Jan of Ziębice, throwing the dagger onto a map lying on the table, “still hesitating about whether to storm Kłodzko, are occupying a fortified camp south of the town, near the village of Rengersdorf, beside the Mezilesí road. You know where that is, don’t you? You will go there. Královec knows and trusts you, so will listen to you. You’ll persuade him to strike camp and march northwards. You’ll tempt him with a lie, with a promise of wealthy spoils, the chance of a crushing attack on the bishop’s army, the opportunity to take the bishop himself alive… In any case, it’s your business what deceit you use to convince him; the important thing is that he marches. Northwards, via Schwedeldorf and the village of Rosice, through the Ścinawka valley, and on towards Nowa Ruda. The Hussites won’t ever get that far, naturally, we’ll deal with them… earlier. But it’s important to… Are you listening to me?”

“No.”

“What?”

“You won’t turn me into a traitor.”

“You already are. Now you’re just changing sides.”

“No.”