At the sound of the name, Královec gritted his teeth. The other hejtmans murmured softly. Jan Kolda of Žampach was among them, as was Matěj Salava of Lípa. There was a man similar to Matěj and bearing an identical coat of arms, no doubt his brother Jan. There was Brázda of Klinštejn, sitting on a huge grey destrier, as usual flaunting the ragged staffs of the Ronovci family crest. There was Vilém Jeník of Mečkov, Hejtman of Litomyšl, whom Reynevan knew by sight. There was Piotr of Lichwin, called “the Pole,” the current commandant of Homole Castle, captured by the Hussites in the spring. And it was Piotr the Pole, hair as black as a raven’s, who spoke first.

“What else,” he asked in an evil voice, “did Jan and Půta order you to tell us? What are you to persuade us to do?”

Reynevan replied with emphasis, face turned not towards the Pole, but towards Královec. “I was to persuade you to do precisely what you are doing. To march north, into the Ścinawka valley. You are heading into a trap, straight into Jan of Ziębice’s jaws. Had I been a spy, as the Lord of Lichwin implies, it would have sufficed to say nothing. But I’m warning you, thereby averting defeat and destruction. You don’t even know what it’s costing me. If you consider me a spy, kill me. I won’t say another word.”

“This is Reynevan,” said Brázda of Klinštejn. “He’s one of us! And he is indeed warning us. What could he achieve by warning us?”

“He would halt the march,” said Vilém Jeník slowly, “and give the enemy army the time they need. Give time for the villages we are going to ransack to flee with their belongings. I don’t know this man—”

“But I do.” Královec cut him off sharply. “I order the column to stop. Brother Vilém, patrols and forays to the north and towards Kłodzko. Brother Piotr, Brother Matěj, form up the cavalry.”

“Do we build a wagon fort?”

“We do,” confirmed Královec, standing up in the stirrups and looking around. “Over yonder, beyond that stream, at the foot of the hill. What’s the name of the village we just passed? Does anybody know?”

“Stary Wielisław.”

“We shall set it up there. Onwards, brothers! Look lively!”