The Valley of the Bees

In Vlkov, the lord marries a much younger Lenora. Ondřej gifts Lenora live bats as a wedding token, which enrages his father. The lord prays for Ondřej's survival and vows to surrender him to the Teutonic Order if he lives.

Ondřej heals from the near-fatal incident and is sent to the Baltic Sea to join the Teutonic Order. There he meets Armin, a devout knight who becomes his mentor and protector. The voyage marks the start of Ondřej's life split between family duty and Order loyalty.

Armin is a veteran of Crusades to the Holy Land and is fanatically devoted to God and the Order. He takes Ondřej under his wing and becomes his protector within the Order. Their bond sharpens Ondřej's inner conflict between faith and personal choice.

Knight Rotgier attempts to desert from the Order. Ondřej and others chase him as Rotgier tries to persuade Ondřej to abandon the Order. The pursuit ends when Rotgier injures Ondřej and steals his horse.

Rotgier is captured and executed for attacking Ondřej. The incident is followed by Ondřej being punished with penitence by the Order for what is seen as weakness. The punishment deepens Ondřej's sense of guilt and isolation from the Order.

Ondřej decides to run away from the Teutonic Order. Armin travels to Bohemia to locate him, guided by rumors from charcoal burners who once sought to steal Ondřej's sword. When they confront Ondřej, Armin intervenes, drawing his sword to drive off the attackers and save Ondřej. The fight leaves Ondřej's sword broken and binds him to Armin's pursuit.

Near a brook, Armin bends to drink and Ondřej strikes him with a stone, knocking him unconscious. Ondřej escapes into the wilderness, leaving Armin injured and behind in the water.

Ondřej returns home to Vlkov, only to find his father dead and the family business left to him. He takes on the responsibilities, but is haunted by guilt for what he did to Armin and for his fractured path between faith and freedom.

Ondřej falls in love with Lenora and convinces a local priest to marry them. He hopes to unite his personal happiness with his remaining duties and obligations to Vlkov and the Order.

As the wedding approaches, Armin reappears in Vlkov, stirring old tensions. Ondřej invites him to attend the ceremony, but the simmering distrust between them threatens to boil over.

Armin spends the night in Vlkov and goes to Lenora's chambers, where he murders her. He is quickly captured, and Ondřej struggles with whether to enact absolute justice or show mercy.

To avenge Lenora, Ondřej decides to execute Armin in a manner similar to Rotgier's death. Armin pleads to be allowed to return to the Teutonic Order before his death.

Armin begs to be allowed to return to the Teutonic Order, seeking mercy in his final moments. The execution proceeds, ending Armin's life as Ondřej confronts his own sense of duty and revenge.

With Lenora and Armin gone and the cost of vengeance weighed, Ondřej completes his painful arc by returning to the Teutonic Order. The choice marks a solemn recommitment to the Order over personal desire.