The story in one page
In 1594, centuries before telepaths publicly reveal themselves to the world, a secret Brotherhood of mind-readers operates in the shadows of Prussia. Jonas, a cocky agent of this group, intentionally enters the town of Speyer to be caught by the authorities. While he languishes in a cell, he maintains a mental link with his leader, Claerten, debating the limits of their divine gift. The mission is a dangerous gamble: they believe the local Inquisitor, Georg Knupf, isn't just a persecutor of heretics, but a powerful, untapped telepath whose repressed abilities have turned into bitter hatred.
Who's who
- Jonas
A confident telepathic agent who uses himself as bait.
- Claerten
Leader of the Brotherhood who monitors Jonas via mental link.
- Georg Knupf
An eagle-faced Inquisitor with latent, repressed psychic potential.
- The Brotherhood
A secret group of fifteen telepaths hiding from non-psychics.
What it's really about
- The Masquerade
- The necessity of hiding superior traits to survive in hostile societies.
- The Nature of Magic
- Reframing supernatural witchcraft as a biological, God-given mental sense.
Why it's memorable
- A shiny coin used to bribe an old woman for information about local heretic hunters.
- The image of an Inquisitor’s mind described as a sparsely furnished, austere office.
The ending, explained
Spoilers — show the ending
Jonas successfully triggers Knupf's powers, convincing the Inquisitor he belongs with the Brotherhood; as a result, the witch trials in Speyer cease because the Inquisitor can now sense that the accused lack actual powers.
For your book club
- The irony of a witch-hunter being the very thing he is sworn to destroy.
- The strategic advantage of recruiting powerful enemies instead of merely evading them.