So they sent the royal carriage for Vanek.  The minister who had set the king against the young man was executed in Vanek’s place, and the young couple were married.

As Vanek and the princess were returning from the wedding, it happened that Intelligence crossed the road, but seeing that he might have to meet Luck, he hid his head and ran as fast as he could.  And ever since that day, whenever Intelligence sees Luck coming, he gets out of the way.

Michael Krondl is a free-lance writer currently translating and adapting a collection of Czech and Moravian folktales for publication. His adaptation of the story “The Night Watch” was first published in the December 1988 issue of the Canadian magazine Saturday Night.