“Very gladly I’ll mind your flock for you athome,” said Cadfael heartily, “while you’restrutting at court. But you’ll be missed, all the same. Whata turnabout this has been! Five years of it now, and nothing gainedon either part. And with the new year, no doubt it must all beginagain. All that effort and waste, and nothing ischanged.”

“Oh, yes, there’s something changed, for whatit’s worth!” Hugh uttered a brief bark of laughter.“There’s a new contender on the scene, Cadfael.Geoffrey could spare no more than a meager handful of knights tohis wife’s aid, but he’s sent her something it seems hecan part with more willingly. Either that or, as may very well betrue, he’s taken Stephen’s measure shrewdly enough toknow past doubt what he dare wager in safety. He’s sent overtheir son in Robert’s care, to see if the English will rallyto him rather than to his mother. Henry Plantagenet, nine yearsold— or did they say ten? No more than that! Robert broughthim to her at Wallingford. By this time I fancy the boy’sbeen whisked away to Bristol or Gloucester, out of harm’sway. But if Stephen laid hold of him, what could he do with him? Aslike as not, put him on board ship at his own expense, and send himwell guarded back to France.”

“Do you tell me so?” Cadfael’s eyes openedwide in astonishment and curiosity. “So there’s a newstar on the horizon, is there? And starting young! It seems onesoul at least has a blessed Christmas assured, with her libertywon, and her son in her arms again. His coming will give her heart,no question. But I doubt if he’ll do much more for hercause.”

“Not yet!” said Hugh, with prophetic caution.“We’ll wait and see what his mettle is. With hismother’s stomach and Geoffrey’s wit he may give the