But for all that, thought Cadfael, mutely stirring his brew forBrother Aylwin’s scouring calves, it began to look as thoughshe very soon would be. Three years of civil war between cousinsfighting for the sovereignty of England had done nothing toreconcile the factions, but much to sicken the general populacewith insecurity, rapine and killing. The craftsman in the town, thecottar in the village, the serf on the demesne, would be only tooglad of any monarch who could guarantee him a quiet and orderlycountry in which to carry on his modest business. But to a man likeHugh it was no such indifferent matter. He was King Stephen’sliege man, and now King Stephen’s sheriff of Shropshire,sworn to hold the shire for his cause. And his king was a prisonerin Bristol castle since the lost battle of Lincoln. A singleFebruary day of this year had seen a total reversal of the fortunesof the two claimants to the throne. The Empress Maud was up in theclouds, and Stephen, crowned and anointed though he might be, wasdown in the midden, close-bound and close-guarded, and his brotherHenry of Blois, bishop of Winchester and papal legate, far the mostinfluential of the magnates and hitherto his brother’ssupporter, had found himself in a dilemma. He could either be ahero, and adhere loudly and firmly to his allegiance, thusincurring the formidable animosity of a lady who was in theascendant and could be dangerous, or trim his sails and accommodatehimself to the reverses of fortune by coming over to her side.Discreetly, of course, and with well-prepared arguments to renderhis about-face respectable. It was just possible, thought Cadfael,willing to do justice even to bishops, that Henry also had thecause of order and peace genuinely at heart, and was willing toback whichever contender could restore them.

“What frets me,” said Hugh restlessly, “isthat I can get no reliable news. Rumours enough and more thanenough, every new one laying the last one dead, but nothing a mancan grasp and put his trust in. I shall be main glad when AbbotRadulfus comes home.”