But what of Ermina and Yves Hugonin, astray somewhere between here andWorcester, and what of the young Benedictine sister who had offered, in hergallant innocence, to go with them and see them safe into sanctuary?
Chapter Two
On the fifth day of December, about noon, a traveller from thesouth, who had slept the night at Bromfield Priory, some twenty-odd miles away,and had the good fortune to find the highroad, at least, in passable condition,brought an urgent message into Shrewsbury abbey. Prior Leonard of Bromfield hadbeen a monk of Shrewsbury until his promotion, and was an old friend of BrotherCadfael’s, and familiar with his skills.
“In the night,” the messenger reported, “some decent fellows of that countrybrought in a wounded man to the priory, found by the wayside stripped andhacked, and left for dead. And half-dead he is, and his case very bad. If hehad lain out all night in the frost he’d have been frozen stiff by morning. AndPrior Leonard asked would I bring word here to you, for though they’ve someknowledge of healing, this case is beyond them, and he said you have experiencefrom the wars, and may be able to save the man. If you could come, and bideuntil he mends—or until the poor soul’s lost!—it would be a great comfort andkindness.”
“If abbot and prior give me leave,” said Cadfael, concerned, “then mostgladly. Footpads preying on the roads so close to Ludlow? What are things cometo, there in the south?”