“Whether the roads are cleared of bad customs,” said Beringar in waryreflection, “is more than I should care to say. We have a prettyfirm hold here in Shropshire—thus far! But there’s ominous word from east andnorth, besides this uneasiness along the border. When the king is all too busyin the south, and his mind on where his Flemings’ next pay is to come from, andhis energy mostly wasted in wavering from one target to another, ambitious menin remoter parts are liable to begin to spread their honors into palatines, andset up kingdoms of their own. And given the example, the lesser fry will followit.”

“In a land at war with itself,” agreed Cadfael sombrely, “you may take it ascertain that order breaks down, and savagery breaks out.”

“Not here, it shall not,” said Hugh grimly. “Prestcote has kept a closerein, and in so far as it falls to me as his man, so will I.” For GilbertPrestcote, King Stephen’s sheriff of Shropshire, was planning to keep Christmasin the chief manor of his own honor, in the north of the county, and the castlegarrison and the rule of law throughout the southern half of the shire would beleft in Beringar’s hands. This attack on Worcester might be only a foretaste offurther such raids. All the border towns were at risk, as well from theprecarious loyalties of constables and garrisons as from the enterprise of theenemy. More than one lord in this troubled land had already changed hisallegiance, more than one would do so in the future, some, perhaps, for thesecond or third time. Churchmen, barons and all, they were beginning to lookfirst to their own interests, and place their loyalty where it seemed likely tobring them the greater profit. And it would not be long before some of themcame to the conclusion that their interests could be served just as well byflouting both contendants for the crown, and setting up on their own account.