“That is very true,” said Abbot Heribert, easily dismayed.“It is but a smattering. And the king’s agreement is all-important.Brother Cadfael, Welsh is your first, best language, and has no mysteries foryou. Could you… ? The garden, I am aware… But with your aid therewould be no problem.”

“In the garden,” said Brother Cadfael, “everything is wellforward, and can manage without me ten days or more, and take no hurt. I shouldbe glad indeed to be the interpreter, and lend my skills also inGwytherin.”

“Then so be it!” sighed the abbot in heartfelt relief. “Gowith Prior Robert, and be our voice to the Welsh people. I shall sanction yourerrand myself, and you will have my authority.”

He was old and human and gentle, full of experience, short on ambition,self-righteousness and resolution. There could have been two ways ofapproaching him concerning Brother John. Cadfael took the more honest andsimple way.

“Father, there is a young brother concerning whose vocation I havedoubts, but concerning whose goodness I have none. He is close to me, and Iwould that he might find his true way, for if he finds it he will not forsakeit. But it may not be with us. I beg that I may take him with me, as our hewerof wood and drawer of water in this enterprise, to allow him time to consider.”

Abbot Heribert looked faintly dismayed and apprehensive, but notunsympathetic. Perhaps he remembered long-ago days when his own vocation hadsuffered periods of storm.

“I should be sorry,” he said, “to refuse a choice to any manwho may be better fitted to serve God elsewhere. Which of us can say he hasnever looked over his shoulder? You have not,” he questioned delicately,approaching the aspect that really daunted him, though with a cautiouslydauntless face, “broached this matter to Prior Robert?”

“No, Father,” said Brother Cadfael virtuously. “I thoughtit wrong to charge him with so small a responsibility, when he already carriesone so great.”