“My poor household is at the reverend fathers’ disposal,”he said, “and whatever powers I have to serve them, also. You come freshfrom Aber?”

“From Aber,” said Urien, “from Prince Owain, and I mustrejoin him there tonight. I am only the herald for these Benedictine brothers,who come on a holy errand, and when I have explained their case to you, then Ileave them in your hands.” He presented them by name, Prior Robert first.“And have no fear when I have left, for Brother Cadfael here is a man ofGwynedd himself, and speaks Welsh as well as you do.”

Huw’s look of harassed apprehension was immediately eased, but in casehe should be in any doubt, Cadfael favoured him with a rapid brotherly greetingin the promised language, which gratifyingly produced the identical look ofslight distrust and insecurity in Prior Robert’s normally assured greyeyes.

“You are welcome to this poor house you honour,” said Huw, andran a quick eye over the horses and mules and their loads, and without hesitationcalled a couple of names over his shoulder. A shaggy-headed elder and asunburned boy of about ten came forward readily in answer. “Ianto, helpthe good brother water the beasts, and put them in the little paddock to graze,until we see how best to stable them. Edwin, run and tell Marared we haveguests, and help her bring water and wine.”

They ran to do his bidding, and several of the others who had gathered,brown, bare-legged men, slender dark women and half-naked children, drewnearer, conferred softly among themselves, and the women slipped away to theirown cooking-fires and bake-ovens to bring whatever they could to contribute toGwytherin’s hospitality.