free. On the contrary, report said it had caused him to be loadedwith chains by way of extra security, he being the one formidableweapon the empress still had in her hand. But it had certainlysnatched the crown from Maud’s head, most probably for ever,and it had cost her the not inconsiderable support of Bishop Henry,who was not the man to be over-hasty in his alliances twice in oneyear. Rumour said the lady had sent her half-brother and bestchampion, Earl Robert of Gloucester, to Winchester to set thingsright with the bishop and lure him back to her side, but withoutgetting a straight answer. Rumour said also, and probably on goodgrounds, that Stephen’s queen had already forestalled her, ata private meeting with Henry at Guildford, and got rather moresympathy from him than the empress had succeeded in getting. Anddoubtless Maud had heard of it. For the latest news, brought bylatecomers from the south to the abbey fair, was that the empresswith a hastily gathered army had marched to Winchester and taken upresidence in the royal castle there. What her next move was to bemust be a matter of anxious speculation to the bishop, even in hisown city.

And meantime, here in Shrewsbury the sun shone, the abbeycelebrated its maiden saint with joyous solemnity, the flocksflourished, the harvest whitened and was gathered in exemplaryweather, the annual fair took its serene course through the firstthree days of August, and traders came from far and wide, conductedtheir brisk business, took their profits, made their shrewdpurchases, and scattered again in peace to return to their ownhomes, as though neither king nor empress existed, or had any powerto hamper the movements or threaten the lives of ordinary, sensiblemen.

“You’ll have heard nothing new since the merchantsleft?” Cadfael asked, scanning the blanched traces theirstalls had left behind.

“Nothing yet. It seems they’re eyeing each other