across the city, each waiting for the other to make a move.Winchester must be holding its breath. The last word is that theempress sent for Bishop Henry to come to her at the castle, and hehas sent a soft answer that he is preparing himself for themeeting. But stirred not a foot, so far, to move within reach ofher. But for all that,” said Hugh thoughtfully, “I darewager he’s preparing, sure enough. She has mustered herforces, he’ll be calling up his before ever he goes nearher—if he does!”

“And while they hold their breath, you may breathe morefreely,” said Cadfael shrewdly.

Hugh laughed. “While my enemies fall out, at least itkeeps their minds off me and mine. Even if they come to termsagain, and she wins him back, there’s at least a fewweeks’ delay gained for the king’s party. Ifnot—why, better they should tear each other than save theirarrows for us.”

“Do you think he’ll stand out againsther?”

“She has treated him as haughtily as she does every man,when he did her good menial service. Now he has half-defied her hemay well be reflecting that she takes very unkindly to beingthwarted, and that a bishop can be clapped in chains as easily as aking, once she lays hands on him. No, I fancy his lordship isstocking his own castle of Wolvesey to withstand a siege, if itcomes to that, and calling up his men in haste. Who bargains withthe empress had better bargain from behind an army.”

“The queen’s army?” demanded Cadfael,sharp-eyed.

Hugh had begun to wheel his horse back towards the town, but helooked round over a bare brown shoulder with a flashing glint ofblack eyes. “That we shall see! I would guess the firstcourier ever he sent out for aid went to Queen Matilda.”

“Brother Cadfael…” began Oswin,trotting jauntily beside him as they walked on towards the rim ofthe town, where the hospital and its chapel rose plain and greywithin their long wattle fence.